t was a warm balmy night and the streets were filled with laughter and joy. Every now and then you would see a sleepy eyed child full of wonderment on their face as they watched from their bedroom windows. She ducked and weaved through the crowds. She didn't rush but she walked with a sense and purpose and thus didn't stick in anyone's mind. She knew her pursuers weren't far behind so she acted as natural as possible. Deliberately keeping a control on her tail, making sure it didn't swish with the tension she felt. Then just as purposely she turned and entered an inn. A quick nod to the barman and he reached down and tossed her a top. It was wet and smelt of booze. She stripped her top off quickly and threw it at him then put on the wet shirt. She couldn't control the shiver that ran through her body as the wetness of the shirt touched her skin. She pulled up her hair and tucked it under a cap that she grabbed from another in the bar and grinned.

Someone struck up a rowdy song that soon everyone was singing too. They all played their part, knowing the routine without her even having to say anything. Thanks to the shirt she smelt like she had been drinking for the whole night, a quick swig of drink made sure her breath smelt that way too. She waited patiently and then just at the right moment she made her move.

She bolted to the door with her hand over her mouth, pushing the door open and almost barreling into the soldiers that were about to enter. She forced herself to throw up. One of the guards pushed her away calling her a lecherous pig as they hurried past to get inside. She wiped her mouth and was soon joined by several people she knew. They lurched like they were drunk and sang badly. She joined them as they walked in crooked lines arm in arm up the street. When they were a few blocks away she slipped into the shadows and down a side street. Then checking again no one was watching she leapt onto the roof before running most the way to her destination, her pursuers left behind, distracted by her facade. She reached her destination just before the end day. She walked carefully up the front path without hiding. She had trained her guards well and didn't want a spear in her side from it. They did not salute nor say a word, they simply allowed her to slip inside. She found Coal in the foyer. She took one look at him and walked towards her rooms. He said nothing till they reached her room, which went past his. Like all her rooms the only access was through another bedroom, always slept in by her protector and consort. For now it was Coal. When she got home it would be Sable. He closed the door behind him and locked it. Then he followed her to her room and drew her bath.

"You smell like booze, I guess you had problems."
"Nothing of consequence. Yourself?"
"Nothing. All dead ends I am afraid."
"Mine wasn't, but we shall talk when we get back to the castle and can talk to Sable as well."

He didn't disagree; he knew she would have it no other way. He watched her undress and felt a stirring in his blood. She had such a firm supple body, expected for one so young. He was only twenty years her senior but with their long life spans it was not an issue. He sighed knowing that tomorrow they would be back at the castle and it would be Sable who shared the room by hers.

Jade stretched, arching her back as she did, the slight hint of fur on her back bristled, she blinked and the slits in her eyes narrowed.
"Coal?" She asked, hearing his sigh and turning to him.
"I know Jade." He said answering her unanswered question.

She walked over to the bath and lowered herself into it with a sigh of relief. He undressed and joined her. He was her second consort and protector. He was also her friend and he knew that she would never love him or Sable like that. He massaged her body and then met her eyes, those intense eyes that had seen so much and yet were so fragile. They also spoke off unbridled passion. He obliged those eyes with a kiss. After she was clean and she made sure he was clean they got out of the bath and found themselves tumbling towards the bed and the short lived ecstasy that would ensue. Long after Jade feel asleep Coal headed to his bedroom. He thought of her idly and crawled into his cold bed. He curled up, the cold a comfort against the heat he still felt after her touch. Being with her often left him feeling hot long after the flames of her desire had been quenched. He had blushed the first few times. He knew he didn't have to be exclusive to her but like Sable, he simply didn't wish to seek another bed.

Jade awoke early in the morning and was not surprised to find Coal already up and changed into his riding gear. As soon as she had stirred he had sent for Emerald. She arrived with breakfast and started a fresh bath for Jade. She dropped in a few drops of perfume and Rose petals. After Jade had eaten and washed she helped her into her dress and helped her with her hair, plaiting in jeweled chains and combs. Jade carefully chose suitable earrings and then headed out to the carriage out the front. Today she was again the Lady of Auvreanae, the only one left of her clan with a rich legacy. One that she led alone after her fathers death. She missed her father so, but that was not the Lady of Auvreanae. She was proud. She held herself high and allowed Coal to help her into the carriage and then Emerald joined her. They rode out shortly after.

