Devil on the Rooftop [Book 1]

Chapter 26 - Khaleel

Arisa was out of line but I couldn't blame her for not knowing better. She wasn't the first person to question the twins' positions at the academy and she wouldn't be the last. People were quick to assume things about them, myself included, but that would change in time. Privileged as they were, they had their own demons to fight. Tomasia and Loyal acted high and mighty but they were breaking like the rest of us.

"Are you people incapable of having a civilized conversation?" Arisa asked, resisting my hold on her wrist. I dragged her through the basement corridor, in hopes of keeping her out of the Loyal's reach. That 'devil' comment wasn't going to sit well with him. Hell, it didn't sit well with me. If Arisa hadn't found Loyal's acceptance letter into Brown, we would have bullied her out of the academy by third period.

"Khaleel!" Arisa complained. "Stop!"

I pushed her through a new set of doors, which led to the art studio. I signalled Hino to stand guard while I exchanged a few words with the new transfer student. It was time to put her in her place. She could threatened to cripple me again if she wanted to but I wasn't going to let her blatantly disrespect my friend.

"What's your problem?" I finally addressed her. My eyes narrowed at those icy blues. "Do you have a death wish?"

Arisa looked indignant. "I must because your buddy almost sent me six feet under! And for what? Because of a stupid letter!"

I stared at her solemnly. "Because you were threatening him."

"I didn't even know him at that point!"

"You still don't know him," I glared, inching towards her. "If I hear you call him the devil again, I'll teach you why they call me his right hand."—I should have walked away then but I couldn't—"Did you consider what it must be like to hear people lie? Did you stop to think about the impact it would have on a person, psychologically?"

"Relax, Khaleel," Hino commented from the sidelines. "Don't share more than you're supposed to. It's not our story to tell."

"You think she'll back off if we don't put her in her place?" I asked, feeling my whole body tense up. I was getting angry just thinking about the bullshit my friend had to go through growing up in that family.

"She probably lived a sheltered life," Hino spoke up. "Why would she think outside the box when she's so privileged?"

"Excuse me?" Arisa was offended. "Why are you bringing privilege into this?"

"Then tell us," I took over the conversation. "When you were little, did your parents tell you about Santa Claus, the tooth fairy, and the Easter bunny?"

"Weird question to ask," Arisa drawled, taking a cautious step away from me. "What if they did?"

"And how easily did you believe them?" I asked, getting her to stare at the floor inquisitively. I could see the wheels turning in her head, trying to comprehend our words. "Really easily, I bet. Now imagine if that weren't the case. Imagine how you would feel being able to hear every lie that your parents, siblings, friends, and teachers told you from a young age? Imagine what that would do to a person. If you heard your father tell someone that he loved both his children equally, if you heard your mother say, she doesn't regret having kids at such a young age—"

"Khaleel," Hino warned.

Arisa's sad eyes found mine.

"How would you feel if someone called you the devil?" I glared. "I know you probably heard it from one of the many mouth breathers that go to this school, but you should know that legends don't get to pick their names. And saying that he chose to be this way is completely out of line. He doesn't offer his services because he's bored with his life. He didn't choose to stay in high school when he could be at a university because he doesn't want to do better. You don't know anything about him and yet you judge him based on what you believe to be the truth."

"I didn't know all that," Arisa blurted. "How could I have known all that?"

I shook my head. "You couldn't have but it's something you need to start thinking about. Loyal's an important friend to me, to Hino and Zander. I don't hit women. I really hate when men raise their hands against them, but if you insist on causing him grief then you will answer to me. Got it?"

"Y-You're threatening me?"

"Yeah," I said looming over her. "I am."

Arisa's eyes stirred a little as she moved away. "Don't!" Hino intervened. "Loyal wouldn't like it."

"What?" Arisa and I were in sync.

"He told me you hit on her for a laugh, Khaleel," Hino said. "He said it kind of pissed him off."

"What?" Arisa and I were in sync again.

That was news to me.

"Even after he took care of that letter she found, he insisted on keeping a close eye on her." Hino enlightened us. He was the vault of our group, someone we could share all our intimate secrets with, without the fear of them getting out. "Loyal's not one to get paranoid about students exposing him because we have a way of dealing with narcs. If anyone tried to pull the kind of shit Arisa did, threatened Loyal with the shit she did, we would have forced her out of the academy before third period."

"That's exactly what I thought," I said aloud.

Hino nodded.

"What are you two implying?" Arisa asked.

I knew what Hino was implying and I didn't like it. "No," I forced a laugh. "There is no way he likes her. Why would he like her?"

Arisa scoffed. "Gee, thanks."

"Why would he lie about liking her?" Hino asked.

I held my head trying to make sure it stayed intact. "He wouldn't lie. Loyal doesn't lie."