Chapter 27

Be Better

As soon as the door banged shut, Klaus regretted it. Lilith was asleep in the room, and he did not want to wake her up. He had carried her down from the roof earlier, and remembered how sore she was.

Knowing that was on him too only compounded on the guilt he was starting to feel. He walked over and into the bathroom, pulled off his shirt, and splashed water on his face from the faucet. He placed his hands on the bowl while taking some more deep breaths.

It had felt so freeing to just let go. Always keeping control, holding his instincts in check, while denying a part of himself was debilitating.

He looked up into the mirror. He saw a red bruise where Leo had kicked him. If he had not used the stigmata, it would have healed already. From the looks of it, the bruise was going to turn blue. Despite that, the pain was fading quickly. It all seemed to hit him at once.

'I could have killed him.'

Leo was skilled. Klaus knew that if they had the same physical attributes, he would have lost. Klaus was faster and stronger, yet the Spartan was still able to dodge most of his blows and land one of his own, which Klaus barely felt.

He heard a crack and lifted his hand to see a piece of ceramic in it. 'Is this what I am good for now. Breaking things?' For a moment, he felt the impulse to crush it in his hands. Then he took a deep breath and put it down, almost too gently.

Klaus looked at it, one second then two. Time dragged on as he just stood there. He was in two minds. Leo attacked him first. After that it was Fred. The young dragon had gone after Leo to protect Fred when Leo's elbow hit him and everything went red.

Klaus understood those thoughts for what they were. Petty excuses that would be made by a lesser man because when Klaus got hit. Nothing mattered anymore.

'I am not a man.' The thought came unbidden and unwelcome.

He shook his head. 'No, I'm supposed to be more than not a man.'

He balled his fists as thoughts of Billy came to mind. 'If that is the case, why do I feel so angry all the time?'

Klaus had lived isolated since the change. He had barely been with other people for the last year and was starting to feel the effects as little things were piled up.

'I need to do better.'

Liz watched as Pride professionally tended to the two boys. Fred was out cold and was getting stitches on his forehead.

Leo looked like a ghost and was still breathing harshly. Using the stigmata had drained him and two of his ribs were cracked. If not for his awakened body, he would have died. "Kicked him good, didn't I?"

The young woman who had been worried about her savior immediately started to bristle with anger. "Are you an idiot? You could have died. Why did you hit Klaus anyway?"

Leo snorted. "Because he wanted to stop me. What, is he your keeper or something? Besides, I'm still breathing. When we get to the Secret Worlds, and I can use my stigmata more. It will be time for a rematch."

Pride plunged a syringe into his arm with such force that the bed shook lightly. "You are breathing for now. Only because I thought you were worth saving. Plus I owe Markus. I always pay my debts, and now it has been paid. Next time you are on your own." She said while looking at him disdainfully.

Leo would have jumped up if he could. Instead, he settled to widening his eyes. The Spartan had last seen or heard from his parents ten years ago. "How do you know my father?"

Pride turned to Fred, ignoring the question.

Leo tried to get up, but Liz pushed him down. "I asked you a question?"

Pride raised an eyebrow at him. "I saved you. I can just as easily kill you. I owed your father one life and that life has been given. Do not test me, you rude, inconsiderate shit stain."

Leo had shrunk back with every word. "I am sorry, it is just. I haven't heard anything from them in ten years. Please, anything. Are they alive?"

Pride got up and left.

Leo turned to Liz. "Do you know who she is?"

Elizebeth was still angry with him, so she didn't answer.

He took her hand. "Please."

Liz could not refuse the earnest look in his eyes. "She is a demon."

Leo pulled his hand from hers, his face morphing into one of disgust. "You are lying, that's impossible, my parents went to help fight them. Why would she owe my father anything."

Liz stood up. "She was right. You are an asshole. Maybe it is time you realize that you don't know everything."

"Liz, I am sorry. I wasn't-" She was gone before he could finish. "Shit."

Too late, Leo realized he had done the same thing that caused his friendship with Fred to explode.

"Still good at making friends, I see."

Leo looked over to Fred, who had just spoken. "I thought you were passed out."

"I was, but it is kind of hard to sleep with a lover's spat going on in the room." Fred turned on his side, wincing while he did and all the friendliness he held bled out of him. "What are you doing here, Leo? I needed this. My sister needed this."

Leo rubbed at his face. "I didn't know you were here, to be honest. Was coming back from your house when I ran into Liz and some other guy with issues. Helped them out of a tough spot, and next thing you know, here I am."

Fred frowned and winced while sitting up. "What were you doing at my house?"

Leo deflated at hearing the obvious threat in Fred's voice. "I went to apologize and offer my help. My brother and I fought after I confronted him. Fred, I am sorry."

Fred was quiet for a long while. He knew Leo well and there was something else. With him there always was. "What happened?"

The Spartan smiled deprecatingly. "I am officially in exile."

Fred raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Damn, I thought you were the golden boy, sun shining out of your ass and everything."

