Chapter 4 Jullian

The boy vampire sat on the floor with his knees pressed tightly to his chest. He stared out the large window with his golden eyes. His eyes seemed hungry for something. They searched the view of the city desperately.

It was raining outside like always. Jullian listened in silence as the droplets attacked the glass. The sound resurfaced the memory of something she had told him once, staring at the same window.

"...I hate the rain. It never stops. For once, I wish it could. I want to play in the sun."

The boy smiled at the memory.

"You could say such weird stuff," He spoke softly into the emptiness. His voice reverberated off the plain walls of his room. It sounded lonely.

Below him, Jullian spotted a pair of batbanes rushing down the street. They were factory workers judging from their overalls, Jullian noted.

Jullian saw how they held onto each other's hands and laughed. One was stumbling awkwardly on a prosthetic leg. But they didn't seem to notice. Instead, they were honest in their expression.

It proved to be infectious for him. But the smile faded just as quickly as it had come. He moved a pale clawed hand over his heart. It still hurt.

"Where are you?"

Jullian still couldn't accept the fact that she had run away. Why would she even want to? It irked him.

Was she unhappy? Was that why she left? Jullian tried to remember a time, a clue, something to indicate her unhappiness but could not. He had no recollection of her crying or even frowning.

On the contrary, the batbane was always smiling. And they were happy together, side by side. She was always there for Jullian, ready to listen and talk.

Jullian never felt alone when she was with him. Even when both his parents barely spoke with him, she would. She understood him.

"Come home." He pleaded softly and pressed a hand to the cold glass. He was so alone now without her. It was like she had never existed. Everything had reverted to how it was before.

While the vampire looked on, the glass door slid behind him with a muted gust of air and gears. It opened to reveal a stony gargoyle named Malto on the threshold. He began to speak in his shaky voice.

"Lord Oxpure, Lady Foxpure has arrived and seeks a moment," Malto said.

Jullian couldn't stop himself from letting out a long groan. He turned to face the old family gargoyle with a tired expression.

"Has she said why?" Jullian couldn't hide his exhaustion. The girl vampiress was too obnoxious and loud for his liking.

Malto shook his heavy head a 'no' and spoke again.

"No. She says nothing to me. But she seems excited about something." Malto said, and Jullian shook his head. He already felt his head automatically begin to throb. It was a conditioned reaction when Jullian had to deal with her.

Just what I needed, he thought sarcastically. Julian closed his golden eyes and rubbed the back of his neck.

"She's always like that."

The gargoyle shook his head again.

"It's more so than usual. This may be serious." Malto commented, and Jullian looked at him.

He had known Malto since infancy and learned to trust what he said. Malto understood how everyone worked. He was more than old enough to have seen just about everything.

If Malto thought it so, Jullian regarded gravely. Then it had to be true.

Jullian pouted at the news.

"Fine. I'll be right down." Jullian said, and the gargoyle bowed out. The electric door slid close behind him with another soft whoosh. This left Jullian to be alone in his room again with his thoughts.

Jullian looked back over to the window with longing eyes. Window watching was a hobby he had only just picked up. The little vampire had convinced himself that he would see her walk up the street one day.

Jullian knew it to be all in vain. But he couldn't stop. He gazed out the cold glass, just like he did yesterday and the day before. Jullian had to force himself to stop.

I need to dress. Jullian thought, seeing he was still in his undergarments.

Jullian moved to pull on a pair of pants and a black long-sleeve turtleneck. When he was done, he lowered his hands and checked himself in its reflection. He couldn't help but compare himself to her.

We have the same hair color and complexion. The only difference, Jullian thought distantly, was their mothers. But that was only a tiny difference between them.

Jullian made his way out of the room and into the hall. It was brightly lit up with electric lights that glowed overhead. He could already hear Clarissa. It sounded like she was in the kitchen.

Jullian descended the metal staircase without a sound until he reached the floor. Once there, he turned over to glide to his kitchen. At the doorway, he stopped to find Clarissa sitting at the glass table.

Clarrissa was, of course, dressed in a gown that seemed garish and stylish. Her long pink hair was carefully shaved on both sides, and the rest tied neatly into a mohawk-esque braid. Jullian could see how her pointed ears were bejeweled with multiple silver studs.

She's the absolute model of Vali fashion, Jullian thought, unimpressed.

"What do you want?" Jullian began, and the vampiress instantly jumped. Clarissa violently swiveled her head and gave a delighted smile filled with sharp fangs.

"Jullian, good morning!" Clarissa squeaked and shot out from her metal chair. She sped over to latch onto his waist with thin pale arms. She peered up at him with her large golden eyes.

