Julian: A Dark Angel Series Companion Novella (Dark Angel #3) by Kat T. Masen Page A

emptiness, trying so hard to wash it all away. I sit down on the tiles, back against the wall, letting the water fall against my skin. The tears are solid, becoming deep sobs that cause my chest to ache in a way I have never felt before. I open my eyes enough to see my skin wrinkly from my time spent under the water. Making my way out, I wrap a towel around me, ready to head to bed. Sleep—my only salvation.
    Opening the bathroom door, I see Tristan standing in the middle of the hallway with his bag. His fallen face turns to disgust as he sees me exit.
    I really don’t need this.
    “I’m fairly certain I know how you know Claudia. And you’re a fucking jerk. You knew she was my girlfriend.”
    “Listen, kid, I had no idea—”
    “Bullshit! It’s like you have no fucking idea how to deal with your own mess of a life so you have to ruin it for others.”
    I’m looking for sympathy, trying to keep my voice down. “Look, I’ve had a terrible night—”
    “What? You get busted for stalking your ex?”
    Silence.
    “I don’t need this.” I turn my back.
    “Maybe you do need this. You are wasting your life. What the hell happened to you, huh? I used to look up to you, and just look at you. You’re just a huge fucking disappointment. Why the fuck are you so jaded?”
    “I don’t need to answer to anyone.”
    “Yeah, well, neither do I.” Tristan picks up his bag.
    “Where do you think you’re going?” I sound parental; this isn’t what I signed up for.
    “I’m staying with Eric. You need to sort yourself out, Julian. There’s only one road you’re heading down, and I’m telling you, it’s a dead end.”
    He stops by the kitchen bench and throws me an envelope. “And here, an eviction notice.” He slams the door behind him.
    I am officially alone.
    After tonight’s events, there is nothing I want to do more than climb into a hole and rot away, but instead I head to my medicine cabinet and find my sleeping pills.
    Sleeping pills or call my dealer.
    For tonight, the pills win, but for how much longer? I have no idea.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter 12
    The room is dark, the light fighting its way in.
    The urge, the craving, it devours me.
    Alone, I hear the gentle tap on my door. Gentle, yet it startles me.
    I jump anxiously; it’s the monster that lurks under my bed, but he is on the other side of the door.
    Like a frightened child, I open the door and succumb to the power he holds over me.
    He opens his hand and I see the light illuminating the dark walls. My senses…there is a frenzy within me, taunting and teasing me, and the more it consumes me, I feel myself weaken.
    I hand over the last of my money—my rent money.
    And like a thief in the night, he disappears.
    And I am alone again with the devil laced in white.
    It’s all I have now.
    No Chelsea.
    No Charlie.
    And I need to survive… don’t I?
    I am like venom; I hurt those around me, including myself.
    I walk to the table and lay the white lace carefully in a line. I know the drill. I think about it every second of every day.
    I lean down, inches away from the euphoria sweeping over me. But I feel a touch, a brush of a hand over my shoulder. I am hallucinating; I know I’m alone. I lean down again and the feeling repeats. I don’t look behind me. Instead, I close my eyes allowing my senses to focus.
    There is a cool breeze in the room but the windows are shut.
    “In the darkness, our savior will find us. It will drive us into the light.”
    The voices, I hear them.
    “In our weakness of times, find the strength, it lurks behind the shadows but it is watching, it is waiting to be asked for help.”
    I have officially gone crazy.
    “Those who live in the light only know the truth to living in the darkness. I am here, I am watching over you, I am guiding you. Be still, hear my words. The fallen will continue to fall without a savior amongst them.”
    I listen; the voices disappear.
    My chest is heavy.