Devil's Descent II: impure Chapter Thirteen

Estimated reading time: 41 – 68 minutes

Image Credit: mag3737 @ Flickr.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“No Kisses”

He’s going to kill me with soap. He’s going to shove it down my throat until I choke. Too late. It’s already in my throat. Lily Walker dead at the age of nineteen. Not by decapitation, incineration, or even gunshot wounds. Nope. Soap.

Lily’s fingers went limp. Her legs fell on either side of Julian. She swallowed and swallowed until she was sure her stomach would explode. Julian’s face crowded her vision so she closed her eyes. The instinct to continue to fight died an uneventful death. Lily’s thoughts followed.

“Misbehave again and I’ll gag you. Understand?” Julian smiled when she ignored him. “Lily, nod or I’ll gag you with a piece of this still in your mouth.”

Lily lay unresponsive.

Julian’s mouth compressed. “Ignore me at your risk, darling.” Nothing. He frowned and leaned closer. “Lily?” He removed the soap. A large chunk was missing. The remaining piece flew across the room before Julian shoved his fingers in her mouth. At the risk of wedging the murderous fragment further down her throat, the vampire let his claws extend. He carefully pulled until the soap cleared her mouth in an oozy mess.

Julian lifted her and shoved his head against Lily’s chest. He considered her mouth before realizing how idiotic his motions were. They were the actions of a human not a vampire.

I don’t have air for her.

He flung her over his shoulder and bounced a few times. Nothing. Julian knew what needed to be done. He had mocked Lily with imprisonment and found it amusing. Being on the other side—not so much.

Julian walked into the bedroom and considered the naked sleeping woman. Compelling her to provide air for his wounded prey was simple. Watching it, maybe not so much. “Nicole.”

She opened her eyes, seeing without thought.

He tossed Lily down. “Put your mouth on her and give her air. No kisses. Just air.”

Nicole sat up. She stared at the unresponsive girl next to her. Moments passed while she moved her blank stare from face to dress. Julian’s patience danced on razor blades. As if feeling his fury, Nicole finally placed her mouth over Lily’s and blew. Julian watched the repeated motions without expression. He supposed he should’ve been aroused at the sight of his plaything kissing his food. Instead, all his focus depended on when, if, Lily regained consciousness.

Wake up, you brat. You’re spiteful enough to just die on me, aren’t you?

Update 10-19-09

Nicole blew into Lily’s mouth continuously. Julian slinked closer. No response moved the unconscious girl. She lay like a stone. His eyes bled to gold and his fangs scraped his lips. “Nicole, if she dies you die.”

The blond gave no notice of his proclamation. She continued to breathe into Lily. Julian cocked his head. Surely Lily would come to. Air was all she needed and she had it so why wasn’t she waking up? Did he misunderstand the function of human anatomy?

“Nasty…”

Julian perked up, head cocked like wolf distracted from the serious business of food.

Lily slapped a hand over the feminine mouth descending over hers. “Ugh, what are you doing? I’m not into girls.” She coughed once. “Did that nasty SOB come up with this after trying to kill me? Sick…”

“You’re very rude, Lily. Nicole just saved your life.”

Lily twisted her neck. Fever-bright eyes blinked slowly. “You.”

“Yes. Me.” He dared kiss her forehead. “You live to waste another day. Happy?”

“Not even close.” Chagrin mixed with futility made its mark on her pale face.

“You’re not just trying to be witty, are you? You mean it.”

“Oh, be quiet.” Lily pushed back against the head still attempting to descend. “Call your bitch off.”

“Say please.”

Lily blew out a long breath. It overflowed with impatient suffering. “No. Here’s a piece of advice that I’m willing to give you for free—watch your back, Douglas. I will pay you back for tonight.”

“Yes, so you’ve said already. Nicole. Go back to sleep.” He waved his hand, presumably to keep his lover from falling atop Lily. “There.”

Lily sat up with more than a bit of difficulty. Julian, not surprisingly, did nothing to help her. Instead, he maintained his perch on the bed’s edge.

“Nothing about you is perfectly predictable. I thought I knew exactly how you’d behave and react.”

“You don’t know me at all. I doubt Ian ever did either.” Lily made a face as she swallowed. Although the lingering soap residue in her mouth left a lot to be desired it helped to wash away the imagined taste of Julian’s paramour.

“No, I think he knew you all to well. It was me he didn’t know.”

“Narcissist. How did this come back to you?”

Julian smirked. “Because I’m infinitely more interesting than you.”

“Because I’m mostly human and you’re not, right?”

“Wrong. Because you haven’t aged enough to become interesting yet, darling.”

Lily felt like crashing back onto the bed. However, she resisted being more of a spectacle than she already was. Barely.

“Jesus Christ, you make it so easy to hate you.”

“Really? And which part pushed you over the edge? Tell me. I really must know.”

She shot him a sour look. “You like that? I insulted you, Douglas.”

“I know you attempted to.” Julian smoothed the hem of her dress. “What is this Douglas moniker you’ve adopted? You seemed to have no reluctance calling me by my first name without permission.”

“Things change.”

“No. Douglas is too formal for us, darling. You may address me by my first name.”

Lily stilled. Her tongue became too heavy for her mouth. “Whatever.”

He used his preternatural speed to encroach on Lily’s personal space. “You’re blushing. Surely not because I’m being a tiny bit nice to you?” The vampire’s words dripped with playful scorn.

“You wish.”

Julian traced the curve of her jaw with one finger. “I do.”

Update 10-21-09

Lily fought the urge to back away from his touch. “Did I survive this well enough for you?”

He paused. A wicked grin tweaked his lips. “Looking for approval already? You are an impatient girl.”

“No. I’m actually looking for a big, fat no. I’m looking for the Pureblood equivalent of ‘You Suck.’ Summing up—I’m looking for you to find something else to amuse you.”

“You sound like a victim. It’s not attractive at all.”

“Good.”

Julian considered her. “You hold up rather well for someone of your age. However, this habit of pouting only tempts anyone within earshot to smack you. Have a care, Lily.”

