[color=silver][indent][indent][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/w4aezkv.png[/img]
[sub]a [@metanoia] & [@BrutalBx] collaboration
[i]featuring [color=e62020]The Angel Princess[/color] & [color=63773b]The Devil of Eden[/color][/i][/sub][h3][sub]TIME STAMP: The Friday before “Paint the Silence”[/sub][/h3]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/ZrpvjYd.png[/img]    [img]https://i.imgur.com/KCs9p3B.png[/img]    [img]https://i.imgur.com/ughlJPp.png[/img]
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Maybe for a while now (probably a week tops), something has felt off for Jade and her usual routine. In the past, any time she felt like she was having a bad day, taking a small bump or a pill of E courtesy of Prof or whoever was handling the corner whenever she came by (maybe it was Sonny?), and she would immediately feel the weight on her shoulders and crushing her into oblivion feel like it was being lifted off of her neck and shoulders.

But what was she to do with a feeling that was nothing like her usual stress? Stress about Charlie, but that was a common thing and she hasn’t necessarily thought about him in a self-destructive way since the week after the carlisle house. That wasn’t to say she didn’t have images of him occasionally pop into her head and also in her dreams, but ever since going to the diner every week and meeting with Anya, getting to know her just a little more for the last three weeks, that was the highlight of her every Sunday.

And when she went to visit her uncle every Monday, bright and early, she’d tell him about the girl simply known as Pancake. She’d gush about how with every week, she was falling back into a routine.

And it was no different this week, but at the same time, she felt something in the air. No, it wasn’t the cheap perfume she found at Victoria James’ Well Loved Wonders shop. It was an almost fruity scent of cherry and had a slight minty aroma. In Jade’s crummy apartment, it hid the odor of cigarettes and Jack Daniels. It wasn’t even the day old bread she bought from the corner mart. What felt off for Jade wasn’t anything in the apartment — it was something in the air like a ghost or some bad feeling that she couldn’t shake.

The blonde tuned out whatever crappy rerun of Cops that played on whatever channel she had it on and she sank into her couch. She had recently decided to go to the rent-a-center in Boston and pick up a new couch. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it was more comfortable than the crappy one she had a few months back. At least it had cushion this time around. She sank into it, feeling herself become relaxed. It might help that she may have taken some kind of xanax with a shot of whiskey to help with ridding herself of that bad feeling that might not be hovering over her head like a rainy winter night in Edenridge.

[i]Knock. Knock. Knock.[/i]

Jade shook herself slowly out of a light sleep. [color=e62020]“What?”[/color] She looked around, noticing the time and that she was out for at least an hour. Something woke her up and it wasn’t until another series of knocks until the neon sign came clear and she whipped herself off her bed, falling to her knees since she stood up while still half-asleep, knees bouncing off of the hard floor.

[color=e62020]“Yeah, I heard you the first time! Just give me a damn fucking minute!”[/color] A certain impatience that those closest to her would recognize from a happier time in the distant past came through as she rose to her feet, brushing off whatever dirt was on her sweatpants. Jade wore a red top to match her black pants and she had white socks on it because she had to add spice and surprise to her comfort wardrobe. 

As she opened the door, her eyes were half open, so Jade hadn’t registered exactly who was at the door. [color=e62020]“Yeah, what do you want?”[/color] She asked, a hand behind her neck as she tried to massage it somewhat. Her blue-green eyes had that temporary flare of someone in a foul mood only to be replaced with something that she couldn’t put into words, but the closest she was feeling at the moment was complete and utter shock.

[color=63773B]”You must be Jade. Hi, I’m Cameron!”[/color]

Hyde’s tone was jovial, almost pleasant but even still, underneath it all was the same vile venom that he had become his signature. He scanned the young woman very quickly, he had heard things and stories about Jade Taylor whilst he was still locked up. He had heard about the suicide blonde dressed in leather and looking to kill all of man and women kind with her edge which was sharper than any blade.

