Chapter 12
Valac
Valac waited eagerly in the darkness for Julian to join him. When he appeared, his living room took shape around them. The space was unnaturally dark, like the power on the block had gone out. The furniture were discombobulated lumps of shadow around them.
Julian gasped quietly as he met Valac’s glowing eyes in the darkness.
Valac sensed no fear from the human. Something like excitement danced in Julian’s gaze as he approached, reaching out for him.
Valac threaded their fingers together, drawing him closer, and Julian blinked as awareness returned to him, followed by a bright smile that warmed Valac from within.
“Valac.”
“My jewel.”
The darkened room around them went hazy, forgotten as they focused on each other.
“You took some time to fall asleep tonight,” Valac said. “Are you well?”
“Yeah, well enough. I just had a long day. I’m a little paranoid, checking over my shoulder at random times and studying every dark SUV that goes by. Nothing’s happened, but I never really feel like I can rest, if that makes sense.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“But I wanted to thank you again for going to the Sentinels for me. That’s given me more peace of mind than I’ve had in weeks. You gave me a little piece of my sanity back.”
Valac puffed up with pride. He would do that and more. Astaroth was deep in Hell, but Valac would reach him soon. When he returned, Julian would never know that kind of helplessness again.
“That pleases me,” he rumbled. “I only wish I could do more.”
Julian’s mouth curled with pleasure. “Well, you could take my mind off my daytime problems. Let’s talk about something else for a while.”
Valac’s hand swept up and down Julian’s back, exploring the curve of his spine with idle curiosity. “What would you like to talk about?”
Julian tilted his head thoughtfully. “You.”
Valac peered down at him. “Me?”
“Absolutely. You’re like thousands of years old, aren’t you? You must have some stories.”
He liked the idea of his human wanting to know him better. “I suppose.”
“Show me something cool, then. Take me somewhere I’ve never been before. Somewhere you went the last time you were on Earth.”
Valac hummed. “All right. Close your eyes.”
Julian obeyed, bouncing on the balls of his feet with excitement.
Valac bade the room around them to dissolve and focused on an old memory instead, constructing it around them.
Sunlight, stone, and a roaring crowd. They stood in the shade of a tunnel, but the arena was visible through the opening at the end.
“Open them.”
Julian opened his eyes. They widened as he took in their surroundings, and he gasped as he realized where they were.
“Oh my God, is this the Colosseum?”
“Yes. It was very active the last time I was on Earth. I understand it’s a relic of an ancient time now.”
Anything Julian might have said was cut off by the roar of the crowd. The cacophonous sound almost drowned out Julian’s incredulous laugh.
“Can we get closer?”
“We can. Come.” Valac tugged him out into the sunlight, which didn’t burn here in the dreamscape, and Julian looked down into the arena.
Chariots raced around the center, the horses’ pounding hooves barely audible over the roaring crowd, kicking up powdered dirt.
“This is amazing,” he said. “I can’t believe you actually saw this place with your own two eyes.”
Valac smiled. “It didn’t seem so exciting at the time, but I’m glad you like it.” Demons had been deeply influential in much of the Roman Empire’s rise and fall. It had been nothing more than a duty at the time, but looking back on it, he could see the ingenuity of mankind.
“How could it not? Look at this place!” Julian could barely take his eyes off the amphitheater around them.
Valac chuckled, low and deep. “Human lives seem so fleeting to most of us. It’s easy to dismiss your accomplishments. But you’re right, this place and many others were very impressive, especially as they built it all mostly by hand or with much cruder tools than you have in your time.”
“Exactly,” Julian said somberly. “Our lives are fleeting. That’s why it’s so important that we preserve what came before us. Honor it and learn from it.”
Julian’s jewel blue eyes were solemn, and Valac gently drew his face up, stroking his cheek with one thumb until Julian melted into the touch and smiled up at him. He was gilded in golden sunlight, perfect in every way.
“Does the sun not hurt you here?” he asked.
Valac shook his head, raising his face toward the sky. “This place is an illusion. There is no pain here.”
“Oh, that’s good.”
Valac waved a hand around them. “Would you like to stay here for a while? Or perhaps you could show me something you like now. A favored place, perhaps.”
“Besides my home?” Julian joked.
Valac smiled. “Yes. Unless you’d prefer to go back home. That would be fine, too.”
