A Rough Start

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

I stretch my arms out and my hand collides with solid, warm skin. A light growl echoes throughout the room and I turn to glare at Darren.

I smack him upside the head. "Don't you growl at me." His eyes fly open and he sits up, apologetic words pouring out of his mouth. I laugh and lightly press my lips to his. I then blush at how straight forward I'm being. I pull away and silently say sorry.

A smile plays on his lips and he leans closer. His eyes flicker from my lips to my eyes and he crashes his lips to mine. I gasp in surprise and loose my balance, but Darren's hands are supporting my back. He takes control of the kiss easily and I growl in frustration.

The door flies open and I shriek and jump away from Darren. He narrows his eyes at me and pulls me into his lap. Then he focuses his attention on the intruders.

"Well?" He asks. "What do you need that was so important, you had to bust in here?" I place my hand on his and his tensed muscles relax.

"We're getting married." Darren's mouth drops and I'm sure my expression mirrors his completely.

The grin on Jaylen’s face doesn’t falter. He stands side by side with a pretty girl who I do not know. She has long, wavy, blonde hair and bright green eyes. How could my best friend be getting married to a girl I don’t know? He never even told me he was seeing someone! I jump away from Darren and hurry over to them.

“Congratulations!” I yell excitedly. I lean forward to hug Jaylen but he clears his throat and steps back. I look at him confused. He doesn’t want to hug me?

He smiles apologetically at me and shoots a worried glance towards the blonde. Her jaw is set in a not so friendly way and she’s glaring a hole through my face.

My blood runs hot.

Who the hell does she think she is? Does this chick really think she’s going to come between me and my best friend? My hands form fists at my sides and Darren’s voice enters my mind. I flinch at the hatred evident in his voice.

‘Don’t do it, you don’t know what she is.’

“I guess I’ll talk to you later, then.” I say through clenched teeth. Jaylen nods quickly and turns to leave with Blondie. As he reaches the door he sends a guilty, remorse filled look at me.

“Jaylen!” Blondie barks. I grind my teeth.

“Coming, Jade.” Jaylen puts a smile on his face as he follows her out of the room.

As soon as the door closes behind them, a growl vibrates in my chest and I run my shaking hands through my tangled hair.

Darren’s strong arms wrap around my waist and I instantly feel calmer.

“What is she?” I ask as he buries his face in the crook of my neck.

“A crystal; she’s a shape shifter, but instead of a werewolf she shifts into a white tiger.”

“Crystal? How come you haven’t told me about them before?”

“They aren’t supposed to be real. What’s worse is Jaylen doesn’t even know of the danger he’s in. Jade has him locked under her trance. Sometimes he’ll be himself, but other times he’ll be someone you wish you never knew. She could kill him with a single thought. He’ll do anything for her.”

“Then I’ll do what I have to do.” A plan unravels in my mind and I walk towards the closet. “I’m going to save him and I’m going to kill her. She’ll wish she never messed with Jaylen.” I throw on a pair of tight jeans, a yellow tank top, and black steel toe boots.

I turn around to tell Darren I’ll be back later, but he’s standing behind me dressed and just finishing putting his shoes on. I look at him quizzically.

“What, you didn’t think you were going on a rescue mission alone, did you?” He laughs and opens the door, holding it open for me.

Gosh, I love this boy.

I slap my hand over my mouth even though I didn’t say it out loud. Did I really just think that? Darren is still waiting on me so he wasn’t listening to my thoughts. Sighing, I walk out of the room and Darren intertwines our fingers.

“So, what’s the plan?” He asks. Putting girly feelings aside, I launch into my blue printed plan.

                                                                                *******

Three hours later, Darren and I arrive back home. I’m laughing hysterically at something Darren said when we hear a loud scream from inside the house. We rush inside and run up the stairs. That’s where we find Jade standing on chair and yelling at Jaylen.

“Kill it!” She orders in a shrill voice.

“Jade, it’s just a mouse.” Jaylen is standing close to the window and is looking amused by the situation. He winks at me and Jade’s face reddens.

“Jaylen, kill that mouse.” In an instant Jaylen lashes out and catches the mouse. He holds it at arms length.

He’s under her trance.

It’s just a harmless mouse! My grip on Darren’s hand tightens. Jade’s eyes turn cold and greedy and they lock with mine.

“Now.” She orders and Jaylen’s hand closes, producing a sickening crunch.

“No!” I whisper too late. In a wave of fury, grief, and anguish, a tear slides down my face. Jade laughs out, but shows no humor. My blood boils at the sight of her and I silently wish an immense amount of pain would swallow her whole. As soon as that thought enters my mind, all hell breaks loose.

Jade screams in pure agony.

I wince and step back, confused. She claws at her skin as if there’s something under it. Jaylen, still in her trance, advances towards her trying to figure out what’s going on.

“I don’t believe it.” Darren whispers in awe next to me.

“What?” I ask. What the heck is going on?

“Beth, I need you to focus hard. In your mind tell yourself that it’s okay now.” Trusting him completely, I close my eyes and do as I’m told.

Everything is okay. Everything is fine. I chant this over three times before I start feeling like an idiot. I open my eyes.

Jade stops screaming.

She collapses as if she has just undergone the most painful cruelty ever before. Jaylen bends down to help her up and she snaps her head in my direction. Fury, confusion, and hatred all come off of her in thick waves. She’s blaming me?

“You’ll pay for this.” She threatens through clenched teeth. Jaylen’s distant eyes clear and he looks around in confusion. He let’s go of Jade and abruptly walks out of the room, only sparing me a hurt look.

Guilt washes over me. I have to get him out of this.