Fractured Fates & Silent Vows

Rating: T/M for some themes

Summary:

In another timeline, Liam makes a triumphant return 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 4: Devil in My Soul

Jade, visibly irritated, let out a frustrated sigh as she rummaged through her locker adorned with scissors. Ever since the first week, her mind had been consumed by questions, especially regarding a new student. Thoughts of that boy threw her into a whirlwind of emotions. On one hand, she felt elated that he had returned to the city, but as quickly as that feeling arose, it was soon overshadowed by another revelation.

This realization made Jade burn with rage. Her body shivered as she recalled the visual of the past week. After seeing Liam with Tori, their smiles and easy-going nature drug out a part of her that manifested only when her rival was concerned.

Envy.

Jade had decided to isolate herself from the group, except for Beck. She appreciated that no one made a big deal about it, attributing it to her moodiness, but she also longed for someone to recognize her inner conflict. Even her boyfriend remained oblivious to her silent pleas for attention, continuing to show his usual composed affection and care.

Beck.

Sweet and wonderful Beck.

"Hey, babe!" Speak of the devil! She tore her eyes from the helpless books to find his lazy grin approaching her. Even better, in his hands was a styrofoam cup with the symbol of her favorite coffee shop. "Penny for your thoughts?"

"I'm hungry, thirsty, annoyed, and in need of this!" she reached for the cup only to have it just out of reach, courtesy of her boyfriend.

"Ah! Ah! What's the magic word?"

Jade was in no mood for this today, but her craving for caffeine far outweighed her pride at the moment.

"Fine! Please...?" she pouted, crossing her arms like a child. Beck chuckled before inching the cup to her which she quickly snatched from him and stuck her tongue out. "...Bite me where the sun doesn't shine!"

Beck rolled his eyes and leaned in to give her a quick peck on the cheek as she savored a long drag of the scalding liquid. Her instincts screamed that an awkward conversation was looming, and despite the delightful taste of the drink, that irritating unease was intensifying. After she set down the cup, Jade swiftly shut the locker and briskly strode away.

"Babe? We need to talk..." she heard the boy's sing-song tone behind her.

"No, we need to get to class!"

"Jade..."

"Pick up the pace or we'll have detention!" she droned, irking the boy and pressing through the crowds. "I don't want to end up spending captivity with Lane again talking about my feelings and lotion!"

While he knew this was to deter him from asking her questions about her personal life, Beck couldn't help but cringe at the idea of repeating that. He picked up the pace, joining his beloved before pressing forward. He'd talk about their weekend plans instead until they arrived at their favorite teacher's classroom.

It was a tiny reprieve, one that wouldn't completely quell the flame of discord inside her mind, but enough for her to pay attention to her dear teacher, Erwin Sikowitz. He had entered a few minutes after the bell, wearing his flannel proudly like a balding hobo with his antics. She was snuggled under Beck while he went on about upcoming events and such. For the moment, things were perfect; not even the presence of her frenemy could ruin this.

That was before Sikowitz finally hopped onto the mini stage with a sour look on his face.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great dismay that I report that the school will be postponing the showcase until after the semester..." on cue the room erupted with murmurs and complaints from his students, not that Jade cared. She was considered a veteran now so this didn't affect her in any way. Still, she'd watch as Sikowitz explained that the reason was due to the low quantity of new students who passed their auditions, which made her snicker. Sikowitz shot her a disapproving glance before noticing a raised hand. "Yes, Miss Vega?"

"What about the few that did make it?" Jade quietly rasped at the girl's lamentation. "It wouldn't be fair for Liam and the others to miss out on the opportunity to exhibit their talents, right?"

Liam?! He's here?!

Jade's eyes snapped open at the sound of that name, panic beginning to grip her as she frantically searched the room. From Robbie to Cat to Andre, there was no sign of the boy. Just as she was about to exhale a sigh of relief, her gaze landed on Tori, who was staring at her in disbelief. In an instant, dread coiled around her heart, suffocating her from the inside out.

