‡ Promise 24: Guilty Friendship ‡

-As told by Lily-

ast midnight, I jumped from my dreams, sweating and with a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. It feels like something bad has just happened, but my room is silent and the house is asleep. Sitting in my bed, I run a tired hand through my hair, trying to figure out this feeling. My nerves are shaken and I know that I'll never be able to fall back asleep anytime soon. My mouth is dry and my head is heavy. I let out a long sigh and step out of my warm sheets, onto the cold floor.
In the shadows of the kitchen, I pour myself a glass of orange juice, feeling a little silly. As far as I know, there's nothing to be upset about. My school work is squared and my friends are supportive. I got a chance to tell Keith off and to make sure he's permanently out of my life. So, my life is back to normal, as much as it were before. So, why do I have this dark feeling inside? As if a storm is on it's way?
A huge shadow rolls across the kitchen window and there is a thud outside. I put my glass down on the table and rush to the glass window of the backdoor. In the yard, some massive figure is sprawled faced down and then it shifts suddenly to reveal huge black wings. I jump away from the window, with a shriek, realizing that the thing in my yard isn't human. But then I remember what I saw, many days ago, in Keith's hell-world. Red sharp eyes and huge dark wings. I step outside, without hesitation, the cold air stabbing through my pajamas at once.
"Mr. Rolmir?" I call, stepping a little closer. But it wasn't Keith's face, this was someone else and he was badly wounded, one wing nearly torn away. "Who are you?" I ask, backing away a little. The creature heaved in pain, out of breath, and clawed the dry lawn. I was beginning to think it was a bad idea to come out here and quickly turn to retreat back into the house. "Wait..." he gasps, trying to sit up, but falling back to the ground, "Fray..." The mention of her name made me stop in my tracks, turning sharply to face this unknown demon, my mind racing.
"What?" I asked, afraid now, "Did something happen to Fray!?" "Yes." the demon gasps, "And... Dore... We were... attacked..." "Attacked by who?" I ask, now moving very close to him, "What's going on? Is Fray alright?" "She..." he gasps, more blood spilling from him, "She's running on pure fury... We can't stop her... He's in trouble... Keith..." I didn't understand all of this, but the demon didn't offer anymore, disappearing before my eyes and leaving a puddle of blood. "Wait!" I shout into the darkness, "Come back!" But no one answered.
I rush back inside the kitchen, grab a flashlight, run back across the yard, and over the fence. I had no idea what I could do, if anything, but I couldn't lose another friend. I had to try something. I rush through the woods, heading for the gate, trying to figure out a plan along the way. The demon had said that a female was running on pure fury, did he mean Fray? Was Fray attacking everyone? That didn't make any sense to me. The dark feeling in my stomach grew darker.
I burst from the shadows and into the clearing of the gate. I was struck with horror, freezing at the spot and dropping my flashlight, as the scene unfolded in front of me. Dore lies in a crumpled mass, by a tree; Fray is slashed across her Victorian dress, laying in a pool of her own blood, unmoving; Nearby, Teddy and Rupert are torn into bloody rags. A long dark-haired woman rushes by, giving a endless sequence of attacks against a very tired and battered Keith. He was bleeding a lot, his torso covered in gaping wounds, and his right arm obviously broken.
At first I thought the woman was also a demon-hunter, but quickly realize her unleashed claws, as she plunges one deep into Keith's chest. He screams and more blood pours from his mouth. "No!" I scream, helpless to do anything, all feeling draining from my legs. "Hmm." grins the woman, leaning closer to Keith's bruised face, "I was mistaken. You do have a human attachment, after all. Even better. After I kill you, I will kill the girl as well." I back away rapidly, now knowing how much danger I'm in.
Keith's tired features suddenly turned sharp. "No," he said, darkly, "You will not touch her." With a second-wind, he pulls the demon's claw from his chest and kicks her away, the force sends her several feet. She seems confused by this sudden strength, but doesn't let it distract her long, hopping to her feet and rushing towards Keith once more. He quickly dodges her and grabs her arm from behind, crushing it in his claw, and she screams. "An arm for an arm." he grins, quickly using his knee in the small of her back, giving himself enough time to let go and use his left claw again.
In one quick movement, his claw slices before the demon's neck, she chokes and stiffens. After a few seconds, her head rolls off her neck and her body falls, with a sickening thud. Keith collapses and coughs up more blood. I run to his side, frighten and sobbing, "Are you okay!?" "Hey," he grins, weakly, "That's my line." "You're hurt." I shook, the tears still pouring, "Is Fray and Dore...?" "They're not dead." he says, giving a quick glance towards them, "Just badly hurt. But, I wouldn't worry. They'll be fine now." I didn't know what came over me, but I just fell into Keith arms, sobbing for him.
"Hey," he says, softly, "It's okay. The worse is over. We'll be fine. I'm sorry you had to see me kill, yet again. I hope you won't be too angry with me, Miss Lily." I cried harder, realizing how much this guy really did care for me, and no matter how much we both hated it, we were really friends. No matter how angry I was with him, I still didn't want to see him die, or any of his people. "It's okay." he assures, holding me with his unbroken arm, "It's all over. The bad lady is dead." "Oi." gasps Fray, still lying still, "I hope you've killed the cow slowly and painfully."