Julian bit his lip; Valac wished it was his own teeth sinking into that soft skin. “No, we can go somewhere. I’m just not sure—oh, I know!”
Julian closed his eyes now, brow furrowing as he concentrated on the memory. The sunshine faded around them, and Valac hummed under his breath as they were momentarily enveloped in welcoming darkness.
In the distance, the glittery Los Angeles skyline took shape below a blanket of stars.
They were standing on a tall rooftop, and an empty parking lot down below was dotted with palm trees.
The ocean was some distance behind them, the scent of sea salt hanging in the air.
The skyscrapers were like towering beacons made of pure starlight.
“This is beautiful,” Valac said, turning them and tucking Julian against his side. “See? Humans live such short lives, but they build such beautiful works.”
“Yeah, humans aren’t so bad sometimes,” Julian agreed, hugging his elbows.
“I found this place a few years ago when I was out on a patrol with Daniel. We had to chase an arleth demon through this old hospital building—that’s what this place is.
It led us all the way up to the roof before we finally cornered and killed it.
We stopped for a few minutes to catch our breath, and I realized you could see the whole skyline here. It was incredible.”
Valac studied Julian’s pensive profile. He was bothered. “You can tell me anything, you know.”
Julian sighed, snuggling a little closer. Valac pressed his lips together to silence the victorious roar that tried to escape, tightening his arms around Julian’s smaller body. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for this human. Nothing.
“I don’t know. The last few days have just been hard.
They haven’t done anything else, but I keep waiting for them to.
I don’t think they’re done, but I don’t know when they’ll make their move, and the waiting is the worst part.
” He blew out a breath. “And a part of me worries that it’s my old squad who’s doing all of this.
I don’t know if they’ve been ordered to, or if they’ve just decided hating me is easier.
Danny and Nic were my family. I can’t imagine they’d do something like this to me, but… I hate that I don’t know for sure.”
“It’s good that it’s been quiet, yes?” Valac ventured. “And the Sentinels agreed to add your house to their patrol route. Have you spoken with them yet? Perhaps they’ve seen something. They might be able to identify some of your assailants.”
Julian’s mouth twisted. “No, I haven’t. I don’t know when they come by my house, and I… haven’t been brave enough to go back to the skating rink where they work. I will, though. I definitely need to thank them for their help. They don’t owe me anything, and they’re still helping.”
Valac gave him a gentle squeeze. “They’re honorable men. As are you, Julian.”
He ducked his head. “I don’t know about that. But I’m trying.”
“You stood up to protect humans and demons alike from me after you saw me destroy those halflings. You have heart. You are… good.” Valac was a demon.
He didn’t get to have good things. But he would tear apart anything that tried to stand between him and Julian.
Maybe he didn’t deserve Julian, but he would have him nonetheless.
Julian’s brows drew together. “I don’t feel very good.”
Valac frowned, mirroring his expression. “Why?”
Julian raised his head, searching the horizon for answers.
“I feel like I was complicit in some of the things the guild was doing. I spied on the Sentinels. I repeated the lie that they were traitors for leaving, even though they’ve never raised a hand against the guild itself.
I followed orders I didn’t agree with.” He affected a shrug.
“I left eventually, but I’m not sure that was enough.
Maybe I should have taken a real stand while I was still on the inside.
Maybe others would’ve stood up with me. Maybe we could’ve stopped them from getting worse. ”
Valac stroked Julian’s arm gently. “Those are a lot of maybes,” he pointed out kindly.
Julian blew out a breath. “I know. Anxiety, remember? I worry about everything, even the things I can’t change.
Especially the things I can’t change.” He tilted his head back and met Valac’s violet eyes.
“Now, can we talk about something else? I’m starved for conversation during the day.
All I do is ask people how their food is and make small talk with the other employees. Tell me something. Anything.”
“Like what, my jewel?” Valac offered him an indulgent smile, one hand sliding down to thread their fingers together. He would give Julian anything he wanted.
Julian pulled Valac over to the edge of the roof, and they sat down, dangling their feet off the edge. “What exactly do behemoths do? You don’t go to Earth much, so I assume you spend most of your time in Hell? Do you have a job there?”
“We do, yes. Behemoths patrol the pathways to Hell, ensuring no souls try to escape judgment.”
Julian idly swung his dangling feet back and forth. “Is it scary down there? Hell?”