Fractured Fates & Silent Vows

Rating: T/M for some themes

Summary:

In another timeline, Liam triumphantly returns to his hometown for a fresh start. His time at Hollywood Arts is a whirlwind of success and new friendships. Despite keeping a few secrets, he's on top of the world. But just when he thought everything was going smoothly, an old friend reemerges, hellbent on reigniting the past.

Author's Notes:

Chapter 6: Always and Forever

The other Vega.

Tori's annoying sister.

Talentless.

Worthless.

Stuck up.

Friendless.

The things mentioned earlier were just a small part of what Trina had to deal with from her classmates at Hollywood Arts. It was all equally hard for her whether it was catching whispers in the hallways or facing it head-on. To top it off, her second failed solo performance didn't help her mood as she struggled with her locker's lock combination. In her head, she kept hearing the boos and laughs from the audience in the Black Box theater during her opening number; and that was just five minutes into the show.

After word got out of her unwarranted escapades got out, she quickly pivoted. While the show was any but a success in and of itself, she did manage to divert her peers from her humiliating assault. Still, she wished things had turned out better than tripping over her feet and nearly destroying the makeshift set upon her exit.

What a trainwreck...

'I didn't think anything could be worse than when we tried that mystery meat... but, that takes the cake!

Who greenlit that hot garbage?

How did she get into this school with no talent?

Those were the kind comments and reviews she'd read.

Aimlessly, she grabbed the books necessary for an upcoming exam and slammed the door with the tiniest of smiles resting on her lips.

Even though her performance failed miserably, Trina Vega was still smiling. This earned her a few suspicious looks from people passing by. Her smile only grew as she walked towards the orange 2002 Chevy Impala parked in the school lot.

As she arrived at her car, she swiftly opened the door and placed her book bag neatly on the front passenger seat. She felt a rush of gratitude that her sister and neighbor had opted to carpool with Andre instead. She inserted the key into the ignition, eager to avoid any delay in her plans by having to drop her sister off at home.

Her heart pounded as she tapped the steering wheel as if waiting for something.

That something would come in the form of a familiar 'ping' from her phone, which she wasted little time checking. Manicured fingers wrapped around the device, twitching slightly in eagerness. Her excitement was rewarded by a message she'd been anticipating.

OTW to the meeting spot. South parking lot. See you soon :)

Trina rolled her eyes at the subtle traces of impatience behind the message and sent her reply swiftly before pulling off.

As several minutes passed, she immersed herself in the latest Ke$ha song playing on the radio, singing along and tapping her fingers to the beat until she finally reached her destination. As she pulled into the parking garage, she switched off the car engine and reached for her identification card, ready to flash it to the guard. The old guard greeted her with a courteous smile as she handed over a laminated badge.

"Have a good day, young lady!"

After navigating through several twists and turns, Trina eventually found herself on the second-highest floor, scanning for a parking spot. With the sun setting, she knew that soon the lights would come on, aiding her vision. Despite this, she managed to locate the designated spot and pulled into the space next to a young man who was casually leaning against his car. He turned his head towards her, chuckling softly as she parked.

The young man could tell by her half-hearted grin that things at school hadn't gone her way; Business as usual.

"Took you long enough!" he greeted her. "I was beginning to think your old man got a hold of you."

"Sorry... I had to stay behind and fix up the stage after school."

"Mhmm..." he crossed his arms. "How were classes?"

Trina's silence confirmed his suspicions. She crossed her arms as if hugging herself would melt away the stench of failure. Seconds passed before her face matched her sour demeanor.

"That bad, huh?"

"It... was worse than the first one, Darius!" she bit her lip so hard, he was afraid she would draw blood. "The only good thing about it was that everyone left me alone about that... incident! Don't you dare try to convince me that is a victory either!"

Darius raised his hands in surrender. "Okay! I'll leave it alone for now..."

The two fell into an awkward silence while he grabbed another shirt to replace his normal dress attire. Despite Trina's reluctance to admit it, she was grateful for her old friend's concern. After battling a few more intrusive thoughts, Trina glanced at the guy and noticed his well-built physique, which was especially apparent when he put his shirt on.

"How long you've been working out?"

"Hmm?" he hummed through the cotton threads.

"I... don't remember you being so... so built when you graduated."

"Oh! When I went into training, I found the gym to be a haven when it came to discipline," he laughed confidently. "I'm more than brains now, I guess."