She laughed for several long, crazed-tinged moments. “Can you believe this? A month ago you were someone else; a crazy, nice, wussy vampire before turning into you. A month ago we were almost-lovers. Last night we were trying to kill each other. Tonight I almost let you take me to bed. I then watched you have sex with this girl here. Then you almost choke me to death. Now I’m lying on this dirty bed listening to you lecture me.”

Lily flounced back against the pillows. She clutched her stomach and let loose another peal of ironic mirth. Julian watched with an indiscernible expression. Lily turned and knocked her head against the unconscious Nicole. Her chortles rose in volume. She reached out and tugged on a tousled blond lock of hair.

“Oh my God! This has to beat the time when Jeremiah Waddell dropped his pants in front of me only to freak out when he realized I wasn’t Cricket! You almost made me forget how a guy would rather run five miles bare-assed rather than be with me. I should’ve remembered the file. Habits don’t change. Only names.”

Lily’s laughter ended abruptly. She stared up at the ceiling. “Maybe I never loved you at all. Maybe I just loved that you weren’t scared of me. That you’d act as if I didn’t have razors in my vagina.”

“You didn’t love me.”

She sighed. “I’m not talking to you, Douglas. I’m talking to Ian.” Her impatient glare served to reduce him to fumbling idiocy. It failed but Lily tried. “I wish I could’ve been better to you. I wish I could’ve respected you and your ways. I wish I had appreciated all you did for me.”

Julian maintained an appropriate demeanor of impersonal interest. While it rankled to have the constant reminder of just how thoroughly he had been broken thrown in his face, Lily’s quiet confession couldn’t be dismissed. Whether he accepted it or not, the fact remained Julian had a connection to the human girl who’d been by his physical side for the last seven years.

To turn away would be to admit fear of her. Fear Lily? Never.

“Lily.”

“What?”

“One night…soon…I’m going to fuck you hard. Ruin you for any other man. Make it so you can’t exist without me.” He spoke softly, mirroring her laments to the ghost named Ian. “I’m not leaving here until then. If you try to run I’ll hunt you down. If you try to deny me I’ll rip you open. If you turn to anyone else I’ll make your suffering eternal.”

Lily sat up. “Have you lost your mind? Again? What the hell is wrong with you?”

“No. No. Nothing. And watch your mouth.”

She stumbled over her words. “How do things…how can you…why would you say something so nasty like that? Fuck me? No, fuck you! After tonight I don’t anything to do with you! You sick freak! Maybe Purebloods have this idea that human girls just want to fight over you and so you can have orgies and swap and it makes us want you so much more. Well you know what? Wrong.”

“Quit babbling. What has aroused your pique?”

“Aroused my pique? No. The phrase you’re looking for is ‘pissed me off.’ I’ll tell you. You piss me off. There’s so much you’ve done but the worst is that you slept with this one here,” Lily pointed out with a jerk of her thumb. “Right in front of me.”

“So in the future you’d rather not know.”

“What?” Lily swung her legs off the bed. “No. There’s no future.”

Julian stood and courteously extended his hand to help her up. When she ignored it he took away the choice and enveloped her tiny hand in his. “Everything is an ends to a mean, Lily. Even Nicole.”

Update 11-4-09

She considered him. “What are we doing here, Julian?” The name curled her mouth deliciously. “Have you forgotten we hate each other?”

“Absolutely not.” He raised her arm and kissed her wrist. “It’s time to go home, Lily. Let’s go.”

“I can find my own way home.”

“Are we starting this again, darling? If you had just listened to me earlier you wouldn’t have fallen down and destroyed your dress.”

“What? Oh no!” Lily studied the full skirt in horror. Dirt smears mixed with dried blood told its tale. Her chin trembled. “My dress…my grandma’s dress…”

“Lily, you’re crying!” He chastised in genuine surprise. “Come now, dearest. It’s just a dress.”

“No! It’s not just a dress! It’s my grandma’s…it was her favorite…and I…I ruined it!” Lily pushed past Julian and ran back into the bathroom. She grabbed the hem and lifted it. She studied the stains with critical focus. The mud might come out; she’d have to work on it with a brush after it dried. The blood—Lily never could get blood out completely and she didn’t want to risk asking her mother to do it.

“Think, Lily, think. What does she do? I gotta get this out now. Salt…no…maybe soap…yes, I can do this with soap. Hot water or cold? I can’t remember…”

“Lily, leave the dress with me and I’ll get it cleaned.”

She looked up, momentarily distracted from her panic. “Can you? It really would mean the world to me.”

“Of course, my sweet.” Julian brushed back her disheveled hair and cooed, “I couldn’t have this tragedy on my conscience. Give me the dress and I’ll make sure you get it back in pristine condition by morning.”

“Are you sure you can do it? I mean, there’s no one in town that does this for a living.”

“There’s a place outside of Vickery Hill.”

The gentle reminder of how she was a prisoner and he wasn’t dampened Lily’s enthusiasm. “Oh, that’s right.” She cleared her throat. “Umm, I can trust you about this, right? I mean you wouldn’t screw me over on this?”

Her naivety in conjunction with her obnoxious language coaxed an honest smile from Julian. “Yes. You can. Unlike Ian I don’t lie.”

“Good. I’d hate to have to kill you for this.” Lily’s breezy threat fell flat as she remembered she no longer had contact with the Spirit. “Julian?”

“Yes?”

“Earlier you said something about this being normal. I mean, you said something about the Spirit wasn’t done with me. What did you mean?”

“Is this a conversation you want to have in the bathroom?”

“I don’t care.”

“Well, I do. Come on. Strip and I’ll bring you something to wear. Then we’ll talk.”

Lily stopped him halfway out the door. “I’m not going to wear something of hers.”

“I’m not that crass. You can wear one of my shirts. It’s long enough to cover those plump little thighs. No one will see anything.”

“Plump? Maybe compared to those sticks over there.” Lily stuck her nose in the air, daring him to contradict her.

“You’re so catty. I love it.” Julian gifted her a rakish grin before disappearing.

Update 11-16-09

Lily retreated from the doorway. She spun on bare feet and flopped onto the chaise where Julian choked her with soap. Lily rubbed her twitchy fists against one another. She stared at the opposite wall. The mirrored Lily nearly looked human. Her flushed face defied death. Her eyes flirted with it.

