Ash eventually left me so I could take a shower. I scrub the remaining dry blood off my skin and out of my hair. It helps me feel a little better. Right now, I don't want to think. I put on spandex shorts and a sports bra. The best distraction for me has always been training.

The throbbing in my head worsens causing me to wince. What the hell is going on?

A soft knock on my door disrupts me. I open it to reveal Zach. He looks like he wants to say something but doesn't. His eyes look so sad. I wonder why.

"Spar with me." He nods in agreement and follows me down to the basement. The lights automatically turn on when we enter. Gym equipment fills the entire space as well as a bathroom with a shower and sauna area in the back corner. The walls are a grey concrete bare of decorations and windows. I lead us to the matted area and we begin. No weapons just hand to hand combat.

After the third time of knocking Zach down, he finally talks. "Do you want to tell me what happened?" I jab with my right hand but he dodges.

"I fought off a group of rogues. Nothing eventful."

"Don't lie to me. We all know that something happened."

"Fine, something happened and I'm not telling you. I came down here to forget about it so stop making me remember it."

"It's not good to bottle things up." He advises.

"What are you? My counselor?"

"No, I'm a friend."

"No, you're a soldier who is here to protect the prince and follow my orders. Nothing more. Now shut up and fight." I swipe his leg and connect making him fall to the floor. He recovers fast and gets back on his feet.

"I'm more than that. We are connected now. Don't you feel it? I've felt it since the night I was marked. That's why I was so worried about you. I could feel your pain. That something was wrong." He's standing in front of me panting softly and has his guard dropped. I do feel it. Now that I'm by his side but it's the slightest nudge trying to get inside my head. With this headache, it's hard to feel much of anything.

"No, I don't."

"You will. Once you start feeling better." He moves the damp hair stuck to my forehead off my face and keeps his hand on the side of my head. The other he rests gently on the bare skin of my side. "It's your head." He says and gently places his forehead on mine. Slowly the pain subsides.

"How'd you do that?" I ask whispering softly.

"That night we were bonded. I was told that I was to protect you at all costs and to help you through this journey. I'm not sure how I was able to do this. Or how I could use the angel fire that night. This is all new to me as it is to you but we'll figure it out together."

"If you stay with me you die," I tell him as I remember my vision.

"I would gladly die for you. Without you, we all die." I open my eyes surprised at what he says and I meet his hypnotizing green eyes.

"What?"

"Am I interrupting something?" Constantine asks from the doorway of the gym. He's leaning against the doorframe glaring at the both of us.

"Yes," I tell him keeping my voice emotionless. Zach takes his hands off me and takes a step back. What perfect fucking timing he has. What did Zach mean? Without me we all die, he said but who told him that. First, I'm hearing I'm going to lead the world to darkness and now I'm it's only hope. Both I hear from people I don't even know. How do I know what they're saying is true? Someone is lying but who?

With my headache now reduced to a dull ache, I can feel our connection now. His heart beat true and strong. Every breath he inhales and exhales. His fear of what's to come but his bravery to continue through it all.

"What we're discussing is private. Leave." I order.

"You're keeping secrets from me now? Ouch, that hurts." Constantine says placing a hand over his heart.

"Once a liar always a liar. I don't trust you and I'm not in the mood to talk to you so I'll repeat, leave."

"I'm not going anywhere luv and you must stop calling me a liar."

"I only speak the truth."

"Alright, I'll bite. What did I lie to you about?"

"Just leave," I say through gritted teeth.

"No, you want to call me liar fine but I don't see any evidence to back up your claim."

"Evidence! All the evidence you need is in your fucking head. I was able to sneak a peek one night into that mind of yours." Surprise fills his features but he quickly turns his face back to a neutral expression. "You know what I saw? That everything was a fucking lie. The night you found me, the pack I was fighting off wasn't your bounty, I was! You were never there to help me. I was just another job to you and then once you started getting your dick wet you decided to keep me around. You lied Constantine. You used me and in the end, you were going to hand me over like some sack of worthless shit to Raiden! The same guy you're here trying to protect me from. You're only here out of guilt but I just want you to leave. I was happy without you in my life. I had forgotten about you but you just don't get it. We're done! We will never be together again!" I finish screaming and clench my shaking hands into fists. He was so good to me but it was all an act. To him, I was just another payday.

"Who's the one lying now? You didn't forget about me. The tattoo on your back is proof of it. What did I always say to you before a battle? You're the dragon and everyone else is your pray." He's made his way across the room and is standing a couple feet in front of me. I close the gap between us so we're standing nose to nose. We glare daggers at each other for a minute until I speak.