"Well, Miss Vega, if you had let me finish, I was about to talk about that!" he poked her on the nose before continuing. "Now then, before I was rudely interrupted, we will be having a duo competition instead. Each newcomer will be allowed a partner to perform with and those who choose to participate will be given extra credit for the semester."

With that familiar grip tightening around her neck, Jade closed her eyes. To the casual observers, she appeared bored of this subject; This wasn't an invitation to bother her either. This was simply a ruse to steady her racing mind, intrusive thoughts attempting to haunt her if given the opportunity.

Wouldn't this be a good chance to show off your skills?

What?! Are you kidding me? I wouldn't be caught dead working with these losers! she huffed at the voice in her head.

What if you end up paired with him? Don't you think that would grant you the chance to...

If you finish that sentence, I swear I will...

"I volunteer to be Liam's partner!"

All eyes landed on the eager Tori who didn't appear to care. She simply hooked an arm around his own, much to the embarrassment of the boy. Jade would've found his awkwardness amusing if it wasn't for who was responsible for it. Sikowitz chuckled at the display before playfully prying the two apart.

"Very well! By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you...!"

"I want to perform with Liam as well!"

Jade had no idea what came over her. One second she was sitting comfortably next to her boyfriend and the next, she was standing with her hand high in the air like a kindergartener excited to present for show and tell. Now all eyes pointed to the goth. If Tori's abrupt volunteering was enough to incite whispers, Jade joining in was a jaw-dropping event.

Even Sikowitz had to stare at her blankly for a moment to see if he'd heard her right.

"Um... Miss West! I believe Tori had called 'dibs' on Liam if I'm not mistaken..." he chuckled, nervously deducing where this action was leading. After the previous year, he had a clear understanding of the rivalry between the girls and wanted to avoid as much damage as possible. "...If there's another student you'd like to be paired up with then I'd be happy to..."

"Just make the duet into a trios performance!" she doubled down on her resolve by crossing her arms. "It's not the first time you've bent the rules, so why not do it again?"

"That's not fair!" Tori stood up, proving the man's woes correct as he trudged to the piano bench without a word; He wouldn't get another one out anyway. Meanwhile, Tori and Jade had made their way to the middle of the room, eyes ablaze with their wills on full display. "You can't just barge in and demand something, especially when I already offered to help him!"

"What's the matter, Tori? Intimidated by a little competition?"

"What?! No!" Tori gawked at the sudden shift in tone. What was expected to be an all-out clash had morphed into a seduction tease that cracked the Latina's armor. "I... I'm just saying that..."

"...Perhaps you're just using this as a ruse for something else? Maybe you just want to keep Liam all to yourself?"

"What's it to you?" Tori's face reddened profusely, her face turning a slightly swarthier hue at the accusation. "I'm trying to help out a friend! What's your excuse?"

For once, Jade was baffled. Her connection with Liam hadn't been revealed yet which meant that she didn't have an alibi to back up whatever she was plotting to retort with. To everyone else, he was nothing more than a stranger to her. Now it was her turn to blush, feeling the heat of discomfiture rushing to her cheeks.

"I... I..."

Thankfully, their spat would halt as the blaring sound of the bell ripped through the unsettling atmosphere. Sikowitz shot up, regaining charge of things as the students began to file out. He spoke about a few more details involving the proposal while both Tori and Jade turned to face the object of their discussion. However, once again, Liam was nowhere in sight.

"Ugh... Good going, Jade!" Tori finally growled. "You scared off my neighbor... again!"

"Neighbor?"

"Yes! He moved in next door to me and I've been trying to help him get acquainted with things, but of course, you had to make it about this petty rivalry! Why are you such a gank?"

"Don't put all the blame on me!" Jade scoffed at the girl. "You're the one who was acting all head over heels for the guy! How was I supposed to know that you were just living next to each other?"

"If you had stuck around the other day, I explained that with the others!"

Oh... Ah, shit...! Jade managed to avoid facepalming after that. It seemed as if she was beginning to comprehend that she was digging herself into a deeper hole. Whether she liked it or not, she had to wave the white flag. "Look, I made a mistake, alright? We'll just find the guy and iron things out or whatever..."

