Jade | Venus

She reached up and took the jade hairpin from her hair. Her black silk tumbled down past her shoulders. Without it, she looked younger. Softer. Human.

“The cards are just paper,” she continued. “The real game is always what people bring to the table. Fear. Greed. Loneliness.” She paused. “You bring loneliness. It clings to you like the smell of bleach.” jade venus

“What truth?”

“You didn’t even look at the cards.” She reached up and took the jade hairpin from her hair

“You could stop,” I said quietly.

“Because I made a promise to a dead man,” she said. “And promises are the only things that can’t be stolen.” jade venus