For a second, there was dead silence. The look on the girl's face was of pure hatred.
"Ai, what are you-"
"She's right Nolan," Kris interrupted. Nolan very slowly turned his head toward him.
"What...?"
Kris smiled an evil smile, one that I had seen on his face a lot recently. "Fifteen years ago, I killed Queen Adriana and King Caleb of Heaven."
A look of horror and confusion came to Nolan's face. "You...?"
"You're the reason all of this is happening!!" The girl, Ai, spat at Kris. "Before the war, Heaven and Hell coexisted perfectly! We never fought with each other!" Her shoulders settled as a look of sadness crossed her face. "We were at peace..." Anger came back. "But then, Hell attacked out of nowhere! Many were killed fighting, attempting to protect everyone else. And when it was finally coming to an end...the young boy who had led Hell came forth...and killed Caleb and Adri..." She looked like she was about to cry. Then she looked at Kris in hate once again. "He is the reason there is a war."
Nolan was appalled. "Kris?" He looked to him, hoping for an explanation that would justify this all, show that his best friend was still there. But he didn't get one.
"It's all true."
Nolan was struck into silence. He just stared in horror at Kris. Ai turned towards me.
"What about you?" she asked. She looked confused and curious.
"Huh?" I asked.
Her eyes narrowed, as if she were trying solve some type of puzzle on my face. "You don't seem bad. Why are you a demon?"
My eyes widened. "Oh..." I looked down at my feet, scared of her eyes. "Well, when I died...I prayed that I would go where Kris was. I didn't care where that took me, as long as he was there."
"I see..." I looked back up at her, she smiled. "So Heaven listened to you." It was now I who was confused.
"Heaven?"
"Yes, Heaven-"
"Daisy," Kris said in a forceful tone. "We should go now." He turned to walk away and Nolan seemed to snap out of a trance.
"Wait!" Kris stopped, but didn't turn around. "Why did you attack Heaven!?"
Kris smiled at him over his shoulder, that same evil smile, and said simply, "To win."
Ai's anger fumed again. "TO WIN!?!? You just don't get it, do you!? Heaven and Hell are like the Yin and Yang, Light and Dark, Good and Evil! If either disappears, the balance is set off! Everything will be in chaos! Why do you think Heaven has never attacked back!? Not just Heaven, but if Hell dies-"
"Oh please!" Kris laughed. "There is no 'balance'! If Heaven goes away, it means one thing. Hell wins." He turned to me. "Come on Daisy, let's go."
I looked back at the horror-struck Nolan and the angered Ai, then went to Kris. "Okay..."
"Daisy," Ai said from behind me. "You're good, I can tell. He's not. It's never too late to change."
I hesitated, not sure what to say. "Thanks..." I whispered, unsure if she could even hear me. Then I just walked away with Kris. "Oh," I said, stopping. I turned around. "And, Merry Christmas." I said, attempting a smile.
Nolan sat by the window, staring out at the snowy night, just as he had been since we'd come back, two hours ago. I walked up behind him and also looked out at the snow. Before it had been bright and beautiful, but now it had a dark, gloomy feel to it.
"Nolan..." I put my hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Ai. I know this ruined Christmas for you," he said.
"No... No!" he looked at me, surprised by my sudden anger. "I don't care about that!" He looked at me, confused. "I just..." I looked away from his eyes. "I just hate seeing you like this." He gave me a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. He rested his hand on top of mine, then turned back towards the window.
"He was my best friend, Ai... My best friend...is leading Hell in the war." He seemed to not know what to think of this.
I was still thinking of what I should do, but my body was already acting. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders in a comforting hug. "I'm sorry... I know it's hard to wrap your mind around, but...please, just forget about what happened. Just for tonight. It's Christmas. We shouldn't be sad."
His shoulders slumped and he put his hands on my arms, as if to hold me too. "I know... I'm sorry, Ai. It's just hard..."
I sighed, but then perked up as I thought of something. "Oh!" He turned and looked at me. "I have something that will cheer you up!"
"Hm?"
I put my hand on his face, and kissed him. I then drew back and smiled at him. He looked dumbstruck.
"I'm confused..." he said.
I sighed with a laugh and rolled my eyes. "I love you, Nolan." His eyes widened in shock. "I always have. I had been waiting for you to tell me how you felt," I looked away and smiled sheepishly. "And then when you did, I had to leave..." I let my eyes meet his once again. "I've loved you since the day I met you."
He was still shocked for a few seconds, then a loving smile came to his face. He put his hand on the back of my neck and kissed me. Yes! I managed to distract him, mission accomplished.