From this angle, Jullian could quickly look down her dress and see everything. Yet, he instantly chooses not to. She held no interest in him.

Instead, he looked up and inwardly shook his head. He hoped this would be a short visit. He moved his hands to peel her off. Clarissa instantly gave a devastated cry.

"No- Jullian-" Clarissa protested.

"You're crushing me." Jullian snapped.

Clarissa gave a pout and huffed. She then quickly reverted to being energetic.

"I have a surprise for you!" She started, and Jullian rolled his eyes.

There is always something with her, Jullian thought monotonously. He moved to stroll past the vampiress to grab a brood pouch from the glass heater. He unceremoniously ripped it open and took a long drink. It was at a perfect 98.6℉.

Jullian carried the bag over and sat down at the table. He didn't look at her. Instead, he focused his eyes out the adjacent window. This one gave a ground-level view of the cement and steel city.

In front of him, a hover car lazily drifted past. He took another drink from the pouch and mildly wondered what the truck could be carrying.

Mechanical Parts for the factories or blood bags for us? Jullian couldn't think of any other reasons.

"And that would be?"

Jullian heard her walk over with her clicking heels. They made her much taller than Jullian. Clarissa moved to take a seat beside him. She leaned over to smile coyly.

"I bet you can't guess what it is?" Clarissa spoke mischievously.

"I don't want to."Jullian gave her an unamused look. Clarissa shifted her eyes down and pouted.

"Come on, Jullian. Why don't you ever want to play?" The young vampiress whined, but Jullian didn't let up. Instead, he returned to his breakfast. The vampire mildly wondered how long it would be before Clarissa broke down.

I bet not long-

"FINE! It's about Salem-

"What?" Jullian responded quickly to the name.

"What about my sister?" Jullian asked with complete attention now. His pulse quickened at the mention of her.

Clarissa smiled at him like a cat.

"Oh, I see~ You only pay attention when -"

Clarissa screamed out in shock as Jullian slammed his palms to the table abruptly. The impact fractured the glass into a series of web-like cracks. He growled and bared his teeth at her.

"I don't like to play these games. What about my Salem?" Jullian growled deeply, and Clarissa gave a shiver. She then giggled.

"Oo~ I love it when you're like this. Do more, more!" Clarissa cheered. She clapped her hands in excitement.

Jullian slumped back in his chair. He suddenly felt the sensation of being wet. He shifted his eyes to see that he had squeezed out all blood in the pouches.

Incredible, he thought to himself.

Jullian turned back to Clarissa with an intense glare. The vampiress noticed and quieted her laughter. She kept the smile, though.

"I guess you don't want to play then. Alright. That's fine. I'll just tell you." Clarissa spoke and got up. She moved over to wrap her arms around his neck. She leaned in to whisper into his ear.

"I found her."

"Where?"

Clarissa pulled away to look at him.

"In Terra. She's been hiding in some magic shop as a store clerk. Can you imagine?" Clarissa spoke and stepped over to sit on top of the cracking table. It fractured further with her weight, but she didn't seem to notice.

"She's in Terra? How did she get so far? And Terra of all places…."Jullian spoke, and Clarissa simply shrugged indifference.

"I don't know, but that's where she is," Clarissa spoke, and Jullian nodded.

He looked back at her.

"How is she? Is Salem safe?" Jullian asked. His voice couldn't hide the genuine concern he felt. Clarissa lessened her smile as she saw his reaction.

"As far as I know…." She began with a slight edge to her voice.

"But I hear she's aged considerably." Clarissa finished with a slight scowl.

"Yes, of course," Jullian said as a distant afterthought. He tried to imagine by how much.

Batbanes tend to age 9x as fast as a human. That would mean Salem would look like a twenty-seven-year-old now, Jullian thought. She would be a woman. Jullian had to wonder if she would still be kind like she was before.

Jullian stood up. His mind was racing. He needed to be alone to process this.

Salem was alive. In Terra, Jullian thought and tried to imagine.

His Salem…

Jullian needed to be alone. He needed Clarissa to get out to give him a chance. The boy needed to process this.

Salem.

"Thank you, You can leave now," Jullian said and turned to leave when Clarissa caught his arm. He swiveled his head around to protest when she spoke.

"She'll be back with us soon," Clarissa said and released his arm. Jullian looked after her for a moment.

"What did you do?" He asked but was already suspecting the worst. He hoped he was wrong, though. But, of course, she wouldn't have been that naive, would she?

