‡ Promise 33: Facing The Truth ‡

-As told by Keith-

eeks went by, the weather is colder, and most of the leaves have fallen from the trees. I haven't seen or heard from Lily, neither has Fray, and I'm starting to become worried. I do spy her, from time to time, getting into her friend's truck and heading off to school. But she hasn't visited my hedge and I haven't heard her sing-song voice of "Hi, Mr. Rolmir!". I guess, I feel a little lonely and I miss her again.
I had just got home, from shipping my new manuscript to my editor, when I realized that Lily was sitting on her back-step. My heart skips, instantly excited to see her, and I rush out into my yard. I feel kind of stupid, like a little boy having a school-yard crush, walking up the hedge with a silly grin on my face. "Hello, Miss Lily." I greet, trying to hide my excitement. She doesn't respond, a look of worry and as if the whole world is on her shoulders. I hop over the hedge and take a seat next to her, on the cold and hard cement steps.
"You're troubled." I say, looking towards the woods, "Tell me what's on your mind." She doesn't say anything, just staring at her feet, deep in thought. "You didn't pass the tests." I said, just trying to figure out what's wrong. "What?" she says, half dazed at first and then waving it away, "No. I did. I'm in driving school and my dad is going car shopping with me, next week." "Hmm," I said, failing to see what the problem was, "So, you're having a hard time in driving school?" "No," she sighs, as if wishing it was that simple, "I'm doing better than I thought I could. I'll have my license in no time."
I throw my arms up in a gesture that says, "Help me out, a little?" She lets out a wary sigh and looks towards the ground again. Before I could pry more, she blurts out, "I told my friends the truth, a few weeks ago." This is cryptic and doesn't help me much. "About what?" I ask, getting a little frustrated with the lack of information. "About you." she says, as if squeezing the details out of her brain, "About the demon world. About Fray, Dore, and Faldan. About the demons who've attacked recently." I feel all of the wind escape me and I dropped my face into my hands, shocked and a little angry.
"I had to." Lily pleads, turning to face me now, "Tommy saw us talking, on the day I was worried about my tests, and he got angry. He knew I was lying to him and keeping secrets. And when I was trying to explain, Jody overheard and she was also hurt, because I was lying to her too. And they're my friends, so I had to come clean and I just told them everything." I let out a whimpering laugh, rubbing my forehead in a attempt to fight back a migraine. "I'm sorry," she says, her eyes watering up, "But they were my friends first. I couldn't keep lying to them."
"I understand." I nod, "And I don't expect you to lie to your friends. But did you have to tell them everything? I'm pretty sure they didn't ask. Do the term 'TMI' mean anything to you?" "I couldn't help it." she says, defensively, "I felt so bad for lying all this time, that I wanted to give them the full truth!" "Uh-huh," I frown, now becoming defensive myself, "And how well did it work out for you? Is that why you're such a bundle of joy, because it went very well?" "Don't be a jerk!" she growls, her fists clenching. "Look," I continue, "Humans can't deal with the truth of our world and I thought you'd know that, by now. Didn't you learn anything, from the last time you dragged your friends into this?"
Lily looks as if I had just slapped her. That look of pain and shock, it sent guilt to every core of my body. I had went a little too far. "I'm sorry." I sigh, wrapping my arm around her, "That came out harsher than I wanted it to. What I meant was, you should tell your friends the truth. But you don't have to share every little detail, especially when they don't ask." "That seems wrong." she says, giving me a dark look. "Yes," I explain, "Lies of omission are wrong in most cases. But in this case, your friends are better off not knowing what they don't ask. Am I wrong?"
"But," she frowns, pulling away from me, "You told my father that you're a demon." "Well," I grin, a little amused, "He asked." "No, he didn't." she says, shock in her eyes. "Yes, he did." I nod, remembering that night, "He asked if I were interested in romantic relationships. And I gave him a strong answer of 'NO', followed by a strong reason why. Which is, that I am a hardworking demon. It is the truth and I didn't go any further, answering questions that wasn't asked. For example, I didn't mention my underworld kingdom, servants, demon relatives, or demon battles."
"And what if he asked?" Lily says, hoping to trap me in my own logic. "I would tell him the truth." I reply, only to get a snort from her. "Yeah, right." she waves. "I would." I said, honestly. "Yeah," she smirks, "But who would ask you, 'Hey, do you own an underworld kingdom'?" "Well, no one." I admit, seeing where she was headed. "So," she says, her usual energy returning, "You're just fine, keeping secrets and lying to everyone, leaving out critical details that people may want to know?"
"Lily," I sigh, wrapping my arm around her again, "You know it's not that black and white. I can't go around advertising that I'm a king of a underworld kingdom, full of undead and demons, just so I won't be lying. The consequences of that is bigger than the lie. You know that. And besides, if telling the whole truth about my dark world is better, how come you're so upset?" She looks towards the ground again, suddenly worried and sad again. "It didn't work out well," I guessed, "Did it? Your friends aren't speaking to you again?"
"They're speaking to me." Lily nods, but then sighs, "But, they're kind of freaked out, now. I mean, Jody tries to be strong and listen, but the details are just too much. Tommy is stronger and more fascinated by things like this, but it's starting to get to him too. I didn't want them to be afraid. I just wanted my conscience to be clear and for us to be true friends." "Well," I said, understanding a little of her problem, "Just give them time. You've dumped a crap-load of information on them. Most of it would be terrifying, for even my most hardcore fan, and some of it probably doesn't make sense to them. They'll have to process it and then accept it, if they choose to accept it."