That you are... Trina purred as thoughts of being held in his arms began to form, among other things.

While she never admitted it, for multiple reasons, she always found him attractive. Even during their brief time together at Hollywood Arts, there was a certain charm he possessed that kept her grounded. Darius was the one who helped her get settled at the school and even held her accountable when she was slipping. Had he not skipped a grade and graduated earlier than expected, she could've had more time together to possibly explore something beyond a simple friendship... Only if he felt the same way.

He was always leaving hints... she mentally grumbled. "I couldn't tell if he was flirting or just being nice."

"Trina?" she blinked a few times to find Liam snapping his fingers in her face. "Earth to Trina!"

"What?" she jumped at his call.

"I asked were you ready to go? We're missing the fun!"

"Oh, yeah! I was... um... Lost in thought about an upcoming paper."

Darius arched an eyebrow but remained determined to steer clear of any further conflict. He aimed to give Trina a respite from life's drama, and he was determined not to fail in lifting her spirits. Instead, he gestured for her to follow with a bright smile. To his delight, she began to reciprocate his energy, albeit with a sense of fragility for now.

"By the way," she finally broke the silence as they walked toward an elevator. "Where are we going? You never told me what this was about."

"That's because I don't want to ruin the surprise" He stuck his tongue out. "Though I'd suggest you put your badge on."

Humor turned to confusion in a matter of seconds as a befuddled Trina stared at her friend. She obliged his suggestion however just as the elevator door opened. After stepping inside, another wave of silence made her nervous. She fiddled with the hem of her skirt, grateful that her leggings covered her legs with how fiercely her motions were. Little did she know, Darius was experiencing a similar sentiment.

"Hey, um..."

As the elevator dinged, the doors opened to reveal an open venue bustling with people from all walks of life. The lively mix of hip-hop and techno music created an energetic atmosphere, while the arcade machines and gaming systems being played added to the competitive vibe. Among the crowd, there were even individuals dressed as characters from various media outlets. Trina couldn't help but reveal a soft grin as her face lit up, a stark contrast to her earlier somber state.

"Welcome to ESPCon!"

"How? How did you know I-?"

Not looking to give a long explanation, Darius simply hooked his arm around hers. They traveled deeper into the convention, taking in the ambiance of the place before getting to the reason she brought them there.

They began by playing classic arcade games like Pacman and Tetris and then ventured into more advanced systems. Eventually, they joined tournaments, where Darius came in second place in Street Fighter, and Trina excelled in Mortal Kombat, triumphing over a conceited professional player who had made a sexist remark about female gamers. Despite the incident, they both earned a modest cash prize for their involvement and success.

They spent the rest of the evening just immersing themselves in the music, enjoying performances by local artists and bands on a small stage at the back of the building. They danced together until the last group finished. Neither of them wanted to leave, but when they checked their phones, they realized it was already past 8. They had lost track of time and ended up spending six hours at the gaming convention without a care in the world. Although it was a Thursday, it was still a school night, and they both knew they needed to get some rest.

After such an eventful day, the pair left the convention and went home. When Trina arrived home, she found that Darius had made it before her, stepping out of the car as if he'd been timing his departure. Thankfully, the Vega driveway was devoid of the family car.

"Hey! Fancy meeting you here!" she heard his 'greeting' and fought to resist giggling at his faux 'discovering' of her. "How are you, Trina?"

"You can relax! My dad's not here..."

"Fine. You can be a killjoy, you know?" Darius winked and leaned against the trunk. "Although I have to admit, it's been a while since I've seen you like this..."

Before she could retort, the sounds of muffled and spirited quips and banter were heard from the home. As expected, Trina's countenance shifted into one of mild depression as she lowered her head, staring at the concrete ground beneath her feet. Darius, while knowing that the atmosphere wasn't hostile, knew enough about the dynamic of Trina Vega when dealing with others.

"You know, you don't have to keep doing this, you know?" she reprimanded, though not without amusement dancing in her voice.

"Do what?"

"This! You don't have to go out of your way to be nice to me..."

"Maybe I want to. Ever thought of that?" he nudged her playfully. "Besides, we both know this isn't some charity case if that's what you're thinking. We were friends before, remember?"

