-Julie-
Viktor and Vincent bickered and fought when we got home, then cried together about their dad and their uncle. It was really strange, watching them together like this. They've never not been at each other's throats, trying to hurt one another as much as possible. They were actually coinciding like brothers.
They had both fallen asleep hours ago, but I stayed up, reading spell books. I was a very fast reader in this demon language now. I wanted to know more and more spells to help protect everyone, instead of them just protecting me. This entailed long all nighters while also trying to finish online high school classes.
"Julie, you should be asleep."
I looked up from my book. Vincent stood in the doorway with a tank top and lounge pants on. When he saw I wasn't going to sleep, he sat across from me at the kitchen table. Something about him seemed different. I wouldn't blame him, with all the loss he has endured the past few days. He kept his eyes locked with mine and I eventually blushed and looked away. "What's with the look?"
He looked down as well, as if he didn't realize he was doing it. "Your eye color is even more fascinating now than before."
I only nodded. I wished my eyes were just normal sometimes. I was getting tired of all the power and attention I get from them. A silence lapsed between us and I closed my book. I may have been staring at the page, but I wasn't getting any farther into it. "Vincent," I mumbled.
"Hm?" he asked, leaning on his elbows on the table.
"What did you want to tell me in the elf realm?" I asked quietly. I had an idea of what he wanted to say. I had been thinking about it since we got home that night. I just really wanted him to say it to me himself.
He took a breath in and looked away from me, but didn't speak.
"You know my eighteenth birthday is tomorrow," I urged.
He grinned and looked at the clock. "You mean today? It's one in the morning."
When I only gave him a look, he sobered and gained a very serious look in his grey eyes. "Julie, I love you."
I crossed my arms. "It's about time you said it!" I teased.
He laughed softly and held out his hands for me to hold. I took them without hesitation and smiled. "I love you too Vincent."
Even though he smiled and looked happy in this moment, there was still an underlying, deep rooted sadness from the loss of his family members. This entire ordeal has changed him. He looked older, not in any physical way, but it was how he measured each movement now, the look in his eyes. It hurt me to see him like this. But this could mean he was stronger, less careless. I hoped it wasn't something that would change him too drastically. Like I said, I love the Vincent now. And I didn't want him to change.
But change wasn't the only thing we had to be weary of. Jerimoth was still out there, and Vincent couldn't be slow like he was last time. We had a lot of work to do. This wasn't the end of something, this was only the beginning.
