The Hellhound's Demon

Path of the Righteous

"Casey is really taking this master's thing hard," Theo said through a mouthful of chips. He was using his Swoop-technique in the loft, while Lily paced around beneath him.

"Wouldn't you?" Lily asked. "He's been working his tail off, just like us."

"Yeah. I'm sure he will figure out something to do," said Theo. He offered a chip to Lily as she passed beneath him again.

Lily smiled and took it, popping it into her mouth.

"Hey, what are you two doing here?" Kali asked, entering the loft with Nick and Aiden. "It's the second Tuesday of the month. Don't you usually have a date planned?"

Theo scowled. "It's not a date!" he protested, missing the hurt look on Lily's face.

"Riiight," said Nick. "Well, it doesn't have to be an official date, you know. I mean, your master's now right? Why don't you use that as an excuse to go celebrate?"

Lily's face brightened. "He's right, T, we should go," she said, trying not to sound eager. "Just because Casey failed, doesn't mean we have to sit around and not celebrate. He already told us that we should be proud of our accomplishment. I don't think he would mind."

"Where is Casey, anyway?" Kali asked.

"You're right," said Theo, sighed heavily, as he floated down to the ground. "Nick is right. We are master's now. We should probably stay focused and on task."

Again, Lily's face dropped. "Oh... Okay. In the case, I guess, I'll open the pizza parlour," she said, stuffing her hands into her jeans and walking away.

"Lil," Kali sighed. She took a deep breath and turned to Theo. "I don't get you! One minute your jealous that Lily is spending time with Casey, and afraid that she isn't going to feel the same way about you, and then when she actually asks you out, you turn her down."

Theo rolled his eyes. "A celebration for our master stripes?" he asked. "That's not the kind of date I want with her, and you know it. Besides, she's made it painfully obvious that we're just friends, why chase something that is never going to happen."

Kali released an aggravated sigh and turned to Nick. "Can I hit him?" she asked. "Please."

"No," said Nick, shaking his head. "We made it painfully obvious that we were just friends, too," he added to Theo, "and look at us now." He squeezed both Kali and Aiden to him. "Are you really going to the let the one you want, and the one that clearly wants you, get away?"

Theo turned towards the kitchen. "I'm not good at this like you two," he said. "Despite what you know about me, I'm not always so confident in situations, especially when it comes to asking out the girl I love."

"Obviously," said Kali, "but then, no one really is. I settled on being Nick's best friend because I was afraid to admit my real feelings in fear of losing him."

"And I did the same," said Nick. "It took Xander to make me realise that if I didn't say or do something, I would lose the chance forever."

Kali smiled and kissed Nick's cheek. "Look, Theo, being in love with your best friend is hard and scary, we get it, but trust me when I say, seeing the one you love be in love with someone else, hurts way worse," she said.

Nick nodded his agreement.

Theo lowered his gaze and sighed. They had a point, he knew they did, but what could he do about it now?

~X~

Casey hurtled through the forest. After his talk with Dominic that morning, he was more than determined to prove himself to his friends by rescuing Jarrod from Dai Shi's clutches. He leapt over fallen logs, dodged around uprooted trees, and ducked under low hanging branches on his way to the temple.