| Frustrated, Jade didn't ask him again. Then after a month, Mike suddenly asked her if she wanted to go on a holiday with him for a week to relax. Jade had trusted him and agreed happily. On the night before Jade was to leave, she had a scary dream of being killed. She told her parents about it but she hadn't known it was her own death she was seeing. Jade didn't know she was a witch yet but her parents did and were very worried. Before this, her parents already knew Jade also had very clear and true dreams, premonitions. Oblivious to the danger she was in, Jade had gone on the plans with Mike. Instead of going for the cruise like they had planned, he took her to a rural area. He had told her not to be alarmed but when she saw the house and the leader. She knew her life was in danger. Before she could even shout for help, she was knocked out unconscious. When she woke up, she was in somewhere unfamiliar but her parents were with her. They were very angry with Mike and had sent people looking for him. They told her that it was fortunate that they had asked some of the most trusted mages in the Witch Council to follow her and save her before Kenny Jim could kill her for her strong powers. It was the moment she knew the truth of her heritage but also the moment she knew betrayal committed by the very one she trusted and loved most. Her parents and Julia were very sympathetic of her but she was almost inconsolable for a very long time. So many times her tears had fallen till she was really tired of crying. She waited for months for Mike to reappear to tell her that they were wrong, that he didn't betray her. Nevertheless he didn't appear. Her parents started to teach her how to use her powers. The first thing she did after she learnt it was to build a shell around her pain and sorrow and locked it away in the deepest part of her soul. Now she sighed deeply. That shell had collapsed when Mike had appeared. She felt more tears trying to force their way out of her eyes. Gabriel looked at her concernedly, "Are you ok? You looked like you are going to cry." She laughed softly and said coolly, "Thank you! Now I really feel like crying." Opps! He hung his head and apologised. Just then the door bell rang again. Jade brushed away the fallen tears and quickly welcomed her friends including Ted and Julia. The band arrived next and the party kicked off. Everyone brought gifts for Jade and for the period that the party lasted, she didn't think of Mike anymore. All of them danced, chatted, ate, sang birthday song and ate the cake throughout the night. When the party was winding down, Gabriel hastily searched for Jade and found her in the kitchen. He pulled her into a quiet room and admitted softly, "Jade, I want you to know that even though we are good friends now, I like you more than just friends. I don't know how you feel towards me but I'm willing to wait for you to answer me. This is for you." He handed her a small box and waited. Jade couldn't speak for a moment. She gazed at him and at the small box in her hand. Her heart speeded up as she slowly opened the box. Inside was a beautiful necklace with a small star and a card. Scarcely able to breathe, she flipped open the simple card. It said: 'I know you are special the first time I met you. I like being your friend, but after all these times, I realised I'd love to stay beside you forever, till death do us part. I love you, Jade.' It was signed 'Love always, Gabriel'. "I don't know what to say, Gabriel. This is too sudden for me to decide now. God knows, I have enough surprises for my birthday. Just now..." She broke off, realising that she had spoken more than she meant to. "What about just now? Jade, you know you can tell me." Gabriel pressed on. After another moment of hesitation, Jade told him all about Mike and their past. Gabriel was so angry that he felt like punching that guy's face for hurting Jade. Yet Jade could talk about it so dispassionately. Maybe it was too painful for her to mention it. "So are you going to charge him for conspiring with that badass Kenny?" Gabriel asked. "No. I don't even know what I gonna do about him! I'm so confused!" Jade answered, exasperated. "You shouldn't let him off so easily! If I were you, I'd lock him up in the jail! Kidnapping is a crime too!" Gabriel said furiously. Jade shook her head and just told him not to do anything rashly. After that, the party ended and all her friends except Julia left. They always had sleepovers on each other's birthdays, this year was no exception. |
| Chapter 4: Fear |