Ch.26: Julian
The Death That I Deserve

Sasha and Dan made Julian sleep on the couch every day.

He didn't like that at all.

So he got up in the middle of the night and looked through the house, because he deserved a comfortable bed. The most comfortable one in existence. And he deserved better, and that still wouldn't be enough. Tom was right; Julian was too good for this world, too nice, going around letting everyone step all over him. Maybe it was time for the universe to return his favors. All of them.

There were many rooms in this house, but few had any furniture for some reason. He searched upstairs as well, and again, all rooms were either vacant or not a bedroom. Except one: Sasha's room. It was locked, however, Julian realized as he tugged uselessly at the handle. Something clicked and clunked against the wood on the other side the more he shook the door.

It was chained from the inside?

Why would Sasha do that?

“Sasha!” Julian said. “Sashaaaaa.”

He was about to keep shouting for her to open the door, but she did it on her own—albeit violently, swinging the door open after unchaining it and standing there with heaving shoulders and a racing breath. Oh, and she was holding a sharp little knife too, clutching it tight and close to herself, ready to attack.

“What the hell do you want?” she said.

Julian nodded at that stupid, useless weapon. “You can't hurt me with that.” He laughed. “You couldn't even hurt me with a sickle if you tried.”

Sasha tucked the switchblade into her pocket. “I wasn't planning on using it on you, idiot. Answer the question.”

“Who then? There's only me here. Oh, and Dan.”

“Answer the question.”

“I wanna sleep on a bed. I hate sleeping on the couch.”

Sasha deflated all at once, like she had expected him to deliver the most terrible, agonizing news the world had to offer. The relief lasted for a moment before the annoyance took over. “Julian.” Pinching the bridge of her nose, she grumbled through gritted teeth, “Get out of my face right now.”

Julian tilted his head. “You go. I want the bed all to myself.”

Sasha lowered her hand and stared at Julian with disbelieving eyes. “You want me to go sleep on the couch while you sleep here?”

“Yeah.”

“You're unbelievable. Get out.”

Julian walked past her and plopped on the bed. He was about to relax, but he tensed instead like he had touched mud and dirt. “Wait.” He held the bedsheet and turned it around, inspecting the edges where tags were usually stitched. “The tag's gotta go, it's gross,” he mumbled to himself. “I—huh?”

At the bottom left corner, the tag was already cut off. Julian looked at Sasha, his eyes narrowed. “You… You hate tags too?”

Sasha didn't deny that fact, but she did rip the sheet from Julian's hand. Her voice was stern and ruthless when she spoke, “One last time, Julian. Get. Out.”

“But I said I want a bed.”

“Do you think this is charity?” Sasha asked. She leaned a little forward. “Do you think this is charity?” When there was no answer, she straightened again. “Do you think we brought you here because we give a shit about you and what you want?”

Julian shook his head. He snickered. “No, of course not. The world's not that kind to me.”

“Then know your place. You're here because we need something out of you. And you have just enough loose screws to fit into this insanity. Understand?”

Shrugging, Julian sighed. “As long as there's food and water.”

Sasha frowned. “That's it? You don't even wanna know what we need you to do?”

“Yeah.” Julian leaned his upper back against the headboard. He gave her a small smile. “I've suffered a lot, you know. All my life. Pain every day. But I only touched death when I spent three days without food and water. Just three days and it drove me mad.” His eyes caught Sasha's, and she held his gaze. “I think sometimes we forget how fragile we are, how weak. I'd hate to die such a stupid, meaningless death. I wanna die in a more beautiful way, hahaha…”

Sasha either disregarded that Julian was very well still on her bed, or the conversation distracted her. She relaxed, her arms crossed in thought.

“What's a beautiful death to you?”

“Someone dying for me. With me.” Julian perked up, his eyes glowing with excitement. “I wanna throw myself off a roof and I want someone to throw themselves after me without hesitation. Without a second thought, like their life doesn't matter compared to mine.”

Sasha let out a quiet, derisive chuckle. “I have no idea what makes you think anyone would ever do that for you.”

“Oh, I know. No one would. So I'll just have to make someone do it for me!”

“Good luck. Now get out, before I make Dan come here and drag you out himself.”

Julian waved his hand. “I don't need luck. Luck is a bitch.” Then he slipped off the bed, because Dan was a bitch, too. And Julian wasn't in the mood to be towed out of the room like cargo.

“Sasha?” Dan's voice echoed from the corridor, followed by his footsteps.

Julian rolled his eyes.

Ugh.

The door creaked further open as Dan pushed it. He stood in that space, a frown on his brows. His hand went to the gun tucked in his belt.

“I just came back,” Dan said with a tight, careful voice. “What the hell is he doing here?”

“It's fine.” Sasha took a small mesh bag from Dan. It clinked and rattled as she pulled the thread loose and peeked inside. She rummaged through the contents then pulled out a thick serpent-shaped golden bracelet. “Beautiful,” she said, trying it on. She took it back off and threw it in the bag, then handed it to Dan. “Tell Valentino good job.”

“Valentino, Valentino, Valentino. You keep talking about him. Who's he?” Julian asked. “And what's with the gold?”

Sasha stepped back and leaned against the edge of her desk. “He's the Master of the cult you'll be working in.” She nodded at the bag she had given back to Dan. “That's the gold his cult gives him. I told him to ask them for more. He did, the idiot. And now I get gold for free.”

“Shouldn't you be thankful for him, then?”

“Thankful?” There was something sinister in Sasha's eyes, something full of resentment. “Why would I be thankful? He should be thankful for me.”

“Why?”

“Because I'm saving him from turning out like his parents, Julian. I've known them for a long time. They were vile, sick people. So sick that they created that whole cult because they enjoyed the attention. It wasn't even for money, I'm sure. They just liked the idea of people putting them on a pedestal.” The edge of Sasha's lip curled in disgust. “They thought they were invincible, untouchable. They thought no one could get to them. They thought they were better than everyone. But then…Then…” Her revolted expression faded. Her shoulders shook, like she was trying to suppress laughter. “Then they died in the worst way possible. Shot and stabbed and cut open while being cursed and denounced by some crazy old man—all while their son was watching.”

Julian wasn't sure how to react. He just observed Sasha, that psychotic, delighted expression on her face.

“Yeah,” Sasha continued, “and Valentino's that son. They raised him in the end, so he has the tendency to turn out like them. That's why I like to keep him humble. You know, humiliate him every once in a while, remind him how weak and helpless and defenseless he really is. Or else he'll become exactly like them." Sasha's brows puckered. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like I'm wrong." Sasha shook her head as she stepped towards Julian, leaning closer. A strand of her jet black hair fell forward, over her shoulder. The yellow light emanating from behind her cut shadows across her face. "I'm not wrong. This is what's right. If you ever see me hurting Valentino, I need you to know it's because I'm a good person. I'm making sure he doesn't turn out a bad person like his parents."

If she thought the proximity would make Julian uncomfortable, she was wrong. He didn't shuffle back. Didn't flinch, didn't even look away.

"People who call themselves good are never good," he told her.

• • •

Hello!!!!! It's been ages lol :D honestly the chapter still needs work so I might have to republish it if I change too many things but I really really wanted to give you guys a chapter as soon as possible. I've been super busy, so sorry for not updating for so long! I should be back now tho! :D

Thank you so much for reading/voting/commenting, it means the world to me!😭❤️❤️❤️❤️