Kay +Jinx's True Nature:prt2

Kayla and Jinx's True Nature
by Ian K. & Cherie G.

Part 2: Old Habits DIE Hard

It had been 2 years since the massacre at the Cleric school. It did take a while for Kayla to feel complete comfort around Jinx, but after a few of their ritual outings, they were back as before. They’d picnic at the lake, take Chaos (Jinx’s pitch-black, red glowing eyed Hell-Horse) out for rides in the countryside, Jinx would teach Kayla how to fight a bit, which got a bit frustrating at times... But then, then there was the day Jinx realized Kayla wasn’t his “Little Kay” anymore. It was 2 weeks before her 16th birthday.

    After a swim, she arched back in a stretch, her clinging green dress showing off the shapes Mother Nature generously bestowed on her, causing Jinx to stare at her in a euphoric stupor…even after she was done stretching and ringing her long, ruby-colored hair, he stared at her with his mouth gaping open…

That day changed everything…


*-*

  “Jinx…Why were yah starin’?”

Kayla was grown up now, wasn’t she? Now that she wasn’t a little girl, and in the mood he enjoyed so much, his evil side kicked in…he was raised evil you know… but it was more a mischievous, cocky evil. So…Let it begin…
He smirked a bit and with a sly grin said,

“Cause you have a great rack.”

Her jaw dropped in a moment of confusion, trying to process what he just said. She squinted one eye and turned an ear to him, wanting to get what he said right.

“Wha... What did yah juss say tah Meh?”

He chuckled to himself as he stood up, looking at Kayla right in the eyes, and said,

“I suppose…when I saw your figure outlined in front of the sun…I realized you had grown up, you're no longer ‘My Little Kay’...you're just…’My Kay’ now...” He smirked and went back to packing up from their day at the lake. Her hands went quickly on her hips, her jaw dropped, then she scowled at him, asking quite sterner,

“Why were yah lookin’?”

He tilted his head in thought, then looked back at her,

“I don’t really know…I've only grown up with orcs and daemons...this is new, I suppose its cause you are my very best friend.”

Her look softened and her lips formed into an "o" shape and she shrugged, “I still dunno why... Not like I'm really anythin’ tah look at in the first place...”

Then he smirked at her, “Why were you just standing there making me stare at you?!”
  
She scoffed and stomped up to him, yelling, "I didn't think yah wud do that! I've stretched a thousand times!” She crossed her arms,”… And THIS time yah stared... ev'n after I was done...Its yer fault fer lookin...”

He grabbed a cloth from his pack and playfully hurled it at her, aiming right between the eyes. She looked up just to get thwaped in the face with it. She grabbed it threw it down and scowled at him, marching straight at him,

“What was that fer!? It was yer bloody fault!” She hit him on the arm, putting her hands on her hips, looking at him a mix of annoyance and anger, “Not meh fault Mother Nature was…” She threw up her arms as she finished, “Kind tah meh! So…” She hit him in the chest pushing the cloth as well. “EYES OFF!”

    Kayla continued to scowl as Jinx finished packing. He picked up his pack, then picked up Kayla, tossing them both over the horse like a blanket, then jumped up behind her and starts to ride off,

“C’mon, let's get back before it gets dark and you catch a cold” He laughed as he galloped, With Kayla yelling and kicking, screaming at him,

“JIIIIIIIIIINX! YAH BLOODY FOOL! LEMME GO!” She beat his leg with her fist, “FER THE LUV OF BLOODY BADGERS! LET.MEH. GO!!!”

He stopped after being satisfied of rowling her up more, dismounted and helped her off while she was still hitting and kicking him. He stood her straight up as he laughed,

“Yes princess?”

She scowled up at him with her fists clinched, growling,

“Why yah lil... 'ow dare yah... I'll-“She raised her arms in the fashion of about to pray a battle prayer, “I'll ...I'll disease yah fer this! Then yah'll beh tah sick tah stare at meh yah pervert!”

