Chap 8
May sat in her room that night, staring at her wall. There was nothing constructive to do and it wasn't as if she wanted anything to do anyway. She thought about what had happened only a few hours before, and breathed many sighs of relief since then. However, one thought still plagued her. Max – he seemed to have figured something out like the ace detective he was, seemed to have her wrapped around his finger. Of course, there had been something odd about it. He didn't seem judgmental, but still disappointed. He had also acted most out of character! Should he have figured them out, he would have caused a riot, would've made a scene! Perhaps he was saving her or maybe he wasn't completely sure. If the latter were true, then May now sulked as she could only imagine the terrified look she must have given him then, if for only a second.
"May? Can I come in?" Max asked from behind her closed door.
May bit her bottom lip nervously. She took a deep breath and hoped to God himself the latter thought was true.
"Sure," May squeaked.
She swallowed. If what she wanted to believe was true actually was the truth, then she should sound more innocent. She smiled welcomingly as he pushed past her door and looked up at her.
"May, I need to talk to you…about your…friend," Max began.
He looked uneasy and this gave May hope.
"I think," Max went on. "I'm pretty sure he's more of a Darkie than you let on."
"What makes you say that, Max?" May said, trying to keep the shakiness out of her voice.
"It's just, well, he seemed convincing, but I still can't put my finger on it."
"Don't worry about it! He-"
"No, May, I'm gonna worry about it! You're not that great at judging people! He could be some sort of Darkie – a weird vampire…or…a Demon."
Max had whispered his last statement. May gasped and then covered her mouth nervously, knowing her gasp would give the secret away. She knew her brother would suspect something so she played it out to mean something completely different.
"Max! How could you say such a thing? He's so nice and you'd say that about him! Really, I can't believe you!"
"Just watch out, is all I'm saying! It's not like he goes to our school! Even if he is a mortal…mortals can be just as disgusting and dangerous as any Darkie!"
May shook her head in rage. Max had a suspicion and it was all that was needed to make May feel like a stranger in her own home. However, Max hadn't placed any blame on her, though he was inadvertently putting her down, she wasn't in trouble yet.
May didn't say anything else and for a few moments Max stood in the middle of her room eyeing her, trying desperately to claw out the secrets she kept hidden away in that soul of hers. May feared her brother was becoming more like their father with every passing second until he left her alone to think about what he had said. His words did not seem strong, but they had made the impact Max had wanted them to. Somehow, underneath those words was suspicion and blame on her too. But, wasn't she imagining that? Could it only be the guilt inside her that made her think this way?
May swallowed again. She wanted nothing more than to escape her little room and fly away and be with Drew. Things would be better. Things would be easier.
…
Drew walked into the abandoned warehouse he called home that same night. It was musty, dark, and mostly uninviting, but he treaded onward anyway. Harley was waiting for him in the kitchen with his hands folded neatly in front of him on the old table. Drew grumbled under his breath, trying to hold it back though, so as for it not to become a deadly snarl. He was chewing on nothing in bitterness and the last thing he needed at that moment was for Harley to pull some shit about how he was late. The older Demon did no such thing, though, being able to read the younger Demon's expression full of resentment. Drew sat across from Harley and stared at him, waiting for the purple-haired fiend to say something. It could have been anything to get his mind off the previous events at May's home.
Unfortunately, the only thing the older Demon could think of was to ask the painful question.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Dammit, Harley, doesn't it look like I don't want to talk about it?"
"Can't blame me for being curious, doll. C'mon! Tell me what's going on."
Drew glared at him with searing, green eyes – at any moment, they could have turned red. Drew grumbled again, this time letting it become a deep growl that vibrated in his chest.
"He was in her house," Drew answered, his voice scratchy.
Harley perked up.
"Wha? Who was in what house?"
Drew didn't answer – anything else would have thrown him off the edge, he knew it. There was a strange anger that boiled at the bases of his limbs – Wrath. He held it back though – it was not worth it, especially when there was nothing to do about it.
