To The End

Escape

Jade glanced up from her meal at the sound of scurrying feet. The other human was up and running. Although she had already eaten most of her recent kill, a thrill coursed through her at the thought of pursuit. She didn't know or understand the obsession she seemed to harbor for that particular human, but she obeyed the impulse all the same. She dropped the bone she was working on and swiftly got to her feet, easily catching up. Tracking the clumsy human wasn't hard. Catching her wouldn't be either, so she toyed with her to make it a little more entertaining.

She would get close and feign a lunge but miss and allow the human to escape. She corralled her and made sure they kept heading deeper into the woods and far from any possibility of help. When Jade decided playtime was over, she closed the distance again. With one last leap she caught Victoria around the middle and brought her down. She tried to fight. It was useless and amusing, but Jade was done with games. She held down the human's arms by the wrists, strong legs straddling her slim form. Victoria breathed hard from exhaustion, but Jade panted from the mere anticipation.

"Jade, please," Victoria managed to sob. The beast recoiled at the familiarity. She snarled threateningly and bared her fangs in an attempt to silence her.

"I know you can hear me in there, Jade. The beast is a part of you but it isn't you. You can control it!"

Jade cringed from her words as if they were a slap to the face that helped her focus. Her grip slackened and Victoria made the most of it. She slipped free and sat up so that Jade sat in her lap and they were face to face. She tentatively rested a hand on Jade's cheek while the other sought out the knife still lodged in her side. Their eyes met, glowing green complimenting earthy brown, then Victoria pulled the blade free. Jade's hands shot to her sides, pulling at her clothes and grazing skin. Victoria tossed the knife and cupped the beast's face in her hands, blood painting her hands. Jade leaned in and rested her forehead on Victoria's, their noses brushing.

"I never want to hurt you," she mumbled softly.

"I know," Victoria whispered against her mouth, taking a gamble and pulling her in a second later to close the already small space between them. Jade's lips were firm and insistent on her own, tasting metallic with blood. Victoria liked the way her strong arms held her. How her hands ran over her back, claws snagging cloth but careful not to pierce skin. Her own arms held Jade tightly.

The moment was broken by the smallest of sounds. A crack caused Jade to pause, her head canted just so, listening. She breathed heavily but her eyes were focused. It was the first time Victoria was able to watch her up close. It truly was like observing a wild animal.

"What is it?" she asked, despite needing to catch her breath.

"Someone's there."

Jade got to her feet and Victoria reluctantly let her. She was so warm, and her weight was so comforting. They were close in more ways than they had ever been before, and she couldn't get enough. She wondered if Jade felt the same. Just by looking at her she didn't really seem affected except for finally calming down. Jade sensed movement again and growled.

"I know you're there. Come out now," she shouted into the trees. Slowly, a figure emerged from cover and came forward.

"Andre? What are you doing out here?" Victoria questioned, immediately recognizing him. He wore a disgusted frown, and Jade wasn't the only one it was directed at.

"Beck and I saw you going to the outskirts. We knew you were going to the cottage, so we followed. When you ran I lost track of you, but it looked like Beck caught up. After that thing killed him I stayed on your trail and found you here. It would have been better to find you the same way I found Beck," he spat. Anger and hurt brought on poisonous words to Victoria's lips but Jade set a hand on her shoulder.