"Not until you explain something to us."

"Explain what? There's nothing to discuss!"

"Between the possessive way, you're acting about him to the sudden defensive attitude? I'd say that's a load of crap, West!"

Jade licked her lips just as the group began to convene, unintentionally surrounding her. She finally cast her eyes to the floor with no hope of escape. Whether she liked it or not, her outburst had wrought an unfortunate set of events and a few potential ones. An accursed possibility showed itself as a none-too-pleased Beck standing behind her.

She needed to tell the truth, or at least...

"I... I sort of know him..."

This was a mistake!

That's all Liam could muster in his mind as he moved through the halls. It was bad enough that he and Jade were attending the same school, but now she was acting as if he belonged to her! The nerve of that witch! he growled in his mind before cutting down another corridor leading outside. While it wasn't the most ideal place at the moment, he didn't mind the emptiness of the area either.

He took a seat and tried to clear his head of everything that'd just transpired. Little good it did as his hands shook violently. This was not good as he felt an unseen force welling up, threatening to spill out if he wasn't careful.

"Breathe..." he desperately whispered, fighting back the wave of anxiety inside of him. "Kan simi [Just breathe]...!"

He'd given in to an old vernacular without realizing it, chanting the mantra with manic breaths. Unfortunately, his attempts to ignore the truth were failing spectacularly; Liam knew what he needed to confront rather than avoid.

With another shaky breath, he recalled the unfortunate scene of Tori and Jade fighting over who would partner with him.

Two breaths: His mind took him to the moment he realized that Jade was there.

Three breaths: A dimmer stage began to unfold, one that he'd hoped would remain buried.

In it, two children stood mere feet from each other, both with tears in their eyes. He was a more youthful version of himself, full of innocence and wonder, but the little girl was another story. With light brown hair and big blue eyes, he watched as she yelled, her words muted in this vision. It didn't matter as he knew exactly what she was saying to him.

"If you cared about me, you'd support me, no matter what!"

That was the last night they saw each other, and the moment he swore would be the last time he'd ever want to see her again. He never understood the reason for her abandoning him, nor did he care at this point. The years since he left made him stronger before his return. That's all that mattered right? Why should he care if someone couldn't see his value?

And yet...

"Aje yen [That witch]!" he stared fiercely at the table, blinking back the stinging agony brimming his eyes. "Shit..."

Amid his suffering, Liam's phone buzzed in his pocket. Pulling it out, he instantly switched moods when he saw a sobering name appear on the screen. He answered without delay, hardening his spirit for whatever news he was about to receive.

"What's up, Darius? I'm about to head to class..."

"We have a problem! I'm coming to school so we can discuss matters privately. Where are you?"

"I'm at the cafe behind the school..."

"Head two blocks south. I'll be there as soon as I can!"

Before he could inquire further, a cold shock ran down his spine just as the call ended. He reached for his backpack when his ears picked up the sound of footsteps. The angelic call of his name followed close behind this, prompting Liam to rush away from the scene. He was careful to avoid the security cameras scattered around.

"Liam?"

He heard his name just before turning the corner, recognizing it to be the worried voice of his neighbor. Some part of him wanted to stay and explain his sudden departure from class, but his duty came first. The timing was perfect as Tori and the others arrived to find the Asphalt Cafe empty. Only a few vendors would show up, heading to their respective trucks as they usually do. Confusion and worry began to settle in with the group, none more so than Jade.

They'd gotten a tip that he'd headed this way but it appeared they were wrong.

"Let's go, guys," Tori declared disappointed just as the bell rang once again. "We're going to be late for class."

The gang dispersed to pursue their next leads, but the goth refused to dismiss the space. Despite the lack of evidence, she was certain that there was more to uncover. While the others saw a dead end, she was convinced that a lingering presence demanded further exploration.

Someone was here...