"Kinda." grins Keith, letting me go and turning towards Fray's direction, "I shattered her arm and then beheaded her." "Good enough." sighs Fray, peeking over at us both. "Lily," says Keith, turning back to me, "You've got to go home now." "Why?" I ask, shaking my head, "I want to help." "You've helped enough." says a weak Dore, "The others will be coming through the gate, soon enough. And they don't take kindly to humans." "Yeah," nods Keith, "So, you have to leave now, Miss Lily. We'll be fine, I promise." "Okay." I said, reluctantly. I turn around and head back home, still worried about Keith and the others.
As I washed away Keith's blood, safe in my bathroom, I realize how much of a betrayer I am. I tried to save Keith's life tonight, even though he didn't spare Julia's. I have no hate for the evil thing that murdered my friend, anymore. In fact, I felt scared for him tonight and it seems like we're friends now. But what about Julia? Did I no longer care that she was murdered? Of course, I care! And I know, in my heart of hearts, I'll never forgive Keith for what he did to Julia. A part of me will forever hate him for that night. But...
"What's wrong with you?" I ask myself, in the mirror, "The guy's a murdering bastard." But even so, I still felt close to him, in some unexplained way. What about Tommy and Jody? They were upset about the murder of Julia too. How would they feel, if I suddenly became friends with a murderer? Everything is now complicated, too much so to figure out in one night. I turn off the bathroom light and head for bed. I feel guilty again. It's true that I've known Keith longer than Julia and that I wasn't very close friends with her yet. But, to me, she was still a friend. And you don't treat people you consider as friends like throw-aways. For the rest of the night, I toss and turn in my sleep, with too many things on my mind.
The next day in school, I keep my mouth shut, not mentioning a word to Tommy or Jody. I figured it wouldn't be a good idea to tell them, "Hey, I went into the woods last night. Oh, and Keith was going to be killed. And I went there to save him. He's okay now, free to still murder, and now we're friends!" And this would be the truth of it all. If I couldn't tell the truth, the best thing was to say nothing, until the whole Julia situation blew over. After all, they weren't friends with Julia, I was. So, the truth should be easier to handle, when the murder has faded into the past a bit.
"Wow," says Tommy, staring at me funny, "You look like you have something heavy on your mind." "It's nothing." I lied, not looking him in the face. "Does it have anything to with him?" frowns Jody. "No!" I hopped, knowing that's a lie too, "I'm just thinking about stuff. I don't want to share." "Okay." says Jody, giving a shrug. "Want to go the movies, this weekend?" Tommy asks us both, changing the subject. "Can't." waves Jody, to my relief, "I have a shift at the book store." "Maybe some other time?" I shrug, "I'm busy too." "Whatever." he sighs, "Maybe next weekend."
"Definitely," nods Jody. "Yeah," I said, "Count me in too." I didn't want to go this weekend, because I planned on hanging with Keith. Not to be buddy-buddy, but to try to figure out some things. I had a lot of questions, like "Who was that woman?" and "Why did she want to kill you?". Also, I had to figure out if being friends with a ruthless demon was such a good idea or not, as odd as that sounds. But something was different about Keith, something that seemed more human than even I possessed.
By the next night, I head for the woods, hoping to find Keith. I got a little scared, expecting to see the corpse of the woman still there and blood everywhere, but of course Keith would've taken care of that. A battered but standing Dore is before the gate, along with a bandaged Fray and the demon who had collapsed in my yard. "Fray!" I smile, rushing up to her, "You're okay!" "As much as one can be, deary." she says, picking up a bandaged Teddy. "The dolls are okay too?" I ask, a little surprised, since they were in shreds.
"Dolls can not be destroyed for long." Fray nods, "They are timeless." "Okay." I said, finding that a little weird. I turn to a very annoyed Dore. "I'm glad you're okay too, Dore." I nod, afraid to say anything more. "Who told you my name!?" he nearly shrieks and then gives Fray a dark look. "What?" she shrugs, "I never assumed it was some sort of secret." Dore turns away grumbling. "Don't mind him." sighs the unknown demon, "He has an image to keep. But deep down inside, he really likes you, Lily." "I do not!" growls Dore. "And," bows the demon, "I'm Faldan, by the way. Will you join us in a drink?"
Dore looks to object, but suddenly changes his mind, looking amused. "Um," I said, nervously, "I'm human and I can't have demon drinks." "It's not demon," Faldan nods, pulling out a small jug and handing Fray a glass, "Though it was brewed by a demon, that's me." "W-what is it?" I ask, still nervous, but not wanting to offend. "Something I've created," he nods, while handing Dore a glass, "A mixture of many things, which work! I call it, 'Spitfire'. It's safe for humans, don't worry." He hands me glass and then opens the jug.
It did smell like regular run-of-the-mill alcohol, so I relaxed a bit. "What are we celebrating?" I ask, as Faldan pours everyone a glass. "Our victory over Galur." nods Fray, taking a sip, "Well, it's the Master's victory, really. And it couldn't have been done, without you, love. So, drink up!" "Me?" I frown, "I didn't do anything." "That's not true." grins Faldan, "Keith needed some motivation to keep fighting and you were it." I blush like mad and quickly take a sip.
It tasted unique and had a nice strawberry flavor to it. Suddenly, the woods began to spin and everyone's voice became muffled. I can hear Dore's deep laughter, as I hit the ground.