"There, there, hun," Harley started. "Whatever it is, you can bet it's not what it seems."
Drew knew that, but still felt Wrath tingling. It wasn't that there was truth in what he thought, he just didn't like the thought – it made him sick.
"Harley, if you bother me tonight, I might kill you…and you're not worth it, so don't do it. I don't need your help, whatever you were thinking."
Drew then got up and went to his room past the kitchen area. The older Demon was left by the table alone and he slumped, his plans ruined by threats of death.
…
In the morning, the clouds rolled in. A gray overcast had covered the city, blocking out the sun's golden rays, threatening rain. This didn't stop May as she fluttered over to the roof top that afternoon. As scary as last night had been, she felt nothing could stop her from seeing Drew again. She just had to, even if it meant getting drenched in a downpour. When she arrived, the Angel found Drew sitting up against the small hut that had been built to cover the staircase below and provide a door to anyone below who wanted to be on the roof. The Demon seemed to be looking down at the concrete beneath him, oblivious to May's landing.
"Drew?" May asked as she approached him.
He looked up at her with sleepy eyes. He grumbled and then put his gaze back where it was. May was concerned about this, and took a seat where she stood.
"Something wrong?" she asked, though, even she knew it wasn't the best thing to inquire.
"I just didn't get any sleep last night," Drew told her.
He didn't tell her the reason right off, though. Harley had actually said something intelligent – it probably wasn't the way it seemed. Of course, whether there was harm in asking or not, he had to know exactly who this other Angel was once and for all.
"You didn't tell me you had such a big family," Drew started off casually. "Who was that other woman – your aunt?"
"No, she's a family friend," May told him. "I didn't know they were going to be there either."
"Who were those two other kids?"
"The one with the glasses is my brother, Max. The other one is Ash."
So, his name was Ash.
"What's he to you?" Drew pried.
May looked at him for a moment, trying to read what sort of interest he had in the Angel, but Drew was a master of disguise. He only seemed moderately interested, for the sake of the conversation. Underneath and unbeknownst to May, however, Drew wanted to know everything desperately, just to relieve himself or find a reason to relieve himself.
"He's…just a friend," May told him.
It was the truth, somewhat. However, May's pause made it clear to Drew that there was something more going on than she let on. He narrowed his eyes, but she didn't meet them as she could just feel them pinning her down.
"What is he really?" Drew asked, being as serious as he could – no funny stuff.
May let out a sigh. How was she going to break to him? How could she break it to herself?
"I know it sounds weird but, he's…also my fiancé. It's some ritual my clan goes through every time our High Priest has to step down."
Drew sat quiet next to her, but inside he was yelling. It was worse than he had thought and his insides felt as though they would boil and shrivel up against his searing anger and, admittedly, his jealousy. The Demon sat, though, containing all this under a solemn, bored expression, like it didn't really matter to him.
May still hadn't made eye contact. She fought with herself, battling the idea of telling Drew how she really felt about the whole ordeal and then go straight into how he was a factor in her distaste for the ceremony. Of course, that would lead to a confession she had not sincerely acknowledged. Would the distaste alone lead Drew to make a snide comment about her clan? She still honored tradition, but perhaps not when it juggled her life and decisions. She decided to be "merely content" with it in front of Drew – it was a good route, wasn't it?
"It's…fine, I guess," May started, being casual and uncaring. "We are friends, so we'll get along! He's a good choice, I think."
"What does all that have to do with you anyway? Can't they just pick a priest?"
"Usually, the first born child of the previous priest becomes the next one, but when the first born is a girl, a strong, suitable husband is chosen for her. That's my situation."
Drew tilted his head in confusion. To himself he admitted Kelly could not have picked a better candidate to try and kill that night she had gone to Wrath. May went on.
"I know I have a brother…but the tradition says that it must be the first child, for he or she has the most power of the previous priest infused within them."
"What, are you related to Jesus?" Drew asked snidely.
May's brow furrowed at the comment.