Liam or not, Jade couldn't ignore the unsettling energy emanating from a specific point. Despite feeling unwell as she approached, the sensation was undeniably the one they were searching for. It may have been a small victory, but it was a victory nonetheless. Her chance to revel in this triumph was cut short as a dark laugh filled her ear.

I thought you didn't care about him? Never took you for the type to care about a so-called loser.

Irritation came back like it had never left, bearing down on the girl before she stormed off in frustration. Unseen by others, this presence couldn't help but smirk as its host departed, contemplating with amusement the next twist in the ongoing drama of the past reemerging to disrupt the present and shape future ambitions lurking beneath the surface of awareness.

Rather than mulling things further, Jade settled on heading to class in hopes of avoiding detention. Fortune would smile at her as she made it to her destination just before the bell rang. The same would not be said for a certain Latina who shockingly smiled, if only forlornly. News of the shifting format of the showcase was all she could think about.

Many of her peers were befriending the new crop of students, welcoming them with open arms and partnering up for duets. Trina Vega wasn't afforded such pleasantries, not since her sibling had arrived on campus over a year ago. Still, she sought to avoid dwelling on such negativities for the time being; there were bigger issues to worry about.

For starters, her vehicle was in the shop, a fact she was reminded of when she took the path to the school's parking lot in hopes of getting an early start on the lunch period. Sadly, that would be out of the cards... at least until after school ended.

"Dammit..." she whined, stomping her heel. "Guess I'll have to order some... thing?"

Her brown eyes locked onto a young man leaving the campus, his hood concealing his identity but also piquing her curiosity. Perhaps he had a car and could give her a ride? Every instinct urged her to return inside, but there was something about him that compelled her to ignore her gut feeling. As he strode away, she decided to follow, maintaining a close enough distance to keep him in her sights, yet far enough to avoid detection.

They committed to this for several blocks before she noticed him picking up the pace. She did the same despite it being evident that he not only caught on to her trailing behind but also that he wasn't keen on her doing this. Whatever it was at this point that drove her, it wouldn't be denied as she expertly slipped through the incoming residents and passersby.

Who are you?

She continued, carefully spying when he turned into an alleyway. Once again, her intuition screamed at her to turn around and return to school, but she disregarded the better judgment. Something inside of her just had to find out who this guy was. Little did she know that regret would also greet her on this journey. As with many things in her life, she reached a dead end, but, to her dismay, there was no sign of her hooded boy.

"What the...?" she exhaled sharply, exhausted from the chase. "Where did he go?"

Unknown to the exhausted young woman, her every move was being monitored for the last few minutes, pursuing until she had nowhere else to go. She was greeted with eclectic sounds of catcalling from a group of young men who looked to be some wannabe gang bangers.

"Hey, sexy!" one of them flicked his tongue at her, much to her disgust. "What's a pretty bird like you doing so far away from her nest?"

The girl's heart pounded against her ribcage, threatening to break the bone while berating her for not listening to reason. Her eyes widened as she staggered backward, dropping her purse in the process. As the contents spilled out on the ground, one of the gang members picked up a card with her face on it, gasping lowly before nudging the one who appeared to be their leader.

"Yo, Hunter! She's from that fancy high school!" he whispered harshly. "Maybe we should...?"

"Maybe you should shut your damn mouth and play lookout, idiot. I don't care about none of that!" the leader grabbed his subordinate by the collar, shoving him away. "If she's from there, then I get to see what kind of talent she has."

"Get away!" she yelled, trying and failing to sound tough. "I'm warning you! I'll... I...!"

His lips curled into a disgusting smile that revealed a gold-fanged grill, giving her all she needed to know as he and the others began their approach. Each step made her breath hitch as she quivered under the sudden arrival of cold drops falling from above. It was beginning to rain, and here she was practically exposed to the elements as well as the monsters stalking her.

In a final attempt, she pushed through the group of boys, determined to break free and start another pursuit. However, her efforts were in vain. One of the boys, an Asian male with jet-black hair peering out from under his backward-facing cap, prevented her from kicking and screaming by covering her mouth with his hand. To make matters worse, other boys joined in, holding her legs and arms down, leaving her completely at their mercy.

