Chapter Seventeen

Star and Jade's confrontation with Tygra�

Jade and Star warily reached the second to last floor. Before them was a long stretch of a curved hallway. Anything could be lurking around the corner just waiting for them to advance…and they would. They had to continue onward for on the next and final floor would be Drake where he undoubtedly held Tygra against her will.
The two girls gave each other cautious glances as they continued down the curving hall leading to their last set of stairs. Neither one could shake the feeling that something was lurking around them though the path before them was clear of enemies.
Star held her sword wearily at her side; her body ached from the battles she fought and stairs she had climbed. Her gaze fell to Jade's robust form. How could she possibly be standing? Does she feel no pain?
A deafening screech sounded through the empty hall suddenly. Instantly, Jade grabbed Star's wrist, pulling her towards the inner wall. Her gazed then fell to Star's as she placed a finger to her lips, signaling her to not to make a sound. After another ear piercing cry echoed around them, Jade's gaze locked onto a creature high above them.
A sigh escaped her lips as she stepped forward, crossing her arms over her chest. "Esceaina, what are you doing?" She questioned her voice cool and collective. "Trying to give me a heart attack?"
The creature merely laughed; a low playful sound it was as she straightened her winged arms, gradually allowing herself to come down to Jade's level. "Maybe, my dear old friend. Maybe." She commented, smiling warmly. Her body was covered in bluish scales and her platinum colored hair was tinted in much of the same color. She looked Jade up and down with interest. "You have changed quite a bit. I wasn't sure you were you until I was able to get a better look."
Jade huffed slightly. "It seems everybody’s been saying that these days.”
Star stepped away from the wall, her sword still held tightly within her grasp as she looked Esceaina over carefully. “Jade, who is this?”
“This is Esceaina. She just did a little errand for me.” Jade held her hand out towards Esceaina. “You did get it back for me, right?”
“But of course.” Esceaina answered handing her a small leather pouch. “Now that my job is done, I assume that I may return home?”
“That was the deal.”
Esceaina nodded as she moved her arms in an upward motion slowly. "Take care." Then, just as fast as she came, she was gone.
“What did she give you?” Star asked, peering over Jade's shoulder intriguingly.
“Something we'll be needing if we want to get Tygra back." Jade answered as she pulled the string open to the leather pouch. After placing her hand inside she pulled out her golden bracelet Drake had taken from her. She placed it back around her wrist. "Come on, we should get going." She continued to walk down the hall, Star immediately following after. We need to hurry…we don't have that much time left…