A small grin graced her lips before she approached her dear friend, giving him a soft kiss on the cheek. Those brief yet impactful memories were a comfort to her as she watched his jaw drop. That cool and calm style of his melted away, leaving the blushing mess she missed from their past together.

"How can I forget?"

"Yeah, well... Just know that you could always stay the night if you'd like. No need for you to deal with... that."

"What about Liam?"

"I think he has his own love life to deal with. No doubt that he's probably in there right now haha!"

"I'm well aware! If my sister and her friends are in there being gross, I might come knocking on your door sooner than you'd think."

Her words were dismissed as a joke, but Darius could sense that she was still consumed by her self-pity. Few things that could dampen the mood between the two, but the older Vega sibling had managed to enter that gloomy territory. Gradually, the light faded from his eyes, causing Trina's playful demeanor to vanish completely, replaced by a sorrowful gaze that exuded insecurity.

"Trina," he started, not wanting to trigger her. "Listen, don't stay here if things get bad. Okay?"

"I won't," she unconsciously wrapped her arms around her chest; it was something she normally did when she felt an episode coming on.

"I'm serious, Trina... Don't hesitate to come over if you need to. My door is always open to you."

She nodded, finally allowing her genuine smile to grace her lips.

"What about my parents? We both know that my dad can't stand you."

"With all due respect, fuck him" he announced to a gasping Trina. "I don't have a record of wrongdoing and I know he only hates me because we were friends. Maybe he figured I liked you more than that, but I know that there's no legitimate reason for him to be cruel and dismissive to you! So, if he has a problem with me, he can tell me man-to-man. If not, then I don't care. You're welcome anytime."

They were surrounded by a heavy, palpable silence that seemed to stretch on endlessly. Without a word, Liam took a step forward, catching Trina off guard. Lost in her thoughts, Trina didn't have time to question his actions before she found herself enveloped in a tight, comforting embrace. Instead of pulling away, she responded in kind, conveying to Liam just how much his gesture meant to her.

"Thank you, Aeshma."

"Always," his lips tickled her ear. "Always, Luciana."

Neither commented on the names they called each other, yet pulled away reluctantly before departing to their homes. They refused to tear their eyes from one another, even at the risk of tripping over themselves. This didn't deter them from their childish behavior, whispering 'bye' to each other until they eventually shut their respective doors.

The butterflies in Trina's stomach fluttered violently yet she couldn't stop grinning. Not even the weird looks from her sister's friends could shake her confidence as she headed upstairs to her room, though she flashed a nod of gratitude toward Liam that made both her sister's and Jade's eyes narrow. Once inside, she rested on her bed and let her mind wander as the night progressed. With the new moon coming as well, she was content for once in her life.

Who would have thought he'd be the one to bring us back together?

As time passed, things began to mellow out at Hollywood Arts. The first semester was winding down and for Tori and her friends, the holidays were rolling in, starting with the spookiest of them all. While this was a time for dressing up and pulling pranks, one of the gang didn't feel very much in the mood and was a surprising element to everyone.

Beck Oliver wasn't particularly fond of Halloween, nor did he openly welcome its arrival. To him, it seemed like an occasion for people to behave recklessly and attribute it to being under the influence of the 'holiday spirit'. He was a reserved and uncomplicated person, preferring to set simple expectations to avoid disappointment. As he strolled through the corridors, he felt an urge to retreat to the peaceful solitude of his RV, but he resisted the temptation, at least not today.

No. Today was the day for everyone to present the culmination of their character designs, courtesy of Sikowitz, and he wasn't looking forward to the task. He'd gotten a simple character, lady luck was on his side, but it was also a reminder of a deep-rooted issue.

It was predictable...

It was one of Jade's favorite holidays, but, to him, it was tolerable at best. Or maybe it was her...

He dismissed the pessimistic thought and shifted his attention to those around him. Listening in on the discussion about Trina's recent encounter with three wealthy boys and the previous incident, he couldn't help but notice the compassionate tone in his peers' voices as they talked about her recovery, even though things were different at first. Whether it was her dreadful one-woman show, or perhaps the hearts of his peers were opening to the girl, he wouldn't press matters. Despite Trina often being regarded as bothersome, even he couldn't suppress a smile upon hearing the positive news.

But, such a happy ending only made him ponder the options of the outcome. What possibilities could've unfolded had she not been rescued? From what he heard, it was Liam, that new boy, who fought off her assailants. At least, that was the testimony given by the older Vega. Even more bizarre was her tale of a masked figure fighting off a group of thugs in a similar situation before this.