"Good work, guys," the leader clapped. "I'll be sure to leave enough for you all to enjoy after I'm done with her."

However, in one final act of desperation, the brunette managed to wiggle her right leg loose and kicked him square in the groin, sending him crashing to his knees in pain. This caused the others to double their efforts in restraining her as the wounded male dug in his pocket to brandish a pocket knife. The woman's eyes enlarged coupled with a whimper of sheer terror as the brazen grin had now been superseded by a deep scowl of rage.

"I'll teach you where your place is, bitch!"

With nothing else she could think of, the girl would steadily resign to her fate. Perhaps she could minimize the hell she was about to endure through mental detachment. Before she could prepare herself, the leader, cried out in pain. From her compromised position, she could barely make out that he was clutching at his face.

Even more astonishing was the sight of black feathers floating cascading around them. While considered a ditz and a joke to her peers, Trina's eyes recognized this as an omen... No, this was a sign of an impending calamity. Her suspicions were confirmed when these merged with the tears of the sky, turning some of them into abyssal drops.

"What the fuck was that?!" The leader roared, now brandishing a boot print on his pale face. "Show yourself, coward!"

"Is that really how you guys treat a lady?" a deep voice broke through the sounds of shuffling rain, drawing the attention of everyone in the alley. Everyone looked to find a lone figure standing several feet away, clothed in a sleeveless hooded jacket and a demon's mask. "Why don't you let her go and we can pretend this never happened? Deal?"

"Who the hell is this fool?" one of the lackeys wailed.

"He's dead unless he knows what's good for him!" Another growled, pulling out a switchblade. "You're not invited to this party, so leave."

The figure stood amid the gloomy surroundings with a confident smirk. "So, what happens if I choose to stay? Do I win a prize?"

Enraged, the leader of the group motioned for his gang to attack. "Yeah. You get these 'party favors'! Kill this son of a bitch!"

Leaving two of their own to watch the frightful girl, the rest rushed down the damp corridor. The lone figure simply scoffed before dodging the first thug, who crashed into some trash cans, effectively removing him from the fight.

The next two took turns throwing a punch at his head only to hit nothing but air. He took a few steps back and spun on his heel to clobber the closest one with a back elbow to the nose that most certainly broke it. He then shifted his momentum to sweep the other male off of his feet, launching him in the air before landing an ax kick to his sternum, removing him from the battle.

Grabbing the girl, the commander demanded the last two to take care of this enigmatic nuisance. "Kill that bastard, NOW!" he roared as the burly cronies charged at once.

This time, the vigilante dropped his weight until they were close enough within grappling range. Though her life was still in danger, the girl watched as he lunged past the two overweight boys, clutching their hoods in the process. With their momentum now turned against them, the figure was more than able to slam them on their heads, knocking them out and leaving only one last obstacle in his way.

"What the hell are you?!" he screamed, this time more out of fear than rage at this point. "Stay back!"

"Or else what?"

"I'll kill this skank! DO YOU HEAR ME?! BACK THE FUCK UP!"

This did little to dissuade the figure's resolve as he lifted his hand, aiming it in the direction of the two. At that moment, a swirl of black energy began to form around his body. He lifted his head, revealing two glowing orbs that paralyzed the man in his tracks. Even with his advantage, he couldn't muster up the will to execute his threat.

"You'll do nothing of the sort..." he walked casually toward his soon-to-be victim and the hostage he'd taken. With each step, the wicked force began to take shape, forming into what appeared to be tails behind him. One by one, the constructs solidified, swaying calmly. "Now, be a good idiot and let the girl go."

As if he was under a spell, the male did as he was told, trembling fingers carefully disconnecting his hold from the girl. The mysterious vigilante assisted her away from her frozen attacker. He collected her things, making sure to return her ID which she accepted gratefully.

"Are you alright?" his voice was gentle now, filled with empathy toward her plight. "Did they...?"

"N...No. I'm fine, thank you!" she tucked away some stray tufts of hair with a nervous grin.

