Devil in My Soul

Rated M

Genre: Supernatural/Hurt & Comfort

Summary:

They say that we are the villain of someone's story. One decision can reshape the path we walk. One choice could cost you everything. Of course, we must all face the consequences of our actions. Now, a new student comes to town with a dark secret and a deep connection to the supernatural that changes everything.

A/N:

This chapter is going to slow things down as well. I will admit this isn't my favorite chapter, but I knew that this was needed to push the story forward. We'll be getting to a major plot point in the next chapter, I promise. This chapter is an introduction to the main points of the upcoming arc. Also, from this point forward, I'll be listing title names as a means to keep things organized. Some arcs will be longer or shorter but I'll do my best to keep giving the best I can, no matter the shift or twists.

Speaking of which, this leads me to the subject of Tori and Jade's attraction to Liam moving forward. While I won't be giving details here, I will say that this is more than just romantic content. Their backgrounds will play a pivotal role in multiple ways as we advance through the story. How these things unfold will be revealed in time so don't worry, I don't intend for it to be a damsel-in-distress trope kind of thing.

Gotta start somewhere, right? Haha

As always, I am forever grateful to those who love and follow this story. I truly appreciate you all and will be considering an OC contest down the road for a future arc. I'll make an oc application down the road so don't worry. For now, I hope you enjoy the chapter and I'll see you next time.

Chapter 8:

Finally Falling 1

Blazes.

This was what greeted Jade as she opened her eyes, a forest on fire that coursed all that surrounded Jade. Her icy portals were the only contrast to the chorus of reds and oranges that danced around her in concert. The last thing she recalled was lying next to... Suddenly her eyes darted to the spot where she thought he would be. To her dismay and fear, there was no sight of the boy she saved; had he been claimed by the searing flames?

"Liam?!"

Her call went unheeded by her friend, but another had answered. Jade took a few steps back, noticing a deep growl cut through the conflagration. A four-legged beast soon emerged through the parted sea of fire, leaving only harmless embers beneath its mighty paw. Its stare paralyzed Jade, preventing any sign of escape while it bore its fangs hungrily.

Its presence carried with it the omen of death! Was this to be her fate for her past sins? Despite the randomness of this moment, Jade couldn't shake off the feeling that the canine was familiar. Such a realization should've been a boon yet the rigid girl's heart began to sink the more she accepted this fact. Dazzling emeralds narrowed until only a few inches separated them, leaving her with more questions than answers.

Why else would a wolf approach in such a way?

"We promised to protect each other; to be there for each other when we needed..."

"I failed you!" she whispered absentmindedly, clamping a hand over her mouth soon after. How did such words pour out so easily? Was she dreaming? "I wasn't there. You were always there for me and I... I..."

"Why are you so hard on yourself, Jade?" the beast calmly questioned. "As long as we've known each other, you've been your biggest critic. You've belittled yourself more than those you criticize others. I just want to know why."

"Liam? Why are you a wolf? Why is the world burning around us?"

"That's for you to answer. We are in your psyche after all!" the creature stretched out a paw to her.

Though Jade was still internally freaking out, she dared to grab the limb, her breath hitched when it transformed into a human hand. Her sapphires shook at the sight of the boy kneeling before her with a gentle grin. While the fur was gone, it had been substituted by a fur-lined sleeveless jacket that showed his toned torso. Jade did her best to ignore the blush but it had dire consequences as the glowing embers increased in height and ferocity all around.

"What's going on?!" she cried, lunging at him in a desperate bid for protection.

In her panic, Jade clung to him like a child would their mother. It was the first time in a long while that she felt free to express her vulnerable side, a point that was emphasized when she felt Liam wrap his arms around her. Feeling his protective hold made Jade feel safer, even in the face of danger. If she was being honest with herself, this felt right, even if this was some weird fantasy. Liam was all the defense she needed from the world, a slowly spreading across her face.

"Better?"

"More than you know..."

To Jade's surprise, the world around her felt... cooler? She jerked violently at her sudden confession only to feel the low rumble of a laugh from her guardian. Embarrassment rushed through her cheeks, but Jade also couldn't resist giggling.

"Have you figured it out yet?" his whisper sent shivers down her spine, but she didn't care either.

With a nod, Jade carefully lifted her head to meet her crush's gaze. Another admission made her realize that the flames were beginning to die down. The heat was no longer reminiscent of hell's gate, giving way to a soft breeze as she formed another idea. She missed the way they were... before the accident. She confessed within herself more truths, allowing them to pour from her lips without fear. It was her mind after all.