What are you looking for out of this? He’s not Ian. He’s something worse than you are. Is that why you’re here? Because Julian’s more of a head case than you are?

Lily relaxed her hands. She flipped them over and studied the palms. The punctures reminded Lily of stigmata. They were healing sluggishly.

I already know the answer. I’m here because…because it’s still there. I used to want to be him just so I could be a better person. Now I want to be him because I want to know what it’s like to stop caring.

“I won’t apologize for those.”

She wasn’t surprised to hear neither his aristocratic voice nor the haughty words it issued. Lily’s dangerous grin acknowledged the self-destructive futility of her quest.

When he didn’t touch her, he had hurt her so badly. When he wounded her, he had healed some of the pain.

Make him apologize? Never.

Lily fisted her hands. She answered him with, “I’d expect you to have manners to apologize. Since I don’t think much of you it doesn’t really matter, does it?”

Julian dropped a dress-shirt the color of smoke onto her lap. “And since I know you for a liar I don’t know why I bother to even converse with you.”

“Oh baby, did I hurt your feelings?” Lily’s syrupy drawl accompanied by face-splitting smile served to taunt. “I would never want to hurt your feelings, darling. Dig my heart out with a rusty knife first before that ever happens.”

Julian crouched down. “Will a claw suffice?” He traced the razor appendage above the area in question.

Lily lifted her chest. She tapped his finger with each breath. “You already had my heart, Julian. You chose to give it back.”

“Mmm. That I did.” He doodled the air above her heart. “Why don’t you hang onto it for a little while longer? That’s a good girl.”

“You don’t want good. You want easy.” Lily took his hand with both of hers, careful not to make any threatening gestures to land her with a slashed throat. Satisfied Julian would remain well-behaved, she nuzzled his wrist before kissing it. “You know where you can find that, Douglas. Back up about two feet, turn right, and head straight until you come across naked blond tramp.”

Julian echoed her actions. “You have an unhealthy dislike of blondes, Lily. You really should take a care lest I think you’re jealous of them.” He waited until she looked at him before kissing the inside of her wrist.

Lily inhaled and exhaled with staccato precision. Julian smiled. “Why haven’t you taken your dress off?”

“Because you’re still here.”

“Since when are you shy? You hate clothes, remember?”

“Maybe I do.” Her voice, smooth despite the lust stiffening her mouth, flirted with provocation.

“Stand up and I’ll take it off for you.”

“No. I don’t think so.”

“That’s not what you really want to say, is it?”

“No, it isn’t.” Lily’s intoxicated gaze strayed to the fang he flashed. “But it’s what I’m standing by.”

“Too bad. We could have much fun, you and I.”

“I know but then what?”

Julian’s tongue tasted her skin for a stingy second. “You could be my lover.”

“I can have that now. What else?”

“Are you negotiating with me?” Julian’s toothy grin menaced even with its charm. “Please tell me that you are.”

Lily didn’t answer him directly. “What would you give me, Julian, to pick up where we left off?”

The vampire touched her bloody knees with gentle pressure. “Not a blessed thing.”

Lily’s cheeks blazed with color. She looked down and laughed. “Fair enough.”

Julian squeezed just hard enough to get her bruised attention. “I don’t want a crush from you, Lily. I can get that anywhere.”

“What do you want then? You want me to fall in love with you too?”

“Love.” His dead laughter filled Lily with emptiness. “Love is stupidly weak when I want something far more complex. Don’t pretend to understand.”

“Then help me understand. What do you want?”

Julian rested his head on her bare leg. He waited until she gave into the obvious. Lily’s fingers raked his hair, doing what she never dared before.

“I want to be a thorn in your side. I want to occupy every bit of your heart until you can’t breathe without feeling me strangling you with my being. Love comes and goes. It’s easy. I want your hate, Lily. I want you to loathe me so much you want to die. Can you do that for me, darling?”

Update 12-9-09

Julian looked up, chin resting on her bloodied knee. Lily resisted the urge to dig her fingers into his eyes. Seeing her tiny and insignificant reflection made Lily’s spine curl forward. “If I cut you open will I find my heart in there?”

Julian bent his head and licked her flesh with delicate care.

Lily shuddered. She knew he could smell the musky notes which sang of her lust for him. Each lap brought Julian closer to her insides, to everything that made Lily a fucked up beautiful mess.

“Douglas?”

“Mmm?” He already disliked the perversity which made Lily call him by his surname but he accepted it as proof of his growing hold over her.

“How do I taste?”

“Lovely.” His voice, thick with gluttony, pared her to the crux of what was really being asked. “Take off your clothes.”

“No.”

“Take off your clothes, Lily.”

Lily’s heart squeezed. “I’m not going to do what you tell me to do. I do want I want…and only what I want.”

A devil’s smile possessed Julian. “I know, little brat. This is what you want. I’m just taking away the guilt, darling. Blame it on the bully vampire.”

“There’s another girl out there right now in your bed.”

“Yes. I know.”

“I’m not taking off my clothes or doing anything with you as long as she exists.”

Julian shoved his face next to hers. “You know what you’re asking with that statement.”

Lily bit back a whine. Fear, a common emotion in circumstances like these, didn’t inspire the embarrassing sound. The fangs peeking out from behind Julian’s lips did. They encouraged her to let go of morality, guilt, and pride. They taunted her to become someone else.

Someone she had always been.

“I’m not asking. I’m telling.”

His inhuman gaze searched hers for many, many moments. “Yes. I realize. I just wonder what will happen to this little girl when she finally gets what she thinks she wants.” He nuzzled her shoulder with his nose one final time. “Very well. Call me when you’re done changing.”

Lily watched him leave the room and wondered if she had made another mistake. She fumbled with the zipper before sliding it down. Lily removed her dress, taking reverent care in folding it over her arm. She stared at the fabric and spoke to the woman who had originally owned it.

Grandma, what am I doing here? You understand more than I do, don’t you? Can you help me?

Lily’s grandmother had been the mistress of a very powerful god. Marriage was forbidden between them which may have been why Dahlia Walker had loathed him on sight. He had made her suffer for that emotion. Severely. In turn, she hated him even more. Out of that hate sprung her father, which nearly got her branch of the Walker family exterminated.