Though he couldn't see it due to the rain, Liam could tell that she had been crying. He wouldn't blame her, anyone in her situation was permitted at least that much. With a smile from underneath the fierce mask, he motioned for her to leave, an invitation she gratefully accepted, though she wanted to thank him properly.

Sensing her intentions, the young man chuckled. "Just get to safety, okay? That'll be thanks enough..."

She bowed her head and left without another word, rushing out of the dim alley. Liam sighed once she was out of sight, thankful he made it in time. Despite her decision to chase him down, he never would've forgiven himself if she had been hurt.

"DAMMIT!" he turned to find the now floundering man cursing. "That was my meal, you bastard!"

Liam felt an evil presence beginning to worm out of the gang leader. From the moment he encountered the guy, he knew something wasn't right with these guys and now it was evident why. Subjugation. Possession. Whatever term man used, it would fit the bill to the letter. Even more clear was the realization that this entity was the reason for his departure from the school in the first place.

"I was wondering when you'd drop that piss-poor act and show yourself."

He watched as the human form opened his mouth, allowing a black ooze to pour from his body. What once were eyes filled with hatred had turned completely hollow until every ounce of itself was removed, leaving its host to collapse with an almost relieved exhale. He was still breathing, but that was low on the list of things that he had to contend with.

The muddy liquid began to take the shape of a beast that soon began to form a grotesque bat-like creature. Its eyes glowed a dark amber, mimicking the fires of hell while its teeth were sickly yellow jagged spikes.

"Xilai... You're even uglier than I was told! No wonder you chose this guy to hide inside."

"Joke all you want, boy! It doesn't change the fact that I'm going to enjoy ripping your flesh from your bones!" The demon spat. "When I'm through with you, you'll beg for..."

Xilai ceased its bravado when its opponent began to laugh. Rather than the expected aura of fear and trepidation, this mortal dared to laugh at his threat?! Even more shocking, he stepped forward, further puzzling the malicious entity.

Wha...? What are you laughing at?!

"Sorry! Sorry... I was just-" The vigilante wiped an imaginary tear from his eye. "I just found it funny how I was thinking the same thing."

This infuriated the monster, prompting it to raise its blade-like wing to strike. Bringing it back down at lightning speeds, Liam chose to stand his ground, not even bothering to flinch. The demonic creature roared and swung his razor-sharp claws, unfortunately hitting nothing but air. The spot where Liam had been standing was now empty save for a small crater left behind from the residual impact.

"Where'd you go, little piss ant?" The bat hissed, searching all around for the green-eyed human.

"Behind you..." The creature twisted its body, readying another swipe only to hit nothing but air. This continued for several minutes, showing that Liam was merely playing with his ugly beast. "Too slow..."

"Stop running, coward!"

Obliging the irate bat, the boy cleared his throat. "Who's running, Xilai? I was merely trying to see if you were worth me going all out."

"What?"

"Spoiler: You're not worth it, Xilai."

"Don't you dare mock me, brat!"

The one-sided battle dragged on for a few more minutes, with Xilai repeatedly missing his targets with every swipe of his talons. Growing weary of the game, Liam decided to give in to the nightmare's demands. Instead of dodging, Liam reached out and grabbed the sharp limb between his fingers. In a swift move, he did the same with his other hand, causing Xilai to struggle to break free. It was evident to Xilai that Liam was undeniably the stronger of the two, whoever or whatever he was.

"This is all the strength you can muster?" Liam asked, his voice low and devoid of emotion. His left arm flared, aching for release which he granted, causing alarm in the demon. "I'm missing school for this?!"

"Wait! I'll leave this land if you would...!"

"Bargaining now? The 'mighty' Xilai has the nerve to bargain with me?!"

"Please, spare me! I humbly apologize..." The sniveling bat trembled beneath his bellowing rage, lowering itself to its knees before the dominant mortal standing before it. "Forgive me. I beg of thee! I'll plague this city if you'd only let me go!"

