Jade's Poison

Guilt

{Caz POV}

As Aiden entered the study, I was a bit surprised. I didn't hear him coming. I looked at him surprised, "What is it, Aiden?"

I watched Aiden step into my study, his eyes glued to the corpse on the floor and a smirk on his lips. "Need help removing the trash, my king?"

I chuckled for the first time in a while as the girl's blood dripped from my lips. "I would appreciate it, Aiden."

I watched as he swiftly moved to the body and grabbed it off the floor with a sort of delight I hadn't seen from him before when it came to disposing of a body.

"Happy much, Aiden?"

He looked at me as the glint in his eyes said it all, "What would make you think that, Caz?" The hint of a giddy tone in his voice all but gave it away as he tossed the girl's limp body over his shoulder.

"Burn the body or feed it to the dogs?" Aiden asked as he turned towards the study door.

"Give the dogs a treat, and they haven't had anything this fresh in a while."

He nodded as he walked out of the door, shutting it behind him. I sat at my desk for a while, mulling over the last few weeks and the last real interaction I had with Jade. A wave of guilt washed over me as the realization of all the pain I had put upon her, which she didn't deserve.

Sighing, I stood up from my desk and started towards the stairs, slowly climbing them, wondering if she would even want to set eyes on me, let alone be in my presence.

I reached the top of the stairs, standing there just staring at her door, debating if I should even approach. Taking a heavy breath, I moved to her door and knocked gently, waiting for her to answer.

*****

{Jade POV}

Sitting on the edge of my bed, trying to shake the horrible nightmare I had earlier in the day, I heard a soft knock, catching Caz's scent. I knew it was him but wasn't sure if I wanted to open the door. Something seemed different about the aura around the door. It wasn't hostile or angry and didn't smell of booze, and I slowly made my way to the door. I slowly opened it and saw a concerned and kind of defeated Caz standing in my doorway.

"Jade.... I..." He sighed, brushing his hand over the back of his neck and looking at the floor. "Jade, I'm sorry...for the way I have been acting lately… And for what I did to you…it was wrong of me... I..."

I saw tears filling his eyes as he spoke in such a gentle tone. Before I could register what my body was doing, I grabbed hold of him and hugged him close, burying my face into his chest as tears ran down my cheeks. He stood stunned for a moment before gently holding her tight in his arms and placing a gentle kiss on the top of her head.

As we stood there, Aiden stood at the bottom of the stairs, saw the sight, and smiled softly, knowing everything was going to be okay before returning to the study to clean the floor. I gently lifted my head to look at him as he wiped away a tear from my cheek.

"I hope you can forgive me, Jade. I am so sorry..." The sound of his voice breaking sent a pang through me.

"I forgive you, Caz. Just don't ever do anything like that to me again..." I said softly as he smiled softly and placed a kiss on the top of my head again.

"Never, kitten."

I moved from his embrace and sat back on my bed, holding my knees. The look of concern covered his face as he moved towards me.

"Jade, what's wrong...why were you screaming earlier?"

I looked up at him, tears filling my eyes again, "I had a nightmare... I was back in my family home only when I found my family in the kitchen. My mother's throat was ripped out, and my father was missing his eyes and jaw...and for some reason, I had a nagging feeling it was my fault."

The look of concern grew over his face.

"Caz... Caz, what's wrong..." I asked cautiously, not sure if I wanted the answer. He hesitated and shook his head slightly.

"Nothing to concern yourself with, Jade. I will have it done and make sure your family is looked out for and that they are okay, okay?"

I nodded slowly, watching his expression as I could see the cogs spinning in his head, there was something he was worried about and wasn't telling me. I wasn't going to push the subject, but I was going to keep an ear out around the mansion.

*****

{Caz POV}

The words that left her mouth about her parents struck a nerve with me as I had heard similar things from other pets before. Who was the one behind these acts when it came to the girls who became my pets? Only this time, it was slightly different. Jade had turned before I got her. The others were left mortal. I needed to reach out to the seller of these girls and figure out A. why Jade had been turned and the others had not and B. if her family was okay and who was the one attacking the girl's families.

"Kitten, I have some things to tend to in my office, okay? Why don't you and Aiden go out for the day and have fun, go shopping, and get yourself some nice things?"

She smiled softly looking up to me. "Are you sure Caz? I don't want to spend anything..."

I smiled at her and kissed her forehead. "Kitten, it's okay, really. Go ahead and have fun." I sent a mind link with Aiden as I spoke. "Aiden, I want you and Jade to go out for the day and have fun anywhere she wants to go and take her shopping. I have some important things to take care of." I heard Aiden's voice in my head.

"Of course, Caz, I'll make sure she has a great day."

I looked back at Jade, "Okay kitten, it's all set. Aiden will be up shortly to get you, so go ahead and get a quick shower and get dressed, okay?"

She smiled and jumped up, heading to the bathroom. When I heard the water start, I headed downstairs to my office and turned on my computer.

As my computer loaded up, I went into a hidden folder full of contacts and other things. Scrolling through the folder, I found the info for my seller. I grabbed my phone and dialed his number. After a few rings, he picked up.

"Cazion, how are you, bud? Ready for a new one already? What happened to this one?"

I chuckled a bit. "I'm good, and so is she. Nothing has happened to her. She's showering and getting ready to head out with my lieutenant for the day."

I heard the man chuckle slightly as he asked. "Well, what can I do ya for my friend?"

I paused a moment and thought about how to bring it up. "I had a couple of questions I'm hoping you can help answer for me."

"Sure, pal, ask away." I nodded to myself. I was hoping he would say that.

"The first thing that kind of has been on my mind is why Jade turned before she was brought to me. None of my other pets have always remained mortal unless I felt the need or want to change them, and second, Jade had a strange nightmare about her family being slaughtered... This is a bit concerning to me as the same thing has happened to previous families of past pets." I heard him swallow hard, and his breathing grew uneven and heavy, but he remained silent.

"Gerald?" I asked to see if he was still there.

"Caz... I... I wish you wouldn't have asked me this." The sound of dread filled his voice as concern filled my heart. I took a deep breath waiting to see if he would continue.