You sacrificed so much so we could live, Grandma. I wonder if you would think we were worth it if you could see what happened after you died.

Eventually, Dahlia had come to love him but it could never stamp out the origins of their beginnings. Lily liked to think her grandmother had exaggerated her dislike for Grandpa Ante but now she wasn’t so sure.

Too bad Grandpa can’t dish out divine justice on my behalf. Damn Nephilim interventions…it’d be a lot easier to ask for Grandpa’s advice but considering I haven’t seen him since Grandma died…oh, screw this. I’ve wasted too much time here as it is.

Lily set the dress down to slip on Julian’s shirt. She made short work of the torn stockings and stepped back into her heels. Satisfied with the hideousness of her appearance, Lily draped the gown over her arm and walked into the bedroom.

“I thought I told you to call for me.”

“I thought I told you I only do what I want.” She delivered her answer without pause, striding past the bloodletting without censure. Julian dropped Nicole’s wrist in pique.

“Lily, your disobedience will come to an end.”

She stopped at the door. Her gaze found the polished wood infinitely fascinating. “You’re not my master, my lover, husband, or even friend. Therefore, I cannot disobey. Even if you were, I probably still wouldn’t obey. So what are you gonna do?”

Julian patted his mouth with a handkerchief. “You’re awfully cheeky. I leave you alone for a minute and already you’re soul-searching. Guilt weighing you down, hmm?”

“Hardly.”

“Really, then why won’t you look at me?”

“I already told you—I’m not into girls.”

“She’s decent. I covered her.”

“Well, good for you.”

“Lily, look at me.”

“Why do you want me to look so badly?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Julian slinked off the bed and approached her.

“You want to see if I’m jealous.”

“Are you?”

“Being food? No.”

“She’s not just food.”

Lily turned to him and pushed her dress into his arms. “This can’t be ruined, Julian. If your cleaners don’t think they can get the stains out, don’t let them try. Just bring it back, okay?”

“Yes, my queen. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

She acknowledged his sarcasm with a regal dip of her head. “Yes. Tell me about what’s happened to me tonight on the way home.”

Update 12-28-09

“Of course. Please wait for a moment if that suits you, my queen.” Julian walked back to his unconscious plaything. He lifted her wrist and bit deeply. Nicole opened her eyes and whispered, “Thank you for letting me love you.”

Julian’s cheeks hollowed as he drank. Once sated, he released her with an impish grin. “You’re very welcome, darling.” He looked over his shoulder to measure Lily’s reaction only to find her gone. Blistering rage predictably creased his face. Julian stood up, movements crisp and precise. He tucked the covers tightly beneath Nicole’s chin. His fingers combed through her hair before he leaned down and kissed her lax mouth.

“Goodnight, darling. I’ll be back before you know it. Don’t die of longing before then.”

Julian pivoted on his heel. He left the bedroom in search of his current fixation. Stopping at the landing, he opened his mouth. Lily’s scent entered, filling his senses with an intricate mosaic of information. The whispered thuds told him she was waiting by the front door. Her heart beat told him she was growing increasingly impatient with his delay. The parched scent of her sweat told him she was on the verge of a fever.

Julian descended the stairs, jaunty in his steps. Lily was proving to be more troublesome than he originally predicted. Her defiance bordered on stupidity. She continued to behave as if he were an irritating dog of diminutive proportions. Yet, the urge to rip her throat out wasn’t as strong as it was the night before. Lily had become…interesting.

Annoying but interesting.

Julian motioned for her to come to him. She shook her head.

“Is everything a point of contention for you?”

“Usually.”

“Infant.”

“Old man.”

“Bitch.”

“Cock sucker.”

Julian blinked once and tilted his head. “You jumped over a few there, don’t you think?”

“I like a quick kill.”

Lily’s shrug strengthened the throat-ripping urge. “Cursing is the proof of a common mind. You should be ashamed to speak like that.”

“I disagree with you and choose to agree with Twain.”

“Twain?”

“Yeah. You know how profanity provides a relief denied even by prayer.”

“Well provide relief and follow me to the garage. Or is that too much of an imposition to you?”

Lily considered it for a moment before giving another shrug which expressed everything and nothing at the same time. “Sure. All you had to do was ask.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Julian’s sweeping gesture herded Lily towards the kitchen. He followed closely behind, giving her a toothy grin when she looked over her shoulder in sour censure. Once in the garage Julian opened the car door and assisted Lily inside. When he proceeded to buckle Lily in she put her hand on his and sighed, “I can do it myself thank you.”

“As you wish.” Julian waited until both feet were inside before closing the door gently—even though the desire to slam it on her ankle filled him with viperous intent. He slid in the driver’s seat and smiled with bliss. The images of Lily howling in agony made him feel very warm inside.

“Douglas? Douglas!”

“Hmm?”

“Are you okay?”

“Of course.”

“You’re bleeding.” Lily pointed to his nose. Black blood oozed out sluggishly.

Julian dabbed at his nostrils. He patted his chest in search of a handkerchief before remembering he had left his jacket inside. Quick, violent ripping filled the air. He looked over to Lily in confusion. “What was that sound?”

“Your shirt. Here let me.”

Lily leaned towards him before undoing her seatbelt with a curse. Julian watched her legs fold like origami before disappearing beneath a ragged hemline. She perched on the seat like a bird.

“Take off your shoes.”

Her hands fluttered about him, reminding Julian of moths. She didn’t heed his request.

“Lily. Shoes. Off. Now.”

She paused, one hand on his cheek and the other over his nose. “What is so important about my shoes that you need to have them off now?”

“My seats. Your heels are digging into the leather.”

“Oh.” Her cheeks exploded with color. “I’m sorry. I can’t believe I forgot something like that especially since I’m so into car care.” Lily kept her hand on his bloodied nose while toeing off the offending shoes. “Did you know that you should never wash your car with circular motions? It’s because you’ll scratch the paint. You should always take your sponge and run it across the car horizontally. Once you finish one pass you should then flip it over. You know why? If there’s dirt stuck on the sponge you won’t drag it across the whole time. But then again, you should rinse your sponge often.”

“That’s the most I’ve heard you talk in one breath. It’s also the nicest thing I’ve heard you say.”