By high sun they reached the border and as was expected they were stopped. The guards demanded that the carriage was emptied. Coal argued but she called out.

"He is merely doing his job and we have nothing to hide."
"Yes my Lady."

Coal stepped down and went to help Jade out of the carriage but was beaten by the head guard, so he helped Emerald out instead. The guard then requested their papers which Jade produced. She handed over a small leather bound book. Her book had a Blue cover, Emeralds book was Brown and Coals was Red. They each contained a shortened version of their life stories. Details of your immediate family, where you were born and which breed you were plus more was contained in those little books. The breed is what fascinated Jade the most; they were mostly human, only with heightened senses, greater muscle strength and the cat like ears and tail being the main give away. Jade was of pure breeding, her mother unfortunately dying during her own birth. All this information was in her book.

Jade had long soft ears with silvery fur and matching tail. Her hair was also silvery but her eyes were of a deep Blue. She was named after her eyes. Her father had said she was rare, just like Blue Jade. It was common to be named after eye colour like Emerald was or fur colour like Coal and Sable.

As the guards openly looked the two women over Emerald played the role of a shy, submissive lady's maid and blushed furiously whenever one of the guards looked her way. Jade however allowed the guards to appreciate her shapely figure, her bosom partially revealed and the necklace around her neck only extenuating her cleavage. The other members of the guard where ordered to search the carriage for anything against the laws. They lifted the seats to reveal usual items, fans, spare cushions and drinks. Each drink was harmless, though two specific drinks mixed together would kill someone a day or so after it was drunk. It had been very useful on several occasions and had always made sure that Jade was never suspected. The seats where placed back and one of the guards whispered something to the head guard.

"Are you satisfied?" Jade asked, fully aware the head guard's gaze was still upon her.
"Not yet." He whispered under his breath. Jade smiled especially when she had felt Coal tense but said nothing.
"Your papers are in order Lady Auvreanae, sorry for your delay."
"Not at all, one can't be to careful."
"That's right m'Lady. I suggest you head straight home no stopping."
"Danger good Knight?"
The head guard smiled at the incorrect reference. "Just some criminals, nothing we can't handle."
"Good to hear, thank you."
Jade leaned back into her seat and the Guard stepped away from the carriage allowing them to move on.
"Interesting. Very interesting." Jade said to herself.

They arrived at the castle just as the sun was kissing the land. Sable was waiting for them by the enterance. He was nothing short of handsome. His dark brown fur, which had hints of a softer brown, that showed more on the tips of his ears than anywhere else, looked soft. His face was youthful and smooth, causing you to reach out and want to caress his face before you even realised your hand had left your side. His eyes told another tale. They showed that he had seen a lot, but they also twinkled with a deviousness that you weren't sure if you wanted to join in the laughter they seemed to show, or step away from it.

He helped Jade out of the carriage and Coal in turn helped Emerald. Sable started to ask about their journey, if they were successful. He talked only of their business. Jade had earned a reputation for getting involved with business transactions which had been helpful to cover up the other work she did whilst absent from the castle. This trip was as many of her business trips about land that Jade purchased to mine for precious minerals. She made quiet a lot from rare gems that she had a knack for finding simply because she had spent the time learning Geology. She wasn't ruthless but she certainly had smarts.

Coal went to say something about the other part of their trip but Jade cut him off.
"Do not forget your place." She said directly.
"I am sorry, I am just troubled."
"I know, we shall talk later, not now."
"As you desire."

"I have organised dinner in your rooms, I figured you would be tired after your journey." Sable stated and Jade nodded gratefully. Tomorrow would be a busy day a the nobels of the surrounding lands would arrive. Some just to see her, some for business. Sable helped her with many transactions but most of her nobles knew she was not a silly girl and knew the affairs well, so they would only trouble her for a few hours. After all, her father left her quiet a legacy.

Jade ate alone dismissing Sable almost immediatly. She was distracted by her journey and he knew her well enough to know she wanted time to herself even if he didn't like it. She always did after they had gone out trying to find answers. She closed the door behind her and rested her back against it. Then she sank to the floor a flood of tears flowing freely. She remembered her father.

