To The End

Meeting

Another opportunity. Her new target just needed to wander closer.

"Hello? Are you hurt? Do you need help?" the soft voice questioned. Such a soothing tone. It surprised her. It was a long enough pause to allow the young woman closer. Attack now.

But she couldn't. She knew this one. She had watched her from time to time. She found her intriguing. Because unlike the others of her kind, she cared. She had watched the young woman from afar for so long that she had no choice but to conclude that she was the best humanity had to offer. The human was now close enough to discern the concerned expression she wore. It was enough to earn a response.

"I was injured. It was an accident. We thought we saw the creature and chased it into the woods. We lost it but I was caught in the crossfire. I told them to leave me here and go on," she explained.

"You were in the hunting party? Sorry, but I've never seen you around," the young woman said, confusion in her tone. Her hesitation toward the situation was clear and it made her stop in place. Curious but cautious.

Her instincts pressed on her patience once more. She was still so hungry.

"I understand. After all, everyone seems to mistake me for my grandmother. She's been gone for a while now."

Suddenly, brown eyes lit up with recognition.

"You're her. The one they talk about living in the cottage at the edge of town. We're forbidden from going near. You've never left your house, so we all thought your grandmother still owned it. So, it's just you now?" the girl rambled, slowly crouching down. She repressed a warning growl at the human's proximity. Instead, she focused on answering.

"Yes. The rest of my family were chased out. One by one."

Sadness registered in the brown eyes studying her. A hand came up to comfort, but a reproachful glare forced it back down. She actually looked like she cared.

"I'm sorry. I know the tales," she mumbled.

A raised brow was her only response.

"I heard...I was told to stay away from your family. Everyone thinks that you are cursed or that you are creatures in human disguises. They talk of strange rituals and cannibalism. Is all that really true?" the girl questioned, voice wavering just barely.

She seemed partly curious and partly afraid of the truth. Beguile her. An easy meal.

She played up being annoyed and shook her head.

"Is that what you think?" she asked. The girl flinched.

"Not me. But everyone else does."

"My family had no choice but to become recluses. Because of those stories we were shunned. All we wanted was to be left alone. But instead we were chased off or starved for food when we couldn't leave our house," she snapped, unable to stop herself from verbally lashing out. Shame caused the young woman to look away.

"I'm sorry. I really am."

It was only a whisper, but it was still heard.

"That isn't enough."

"I know. Let me try to make amends. I'll start with my name. I'm Victoria. It's nice to finally meet you," she greeted. The offered hand was ignored. Touch was a dangerous thing. The warmth and softness of pliable flesh would undo her carefully constructed control.

"Jade. I reserve the right to withhold judgement until I decide whether I can trust you or not," she replied evenly. Victoria nodded, agreeing. Her hand dropped.

"I understand. Will you at least let me help you get home? Do you need your injuries cared for? Are they serious?"

Jade rolled her eyes at the multitude of questions tumbling from the young woman's mouth.

"You can help me get home, but I won't require anything else."

She gave no room for miscommunication.

"I don't mind being seen helping someone with your...reputation."

It was meant as a casual statement, said just as Victoria offered her hand once more.

"A reputation those you associate with have given me," Jade reminded her. Victoria nodded.

"I know. They probably won't change their minds. But we're trying to work past that now. Right?" she asked, gesturing between them. Jade looked her over. Her instincts still pushed to take advantage and tear into her. But there was also a part of her that leaned toward wanting to accept the proverbial olive branch. So, she slowly reached out and gripped the human's hand. Instantly, she was assaulted by the rush of blood running beneath the thin surface of flesh meeting her own. It warmed her cold hand with its heat. If Victoria noticed how cool her touch was, she didn't comment. So close.

Jade swallowed and grit her sharpening teeth.

"Right," she forced out. She made sure to mumble her reply, hiding the subtle change that the connection between them had caused. Victoria smiled, bright and ecstatic. She pulled Jade to her feet and was ready to provide support, steadying her. In all honesty, she didn't need it. She was already almost completely healed. Luckily, their conversation kept her occupied so that she wasn't reminded as often about her rising hungry state. They started walking in silence, but it was quickly broken when the young human started talking again.

"We can be friends. I could visit you and bring food so that you don't have to go out as often. Maybe we can go for a walk in the woods, so you won't get lonely," Victoria suggested hopefully. Jade scoffed at the idea.

"One step at a time," she warned, hiding it within a light reprimand. Victoria wasn't fooled. It seemed to put an end to her drive to ramble as well. Soon, they were standing outside the cottage at the edge of town. Jade's only safe haven away from the humans. Victoria froze next to her, eyes taking in the small but formidable structure.

"I've never set foot here. I wasn't allowed. I shouldn't even be here now," she spoke, voicing her thoughts aloud.

"Too late for that," Jade commented. She shrugged off the human's hand and made a show of hobbling forward.

"They call you an unnatural creature."

Jade paused. It was muttered, as if Victoria was ashamed to admit it.

"And you wonder why I don't show my face. Why I find it hard to trust," Jade remarked, remaining in place with her back to Victoria. Never had she willingly turned her back to a human before. But somehow, she knew this one was different. She would have to further prove herself if she didn't want to become Jade's next meal. Victoria's gaze fell to the ground, staring at her boots. It was only for a few seconds before she looked up again.

She reached out and rested a hand on Jade's shoulder. She tensed and turned away, fast enough to throw off the offensive touch. Warm brown locked with deep azure. There was a determined spark in them that spoke directly to the highly competitive and possessive creature. Jade's whole frame tensed, waiting for something to happen. Sensing it. But then it passed when Victoria smiled, small and meek.

"I'll make it up to you. I promise," she vowed. Jade's brows rose, surprised but mostly entertained. This human had guts.

"Sure you will," she dismissed, speaking it with finality. It wouldn't do to encourage her. Jade then turned away to go inside. She never once looked back. Safe inside familiar darkness, Jade let her defenses down and began to think. The silly human was clearly serious in her resolve. Genuine. What did she hope to accomplish? A friend?

Jade laughed sardonically at the very idea. Was she trying to get herself killed? Because that's where she was headed. This couldn't end well. Or at least not for the human. Jade's stomach growled a reminder and she sighed. She really needed to eat if she was going to entertain the notion of actively interacting with a meal. At least for a little while. It might be fun to toy with her first. Something new to try.

The human held her interest for now. It was just enough to preserve her life. There was something else there besides curious interest that piqued Jade's attention, because it even caught the attention of her beast. The reaction Jade had to the hard look in Victoria's eyes. She growled low. She wanted to explore whatever that was, to find a reason. To do that, she had to take the human up on her offer of companionship. It would be hard to behave herself, but she was too invested to give up on it now.