He stopped and got dead serious for a second, then started coughing, grabbing his throat and gasping for breath. She paled a moment and just stared at him with a tilted head, and then she began to scowl again,

“Oh. Haha... v'ry funny... get up yah fool!”

She said, trying to hide a smile. He smirked and stood up straight, looking straight at her with his emerald eyes, almost as if a small gleam was in them, but why? They could not say…they did not know…Jinx didn’t' even pay it any mind, he just enjoyed being in her company and didn’t question it. Kayla watched as he straightened up, looking at her, getting a bit more like the Jinx she knew, she chuckle lightly and lightly hit his chest, chiding,

“What am I gonna do if I can't stay mad at yah fer long?”

She smirked back at him. No matter how unorthodox he was...and he was no valiant knight in shining armor... even with him staring...He was Jinx. As she thought it, she said it,

“Yah are juss a man aft'r all...” She shrugged, “I juss dun see what the big deal was…”

He then tilted his head to the side and just stared at her chest, seeming to be in deep thought. She gasped loudly and on impulse, growling,  punched him... a right hook into the jaw, her holy aura adding to the "Oomph" knocking him down, screaming at him,

“WHAT IN 'EAVEN'S NAME!?”

She looked at her own chest then to him, scoffing, “Keh... yah shuddn't be starin’ at them without permission in the first place!” She then smirked at him, “Tah bad ne? Only meh ‘usband will get tah do anythin’ with ‘em... yah know that, ne?” Then her angry face returned as she yelled, “So... stop starin’! They ain't yer's!!”

He jumped up and wiped his bloody lip with a grin, then charged at her, quicker then she could react, swiped his leg under her feet, knocking them out from under her. But before she hit the ground, he came back around and catching her, lifting her up, slinging her over his shoulder in almost on fluent movement. She began kicking and screaming while hitting his back as he mounted the pitch black hell horse, leading it down the path laughing,

“You're right. What fool would marry a runt like you? They'd have to be daft in the head.”
  Her mouth dropped open a moment, then screamed at him,

“WHO WUD MARRY A BLOODY EVIL FOOL LIKE YAH!? They'd either beh seriously brain damaged or you would 'ave cursed them under a spell!” She then giggled haughtily, “That's the only way you'll ev'r get a woman anyway! No woman in this world cud ev'r put up with yah! I’m probably the only woman that cun!”

“Well, at least I'd get a woman before you’d ever find a man!”

He was smiling to himself as he walked the horse down the road, carrying her while they argued. She then shot back,

“Why?’ cause I dun know any witchcraft tah get one!?” She then scoffed, “Keh... That ain't important tah meh right now... I gotta study study study... So...if I got a man right now…” She smirked while in thought, “I’d actually feel sorry fer the poor bugger…

“Yeah. Me too.” Jinx said, faking a shiver with a grin.


     He carried her back to the Cleric school, carrying her, sneaking down the dark halls to her room. He plopped her down onto her bed as she looked up at him cautiously, he sat at the foot of her bed. She knew today their relationship had taken an unexpected turn. But with his gentle, comforting smile through all the Evil that is Jinx, she found comfort. She snuggled into bed as he sat at then end of the bed, smiling at her. She looked at him with a kind of sad look, asking,

“In all honesty... do yah think I'll ev'r find a man that will love me”

He softly chuckled and said,

“Aye, I think you will...and if I don’t kill him or rip him to shreds...you might just live happily with him.” He winked at her while saying, “Big ‘if’ though…”

She smiled and rolled her eyes at her big bad guardian, but smiled at him.

“Same tah yah... yer girl better treat yah gud as I'll implode 'er tah the 9 'ells and back...”

She let out a light chuckle as she closed her eyes. Jinx gave a small, sad smile...knowing he would probably never find a girl with the way he is…what he is...but smiled for real as he looks at Kayla, who looked so peaceful with her eyes closed...then he carefully got up, turned and walked away, not catching Kayla opening an eye to his retreating form, smiling, then she rolled over, falling into a sweet slumber.