"No. The first priest was believed to be an angel that was very close to God, so we like to carry that on in our leader. Of course, they don't believe a girl can be priest, so they pick the most able of the boys in the age group to be her husband."
Drew folded his arms and chuckled, "Sounds like selective breeding to me. You know they do that to Miltank, right?"
"Ya know, Drew, you're just rude sometimes! Can't you be happy for me?"
Drew became serious again at her question. He looked out to the building opposite their building and for a long while he didn't answer. How could he answer without asking her to forget that crap and be with him instead? Figuring out his feelings was easy – he was so in tune with his selfish, and apparently, demonic desires and interests. The hard part was getting everything to happen the way he wanted it to. Of course, he also learned the world doesn't work that way until you step on toes, and he knew just whose innocent toes he'd stomp on.
"Well, I have to go," May said, feeling a bit uneasy with Drew being so silent.
The sun had not yet made an appearance, and May decided that leaving early might save her from being late. She looked back at Drew once more.
"I'm going to be late tomorrow," she said, but didn't give a reason, seeing as Drew wasn't really paying attention anyway.
He was being awfully weird, she noticed, but she did not compute it to be anything significant. The Angel said goodbye and as the Demon looked up to see her off, she spread her wings and flew away like the difficult bird she was.
The Demon was left alone on the rooftop to ponder his situation. The only things on his mind were violent as Wrath tried to take over. Too bad for the sin the Demon had a clear plan in mind, and so it melted away. Drew didn't need a sin to be violent.
…
Drew had heard May yesterday – she wasn't going to meet up with him. He took this opportunity to stretch his legs. Hiding his wings, he strolled down streets and passed people by. He had no plan, he just wandered with the afternoon sun smacking him down for wearing black.
The pavement was bustling – every one seemed to be out and had something to do – they would not even notice if a dragon decided to fly overhead. Drew knew this was superlative timing for what he was planning, now if only the prey fell into place. May couldn't be the only Angel allowed to roam the streets after school. His green eyes flashed with excitement – he had never hunted something that could put up a fight, not that he didn't think he could overwhelm them, it just wasn't worth it for food purposes. However, this was different, this wasn't for storing blood, this was to test the waters and live on the edge, somewhat in memory of Kelly, in another sense to relieve himself, let him find out he was better than the "strongest and most able" Angel in May's age group. It would be a great ego booster, he thought.
Up ahead he saw his catch – a tall, dark-haired Angel with a Pikachu latched to his shoulder. Ash was walking in the opposite direction as Drew, having a conversation with the electric rodent and alone as far as buddies go. The Angel was hiding his wings, just as Drew was, and as they passed each other, the Angel stopped for a brief moment. Sensing this, Drew smirked, knowing the fish had seen the bait, and continued to walk on as if he hadn't recognized Ash.
"Hey, Drew!" the Angel called and spun around to catch up to him.
Like an excited child, the Angel got up into his face, as if happy to see an old friend. Drew tried not to show his disgust for such assumptions – how dare he assume friendship when they only knew each other's names! The two of them stood between two buildings where a dark, empty alleyway split them and seemed to put a divider between the two entities as they faced each other.
"Oh, you're May's little friend, right? From…two nights ago," Drew said, pretending to vaguely remember Ash in the deep pockets of his memory.
Excitement surged through him – this was a very different hunt. Instead of putting his fangs in the right spots, he had to place words in the best places. It was all too exciting.
"Yeah, I recognized you from that night and thought I should say hello. Any friend of May's is a friend of mine," Ash told him.
The goody-goody crap was making Drew sick, but he gave an amused "heh" to cover it. Ash was easy to fool – the Angel didn't seem to realize he was standing in front of a clan enemy like the Demon thought he would, and should as the next High Priest. It was all too easy, and Drew almost felt disappointed and most of all, offended.
"So, you said you were a Dark Magician?" Ash asked. "That's cool."
"Yeah, I hear you perform magic too in your school," Drew told him, slyly, easing into the Angel's atmosphere.
