Chapter Ten
They did not take the news very well. Jason just about turned into a mad man, cursing at nothing then breaking a vase which Tracy had gotten for James. James and I let him vent. For once, it was just the three of us. Tracy couldn't come back with us because it was still daylight and as for Nikki and Dahlia, James told them it just needed to be us three for the next hour or so.
"It's because we have girlfriends, isn't it?" Jason asked. He was pacing in front of us and he had to ask three times before I could take him seriously.
"No. I made the decision when I was alone and had time to think."
"That's it then!" he shouted, "It's because we weren't there for you when you needed us. When he came."
The 'he' he referred to was the yellow-eyed demon. I always found it easier to talk James simply because you didn't have to keep repeating yourself for him to get the point. For the fourth time, I explained to Jason that it wasn't the same demon.
"Must be related then." Jason grumbled after finally getting it.
"And he let you go." James said to himself, "Something's off. No demon would ever let such an easy... meal go like that."
I nodded, "I thought so too. Maybe they're having their own wars. Mom told us about it."
James shook his head, "Mom said that the only reason why a demon would kill another demon was to gain power. You're a lot more powerful than a fourth level demon, Jordan. He would have gained more by killing you than them."
I hadn't thought of that, "I was thinking on the lines of eliminating competition."
"In the Shadow World, probably. But here in our realm... I doubt it."
"In case you haven't noticed, James," Jason said, coming to a standstill, "Jordan is leaving! How are we supposed to protect her when she isn't here?"
James sighed, "Jason, Jordan has been protecting us for the last two years. The only time she really needed us was during the solstice. And she even survived that without us..."
He avoided looking at me, they both did. I knew they wanted to feel needed, especially where I was concerned. They knew that if they had been with me yesterday, I wouldn't have come to this decision. It was all a vicious cycle.
Jason turned to look at me, his stubbornness was so evident, "You're my sister. I don't care if you think of me as... baggage; you're not leaving me behind."
He stormed out after that.
"He's going to do something stupid." I said.
"He's always doing something stupid."
That much was true. But that nagging feeling was coming back and I couldn't remember what I was supposed to worry about. There was just too much.
"You should go sleep." James told me.
I looked at him and he was worse for wear than I was, "You too."
He gave me a small smile, "Yeah. After Jace comes back."
"Jordan," James said, after I stood up to leave, "I'm... I'm so sorry. For... so much."
"We cannot change what is, James."
"I know... but still. We got so caught up in our freedom and it almost cost you your life. I promised mom and dad I'd take care of you and Jason. And look what a fantastic job I'm doing. Maybe we should leave. We don't belong with the people here."
Tracy should be here. The thought came out of nowhere but I understood then. We are family but we could never fill that whole in the heart. Tracy would be able to comfort him, look after him and give him the happiness he deserves.