Jade’s routine wasn’t hard to figure out. Hyde had been following her for weeks and by this point pretty much knew where she was going to be at what time and with who. The most curious of the things that she did was have breakfast regularly with his sister. That was something interesting. Hyde had never seen Anya be anything other than what she was but in the brief moments with Jade, she was a new beast entirely. 

He did not wait for an invitation, the cold hearted handsome devil simply brushed by Jade and entered her shitty apartment. As he did with every room he ever entered, Hyde looked around for escape routes, weapons and surveillance; a force of habit of course. He went to her fridge and pulled an ice cold beer from it, popping the cap off using the counter top.

[color=63773B]“Your uncle sent me.”[/color]

Jade was frozen. The usually hot-tempered angel princess whose passion and words often oozed out a reckless fire met its match with Cameron Hyde. She had never met the man, but the stories alone from both news outlets and from those within the southside, the name Cameron Hyde was one that you didn’t forget. Jade sure as hell wouldn’t. And that’s because of the things he did to Aleyda. She and Ley may not have been romantically involved since her freshman year (if you could say it was romance), but to say that Jade wasn’t still very much protective over her friend would, at the very least, be a mistake. Despite that, Jade found herself overcome with so much that it took her a few moments after he stepped into her apartment to process it.

But when she did and he said her Uncle Charlie sent him, alarms went off in her head. It’s like her body, from head to toe, had entered a forced defrosting mode. Her fire returned and under normal circumstances, Jade would be in his face, smacking the beer out of his hand for even implying that her uncle Charlie would associate himself with the likes of Cameron Hyde. But if the stories were true, which she almost definitely believed they were, Jade had to exercise caution. [color=e62020]“Did he now?”[/color] She asked, taking a few cautious steps forward. Her legs shook but she tried to not let it show by keeping a direct gaze with his eyes. [color=e62020]“And how is it that you’d know my uncle? Personally, I mean. He’s been in prison since last year. If you want me to believe you, you’re gonna have to try a little harder than what you just said.”[/color] Let it not be mistaken, Jade was experiencing more fear, more anxiety, more absolute dread than even she felt when she had heard Charlie died or even when she heard the sounds of ReyRey beating up Charlie, but out of self-preservation alone, Jade had to appear unphased.

[color=63773B]“I was locked up with him.”[/color] Hyde spoke very matter of factly. His eyes never left the young woman as he took a drink from his stolen beverage. The stories he had heard were true; beneath those baggy clothes was a body to kill for. Who knows? Maybe one day he would? Or he could just take it? Who could stop him? Nobody, they daren’t even try. [color=63773B]“He heard that this place was going to hell, got worried and knew I was getting out so he asked me to keep an eye on you.”[/color] He put the beer down on the counter and folded his arms. She was living in borderline squalor, it was almost a turn off. [color=63773B]”I would tell him not to be worried because this place’s smell alone would send anybody packing.”[/color]

Jade took a hard glance at Cameron. And then another until she couldn’t decide if she should slap him for disrespecting Edenridge or if she should laugh because despite the stories she’s heard about this man, she also knew a good joke when she heard it. [color=e62020]“And yet I’m still here,”[/color] she remarked, moving past him and opening the fridge. She let the cool air hit her face and she grabbed one of her crappy beers. She closed it, leaned against the fridge, feeling it tip back, and gathered herself. Thoughts and other unsavory crap flooded her mind. Even as she pressed her lips against the tip of the bottle, took a sip of the mediocre beer, she hadn’t allowed herself to not look at Cameron Hyde.