“Not true! I’ve said plenty of nice things to you.”

“Really? Like what?”

Update January 15, 2010

Lily stared at his chin, brow furrowed in thought, as she hemmed and hawed. Finally, she pinched his nose hard and declared, “I just know I have.”

“Have a care for my poor nose, brat.”

“Ha! Like you really feel this. Try it on someone who doesn’t know how much pain your kind can really take. Or how much you really like it.”

Julian smirked in agreement.

Lily pulled away the makeshift handkerchief and inspected his aquiline nose. “It looks to be okay. The bleeding’s stopped.” She dabbed at his lip. When the dried blood stubbornly stayed, she wet the scrap with her tongue before attacking his lip. Julian could scent the doughnuts she had for lunch. It stirred misplace memories of fetching her dozens at a time.

“Do you want to be a diabetic?”

“Hmm?” she murmured while continuing her cleansing mission.

“I constantly have to repeat myself with you…it’s beyond frustrating. Do you want to be a diabetic?”

“That’s a silly question. Of course not.”

“Then stopping consuming so much sugar.”

“I don’t.”

“Yes, that’s why I can smell so much of it in your blood.”

“Hey! Don’t be sniffing my blood!” She punctuated her sharp command with one final scrub to his lip. “I’m not your food.”

Julian’s lazy gaze glittered with gold. “Of course not, darling. You couldn’t be my food. You’d send me into a vampiric coronary with all the garbage you eat.”

Lily threw the bloodied scrap at this face. “And thank you to you too. Just take me home.”

“What’s got your little panties in a twist now?” Julian brought the engine to life and pointed to her seatbelt. Lily snapped it on with a tiny scowl. He waited until they backed out onto the driveway before drawling, “Well?”

“Well what?”

“You know what. I asked you a question.”

She wished he would put the top down. Having it up made the small space claustrophobic. She crossed her ankles primly before answering, “My diet, or lack thereof, is none of your business. I happen to like to eat. Fucking excuse me for not nibbling on just lettuce like a damned rabbit.”

“You know if I weren’t fond of your mother I would just throw you out of the car right now for having such a dirty mouth.”

“Leave my mama out of this.”

Julian looked at her with raised brow. The venom in her tone challenged his curiosity.  “I would think it pleasing that I favored your dear mother.”

“Favor her? Let me tell you something—you come near her I’ll gut you. I will fucking stake you to the ground, wait for dawn, and begin gutting. You will feel it and it won’t be fun. I promise you. Don’t fucking take this as a joke.”

Julian assessed the spitting kitten disguised as a very young girl. “You think I’m sexually attracted to her, don’t you? Of course she is very lovely, even after the obvious stress of raising a creature like you. I could imagine bedding someone like her but—”

Lily’s palm made brutal contact with his cheek. “Never speak of her like that again.”

The beautiful car made an ugly stop. Julian’s grip molded itself around her small throat. He dragged her across the armrest. His even whisper carried more menace than if he had shouted. “Never hit me again. I am not a whipping boy to take your misguided rage on. Hit me again and I will hit back in kind. Trust me—I can hit harder than you ever could.”

Lily’s fingers twitched. They wanted to sink into his eyes. Self-preservation stopped her. He would obviously return the gesture and unfortunately she wouldn’t be able to regenerate now that the Spirit had found another host.

“Do you understand me, Lily? Are you in perfect clarity of what I am saying to you? Answer quickly.”

“Yes.” Her mouth made a disconnect from her brain. She fantasized about setting him on fire. The gruesome imagery made her smile.

His hand released her with a shove. He watched Lily’s maniacal grin grow wider. “Thoughts of me I presume?”

“How’d you know?”

“Oh, instinct has a way. I imagine your thoughts are very much the same as mine were. Unlike me, you didn’t get a bloody nose.”

Lily turned to him in surprise. “You were thinking of hurting me?”

“Who wouldn’t?”

“What were you thinking?”

“Why should I tell you? Won’t your little feelings get hurt again?”

“Try me.”

Julian resumed driving. “I imagined crushing your ankle with the car door.” He glanced at her to assess her reaction. Her feline smirk intrigued him.

“Amateur.”

“What did you imagine?” Pique made his words abrupt.

“Setting you on fire.”

He frowned in distaste. “I shudder the thought.”

“Yeah, you weren’t shuddering in my mind.” Bliss overtook Lily again. “You were most definitely screaming in agony.”

“You sick, twisted creature. How can you be a Resurrector with such psychotic tendencies?”

Lily’s face dropped. “I’m not, remember? The Spirit’s gone. Poof. Bye-bye.”

“Sorry to disappoint you, brat, but you’re still it.”

Update 2-2-10

“How do you know?”

Julian’s smirk slipped. “I’m very intimate with the Resurrector life-cycle. It interested me to the point of obsession once.”

A jealous pang pierced. It made her feel petty and insignificant. “Sorry.”

“For what?”

Lily squirmed in her seat. She leaned towards the window, letting her finger rub the leather. The rhythmic motions allowed her to admit, “I’m sorry that they did that to you. You didn’t deserve to be…tortured…that way.”

“As opposed to what? Torture is torture, Lily. You know that.”

“No. There’s other ways to accomplish a goal without doing that.”

“Oh, my darling girl, you actually sound remorseful. I’m surprised. I would’ve thought you felt otherwise.” His devilish stare elucidated how he knew exactly how much she felt otherwise.

Lily flushed even though she didn’t catch Julian’s look. Her finger traveled back and forth much faster. “I did. I even thought about arranging for a repeat performance.”

“Hmm. That’s not bound to happen again, darling.” Although spoken gently, his words bled with righteous purpose.

“How did they get you?”

Julian neatly avoided hitting a deer by levitating it out of the way. “I thought we were talking about your Resurrector status.”

Lily’s finger paused in its important mission. Distraction took advantage. “Curiosity I guess.”

“That is a sin I know too well. As such, I cannot lead you astray.”

“No, I guess you shouldn’t. You’ve already led me too far off the path tonight.”

Julian slanted his head towards her. “Not too far I hope. Not when there’s so many miles to explore together.”

“Stop that!” she snapped, peevish at the thrill shooting through her stomach. “Stop saying things you don’t mean!”

