Chapter 20 Behind Shadows
“I bet you’re feeling on top of the world now,” came a voice, low, teasing, and unmistakably familiar.
I turned sharply, expecting Oliver’s usual grin. But my breath hitched.
It wasn’t Oliver.
“Julian,” I said, my voice softening into surprise. He stood half-hidden in the shadows, as always, where the sunlight didn’t dare touch him.
I tilted my head, folding my arms. “What do you want, Julian?”
He gave a small shrug, his expression unreadable. “To congratulate you,” he said, sliding one hand casually into his pocket. “You wouldn’t have been a participant if it weren’t for me.”
My brows knitted together. “Wait, what did you do?” I asked, suspicion flickering through my tone. Julian always had a way of being... involved in things he shouldn’t.
He smirked nervously, his gaze shifting away as he scratched the back of his head. “I only spoke with the principal,” he said.
I raised an eyebrow. “And he agreed... just like that?”
Silence.
My eyes narrowed. “You’re lying, Julian.”
He took a deep breath, then stepped forward, spreading his arms as if to surrender. “Fine. You want the truth?” His lips curled into a faint, mischievous smile. “I hypnotized him.”
“What?” I gasped, stepping back. “You made him add my name?”
Before I could say another word, he rushed in and pressed his hand gently against my lips to silence me. But the instant the sunlight grazed his skin, he hissed in pain and jerked back, clutching his hand tightly.
“Julian!” I exclaimed, concern breaking through my shock. “Are you okay?”
He winced, lowering his voice to a whisper. “Don’t be too loud. The walls here have ears,” he murmured. His tone turned grave. “If anyone finds out, you’ll be expelled... and if my name is mentioned, I’ll be burned.”
The calmness in his voice unsettled me, it was the kind that came from long, quiet suffering.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my gaze drifting to his injured hand. The burn was angry red, his pale skin making it look even worse. My heart clenched.
“I bet you haven’t watched a sunrise since you were born,” I said softly, unable to hide the ache in my voice.
He smirked faintly, though his eyes softened. “I have,” he said, almost wistfully. “I just don’t remember the last time.”
The sunlight was creeping closer, so I stepped toward him, closer into the shadows where he stood. Without hesitation, I reached for his hand. His skin was cool beneath my fingers, the burn raw and tender.
“I’ll get the daylight ring for you,” I said quietly. “And then... we’ll watch the sunset together.”
For a moment, the world seemed to still. His gaze met mine… dark, piercing, filled with secrets and something deeper he wouldn’t name but it felt like light that moment.
We stood there, suspended in that fragile silence, where words felt too small for what was forming between us. His lips parted slightly as if to speak, but no sound came.
“Julian... are you okay?” I whispered, searching his face.
Something flickered behind his eyes… fear, longing, and restraint. Then he blinked, as if waking from a trance, and quickly pulled his hand away.
I took a step toward him, but he moved back, the distance between us stretching once more. That was strange.
“Julian,” I murmured, my brows furrowed.
He shook his head, voice low and hurried. “You have to go. Study for the competition,” he said, his tone back to that careful detachment he always wore like armor. “Goodbye.”
And before I could answer, he retreated, back into the shadows where he belonged, leaving me in the fading light, my heart still racing, my fingers still remembering the cold of his touch.