"I missed this..." The fiery ring around them faded to the wind's authority.

"Me too."

"I never stopped thinking about you," she bit her lip as the charred ground began to yield to small saplings. "When you left, I was afraid that I'd never see you again! If I hadn't..."

This constructed form Liam rubbed his thumb down her back, tracing circles as she choked back tears. While she fought past her guilt, he smiled at the scene unfolding before them. In his silence, understanding and grace flowed from his touch. He wouldn't stop her as he observed the sky parting and releasing a cascade of rain down upon them both. Even with the downpour soaking them, Jade didn't stop.

"I'm sorry...!" she sniffed, resting her forehead on his chest. "I betrayed your trust. I've hurt you, left you cursed. Even now, I'm being selfish in wanting you for myself! I'm in a relationship and I'm jealous of Vega for having your attention and..."

She abruptly ceased her loathing, finally noticing the rain that descended upon them. Where did this come from? Was this a manifestation of her feelings? How could something so beautiful represent her ugliness? As she considered these inquires, Liam's smile never fell. It was as if he hadn't heard a word.

"Am I supposed to change my thoughts of you?" he raised a brow, his smirk border lining on the cocky side.

Normally, Jade would've taken exception to this, yet she couldn't help but welcome the challenging tone of the boy. "You know that most people find me intimidating, right?"

"That's because they miss the endearing petals of the rose focusing on the thorns..."

Endearing...

There were many words to describe Jade, but endearing wasn't one of them, but somehow it fit when he said it. Cherishing his description of her, Jade felt herself drawn to act, reminding herself that this was a dream; Such reprieves from the woes of the conscious world were only temporary.

With a gentleness that astonished her for but a second, she placed her hands on either side of his face, causing the drops to stop in with time. She leaned in and latched her lips on his, feeling a charge shoot through them both. Despite this being a realm of her deepest fantasies, it felt more realistic than the world of the living. Never before had she gotten lost in a kiss to such an extent. She could taste his soul, that complex melding of sweetness mixed with the savory flavor of hidden desire, or at least that's what she hoped. Her heart kept skipping beats as she felt Liam's hands travel over her body, his adept fingers grazing her just enough to blur the lines of tickling and teasing. She had felt love before, but this unlocked a sense of starvation that she hadn't noticed until now. She had kissed before, but never before had she experienced such a tingling within her core.

How long had they been like this? A minute? An hour?

All she knew was that kiss, though a fabric of her secret desires, held more passion than she'd ever felt before in her life. That rigid burning in her heart was the perfect contrast to the softness of their embrace, feeling his skin blend with hers. Oh, how she wished this was real life, but Jade would take what she could get as a light soon shined above them, silently summoning the girl back to the real world.

"Dammit...!"

"Don't worry," she heard him whisper in her ear, pulling her shivering form. "This was but the first step, Jade. No matter how long it takes, you know he loves you. How that pans out is completely up to you."

"But... What about the others? Beck. Tori? It's all so complicated..."

"How about you start by not trying to dictate his love life? Maybe let things play out and not try to sabotage things between them?"

"Pfft! I'm just being protective..."

"You pronounced possessive wrong."

Jade rolled her eyes but didn't debate the construct. There was no time anyway as the blinding rays completely overtook her, leaving things unresolved yet with a key to a new beginning.

Early in the morning, Liam woke up with a throbbing head and a sore shoulder. His eyes clenched shut when the sun greeted him. However, when he tried to block out the harsh rays, he found the task challenging. The source of his inability came with both shock and horror, an unconscious Jade cuddled up under him. As alarming as this was, he was grateful she was at least wearing clothes, even if it was just his shirt.

What the hell happened?! he screamed, trying to maintain a semblance of stability while his brain failed to recall the events of the previous night.

The last thing he remembered was... Whenever he tried to remember the moments of last night, his mind would draw a blank for most of that time. Using his free hand, his senses reminded him of the harsh weather.

"It was raining..." he whispered while finally slipping from Jade's hold.

"Hmm?"

That hum... That cursed display of innocence contrasted her usual rigid appearance. The air around them was still and smooth, drawing Liam from his better judgment. While he cared for her, it would be foolish to act without a strategy in place. Amidst his worrying, he gave in to his curiosity and confirmed his earlier suspicions as his dumbstruck gaze met her eyes. Pools of blue stared back at him, a blend of solace and something that he couldn't place.