But through the light-heartedness of their tight friendship, Jinx was still Jinx. He was still evil… still undead…still one to take life when he felt like it. She had forgotten about it. Jinx’s true nature…and a week later, once more, it would slap her back into reality...

*_*
It was a beautiful autumn afternoon. The Oaks, Sycamores, Maples and Elms were changing bright colors of orange, yellow and red. It was sunny and there was a nice cool breeze. Kayla sat on a mason garden wall and placed her lunch in her lap. A chicken leg, mashed potatoes and corn. She was absolutely famished! She had been studying all day and skipped breakfast. She was savoring her tasty lunch when something jumped from behind the wall, grabbing her, making her jump and spill her much anticipated lunch all over herself.

   “Got yah…”

   An all too familiar voice chided. She swung around to scowl at him, whining,

“Look what yah did! That was meh lunch!”

He looked slightly at her with a bit of “I’m sorry” look. She sighed and stood up, wiping off the lunch off her brown robe. After she was done she smiled and happily asked, since she always, no matter what, enjoyed her days with Jinx very, very much.

“What are we doing today?”

He got an evil-type grin on his face and smoothly said, “We are going to town.”

Kayla raised her brow, looking a bit caught off guard. Jinx hated the town, but she shrugged and then he continued,

“You should really clean yourself up first…you’re a mess!” He looked at her dress and smirked, “You are supposed to put it in your mouth you know…”

She scowled at him… then shoved a handful of food right into his chest with a smart smile, saying,

  “Aye… Yah aren’t s’ppossed tah wear it! But it looks so becoming on yah!”

   Jinx looked in shock. Nobody… NOBODY… did that to the great Black Captain, Lord Jinx… But he watched as Kayla clapped the food off her hands before turning on her heel, clasped her hands behind her back, humming away, walking to her room to change. He looked at her blankly before a slight smile formed on his face. Then he chuckled. Kayla was one in an infinity, that was for sure. Only she could get away with over half the things she did, but with her it was fun… like some game they both played. Then a slight strange feeling came over him. He needed to eat soon, hunger was making him weak… he'd find something in town for them both. As he thought about it, he ripped a piece of cloth from the closest passing person to clean himself off with.

   Kayla searched in her wardrobe for a nice dress. There! There was a nice dress that was humble and modest… the only type she’d wear. It was red with a rounded off collar that dipped just below the collarbone. It was a peasant style, so it had a white undershirt with puffy, elbow-length sleeves. The red was just a bit deeper then her hair, but complemented it nicely. Jinx was a Lord, so it was only proper to look a bit nicer at his side in public. After she was ready, she packed a tiny pack and swung it over her shoulder and ran with a small skip in her step. She then slowed as she passed a priestess with a tear in her robe, fists clinched and grumbling about an insufferable man. She sighed and shook her head, rolling her eyes,

“Oh, Jinx…”

She continued down the corridor. She finally came out and with a tiny bit of giddiness and ran up to him. He smiled at her as she approached with her hands behind her back with a smile, her emerald eyes sparkling, she twisted her waist back and forth like a little girl would as she giggled,

  “Are you ready?”

"I’m always ready" he said smoothly, then he turned and walked away towards the path to town, smirking to himself as he throws the dirty cloth he was using to wipe his clothes with on top of someone who was sitting and eating. Kayla growled and ran up to his side, apologizing to his shocked victim as she passes, bumping Jinx’s shoulder with hers, saying,

  “Yah know that’s v’ry nice… Yah shouldn’t do stuff like that…”

Jinx smirked down at her and said, “Well, I had to clean myself somehow. I can’t very well be walking around with dirty clothes now, can I?”

Kayla looked up at him from the corner of her eyes, saying in a bit of a mumble,

“Yah shudda asked fer a towel or somethin’.”

He laughed, “I was impatient.”

Kayla rolled her eyes, but looked around as they continued down the path and his horse wasn’t in sight. “Oi, where’s Chaos?”

Jinx tilted his head and said,

“He had an exhausting day earlier, and got a bit hurt, so he’s' resting now...besides...” He found himself hesitate a bit, then he finished, “...I needed to walk for a bit...”