She had not understood what he had meant about the change she would experience. She was young and did not understand the rebellion, why people fought for this thing known as magic. It was a word spoken in whispers only and had not concerned her. She was young and naïve. Then she had seen her father come home, in full cat form. She had thought that was only a tale, a myth. She had confronted him and he told her everything, how magic was real, how it was all around them, how it was within her.

He showed her the secret tunnels within the castle, the room with so many strange symbols on the floor around a huge circle. He showed her his pendant, how it matched with one of the symbols, he showed her the incomplete Book. It's ramblings not making sense, snippets of a past that was against everything she knew, implying that all she knew was lies. That the laws were wrong! She had refused to believe him. She had run away. Sable was the one who found her three days later. She had calmed down but was still in shock.

Loving her father as she did she listened to him and learned that he was the leader of the rebellion, Sable his right hand man and Coal also with talent. He then taught her how to control the power within. She too was able to change shape. The power she had felt always lurking beneath her waiting for her to tap in let itself known from that point on. He had explained that the book was destroyed in a war many years ago and what was known as a Coven was broken up. Each taking a pendant that matched the symbols on the floor and in each pendant was a section of the Book.

She had reserved judgment though, the extent of the danger she was in, that her father was in never really sinking in. Until one fateful night that changed her life forever. She had been with her father following a lead of finding another person with power. He had ordered her to stay home. She had not obeyed and followed behind at a distance. He had been attacked and then dragged out to the forest. There she had watched her father beaten to death as he refused to speak. The captors had not seemed to realise who her father was let alone how important he was to the rebellion and so they had let him die. She watched from the safety of a tree in horror and stayed up in that tree for a full day and a half numb. She had dared not go near him for that whole time until she was certain no-one was watching. Then she ran forward and held her father as she wept in earnest. She buried him but not before removing his pendant.

Two days later she arrived back home to Sable and told him what happened. He looked at the pendant and exclaimed. Only when he pointed it out did she realise the symbol had changed. That was when they finally understood why the symbols changed on the floor in that special room. Someone had died and the pendant sought a new owner. Jade, slumped against the door held the pendant in her hand, the tears having long stopped flowing. She was now the leader of the rebellion.

She was unaware of how much time had passed before she eventually pushed herself off the floor using the door for support. She took off her shoes and gently padded her way through her chambers to the balcony. She opened the glass doors wide and stepped out as the smell of Lilac swept in. The wind tugged gently at her clothes and her hair as she carefully undid it putting the jeweled combs and chains upon the balustrade. The gardens overlooked several flower beds, each one had been planted by her mother. Jade wasn't much of a green thumb but she made sure they were well kept and the smell always calmed her. Grabbing up the combs and jewelry she stepped inside, leaving the doors open. She need not worry that anyone would get in that way, it was too high up.

She moved towards her bedroom in silent reservation. After she had cried herself out and soothed her soul she felt very little. A sense of calm like one would expect after the storm had passed. As she stared at her reflection in the mirror after combing her hair she wondered if there was something more. There where books here and there in her chambers, most of them in her library as she studied one thing or another. She was extremely smart. Her study in Geology had helped her set up her Jewel business. Whilst she had inherited the title and land and a legacy from her parents, she had also increased her wealth through business transactions.

She had also studied Chemistry in great detail and thus had come up with the poison in the two drinks in her carriage. But she felt like she had only just touched the tip of knowledge. She had sought many an answer from the Book. The Book however was incomplete. Despite how many they had found with the pendants the Book was far from complete. It would display snippets of information as if it couldn't complete the formation of the paragraphs it displayed. Those snippets that made little sense til an event occurred where the knowledge was often a life saver.

And yet... Yet she felt as she stared at her reflection there was something missing. She could almost feel it, the way her heart seemed to hold itself, the way her breath caught, the way it felt like it was on the tip of her tongue and that if she could just grasp it for one moment it would all make sense. She had felt that way ever since she found out that she had the ability to work magic.

Jade placed the hairbrush on the dresser and changed for bed. As she slipped between the sheets she tried to push the thought out of her mind. The wind gently toyed with the curtains on the four post bed and she stared up at the ceiling imaging the night sky.

***