To The End

Memory

Jade stood at the small window, watching the trees sway in the breeze. The sun had progressed across the sky farther than she had planned it to. They should have already left. At this rate they might not make it to the hospital in time. But she was adamant that Victoria took things slowly. She turned away from the window to address the human.

"If we leave now and make good time, we can get there before the sun sets. Carrying you will also save us some time," Jade told her. Victoria looked up from her spot sulking on the couch where Jade exiled her to rest. She wasn't allowed to get up for the past half hour.

"I know it's hard to sit here doing nothing, but when you were allowed to do something you managed to put your life in danger," Jade lectured. Victoria huffed out a sigh but couldn't disagree. Jade was right. She pushed her, again. The least she could do was listen.

"How do you feel?" Jade asked, walking over to crouch in front of her. Victoria touched her shoulder then sat up.

"It doesn't really hurt anymore. I think it stopped bleeding too," she answered.

"I'm going to change the bandages before we head out."

Jade stood up and left the room to get the supplies, leaving Victoria alone. She looked around the small space, her eyes falling on a family portrait hung up on the wall across from her. It was rather large. The faces on them all held resemblances with each other. All except for the young girl in the bottom right hand corner. Her melancholy gaze was turned to the ground, posture showing her discomfort. Victoria knew without a doubt that it was Jade.

"I didn't feel like I deserved to be in the portrait. It was a family one after all. I had only been with them a month. But of course, mother insisted. She accepted and included me from day one. It was as if I was her long-lost child for how she treated me," Jade suddenly spoke up. It startled Victoria. She hadn't heard her return. She was so focused on the people in the picture.

"She loved you very much."

"Yes. And I loved her for that. She even taught me how to live as a beast of nature. She used to have one before me. A man she rescued and fell in love with. They married but he died protecting the family a few years later," Jade said, voice and expression sad. She quirked a corner of her lip and chuckled at a memory. She sat down next to Victoria and started removing the old bandages.

"She told me how scandalous it was to be married to a beast. They were usually servants or bodyguards, not lovers. Especially not with the head of the household. She reveled in doing whatever she wanted. She abhorred being told what to do, what was right and what was wrong. I admired her for her strength and her ability to love unconditionally," she continued, smiling softly. She cleaned the small punctures that were once open gashes, satisfied to see that they were mostly healed. It was already starting to scar in some spots.

"You remind me of her so much," she muttered, eyebrows coming together. There was a catch in her voice that sent a pang of sadness through Victoria. For a moment Jade looked like she would cry, but then she was finished bandaging Victoria's wound and getting up.

"I'm glad she got to live a long life. The stubborn old bat wouldn't have anything less, of course. While the rest fled or died, she clung righteously to her little plot of land. She refused to let it be taken from her. I promised her I would take over once she was gone and protect it. Which is why I'll never leave," she finished, setting the supplies on the coffee table. She turned back to Victoria and offered her hand.

"Ready to get going?" she inquired. Victoria had been listening with rapt attention, mad at her own people for causing such pain, happy Jade had a good life, wishing she could meet the woman who did that for her, and sad that Jade had to lose her. She nodded and took Jade's hand. She was pulled to her feet with ease, a hand resting at the small of her back.

"I don't think it would be wise to see your father with blood on your clothes."

Victoria let Jade lead her by the hand, the free one scooping up her backpack. She stopped at the doorway of a bedroom when Jade dropped her hand to enter. It was a simple room with warm reds and browns, hints of cool greens and blues accenting it. A desk by the window held stacks of papers and books. An old acoustic guitar sat propped in the corner. Jade turned to Victoria to see her studying her room, a look of careful consideration on her face. She broke it by throwing her backpack at her. It hit her square in the chest, her hands coming up instinctually to catch it before it could fall.

"Put on a change of clothes and meet me outside. We have to get going," Jade ordered, slipping past her to leave. While Victoria got dressed Jade cleaned up. She waited for her out back only a few minutes before Victoria joined her. Wordlessly, she held out the satchel and Victoria added it with her backpack. Jade turned her back and crouched slightly so that Victoria could get on. Her arms held around her shoulders and her legs at her waist. Jade held them in place and began to jog, adjusting to the added weight. She cautioned Victoria to hold on and then began running faster.

She pushed herself to go as fast as she was able, racing the sun. They made it to the city with just enough time to spare if they kept moving. Victoria returned to walking and gave Jade the satchel at her insistence that she could carry it but refused to keep going until Jade caught her breath. She also made her drink some water while they walked into town. Victoria watched her closely, noting the tension in her shoulders and back. Jade never liked the city. The big population was stifling, and it used nature as mere decoration. There was barely a tree on each block. The only positive was that no one knew her. Victoria's hand found hers and held firmly.

"Are you ready?" Victoria asked.

"I should be asking you that," she responded.

"I suppose it's a daunting task for both of us, in a way," Victoria remarked. Jade had to agree. Victoria faced the possibility of losing a loved one, and it was up to Jade to make sure he survived. No pressure. When it came to the young woman's happiness and wellbeing, Jade knew she had a high chance of succeeding. There wasn't anything Jade wouldn't do to keep her human happy. Together they entered the busy city center in search of the hospital and found it with the help of some directions. Jade stopped at the bottom of the large concrete staircase that led up to the entrance.

"We'll need ID to get in. You go ahead. I'll find you once you're inside," Jade said, already planning an alternate way in. Victoria readily accepted and went on ahead. When she stood in front of the doors, she glanced back to see that Jade was gone. She entered and got in line while Jade scaled the building. She reached the open window she had spotted and slipped inside. Luckily, the room was empty. She quickly left it to enter the hallway. On her way past a bickering couple, she bumped into them, stealing a visitor sticker as she apologized. They barely gave her their attention, too caught up in their argument.

Jade relied on her senses to lead her in the right direction. It was difficult filtering out all the smells. There were so many humans. Young and old. Healthy and ill. The stench of death was masked only by the sharp sting of sterility. It wasn't a natural smell, but one created by chemicals. It took her some time, but eventually she found Victoria sitting in a waiting room. She looked up when Jade approached.

"Let's go," she said, holding out a hand for Victoria to take. The human led the way, telling Jade the floor number and room he was assigned. Jade followed in silence, trying to stay focused. She had never been close to so many humans at once and she hoped never to do it again. She didn't let it distract her. Victoria needed her and she would be present with her every step of the way.