‡ Promise 20: Difficult Decisions‡

-As told by Keith-

y mind is elsewhere, as I sit in my throne, within my dark fortress. I haven't touched my food or drink, I'm just staring into the void, my mind on the few nights ago in the woods. And on my recent confrontation with Lily's friends. The boy stared at me, knowing of the battle between I and the demon-hunter, craving revenge. If he had taken a step towards it, I would be forced to hurt Lily again, by killing another of her friends without hesitation.
Staring into each others eyes, the boy's filled with hate and mine with indifference, I could feel my demon self rising and ready for a swift kill. But, it was the other girl who shifted my attention. She was so frighten, clinging onto her friend, afraid to lose him. And when my focus shifted to her with concern, the boy's anger disappeared and he realized what was more important. It was at that moment that we both gave each other knowing looks; mine said, "Take care of her." and his said, "I know."
And another difficult decision had been lifted from me. I felt relief, not for myself, but for Lily. But still, I was heavy with the decisions I had and have to make. My kingdom rests on my shoulder and sometimes I have to do things I don't particular care to do. I have a massive family to take care of and they will always come first. Why couldn't she understand that?
"Master," frowns Fray, sitting by my throne, "You haven't touched your food. Is it not pleasing?" "My mind is too full to eat." I wave. "You are thinking of the girl?" sighs Fray. Dore grumbles, standing on the other side of my throne, his anger hitting the room in waves. "What is it?" I frown, not looking towards him. He knows I'm speaking to him, but he doesn't respond. "Dore." I say, sternly, "If you're going to mutter under your breath, you might as well say it out-loud." "I do not wish to forget my place, my Lord." he said, as if reciting a boring report.
"Then don't grumble." hiss Fray, giving Dore a disgusted look. He ignores her, staring straight ahead in contempt. "I have to make it right." I sigh, "Somehow. She wasn't suppose to be there. Nothing has gone right, since she moved here." "Yes." nods Fray, clutching Teddy closer, "Well, there's isn't much we can do about that now, can we? The girl is here to stay and she is much crossed." "Do?" grunts Dore, daring to speak his mind now, "What more should we do for this mortal!? My Lord, you've already suffered her to live plenty more times than should be allowed! And you threw away a perfectly good corpse for this girl! What more are you going to do!? Are you forgetting us and caring only about the girl now?"
"Bite your tongue!" shrieks Fray, "Master loves us! He does everything for us! He's the reason we exist and the only reason! Don't you dare to judge his loyalties, you ruddy prat!" "Fray," I grin, highly amused, "That's enough." "No," she yells, clutching onto my throne, "This cow is beyond his place! Just sulking, he is, over a couple of ears! How quickly, and for so little, one will turn against our glorious Master!" Suddenly a figure appears in the room, in human form, yet his dark demon wings give away his true nature.
"Still a suck-up, huh?" says Faldan, towards Fray. She gives him the most nasty look, "Shove off!" "Why are you here?" I ask him, annoyed. The only time Faldan shows up is to borrow money from me. He also enjoys the mortal world and quite expensively, even though he doesn't have a job up there. "Well," he says, sheepishly, "I heard you weren't feeling well. So I came by to check on my favorite cousin!" "How much?" I grunted. "I'm shock." he feigns hurt, "I just came here to help, no hidden agenda." "Yeah, right." I frown. "So," he sighs, "You have a problem with a girl. No surprise there." "It doesn't concern you!" growls Fray.
"Of course it does." waves Faldan, then turning to me, "So... is she pretty?" "What?" I frown, "What does that have to do with anything!?" "Everything." he nods, "It doesn't make sense to boo-hoo over an ugly girl." Dore grumbles and Fray rolls her eyes. "Again," I sigh, too tired to play games, "How much is it?" "Look," says Faldan, rubbing his hands together in a scheme, "When it comes to mortals, you have to jump through hoops, like an dog. Rollover and do tricks." "What the hell are you talking about?" I groan. "I'm just saying," he continues, "You did kill another, right in front of the girl. It's going to take a lot to repair that."