Could there be a connection? his brain danced with the perplexing information.

Of course, details revealed that Jade had called the cops during the recent incident, but it only brought more questions for Beck to ponder. One such item on the docket presented itself when he spotted his girlfriend approaching the forenamed hero. He noticed how closely she focused on his instruction when she offered a midnight blue dress; She was portraying a corrupted incarnation of Megara from Hercules.

It's good to see her smile...! he noticed the look on his girlfriend's face; the rare gesture given to her 'teacher' was infectious as it morphed into a conjoined laugh from the pair.

As he observed the innocent display, a pang pricked his heart even more deeply. Despite the absence of anything suspicious about their interactions, it was apparent that two old friends were aiding each other on their outfits for Sikowitz's assignment and nothing more. However, it was when Tori arrived that his mind detected something was amiss with his significant other.

"Back off, Vega!" he heard Jade bark, jabbing the Latina in the arm. "I was here first!"

"I just need some direction on lining up the fur for the hood, Jade..."

"There's a bunch of people for you to ask, and you chose to come over here?! You're just trying to sabotage me... like always!"

"...Or maybe I'm asking Liam since his costume has fur trim too?" Tori raised a brow, unconvinced at the goth's assertion. "By the way, jealousy isn't a good look on you, Jade!"

Sensing where this was headed, Beck rushed in to grab his girlfriend while Liam held Tori back. Arms wrapped around her waist. A peck on her neck. Whispers of sweet nothings. The trifecta worked like a charm, lulling her into a calming trance before she reciprocated with a chaste kiss of her own. Danger averted, for now at least.

Meanwhile, Liam wasn't so fortunate. Unlike Beck, his endeavor resulted in a more graceless position by comparison. His hands unconsciously trailed down to her wrists, a firm grip that alleviated the closer they reached her palms. Their faces were inches from each other, earth and nature locking on each other for only mere seconds.

But, what a long few seconds this moment was.

"I... I'm okay, now..." Her voice was as light as air, scarcely audible to any others. She dared not tell him to let go as heat washed over her body.

Liam jerked his hands away as if he had been holding a searing flame, shoving them into his pockets. His eyes continued to stare at the ground, unaware that Tori had mirrored his actions.

"Sorry..." he finally coughed out, trying and failing to conceal his nervousness. "I didn't mean to invade your personal space!"

"I didn't mind," she tucked a tuft of hair behind her ear, staring at his relieved sigh from the corner of her eyes. He's cute when he's nervous.

As Liam stood there, a nervous smile tugged at the corners of his mouth and he couldn't help but gulp. He let out a hesitant chuckle, hoping to ease his anxiety, while Jade watched him with a serious expression. Despite her outward composure, inside, she was seething with frustration.

He is NOT losing it over Vega!

And what if he is? Jade suddenly stiffened at the taunting voice. If I recall, you're with Beck, remember? Aren't we being greedy?

It's not like that! I'm just trying to... to...

Face it, you're being greedy with him, though I cannot blame you! After what we witnessed before, I just know a depraved beast is itching to be unleashed! Mmmm! Just the thought of being pinned down and devoured by such delicious malice makes me...

Jade wouldn't get to hear the rest of her sensual musings when she felt Beck whisper something in her ear. Her mind drew a blank, staring blankly at the audacity of her lover's words. Most girls would've slapped a guy for saying such naughty things, especially in a public setting, but Jade wasn't like most girls. Instead, she turned in his embrace. Her bright eyes radiated a fierce allure that precluded another lip lock.

Liam and Tori decided to give the couple some privacy, the former opting to aid with the latter's costume for her irreverent Jasmine character. Had he remained just a few seconds longer, he might have noticed the sharpened gaze of his friend pointed at him. Culpability. It lasted no longer than a second, but it was there. She remained with Beck in his arms, truly emptying her affection into her beloved, except...

You know I'm right! That pesky sing-song tone returned.

[The Vega House]

Trina Vega's uncharacteristically cheerful demeanor had her family on edge. Even the usually clueless Cat had noticed something was off when she arrived to visit. However, the rest of the family was still in shock from Trina's uncharacteristic behavior earlier that morning. As she tidied up the house while blasting a Ke$ha song, her family couldn't help but feel a mix of concern and unease. Known for being self-centered and difficult to handle, seeing her not causing trouble and being helpful was unsettling for everyone.