  But he sighed in his thoughts.

“Was it that I just wanted to be alone with her?”

   Who knew...he didn’t care how they got there after all…just so long as they were together that day. She did have last week’s events on her mind quite a bit lately, but as stubborn as she was, refused to let it change anything, so she did what she’d do anyway, she hooked her arm with his, leaning on him,

“Well, I guess we’ll get that workout, ne?”

     His body shivers a bit as she leaned onto him...this was the same feeling…it confused him…what was it?...suppose it's what true friendship is, but he didn’t like to dwell on such thoughts. He just stood up straighter to act as a better support for her. Kayla looked around then up at him with a smile and twinkle in her eye. He was so rare and so...Jinx... everything she found and wanted in a friend, he was. Being by his side felt so natural... there was no other real place she felt like she belonged more. It was strange that in the near 4 years that she had known him, he had not aged one bit, but ah yes… he was undead wasn’t he? He mention something that he was turned undead when he was around 18-19-ish…and since then…which is unknown…he will not age unless he turned back into a living being… but that was nearly impossible…But she bite her lip and looked forward. She was taught that undead are under command of clerics… that most undead fear clerics…Jinx looked at her with concern,

“What is it? Everything alright?”

She looked up him and shook her head. “Aye… I was just in thought.”

“Oh”

She then remembered something.

“Also I 'eard the gypsies are in town! I 'eard they sell purty thin's... I got about 60 gnarlroot I’ve saved this month so far.”

He chuckled a bit, “60 huh? Pretty decent. I'll tell ya’ what though...you can pick out one thing you want and I'll get if for ya, no matter how expensive…plus...I'll make up for spilling your food earlier..” Not to mention next week was her 16th birthday.

She happily looked up at him at his offer, but she wasn’t too materialistic, but Jinx was one for gifts and presents, so it was nice to take the opportunity. They walked like that, in each other’s company down the forest path, lined with golden grass and falling autumn leaves. They finally approached town. Hearing all the laughter and the people...Jinx slinked down a bit…not being used to nor liking being out in the open in such large places. Kayla felt his discomfort and hugged on his arm, warmly smiling saying,

“Dun worry, Jinx! I beh 'ere! I know I'm not all” she mockingly changed her faced and finished in a low voice, “big and tough like you…” She lightly giggled as she chuckled lightly and she continued, “But I cun still 'elp yah...”

   Jinx place a hand over her clasped ones that hugged his arm with smiling down at her from the corner of his eye.  Then there they were, a gypsy caravan parked in a half circle. Kayla spotted the jewe1y vender and Jinx caught the sparkle of interest in her eyes. Kayla wasn’t very materialist at all, but she welcomed the occasional gift. He led her over to it and she exclaimed,
    “Oh wow! They are all so purty!”

She looked at the amulets, necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings. They were all in silver or gold. They were decorated in colorful beads and semi-precious stones. She lightly chewed on the tip of her finger in thought. Jinx looked over the small assortment of trinkets with an uncaring eye, but enjoying the feeling of being with her…then the vender spoke to them...

"Would you and your pretty wife like to try any on?"

  Jinx's eyes went wide as he looked to Kayla, then back at the man...shocked…he hesitated again...he didn’t’ like to hesitate…he never did before…in any battle…so he let out a soft growl and turned away from the shopkeeper...sulking in the fact that he had been taken by surprise by a low life gypsy vendor. Kayla’s jaw was dropped, but with a blush and polite smile, she replied,

“Oh, no! Weh aren't married”
Jinx kind of felt sad when she let go of his arm to properly face the vender, smiling up at Jinx.

  “'e beh meh best friend!”

The vendor rose a brow, pointing at the two, "Isn't he a bit..." He looked at the tall, intimidating, white haired man that glared at him and he coward a bit.

“I beg ye pardon miss” He smiled politely, back to business, “So, what beh it miss?"
Kayla smiled at him before continuing to bite on the tip of her finger, her brows furrowing in thought. Jinx sighed then scoffed,

“Tch…Here, just get all of ‘em”
And tosses a bag of money on the merchants counter as he looks to his stomach...