Leo scowled at him. "Gee thanks. The thing is whatever my brother took from your sister made him more important."

"Welcome to the world of peasants. Look, I appreciate your apology and offer, but word is our current host does not like you very much. After what we did, I doubt his opinion has changed. Shit, I hope he still accepts my help." Fred put his hands in his hair. "I messed up."

Leo scowled. "To hell with him, we can do it ourselves. You and I, like we always did. What do you say?"

Fred looked at him like he was stupid. "In case you haven't noticed my family is poor and you are officially a bankrupt, homeless person. How are we going to sponsor ourselves? Did you even think about that? We are only two people, man. The school said to have at least twelve, and out of that an average of four survive the first year."

Leo blanched and looked away. "Klaus has less than that and he-"

A pillow hit Leo. "That is Mister Roth to you, and in case you have not noticed we got swatted like flies, literally."

Leo started to look desperate. "I have savings, we could join a team."

Fred took another pillow and threw it at Leo. "What team? Who will take us now? We have nothing to offer but our lives. To most, that is worthless. That is if you don't take into account that we just attacked the guy who took half of the Roths' assets in one day."

Leo wanted to say something, but Fred repeated. "One day."

Leo sat back. "Shit."

The door opened, and Fred reacted immediately. Despite his pain, he stood up with a wince. "Mr. Roth, I am so sorry. I just reacted and-"

Klaus was clenching his jaw while looking at Leo. He held up his hand to stop Fred, while thinking to himself. 'Be better.'

Leo felt incredulous. Klaus was standing there in a brand new suit looking right as rain, while he could barely move.

Klaus turned to Fred. His mouth opened a few times, but it seemed like the words did not want to come out. Fred swallowed as he watched the solid door handle deform in Klaus' grip.

Klaus' pride was getting in the way of what he had come to do. He took a few deep breaths and then forced out. "I'm sorry for hurting you and will compensate by helping your sister recover she should receive what she needs tomorrow and you can leave," Klaus had said everything without a pause or inflection before slamming the door shut. He had spoken so fast, face looking like he was suffering from constipation that the two barely registered what he said.

The wall shook, and a painting fell from it. Fred hobbled over to the exit and opened the door. A broken and deformed handle was in the hallway, but Klaus was gone. He looked to the side and saw an obvious indent in the wall with cracks spreading from it.

"What just happened?" Fred finally asked while turning to Leo.

Leo swallowed. "I think Klaus just said he was going to get your sister healed."

Fred hobbled over to the foot of the bed where someone put his bag while scowling at Leo. "It's Mr. Roth."

Leo ignored him. "What are you doing?"

"Getting dressed, I'm gonna go chase after Mr. Roth," said Fred, grunting, huffing and puffing while putting on a suit.

"Why?" Leo did not understand, Fred just got what he wanted.

"For how many years have you known me, Leo?"

Leo thought for a second, and then it dawned on him. "Fred you can't, the guy hangs with demons!"

Fred fussed with a tie, and then just threw it to the side. "We attacked him in his home and he just said he will heal my sister. If that is not someone worth following, then who is?"

Fred hobbled to the door.

"Fred!"

He stopped and turned to Leo impatiently.

"Are you sure?" Asked Leo.

Fred gave a boyish smile, the image somewhat marred by the stitches on his forehead. "I am willing to stake my life on it."

Leo tried to sit up and winced. He then turned to Fred. "Don't just stand there. Help me get a wheelchair."

When Klaus arrived at the meeting, everyone was there. He had overdressed compared to Liz who was in jeans and a top. Billy was avoiding eye contact and kept rubbing his sweaty palms.

Finally, Amelia was seated on the far side of the table with Beatrice next to her. Beatrice was in a summer dress and looking like she was about to fall asleep. Amelia was seated properly, ramrod stiff with a poker face.

Klaus could not compare the young woman sitting there with the one he met at the party. 'Was it all an act?'

Klaus' feet automatically took him to the head of the table. He and Amelia were opposite from each other. Silence, who was waiting inside, walked over and was just about to close the door when he spotted something. Pride and two people Klaus did not want to see appeared.

'Be better.'

The two looked pathetic. Leo was as white as the sheet he was wrapped in, and Fred was in the ugliest brown suit most of the people at the table had ever seen. His shirt was half tucked in and his hair uncombed. He did a weird shuffle walk, leaning on the wheelchair more than actually pushing it.

Klaus rubbed his forehead and gave Pride the deadliest death-stare his eyes could muster. It was not the image he wanted to give the Sciencia.

The silence had become very awkward and was then broken by Leo swearing at Fred for bumping him against the table. In what he fought was a soft voice.

Fred tried to pick up a chair but failed, so he rather just pulled it, causing it to bump into Leo again.

Klaus' eye twitched. The two finally settled. Klaus was about to speak but then Fred sneezed.

'Be better, be better, be better.'