“What makes you think I don’t mean it?”

“Be quiet.” Lily whipped her finger away from the door. She crossed her arms beneath her chest and blinked back tears.

Julian allowed silence to lurk. He continued to drive as if nothing were amiss. Yet, Lily knew he could smell her weakness and that made her want to cry even more.

We’re never going to be. I’m so stupid to even care. I should treat him as if he was Ian’s twin. I mean I would never try to get with my boyfriend’s brother. Ever.

Lily shifted. Her hands slid into her lap. The road fled before her stare. Asphalt melted into hypnotic comfort.

I just need to handle myself better. I can do this. Julian is not the only man left on the planet. I don’t need to cling to him because Ian’s gone.

“Don’t think too hard or you’re liable to have a headache.”

Despite her best efforts, Lily flinched. “I’m not stupid.”

“Really?”

She didn’t let him bait her again. Lily kept her silence.

Not to be ignored, Julian kept needling her.

“Your kind of stupidity isn’t based on lack of ability. It’s based on your lack of subtlety. You have no cunning. You don’t think before you leap. You don’t know how to cozen those who’d do you harm. You’d rather just wave your little gun or sword in their face just to save what you call honor. Your ancestors writhe in their graves—I guarantee it.”

Lily’s expression remained serene. Julian tightened his fists on the wheel. Seeing the pink roses heralding the Walker abode, he recalled his charm. “All right, brat. Here’s something for you to dwell on. Your body forced the Spirit out. You’re reaching the point of maximum capacity and She’s retreating until you can accept her back in.”

Lily’s throat bobbed in agitation.

Update 2-4-10

“Did you hear me, darling?”

“Samantha.”

“What?”

“Samantha jumped off the bridge. Her body was on fire. I saw it. I was there with my father when she did it.” Lily’s words softened in pained memory. “I always wondered how much she was hurting at that moment. Did she jump into the water hoping it would stop? Or did she know it was too late for her?”

Lily laughed in an attempt to minimize the tears rolling down her face. She wiped her cheeks and blew out a cleansing breath. “Samantha was nice. I liked her. She’d let me paint her nails. Her Trainer, Joseph, was supposed to bring me some new colors when he got back from HQ. He never came back.”

Julian’s tendencies didn’t run into sympathy. If prodded, he wouldn’t deny it had little to do with deliberate cruelty. Reason, exquisite in its simplicity, dictated much of Julian’s logic His enjoyment came from the reactions to it.

“Whether you’re a Resurrector or just another flea on this planet, you know you’re going to die. Does it really matter how it ends?”

Lily waited until he put the car in park. “Tell me something, Douglas. When your insides were being pulled out and left for the rats to eat, did it matter? I mean there’s very few things that can really kill you. You knew you were going to survive so what did it matter?”

“Following that logic, correctly by the way, it didn’t. “Julian turned towards her. “There wasn’t anything I could to stop it. I was truly caught…just like you. But like you I didn’t accept it. What did I get for my troubles? Ian. What are you going to get?”

“Fuck if I know.”

“Language.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Lily reached for the door handle only to feel Julian’s cold hand stop her. “What now?”

“I asked you a question.”

“And I answered it.”

“No, no. You became mouthy and reverted to what’s easy.”

“What do you want me to say? The truth? You asked what am I going to get. Nothing. That’s what. I’m going to get nothing. I’m going to die young. I’m never going to get married. I’m never going to have children. I’m never leaving this town. I’m never going to get see the night sky without knowing if it’s really there. I just take it—accept it—because there isn’t anything I can do about it. It’s how live my life and I hate it.”

The confession, spoken in a dry, emotionless cadence, caused him to let go.

“The closer to death you are the more you can understand creatures like me.”

Lily twisted back to him. “You did not just say that.”

“It’s true. The inevitability is what makes men like me crazed. What makes girls like you insane. I’d wish many things on you—this isn’t one of them.”

White flickered in and out of her eyes like a broken signal.

Julian smiled. He took the liberty of wiping away her last tears. “See? She’s reaching out to you. You’ll be back to your freakish ways before morning.”

“I don’t understand you. You’re nothing like you were yesterday. You’re actually trying to make me feel better.”

“And I’ll be something else tomorrow. Remember that.”

Lily damned her fear and reached out. Her fingers glided down his cheek. She half-expected him to break them. “I wanted you so badly. You were the only person who made me feel alive.”

“It wasn’t me.” His words lacked their usual venom.

“No, it wasn’t. Maybe one day it will be though.”

Update 2-23-10

She smiled with gentle triumph, knowing for once she rendered Julian mute. Lily opened the door and stepped out. Her feet crunched on gravel. The sound, a part of her life since forever, brought reassurance the night hadn’t.

“I know you don’t care much for proprietary but I do.”

“What now?”

“What now is you’re not going to show up on your mother’s front porch with only a man’s dress shirt on and this shawl.”

“She’s seen me in worse.”

“And you feel no shame?”

“None. Besides, as long as I’m not naked it can’t be all bad.”

“Not naked?” Julian kept his hand on her lower back even as she wiggled to get away. “You’ve shown up naked?”

“Yup. Did it just last week.”

Julian stopped Lily from going up the porch. “Naked. You?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because.” She dug in her purse, distracted enough to not notice the fine rage brewing beneath his urbane tone. “Where’s my keys? I know they’re in here somewhere.”

“Were you alone?”

“No.”

“Were you with a man?”

“If that’s what we’re calling ‘em these days.”

“Who?”

“Ha! Got you, you little bastard.” Lily fisted her keys and pulled them out with a flourish. “Hide from me, will you? Ha!”

“Answer me.”

“Answer what?” She stepped onto the first porch step, bored with the conversation, uncomfortable with him, and ready to go inside. Julian lifted her up, one hand over her shrieking mouth and walked them to the side of the house. He set Lily down very, very carefully. His palm still pressed against her mouth. Julian leaned forward, lips hovering precisely where hers were.

“Who were you with, Lily? Who saw you naked? Give me a name. I need to know.”

His honeyed voice oozed into Lily. It sought to make her obey. Lily had never suffered the vampiric compulsion until now. Her eyes drooped. She wondered why it was so important for him to meddle in her business. It’s not like he cared about her. He couldn’t. Not and be sleeping with someone else.