She was pondering why her Uncle Charlie had decided to send him as her protector? Or why would he even accept? [color=e62020]“If my uncle really did ask you, then he must’ve spoken a lot about me, so then he may have told you I don’t take nobody’s crap.”[/color] Jade was terrified right now, but she didn’t feel threatened. Well, it’s not like she ever shied away from any situation where her well-being was in danger and when it wasn’t. [color=e62020]“What’s in it for you? Nobody does anything, especially when it involves me, if they don’t get something out of it for themselves.”[/color] Everything in her was on fire. Why did she suddenly feel the need to be so careless and fearless? Maybe she truly had a death wish and that bad feeling was the preparation for her demise. [color=e62020]“There must be [i]something[/i] in it for you.”[/color]

Hyde enjoyed bringing fear into a room, it was like nectar from the Gods. He could feel terror in every vein, in every pore. It was his sustenance. He could tell Jade was scared but he wasn’t afraid. That was interesting. She was trying to play games with him, a self preservation technique no doubt. It was reminiscent of someone else that he used to know, someone who challenged him like no other and funnily enough, Hyde knew that Jade had a history with that person. 

[color=63773B]”I can think of a few ways you could pay me back.”[/color] He has heard all the talk and Hyde would be lying if he wasn’t curious as to what was beneath the clothes. Jade seemed to have a presence that attracted different dangers. Aleyda, Anya and now him. [color=63773B]”But it’s not that complicated, I owe your uncle a favor. He took care of me whilst I was inside, his mistake naturally but that’s all there is to it.”[/color]

Making his way over to the window, Hyde looked out across the Southside; his fingers drumming together in the way that Mrs Ramsey had taught him. A simple method to keep the monster in check. He wasn’t particularly fond of Charlie Taylor but a promise and loyalty went a hell of a long way. Still, it didn’t stop him from imagining grabbing Jade by her throat and throwing her through this window. Why? He could see it coming. She was going to break his sister's heart. Hyde could see it in their interactions, the way Anya’s face lit up in a way that didn’t involve pancakes. [color=63773B]”I won’t interfere with your life. You keep doing you but if I get a whiff of trouble, I’ll be there. You need me, I’ll be there.”[/color]

The Angel Princess spent a few moments processing everything Cameron told her. After she got over the sheer grossness that consumed her at his not-so-subtle offer. She heard that kind of offer from one-too-many guys at Edge and generally anywhere she went, thinking that the only way to thank them was by taking them somewhere with minimal privacy and showing them a good time. It wasn’t and she would rather poke the beast than ever go down [i]that[/i] road.

Yes, but after she got past it and as she watched him gaze out the mirror like a wolf or some other kind of howl-at-the-moon beast, Jade marinated on the things he told her. Charlie Taylor had helped him out and his payment was Cameron Hyde being her silent protector.

[color=e62020][i]What were you thinking, Uncle Charlie?[/i][/color]

She didn’t quite understand what he [i]was[/i] thinking, but her uncle always had a reason for his actions. Even if one of them resulted in his initial incarceration. [color=e62020]“I don’t know, buddy, this is the southside. It’s a pretty dangerous place. Take one wrong turn and it’s lights out.”[/color] Jade walked over back to the couch and took a seat, keeping her eyes on her new [i]protector[/i]. [color=e62020]“Not that I’m saying I would go where I shouldn’t, but you speak as though you’d be able to prevent any harm coming to me. That’s a pretty bold statement to make.”[/color]

[color=63773b][i]Was she being serious?[/i][/color]

[i]SMASH[/i]

With a great crack, Hyde launched his glass bottle into the wall and like lightning shot across the room, which caused Jade to flinch in the worst way. He stood behind Jade on the couch and placed his hands on her shoulders; his grip was firm and tight but not painful, yet. [color=63773B]”You know who I am?”[/color] Cameron hissed. [color=63773B]”You know what I can do?”[/color] With every pause in the sentence, his fingers pressed a little harder into her collar bone. [color=63773B]”The word is already out on the street. Your Uncle made a deal with the devil and you are protected.”[/color] The vitriol in that final word. [i]Protected[/i] It was as if a cobra had spat its poison directly into your ear to make its way into your central nervous system and kill you in an instant. This was the man they told stories of. 