If his emotions weren't in conflict with each other, the frown on her face spelled it out for him. Once again, his heartbeat grew skipped as he watched her sit up and block his sole path of escape. Her stare didn't strike fear, but guilt. It was a look that told him that she knew something she probably shouldn't. What was she thinking?

"I guess we need to talk, huh?"

Jade bowed her head and flashed a soft smile, one that unnerved the boy more than any wicked grin she could ever muster. The longer he looked at her, the more his nerves grew out of control. Sure, she was unarmed, but Liam knew her well enough to know such an idea was wishful thinking. Little did he know, she too was hiding something from him, something that he could sense just by noticing the slightest shift of her demeanor.

"Looks like it." she let out a soft huff, much to his amusement.

"Okay. Where should we start?"

"We could get ready for rehearsal first?" she stretched and yawned. "You missed our first meeting for Andre's production last night and I'd like to have clean clothes to wear. Or..."

"Or what?"

"Maybe we can skip that and talk about things?"

Tori had been staring at the door for what felt like hours. In reality, she'd been standing in that one spot for a few minutes but the feeling of her stomach did her no favors. She stood for a couple more seconds, her stomach churning, her eyes closed. She wanted to be suddenly small and to crawl into a hole and disappear. Why did she always feel like she was on trial whenever she attempted to get alone time with Liam?

She had to admit to herself that it'd been a while since she had alone time with Liam; Not since Halloween. After that night, Tori hadn't been her usual self. From forgetting her wallet and other vital items to shirking her commitments in school. Thankfully her grades hadn't taken a huge dip, but it was still noteworthy in her eyes.

The reason?

She couldn't shake off this crazy dream about demons and being kidnapped. It didn't help matters when she tried to talk about this to her dad. Every attempt was almost instantly shut down before it ever had a chance to get off the ground. Yet, here she was, next door while her family was away.

Three knocks, not too hard but just loud enough for anyone inside to hear.

No reply.

She tried again only to receive the same result.

After the sixth or seventh time, Tori Vega huffed and turned to depart only to bump into an equally surprised Darius. Her blunder caused him to drop a large paper bag, spilling the contents inside. The dark bags underneath his eyes showed that he'd been in frantic need of sleep, but here he was, gathering the spoils of his shopping trip. Kneeling to help him, Tori apologized repeatedly throughout. As they finished, Darius noticed the worry written all over her face. Sighing softly, he passed by her and opened the door.

"Let me guess," he chuckled lazily. "You're looking for my brother?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"A little... Though I'm sorry to say that he isn't here. He's out with that West girl."

If she were a canine, her ears would have surely dropped. "What? Jade was here? Did they say where they were going?"

Darius shook his head as he set the bag down.

"Not a word. I caught them asleep earlier this morning and..."

When he stood up, there was no sign of the neighbor girl, leaving him alone with his peccant countenance. In truth, he wondered if it was a transient blessing that she left, but he took it as such.

Meanwhile, a wide-eyed Tori stomped inside with eyes ablaze. After Darius' statement, her brain got to work putting the puzzle pieces together. As each component was put into place, her annoyance grew into frustration and then, jealousy and anger. Given her reputation, such a display was uncharacteristic but justified.

"How could Jade pull a stunt like this?" she paced back and forth in the living room. "She disappeared last night only to sneak off to Liam's house? I get that they were close, but why is she doing this!? Is she cheating on Beck? Is she just trying to get under my skin? Am I being too passive?"

Of course, nobody responded to her outbursts, nor did she expect that. Her irritation wasn't directed at Liam, but something about this situation smelled fishy. When it came to Jade, Tori learned from day one not to take the goth lightly. Whatever her motivations, they would remain a mystery until either she was ready to reveal everything or someone confronted her.

Guess which one she would choose?

Later that evening Liam decided that he would walk home after hanging out with Jade, wanting to process the inevitable conversation they had. About halfway there, he began to feel that his decision was a poor one. He decided to take a shortcut through the park and felt slightly better due to the abundance of street lights that shined throughout the premises. Despite all of this, his heart was telling him that he was not alone but he shrugged it off as letting his imagination gain control over him.

Unbeknownst to him though, his suspicion was more real than he could imagine.

He was being followed by a mysterious figure who carefully stalked the youth from the treetops, careful to avoid triggering their prey. The form slithered through the branches without so much as a sound, observing the target walking haplessly, seemingly oblivious of what fortune awaited him. The only definable feature of the assailant was its sickly pale amber eyes.

Kill.

Destroy.

Devour his soul!