Before Klaus could say anything Beatrice, who was leaning with her hands outstretched on the table looked at Klaus and asked. "Did you bring these blokes to entertain us? I mean, don't get me wrong it would be hilarious if they were not half dead."

Klaus looked from them to her. What she saw made her stay quiet and sit back.

Amelia coughed. The room was stifling, and the smell coming from Klaus basically radiated violence.

"Why are we here?" asked Klaus, looking at Amelia.

One of the guards stepped forward. "To negotiate."

"What? I already told you what I would offer." Klaus narrowed his eyes. "You want more."

The guard cleared his throat. "Not more, we are willing to give you back half of what you promised in exchange for five potion fruit."

Fred whispered to Leo. "What did the stuck up looking guy say?"

"Sshht," said Leo.

Everyone heard them. Those who did not know about the fruit only heard gibberish when its name was said, so they were not the only ones.

Klaus's mind was running at top speed. 'How would they know. Have they spied on the keep, impossible.'

Memories shared with him came to the fore. 'Lilith and the Roths.'

"You have been busy." Said Klaus, there was no use denying it.

The male guard smiled. "Our specialty is information."

Klaus' bullshit radar started to tingle.

"I agree with it, but each fruit is one year of service. that includes a party member for Lilith."

The two guards looked at each other and then nodded. "We have an agreement."

Klaus nodded. "You can go with Pride to hash out the details. I have some things to discuss with my team in private."

One guard hesitated, but eventually both followed Pride, out of the door. Amelia, immediately relaxed into her chair.

Klaus turned to the other two. "What are you doing here?"

Fred nearly stood to attention. "Mr. Roth, I would like to join your team. I know we started off on the wrong foot, but I am a good fighter. I also don't have a powerful background, so you don't have to worry about any weird agendas or anything."

Klaus sighed. "I read your file and I know you are a good fighter, but you attacked me in my home. I don't trust you. My vote is no."

Fred deflated the more Klaus spoke until he caught on to the last sentence. "Vote?"

Klaus looked at Liz. She had not spoken since the meeting started. He would have liked to speak to her before the meeting, but she was not in her room or with the other two when he went to look for her. After the meeting would be a good time, when no one else was around. "What is your vote?"

Liz was still a little angry with Klaus, but she was angrier with Leo. Fred had done nothing to her. The school had taught her the same thing that Leo and Fred knew. In her mind, it was better to have twelve people, minimum.

"Why do you want to join us so badly." Liz was not just going to accept him in, though.

Fred fidgeted, "Mr. Roth, offered to heal my sister without compensation. My family may be a small one, but we believe in paying our debts. I want to do what I can to make up for what Mr. Roth is going to do."

Liz looked at the fidgeting Fred a while longer and then nodded. "My vote is yes."

Billy had been nervous. He knew Klaus could just kick him out if he wanted to. Liz was probably going to add conditions if he were to stay and he was not sure what to make of Amelia and Beatrice.

"I vote yes," said Billy while giving Leo a meaningful look.

Klaus turned to Beatrice and she shrugged. "Sure."

Klaus frowned. To him, Beatrice was acting like someone who had nothing to lose.

He did not give Amelia a chance. The vote had passed, even if she said no.

"I also want to join," chimed Leo.

"Fred and I have been friends for years, that is why he helped me downstairs. Out of loyalty even though he had no reason to. I owe him and I want to join. I'm willing to divulge how many stigmata I have and what they are in exchange."

"I vote no," said Klaus, immediately. "Your reasons are superficial at best. Judging by your file and actions, your presence could cause dissension and I don't like you."

Before Leo could reply Amelia raised her hand. "I vote yes. He is a Spartan, a family renowned for their fighting prowess."

Beatrice shrugged again. "My vote is with her."

Billy once again gave Leo a look. "Yes."

Klaus clenched his teeth. "The vote passes." His gaze turned to Billy, who started to fidget. "We have one last bit of business. Billy has a drug problem. Earlier I told him I would put it up to vote whether he could stay or not."

"I don't have a pro-." He stopped when Klaus glared at him.

"The Prodigium family are known for being unstable. I vote no. I'm sorry," said Amelia.

Liz nodded along but then shook her head as if coming to a decision. "I vote to postpone. We give him a chance to prove himself in these last few months of training and then put it up to a vote before we leave."

Beatrice was quiet and looked rather somber for the first time. "I would have liked to be given a chance by my family. I vote with Elizebeth."

Fred was looking at Billy with squinted eyes. "So you are not a demon?"

Billy frowned and looked at him. "No, what gave you that idea?"

Fred waved his hand at him as if that would explain everything. "Drugs are bad, I vote no- I mean yes. He has to prove himself." Everyone saw Leo digging his elbow into Fred at the last moment.

"I agree with Liz, we give him a chance," said Leo as if his exchange with Fred never happened.

Klaus thought that they would regret it, but kept that to himself. He would find other ways to deal with them if they proved less useful than the others advertised. "Then it is decided. We leave in a day."