Rolling his eyes, Liam released his hold on Xilai's wings, glaring harshly at the pathetic creature at his feet. However, despite this, he turned his back on it, walking away. The ethereal limbs began to retract, signaling the end of matters. It was the human side of Liam taking precedence over his actions now as he stuffed his hands into his pockets.

"You're lucky I have things to do... If you value your life, I suggest you get the hell out of my sight quickly."

"Yes... Thank you! You are a good soul..." The bat smirked deviously at the departing young man. "Too bad it'll be the cause of your death! DIE HALF-BLOOD!"

With bloodlust in its eyes, the hellspawn bat blurred as he lunged at the unsuspecting youth. Unseen before, more sharp talons emerged from under the bladed wings, eager to sink into human flesh; perfect for extracting a human's soul. This would prove to be Xilai's undoing as, while his attack connected, it wasn't with human flesh. Black tendrils had blocked the blow, providing the ultimate defense before pulling on the captured demon.

"You know? It's a shame that whoever brought you here wasted their time on a pathetic excuse for a demon," he turned to the struggling creature with a dulled gaze. In an instant, Liam's green eyes flashed a deep shade of amethyst then crimson before ripping Xilai's limbs from its body. Ear-splitting shrieks echoed to the heavens, unheard by mortal ears. Only those in tune could ever have the ability to fathom its cries for help. "I've had a long day, and it's not even lunchtime yet. I gave you the chance to return to whatever hole you crawled out of yet you spat in my face. I won't be slighted a third time!"

Liam unleashed his power, swiftly striking down the monstrous being before forging ahead through the damp passageway. As he pressed on, a subtle shuffling sound drew his attention, prompting him to glance back. There, he beheld the spirits who had once enslaved the other gangsters, now hesitantly observing the remains of their fallen leader dissipating into black ash. Their gaze bore an unmistakable thirst for retribution, yet none dared to take the initial action.

Unlike Xilai, they knew better; Striking him would only result in their own lives being extinguished.

"I suggest you leave... Or would you like to join your leader?"

With that, Liam took his exit, no longer interested in whatever happened to the bodies of the mortals that dared to commit such a heinous act. He swiftly shed his combat attire, returning to his mild-mannered clothing and blending in with the unsuspecting crowds walking along the sidewalk. As sirens began to blare behind him, he pondered about what happened to the girl he rescued.

Surely, her mind would be fragile, to say the least, but there was something else that troubled him.

He recalled how similar she looked to his neighbor, Tori. While she was a bit slimmer, this girl was curvier and had an aura of underserved pretentiousness to her that masked something far more fragile. It was then that he remembered the ID card he returned to her:

"Trina Vega..." he chuckled to himself. "Talk about a wild card."

As he angled around the corner, he noticed a car that was all too familiar pulling up beside him. Darius had a stern look on his face, but there was nothing to worry about when he motioned for Liam to get in before driving off.

"Where were you? I told you to meet me a few blocks back."

"I hit a bit of a snag, alright?" Liam leaned his head on his fist, gazing out of the window. "Someone started following me so I took a detour to lose them."

"Detour?" Darius cut his gaze for a second before returning to the road ahead.

"Yeah, apparently, our neighbor's daughter was tailing me."

"Dammit, Liam! I told you not to get too close to her! Do you know what her dad will do if...!"

"It's not Tori!" he fired back, his irritation finally spilling over. "It was her sister, Trina! I never met her until this moment, okay? It's not my fault that she decided to leave the campus! I gave her the slip after crossing several blocks before trying to circle back to the spot, okay? She's safe now, so can you lighten up?"

Darius held back any further berating upon hearing the name. Why would Tori's older sister follow him? More questions soon flooded his mind, making the ride quieter than to his liking. When he spared another glance, he caught the conflicting energy hovering over the boy. Whatever happened, it'd taken its toll on the teen. Sure, he was brought here as part of their kind's rite of passage, but Liam was still a teenager. With homework, projects, a social life, and more...

How could he put more pressure on someone he considered a brother?

I should've handled it myself... a soft grin fell on his face. "Want to talk about it?"

"If you're talking about Xilai, I took him out already" Liam carped tiredly.

