Air and Darkness: A Blackstairs fan fiction, Fan made third book

Chapter 26

What happened then, was a blur to Cristina. Annabel was standing there, on the bridge, a thundering storm. They stood around her--her, Mark (*blush*) Julian, Emma, and her newest companion. They were scarred, and battered and bruised, but every bit determined. Julian had permanent snarl on his face, and Mark looked like he was going to bring heaven down for Julian. Emma looked scared, and that stubborn determination was visible in her eyes, but Cristina knew there was something wrong with her best friend. Something was always wrong when she avoided looking at Julian--if things were good, they couldn't keep their eyes of each other--or hands, She thought. And then Annabel disappeared. Well, she dived into the Thames.  And it sucked her up in a whirlpool--and then there were demons, and she suddenly had her butter knives flying through the air, hitting their marks. 

"Cristina!" Mark's voice was urgent. And suddenly, something scraped the back of neck, and that something fell down dead in front of her. Mark pulled out his knife out of the creature's back, and turned his deep ocean blue eyes to her. His white blond hair was ruffed by the wind, and his face was dirty--but he was still striking. She blinked away those thoughts, as Mark's hand grazed her neck. "Are you okay?" His eyes were concerned, and she fought the urge to lean into him. She wasn't the one who needed saving right now. And they heard the scream. No. Screams--and one almost made her heart stop. Julian had talent, she would give him that. And he had managed to stab someone straight in the thigh. But, that someone was very much a shadow-hunter. The dark haired boy groaned in pain, as his crumpled. Julian froze as heard a scream from behind them. Emma was crumpled on the ground bleeding. Both dark haired boys turned their gazes to her. A demon stood behind her, and there was noway they would make it there. It aimed for her heart--but she rolled over and it hit her shoulders hard. She let out a shriek of pain. Cristina lurched forward, to shield her, as Julian viciously stabbed the creature. Emma struggled to get up, stumbling over to the boy, who was bleeding hard as well. She couldn't read his lips, as he threw something at Emma, and jumped into the Thames. 

And then, Emma crumpled, unconscious, in a pool of blood. And Cristina rushed to her side, as Julian picked her up, like a broken paper doll, letting her blood stain his shirt. There wasn't fear in his eyes. No, it was just rage.

*******

Emma awoke to her whole body aching ferociously. Her shoulder was too painful to move, and there was an excruciating stinging on her leg. She was in a hotel room, and the door opened, and her mind thought, Jake!--when she saw the dark curls appear through the doorway. And she realized, with a terrible feeling--she hadn't even recognized her parabatai, his footsteps, his curls, the sound of his breathing--she'd almost...forgotten him. The memories came flooding back, the battle, the blood--her injuries, Jake and Julian. Julian was hurting Jake. And he hurt her. She'd never thought Julian would hurt her. But it wasn't on purpose, she reminded herself. He's still my Julian. But she barely recognized her parabatai when he strode in to her--someone's, room. He looked like the world's Julian, the one he wanted the world to see--tough, invincible, emotion less--respected. Fear and respect are two different things, she wanted to believe that so much. His bloodshot eyes were clouded, with misery, fear, pain, and anger.

"Jules." The childhood nickname slid of her lips before she could catch herself. Julian winced, as he came closer, his eyes scanning her calculatingly.

"Jules? That was a long time ago, why can't you forget it. I'm not a kid, and you're not a kid, Emma." Emma stiffened at his harshness. He softened a little bit, sitting on the bed. His hand slowly reached out, caressing her cheek, as if t check it was real. She touched his wrist, were the glittering shards of her sea glass bracelet was. She knew his skin by heart, but something didn't feel right. Where was that hot, burning sensation that came every time they touched? Or the ecstatic beating of her heart?

"Julian," she whispered. "What have we done?"

He chuckled humorlessly. "Why does it matter? We're in cage, with the key thrown away--out hearts taken away from us--" His eyes were welling up. Emma forgot the events of the past week, and let herself comfort him. She pulled him to her, stroking his hair.

"Livvy didn't deserve any of this, and you don't deserve the blame--Livvy never gave up, until the end, but er still have time, to set things right, the right way." The sounds he was making was heartbreaking, "Jules, fine, they threw away the key to the cage, our cage--but we can forge a new one--we'll fight back, and who cares if we break the rules, we've already broke a few important ones." Julian seemed to calm down, and she pulled away, to see his face, tear streaked, but determined--her Jules--her Julian. Her everything. "Did my pep talk work? " She whispered, and received a small smile from Julian.

"And I though that was my thing," His voice was low. Emma waited for her heartbeat to start speeding up. It didn't.

"Your pep talks more or less intimidate people to start trying." Emma frowned at her lack of emotion. Of course, that was the wrong thing to say--the moment shattered.

"I'm terrifying, I'm ruthless. Its who I am--I'll protect my family--and you, you're all that matters--but my stone heart still craves like a human's." She didn't know if it was either regret, or desire she heard in his voice.

"No, Julian--you're you, no one ever sees you, because you're afraid to show that you care, that you love--love is weakness, but it is also strength. I see you, I love you, because you're the most selfless, strong person I've ever met--you deserve everything good in the world--I love you more that words can describe--I need you more than the air I breathe, Julian. Why don't you understand that, I love you?--" She was practically speaking for her heart. Julian's blue green eyes were cold, with sorrow--and betrayal.

"Because you left me, you threw me away," his voice was hoarse. "You lied, and you betrayed me." And then he pulled something out of his pocket. "I love you, I always will--but don't lie to me ever again. So, tell me Emma--what were you doing, and who is he, and what is this?"

Emma felt the blood drain from her body, as she stared down at the small acorn on Julian's calloused hands.