"And who do you think is the serpent." When I got the tattoo, it was a promise to myself to never let myself get fooled again. I am the dragon and anyone who gets in my way will face my wrath. I turn to walk away but Constantine tugs me back toward him. My vision flashes red as I yank my arm from his grip. I whirl around and thrust my hand out meaning to shove him away but before I can even touch him he's being flung across the room.

His body smacks the wall. I look at my hands in shock. It's the same thing that happened with my sword. They just moved. I've never been able to do that before. How is this even possible?

I flip my hand's palm up then palm down repeatedly as if staring at my hands will give me the answers I need.

"I didn't know it was Raiden until a couple days ago." Constantine grunts as he gets back on his feet. My attention snaps from my hands to him.

"You think that makes any of this better? It doesn't. No matter who was paying you, you were going to hand me over to them and that's the problem."

"I was never going to give you to them Jade." He barely whispers. I don't know if I was supposed to hear or not but I did.

"I don't believe you." I spit out in disgust.

"Then look! If you don't believe me look inside my head! You'll see the truth. It started off as a job but then it quickly became personal. I decided long before you and I were together that I would never let you go. I was in love with you! When I woke up and you were gone I feared they had found you and taken you away. I searched relentlessly for you but there was no trace until my vision that led me to Barron's doorstep. Just look luv and you'll have all the answers you want." He's standing in front of me once again with pleading eyes.

"It doesn't matter Constantine!" I scream getting even angrier. I didn't even know that was possible but he just doesn't understand. "Nothing you say or do will change what happened. Nothing you say or do can make it better. You nearly destroyed me and I won't make the mistake of letting it ever happen to me again." A warm hand is placed on my shoulder and I look to see Zach. I forgot he was down here. That's not like me to forget my surroundings. I meet his eyes and a sense of calm washes over me. My body stops shaking from rage and my breathing slows to normal. Exhaustion sweeps over me which is odd. I haven't felt tired since I was seven. Today has been full of new information.

First, I move my sword with my mind then I hear I'm going to lead the demons to freedom on earth. When I get home, Zach heals my headache and I discover this bond we have. Lastly, I fling Constantine into a wall, which is a lot bigger than a sword and I can't pretend might not have happened, and now I'm sleepy. It's all too much. When did it all get so complicated and dramatic? I liked it when it was simple. I was given a mission then I would complete it. Easy and straightforward. Now, it's anything but those two things.

"Please luv. Please believe me." I look into his beautiful blue eyes. His facial expression makes it look as if he's in pain. With my new feeling of calm, I take a deep breath.

"What's in the past is in the past. There's nothing we can do about it except forget and move on." I say and surprise myself. I'm never this level-headed. Usually, I'm a kick their ass until I feel better kind of headed.

I begin to take my leave until I stop dead in my tracks. My headache comes back suddenly even worse than before and it begins to spread. Down to my chest and arms. Over my belly to my thighs and finally to the tips of my toes. I drop to my knees and curl up into the fetal position. My vision blurs in and out of darkness. What's happening to me?

I try moving but nothing responds. I can't even talk. A burning sensation adds to the feeling that I'm being beaten by hundreds of sledgehammers. Pain so much pain but it isn't the worst part. I can feel my wall cracking and the darkness oozing through. No, I won't let you out. I won't let you control me.

"Control you. I don't want to control you. I want to be a part of you. To be free and help you. To show you your full potential." It whispers seductively.

"I will never let you free," I whisper as the pain increases. "You will never be free." It just laughs at me. A bone-chilling chuckle. Through the pain, I use all I have left to patch my wall. I can't let it out. It can't be free. I can't let it out. It can't be free. I find myself chanting over and over but no matter how hard I push it somehow pushes harder.

"Jade." Who's saying that? It's not the darkness. The voice is too kind. Too gentle. "Fight." The voice whispers. "Fight." It says again and the voice gives me strength. With every last drop of energy I have left I blast the darkness behind the wall and mend it together to keep it trapped. I let out a sigh of relief. I did it but I have a feeling this is only a temporary fix. My body still hurts. Every inch of me burns.

"Sleep." The voice whispers. I wonder if an angel is speaking to me. My vision clears for a brief few seconds and I see Zach leaning over me. "Sleep." The voice says again. As I fade into unconsciousness I realize the voice isn't an angel, it's Zach.

________

Author's Notes:

Now you know why Jade is so unhappy with Constantine. What do you think could be causing Jade's headaches and causing her walls to crack? Stick around to find out. Please remember to vote, comment, and share.