“His name. You want me to know, don’t you? Don’t you want to think I’m jealous? I am, you know.”

Lily’s head slammed back against the siding. Pain exploded in her brain, brutally breaking Julian’s hold over her. Part of Lily felt disgusted at how much it hurt. All things considered it was only a tiny tap, but enough to remind her of her weakened state.

“You stupid girl! Are you trying to knock yourself out? How am I supposed to bring you to your mother if you’re unconscious?”

Lily brushed off his touch. She concentrated on taking deep, even breaths in order to keep her guts where they belonged.

“Puke on my shoes and I’ll make you clean them—with your tongue.”

“Shut…the…FUCK…up!” Lily leaned over and spit. Saliva flooded her mouth again. “This is your fault! Jesus! What is your problem? What the hell did you do back there? I’ve never, ever fallen to compulsion. Ever! And you…you LIE to me for whatever reason crawls in that space you call a brain…and it actually works…kinda.”

“Lie? What lie? I don’t have to lie to you!”

Lily waved him to silence, not expecting Julian to comply. One could only hope.

“Little girl, you don’t dismiss me as you would a lackey.” Julian gripped her head, forcing her to meet his inhuman stare. “You almost fell to me.”

“No.”

“Defiance isn’t very smart right now.”

“Neither is talking to you.”

Julian grinned that terrible grin of his. It promised retribution. “Who saw you naked?”

“A better question is who hasn’t?” The throbbing in her head abated. She almost felt normal.

“Your humor is in poor taste.”

“It would be if it was humor.”

“Don’t make me ask it again.” He tightened his fists in her hair and yanked in warning.

Lily smirked. “What is it with you guys? So what if I hate wearing clothes? Big deal. My parts are no different than any other girls. Being naked is natural. Covering it all up is unnatural.”

“You mean to tell me others have seen you without your clothes on?”

“That’s what I’ve been trying to say.”

Julian let go of her. He stood still, no more animate than the trees behind them. Lily’s neck prickled with wariness. Perhaps she had pushed too far?

Update 2-24-10

“How’s your head?”

“Good enough.” Whatever it was she expected him to say this wasn’t even close.

“Do you still feel nauseous?”

“No.” The urge to sidle back to the front of the house settled heavily upon her limbs. Pride kept her in place. Just barely.

“No sickness of any kind?”

Lily shook her head, chin tilted back in its usual defiant angle.

“Are you very, very sure?”

“Yes.”

“Yes?” Julian’s tone, even in cadence and dead without its usual passion, curled about her throat. “Hmm. I’m simply inquiring because something must be wrong with you, little girl.”

“I’m as fine as fine can be—all things considered.”

“No. You’re not.” Julian regarded her from a severe angle “You must’ve hit your head one too many times tonight for you to speak so freely. A lady would never admit she’d let anyone other than her lover see her without clothes. So let me ask again. Are you suffering from any unusual pains?”

Yes. You. You are what pains me. I can’t look at you anymore without hurting.

Lily almost clapped her hands over her treacherous mouth, afraid she had spoken out loud. She fell back on familiar anger. “Since have I ever claimed to be a lady? Besides, you don’t care!”

“I do care. I care very much.”

“Why?”

“You’d let complete strangers see what’s under there but you wouldn’t take your clothes off for me. Why?”

“Don’t…stop playing with me!”

“Don’t stop playing with you?”

“That’s not what I said.”

“I know exactly what you said. And no. I will not stop. I won’t stop until it pleases me. Right now it would please me for you to know this.” His words ended abruptly, sharp as the gravel shifting beneath her feet. Julian flashed behind Lily. One arm twined about her waist, lifting her without effort, while the other played with the torn hem of his shirt. “Lily?”

She tensed. Her answer came out as a whisper. “What?”

“Don’t ever, shall you ever, let anyone see anything above this knee.” He tapped the skin once. “Do you understand? Say you do, Lily.”

Fear and longing fueled with fatigue made a mess of her control. Her skin burned. His ghost touch titillated her. She wondered what he would do if she told him to go to hell.

“You’re afraid of me. You should be.”

“I’m not completely afraid of you, Douglas. It’s just that you confuse me.”

Julian laughed. It was rich with humor. Lily relaxed in his hold, unreasonably pleased to inspire such a reaction.

“Yes?”

“Yes what?”

“Do you understand?”

“Douglas, you know I can’t agree to that. To do that would be to say you own me.” Lily wiggled until he turned her around. She placed her palms on his shoulders with impersonal deliberation. “And you look like you’ve got more than your hands full already.”

“You forget I already own you.” Julian bounced her on his arm like an infant. “And it looks like I’m not the only one who’s jealous.”

“You don’t own me and why bother saying anything else about the rest? We both know the answer.”

“You admit it? I’m shocked.”

“Maybe I’m just too tired right now to fight.”

He brought her forward. The tip of his nose caressed hers. “Just remember I’ll be here for you when you’re too tired at the end, Lily.”

His declaration almost sounded romantic. Perhaps she shouldn’t complain. Maybe this was the best she was going to get in life.

Screw that. If I can’t get exactly what I want then I don’t want anything.

“You don’t let up. I’m not sure if I like this new side of you.”

“That’s too bad.” Julian jostled her again before setting Lily down. He guided her back to the porch, considerate of her heeled steps. When he reached out to ring the doorbell, Lily slapped her hand over his.

“What are you doing?”

“Why do you always ask me so many questions?”

“Because you do stupid shit that’s why.”

Julian sighed. He turned neatly on his heel and bent over her. “I’m going to deposit you with your mother. To do that I’m going to have to see her. I’m going to ring the doorbell so she’ll assume she has company and won’t be caught in a potentially embarrassing situation. Do you understand me now?”

Update 3-8-10

“Look, I don’t want you to do this. My mama…she won’t understand. It’s better for you to just leave. Okay?”

“I am a man of principles.” Lily’s teeth crunched like a bug underfoot. “There’s nothing to be afraid of, Lily. I will not disrespect your mother by leaving you in this condition.”

“Disrespect my mother? You’re the reason why I’m in this condition! I wouldn’t look like this if it wasn’t for you!”

