Chap 6

Even by week two of May's absence Drew still slumped on their roof like a loyal Growlithe waiting for his master to return. By now she had become a single lantern in a dark cave that led him to a better place. She had become a fantasy and something much more than she really was. He didn't really like it at first – there was a deep suffering lying in wait for him after the butterflies flew away and all the bubbles popped, he knew for sure. Jim had told him about it and who was he to go against the old man's words? Jim was what? One hundred, now? Compared to Drew's short 19 and half, the demon knew nothing.

He stretched his wings and then lay back with his body arched toward the roof limits, wings more or less sprawled out lazily, and head cushioned by the muscle in his arms. A soft breeze whispered past him in a ghostly way that reminded him of all that was lost. A sinking feeling overcame him as he felt the breeze go by, like everything else in the world thanks to Sloth, and he knew then he was utterly bored. Not bored enough to go back home and deal with Harley – the man had been dangerous that morning. It would be another night spent with Jack Lantern and his girls.

The sun was setting and it was yet another day gone by that Drew hadn't had the chance to speak with May. He wanted to so badly, but every time he saw her shadow crawl up the curtains inside, his instinct forced him to fly away from her balcony. By now she was just another Angel out to kill him. So he'd leave the rose and she'd be left to ponder who on Earth could be giving her all these flowers.

There was too much angst for Drew to think about – it even made him sick. There was no use admitting his own pathetic situation and the best way to get over it was to drink his way out of it. Alcohol used to solve a lot of problems in his earlier adolescence, and since his liver was immortal, he didn't have to pay for the services in the end…because there was no end to this emotional turmoil of a life.

When night fell and the glistening moon appeared from the horizon like a watchful god, Drew spread his wings for the blind world to see. No one would see – that's what he loved about the night. As he glided on cool streams of wind, he felt a natural connection. He was a creature of the night, evolved to take advantage of its every highlight. He went deeper into Darkie territory where the sidewalks were scarce, yet there was movement within the shadows. Apparitions, stray dead who had wandered from their inexperienced necromancer, and the new kings of the darkness - the vampires - roamed without the worry of a Demon snatching their meals or borrowed lives away. Drew had always dreamt of the times when Demons were the head-honchos of the nightlife and feared by all – even feared by Angels. But, sadly, Drew had never been able to live in those times – he was just the off-spring of them.

When he landed in front of Jack Lantern's bar, the lights were still on, as they always were. The bar was for any night-critter, even mortals who thought they could fit in. They were welcomed for good, bloody reasons and Drew never saw the same, daring mortal in the bar twice. When he pushed open the doors he could already hear that annoying purring coming from the cat-girl waitresses – he was their favorite and they hadn't seen him in a long time.

"Ohhhh, masseur!" they purred, obviously trying to get him into a sex-drive they never saw.

None of that big-breast, tight leather, and curved body stuff ever got his interest which was probably thanks to Sloth – the bloody sin had him well trained and careless. He pushed by the cat-girls and they turned around disappointed, as if they thought this time they'd get the Vamp to finally buckle down.

The place was lighted, yet it was still dark. The lightbulbs were as dim as the one that hung from its own wire above Drew's kitchen table. The floor was dark and bare – there weren't any tables except for the red booths that lined the walls all around the octagon. The only free chairs were the stools that were lined up at the bar ahead of him.

The Demon sat at the bar, wings hidden as he was passing off as a Vampire, and slumped, giving the bar tender the go-ahead to bring on the alcohol - whatever was in was good.

He downed his first shot and already the queen of the pussy-cats sat at the stool next to him. She was smaller in every aspect than him, giving him a sense of superiority. She had short, auburn hair that was straightened, and a vixen-like face, perfect for her job. Her eyes were wide with pointed pupils and yellow irises, just like a cat's. And, just like a cat, she had big, pointed ears. She had on tight leather which scrunched up her breasts so that it appeared as though they'd fall out of her shirt at any moment. Her legs were long and thin and a lengthy, black-furred tail swished back and forth behind her excitedly at the sight of the Vamp.

"Hey there, big boy," she said in a low, intoxicating voice.

Just that would get any male to swoon, but not Drew.

"What, Kitty?" Drew asked, extremely annoyed that she'd even dare walk up to him.

They'd had their squabbles in the past and it was damn obvious Drew never liked her, no matter how much Kelly might have. That didn't keep Kitty, away, however. Yes, she did enjoy the lesbian life, but she was one to set goals, and getting Drew to kneel before her in all her power over the bar as the lead prostitute was the biggest one. But Drew only saw her as a walking STD Kelly liked to play with and now that she was near, the Demon felt a wave of remorse for his lost friend wash over him like he hadn't wanted. He had tried to forget Kelly because her memory played the newer memory of May, and the darkened tunnel would then start to spiral. Another shot came his way and he downed it quicker than her next words.

"I was just wondering…where's Kelly?" she asked, sensing his hatred for her.

