24 Alone Together

Angelica stood there sobbing as she wrapped her arms around Julius in a constricting manner. Oddly enough, she found his presence somewhat comforting. Even though she currently resented him. She resented him..unfairly. She knew deep down that he did everything he could. Even in the end it didn't resolve anything. The main thing she currently worried about was her family. What would happen to them in the absence of their home?

Those thoughts and more continued to race through her mind as she continued to sob into Julius' chest.

Julius gently patted her back as he stood there his heart hurting for the young vampire. He continued to stand there in the sobbing unease as he let his mind slowly wonder for a long moment. Wonder to thoughts he had long before he had been turned. Thoughts of being able to love someone to hold dear to himself.

Pushing those thoughts aside he slowly released Angelica from the hug and took a few slow steps away from her. The pain she felt, seared his heart. And he wanted to do whatever was possible to help. It was the least he could do.

"What...What would you like me to do for you, and for your family?" Julius asked finally breaking the awkward sob infested silence they had been subjecting the other to. She obviously blamed him for her mothers death, and honestly? So did he. He could have done more if he wasn't worried about the injuries he had sustained. Or the fact that there was another supernatural entity at the battle that would have simply ended his life where he stood. Just as he had done to Jadamine. "Whatever you need, just name it and I will do everything in my power to make sure it is done."

"I want...I want to make sure that my family...is all safe and accounted for...Since that is all that we have left...that and my mothers wishes..." She said out slowly in a hoarse tone her voice breaking every few words she had spoken. Each time her voice broke was like a punch to the gut for Julius, he understood how she felt. But was powerless when it came to making her feel any less..broken.

Nodding slowly Julius began to back away even more from Angelica as he let out a shaky breath as he turned around and slowly grabbed the door knob. He hesitated for a moment as he stood there staring at the door as his mind continued to race with things he could say or do. But he just kept silent and began to slowly twist the door handle open.

"Wait.." Angelica's voice quietly rose up from behind him as he paused and looked back to him as he stared at her keeping his gaze fixated on her face. "I just...I just wanted to apologize to you Julius.."

As soon as he heard those words he let go of the door handle in disbelief as he stared at her, more unsure of what he should do or say than ever. "You want to apologize to me...? After everything I have failed to do? And you want to give me your apologies?" He asked the bewilderment more than obvious in his voice.

"I..apologize..for treating you unfairly..I know you did everything in your power all things considered...And I am thankful for what you could do." She said as she stared at him with her eyes red from shedding so much tears. It would have surprised him that he hadn't started crying tears of blood at that point. But her words are what shocked him the most in the current moment.

"Angelica, you don't have to apologize to me for any reason. It doesn't feel unfair to me the reason you are doing it so please..you don't have to. I will do everything I can to find and secure your family in a safe place and even open up my home to you all. But apologizing and thanking me...Those aren't things you should be giving, especially not to me." Julius spoke as he stared at the girl his own pain more than evident within his eyes at that current moment.

Angelica just stared as she went silent from what he had said. He was taking it as hard as she was, but was keeping it pent up. To look strong, to be the leader he was made to be in front of his family, and the family he had let inhabit his own home. Which gave her every reason to thank him, every reason to apologize to him, every reason, to show her appreciation.

Taking a few slow steps forward Angelica slowly rose her hand and placed it gently against his rough cheek. He felt so warm to her, taking a deep breath she looked him in the eyes as she observed the pain that swam around within them. Was this really the right thing to do? She thought to herself as she slowly rose up onto her tiptoes and slowly took his lips with her own. Tasting him for yet a second time as she slowly breathed in his warm cigar infused musk. A smell she wasn't fond of by any means, but one she was willing to deal with in this moment.

Being caught off guard Julius instinctively returned the kiss in kind as he gently pulled her closer to his body. The worries and pains that were clouding his mind swiftly went away as if there were never there to begin with. It was the second time in only a handful of days he had felt this feeling, and he found it highly intoxicating. Was that because he hadn't experienced it in so long? Or was it because he looked forward to it as a fix? He didn't know and he wasn't willing to spend the time in the moment to figure it out.

Breaking the kiss Julius stared into her eyes as he took a deep breath. "Why do you do this?" he asked with a slight pant evident in his voice as Angelica slowly bit her lip gently.

"Because Julius...even after everything...I can't choose to willingly hate you." She said in a low tone as she slowly captured his lips a second time. As she too felt intoxicated by the feeling, and the taste.