"I can't believe Trina's being responsible!" Mr. Vega was the first to break the silence. "I thought we'd sooner see the moon crash into the sea before Trina ever picked up a broom willingly."

"It's weird alright!" His wife chimed in next. "I don't know whether to feel proud or terrified! It's like she's a different person."

Despite discovering the truth, Tori didn't want to mess up the aura of peacefulness by mentioning to her dad that a certain guy was the reason for her sudden change. Despite their strained relationship, Tori did manage to get something from her big sister about Darius, finding it both romantic and absurd that Trina and Darius were involved... again.

In a way, she was happy that her elder sister was free to be herself for once. Ever since she came to Hollywood Arts, she was either a pain in everyone's neck or disappeared without explanation. Neither of those things had happened since the incidents and the younger Vega would be content with that. It was then that a ghost of a smile had crept upon her face.

Her inner introspections were interrupted when a loud bang startled her, accompanied by an all too familiar voice.

"Tori?!" Inwardly, she was groaning while approaching the front door for fear that Jade would kick down the front door.

The rest of the family stopped thinking about Trina to pay attention to the young woman who seemed possibly more threatening. When Tori opened the door, she was pushed to the side by the goth, who simply flopped down on the now-dusted couch.

"Hey, Jade. Make yourself at home.." she sarcastically offered.

"Save it, Tori! Beck pissed me off again so I came over here and-" She turned to see Trina Vega, the bane of her existence, and raised an eyebrow. This time, instead of disgust, there was a dark curiosity in her icy orbs. The older girl was so enraptured with a song playing through the headphones that she hadn't even noticed that Jade had entered her home. She was in her own world. "What's with your sister? She seems... different."

"She's been like this since this morning! Ever since she came back from the hospital, she's been more... more tolerable," Tori huffed while plopping herself onto the couch. However, she bounced up and pulled Jade outside when she realized her explanation was about to reveal a detail that a certain patriarch didn't need to hear. "Sorry. She was watching a music lesson from Liam and..."

"Since when did Liam start showing an interest in music?" Jade narrowed her eyes, danger flaring behind them. But, there was something else that Tori couldn't decipher. "Why does your sister have a video from him?"

Tori's silence was all she needed as confirmation.

"Jade? It's not what you think...!"

"It's bad enough that you're constantly hanging around him, but now your weirdo of a sister is into him too?! What am I supposed to think?!"

Tori wasn't going to enjoy this exchange, but she couldn't just stand by and let Jade harm her sister over a simple misunderstanding. The protective edge in Jade's voice made her wonder if there was a deeper connection between the boy and her rival. And then there was the whole complicated mess of Jade being in a relationship with Beck. Why was she so invested in someone other than her boyfriend?

"Listen. Trina is interested in... someone else. I can say with sincerity that she's not into Liam, okay?"

"You're sure, Vega?" Jade leaned against the flora-ornamented wall, eyes still flickering.

"I promise."

Finally, Jade began to calm down. She cast her gaze off to the side, indirectly wondering about the boy next door. Tori caught this and frowned at the goth's suspicious act. Her mind begged to let sleeping dogs lie, but the Latina wasn't going to let this opportunity pass.

"Why do you get upset when Liam and I are together?"

"What?" Jade snapped her head at her.

"Between your skepticism of Trina and me hanging out with Liam, you've been rather... unsettling lately, well moreso than usual. I'm just curious about that."

Tori was fully aware that she was treading on dangerous ground, but she was undeterred. Despite her initial hesitation, she was confident that Jade wouldn't put up too much of a fight. Being well-acquainted with her frenemy, Tori didn't expect her to divulge all her secrets to the world. Yet, with the event looming just hours away, Tori was determined to gather as much intel as possible, especially if it meant improving her chances with her neighbor.

Nevertheless, Jade understood what Tori was after. This game of mental gymnastics brought out her calculative prowess; Tori essentially revealed that she was attracted to the boy, verifying her worries. But, Jade wasn't foolish to believe that this was a slip-up on her part. This was bait, a tantalizing temptation to lure out personal answers. Sure she simply could ignore the question or even deny any connection with him, but, it would only give her rival the advantage.