This mantra fueled this creature's appetite as if the scent of his spirit wasn't enough already. Every fiber of their existence called upon them to strike now. Only the greatest expression of restraint managed to keep them from blowing their cover and ripping the human to shreds right there in front of any who would see. Perhaps I could have a buffet... it snickered to itself. I'm certain he wouldn't deny me the privilege so long as the mission is completed.

Such was the way of a demon; Always giving in to their most primal desire of destruction and vengeance against the ones beloved by the Being who once cared for them. The fact that a hit was placed meant little to them at this point. All that mattered was...

"Where is he going?"

A few feet away, the boy walked into a building, only it was abandoned. Why on earth would a human go into an unoccupied place? Was his cover blown already? Should he retreat?

No. The killer shook the idea out of their mind and pressed onward, slipping into a nearby window. Each step inside the empty structure brought something that only their kind would experience from the minor shift. Doubt... If their suspicion was correct, this would mean, at worst, the playing field was even. They descended a few flights of stairs with a twitching grin at the prospect of a challenge. Leaving behind a trail of black goop with every step, the assailant continued in search of the boy. It was doubtful that the boy would've hidden on any of the upper floors so it took no time at all to reach the first floor. He could still smell his prey, though it was fainter given their surroundings.

The building itself was a moderately sized medical firm used to house supplies and outdated waste material. If they were human, there would be no doubt that this place would give them the creeps. The stench of death was euphoric, a sweet ribbon of agony and torment that momentarily tore him from their goal, a costly mistake. The next thing he knew he was on the receiving end of a bone-crunching punch that caused him to slide across the tiled floor. The impact rattled the jaw of the mysterious creature, forcing them to materialize its true form. What was once a black misty figure emerged as a lanky male rubbing and adjusting his chin from the blow.

"Dammit! That FUCKIN' HURT!"

Another demon?! he growled from beneath his hood. "Who are you and why are you following me?"

The demon refused to answer, allowing his stinging smile to greet the masked boy. Jagged teeth, leaking with pungent saliva, made Liam want to vomit though he was grateful that his mask hid the grimace on his face. Before he could demand anything, an elongated hand clutched his throat and tossed him through a nearby wall. His body contorted in an awkward way when he slammed into a rusted stretcher.

His attacker stepped through the rubble, eyes burning with glee at the destruction that lay before him. Though Liam's vision was fuzzy from the impact, he could make out the most important features of his stalker. Fair skin with medium black hair. Tall. Muscular for someone who appeared to be his age. If it weren't for his wicked smile, one would be forgiven for mistaking him for a normal human.

"You're a lively one..." it spoke with condescendence dripping off each word. "No wonder he's called for your soul!"

Liam picked himself up from the wreckage and glared at the cocky opponent. His breathing was sharp and shallow but he would fight on. This wasn't the first time he'd been attacked by a demon, and he was prepared this time. What the fuck is he talking about? he pondered while shaking off the cobwebs. Gratitude filled his lungs as he narrowly sidestepped a lunging kick that resulted in a massive hole through the concrete wall.

What the hell?! He stared blankly at the ruined. That could've been my face! Or worse...

While Liam tried to make sense of things, he felt heat welling up behind him until it culminated in a searing blast that launched him outside. As he neared the ground, another blow landed that sent him colliding with a nearby tree. His body fell limp on the ground as his adversary approached. Wait... There were three of them now?

That last hit... he spat out a large glob of plasma.

Sure enough, Liam's eyes weren't deceiving him as a trio of opponents stalked him. Imagine his relief when the two clones merged with the original. This was the second time in two nights that he'd been attacked and he was sick of it. Hearing that he was being targeted didn't help much, but it did give him some insight into why this had begun.

"I don't know what you did to piss off the boss, but he must see something in you if the reapers are on your ass! I honestly don't see what's so special about you, but I'll take whatever he's dishing out for your head, boy!"

As the demon raised his hand to attack, Liam tried to pick himself up. Despite his best efforts, his body was still aching from the last attacker. Unlike the reaper, he managed to land a hit on the demon before him, even if it didn't result in much. The last time ended up with him getting rescued by Jade, but there would be no such thing now.

He made sure of it.

While he hadn't expected things to turn out this way, Liam wanted to keep Jade out of harm's way. During their talk, Liam discerned they were being watched and worked to distance himself from her so that he could handle this pest.

"Now die!"

"Stop!" Both parties turned their attention to the origin of the call. "Please don't hurt him..."

