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 as well as a deep connection to the supernatural that changes everything.
A/N:
Prologue
I never thought that it would come to this... I gave up! I lost you and to that thing no less. I should've stopped you from leaving or at least left with you. It's not fair that you just decided to run off as you did. It's frustrating, but I'm not mad at you. I'm angry with myself. I'm ashamed to call myself your friend, yet it's the only thing that brings me solace nowadays. Waking up knowing that you're not around, makes me sick to my stomach, and still, it hurts, even more, knowing that I cannot fully express how that makes me feel. I know your heart is with her but, I want to say that she doesn't deserve to hold it. I wish I could tell you these things to your face, but, that'll have to wait until I see you again...
If I ever see you again...
I'll try to make it right...
"If you cared about me, you'd support me no matter what!"
Those words were haunting; A firm reminder of a past long mourned. Many forget the power of words and how effective they could affect the one on the receiving end of such twisted verbiage. The soul grew restless, practically begging to cease any further remembrance for fear of a breakdown. The owner of such emotions wouldn't gripe if a distraction broke them from their depressive trance.
"Attention all passengers, we will be departing for Los Angeles shortly so we ask that you take this time to fasten your seatbelts and turn off all cellular devices until we have reached our intended altitude. Thank you for choosing Lakefront Airport and enjoy your flight."
A young African-American male blinked several times, as if awakening from a dream before settling into his seat, sighing as he combed a hand through his brown locs. He wasn't ready for this flight to L.A. but found it necessary considering his circumstances, he had no choice in the matter. He refused to complain; to show any weakness but found it impossible to stop the churning in his stomach One lone tear managed to escape as the plane finally took and finally reality set in.
He was heading home...
Returning to L.A. was the last thing Liam wanted to think about and yet, it was the only option available when the news was brought to him: This was his assignment. He had spent the last few years training after school, honing his skills for the biggest test. He was eager for the opportunity but, his mother's report would leave him with a bitter taste.
Of all the places... He soughed, trying his best to ignore the impending dread descending upon him. Los Angeles was a beautiful place, but its underbelly was nothing short of a nightmare for the unsuspecting soul. Potential. The prospect of opportunities was enough to bring a smile to his face before drifting off. But, even in slumber, no amount of sleep could tear his mind away from the one reason for his apprehension.
What are the odds of running into her? She won't even recognize you! You're here for a purpose...
"Attention passengers, we have now arrived at our destination. Please return your seats to the upright position and thank you for flying Lakefront Airline. Lastly, make sure to gather all your belongings before departing the aircraft as well."
The boy woke up with a yawn that did him some good all things considered. Stretching, he groggily gathered his things and headed through the terminal.
Once he entered the airport, he looked around for nobody in particular. Taking special consideration of his surroundings, he was rather impressed, and a bit anxious, upon seeing the massive crowds of people all around him. He cringed at the various chaotic energy swirling around the building but did not attempt to raise a
"Home sweet home" a ghost of a grin etched itself across his face.
"Sure is little bro!" The voice startled the boy who let out a small yelp of fear. Turning around, he would find himself eyeing an African-American male wearing a smirk.
"Darius?"
"Liam!"
The pair embraced having not seen each other in years, showing that their brotherhood was strong as ever. Like the younger Liam, Darius was an experienced warrior and mentor to those looking to enact justice without the restrictions that plagued the average authority. Being much younger, it was evident that this would prove to be in Liam's favor as they had a good relationship.
"Boy, are you a sight for sore eyes!" the elder ruffled his hair, earning a playful shove. The two laughed as they headed toward baggage claim.
"How have you been?" Liam asked with a wide grin. Darius couldn't help but sense the anxious aura that blended in with his eagerness. He had a knack for picking up these emotions from the average person. Even with this gift, the young man smiled warmly at his newest ward, masking his concern in the process.
"Well, I'm due to graduate this year and I've already been accepted into UCLA for the upcoming fall." Jacob smiled at the thought of finally leaving high school. "But, none of that matters now! We have work to do before you can get settled in..."
The air was filled with a slight amount of tension as Liam paused briefly.
"What do you mean?" he tilted his head, a brow rising. "Are we about to... You know...?"