“Who told you to run away? Who told you to fall down and get blood all over the place?”

Lily slapped his arm in a burst of indignation. “I wouldn’t have to run away if you never took me there in the first place! Argh! Just go. Go back to Nicole. Leave me alone and go!” She punctuated her commands with a push.

Julian crushed both of her hands in one of his. “No. Now be quiet before I take you over my knee.” He rang the door. Lily choked on her outrage and he smiled.

Rachel appeared after Lily kicked his shin. “Baby! Why are ringing the bell…oh. Hello, Lord Douglas.” She pushed the screen door open in welcome. “I’m surprised to see you here with Lily. I thought…” Her words trailed off with an awkward lilt.

“Good evening, Mrs. Walker.” He bowed his head fully before continuing. “I apologize for not coming to visit sooner but as I’m sure you’ve heard things have been somewhat trying for me recently.”

“Yes. I have heard. I’m sorry for not sending you a note earlier with my condolences. I had no idea about Ian or your condition.”

“There’s no need to apologize. If anything, it is I who must beg forgiveness. I should’ve come to call much earlier than this.”

“It’s fine. Really. Oh! Please, please come in.” Rachel ushered the much larger man and her daughter in with a flutter of her small hand. “Have a seat, Lord Douglas. Would you like a drink? I have wine, vodka, and rum.”

“Thank you but that’s not necessary.” Julian settled his place on the loveseat and maneuvered Lily to sit next to him by a discreet yank of the hand. “I’m afraid apologies are in order tonight, Mrs. Walker.”

“How so?” Rachel’s dark gaze flitted over her daughter. The impassive little face belied its lack of emotion. The patched together ensemble would’ve put many a mother into frothing fits of outrage. However, as Lily declared, Rachel was used to seeing her daughter come home in far more worse circumstances.

“I met with your daughter tonight. We argued quite a bit.”

“Is that why she looks like she’s been in a fight?”

He mirrored her wry smile. “Yes and no. I invited Lily to my home, Mrs. Walker. I exposed her to rather adult activities.”

“I see.” Rachel erect carriage curved into her chair.

“Mama! It’s not what you think!”

“Lily, please be quiet. This is a matter between myself and your mother.”

“No!” She yanked her arm from beneath his. She stood up and rushed over to her mother. “I didn’t do anything dirty with him, Mama. I swear!”

Rachel’s lips curved with maternal love. “Oh, baby. You don’t have to explain to me. You’re big enough to make your own decisions.”

“Mama, I didn’t do anything!” She dropped to her knees before her mother. “He’s making you think things that aren’t true!”

“Is that so, Lord Douglas?”

“No, Mrs. Walker. It isn’t. I have transgressed against your house grievously. I want to make reparations.”

“Shut up you ass!”

“Lily! You will not speak like that in my presence or to a guest of ours! Apologize. Now!”

Lily swallowed back a burning rush of humiliating tears. She stood up, faced the emotionless vampire, and bowed. “Forgive me for my rudeness.”

“Forgiven.” Julian turned his attention to Lily’s mother. “I stand by my honor, Mrs. Walker. I compromised your daughter tonight. As such, I want to make my intentions known to you.”

“Lord Douglas, I appreciate the concern. Lily is an adult and while my only child—one I love beyond myself—she has the right to make her own decisions. I have no right to dictate who she can and cannot see.” A poignant smile passed. “It wasn’t that long ago when I was very much in the same circumstances as her. I know how it can be.”

“Your progressive views gives me much faith. However, I am a man of my time. As such, I am asking your formal permission to call upon, Lily.”

Update 3-13-10

“What? No. You’re not serious. After the way you’ve treated me tonight. Crazy. You can leave now.”

“Lily.” Her spoken name halted her in mid-stride. She stood there, stretched between her adored mother and her un-adored foe. “Sit down.”

Julian patted the seat beside him, his smile dripping with charm. He waited until she reluctantly sat before clasping her hand in his.

“Lord Douglas, if you wish me to take your suit in consideration then I will. However, I need you to answer me honestly. Are you prepared to do so?”

It unnerved Lily to hear her mother speak so formally. It seemed very much at odds with the woman who had flashed her just this morning.

“I am. Please allow me to allay your concerns in any way you deem respectable.”

“Very well. I know Lily and Ian were very close. I also know you two are not. You can imagine this request is unusual from my standpoint?”

“You are correct. I haven’t been cordial to Lily. I even took out an Order of Protection against her.” His devilish smirk slid over Lily for a moment.

“Really? Is this why my daughter dragged herself home last night covered in blood?”

“Yes.” He faced Rachel fully. His eyes were twin points of unerring contrition. “I planned on killing her, Mrs. Walker.”

Rachel blanched. Lily leaped to her feet only to have Julian yank her back down. “Forgive me on two counts, Mrs. Walker. The first being I’ve chosen to use force with your daughter just now. As you’re aware my…species…is different from yours. We uphold our Elders implicitly and as you’ve instructed Lily to sit I am not willing to allow her to disobey.”

Julian continued speaking only after Rachel nodded in mute acceptance. Lily’s whispered curse went unheeded by both.

“Second and most important, I beg forgiveness for my hideous purpose. I tell you bluntly of my previous intentions to kill Lily because I believe we can only move forward with honesty. I detest lies, Mrs. Walker. I refuse to sully myself or those of my acquaintance with their existence.”

Rachel swallowed her initial reactions. She sat quiet until composure softened the hard glint in her stare and pinched set of her mouth. She shut Lily out; not sparing her a sliver of sight even though her child strained at the chains of courtesy.

“You wanted to kill my daughter last night.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I’ve hated what Lily has represented for me. I was…maddened…to say the least. I remembered every moment that had passed between us. I loathed being under her thumb and suffering the emasculation she served daily.”

“I never did that. I loved you!”

Ian regarded her shattered composure. His voice softened. “Not me. You couldn’t love me because neither of us were real.”

Lily’s mouth quivered. Her eyes looked overlarge for her small face.

“Lord Douglas?”

He squeezed her hand once. Julian responded, “Yes, Mrs. Walker?”

“What now? You wanted to murder my daughter last night. Tonight you don’t. What will tomorrow bring?”

TBC…

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