Julian #3
My lips capture his, my tongue slipping past the seam and meeting the warmth of his own.
And as soon as I taste him, as I can feel the heat of him so thoroughly and he makes that soft keening noise he’s made so many times before, I know for certain that I like him more than I’ve ever liked anyone in my entire life.
That I would risk my own life for his. That I might very well be falling right alongside him.
I kiss him senseless. In long, deep kisses and short, sweet pecks, I take his mouth.
I could do this all night, I think. I could stay right here, licking inside of him until I die.
But my luck has run out.
The door slams open, rattling against the wall, and Atlas pulls back with a gasp. With him still tucked in my arms, I peer over my shoulder and spot Atticus standing in the doorway with Cassie and Cameron standing off to the side.
“I found your little friends,” he sneers.
I watch his hazel eyes flicker to where they stand, and surprisingly, they’re not all anger. But sadness too.
“Atticus—” Cassie begins, but Atticus raises a hand to cut her off.
Then, his gaze slides to Cameron, where it softens even further, the green in his eyes shining.
“Please,” Cameron whispers.
And Cameron looks terrified. He looks on the brink of falling apart as he stands before Atticus with his hands slightly outstretched toward him.
But Atticus drops his gaze to the floor without a word, a devastating dismissal for them both, it seems.
The entire interaction is confusing, as there’s a tension I cannot name; a history I’m unaware of. But it appears I have bigger concerns, because Atticus looks to me, his eyes narrowing.
“You can’t leave well enough alone, can you, Julian?” he asks.
“Listen to me,” I plead. “I need to help.”
“You’re making things worse,” Atticus insists.
“But look!” I take my backpack off, pulling out the Black Book. “I figured some stuff out—”
“Julian,” Atlas starts.
“—and I even talked with a psychic! If you just let me help, I can continue to solve this!”
Atticus steps forward and snatches the book from my hands. “I will solve this. You three leave before I call the police.”
“But—”
“Now!” He looks between Cassie, Cameron, and me; his eyes lingering on where Cameron is staring wide-eyed at his shoes.
I look at Atlas, who’s staring at me with tear-filled eyes.
“I’m sorry,” I mouth, slinging my backpack over my shoulder as I step toward the doorway. Cassie and Cameron wait on the stairs.
If I had even the slightest belief that Atticus was bluffing about calling the police, I would fight to stay. But I genuinely think he would, and I can’t help from jail.
As I reach the doorway, Atlas speaks up.
“I’m leaving too,” he says confidently.
“What?” Atticus questions, holding the Black Book firmly in his hands.
“I’m going with him,” Atlas repeats. “I’m leaving Chastain Castle.”
Something hot and bright ignites in my chest, and a grin I cannot stifle forms over my lips as I watch my sweet little bunny stand taller with his declaration.
Atticus sighs. “This is for your own good, Atty.”
“W-what is?” Atlas asks, his confidence deflating slightly.
But Atticus has already crossed the room, pulling the chain hanging from the ceiling.
Moments later, footsteps can be heard thudding angrily against the floorboards. Then, Oscar appears next to me, his mouth hanging open as he takes in the scene around him.
“…What is happening?” he asks.
He’s in his pajamas and clearly distraught.
“I need you to put a chain lock on the outside of Atlas’s door. He’s planning to run away.” Atticus instructs.
“What?!” I screech.
At the same time, Atlas says, “Pardon me?”
Oscar’s eyes flicker between the two Chastain brothers, an expression of hesitance and misery settling over his features.
“Oscar, no,” Atlas pleads. “Don’t you dare.”
“Oscar, listen to me. It’s for his safety. If not, he’ll run away with Julian and his friends.” Atticus spits the word out as if it’s poison, and I can feel Cassie and Cameron flinch from behind me.
We all seem to hang in limbo as we wait for Oscar’s response. He looks so genuinely conflicted that I sort of feel bad for the guy.
Well, I feel bad for him until he says, “Alright. I’ll be back with my tools.”
“No!” Atlas screams, lunging for me the moment Oscar leaves the room.
I’m moving toward him too, long before I can register it, but someone is grabbing my shoulders, pulling me out of the room.
And as Atticus slams the door shut, closing himself and Atlas inside, the last thing I see is Atlas’s outstretched hands and his tear-soaked face.
“Come on,” Cameron says into my ear. “Let’s go before he calls the cops. He will do it, Julian. We’ll find another way.”
Numbly, I let Cassie and Cameron guide me from Chastain Castle and back toward Cassie’s Nissan. As I climb into the backseat, I can’t help but wonder if this will be the last time I see Atlas.
And now I’m realizing Atticus took the Black Book, and even if I manage to return to the west tower, I have nothing to offer Atlas anyway.
Fuck.
Atlas Chastain is in love with me, and I failed him wholly and completely.
I’ve never deserved his love. Not for a moment.