Clarissa smiled up at the ceiling but said nothing. Jullian waited for her but soon lost patience.

"CLARISSA!" Jullian barked. He kicked at the table leg. The motion further cracked it. Clarissa giggled. She was unconcerned with the breaking glass. She looked his way now.

"I've employed Greenhouse, of course.They'll track her down and detain her until my gargoyle fetches her. It should be all done in less than a week. Isn't that lovely?"

"You involved them?" Jullian said with growing disbelief. He quickly moved to leave the room. Clarissa jumped off the table. It finally shattered into pieces with a loud sound.

"You act like I shouldn't have? Why? They can't say no to us- they owe us. We are the only ones who can make their weapons. Without us- hey! Where are you going?" Clarissa cried in a panic and moved to follow Jullian.

The boy was already at the doorway and stopped. He glared at her with absolute disgust.

"You don't even know what you've done. Do you? You've just put her in the worst hands possible. Salem will be dead for sure if they get to her." Jullian said and shook his head at her.

"How could you not know?"

"Wait! I thought you would be pleased that I found her- that you would be happy." Clarissa whimpered. Jullian shook his head again and left the room. He shouted into the open hall.

"Malto! Prepare my luggage and the family boat." Jullian cried, and the gargoyle appeared out of the wall. Clarissa dropped her jaw.

" No! Wait a minute! Don't tell me you're going to get her- that's suicide! We're forbidden from entering-"

"It was suicide to have Greenhouse involved in the first place." Jullian barked back and turned mid-step to glare at the artificially taller girl. She whimpered.

"I don't understand. I've told them not to kill her." Clarissa said and began to cry with large mascara black tears. Jullian just looked at her.

"That means nothing to them. She's not human."

"But, I told them not to…." Clarissa whimpered, and Jullian closed his eyes.

He then opened them again to look off to the side.

"They are nothing but a bunch of murderers," Jullian spoke in a tight voice. Clarissa moved in to grab onto his shirt and weep.

"Please- They'll kill you if you go. And what about the Council? Your Mother? Please don't. I'm sorry." Clarissa bellowed, but Jullian shook his head and pulled her away. He turned to call out to Malto.

"Don't ever meddle in my affairs again, Clarissa. Malto-" Jullian called and saw to his left the brooding gargoyle. He looked to be deep in thought.

"May I make a suggestion, sir…."

"Why not I?" Malto finished. Clarissa stopped crying to peer up at him.

"You...Do you understand what it would mean if they caught you?" Jullian voiced, and the gargoyle gave a deep rumbling yes.

"The same as you. Throw me in the Greenhouse to rot away and die. I know." Malto answered.

Jullian regarded him with a steady face. The gargoyle had been with him even before his birth or his father.

Malto is the Oxpure gargoyle, Jullian thought. He could never put him in danger.

"No, Malto. I can't let you do that." Jullian began to protest. Malto only looked up into his eyes.

"I am only a gargoyle. I am replaceable. You are not. You are a vampire. This is what I am for." Malto said gruffly, and Jullian looked after him.

"Yes! Let the gargoyle go! He is wise and-

"Stop talking," Jullian ordered, and Clarissa fell silent again. She looked down at the floor. Jullian saw more black tears stream down her cheek. Her mascara was running everywhere.

"Sir, I am apt for this. More so than even you." Malt began and quickly began to disappear into the surroundings. He was almost completely camouflaged to the naked eye when he finished. He then morphed back into view.

"Let me go." Malto finished, and Jullian looked off to where he had been standing. He sucked in a deep breath.

Clarissa reached out her hand to grab at his sleeve and pull him from his thoughts to look over at her.

"Please...I don't want you to die." Clarissa voiced weakly. Jullian suddenly felt drained of energy. He saw the deep feelings of guilt on her black-stained face. She meant what she said.

Jullian gently pulled his arm away and heard her give another soft whimper. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. He had to make a decision.

Someone was going to be potentially lost in the process. And someone else saved.

It was his choice to say which.

Jullian took a moment to think and eventually opened his eyes again.

"Don't get yourself caught." Jullian finally said in a tight voice.

"And you can't let anything happen to Salem."

Malto nodded gravely.

"Thank Nyx!" Clarissa exclaimed and leaped out to throw her arms around his waist. She cried tears of relief now, but Jullian stood still. He made no move to comfort her.

Instead, he stared into the old gargoyle's purple eyes.

This may be the last time I may see them, Jullian thought with slight guilt.

"Anything happens to her- I'll hold you responsible," Jullian said finally.

"Understood, sir." Malto nodded and disappeared.