Cyberknight: One Path (original novel)

Jagger is a twisted creation. He is a puzzle forcefully put together in the wrong order and way. In his mind, Mike's unconditional love for Kadyn turned into an obsession for Jagger toward her. His cold brutal heart is incapable of feeling empathy for others, so this love became a desire to possess and subjugate. After studying Mike's behaviour and Kadyn as a person through her diary, Jagger basically was in possession of the key to her heart. 

[Kadyn] - "Here, I think this is your coat. "

Said Kadyn as she handed Mike's coat toward Jagger. 

[Jagger] - "*Smirk* No, keep it, it looks better on you. "

While the two walked together on the street, Kadyn felt hesitant to take Jagger's arm. Upon seeing Kadyn's hesitation, Jagger smiled reassuringly before taking Kadyn's hand. 

[Jagger] - "There's nothing to be afraid of. I know my return was sudden but it'll make sense eventually. Can you trust me? "

Said Jagger in a disarming demeanour. 

[Kadyn] - "I trust you, don't worry. I'm just a bit shocked but I'll be back to normal soon. "

Later, inside a restaurant, Kadyn and Jagger sat down to have a meal. After both ordered their food, the waiter arrived at their table to fill their glasses with wine. 

[Jagger] - "I know you have many questions, Lemon. However, all you have to know is that Doctor Dane fixed me up. At first, Dunkel wanted to restart the process by killing Arthur but Dane was able to secretly put me back in charge of my own body. Although my memories are a bit vague, I still remember everything between us. "

Said Jagger while trying to loosen up the tension. 

[Kadyn] - "I don't doubt it. You can name some very specific things about us. If you were someone else, you wouldn't have been able to. "

Said Kadyn as she reached for her wine glass. 

With a distracted mind, Kadyn accidentally spilled a mouthful of wine onto her dress. After shooting a stare in Jagger's direction, Jagger was finally compelled to hand Kadyn a napkin to clean her mess. However, unlike Mike, Jagger didn't offer to help as he simply watched while Kadyn wiped her legs. 

[Jagger] - "Oh, would you look at that, our food arrived. "

Said Jagger as his order was put before him. 

However, when Kadyn reached forward to steal a bite from his plate as she usually does with Mike, Jagger suddenly grabbed her hand. 

[Jagger] - "What are you trying to do? You have your own food. "

Said Jagger while trying to hide his annoyance.

Shocked, kadyn cowered back and waited silently in her seat while Jagger ate without a care in the world. Later, after both finished their meal, the waiter presented Kadyn with her favourite ice cream berry cake. With her fork in hand, kadyn hesitated as the dessert brought a hit of nostalgia down into her heart. As the first bite hit her tongue, she felt the sweet soothing relief to the bitter pain that used to occupy her mind. 

[Kadyn] - "I'm glad you remembered what I liked. "

Said Kadyn with a slight smile.

[Jagger] - "Of course, how could I ever forget? If it matters to you, I will know about it. "

Said Jagger with a forced smile.

After finishing her treat, Kadyn suddenly felt a feeling of emptiness left by the fading taste of her last bite. Instinctively, she was compelled to reach for the menu to see its other dessert options. 

[Jagger] - "Of course, Lemon, have as much as you'd like. "

Said Jagger while trying to appear understanding.

"What a fucking ungrateful little shit! Why don't you order the whole menu, ya gluttonous pig? "

Thought Jagger under his friendly exterior. 

Later, after finishing their meal, Jagger took Kadyn on a stroll by the beach. While they walked, Kadyn was finally starting to feel comfortable enough to act a bit more playful. With a smile on her face, Kadyn approached the gentle waves and dipped her feet into the sea. 

[Kadyn] - "Come on, Mike, are you down for a water fight? "

Said Kadyn as the sun shined past her face cheek. 

[Jagger] - "I prefer not. It's a bloody waste of time. Play with it yourself if you want to. "

Said Jagger dismissively. 

