Estimated reading time: 3 – 4 minutes
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.
I’ve missed Julian & Lily as well. I’m...
4 Comments
I really liked this scene –
The part about the dress was so surreal (and real at the same time if you know what I mean).
Well, this chapter is certainly long but what a roller coaster
Amazing. I was really hating him at one point and now again… very well done!
Don’t worry so much about the length. Content is always more important than form If the characters demand it …
Can’t wait for more
The dress–I know! I wondered how I was going to work it into the chapter. It’s very surreal-I agree. Kind of like being the middle of a battlefield and flipping out because someone dripped blood on your uniform.
That’s Lily for you!
Julian inspires this love and hate all because he operates on his own rules. He’s not human, never has been, and so that gives me so much to explore in regards to his morals and beliefs.
Thanks for your awesome support about the length. This sucker is huge and doesn’t want to end.
I just posted a Grim Alice update and would like to do a Suicide Doll one as well. Should probably do a Vicious Bliss one too. THEN Devil’s Descent.
How much do you want to bet DD will force its way to the front of the line?
I was just thinking how I wouldn’t mind another update of Suicide Doll… But if DD comes before that one– I wouldn’t mind in the least
Hey Dina!
I’ve actually begun work on Suicide Doll so I’m crossing my fingers to at least have one little update for that one. DD–oh, that one is clamoring to keep going. Don’t be surprised if that one pops in first.