The older male shook his head with a sly grin.
"Nothing like that, kid. We just have to get you registered for school."
Principal Helen was in a foul disposition, to say the least. It was nearly three o'clock and she hadn't found anybody worth accepting into the recruits program. Even now as she viewed the latest in what had been a long line of talent rejects, she was busy wondering how much longer would it be before attempting to bash her head in with her clipboard.
"I'll catch a grenade for yoo-hoo!" the young girl squawked as she finally finished her rendition of Grenade by Bruno Mars.
There were a few questionable claps from Helen, Lane, and even Sikowitz but, anybody with half a brain could tell that this was merely out of pity. "Thank you, uh..."
"Katie." the girl finished for her.
"Right, Katie... We'll call you if you are accepted."
The girl looked a bit dejected but in an instant, she was back to her perky mood and skipped off through the doors of the Blackbox theatre paying no mind to the sigh of relief from the faculty members. "That... was... AWFUL!" Sikowitz blurted before taking another sip from what was his 20th coconut of the day; he'd hoped that drinking enough would give him visions again while enduring this torturous occasion.
"Now, we have to give these kids a chance." Lane protested. "Even if they are... terrible..."
"Listen, I agree with... coconut man over here and I for one am not sticking around to see another untalented loser tonight." Helen declared as they all prepared to leave. "Shapiro, you shut down we're getting ready to..."
Suddenly, the door behind them opened revealing the brothers. "Oh! Darius!" Helen giggled while straightening her hair. "What brings you here, sweetie?"
"Hi, Mrs. Helen, Sikowitz, Lane. I was wondering if the auditions were still open for the day?"
Helen's smile softened into a sad shadow of what was a slight frown. "Sorry sugar, but we were just about to..."
"Please? My brother, Liam, just came here from New Orleans to audition for your school. Please? For me?" Jacob put on his best puppy dog pout.
Helen, normally known for sticking to her guns, just couldn't resist. "Oh, why not? One more tryout couldn't hurt. Come on, um... Liam was it?" he nodded.
"Yes, ma'am." he nodded immediately, not wanting to arouse her wrath
Liam then walked onto the miniature stage and took a seat behind the piano, cracking his knuckles. Soon, he began to play a melody foreign to the council in the room. It'd been a while since he had to dust off his musical prowess, but he would do the best he could. Each key hit flowed like water in a brook, cloaking his nervousness from the abrupt task.
Unbeknownst to him, Helen and the others were merely captivated by his voice and the feeling behind each word. It was as if he was telling his life story. Jacob could only nod in approval as he watched his brother sing his heart out. He continued to play the piano; filling in the gap between verses, unaware of the others that occupied the theater. Taking a deep breath, he continued without hesitation.
All that mattered was the rendition of The Questions by Musiq Soulchild he played, drawing even Darius' shock and awe. The pain and desperation proved to them that he was a triple threat, at the very least, more than showing them that Liam was worthy of entrance long before he finished the song. When he finished his audition, his spirits now appeared to be lifted and free after completing the arrangement. He stood up as applause ripped through the theatre.
"Bravo!" Lane yelled out, surprisingly enthused after the performance he'd just witnessed. "Marvelous work, Liam!"
Helen was busy wiping a tear from her eyes while Sikowitz continued clapping with equal energy.
Liam's face, despite being of chocolate complexion, had now flashed a bright red from embarrassment but he beamed at the praise nonetheless.
"Does that mean I can expect a callback?"
"Oh no, sweetie. You're in! You are exactly what Hollywood Arts is looking for!" she gleefully announced then without warning captured him in a bear hug that nearly took the breath right out of him. It took a moment, but the others managed to pry her seemingly iron grip from the boy who was caught in a mixture of happiness and breathlessness. "Just report for your official registration papers a week before school starts and you'll be set up with a scholarship. Congratulations!"
Liam didn't know what to say but nodded his comprehension. A massive weight had lifted from his shoulders and his stomach finally began to settle since his arrival in the city. For all he feared upon his arrival, for the first time since departing, his mind was focused on the present moment, completely forgetting the only blight that plagued him before.