To the demon's shock, and Liam's horror, it was someone the latter knew all too well. A teary-eyed Tori stood a few yards away, her visage accentuated by a lone streetlight. To see the terror in the girl's eyes was more than he could handle, but Liam couldn't dare to put her in more danger by revealing who she was to him. There were so many questions racking his brain right now, and worse, he was afraid of what the answers might be.

"You lost, little girl?" the entity cooed in a velvety tone.

Liam felt trapped in a loop as he watched the demon begin to approach her. What should he do now? What COULD he do now? He was still exhausted, not having fully recovered yet from his last encounter. Each intake of air felt like sulfur burning inside his chest. His muscles ached, shivering as he tried to steady himself into a kneeling position.

"I... I...!"

"Don't be afraid, sweetie! I don't bite... much!"

Tori was petrified under its gaze, fighting with her muscles to move and failing with every attempt. She shouldn't have come, but, believing she'd found Liam, the Latina couldn't deny her inquisitiveness and pursued him from a distance. She had no Liam in sight and now she had wound up caught in the path of a bloodthirsty madman! Once again her brain screamed for her to move but her body just didn't cooperate.

"Trying to run?" the man flicked his tongue hungrily, eyes glowing with anticipation. Barely a few inches separated them as he twirled a few strands between his fingers before taking a deep inhale of her scent; Jasmine laced with traces of cinnamon. Her whimpers were a chorus to his ears. "Go ahead... I love a good chase!"

"Stay away from her..."

The two turned back to the wheezing hero. He wiped the blood from his mouth, his eyes narrowed due to a mix of pain and anger. As his gaze rose to the one responsible, his vision drifted to the frightened Tori. Gone was his concern for his state. The injuries were sure to hamper him, but he didn't care as his eyes blazed with fury. The assassin couldn't help but feel an involuntary tremble travel throughout his body.

"Your fight is with me."

"You can hardly stand, boy. I'll get to you after I finish with the girl- Ack!"

It probably wasn't the best idea, but Tori twisted her head and bit the vile man's hand. While he clutched his damaged paw, another sting crossed his jaw. Soon, more followed, forcing agonizing screams from his victim. Tori stumbled back, watching the scene unfolding before her in silence. No expression could define how she felt at that moment as he stared at the now quivering entity. His cries for mercy went unheeded as his wrath was cast down upon him; a glare of judgment upon his moribund foe.

With his hood down, she could see the coldness in his stare. The ferocity in his snarl held a measure of charm. But, most importantly, she was taken aback by the familiarity of his face. Tori knew who he was, but her mind tried everything it could to deceive her, citing any possible concept to disprove what was before her eyes. Gone were those sweet emeralds. All that was left was a crimson island surrounded by an inky abyss pointed at his lifeless opponent. She could've called his name, but she dared not to as he stood to his feet, drawing the concealment over his head.

"Are you alright?" He asked in a voice devoid of warmth yet still carried with it an acquainted tone of concern that made Tori's stomach leap. She bent her head in capitulation. "Good. I'm sorry you got dragged into this, but you should be safe now."

He smiled from behind his mask at the girl before clutching his left arm. Despite his insistence that he was okay, she could tell that he wasn't in the best of shape. There wasn't much that she could do at the moment, but that didn't stop her from ducking under his right arm to keep him propped up. Once more, he tried to shoo her off, but she ignored his refusal. As they moved through the wooded area, Tori finally spoke up again.

"You need help! We should get you to a hospital or..."

"No..." he coughed and jostled off the numbing effect plaguing his head. "No hospitals. I'll. Be. Fine."

"You're brave, and I respect that! But we need to get you out of here. Who knows if that crazy guy had friends?"

"You worry too much..." he chuckled then staggered as his legs began to buckle.

Soon, his weight grew too heavy for Tori and the pair were forced to rest against a tree. Their legs burned from the trek but neither would give up. For his part, the hero managed to take a deep breath as the pain slowly began to fade in his chest. It was a shift he did not expect, but it was one he welcomed as the girl rushed to his side.

"I worry the right amount!" she scolded, checking his body for any sign of serious injury. She was grateful that it was a clear night, even more so when the glow of a full moon would radiate on the two. Under her beams, the young man's condition was on full display; bulbous growths that looked as if they were alive. "You're bleeding a lot on your left side! I think I can stop it if I..."

"Wait!"

But Tori didn't listen and touched his arm, much to his horror. He knew that he could only control the cursed burn when he was in good standing both physically and emotionally, and this didn't apply. He prepared for the inevitable to occur, eager to apologize for infecting her... Except it never happened. For reasons beyond his comprehension, the hex hadn't reacted to her touch. This reminded him of when Jade was willing to share the effects of the blight only for it to have no mark.