However, just as he was about to walk away, a huge splash of water abruptly hit him in the face. In a fit of rage, Jagger turned around only to receive another splash from kadyn's kick. 

[Kadyn] - "Don't be such a killjoy! It's not every day we get to enjoy beach time between us. "

Said Kadyn with a bright smile across her face. 

With an angry swing, Jagger abruptly caused a massive wave to hit Kadyn and push her into the water. However, Kadyn emerged from the water soaked from head to toe while sporting the same radiance across her face.

[Kadyn] - "Haha, you got me! I was caught off guard. Help me up, will you? "

Said Kadyn while reaching toward Jagger. 

[Jagger] - "Help yourself. "

Said Jagger coldly before walking away.

Unwavered, Kadyn jumped up and caught up to Jagger before wrapping her arm around his. 

[Kadyn] - "Are you alright? Did I go too far with it? "

Said Kadyn with a concerned look.

[Jagger] - "Just don't do anything for now. Let's keep things peaceful. "

Soon, Jagger led Kadyn to a luxurious jewelry store situated within a massive five-star hotel. While Jagger immediately approached the clerk and began conversing with him, Kadyn wandered off deeper into the store to view the shiny glass displays. The shine from the gold, platinum and diamonds lit under the bright spotlights reflected off Kadyn's emerald-green eyes. 

Upon seeing her enthusiasm, one of the clerks began to follow her steps with a smile on her face. Suddenly, a blue glow caught Kadyn's eyes, which compelled her to stop and notice a ring with a delicate blue sapphire as its crown. However, what was special about it was the fact that the sapphire was shaped exactly like Mike's crystals. 

[Clerk] - "Want to see it? "

[Kadyn] - "May I? "

The clerk gently opened the door to the display and placed the ring on a velour-coated tray to be presented to Kadyn. While Kadyn viewed the ring with enthusiasm, the clerk began explaining the ring's details to Kadyn. 

[Clerk] - "It's a 999 platinum ring with hand-crafted Micheal Angelo artworks on both sides and a 12-carat AAA grade sapphire as its crown. Currently, it's a unique piece to our store with a special price of just under one million. "

The sight of the crystal invoked nostalgia inside Kadyn's heart. Despite being reunited with Mike, she somehow felt more warmth while holding the ring in her hands. After putting the ring back onto the tray, Kadyn turned her head to search for Jagger. After not seeing him in her periphery, she turned around only to be shocked to find him to her right. 

[Kadyn] - "Oh! I was looking for you. Why are we here anyway? "

[Jagger] - "Have you forgotten my promise toward you? Now that I'm alive once more, I think it's time to make you mine. "

Said Jagger with a disarming grin. 

[Kadyn] - "You don't mean... "

Said Kadyn as her mouth opened in shock. 

Jagger abruptly snapped his finger before five different workers marched in a line toward him each presenting a different piece of jewelry. While Kadyn was distracted by the scene, Jagger secretly pushed the tray with Kadyn's favourite ring onto the floor and gestured for the clerk to move over. 

Upon arrival, the first clerk presented Kadyn with a pair of gold earrings with diamonds. Following their co-worker, the second, third and fourth clerks presented in order, a gold and emerald decorated necklace, a pair of luxurious platinum bracelets with natural pink diamonds and a handbag made of high-quality tiger fur and pearly white rhino horn pieces. 

Finally, the fifth clerk arrived at the centre before presenting Kadyn with an insane-looking ring made from pure gold and an actual piece of cyberknight crystal. 

[Kadyn] - "Yes, of course, I would say yes. "

Said Kadyn while overwhelmed with happiness.

[Jagger] - "I figure you would say yes. "

Said Jagger confidently while putting the ring on Kadyn's wedding finger. 