After the audition, Liam was taken straight home. Once they arrived, it was a little before seven o'clock, the now descending sun showing off what remained of its brilliance still over the busy city. The neighborhood matched the energy of the larger location, houses full of refined homes, including the one they'd be staying at. The only form of negativity reared its head when the pair noticed what appeared to be a police car parked in the driveway next to theirs.
"Speak of the devil," Darius muttered under his breath.
"What's wrong?"
"Don't worry about it, Liam. Just head on inside... I'll be there soon" he huffed, finally showcasing the other side of himself as he exited the vehicle. On cue, a police officer stepped out of his automobile, frowning deeply at the two. "Take my key and get inside. I'll handle this..."
Despite his desire to protest, Liam did as he was told, gathering his things and heading inside. Of course, this wouldn't stop him from sluggishly performing the task or occasionally pretending to check a bag to make sure he had everything. All of this, and yet he'd get no more than a few scattered words here and there.
The air was tense between Darius and the officer, though neither was willing to make a move. It reminded Liam of an old western shoot-out between a sheriff and an outlaw. Such an entertaining assertion would soon give way to the far less delightful reality as the cop finally broke from the staredown.
"Darius..."
"Mr. Vega..."
"Looks like moving day," he spoke such aimless words with barely any emotion, cleverly concealing his motivations. "I hope this one doesn't end up like the others."
"Trust me, David, you can rest assured he's here for a fresh start."
David Vega felt his left eye twitch at the way the 18-year-old casually threw around his first name. It was infuriating, but he was a man of the law. He could only watch as the (almost) adult smirked smugly, having gotten under his skin.
"I would hope so. Your reputation for leadership has been called into question unless you'd like a reminder of the last few 'fresh starts' you brought into the city. I can pull up the police report; So many young lives... Each one fell to waste by your piss-poor efforts and teaching. How does it feel knowing that every attempt you make only results in ruined lives and a larger juvenile hall populace?"
"About the same as how you manage to sleep at night knowing that each one you took in still accomplished more in their brief time than your entire force could do in a year..."
After a third trip to the car, Liam watched as the air of tension grew more stifling, threatening to challenge the warm blanket of air for the power to steal one's energy. Whatever was being said, he knew enough not to interfere. Some part of him would be thankful for this as the staredown would soon be interrupted by a creaking door. Turning his attention, the first thing he noticed was a dark curtain of mahogany hair that covered her olive features. She had a slender build with the slightest hint of curves. Her concerned expression was adorable in his view, making his heart pound in his chest.
"Dad!" he heard her call out as she rushed over to his side. This allowed a disgruntled Darius to walk toward the house while the man focused on his daughter. "Mom said you forgot your lunch again! She said you'd know what that means?"
Liam didn't bother to wait for the man's response, carefully positioning himself to appear like he was just exiting the house. Whether he didn't notice or just didn't care, Darius passed by without a word, allowing the teen to casually gather more of his bags from the car. To his surprise, the officer was nowhere in sight, yet the girl remained outside...
...staring at him...
That pounding in his chest began to travel upward, lodging firmly in his throat as he watched her smile sweetly. Much like her frown earlier, there was no denying her cuteness and yet, all he could do was smile awkwardly back. To his surprise, she didn't appear turned off by his graceless response, choosing to approach him.
"Hi..."
"Hi..."
"You're new here?"
"Isn't it obvious?" he nervously laughed, lifting a suitcase to emphasize the joke. However, this ended up making the girl frown, making his worries increase with each microsecond. "Sorry! I didn't mean to be rude!" he quickly pleaded. "I was just fooling around... A joke... A very bad joke... But I..."
"It's alright. I'm not offended," she giggled at his panicky flailing. "I was just confused at something my father said earlier."
"Oh, thank God!" he let out the air he'd been holding in. "That's what I get for trying to play things cool, huh?"
"It was a little cringy..."
"Maybe I could get a redo?" he rubbed the back of his neck before extending a hand. "I'm Liam. It's nice to meet you..."
"Victoria, but my friends call me Tori. It's good to meet you too, Liam."
"Does that make me your friend then? If so, I'm honored" he chuckled, making her blush.
"Maybe... If that's what you want."