“I'm hungry…let's get away from this fool and find some food”

Kayla was still staring at Jinx, matching the expression of the ecstatic merchant. She watched at the merchant hurried to place all the trinkets in a decorated, maple box with red velvet inside.

“Oh... wow... Jinx... this is...”

Jinx grinned at Kayla then points to a green pendant...

"That one would look good on ya…"

  Then realizing what he had just said, turned and almost blushes. Him, the Black Captain...nearly blushing!? He was so confused...he just stood there, his head down…murmuring to himself till Kayla was ready to go get food. She looked at the green pendant he mentioned and held it up to her chest. It was a piece of green volcanic glass, obsidian, set in gold with small diamond-cut ruby-colored obsidian surrounding it. Then from behind, two hands held the gold chain.

“Here, let me get that on for you.” Jinx drew her hair to the side, fastening it.

“I was right… it does look very nice on you.”

Kayla smiled up at him widely and was handed a box with all the trinkets packed. She raced up to Jinx, holding out her 60 gnarlroot to him. He shook his head with almost a bewildered look on his face and closed her fingers around it.

“Keep it.”

“I know it’s not nearly much, but it’s all I can offer yah. Are yah sure?”

He puffed out his chest proudly.  “I AM Lord Jinx after all… I can afford it, now let's get some food!” He grinned and looked around for the nearest food vendor. Kayla helped, nodding enthusiastically. Then she hopped in her step, pointing, “Look! A Baker!”

Jinx nodded but smiled as Kayla froze and held her stomach as it growled loudly, looking at him, a bit embarrassed, but annoyed. He knew it was his fault. He let out a small laugh as he dragged her hurriedly over to it…his own stomach telling him it's time to feed it as well. He rudely walked up to the baker and threw down some money, demanding that he give them food. As the baker quickly pulled out his last loaf of bread and hesitantly handed it to Jinx...who was glaring at him as if the man were to make a mistake or take to long, Jinx would slice him down where he stood in an instant…but as Jinx grabbed the bread…he heard a soft whimper and an middle aged woman in rags came up to him...tugging on his cloak. He looked down at the peasant woman…she had a small, half starved child clutching to her leg. The woman pleaded with Jinx,

"Please sir...this is the baker that sells his bread the cheapest…we don’t have enough for any other place...and  that was his last loaf....would you find it in your heart to at least give my son here a piece…even a small one…so that he wont have to starve this day?”

.Jinx just tilted his head and looked them over… Kayla watching quietly, curious about how Jinx would act. He then kneeled down in front of the kid…breaking a small piece of bread off and holding it out to the kid. Kayla felt her heart feel with warmth and a smile drew on her face, but that quickly changed as the kid reached for it… Jinx grabbed him by his neck with his left arm…and twisted it, quickly snapping the kids neck as a small whimper then silence came from the boys lips as Jinx just stood over the now limped over body. Kayla dropped her box of trinkets, her mouth dropped open and her face was drained of color. The jewelry make little clinking a glassy sound as the latch to the box broke and they all scattered onto the cobblestone. Jinx looked at the boy and he took a bite out of the piece. The woman...just looked there terrified as she let out a scream...everyone around just stared and backed away…they had heard rumors about him...they wouldn't dare confront him...but jinx just stood there like nothing was wrong…he was smirking a bit...and he said

"Now he won’t have to worry about starving to death”.


   Kayla was completely frozen and stared at the woman, holding her dead child, a few stray tears fall and she looked around at the screaming and scared people, screaming for her to run as he approached her. Jinx smirked and held out to her the other half of the loaf. She slowly looked up at him with a pale, horrified looked. She knew the dilemma... the same as before... She whispered in a shaky voice,

“ Jinx... yah... yah juss... killed that lil boy...”

He looked down to the boy then back at Kayla with more confusion in his head and showing it in his eyes...