"Yes," nods Fray, agreeing with Faldan for once, "Mortals tend to get upset and offended, when you kill their friends in front of them. It's not an easy thing to clean away." Dore huffs. "Yeah," nods Faldan in his direction, "You did jump a few hoops already, Dore is right about that. But with humans, they're much too greedy to satisfy, when it comes to death and killing. They never forget it and they'll throw it in your face, every chance they get." "Okay," I growl, now uncomfortable, "Stop talking about this!" "Geez!" frowns Faldan, "I'm just saying-"
"Well, don't say!" I snap, "Just stay out of it. It's none of your business." "Well," he shrugs, "Like I said... I hope she's pretty." I sit back in my chair, disgusted and disturbed. There was a long silence, as Faldan just stands there, looking lost for something. "What is it?" I sigh. "Can I have a few thousand." he asks, in a small voice. Fray hisses and claw in his direction. "Fine," I wave, too tired to argue, "Whatever. Just go away." "Thanks!" he smiles and disappears from the room. "Useless..." grumbles Fray, unknowingly wringing her hands around a gasping Teddy.
The next night, I sat down in front of my computer screen, trying to write but not feeling up to it. My mind kept wandering on Lily and how she might be feeling. Talon growls at the backdoor, sensing someone out there. I knew it was most likely Lily and rushed out there, not figuring out first what I was going to say to her. There was no one there, just darkness and wind, no lights from the neighboring house. I stand there for a few seconds and then turn to go back inside. That's when I heard it, a tiny sob coming from the other side of the hedge.
She was huddled in a ball, in her yard, a wreck. "Miss Lily?" I ask, unsure if it was really her. "I just couldn't stay in that room anymore." she sniffles, "The walls were starting to close in... But, this is worse, being so near the demon." "I'm sorry." was all that I could lamely say. "She was a good person." sobs Lily, "She was funny and nice to me and nice to my family. And she was cool." "I guess." I shrug, not caring too much for the demon-hunter. "She was good !" shouts Lily, standing up suddenly to face me, "She had goals and dreams!
"Did you know she was in-love with a guy, back home? She told me that, blushing, one day. That after she was done here, she planned on running away to Paris with him? She was so happy about it!" "Lily..." I sigh, but she grabs onto my shirt tightly. "Ms. Julia loved music and books," Lily sobs, "And she liked to dance. And her favorite color was blue. And she loved her great-Grammy!" "Lily." I frown, trying to loosen her grip on me. "No!" she shook, "See her as a human being! She wasn't just some demon-hunter! She was real and she was alive. And she-"
I held onto her tightly, the hedge in between us, and she broke down into tears. "I understand." I whisper in her ear, "I am sorry. But I had to do what needed to be done. I can't die yet. I have so many demons and dead to take care of. I had to do it. Can you understand that? Can you understand that I never wanted you to see that? To be so hurt?" Her cries cuts deeper than steel, right into the core of me. This makes me highly uncomfortable. "Lily," I sigh, "Please. Stop crying. Just move on and for-" She pulls away from me violently.
"I can't forget!" she hisses, through clenched teeth, "You killed my friend!" I try to reach for her again, but she runs away, disappearing into her house. Faldan's words came back to me, "They never forget it and they'll throw it in your face, every chance they get." He's right and I'm stupid for even trying to suggest it. If some random demon had killed Fray or Dore, would I be able to forget? Not likely, unless I had that's demon's head for a new footstool. "Dammit!" I growl, clenching my fists, "I need help!" "I am here." says a small voice.
At first I'm rattled, thinking it was a voice from my past, but whirling around to see Fray. "Fray!" I yell, "Don't scare me, like that! What the hell are you doing here?" "I didn't think Master could be scared." she says, amused, "I'm here to help, yes? I felt your sorrow and legged it here." "Well, go home." I said, turning towards my house. "Hang on." she frowns, "I can help. The girl and I are mates now." "Since when?" I ask, highly doubtful. "Since that night she was shooed from the demon friendship club." Fray nods, "Her and I became great pals."
I thought about arguing, but knew I was out of options. "Look," I said, turning to face Fray, "Don't go overboard. Do you understand? Don't freak her out anymore than she is. Be nice and try to remember what it felt like, being human." "Yes, well," she waves, "Don't you worry, Master. I know what I'm doing." And then she faded into thin air. "I hope I don't regret this." I sigh.