[color=63773B]Jade. No one will touch you or they will have me on their doorstep but don’t take this as a friendship.”[/color] His hands made their way around her throat, he didn’t squeeze, not her. [color=63773B]”Like I said, I won’t interfere but you do me wrong, in any way, I will reach my fingers down your throat and I will rip off your jaw.”[/color]

He released her and took a few steps back before walking back to her fridge and grabbing another beer. [color=63773B]”One for the road.”[/color] He popped the cap of the beer and looked at the blonde. [color=63773B]”Are you having breakfast with that girl from the diner soon?”[/color]

[color=e62020][i]What…what just happened?[/i][/color]

Only a minute ago, Jade was half-grinning, watching Cameron with a curious gaze, asking him about some hypotheticals that [i]might[/i] happen and, like a domino effect from hell, loud crashes, raw terror that Jade had never felt before in her life, and the closest to death that the Angel Princess has ever come all flashed before her in a flash. For all she knew, it could have been longer and it probably was. Somewhere from the crash of a beer bottle and the touch of hands pushing on her neck and throat, she checked out yet heard every word.

This was the side of the man that she heard so much about…no not necessarily a man. A demon…

[color=e62020]“Huh?”[/color] She shook her head as Hyde asked about the diner. She averted his direct gaze, looking down. She held the beer in one hand and the other shook, a clear result of what she experienced. [color=e62020]“I..”[/color] She froze, finding it extremely difficult to find her thoughts. Her throat was dry and she couldn’t stop shaking. So she took a deep swig of her beer, downing it in a few more. [color=e62020]“N-not until Sunday”[/color] was all Jade could force out.

Hyde nodded his head before having a swig from the bottle. [color=63773B]”Her favourite color is Royal Blue. You want to impress her? There’s a dress in your closet that is close to that. Jade it up, add leather whatever it is you do to make yourself more fuckable. She’ll like that”[/color] A pleasant almost wholesome kind of smile covered the devils freckled face. 

He polished off the bottle very quickly, throwing it into the recycle when he was finished. Still grinning, Hyde made his way over to Jade once again and knelt down in front of her. He popped a finger beneath her chin and raised her blonde haired head up to lock their eyes together. His baby blues were ice cold, emotionless, a great dichotomy considered just how full of rage the young man was. [color=63773B]”Look into my eyes.”[/color] His finger soon turned to a grip as he held her chin. [color=63773B]”Look into them and see me, Jade.”[/color] The Devil released her and smiled again. [color=63773B]”I’ll be seeing you!”[/color] He pulled himself up to his feet and brushed a strand of hair from the shaken woman’s face before departing the apartment.

When the door shut as calmly as if nothing had happened just now, Jade couldn’t bring herself to move, let alone process anything that happened to her at the hands of someone her uncle handpicked to be her protector. Jade was stunned. Terrified. In a state of uncontrollable confusion. Her heart was beating so fast and then it wasn’t, which terrified her more than she realized.The Angel Princess has always been able to handle herself with unsavory men. They always found ways to think what she wanted was their gross bodies. Ugly, fat men who told her how pretty she was. One even called her his golden delight. 

But Cameron Hyde? He wasn’t like any of them. He didn’t come into her apartment with any intent of trying to get into her pants. As cold as he was emotionless, Jade for the first time felt every ounce of power stripped away from her in ways that no man or woman has ever been able to do. He went from hot to cold to hot again and when he had demanded she look at him, she complied.

[i]This[/i] was the guy that she heard so many horror-laced stories about. The Devil of Eden. Her uncle’s cellmate and now her protector in the darkness.

[color=e62020]“A Devil and an angel.”[/color] In her last moments before she laid down on the couch, Jade let out a morbid chuckle that had so many things within it, it was hard to say, but she just laid on her couch, curled up and let her mind drift.[/indent][/indent][/color]