As the two shook hands, neither would admit that they felt a ripple of energy, but it was evident in the friendly smiles they exchanged. Between this and the mild moment of flirting, it felt right. Neither realized that they had just been standing there shaking each other's hands until the door opened, revealing Darius calling for him to come inside. They managed to rip their hands away just before he noticed them.
"I'll be inside in a moment," he put on a grin that made the older male frown at the forced countenance. Nevertheless, they both knew that such a gamble wouldn't pay off twice. Liam decided to end the engagement with a sigh. This was the second dose of peace he'd felt since arriving, but knowing that they were neighbors more than made up for it. "I guess I should go. I um... I hope to see you around, Tori.
"I can say the same, Liam. Have a goodnight!"
Liam waited until she entered the house before doing the same. He'd find himself greeted by the crossed arms of Darius. His face told him that he was caught in the act, yet there was a sense of sport dancing behind his eyes.
"Wanna tell me what that was all about?"
"It was nothing!" Liam held his hands up defensively. "I was just getting to know my neighbor. My cute neighbor..."
Though he said the last part under his breath, it only fueled the older male's unease. Unlike Liam, he knew the dangers of getting involved with the Vega family, hence his strained relationship with the patriarch of the family. The naivety of his ward was precious, making what he was about to tell him one of the hardest things he ever had to do.
"Look, Liam... I need you to be careful around that girl."
"What's wrong with her?"
"She's not the problem!" he pinched the bridge of his nose. "It's her dad who's the one to look out for. She's his daughter and we both know how protective dads can be with their daughters, especially the youngest. All I'm saying is that it would be wise if you maintain a healthy distance. I wouldn't forgive him or myself if anything happened to you due to a misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding? All we did was shake hands and give each other our names!"
Darius could see where this was going and it wasn't in the direction he'd hoped for. Unlike many of his charges in the past, Liam was known for his stubbornness, even back home. His training was meant to break him out of that behavior, but it appeared to be alive and well. A part of him was impressed with his ability to retain this trait, even admiring his willpower. Sadly, he had to accept the reality of the circumstances and that would mean putting his foot down.
"Listen, Liam," he sighed heavily, leading him into the living room. They sat on the couch, letting the pressure set in before Darius spoke again. "I'm not saying that you can't see her around the neighborhood, I just need you to lie low for a while. Of course, this means no getting involved in any activity that could get you thrown in the slammer, understood? That cop is going to be watching you during your trial..."
"Trial?"
"Mhmm... Every recruit has to undergo a probation period. That means no fights. No getting in trouble with the police. I need to know that I can trust you to practice patience and self-control. If you succeed, then we can move forward with your training."
"And if I fail?"
"The precinct will target you..." Darius frowned, his eyes narrowing with frustration. "...Most of those before you couldn't last a week without getting involved with conflicts and ending up in custody. That's why I had you audition for Hollywood Arts. Madame Celeste said it's one of the best schools and it'll keep you occupied while you go through this. A lot is riding on this, even if it is a stupid trade-off."
Liam sat there, processing all that'd been revealed to him. He'd been foolish to believe that he could just waltz into the city and immediately embark on his purpose. His mother was the one who recommended he come back to L.A. and to find out that she had at least one eye on him since he left home should've been no shock. Despite this, he didn't make much of a fuss, causing Darius to flinch when he burst into laughter.
"So, you're telling me that I have to get used to being a normal teenager for a while to avoid suspicion from a cop who has suspicions?"
"Mhmm..."
"And many of the others couldn't survive this period so they're rotting away behind bars?"
"Yep."
"Fine..." Liam relented, still battling through a few stifled snickers. "This shouldn't be too hard. Honestly, being around Tori will be easier to handle than... Nevermind..."
Darius didn't miss the sudden blunder in the young man's acknowledgment.
"Something wrong, Liam?"
"No. It's nothing, Darius. I'm going to bed."
Liam wasted no time heading to his room, leaving the older male to ponder everything. Was this a mistake? Could things be different? Darius felt fear creep up in his gut as he considered the future. David Vega wasn't just a cop, he was an obstacle. A threat. Many times he found his proteges have their careers cut short due to one reason or another. They were bloodthirsty agents of chaos who would go overboard and wind up brought in by the police captain.
