After the End (Julian and MC)

16

I wake up to the sound of muffled speech, groaning and slowly sitting up to see Nadia speaking with Asra and Portia. Aisha and Salim are nearby, nodding their agreement to whatever it is that the Countess has said. Julian stirs beside me, sitting up and slipping his fingers through his curly auburn hair. I yawn before I smile comfortingly at him, stroking his cheek with the backs of my fingers.

"Ah, MC, good, you've awakened." Nadia clears her throat as she walks over to us, twirling a lock of her purple hair as she stops beside the bed. "Your little companion was growing anxious." She informs me, indicating to Scout as the dog paces up and down the room.

"Arrowr?" Scout lifts her head to look at us, and seems visibly relieved as she walks over to me.

I smile at her as I stretch and slowly crawl out of bed, gently patting her head. "Ready to go, hmm?" I ask her, my smile widening when she nods enthusiastically. When I turn to Julian, he's already up and ready, seeming much more refreshed.

He smiles down at me, walking around the bed and slipping an arm around my waist. "The sooner we beat the devil, the sooner we can relax properly." Julian reminds me, kissing the side of my head and smiling into my skin.

Nadia straightens her posture and turns to Portia, smiling gently at the handmaiden. "Are we all well rested? I, for one, am ready to take back my city." She comments, resting her hand over her heart and turning to look at Asra.

Asra, Salim and Aisha nod, and Scout bounds over to the door. Julian and I follow her, lacing our fingers together as we walk in front of Nadia and Portia. I can feel the tremble in Julian's hand, and I rest my free hand on his arm and gently squeeze him. I can tell he's nervous, and when I look up at him, I can see his throat bob when he swallows hard and frowns.

"Hey, it's alright." I whisper to him, smiling when he turns his head to look at me. "We'll bind the Devil, and we'll fix Vesuvia, and then we'll have a life together. I promise."

Julian returns my smile and bends his head to let me kiss his cheek, his hand beginning to still as he relaxes. "I know we will." He nods, walking as close as he can to me without actually walking on top of me.

We follow Scout out of Nadia's room and back down the hall, and I find myself growing tense as we walk towards the Devil. Surely he knows by now that we're coming for him? Why has he only sent Valdemar and Vulgora after us? Does he not see us as a threat? What if we can't beat him? What if I'm overestimating myself? No, no I have to be able to beat him, failure isn't an option. If we lose, the Devil will destroy us. We have to beat him, we don't have a choice.

Julian senses my growing unease, and releases my hand to slip his arm around my waist. "Just think how shocked the Devil's going to be when we kick his ass, think he'll beg for mercy?" He grins, his grey eyes shining with humour.

His words bring a smile to my face, and I rest my head against him. "I don't think so, I think he'll be too shocked to say much of anything." I reply, lifting my head to meet his eyes.

Julian's confidence, even if it's fake, makes me feel better. I take a deep breath as the tension in my shoulders eases, and Julian nods in satisfaction. We walk in silence for a long while before we reach the main ballroom, where Scout stops and turns to us.

She stares at me and points at the door, and I swallow hard when I realise why she's stopped.

"In there?" I ask, frowning when Scout nods.

Aisha and Salim turn to me, linking their arms with Asra's. "Ready when you are." Asra nods, smiling reassuringly at me.

I nod back and turn to Nadia, who places her hand on Portia's shoulder and nods her agreement. Finally, I lift my head to Julian, who nods and kisses me sweetly before lacing our fingers together. I can still see the fear behind his eyes, but the determination that shields it is enough to give me strength. I march forward, walking past Asra and his parents, and thrusting open the door to meet the Devil.