7

A month went by before I learned of what happened to Lacy. This wasn't because Jade or Saffron wouldn't tell me. The truth was, I had been kind of afraid to know.

It was my grandmother who eventually ended up telling me of Lacy's fate. She made it her point to bring it up when she called me out to lunch one day. Though she met with me often to have lunch with me, she never came to the house. I believe that she feared Jade and Saffron.

My grandmother had always been a very astute woman. Nothing escaped her intuition, and most of the time she was correct in her assessments of people and situations, say for her interactions with Leo, whom I believe had been a master at fooling all of those around him. She knew that there was something very wrong with those two, and often went out of her way to avoid them.

This was a triumph for Jade, as one could imagine. Saffron simply shrugged it off, feeling nothing about it either way. As for me, well, I just kind of enjoyed my chance at being far away from her and her cynical views for a majority of the time.

I had met her for lunch that day just like all of the other times. It was quite cold outside, but Grandmother had insisted that I come. Of course, as soon as I sat down, the reason for her insistence became apparent. She proceeded to inform me that they had admitted Lacy to the psychiatric hospital a few weeks before.

As it turned out, she knew Lacy's great aunt, and it was she who told her what had happened. It seemed that Lacy had been found roaming around a parking garage near where I'd last seen her. She was disheveled and babbling incoherently. Needless to say, it was grounds to take her in and admit her. Something had apparently scared the living daylights out of her, and unfortunately, I knew what that something probably was.

I kept thinking about all of it as I headed home. I had heard many things about those kinds of places, and it made me wonder what Lacy was like now. I even wondered what I would've been like if none of this had happened, and Leo had succeeded in having me committed.

I must have been pretty preoccupied, because Jade said something about it as we sat in the living room.

"The old woman must have had something interesting to speak of today." he commented.

I looked up from the book I was studying. I'd decided that maybe I could stand to learn another language, so I was using my free time in the evenings to study French.

"Why do you say that?" I asked him.

"You've been quiet since you got home, and it doesn't look like you're doing much studying." Jade pointed out.

He had a point. I was still on the same page I'd opened the book to.

"I guess so." I conceded, closing the book, "Where's Saffron?"

I'll admit that I tended to favor Saffron's company now. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy Jade's. I just felt closer to Saffron since what had happened with Lacy, though I didn't know why.

Jade seemed to take it all in stride, but I had the distinct feeling that he carried a bit of jealousy over it. I saw it flash in his eyes and sometimes heard it in his voice or in the statements that he would make.

"He's running a few errands. He always takes so long whenever he has to go out. He's worse than a female." Jade scoffed, though it was rather lighthearted.

"You know, you are talking to a female." I reminded him.

Jade chuckled, "I suppose I am."

"Anyway, Jade Mulliken," I continued, "Grandmother told me today that Lacy Manson is in Cedar Groves."

That had his full attention. Whenever I called him Jade Mulliken, he knew that I was going to talk about something that I wanted answers to. It was the equivalent of a mother demanding answers from her child. At least, that was the best that I could liken it to.

"Is that so? I'm surprised that it took them that long to deal with her."

"She's been in there for a few weeks now from what she heard. She said that they found her babbling in a parking garage and she's acting like she's completely lost her mind." I explained.

"I wouldn't call it that. I'd say it was more of a shock to the system. But then, humans tend to be quite fragile, especially when it comes to their minds. Perhaps I did push a little too much." Jade mused.

I put my book aside as I got up to sit beside him. It looked like he might tell me a little bit more about this, and I was now willing to hear about what he'd done.

"So, how'd you do it?" I asked.

"You'd really want to know?" Jade responded, smiling at me. I knew that smile. He was challenging me to delve deeper into this.

"I do. I want to know what you could do to make a person break like that."

I sat perfectly still as he held my chin, looking into my eyes.