“Was that wrong?” He tilted his head and looked at Kayla worried.

She stared at his eyes... they were just like a confused little boy's. She stiffly looked through her sack and sighed with relief, pulling out a scroll... Trembling, she slowly passed Jinx and looked up at him with a solemn look from the corner of her eyes, kneeling down by the mother of the child. The woman panicked,

   "You! You were with that monster... you... you..."

    Kayla's tears were seen as she whispered, "Dun worry... I beh a healer..."

  The woman looked joyous at the words and hands Kayla the small boy with his head dangling to the side. She bit her lip to keep the tears back. Feeling like he did something wrong, Jinx kneeled beside her to see if she needed any help...and just looks on...wondering what was so wrong with killing a sickly child. They did that all the time to anyone that couldn't get their own food even at the kids age…they did nothing but slow everyone else down… She didn’t look at Jinx, the woman panicked, but Kayla's warm smile calms her nerves. Kayla breathed, the crowd watching. She just began with scrolls...this was her test. She gently laid the scroll on the ground and gently held the boy's neck, holding him firmly in her arms, she was trembling. She then closed her eyes and gently said,

“Spiritus anima illiminatous”

    Under her hand, it glowed yellow and the mother covered her mouth as they watched his neck realign...then his eyes reopened to see Kayla, gently smiling at him... Groggy, he asked

"Are you an angel?"

Kayla blushes and said, "No...”
"You are pretty like an angel"

Kay giggled as Jinx raised a brow. The boy’s mother stared, in shock then the boy sees his mother.

"Mama!"

"Ezekiel!" And she gently took the child back... though still groggy and weak the mother held her child tightly and kissed Kayla's hands

  "Thank you so much, miss! Thank you!"

Kayla gently takes her hand and opens it, placing her 60 GR in it, closing the woman's fingers over it. The woman starting at her as Kayla says warmly,

"This should be enough for a few weeks. May Torm bless you..."

Then she placed her half of the bread into the child’s hands. The boy looked up at her in a warm awe. The woman the drew Kayla into a hug, the boy hugging her as well, Kayla hugging back...Jinx looked on, his head tilted...not knowing what to make of it...then he feels it hit him...a pain in his heart...it was squeezing it. Jinx tried to block it out…but it didn’t work. This pain again…just like before. Then…to Jinx’s surprise…a single tear rode down his cheek. He didn’t even notice at first…then just ignored it, watching Kayla and the woman hug…what was he missing in all this? Kayla nodded to the woman and said,

“He will be groggy for a few hours... then he'll be good at new “

The woman bowed, got up with the boy in her arms and scurries off, giving an evil look to Jinx as she goes off, the crowd whispering amongst themselves, several guessing she was from the Cleric school. She sighed and closed her eyes, looking down, quietly kneeling to pick up the trinkets, and then silently walked away, evident that something was wrong. Jinx followed her away, as he asked,

“What's wrong?" his heart pounding for some reason...he was so confused...

She was silent till they left the town walls, then she stopped with her eyes closed and looked up at him with teary eyes, “Oh Jinx... Do yah know why mothers act the way they do fer their children?”

Jinx just looks at her with a tilted head and says like it was nothing ‘No, I never had a mother"

Kayla turned and continued walking, sighing,

“Yah did... as yah wud'n beh 'ere...” she looked up at his confused green eyes, “Yah know 'ow babies come tah beh... all of it, ne?”

He says slowly, "Aye..."

  “Well... fer 9 months... the child is one with the mother... from the time the man plants 'is seed tah the birth... they are one... connected... The mother takes care of the baby... whatever she eats, drinks, breaths, do... effects the baby... So a woman does 'er best tah do 'er best fer 'ere baby... then birthing...” She blushed a bit as she continued, “Imagine squeezing something the size of a watermelon through a bratwurst.... that's what women do... And they... through body, blood, tears, and great pain... earn their bond…these are the prizes and bonds the mum 'as with 'er child.”

