Chapter 35
“This could end without anyone getting hurt, Julian. All you need to do is make the right choice.”
“It’s the right choice for you, Titus.” Eyes meeting, Julian shook his head, feeling the determination of the man he shared a body with. “How can I let twelve more people die, when I could finally kill you?”
“For that to be possible you also need to kill Anne.”
“No, I don’t, because I understand the bond between you better than you ever could. One thing I’m certain of is Father shouldn’t have created it in the first place. Anne was never truly able to make her own choices. Her freedom will be my gift.”
“If you’re that certain you’re going to win we should get it over with.”
“Not here. The destruction of the Darkholme journals won’t be on my conscience.”
“You care?”
“For Anne to understand the choices I made she needs to see the history of Glimmerbrook from the beginning. Some remembered.”
“Julian…”
“Please don’t. I know you too well for the lies to work. Through the years I’ve seen what you’ve done to ‘protect’ Anne, and finally succeed in your ‘search’ for immortality. She will know everything. You have my promise she’ll see you for who you truly are, Titus. Finally.”
Cornelius was the one who led the way to the porch, the safest places for what was to come.
‘What happens if you fail?’
‘Do whatever you have to. The knowledge you have now may make it possible for you to stop him.’
Unlikely, but possible, especially with Dante around. He complicated everything.
Their shared strength might be enough. Julian lost the last time, but Cornelius had reasons to help, whether or not it was the right choice to make. Neither of them wanted to believe it was Cornelius who chose to help Julian. Maybe he hadn’t, losing his body unexpectedly, to a stronger spirit.
Julian breathed in deeply, focused on the power within body and soul, connecting the two in a way most wouldn’t be able to. Bloodlines were important. The Lockwoods had never married the right Embers for Titus to have gained such skills. Even if he had he’d have never asked to be taught.
Anne being close helped. The bond allowed Titus to draw on her power without her noticing. Even if she did it wasn’t as though she’d be able to stop him. Had she known there was no doubt she’d find a way to break it, whatever that might mean for her, her guilt too strong for her to be logical.
“She always deserved better.”
Titus’s only weakness was Anne, and it wasn’t as though the statement wasn’t true. What Anne dreamed of was simple – a family to love after she’d lost most of hers, even though they’d talked of immortality. She couldn’t know about the promises already made.
Silence followed the words. Responding was an unneeded distraction. Power crackled over Titus, as he focused on Julian. Dragging him out of Cornelius was the first step. Outside the body he had no protection. Last time should have been the end. Instead Titus let his love for his father take over.
Power swept over the top of Julian’s head as he dropped to his knees. Gathering it, drawing it into his body, he was able to feel Anne within it, because Titus wasn’t the stronger of the two of them. It was what he wanted her to believe. One of the many lies she’d been told through the centuries.
Arms raised, power swirling round him, Julian’s control of Cornelius’s body stronger. Cornelius truly saw Julian as his best chance of being able to save them all, including the woman who’d become more important to him than anyone else – Anne. It was illogical, but then emotions most often were.
Control lost, body floating, Titus focused on the power wrapped tightly round him, far stronger than it was last time he fought Julian. It was also darker, Julian obviously spending time close to the Lockwood house, spirits something no Seer could See. Only a necromancer could, and Titus wasn’t one.
Using the power was the most logical option. With force Julian pushed Titus, in a way that would normally have slammed him down on the floor, but instead he floated, using everything to protect himself. Including Anne for a second time. Although it might be a mistake it was the only option.
On the ground, eyes closed, Titus breathed in deeply. If Julian thought he’d won he was mistaken. However there was still power pressing down on his chest, keeping him from being able to move, and Titus focused on freeing himself, the battle far from done. Slowly, he lifted a leg, fighting hard.
For a moment Titus lost control. Last time it hadn’t happened, Julian certain he’d lost from the very beginning, but that was a sign of how much stronger he’d become, strong in a way he wouldn’t have been if he’d lived his life the way he planned. Instead the darkness transformed him.
Titus knelt, looking up at Julian. No emotions showed, Julian’s soul seeming entirely in control, with Cornelius barely there. Either Julian was the stronger of the two, or Cornelius had hidden himself away to make it easier. It was likely the latter, his ‘love’ for Anne making it seem logical.
Eyes meeting once more, an unusual flicker of worry within Titus’s, Julian waited. Patience was a lesson hard learned, time passing by so slowly after his death. Being in the right place at the right time meant waiting, for centuries. Over a millennia. Life by life they both gained power.
Power Titus would use to finally become truly immortal, a gift he’d already given once, without realising. Another of the many who’d be harmed by his choices out there waiting. If Julian failed there would be others, in all the worlds, something Titus might never accept were truly real.
Using the power Julian turned against him, Titus lifted himself up. With it there was a chance, but only if Julian was surprised, and that meant waiting for exactly the right moment. A second when he wasn’t paying enough attention, to make it possible for Titus to drag his soul out of Cornelius.
Eyes on Titus, Julian knew how his old friend thought, and focused on a shield, similar to the wards around the Lockwood house. Only someone strong enough would be able to get through. Titus likely was, but it should also give Julian the time he needed to prepare for what would happen next.
Thaddeus made friends in a way Titus never had. He was the one close to the Embers originally, and that was how Titus connected with Julian. Julian was the one Thaddeus believed would marry Anne in the future, until Titus changed Glimmerbrook, which led to the focus being immortality.
After that Titus promised to protect Anne, because the souls of those who died in the early days were gone, something he’d never told her. Thaddeus was never going to live another life. Neither should Julian, but he’d survived when the others faded. His strength saved him. Possibly his bloodline.
Past, present, and future combined, Julian seeing the fury within Titus, something much more than it would have been if their lives hadn’t been connected for so long. There was no doubt what was to come. Fury strengthened power flung at him, the shield used against him, pushing him back.
Cornelius’s body was pressed against the wall, and Titus moved closer, in control of the body. Julian was still within. Getting him out wasn’t going to be easy.
“You were someone I cared about, Titus.” Julian’s voice was emotionless. “Our friendship was important to me, but it meant nothing to you.”
“Father Saw a future I didn’t ever want to happen.”
“You never believed in the other worlds.”
“That doesn’t mean it couldn’t have happened here, Julian.”
“Breaking the bond was the right thing to do, so Anne could live her own life.”
“He might even have agreed, if he’d lived long enough.”
Titus looked at his hand. “You know what’s going to happen, don’t you?”
“Neither of us do. I can’t See, and you can’t See me.”
“I tried, through the years, but I’m not a necromancer.”
“Your brother is.”
“Which one?”
“A question you’re going to have to learn the answer to yourself, eventually.”
Moving closer, eyes on Julian’s, there was no fear. Nothing to make it seem as though Julian was worried about what came next, even though he knew if he lost there’d be no future for him.
“Tell me, Julian.”
“No, because you never wanted either of them to have magic. Only it was already too late.”
“Fine.” Titus breathed in deeply. “You know what I’m going to do?”
“Did you ever care?”
“Anne was the one who meant something to me, Julian. Father and Mother… they gave me her. That’s what mattered.”
With one hand Titus reached into Cornelius’ body. Power flared, as he pulled it back out.