"Y-yeah, I do. I take that class, but, you don't find that weird?"
Ash still thought Drew was a mortal at the basics of the his existence, figuring that even a mortal magician should find it weird other mortals can take a magic class. Too bad for the Angel he was thick-headed and couldn't go further to figure out maybe this person wasn't as much of a mortal as he let on. Lies; the world is full of it.
"No, I find it most interesting. Maybe we can engage in a duel?"
Drew shrugged, knowing that from then on in it would be effortless to hook the poor bastard.
"Right now?"
Ash was taken back at the offer.
"Yes, right now. No one will even notice, why, a Demon could fly around in dazed circles, and they wouldn't even bat an eye."
Drew moved slowly into the alley beside them, trying to test if the Angel was on the hook or not. Indeed he was, Ash turned to face him, severely entangled on Drew's line.
"Aw I couldn't-" Ash started, but Drew cut him off.
"What? Scared that I'll overwhelm you?"
Drew could almost see the hook being firmly wedged into his prey as Ash started flailing like a child in fury.
"I'm not scared of anything, especially you! You want a duel? Then show me your magic skills! I'll walk all over you!"
"Oh, I'll show you my magic…"
Drew backed further into the alley. A dark shadow swept over him and from the midst of that dark cloak, Drew's eyes started to glow an excited green as they narrowed in pure amusement. He spread his wings for Ash to see, knowing the Angel would rather fight him than run off and tell his community. It was all too easy to predict.
"But it's a very different kind of magic."
Ash swallowed, looking at the Demon. Drew watched as the Angel clenched a shaking fist as the Pikachu leapt off his shoulder.
"You're a Demon…" Ash lingered and then became serious. "I'm going to be High Priest someday…I should learn how to take one of you out."
Ash grit his teeth and spread his own wings.
Drew taunted him, "Then come on and try to take me out!"
The Demon then rocketed into the sky with a single swipe of his wings. Drew then waited in the air to see if Ash would follow and surely enough the Demon had the Angel right where he wanted him. Ash came zooming from the alley, ready to crash head-on into the Dark entity. Drew lifted and sped off, causing Ash to hang in mid air without the slightest clue as to what was going on. When he regained control of his concentration, Ash went after the Demon again.
Drew headed toward the higher buildings where a game of dangerous hide-and-seek ensued. The Angel caught up, and knocked one of Drew's wings out of sync with the other by hitting it with his own feathered wing. Drew powerfully kicked him in the hip and then dove down towards the street below. Ash followed him earnestly, trying to keep up. Drew watched this and evaluated that Ash was a better flyer than May, and was putting up an interesting fight. The Demon slowed his decent, seeing that it was safe below and no one was around. He was waiting for Ash to greet him. He knew the Angel would attempt some sort of wing or kicking attack to smash him into the ground with, but unfortunately for the lightie, Drew had the privilege of waiting and defense-strength.
Before Ash could deliver his blow, using the round bone at the arch of his wing, Drew issued his own attack, swiping his right, spread wing up into Ash's face, if only to push him back. The Angel's reflexes were underestimated though, and Ash quickly removed himself from Drew's large hitting range with a quick thrust backwards, pushing his wings against the air forcefully. Drew growled at his miss, and then sped on, waiting for another chance to strike.
The Angel followed, waiting for his chance to get a hit in. Ash began picked up speed as he followed Drew's ascent upwards, close to a glass building side where the sun painted a flash of light against it. With this lighting, their appearances to the people inside would be of two birds, and so their fight still went on undetected by mortal eyes. However, two Angelic eyes saw them as they glided upwards and she held her hands to her chest in anxiety. Pikachu sat next to her on a far-off roof, and watched as its trainer fought with the Demon.
"How…why are they fighting?" May asked breathlessly, though not even Pikachu could answer.
The young Angel spread her wings and flew quickly towards them before they could do any more damage.