Tygra paced impatiently within Drake's chamber, alone, waiting for the arrival of Jade and her newly found sister, Star. Drake had told her he would be leaving for just a moment to check on things. She wasn't quite sure what he was going to be checking, and wasn't too sure if she really cared. At the moment, she had her own concerns occupying her mind at the moment.
Will I really be able to do this? She bit anxiously on her thumb nail as she continued to pace to and fro within the room. Drake said this will be the only way to stop Jade…But, can I really do such a thing to Star?
She was then ripped from her thoughts at the sound of the door came open with a bang. Tygra whirled around to see Jade entering the room; Star cautiously entering in behind her, her sword held out before her guardedly.
Jade paused for the moment, studying her closely as Star's vigilant gaze turned to relief at the first sight of Tygra. She lowered her blade to her side, stepping out before Jade towards her. "Tygra-"
Without a moment's hesitation, Tygra raised her left hand, gathering the energy within her, forming it into a tightly woven ball of fire. "Stay where you are." Her tone was harsh, demanding.
Star stood where she was, perplexed by Tygra's actions. "What?"
“Star, get back." Jade stated walking towards her. She placed a hand to her arm, pushing her gently away. "She doesn’t' seem to be herself at the moment."
“Please! Don't pretend you care whether she lives or dies." She said in a playful tone. "You could care less if anyone survives, isn't that right, Jade?"
Jade wrapped her hand around the hilt to Star's sword, taking the blade from Star's vulnerable grip, before moving slowly towards Tygra. Star looked between Tygra and the sword Jade now held tightly within her grasp. "Jade, you can't-"
"You're a real idiot, Jade." Tygra continued in a low taunting tone of voice, ignoring Star's plead to Jade. "Did you seriously think that you, of all people, would be able to hide your true intensions forever?"
“Tygra, what are you talking about?” Star asked taking a step forwards.
“Shut up! No one asked you to speak!” Tygra yelled angrily and threw her ball of fire towards Star, aiming to strike her face.
Star's eyes widened as she saw the fireball come closer. She raised her arms before her in an attempt to shield herself when Jade ran out before her. Jade held arms over her face as the ball of fire came in direct contact with arms. Black smoke drifted up into the air as Jade lowered her arms, her black sleeves now a tattered mess from the raging flames.
Tygra's hand fell limply to her side as she stepped away confounded at what she had just witnessed. If she is truly as evil as Drake claims, wouldn't she have just killed me instead of putting herself at risk?
She watched as Jade stepped back towards Star, her gaze not once leaving her own. “Star, take this.” Jade ordered, handing Star her golden bracelet. “You’ll need this a lot more than I will, it seem.”
“But Jade . . .” Star began worriedly then stopped as she studied Jade's determined features. Her blackened eyes soon turned into a bright red as she held her sword high. She looks pretty angry right now. She looked down to the bracelet within her hand, and then slipped the cold metal onto her own wrist. Please, let everything work out.
Jade came closer to Tygra, gripping the hilt of her sword painfully tight as she looked her directly in the eyes. “And as for my true intensions, Tygra, you have no clue what they even are.”
"Is that so? So, you’re not out to destroy all life in both worlds?" Tygra huffed slightly. "Don’t make me laugh.” She raised her hand once more, instantly gathering her energy for another attack.
"So, my dream was true…Drake turned you against me." Jade's eyes turned back to normal, her fury fading as she realized what was actually happening. It seems I'll have to show her the truth. She loosened her grip upon the hilt of her sword and allowed it to fall down to the floor.
“Jade! What are you doing?” Star cried.
“I'll be taking that as a confession.” Tygra commented without doubt and with her hand still held high, cast the fireball towards her.
“Jade!”
Jade looked to her sword lying a few inches before her on the stone floor. She then looked back to Tygra and smiled as her attack closed in on her.
Tygra narrowed her eyes questionably. What is she planning?
Jade slammed her foot down onto the handle of the blade, causing it to fly into the air. She caught it, grasping the hilt tightly, placing the blade before her face as a shield. The fireball hit the sword, splitting it in half. The two halves of the fireball hit the walls on either side of the room, completely missing both her and Star.
“But…How . . .?” Tygra, said aloud unable to believe her own eyes. I never even saw her damn moves!
“Jade!” Star cried, running towards her. “Are you alright?”
She ignored Star’s question glaring angrily towards Tygra. “Listen, Tygra. If I wanted to destroy both worlds, do you really think I would need that spell? Especially since I could have done this over a thousand years ago?” She screamed, slicing the air diagonally with her sword. Her eyes began to glow fiery red once more.
“What are you talking about?” Tygra questioned her clearly confused.
“Over one thousand years ago, I was an Encryptarian! Just like you! Just like Star! And I had the necklace! Thee necklace to do any spell I wished! But, I separated my necklace into three pieces. Jade had walked over to Tygra, placing three fingers in her face. She dropped her hand and continued. “Three pieces so the necklace wouldn’t be of any danger to anyone. Your ancestors had your necklace, which I made sure you got, and I kept this one.” Jade lifted her necklace and jiggled it. She then let if fall back down onto her chest. “And the jewel was placed into Lecriema’s Temple, but was stolen! By Drake!” Jade shouted; she had never been this angry with Tygra before.
“That’s right. You had the perfect chance back then and still do. With those powers, you could have killed everyone with just your bare hands.” Tygra said, lowering her hand. All the energy she had summoned she allowed to dwindle away.
“I should have known.” said a low voice. Drake suddenly appeared behind Tygra.
Jade grabbed Tygra’s arm pulling her over to Star.
“Drake!” Jade screamed, raising her sword before her, her eyes glowing even brighter.
“You can’t defeat me with that!” he said. He held his hand out at his side, summoning a blade to his call.
“Try me.” Jade said, smiling her eyes changing back. “Don't tell me you have forgotten what happened the last time we fought.” Her smile widened as she remembered the event.
“Humph! Let’s do this!” Drake said and with incredible strength, he brought his sword down, right on Jade’s head.
“Well that didn’t take long.” Drake said then felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around hastily, and before he could react Jade punched him in the jaw, causing him to fall back a few feet from the blow.
Lightly rubbing his jaw, Drake stood back up to his feet, watching her carefully. “Damn… I forgot about that speed of yours.”
“Well, I guess that's your problem then.” Jade glanced over towards Tygra and Star. “You two, stay out of this. I don’t want to end up killing one of you by mistake.”
"Where is all of this energy of Jade’s coming from? She’s not even using her special powers!" Tygra questioned aloud, more to herself then to anyone. "Was she hiding her true powers all this time?"
“I can't believe how much you’ve changed. Before, you wouldn’t have even bothered to save that little wench." Drake said raising his sword. "Not to mention the fact of using your own body as a shield for Star. I thought I taught you better then that.”
“That’s all in the past, Drake. I have to make my amends.”
“Yeah, right. By using yourself as a-”
“Shut up!” Jade exclaimed bringing her sword out before her and smiled. “Shall we continue?”
The two continued to fight, eternally enemies in a seemingly endless battle with neither one of them landing a devastating blow. Both were of equal strength; or could it be that maybe one of them was holding back?
“Do you think that Jade can win against Drake?” Star questioned Tygra but received no response in return. She looked to her tensely. "Tygra?'
Tygra continued to watch the fight before her, unmoving, unwavering as her mind began to spin with her racing thoughts. She wasn't sure what to believe anymore. One minute, Drake was to be this horrid man out to destroy the worlds as they new them. Then, she was to believe it was truly Jade who wished to destroy the worlds. And now, things were back to the way they had initially started! What was she to believe? Who was she to believe? She just wanted everything to stop. The accusing, the fighting…chaos seemed to be all around her. Why wouldn't it just stop?
Her blank features crumbled as she began to cry falling limply to her knees.
“Tygra? What s wrong?” Star exclaimed, kneeling down beside her, attempting to snap her out of it.
But Tygra still didn't respond as her gaze was locked onto the fight before her. Why won't they just stop? Why must they keep fighting like this?
“Tygra! Tygra, can you hear me?” Star yelled as she began to shake Tygra by the shoulders. Damn it! She's in shock!
Jade pushed back Drake's attack when she heard Star’s desperate pleas to Tygra. She glanced over, seeing Star sitting beside Tygra shaking her. Tygra's eyes were empty of any thought or emotion and she seemed to be oblivious of Star attempts to get her attention.
Drake took this opportunity to make his next attack and brought his blade from the right side, cutting Jade deeply a crossed her abdomen. She fell to her knees, supporting herself with one hand as she clenched her stomach painfully with the other; her sword only inches from her grasp. Drake stepped towards her; his triumphal smile chilling her down to her very bones.