To The End

Risk

It was a great distraction while it lasted, but reality had a way of bleeding into the most peaceful of moments. It came in the form of the phone ringing. Victoria let out a pitiful groan and buried her face in Jade's neck. A chuckle shook Jade's chest, her hand running through the human's tresses comfortingly.

"Time to get up," she mumbled, voice rough with sleep. Victoria listened to the voice but not the words, grumbling her reluctance. Eventually, and with some playful nudging from Jade, she climbed out of bed. She pulled on some clothes from her drawer then padded out of the room, taking her time. She reached the still ringing phone and answered. Roughly ten minutes later she had an update on her father's condition and with it came the feeling of dread. Jade came up behind her just as she hung up.

"He's getting worse and there's nothing they can do," she relayed, distressed. Jade silently wrapped her arms around Victoria's waist and pulled her in, pressing her to her chest. They settled in troubled silence, neither one able to say anything. Jade tried to think of a way to help. She couldn't stand to see Victoria in pain. An idea began to take shape, but it might not work. So much could go wrong in the process or the very idea could cause a dispute. She didn't want the human caught up in a fight she didn't deserve. But she did deserve to know that there was a way to help her father.

"I might be able to help."

She had to try. Anything to save her human from a broken heart. Victoria perked up.

"How?" she questioned, turning in Jade's arms to face her. If she hadn't been so eager to hear some good news, she would have stopped to admire the clothes Jade borrowed from her. They were pretty tight on her busty frame.

"You might not like it. Well, you could look past it, but I know everyone else will disapprove," Jade amended.

"Is it dangerous?"

"It can be if not done properly."

"Then what's the problem?"

Jade hesitated a second before answering.

"It uses witchcraft. An old spell and ingredients no doctor will approve of," Jade revealed. In her desperation for a cure, Victoria couldn't see how that was a problem.

"But it'll save his life," she stated. Jade nodded.

"Yes, but it's useless if no one will allow it," Jade pressed. Victoria threw up her hands and pulled away to pace. Jade let her go, watching and waiting as she rapidly talked to herself. Eventually, the disgruntled human finally stopped and calmed down.

"Gather what you need and meet me behind your house. We're traveling to the city and giving it to him whether anyone likes it or not," Victoria stated, rushing to her room to start packing. Jade's brows rose. She was as stubborn as ever. Jade returned to Victoria's room too, getting dressed to leave. Even in her rush to get ready, Victoria didn't forget to give Jade a parting kiss. She smiled the whole way home while mentally listing the ingredients she would need. She would have to find the old tome of spells. She hadn't bothered to memorize any of them. Which meant she would have to raid her mother's hidden stock. It was limited, so she hoped there would be enough.

When she got home, she went right to the room she rarely opened, if only to dust every so often. She moved aside the dresser and pulled open the trap door underneath. She jumped down into the small space below and lit the lantern with a pack of matches still sitting next to it from the last time she was down there. That was years ago. Back when her mother was well enough to cast spells. Back before she had grown weak in her old age.

Jade shook the memories from her mind to focus on the task at hand. She gathered the herbs she would need, and a few vials, then packed them in the sturdy satchel used to transport them. It was enchanted to preserve and protect the contents placed inside, just like the room they were stored in. She slipped in the old tome last then slung it over her shoulder and climbed out, shutting the door behind her and replacing the dresser. Her senses told her Victoria was waiting for her outside, so she headed out to meet her. She stepped out to see the human carrying a backpack and staring at the little cottage.