While the staff cheered for them, Jagger kept adding jewelry to Kadyn instead of embracing her. It was a cold move that Kadyn didn't realize while drunk on happiness. Finally, after viewing Kadyn with all the shine added to her body, Jagger finally decided to kiss her. 

The rest of the day was spent between the two at different shops. At the clothing store, after trying out many of the dresses, Kadyn was still indecisive about her choice. Faced with Kadyn's indecisiveness, the store worker was beginning to get frustrated with Kadyn.

[worker] - "Miss, if you want to buy, then buy. It's been quite a while. "

Said the worker in a frustrated tone. 

[Kadyn] - "Oh, I'm so sorry! I'll be quick, I'm sorry for wasting your time. "

Said Kadyn apologetically while getting the dress off her body. 

Upon seeing the situation, Jagger abruptly got up and swiped his finger to the left. In an instant, the worker fell hard against the ground before knocking her head against the floor. When Kadyn exited the changing cabin, she was met by Jagger instead as he held all of her clothes. 

[Jagger] - "What a beautiful thing you are. "

[Kadyn] - "Where was the woman who was helping me earlier? "

Said Kadyn while looking around. 

[worker] - "I'm sorry, I suddenly fell and hit myself. Let me get on with your purchases. "

Said the worker while holding the back of her head. 

While Kadyn and Jagger followed behind the worker, Kadyn leaned toward Jagger and looked at him with a concerned look. 

[Kadyn] - "Did you make her fall? Cause the floor isn't slippery at all. "

[Jagger] - "She deserved it by the way she treated you. "

Said Jagger without a care in the world. 

[Kadyn] - "That's not... Well, it's quite mean you know? "

Despite Kadyn's objection, she didn't want to call Jagger out on his actions. 

[Jagger] - "She should've shown us respect. Who does she think she is? Just some lowly employee with a big ego. "

[Kadyn] - "That's still not... a reason to do that! "

Said Kadyn as she tried to find the proper words. 

[Jagger] - "Show yourself some respect, will you? Remember how we were treated back then? Just some ants in the eyes of even people without power. I'm not about to be the dumb fool and weak-minded idiot that is Mi- "

Jagger quickly stopped himself from saying Mike's name. 

[Jagger] - "...Myself a few years ago. Just follow my lead. You know nothing about the human psyche. Not all people are equal. "

Said Jagger while carefully filtering out his true opinion. 

Not wanting to anger Jagger, Kadyn decided that he knew better than her when it came to social interactions. While scanning the items, the worker suddenly began to bleed from her nose but Jagger secretly activated his ability behind Kadyn's back. 

[Kadyn] - "Are you ok? "

[worker] - "I need an amb- I'm fine! I'll put on some ice later. "

Said the worker as she swiftly wiped the blood off her nostrils. 

Suddenly, the worker's face began to droop but she immediately composed herself. 

[Kadyn] - "Seriously, do you need help? You don't look so good. "

Said Kadyn with a concerned look. 

[Jagger] - "She'll be fine. She's a grown adult who can make decisions on her own. If she needs help, she'll call for it, right? "

Said Jagger while holding Kadyn back. 

The worker silently nodded before handing Kadyn her clothes in bags. With a slightly forceful grip, Jagger wrapped his arm around Kadyn's waist and ushered her out of the store. 

[Jagger] - "Come on, trust me, she'll be fine. We still have a lot of stores to visit. "

Said Jagger with a fake smile. 

Soon after Jagger and Kadyn's departure, the worker abruptly collapsed against the counter before a pool of blood began to form under her face. 

By nightfall, Kadyn was changed from her casual clothes and looks to the likes of a famous model swimming in riches and living at the top of society. As they stepped back into the hotel, the receptionist was shocked when realized that Kadyn was the same depressed woman who checked in a few days ago. 

[Jagger] - "Now, you are dressed fittingly to be my queen. What would people think if you were still dressed like before in that ragged attire? "

Said Jagger while they waited for the elevator.