He was a man of secrets himself, but that only made his neighbor more ominous. He respected the man's devotion to his career and family, even if that hidden aspect of him still haunted him.
Darius leaned back in his seat and rubbed his forehead in hopes of holding off a headache.
"48... 49... 50!"
The sound of clinking metal rang throughout the room courtesy of Liam Marshall who'd just finished his curling reps. Sweat poured all over his body as he proceeded to put the dumbbells back on the rack before moving on to an empty weight bench where the barbell was waiting for him. He allowed a grin of satisfaction to adorn his face, but only for a split second as he regained his focus.
The cool breeze whistled around him as he sat in the backyard and caught his breath. He toiled to rest and needed something to alleviate the thoughts circulating through his mind. A new home. New school. A renewed purpose and...
"Excuse me?" he happened to catch the sweet voice through his earbuds. When he turned around, he found the best part of his day. Liam carefully sat up and got a good look at Tori. Seeing her dressed in a loose-fitting Hello Kitty t-shirt that hung off of her right shoulder, he was even cuter than hours before. "Was I disturbing you?"
"Not at all, Tori..." he turned away, chuckling at the appealing girl behind the fence. He was grateful that his locs hid his heated cheeks when she smiled. "How... How can I help you?"
"I couldn't sleep so I came out here to clear my mind. I... see you're working out."
"Great minds think alike, I guess..." Liam stole a glance at her, noticing her gazing at the moon above. His face grew warmer, forcing him to clear his throat for fear of making things worse for himself. "I'm glad to see you again so soon. I feel like we didn't have enough time to talk because of... earlier."
"Right... Sorry, my dad can be a bit... protective. He has this thing about living next door to your... brother. I'm sorry about that too."
"No need to apologize! You can't blame him for being a dad." Tori giggled when he shrugged off the discourteous gesture of the patriarch, tucking a stray piece of her hair behind her ear. Whether he knew it or not, she too was stealing glances while carefully appearing to pay attention to the lunar symbol above. From what she could make out, he had hair similar to a certain musical friend she knew. "I can't blame you for how your dad feels about something. Besides, Darius isn't a saint himself. Sounds like they're more alike than they'd like to admit."
"No arguments here..."
The rest of the night was spent with the pair sharing a little about themselves before Tori felt the sandman's touch. With a yawn and stretch, she and Liam went their separate ways, bidding each other a 'goodnight' and heading inside their homes. For the Latina, she would drift into a peaceful slumber that lulled her into the dream world.
On the other hand, Liam took longer to go to sleep as he thought about his new neighbor. His mind was captivated by her but it was that imagery that prevented him from acquiring respite. From her smile to her serene energy, he couldn't shake off the tingling sensation that wrapped around him. "Tori..." the mere mention of her name brought more of the tranquility that he felt from a couple of casual conversations. But, despite all of this positive vibrance, there was another cause for his lack of slumber.
When awake, he envisioned those benevolent brown eyes filling him with encouragement down to his soul. Whereas anytime his eyes closed, there was a chaotic force that surged through his form. Instead of warmth, this spirit chilled him to the core. While the culprit had brown hair too, it was coupled with a myriad of colors that embodied the disheveled energy that haunted him. Olive skin gave way to porcelain. The sweetest of smiles he'd ever seen since arriving began to melt into a smirk that was both familiar and terrifying.
The stability of terra had frozen under the acrimony of ice.
"Gaah!" he gasped, shooting up in his bed. Beads of sweat coated his body as his chest heaved for air. His hair clung to him as a child would their mother in hopes of seeking comfort from the boogeyman. He would find no such solace, only the sound of chirping birds as a pinkish hue broke through a crack in the curtains. "Almost sunrise..."
Liam knew better than to attempt to go back to bed. Instead, he got up to head to the bathroom. He quickly washed up and got dressed before leaving to go for a jog. Since he was still a stranger to the neighborhood, he would only go around the block a few times, meeting the gentle kiss of the rising ball of light with uncertainty.
Discipline could only prepare him for so much before doubt inevitably would rear its ugly head.