"She's dead," he told her flatly right after a swallow, the drinks setting in.

Kitty put her hands to her mouth in true shock. As much as Drew loathed her, he knew Kitty really did care about Kelly and her death would surely ruin her evening.

"I can't – how?" her words were messed up and her act was gone.

Drew thought on it as he downed the third drink, and said, "A damn werewolf."

He lied, mostly for himself on all different levels. He didn't want to say out loud he had killed her for emotional reasons but also for beneficial reasons. Kitty and Jack Lantern were partners at the bar, and if she didn't like a customer, for one reason or another, they wouldn't be allowed in and Drew needed the bar as a last resort. Being annoyed by Kitty was a hell of a lot better than hanging out on a roof-top all night because Harley felt like being an asshole.

Kitty sat quiet and looked at him, the first time being compassionate instead of lustful.

"You seem awfully quiet," she pointed out, "Is that bothering you?"

She was talking about Kelly's death, but that wasn't it. He didn't answer her and she looked down disappointed that she couldn't help the little she might have. There was a call from across the room at one of the tables. A few magicians were drunk and looking for a good show that Kitty could provide. Messed up inside, Kitty slipped from the stool, but stood in her spot for a second.

"If you ever need us, we're here," she assured and for the first time Drew felt he could trust her with something.

She walked away and completely ignored the drunks, ordering one of the other cat-girls to perform. Drew sighed and let the fourth shot sit on the polished wood he leaned on.

The Angel on Drew's mind, however, kept him neatly tucked away in the back of her mind. The whole ordeal was over and it was time to move forward to the fate that had been chosen for her. May had made a mental U-turn – she had come far in her teachings from Drew, realizing that the Angels were frauds and how things really worked. Now she had slowly eased backwards into blind acceptance. The Angel listened to her father intently, believed every word she heard in school, and basically went back to being the drone her generation was being trained to be. The only time she faintly remembered Drew was when she was in Demonology class. She no longer thought of him softly on her own.

Another rose appeared on her balcony yesterday and now another appeared. She picked it up and was still captivated by it as if it were the first. The mystery was exhilarating, but May felt bad. What would become of the young man when he found out she was already pre-taken?

Drew had spent the rest of the night at Jack Lantern's and the cat-girls were wise enough not to go near him. They were exceptionally hospitable, though, and offered him an empty booth as a sort of makeshift bed.

The next morning he headed home back to the warehouse where Harley waited for him in a fit of rage.

"Well?" he started calmly which indicated his temper had reached its peak.

"I'm nineteen, leave me alone!" Drew shouted at him, suffering from a slight hangover.

"No! I won't! Why were you not here?" Harley demanded like any good mother.

"Because I could, alright? I didn't need your bitching," Drew told him flatly.

Harley shut up at that – the voice sounded like Drew, but then again, it just wasn't.

Harley just ended it off there, "Well, whatever you're stressing about that you need to drink yourself out of, you better take care of it before you get sick."

"I don't get sick!"

"You know what I mean!"

And Harley was gone from the kitchen, leaving Drew to sort out his hidden problem on his own. From across the table, the Demon saw Roselia walk up to him, almost frightened to approach. The Pokemon held its floral hands to itself in a cautious manner.

"I'm not gonna snap at you," Drew eased her.

"Roseh," it answered and more casually approached.

Roselia was the nicest thing in the kitchen, giving it some real color against the grays and dark browns that engulfed the place. The two of them shared a bond that didn't need words – they looked at each other, sorting out the problem with a bored stare and a hopeful nod. Roselia knew of May and Drew's affiliation with her and his problem with her, though he hadn't yet been able to describe what it was, it was obvious to the rose-girl that communication between them needed to be reestablished. When Roselia knew, Drew knew, and that's where the roses had been born.

"C'mon," May begged.

She was in her pajamas sitting on the floor of her dark room. She was supposed to be in bed, but she really wanted to finally catch her mysterious rose-giver. The Angel desperately needed sleep, but she knew he came before she actually fell into dreamland. The excitement made her heart race and she tapped her foot to appease it. It was ten o'clock and as she went to give up, she heard the flutter of wings.

She lost a lot of time trying to get up and stand on her sleeping legs, but the Angel managed to stumble to the balcony just in time. However, her mystery man wanted to be caught.

Perched on the concrete border of her balcony sat a Demon with his wings fully out-stretched and he was just waiting for her to come out. May didn't scream, though, at least not in fear.

"Drew? You're the one giving me ro-" a delicate rose shut her up as it was shoved into her face.

"I'm surprised – you remember my name after ditching me for so long!" Drew exclaimed in shock.

His voice was hushed, but there was still a little bit of annoyance in it. May grabbed the rose from him as petals went flying from the stalk. She barely remembered the rose anymore as she went to properly scold Drew the best she could in whispers.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Your parents are dead asleep."

"That doesn't matter! If someone catches you we're both dead! Literally!"

Drew snickered in disbelief sending May into a huff.