[Kadyn] - "You didn't have to spend so much on me. Seriously, I thought you were the type to lack a sense of fashion. Weren't you the one who always dressed as if you just returned from the trenches of WW1? "

Said Kadyn while giving Jagger a nudge.

Jagger, just like Kadyn, was also dressed in designer clothes with a sharp, confident style to his appearance. 

[Jagger] - "I used to be quite foolish and stupid. Now, I suppose that has changed. Why dress like a peasant when you have so much power on your hands? Live a little, you know? "

Said Jagger with a tone of irony. 

The two marched into the elevator cabin but just as the doors were closing, another guest ran toward the elevator while signalling for them to hold the doors. With a cruel smile, Jagger swiped his fingers and forced the doors to close just on the man's face. 

[Jagger] - "Too bad for him, he should've been quicker. "

Said Jagger before letting out a cruel burst of laughter.

Kadyn, not knowing how to feel about the situation, decided to laugh with Jagger. 

Upon locking the door to their room, Jagger turned toward Kadyn who immediately crashed into her bed while rubbing the soft blanket against her face. After turning around, Kadyn raised her hand toward the ceiling and admired as the crystal on her ring glowed like a window to the turquoise ocean water. 

[Kadyn] - "Where did you get this crystal? I don't see a piece missing from yours. "

Upon hearing Kadyn's question, Jagger's obscured face suddenly gained a wicked smile. 

In truth, Jagger was thinking fondly about the way he killed a poor Allied crystal user. In order to make a ring with a more special meaning, Jagger simply went on a stroll around the Allied base where he was hiding and ambushed an unlucky crystal user. Within a second of eye contact, the young man was sliced into a fine mist which was absorbed by the wall. Then, as if he were flower picking, Jagger selected and pocketed the best-shaped fragment from his victim's destroyed crystals. 

[Jagger] - "I have my own ways to get them. "

Said Jagger with a grin. 

Upon turning around, Jagger was suddenly met with Kadyn's stunning naked body while she dropped the last piece of her clothing on the floor. 

[Kadyn] - "I'm quite pent up after all this time. Perhaps, you can help your dear lady to relieve her frustration? "

Said Kadyn while biting her lower lip. 

"Hmm! This piece of meat doesn't disappoint. I'll have a lot of fun before I get tired of her. "

Thought Jagger as he walked toward Kadyn. 

In a flash, Jagger aggressively pinned Kadyn's hands against the bed while leaning his face close to hers. 

[Jagger] - "Lemon, I want to ask you something. "

[Kadyn] - "Of course, go on and ask. I'll do anything for you. "

Said Kadyn with glowing red face cheeks. 

[Jagger] - "Will you be on my side no matter what happens? Will you support me no matter what I do just as I had once supported you? Will you kill for me? "

Said Jagger as he stared at Kadyn with a pair of emotionless eyes. 

[Kadyn] - "What do you mean? Of course, I will. "

Said Kadyn with a smile. 

"What a dumbass! I thought you wouldn't be such a selfish bitch, hahaha! It's easier than I fucking expect. This bitch is just a fine piece of meat and nothing more. "

Thought Jagger as his pupil dilated out of excitement. 

[Kadyn] - "Your moral compass has been impeccable for as long as I've known you. If you want someone dead, it would probably be justified beyond reasonable doubt. I trust you, my dear Mike. " 

Upon hearing Kadyn's words, Jagger finally lost his composure and bursted out laughing. 

[Kadyn] - "What's funny, you big dummy? "

Said Kadyn as she giggled alongside Jagger. 

[Jagger] - "I'm just laughing because I'm happy. We are quite literally a match made in heaven. "

Said Jagger as he leaned to kiss Kadyn.

As he moved in to take Kadyn, the shadow his body cast gradually obscured the crystal on Kadyn's neck. While Kadyn smiled out of joy, Jagger smiled out of mockery and ridicule. 

To be continued...