Instead of asking why she was here, I walked back over to her and stood in front of her. She was a little taller since she was sitting on top of the dresser and looked rather dazzling with the moonlight shining through the window behind her.
She offered her hand to me, and I noticed a little crystal heart with wings attached on each side. It looked to be like one of those keychains you'd attach to your phone, leaving me both curious and in awe of how beautiful it was.
"For me?" I asked and watched her nod. I accept the little trinket, taking a closer look at its diamond nature and how it twinkled in various colors.
"Merry Christmas," she whispered with a loving smile. I matched her loving expression with my own as I reached over and hugged her. She hugged me back and I felt her swarming warmth.
"Progress means happiness. Love is everlasting. Hope is motivating. Follow your heart filled with overflowing adoration. Love wins. Love always wins." Her words were beautiful and held a hidden meaning I'd yet to figure out, but I wasn't worried.
She'd guide me if I needed help.
"Jade? Did you find the camera?" Calvin called out from the door.
"Yes!" I replied. "Coming!"
I looked back to my light shadow as I pulled away and took a moment to truly acknowledge her innocent beauty.
"Thank you," I whispered. "Merry Christmas, Light Jade."
She waved at me as her body began to fade away, and I was left alone in the room with a big smile on my face.
Noticing the bright moon in the sky, I closed my eyes and took a deep inhale then let it out.
This Christmas spent with all those I love. It's the best feeling in the world.
Shadow Blooming
~SHADOW JADE~
* * *
The urge to wake up was the reason why my eyes opened up. I was standing in Jade's room. Blinking a few times while hugging my unicorn plushie, I scanned the room quickly to ensure there were no threats in our surroundings.
The atmosphere was quiet as the flow of the cool breeze came from the fan in the corner of the room. An array of quiet snores and soft breathing came from my left. When I turned, I saw Jade snuggled up in a bundle of men - and one woman.
Jade was right in the center of the bed, her body sandwiched between Zeke and Lisette. She was wearing a black bra with red lace and matching panties, while Zeke was just in black boxers.
Lisette's neon pink hair was all over the place, but it matched her pink bralette and pink shorts. The shorts were really loose, like basketball shorts. It was an odd combo, indeed, but it seemed to complement her at the same time. Zeus and Zion had somehow squeezed themselves to sleep on Zeke's side, while Calvin and Zackery remained on Lisette's side.
Minx was at the end of the bed, her tail moving very slowly from side to side, while the new puppies were quietly playing around in the corner of the room. I noticed their bowl of food and water, intrigued by how they had gotten them when Jade said stores closed early for the winter holiday.
It didn't matter, but I liked inspecting all the new items in her room. Out of habit, I had the picture device in my hand and began to take pictures of the entire scenery. I used the same pink Kodak camera Bianca had gotten me when Jade and I were taken to the fair.
Jade had wanted to have memories of the event, so she'd never forget them. It was one of those many fears after losing everything in our old home with our parents and siblings. With pictures, we could still keep the memories safe by printing them and putting them in a safe that was fireproof.
Jade didn't know, but I'd kept pictures over the years so that she'd always have a hidden vault of memories to hold on to if she ever forgot. It was the best kept secret, but it was hard to keep up with because they didn't make these very items anymore.
Technology was the new world we lived in, but I didn't have the savings to get a camera or the desire to have a phone when Jade already had a personal and agent work one.
Too much technology is bad.
That's what Tanner always taught us when training.
If it wasn't for Ceil's aid, I wouldn't have been able to do Operation Surprise Jade Mommy. I’d worried about what I could get her since last semester. I was saving all the money she'd given me to get her something grand, but the urge to cheer them up after fighting that evil Charles prompted me to cheer them all up with unicorns.
You can't be mad with unicorns.
Ceil helped me develop the latest roll of pictures and even scanned the whole set of photos to help with the collage of images. They had thought I'd taken the video of Jade kissing Puppy. Little did they know that Ceil was already across the street, watching the events and recording them for Lisette.
It was perfect for the plan, and I'd worked on my voice for the occasion. If it wasn't for Ceil, I wouldn't have sung, but he said I had a good voice and tone which would make Jade really happy if she heard it.
He was right.
For the first time since our family's passing, Jade was truly happy. There was a difference in the times of our childhood and teenage years. She was fearful happy. Anxious happy. Any other type of joy that was connected to a negative emotion, ready to strike if anything went astray.
Her anxieties ran through me, just as her frustration, sadness, and hurt from the past did, all while she kept a smile on her lips for the world to see while portraying that there was nothing wrong.
She was the Jade that the agency wanted to see, and she did her job even if she hurt on the inside.
Ignorance is bliss.
Ignoring the brewing emotions that plagued us day after day, month after month, year after year. We had one job, focus, and purpose, and it all revolved around Charles.
There were times of calm and relaxation, but never when the lingering thought of Charles’s takedown wasn't looming in the corners of her mind and plaguing us to get stronger, learn faster, and take revenge on the man who’d ruined our lives.
My Jade. My mother. My creator who allowed me to come and go as I pleased.
None realized the blessing I carried. To take shape and be an entity that wasn't controlled out of force. On the outside, I remained innocent. I projected naiveté and childishness while reminding myself with a single word of the deed I'd never wished to commit.
To people like Charles and those who were desperate for power, a shadow like me would be the best tool for destruction.
A weapon, a tool, a puppy that would do the killing and carry the blood and guilty conscious of slicing through the string of life. All while they walked with pride of being innocent.
"Kill. Kill. Kill." I whispered the word three times.
A trinity of sin. Its own hymn of darkness.
When one feigned innocence, they were looked down upon by default. Innocence to the enemy meant stupid, weak, hopeless. I was easy prey because I allowed myself to be perceived that way.
To act like a doll of purity when I really hid the dangers the darkness had to offer.
It was for the better.
The perfect example of the sight of danger a dark shadow like myself could carry was Ceil. One look at his sophisticated appearance forced many to bow down and quiver at his chilling eyes and blazing aura.
I'm sure all he needed was to remove a single glove from his hand to create havoc in a room.
We were so powerful, and yet I kept that all tamed for the sake of Jade. Allowing myself to reach the full potential I carried would merely hurt Jade in the long run.