"While I'm proud of you for handling things on your own, I was referring to things at school. I could be wrong but I think there's more on your mind than just demons and monsters. Maybe... It's a girl?"

"Girls..."

Darius blinked several times at Liam's admission, his smile growing larger by the second.

"Is my little bro becoming a heartbreaker already? I'm so proud of you!" Darius erupted with joy clinging to every word and nearly swerving. "Look, while I'm not excited about you having sex and all, I at least want you to be safe! No babies and no diseases, are we clear? We'll have to start looking for condoms or..."

"What the hell?!" Liam felt his eye twitch at the notion of discussing anything about his potential sex life... or lack thereof. "It's not like that, ya dope! Why would you assume something sexual is going on?!"

Darius wasn't convinced though as he continued to prattle on about brands and laying down the rules of the home when dealing with female company. After that was finished, Liam had no stomach to listen any further to the ramblings. However, when his guardian finally opened the floor to him, the young man felt comfortable to open up.

From the moment Tori was introduced to the unexpected encounter with Trina, it appeared that the older man's fears and predictions were starting to become a reality. However, everything changed when he brought up Jade. While Darius believed that mentioning the goth girl would improve the situation, Liam's despondent demeanor suggested otherwise.

"So, Jade's the girl who deserted you before you left?"

"Mhmm..."

"And you've been trying to avoid any interactions with her since your return?"

"Ever since I found out we were at the same school, it's been difficult. I was doing alright at first; I kept my identity hidden and that helped. But, now we're supposed to be doing some kind of group performance and..."

"You're conflicted about your feelings toward her?"

"THEM" Liam corrected, secretly grinning when he caught Darius flinch. Thankfully, the older male remained silent this time. "Tori's so sweet and fun to be around. Jade is a nightmare! Compared to Tori, she's stand-offish and always looking to start a fight when there isn't one. She's incapable of taking a compliment, let alone giving one! Even when we were younger, she was always getting me in trouble and trying to manipulate me into getting her out of it! I could never get a word in edgewise and..."

"You miss her..."

Liam paused, letting Darius' words sink in.

Those three simple words, while bitter in his mouth, were soothing to his spirit. The reality of the matter made him reflect on the past before regaining his focus. Part of him resisted, but he couldn't deny that his mentor was right. His feelings and introspections clashed, leaving him torn between reconciliation and avoidance. The battle between his heart and mind would take its toll in more ways than one.

But, even he couldn't deny the truth forever.

"You're right," he ran his fingers through his locs. "We were best friends until the night I left."

"What happened?"

"I'm... not ready to talk about that yet."

Rather than pry, Darius understood, choosing to let sleeping dogs lie for now. Thankfully, the remainder of their venture was more pleasant as Liam began to explain the nature of his friendship with Tori, including his guilt for leaving school abruptly. A fondness filled the boy, replacing the anguish that once was as they pulled into the driveway. While they noticed the familiar squad car, it was the one behind it that drew interest, if only for a moment.

"Do you think it's alright if I go apologize for my vanishing act?"

"Actually, why don't you see if she's willing to hang out? I don't think there's anything wrong with an evening stroll under the setting sun haha!"

"You...! You mean it?"

"Do what you feel is right..." Darius placed a hand on his shoulder "I know you're a good kid and I should start trusting your decisions more."

"What about that thing between you and their dad?"

"Don't worry about that. Just make sure you do right by her and stay out of trouble. You know; Normal teen stuff or whatever."

Liam chuckled lightly as he made his way up the Vega's driveway. He could hear voices inside and felt a surge of nervousness. Despite his uncertainty, he was determined to knock on the door. At that moment, he cursed himself for not knowing what to say.

Shit... Shit. Shit! Shit! he turned around and began muttering things in hopes of forming a concise sentence. Should I be formal or maybe I should...!

As the door opened, he spun on his heel to greet the girl he aimed to apologize to. In that split second, he somehow managed to eke out some semblance of an explanation.

There was only one problem...

Tori didn't answer the door.

"Hey, Wolfy."

Oh, shit...!