"Drop it, Vega."

"You expect me to just pretend that this conversation never happened?" she crossed her arms with defiance blazing in her gaze. "You were moments away from giving Trina a makeover with your scissors! You've been fighting me tooth and nail ever since Liam showed up to Hollywood Arts and I've lost count of how many arguments we've had involving his attention. I think some kind of explanation would suffice."

"Bite me, Tori! I told you already that me and Liam were childhood friends!" Jade stuck up her nose. "I don't owe you anything else!"

"What's going on with you? It's not like you to be protective of anything not named Beck. The way you've been acting with Liam, it's as if you own him! At least tell me why you're so defensive with him."

Tori's resolve proved one thing to the goth: she wasn't going to let this go. She was like a bloodhound that picked up a scent and there was little chance that her rival was going to let it go, not without a fight at least. Jade needed to give her something to satisfy the girl; Perhaps a carrot to dangle would do?

"I... You're right, Tori," she sighed heavily, almost as if she was giving up. She played it off by pretending to hold onto what remained of her hardened persona, successfully getting the girl's attention. "My friendship with Liam?... It wasn't all good."

From there, the seed was sown. Jade continued to tell Tori the tale of her and Liam, leaving out key parts that would make the girl wary of her words. She explained their childhood, reminiscing about how they were inseparable until Liam was forced to move away. This was where she could set a trap of her own.

"What happened Jade?"

"I... Let's just say that I hurt him! I abandoned him when he needed me the most. We were kids and my parents weren't keen on us being friends anymore, especially my dad. So, he gave me an ultimatum, either get rid of Liam or he would do it himself."

"Oh, my God! Jade!"

"I know!" Jade lamented, wiping away some tears while discreetly savoring the appalled expression from Tori. "I didn't want to, but I couldn't let my dad hurt him. So, I... I did something terrible and soon after, Liam moved away. It was only recently that I found out that he moved back to L.A. when he showed up at school. Now, I have a chance to make things right!"

"He forgave you?"

Jade nodded silently, making sure not to give away any details. This served two purposes, both playing to the goth's advantage. First, it was crucial to safeguard Liam's destiny from the Faustian burn, as well as his spiritual talents. Secondly, there was a less than honorable motive - concealing the extent of her involvement in his departure and the events leading up to it. If those details were ever uncovered, the consequences would be disastrous. Luckily, the mention of Liam's grace seemed to put an end to any further inquiries, allowing Jade to let her guard down, even if only a little.

Instead, Tori would change the subject back to the reason for Jade's arrival, not that Jade was truly complaining. If all she managed to accomplish was stall Tori's path to Liam, that was enough for now. What Jade didn't know was that their conversation wasn't as private as she thought.

On the other side of the stone wall, a certain young man happened to pick up the exchange. While at first thinking it was nothing more than just idle chatter between girls, it was the mention of his name that prompted the young man to stick around. Sensitive ears perked up when Jade gave her explanation, citing the tone in which she spoke.

Liar.

Deceiver.

Demon.

Wretch.

Bitch!

Only after he heard the door close did he move again, heading to the backyard to avoid detection. Checking the house, he ensured there would be no interruption while he slipped into his room. He tried to shake off the stench of fear and deceit but to no avail. Years of training prepared him for nearly anything, yet this wasn't in the curriculum.

All the while, his mind screamed the words he wanted to utter.

How dare that liar hide what she did?

It's the nature of a deceiver, isn't it?

Demons are capable of nothing more than spewing garbage and slinging falsehoods to the minds of those ignorant of their devices.

I can't believe we trusted that wretch! The elders were right...

Destroy the bitch! It's the only true path to saving them!

With a deep exhale, the male sat along the edge of the bed, fighting the beast within. Like any other soul, he too held secrets deep within his soul. When he returned it was merely an attempt to reset things; Everyone deserves a second chance at life and Liam was no different. While he engaged in fighting demons, that was never the intention of his brother, but it was a motivator...

"I swore to you..." Darius' voice fell flat against the walls of his bedroom. His heart ached with every passing second as he prepared to commit the inevitable sin. From the moment they first met, he sensed trouble with Jade. Despite his hope for her being different, he now knew she was no exception to the traitorous behavior. Darius brimmed with anger as he recalled his extensive knowledge of the West family. "I swore that I would take care of you, and that is a promise I intend to keep..."