Drew saw her coming from the corner of his eye and decided then to finish it before she could stop them. Both Ash and Drew had made it to the top of the building, and before the Angel could even turn around Drew slammed his foot between Ash's wings, causing them to flinch. He then was able to lock his foot between the shoulder blades. The maneuver was Drew's favorite – not only were the Angel's wings rendered temporarily useless, but the two of them were close enough to the roof that Drew could slam him into the concrete, which he went ahead and did. Ash landed on the roof ventral side down and put his arms out in front to cushion his rough landing. The Angel landed like deadweight and Drew settled near him to see the fruits of his labor. Ash was completely worn out with a small, dead stream of blood coming from the left corner of his mouth. His eyes were still fierce, still had fight left in them. Drew looked into those eyes with the same viciousness, same will to go on until the death. It was certain that the battle would have raged on had it not been for May's interception.
"What are you two doing?" she wailed. "How? Why?"
The two males didn't answer – she wouldn't understand anyway. For a few moments the three stared at each other – the two Angels horrified and disbelieving, Drew feeling good about himself. He had shoved his hands into his pockets, feeling that relief had been given to him somewhat, even if he hadn't gotten the chance to finish the Angel off.
"Ash…" May started, and Drew looked up as he heard her voice.
She looked worried about something and the Demon followed her gaze straight into the other Angel's face full of disbelief and disappointment. His teeth were clenched as tight as his fists that still lay on the ground, now beneath him as he was trying to get back up. He was on all fours, his clothes battered, and Pikachu walked up to him full of concern.
"May…you knew he was a Demon," Ash grit his teeth.
May looked down at him and nodded. She then knelt down to try and help him up back on his feet. He wouldn't take it, though. He tore away from her in disappointment, not wanting the subject to change until he got some answers.
"Why are you protecting this Demon?" Ash asked. "You should have told the clan! We need to get rid of him, now!" We-!"
"Ash! Stop! I…we're friends. I know it's hard to believe, but that's my choice. I'm not sure what's happened here today, though, but…but you need to promise! You need to promise you won't tell anyone! Promise you won't even give them a clue!"
"May! That's insane!"
"Promise!"
Ash grit his teeth again and grunted in frustration. It was hard to decide. Normally he would be more than willing to lie for a friend, but this was a completely different situation. He got up on his feet by himself while thinking and looked down at the ground that now had cracks where he had crashed.
"You won't be blamed if anyone finds out about it," May told him sincerely. "I just need you to play off like this never happened."
She looked down at the concrete beneath her feet and clasped her hands in front of her in a sort of prayer or an apology. The tenseness in Ash filtered out slowly and his shoulders sank as he now stood, thinking about his limited options. He looked at Drew with a burning hatred that flowed through his veins, through his DNA. He agreed though – he nodded and accepted May's terms, wiping the blood away from his mouth. As much as he wanted to have Drew taken care of, it was for May he agreed.
"Okay."
"Thank you, Ash!" May bursted with joy and wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you, thank you!"
Ash hugged her back, sweat-dropping nervously at her public display of friendly affection. He patted her on the back as a "you're welcome".
Only a few feet from them, Drew watched. Perhaps they were the match made in heaven, and these useless feelings he felt must have been a part of the hell he was supposed to endure for being a Demon. There had been no real plan in all of it, the Darkie just needed to know how good this other Angel really was. He could give the Angel credit, but had Drew really wanted to, he knew he could kill him. Of course, as much as he wanted to go through with it now, he decided to spare May from a traumatic experience such as that. Without so much as a goodbye, the bat-winged entity flew off into the darkening sky.
May heard the stealthy flap of his wings as he left. She broke away from Ash and watched him dive into the harbor-area where the warehouses were. She felt a sort of loss as he disappeared. Ash nudged her on the shoulder from behind, reminding her how late it was and that they should be heading home. Her friend picked up Pikachu and flew off without her towards home as she lingered for a moment looking back towards Drew's flight path. She then turned around and caught up to Ash.
She wondered. What had happened? The Angel decided it was her turn to pry.