That's when a twisted thought crossed my mind. "Lily," I grin, "You may have indirectly created two new demon-hunters." "No," she says, pushing me away again, "Not Tommy and Jody! They could never be demon-hunters!" "You never know." I shrug, holding back a chuckle. Lily was right, from what I saw of the two teens, neither were demon-hunter material. Her friends were too fragile. But, they could easily become righteous fanatics, on a quest to save the world from evil.
I've come across those types, many times throughout the centuries, and they're always easy kills. Unlike a demon-hunter, who have training and purpose written in stone, a righteous warrior is laughable in combat. I don't have to give any effort and it's over quickly, without providing any challenge or any thrill. I imagine a scene, where I quickly and effortlessly spill Tommy and Jody's blood, and I shake at the thought. It wasn't anything I cared to do or would look forward to. Lily notice my shudder and mistakes it for the cold weather.
"You're not wearing a jacket." she points out. And I then realize she was right. I had rushed outside to see Lily, that I forgot to grab a jacket and was now sitting in the chilly weather, wearing a thin white button-shirt. "Yes," I said, standing and feeling a little silly, "I better go inside. You can come over and have a drink, if you want. A non-alcoholic drink." "No," she waves, "I have to study for my driver's test. I'll catch you later?" "Sure." I nod, a little disappointed.
I watched as Lily disappears behind her door, feeling alone again and also angry with myself. I didn't want to be attach to this girl and here I was, making the same mistake I made many years ago and stretching it a bit further. This was becoming a little dangerous and I knew it. I climb back over the hedge and this time shivering in response to the cold. As I walk in, Talon give me a reproachful stare. "I know," I sigh, closing the sliding door behind me, "It's stupid and I have no right. She's just a child. And I don't want to repeat mistakes. But, this is the first time I ever felt like this. Rose was different, we were attached like siblings, nothing more. But, Lily..."
Talon rolls his eyes and looks towards his kitty-chow on a nearby shelf. He wasn't disapproving my feelings for Lily, he was disgusted about his empty dish and his rumbling stomach. "Oh." I blush, grabbing the box of food, "Sorry. I forgot." I pour him a full dish and placed the box back in it's spot. "I don't know," I sigh, leaning on a counter, "Maybe I just think I have feelings, because Fray mentioned marriage. Maybe they're not that deep and maybe it's just a crush. Either way, it can't happen. It's wrong for so many reasons." I let out a frustrated sigh and grab a wine glass from a nearby cabinet.
That night, I reach the gate, still hoping to see Lily. But she isn't there. A very amused Fray and a very sour Faldan guards the gate. "Master." smiles Fray, very cheerful, "Faldan has been extra good, agreeing to take over Dore's guarding duties tonight." "Is that so?" I said, my mind elsewhere, "Were there no souls to collect?" "Not tonight." Faldan grunts, still resentful of his punishment. "I see." I nod, hoping Lily would walk through the shadows, at any moment, "And where is Dore?" "Sleeping the night away," waves Fray, finding that subject boring, "I suppose."
"Oh." I said, smelling the air for Lily's scent, "So, um... I..." "No," grins Fray, "Lily hasn't visited." Faldan's gloomy face suddenly perked with interest. "That wasn't what I was going to ask." I frown, a little defensive. "No," grins Fray, a little sing-song in her voice, "But you were thinking it." "Wow," grins Faldan, forgetting his grudge against me, "That fast, huh?" "What?" I snap, "What's fast? If you got something to say Faldan, just say it!" "No thanks." he says, with a hint of attitude, "If I did, you'd just send me away again." "Oh, yes." claps Fray, changing gears, "Did you hear of Faldan's troubles in the Darkscape?"
"No." I said, not really interested, but loving the discomfort on Faldan's face, "Tell me." "Well," begins Fray, eager to get to the punchline. "Cut it out!" shouts Faldan, waving his arms like a madman, "I never should have told you, you damn brat!" "Faldan was attacked by Squiggles!" sang Fray, skipping the set-up of the joke. Squiggles is just a name that Fray gives the soul-less creatures whom sometimes lurk the Darkscape and barren places like it.
They are thin leach-like creatures that often talk in whispers. If you were to draw a straight line, with a ball-point pen, you'll have the actual look and size of Squiggle. Although they're usually ten or more feet long and love to cuddle with anything warm. If they're feeling particularly frisky, they like to feast on blood, human or demon. No one knows what they are, what their real names are, or why they're there. Just a mystery within the demon world.
"Shut up!" roars Faldan. "They snogged him," she sings, "And called him 'mum'!" "I'm going to kill you!" he growls, moving towards Fray. I stop him with one strong arm, as she giggles and dance, teasing him. "That's enough, Fray." I grin, trying to put an end to this, "Leave him alone. He's suffered enough." "Not enough." she insists. "Fray." I warn, now firmly putting a end to this childish scene. Fray shrugs, now satisfied with herself, and Faldan slumps back to his post.
"I wouldn't worry." offers Fray, now cuddling Teddy, "Lily is just busy with mortal events. I'm sure she'll have a visit soon." "I'm not worried." I say, nonchalant, "In fact, I didn't ask. It's better that she's living her life, instead of hanging out with the undead. She is human, after all." Both Faldan and Fray exchange doubtful looks. "Really," I shrug, heading for the gate, "It's fine. Lily and I are just friends."