𝑨𝒍𝒑𝒉𝒂 𝑳𝒐𝒈𝒂𝒏

𝕿𝖍𝖎𝖗𝖙𝖞

ᑕᗩIᑎ

𝗟𝗢𝗚𝗔𝗡 𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 to the room and I bit my bottom lip. I didn't listen at first but midway into it I couldn't help myself. Logan provoked Julian, something I didn't know could happen. Julian always seems so nonchalant. He's flirtatious, sure, but he's a secretive and careful guy.

Did Logan's assumption of Julian being sick...true? He can't be, he's a Warlock. He's been here for decades.

"Can I go?" I ask carefully.

"Yeah."

I left the room in a hurry, but I didn't go to check on Julian. I felt bad about what happened but I don't know, I feel conflicted. I feel misconstrued. I just went to the back of the yard where the pool is and I stayed there the entire day.

I just listened to the water, not having a heartbeat too listen to anymore. Even if I was still head over heels for Jenny...I don't have ears like Logan. I don't even have Tana to talk to, my own damn sister.

I tried not to make sound as I cried silently. I'm stressed out, confused, and I feel bad for Julian. I felt his rage, I heard it in his voice how offended he was. How angry and hurt he sounded.

I want more answers. I looked at the sky. It's dark and cold out—the bit of fog casting as a blanket on the surface of the water.

"I thought you would check up on me."

My heart stopped before it eased upon hearing his voice. I turned around, looking at Julian who's leaning against the frame of the glass door, pipe in hand and is surprisingly wearing regular clothing.

A white T and grey sweats with a pat of socks. His hair is tied up with black chopsticks. He smells of faint alcohol and sugar, but I know it's not sugar. It's medicine. And where the hell did he get alcohol? Is there a cellar I don't know about?

Julian caught me staring at the pipe in his hand and tapped the tip of it with his finger before cruising over. His feet barely make sound. It's impressive to the say the least. He took a seat next to me and exhaled. I could see the color of the smoke now. It's pink.

Julian propped his leg up, resting his head onto his knee. He looks at me and smiles. He's still upset about earlier.

"Hal antahayt min altahdiqi? (Are you done staring?) Hal ladayk 'ayu 'asyilat hawl ma hadath fi waqt sabiqin? (Do you have any questions about what happened earlier?) Bialtaakid kunt tastamie (Surely you were listening.)" He mutters. His Arabic is smooth like milk and deeper.

"Hal hu mustayqazun? (Is he awake?)" He smirks a nod. I notice his eyes drifting to my lips before looking me back in my eyes. His smirk faded.

"Ask me." He responds almost quietly.

"M-madha qal wa'athar ghadabaka? (W-What did he say that made you angry?)" Again that look returned. A look of sadness. Julian raised his head, took a pull from his pipe and looked at the sky.

"Laqad daeani bialeahira (He called me a whore.)" He whispers. "Bayt daearat lilrijal (A brothel for men.)"

"That's why?" He nods to confirm. I found it hard to believe that being called a man whore was why Julian finally snapped. "I don't believe you. Hadha li'anah wasfak bialmaridi, 'alays kadhalika? lihadha alsabab tadakhun aldawa' alkhasi bika. qult dhalik binafsik 'iinah dawa'u. (That's because he called you sick, right? That's why you smoke your medicine. You said it yourself, it's medicine.)"

He grins, his smile turned to a frown. Julian continued in Arabic to shield our conversation from Logan. It was a smart idea choosing a language Logan doesn't know. "I'm not sick. I don't have any sort of disease. I don't bend over for any and every pretty face. In case you weren't listening." He winks. He then exhales. "His statement just reminded me of an old friend is all."

"Which statement?" I push.

"I already told you, he called me a man whore. The first and last person to ever call me such an insult was one I had been in love with. He's dead right now though."

Oh.

Julian exhaled a breath. "He was a prince, quiet, tall, smart. It was the year 1867 when we met. For a while we roamed but...he was throned to marry a woman. I'm a Warlock...I didn't want it to happen so I ruined the wedding. Just a simple spell...just a simple love spell. One that backfired horrendously."

I changed postures, crossing my legs as I gazed at the water.

"We argued that day." He says quietly. "Right there at the alter. The spell didn't work of course but he knew what I was up to considering he was a Warlock himself. His face was red and fixed in anger and disgust. "You're a brothel for men, you drink and lie with them all. I will never...ever...let faggotry taint my family name. Burn him..."

I looked at him and noticed a tear fall from his eye. Then more, and more. "So I killed him. I set that fucker on fire instead. The rumor is true...never cross a Warlock...else you will die."

I was stunned. "What I smoke is medicine. It's to keep me calm and at stay grounded. If I miss more than three days, I drink, I lose myself, I drink some more. It's like a stabilizer."

I've didn't know what to say so, subconsciously, I just dried his tears. Julian looked my way and I pulled back. His eyes lingered in mine for a long time.

Slowly but surely I moved. I drew in closer and closer and finally our lips met. The first time we kissed I was nervous, I'm nervous now but...I want to kiss him. It's strange but it feels right.

Julian shoved me onto the pavement, my hand splashing the water as he straddled me. He was quick.

He spoke English this time. "I regretted killing him...but I was heartbroken and angry. I barely slept, didn't eat." He cuffed my crotch and I inhaled sharply. "I like you Cain...break my heart...and I will kill you."

"Okay." It was a quick response. "I won't. I owe you remember?" His eyes searched mine as if trying to catch me in a lie. "I owe you."

He removed his hand and kissed me. I kissed him back, water draining down the side of my arm. I like him...like Logan likes Lolita and Tana does him and how I did Jenny. If I dream he spelled me I'll kill him. But it feels real. Ever since I bit into that apple I wanted more of that taste.

And I'm finally going to get it.

𓃒

THAT'S GAY