knight in shining armor

Jade who had shared the news about her plans to go to the border had surprised everyone apart from Lydia who was already aware of her plans.

While they were in their room, concerned Lydia couldn't help but ask. "Jade why are you rushing into making such a big decision? You know it's not everyday that luck befalls a person. We were lucky when we came to Avianna because we met a kind woman, but what if something bad happens to you? What if you meet some vampire, or maybe a witch and they kil...." "Nothing is going to happen to me Lydia. I will be okay. Just be a little optimistic this time." Jade cut off her friend who seemed to be very worried.

"Okay then. I hope that you will be fine, but I will be worried until I hear from you. One more thing I will be the one....". "Yes you will be the one to choose the dress that I will wear." Jade cut off her friend since she knew what she was about to say which made the both of them laugh.

That night, Jade kept on tossing on the bed. Though she acted as if she was okay in front of everyone including her friend Lydia, she was really scared. Scared that the devil might show up even in her dreams. Maybe after she's far away, all her fears would magically disappear because fear was eating her at that moment. If only her father was here with her, maybe he would have assured her that everything would be okay, just as he did when she was a little girl. But he was now long gone and she had to live with that.

As She continued to lay on the bed, she heard someone softly knocking the door. Jade turned to look at Lydia who was softly snarling. Not sure if there was a knock at the door, Jade lit the candle that was on her bedside and got out of the room only to see Joseph standing in front of the door.

"Joseph what are you doing here?" Jade asked in a whisper so that she could not wake anyone up. "I came here because I wanted to talk to you before you leave tomorrow. Could you please spare some minutes so that we can talk?"Joseph asked as he looked at jade who was shorter than him. "O-okay what do you want to talk about?" Asked jade who was completely oblivious. " Let's go to the backyard I wouldn't want to wake Lydia up." Joseph replied as he led the way to the backyard. Though it was time of the night, the moon shone brightly providing light and as they stood under the moonlight, Joseph had not uttered a word which made Jade to clear her throat.

"Jade, I had planned to tell you this for a long time now but I have never gathered enough courage say it to you but now that you are leaving it feels as if I am too late. Jade I love you." Joseph confessed as he deeply looked into jade's eyes who seemed to be taken aback by that confession. What was she supposed to say, for crying out loud! "I,,,,I." Jade stuttered but nothing came out of her mouth. "It's okay if you don't feel the way I do but if you could give me a chance, I'd prove to you that what I'm saying comes from the heart." Joseph said without breaking eye contact.

Jade tried to speak but nothing came out of her mouth she always had replies but this time she didn't know what to say and as if Joseph understood her, he was the one who talked."Jade I will wait for your answer whether it's a yes or a no. I don't want you to feel obliged to reciprocate my feelings, but if you eventually realize that you also have feelings for me, I will be here waiting." Joseph said and at that time, Joseph delicately took her hand that was resting by her side and kissed it at the back leaving jade speechless. "I love you jade." Joseph repeated his words . " Now let's get you inside you will be having a very long journey ahead of you tomorrow. So and take a rest. Joseph said as he stepped aside so that Jade would walk ahead of him.

"When Jade got back to bed, her mind was in a total mess. Not even once did she ever think that Joseph had feelings for her....After thinking for a very long time, jade finally fell asleep.

*********************

In the royal court, Alvin sat on the throne while talking to the messanger who had brought some bad news and the king didn't seem to be pleased at all. "It seems that those stupid vampires didn't get what I had said. How many humans have they killed?" He asked with the little patient that he had. " Twenty humans your highness. When I asked one of our kind, he said that their chief had given the vampires permission to take blood from humans." The messanger replied without raising his head.

"Okay then, I will head there today. Tell Edgar to prepare the carriage." The king said and walked out of the room. Though he had planned to meet his woman that day, it seemed that his love would have to wait because lives were at stake. He needed to teach that empty headed chief a lesson.

As the king sat inside his fancy carriage, Jade also sat inside another carriage while heading to the border, the same place that the king was heading.

The journey had been a long one and Jade had a lot going on her mind which made her not realize that they had already reached the border. "Here we are madame." The coachman said and Jade got out of the carriage. After paying the coachman, jade took her luggage and started to walk while looking for a place to stay for the night.

Darkness had already started to dominate but jade had not found a place she could rest for the night. Not realizing that there were three men behind her, Jade walked on the lonely alley in hopes that she could at least find someone who could take her in for the night. When she turned around, she saw three men behind her which made her nervous. Jade tried to increase while turning around to see if the men were still after her but they were still after her. Before she could get a chance to ran, on of the men held her roughly by the shoulder which made her stagger.

"Please don't harm me."Jade pleadingly said while looking at them each at a time. Seeing that this men couldn't listen to her pleas, Jade started to take slow deliberate steps backwards but one of the men grabbed her wrist and instantly let her go which made her fall on the dusty ground.

"She looks delicious, I don't think anyone has sunk their fangs on that fragile neck." A man with a scar on the cheek said and the other two men laughed. After a short struggle Jade finally got up while holding sand with both her hands, before the scarred man could come closer, Jade threw sand on the man's eyes which made him groan in pain. When the other two saw that they quickly came at her and one of the men roughly grabbed her hair and the other man held her hands singlehandedly. When the man's face cane closer to her, she saw his canines lengthen. They were vampires.

Jade tried to wiggle her way out, but those vampires were stronger than her. When Jade saw the man leaning closer to her neck, she slowly closed her eyes and waited for her doom but that never came. The hands that held her tightly loosened their grip and in no time, she heard him fall on the ground with a thud. When she opened her eyes, was surprised to see him there...The demon! He was here too and he had already killed the three vampires who lay on the dusty ground lifelessly. "You are safe now Jade. I am here." Those were the last words that jade heard before she passed out in his arms.