Jinx looked a bit taken back from her description of birth, but nods and still looks at her, confused, “...The child was weak and bringing her down with him… she would have enough for just her...I knew she wouldn't do it, so I did it for her…” He looked yonder in thought, but then swallows and asks evenly,

”....am I a monster?”

Kayla’s jaw dropped at his question, and how it was said. Naturally she’d think that being a “monster” was a compliment to the Black Captain of the Dark Lords. She sighed and froze, cringing, and bit her lips, “As much as I luv yah... I'm sorry... yah kinda are...a monster…”

He closed his eyes and swallowed. It was almost painful hearing her call him that. But then he looked down at her as she looked at him, as she said, “but...”

She walked up to him and started to gently touch his face. It was so soft, but lost and confused…searching for answers. She looked deep into his eyes,

“Yah dun know better…huh?”

“I don’t know any other way...I'm trying to follow what you say...but I've lived like this for so long…it's just so natural...do you think I'll ever change?”


She smiled warmly and gently replied, “Well, bein raised a certain way then changin’ drastically is gonna beh 'ard and so on, but...” she slowly drew her arms around his waist and held him, “Remember... Yah aren't alone... yah ain't goin’ through it by yerself... I'm 'ere fer yah.... ok?”

…Not alone...

Those words echoed throughout his head…and continue to for the rest of his life... his body shivered a bit thinking about it and smiled back at her, holding her tightly as a few more tears come out...

“Thank you, Kay...for you…I'll try...”

She nodded into his chest, hugging him tighter, “Aye... I'll beh 'ere no matter what... any time... I dun care if it's the middle of the bloody night! Yah cun come tah meh fer 'elp... ok?” She squeezed a tighter, nuzzling a bit into him... so natural, she didn't even think about what she was actually doing. He smiled at her warmth and just held her until he looked at her puzzled and asked,

“Aren’t you still hungry? You gave your bread away.”

She gently giggled warmly and nuzzled, “It’s ok…They needed it more then me. I eat every day…”

  “But you are still hungry.”

“Aye… but I dun care. I ‘elped them… that’s food fer meh ‘eart. I cun eat when I get back…dun worry ‘bout meh…”

He looked down at the girl in his arms, trying to comfort him and show that she’ll always be there for him no matter what…and even though hungry…gave away her food. She was defiantly one of a kind…and one that confused him. Why did she even bother with him, but she nuzzled again and he smiled, sighing and held her tighter for what seemed like forever...then picked her up, earning a surprised “eep” from her lips. He walked into the woods and in a colorful thicket, placed her underneath an Oak tree, plopping down gently and sitting beside her. He rested his head on her shoulder. For some reason…he was exhausted...and wanted to sleep…but not leave her side. He was afraid…that if she ever left for to long...he would go back to what he was…and forget...he didn’t want that...
She leaned her head into his and leaned back onto him, putting an arm around him to give her access to run her fingers gently through his thick, silky, shaggy snowy-colored hair.

  “Juss... please... fer meh... no killin’ innocent bystanders…or anyone innocent that didn’t do anythin’ wrong... wrong wrong... not Jinx wrong…”

  He closed his eyes, smiled to himself, and as he quickly was losing himself to slumber, used his last bit of consciousness to murmur...

"I promise...I won’t hurt them anymore"



Then she smiled as within moments, he was in complete slumber. She sighed and listens in on him sleeping and continues to idly run her fingers throw his hair, lightly running her nails over his scalp. He groaned a bit and snuggled against her more. She sighed, lightly turning her head to put her nose against his head. He smelt like the autumn breeze and Mountain air, but also of blood and brimstone. She closed her eyes and sighed,

  “Oh Jinx... My poor Jinx... So strong and powerful... feared and respected...authoritive and stern... and lost... confused and lost...” She smiled as she whispered closer to his ear, “Well, I'll beh yer lamp and compass now.... if yah be the navigator...” and just happily sat and relaxed, letting the man of power and evil... for so long... have his rest.

And that was the day his thick, pitch-black soul started to turn grey, and his larger, dark, looming shadow began to cease ever so slightly.

And she would be too blame…