"It's very easy. Like I said, humans tend to be incredibly fragile creatures. Most are very weak willed and will do whatever they need to when it comes to survival. However, when you take away all of those options and make them face their worst fears, they tend to lose any trace of sanity that they already had." he explained.

Those cunning eyes had returned. Jade was now in what I referred to as demon mode. He took a perverse pleasure when he had the chance to ruin someone. I had seen it many times when he spoke of Leo's death. It was my reminder of what Jade truly was. Honestly, it was easier for me to think of Jade on this end then Saffron. Like I've said, those two were polar opposites most of the time.

I stood my ground with him, determined not to let him intimidate me. I'd sworn I wouldn't from the day we'd met.

"What did you use? I'm sure that she had a lot of fears. Most people do."

"It was very easy. I convinced her that she keeps having fires erupt all over her body. She still believes it, even now." Jade bragged, finally sitting back again.

"Did anyone ever tell you that you have sadistic tendencies?"

"Sounds like you've been forgetting who I am."

"No, I haven't forgotten." I assured him, "But it does make me consider what might be in store for me when I eventually do die, although I guess that I should've thought of that one before I agreed to our contract."

I found that I was musing then, but I couldn't help it. Hell was Hell in the end, whether it was my current life or the one awaiting me, and if I was completely honest, I carried no regrets at this point. I could face what was awaiting me.

"Perhaps, but it seems that you've been playing favorites lately. I'm rather surprised that you'd find Saffron more appealing than myself. Yet I cannot help but wonder what you would do if he treated you badly like the one before." Jade responded.

"I wouldn't let him, just as I wouldn't let you. You said it yourself. I have the power here as long as I am alive. If I told you to go screw yourself, you'd have to do it." I countered.

Jade grinned, "I see the claws coming out again. Perhaps that is what I find so appealing about you. You have no hesitation to do what you must, even when faced with one like myself or one you may desire more."

"Are you implying that I desire Saffron more than you?"

"I know that you do. I can sense it. What bugs me is that you would not feel the same desire for me. I cannot for the life of me figure that one out, especially considering the things that I do with you."

He did look rather puzzled, and he was right about the things we did together. He was still the best in bed, and the one I was with the most. Still, I decided to hold my ground.

"Wouldn't the answer be obvious?" I told him, "Saffron isn't so much a villain as you."

"Why thank you. I do enjoy it when I am referred to as such. However, I would not put myself down to being the stupid bastard that Saffron tends to act like. Stupidity is what leads to one's downfall." Jade went on.

"Wouldn't that be calling yourself a stupid bastard? You had your own downfall in being cast out of the Heavens." I countered.

Jade blinked as he realized that I'd just bested him on that one. But he quickly regained that infamous composure that he always carried.

"You may be right. However, it is still not the same thing." he stated.

I decided to take my chance then. If anything, it might be interesting to see Jade's reaction.

"Tell me then, are you jealous of Saffron over my attentions?"

Silence fell over the room, lasting a good five minutes before Jade finally answered, "Why in the world would I have any reason to feel jealousy towards him? I think that we both know where your loyalties would lie the most."

"Loyalties?"

"I am speaking of myself. You are alive because of me. You continue to live and feel happiness because I've allowed it to happen. Saffron may be part of this, but he will never be the one who truly controlled your destiny. That is for me alone." Jade stated, moving closer to me again.

My heart began to race as he kissed me. This was nothing unusual between us, and though his words didn't bode well, they were the truth. In the end, Jade was my savoir and I would always feel the connection to him more than any other.

I think that it was at that point that I began wondering if insanity might be a good thing in the long run. But I shook the thought off as he pulled away. I refused to ever let him dominate me with any of this.

"You know, you make it sound like an old saying Grandma used to tell me." I breathed as we remained close.

"Really? And what would that be?" Jade asked, actually sounding curious.

"She'd tell me that everything comes with a price."

"Perhaps so." Jade chuckled, leaning over to my ear. "Let us see what will be yours."