"Sunilluma can do you in," May told him.

"Sunilluma can bite me."

May had no comment – exactly how Drew liked it. He shifted on his perch – he wasn't interested in staying long. May looked down at the concrete below her feet.

"Anyway, if you'd be quiet for two seconds, I can do what I needed to do and be out of here," Drew told her and went on, "I just wanted to know what the hell is going on. I'm not a mind-reader yanno, you could've told me you weren't coming back!"

She didn't answer.

"Why don't you come around anymore?"

"The test is over, Drew," she said to him in a cold tone of voice.

His eyes narrowed dangerously and almost hurt, but he wouldn't let May see that through their blazing irises.

"Oh, so you were using me?" Drew challenged in a sarcastic, way.

He didn't feel exactly betrayed – the Angels weren't as different from Demons as they hoped no matter how many generations they tried to "cleanse". He had been using her too as a means to vent, but that accidentally changed, so he couldn't really blame her. Of course, he could blame her for not giving him a clue – that was just bad planning.

"No…I," she stumbled over her words.

There was something else there that, unlike Drew, May had no experience in hiding and her eyes told it all – it wasn't the way she had wanted it to be. She had tried to suppress the need to go to that roof and learn of the dark corruption that now snoozed within the community, but…

"I just couldn't. It's too dangerous," she shook her head, "An Angel and a Demon…be friends? Who would've thought…"

"Well, maybe if you strayed from the herd a little, a change would occur and other Angels and Demons like us wouldn't have to answer to this stupidity your clan has conjured up!" Drew snapped.

He had gotten right into her face, and she backed up helpless and hopeless. She wasn't about to back down to him, however. Her expression changed to match his.

"Listen! I like life…no matter how corrupted it is – it's better than being dead," May told him earnestly.

Drew sighed, "Yeah, for you!"

"What? Are you bored without me?"

"Terribly! But it's not just that. I can't even walk in my clan's territory without looking over my damn shoulder. At least when I have someone around I can hang out on a rooftop without having to hide my wings. I wouldn't have let you catch me here if I didn't know you were experiencing the same shit."

"I'm not!"

"You are, you horrid liar! Don't tell me you weren't completely indulged in the crap I was ranting."

"I-" May started, but she couldn't deny it.

He had her so figured out.

"I really did want to go back," she admitted, "But I didn't want to die or see them spill your blood because of me."

"They won't," Drew said, "If we can play our cards right, that is."

"How?" May was interested.

Drew wanted to chuckle in victory – he really could read the Angel like a book. He didn't however and took a few seconds to make the plan sound right. It wasn't exactly fool proof, but it was so easy, a child could follow it and anyone could believe it. All May needed was a "friend" that she would go to meet – something that Drew could pose as should it ever come down to it.

"Tomorrow, after school, you're going to go to your mother with some news – you've made a new friend during your trip home from school, alone. You trip on the way and this guy sees you and helps you out…"

"He was so nice that he picked up all of my books!" May told her mother the next day.

The Angel felt a wave of excitement run through her that probably rampaged throughout any common criminal – it was getting away with the crime that was the true thrill.

Caroline was listening intently as she prepared a few side vegetables to the family's dinner that night at the stove.

"I've met him before," May went on, "On the way to grocery shopping in town a few weeks ago."

"Did you, now?"

"Yes – he pointed me in the right direction for a bunch of things I couldn't find. I've seen him around afterward and I think we're becoming friends."

"It's always good to hear how easily you acquire friends, May. What's this young man's name?" Caroline was sincerely interested in her daughter's day.

"Drew."

The parent and child barely saw much of each other, so they usually clicked well.

"I was wondering if I could meet up with him today, if that's okay with you, Mom," May asked.

Caroline took no time to think, "Of course, dear, just be back by dinner. I think that'll be around sun-down. Please don't be late."

"Of course, Mom!" May said, giving the woman a quick hug and then running out of the house in a hurry.

Caroline sighed to herself when she heard the front door close. She mentally hit herself for not asking May what her new friend did or how old he was, or anything else she should have. The Angel shook her head – she trusted her daughter a bit much, more than Norman, she knew, but there was no good reason not to.

May flew off to the rooftop she had once gone to daily those few weeks ago. As she flew, the Angel remembered that she had forgotten to give details about her "new friend", but dismissed it when she figured it would be asked of her when she returned at the dinner table. It would be better that the young Angel tell the entire family at once – that way the story had no room to change.

Drew was waiting at the apartment roof. He hadn't been sure last night if May would go through with it or not, but hanging out on top of the building was all he could do anyway. It was just a suggestion and if she didn't go through with it that day, he would have stopped all longing for her. There would not have been any reason to go on – so he wasn't being pushy; he was just giving it one more chance.

He had slept the day out having his black wings catch the sun – he was almost cocky about it. The day went fast, considering he was looking forward to the afternoon. He heard the flutter of feathered-wings beside him soon enough, and, opening his eyes, looked into the face of the sun.