How is this possible?

He forced himself to watch as a cooling sensation flowed through the limb. The length of grotesque and marred flesh shined with golden light while she ran her thumb over the markings. While they were still traces of them, the bulging skin steadily retreated, leaving a fiery design, almost like a tattoo. The internal searing pain had dulled to degrees that rivaled his time before being cursed. Even more surprising was how lighter he felt with his breathing as he took a deep inhale with no pain.

All of this was at the hands of his neighbor. It was all thanks to Tori...

"How's that feel?"

"Much better, thank you!" he withdrew his hand, flexing his fingers with no issues. "I don't know what you did to me, but I'm grateful. Also, I'm sorry for being so cold to you back there. It's been a rough couple of days..."

"Well, if those days are anything like fighting those demons near my high school, then I'm not surprised."

"You heard about that, huh?" he smirked from behind his mask, being joined by her innocent giggle. "It's not often I get to save others directly, especially someone cute."

Tori pressed a hand to her lips at his casual flirting, but she didn't appear willing to back down from a challenge, despite their situation. Just a few moments ago, their lives were at stake and now they were talking as if they'd been on a date. Feeling this wave of comfort around one another bred a single question. Why was she engaging in banter with a vigilante in the first place? On the surface, she had no clue; They were nothing more than strangers, right?

"So are you saying that you're attracted to my sister?" she raised a brow.

"I don't think Trina's my type..." he chuckled and gingerly rotated his sore shoulder. "...She's loud and obnoxious at times, but she does have a good heart, I guess. Besides, it's not right for a hero to get too attached. My enemies might use them to get to me."

"Oh? So, you're like the heroes in the comics, then? Or maybe I think you're just afraid of her."

He merely scoffed at the charge, glowering with rebellion toward the girl. "Please! I have my eyes on another, but... It's complicated."

Tori caught his hesitation. It was quick but enough for her to pick up on her suspicions.

"I won't pry if you're not comfortable talking about it. I was just messing with you..." She placed a hand on top of his, drawing his attention to her brown orbs. "I was just making small talk while you recovered. It is getting late though."

The vigilante nodded in agreement, careful not to push himself too hard as he rose to his feet. Once again, there was no trace of such agony aside from some minor soreness. Whatever this girl did, she was special in more ways than one. Tori joined him, smiling at the sight of him moving around with ease.

"I could accompany you to the main streets," he averted his eyes, trying to hide his nerves. "It's the least I could do for your help."

Tori agreed and the pair wandered through the woods, chatting about his battles with demons and his purpose for being here. It didn't take long for her to make it to her destination, though she hesitated in returning to the crowds. When the masked avenger asked her why she paused, she turned to him, wrapping her arms around his waist then rushing off to mix in with the populace and leaving him to vanish into the shadows.

It didn't take long for her to return home, ignoring her sister's line of questioning. Her parents were out for the evening so there were no issues beyond that. But, something continued to itch at the girl's mind as she went to her room. As she passed her window, her heart urged for a glance at her neighbor's residence where she managed to catch a glimpse that sealed her mental investigation. Liam had just entered his room and he was half-naked. While this alone was enough to send her emotions into a frenzy, she managed to fight her hormones back in time to notice that he would stare at his left arm.

She now knew that Liam was this masked crusader. It was a thought that both worried and excited her. From his slip-up earlier to the indisputable evidence and his random disappearances, almost everything made sense. The way he stuck his neck out to rescue her before, there was no denying it.

"Those eyes..." she hummed as she got in bed, an odd smile subtly settling on her face as she closed her eyes. "Eyes of a demon. Heart of a warrior. Soul of a god."

She felt comfort in her utterance as her eyes grew heavy, envisioning seeing those eyes once again. While many of her kind were wary of anything that wasn't deemed to be their own, Tori was always a curious one. Unlike her sister, she was among the pure race, and that made her stance much worse. Her father stressed over and over that she was to never mingle romantically with any but those among the Holy clan.

Daddy wasn't going to be happy then...

Just like during the Halloween event, Tori felt safe whenever Liam was around. They got along rather well and connected in ways that no other of her people could even fathom. Where they were stale in their approach, he was awkward at times but fierce and noble when it came to protecting her. She never got to thank him for that night, but she was sure she'd remedy that someday.

As she rested, there was only one hurdle that Tori would have to confront at some point:

Jade West.