Devil's Descent II update 2-23-10
Estimated reading time: 4 – 6 minutes
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 propriety 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?
Since this isn’t what you imagined, I advise you to flush the images right out...
You think, Lily?!
Ok, now I’m scared for her, but I do love it when she manages to push his buttons…
We’ll get another update soon? Pretty please?
Claudia,
I LOVE Julian and Lily! They both seem very real — I think most of us have been in the position Lily’s in: defiant, willing to do almost anything to stay defiant, but an inkling that everything is sort of rolling away from our control…
The characters are lovely, please update again soon! Thanks for the daily dose of wonderful!
-Louisa
Dina — I swear all these two do is snipe at each other.
It’s fun to write though. You know I was going to work on Vicious Bliss today but I decided to do Devil’s Descent just for you!
Louisa — I’m so glad you love these two!
Yes! You’re absolutely right about your assessment of Lily. She’s trying to hold onto some semblance of control but it is fading fast.
I feel so honoured!
Really, their bickering is so refreshing. They can get really vicious with one another and then philosophical within a minute- I love the unpredictability of their exchange!
Yet with every sentence the bond seems stronger… I gotta tell you, it took me some time to accept what he did with Nicole, although his twisted kind of logic seems … logical. I mean accept, not forgive, but I still can’t seem to be able to hate the guy. You can’t imagine what kind of accomplishment that is. I usually want to do some very painful things to guys who cheat – it’s so damn disrespectful and painful… But I do like Julian! If that makes any sense
Keep the updates coming!
Also a question about VB – I believe you’re trying to explain the background story and the feelings that plague Katherine. I like the feel of the story so far but I’ve been thinking so much lately about Azer
Do you plan bringing him into the story soon? 
Dear Dina:
You’ve stuck with me throughout the past year so it was the very least I could do.
Lily & Julian are very unpredictable. I’ve given up trying to gauge what’s going to come out of their exchange when I sit down to write. I see the Nicole arc and while I know it’s going to rankle I hope by the end of it you feel what I hope to accomplish. Vague, I know.
Julian has a way of turning the acceptable upside down. His logic coupled with his penchant for emotion cruelty is a challenging place to go.
VB–Is Azer coming into this? I can’t say 100% sure but if he does come in it won’t be until the very end. I’m having a bitch of a time with it. I don’t know if I’ve painted myself into a corner or what. I see the DeMontier history and I can’t wait to write it. I’m confused on how Azer fits in exactly and I think that’s why I’m having trouble writing. It’s a control thing—I’m sure. ;P
Well, I trust you with DD. I’m sure you know what you’re doing, and (un)fortunately, no matter what Julian does, I have a soft spot for him.
About VB – don’t get me started on control. I know exactly what you mean. But you don’t have to renounce it, just relax and try not to think too hard. The solution/answer will come by when you least expect it. It happened with my novel – I kept my guy straight on his dubious road and now 10 pages before the end he does something out if the blue and I’m WTF! You do it now? At the end?
I have a soft spot for him too. We should have “Julian’s Fool” T-Shirts or something far more clever.
Thank you for the VB advice. I’ve been putting it to good use the past week. Your character pulled a fast one you, huh? They have a way of making us believe they’re real and not under our control, don’t they?