S.U.R.V.I.V.E. by shadowgirl416

Beta Reader: Avatarfan445 :D!

Chapter 4: Sacrifices

Erika was shocked by what she had just seen.

Anneliese, her identical best friend, the woman who was married to Julian and was expecting a child - singing and letting a stranger woo her!

Then he jumped off the ceiling and almost fell on top of her - in the bushes.

Where was Julian then? Isn't he supposed to be with her in the castle?

Something was very wrong!

Erika started looking around to find a way out, maybe to talk to Anneliese or Julian.

Suddenly she was blinded by darkness...

She felt a bag on her head, it was very stinky.

Her hands tied behind her back and someone pushing her to make her walk. She could tell she was inside of the palace, her steps made the marble floor sound in a particular way.

Then someone yanked her arm back to make her stop.

"Your highness," he said "We have found the brunette" a man with husky voice informed, maybe to Julian since he was king.

'Brunette? That's why they captured me? Because I am a brunette?…Idiots' Erika thought.

"Perfect!" his voice was… weird, but familiar - not Julian's though. His voice - it was squeaky in some way… he was… he was…

"Preminger?" Anneliese's voice was heard behind Erika.

'Preminger? What was he doing here, wasn't he in jail? Locked in the dungeon?'

"What is it, darling?" he responded, Anneliese's steps were getting closer to Erika - in front of her to be exact.

'He called her darling? Eww'

The queen didn't liked when intruders were treated this way, they were still people. So she frowned at the man holding Erika. "God! Remove that dirty bag off her head" she ordered the guards, they instantly obeyed her.

Erika's face was revealed, Anneliese looked at her and gasped, Preminger smirked.

Her mouth slightly open as she eyed the prisoner, her eyes examining every single detail in her face. Amazed at how identical their features were - how could somebody look so identical to her?

"Who are you?" asked Anneliese, Erika raised an eyebrow.

"It's me - Erika" Anneliese kept the same clueless expression on her face. "Don't act like you don't recognize me, Anneliese" the queen gasped, Preminger jumped up from the throne he was sitting on.

"Unmannered pauper!" he pointed at her with his index finger "Show respect towards my wife!" Erika's eyes bulged out.

"What? Anneliese? Your wife?" she looked at Preminger, he was wearing a crown - so did Anneliese.

He was also sitting in the rightful place of the kingdom's king…

'What?'

"Of course she's my wife" he repeated, Anneliese face wasn't showing any approve with his statements - it was almost a sad one. She was trying to ignore the pride her husband was showing and concentrating in figuring out why this stranger looked exactly like her "She's the queen-" he continued as he got closer to Erika, staring at her for some seconds."The resemblance is amazing" he commented.

"We could be sisters" a baffled Anneliese added, he shook his head.

"No, no, no. Your late parents only had you, darling" Preminger commented, she nodded as if he was commanding her to agree with him.

"Who are you?" the queen asked, her face reflected curiosity. Erika felt almost afraid to reply, she knew the answers she would get back would only blow her hopes of figuring this mayhem out.

"I'm Erika…" she repeated, but Anneliese's expression stood the same "You don't remember me, right?" her voice filled with disbelief. Feeling hopeless she whispered: "My best friend in the world doesn't recognize me" as she lowered her head in defeat.

"Oh, I'm sorry-" Anneliese apologized, Preminger cut her off.

"You don't have to offer any apologies to this - pauper! Guards, take her to the dungeon!" he ordered.

Anneliese gasped as she saw several guards walking towards her. "No!" everyone stopped walking."I want to talk to her"

Preminger looked at his wife "She is the woman that King Frederick warned us about-" he hissed at her.

"I don't care—she looks exactly like me and I want to talk with her." she almost ordered him.

He frowned, waving his hand in the air in an 'I-don't-care' sign before walking out of the room.

"Go, I want to be alone with her." she ordered the guards to leave her alone with Erika.

Erika felt like if Anneliese had already remembered—a weight lifted off her.

"Anneliese-" Erika started; the queen slightly frowned at her.

"Who are you to call me by my name?" she asked, Erika looked at her confusedly.

"I'm Erika!"

"I know; to be sincere that's the only thing I know about you. Your name is Erika. Who are you? Why are you here? And why do you look like me?"

The brunette sighed.

"This is going to be a long day…" she rolled her eyes, deciding to tell the whole story to see if Anneliese remembered "Look I worked at Madame Carp's, you heard me sing, we sang together; then you left. Then the other day Julian came looking for me-"

"Julian?" Anneliese interrupted her, as if Erika had said a magic word.

"Yes, Julian. Your husband." Erika said with a tone that screamed "obvious."

Anneliese's face went pale. "Julian… my husband?" She only imagined it; and she felt like she was in heaven…too good to be true… "You are lying."

Erika shook her head "No I'm not!" she assured. "Look you have to help me-" Erika begged.

Anneliese chuckled, "How could I possibly help you?"

"Come with me, help me find Dominick"

"Dominick? As in King Dominick?" Anneliese asked trying not to laugh at the stranger who instantly nodded. "You are insane," she chuckled again.

"I am not -" the blonde woman cut her off.

This crazy woman was looking for Dominick, the Dominick that had tried to marry her saying he was already a king - he only wanted to marry her to be king but she could reproach about it, she wanted to marry him to help her kingdom with his wealth.

"Look, Erika; King Dominick has been missing for over a year now, and why call him 'king' when he was only a prince. If he's not dead already, he really doesn't want to be found" Erika blinked several times, trying to process the new information her friend had given her.

"What do you mean… he's missing?" Erika's face reflected no more than confusion.

"Yes," Anneliese nodded. "No one has ever seen him since his cousin became the new king-"

Erika decided not to listen to this, he was Dominick. She knew that he was probably hiding somewhere waiting for the right moment to take revenge. Frederick had taken over their kingdom and she knew how her husband was-

"Please, just come with me. I can explain everything to you but—not here" Erika insisted, that Preminger could easily hear them.

Anneliese rolled her eyes as she untied the woman's hands.

Erika knew she wasn't going to go with her—Anneliese thought she was crazy! So she started planning something to force her to go with her—maybe force her to do it.

But how?

"You know…I made the dress you are wearing, your highness." Erika started, pointing at the elegant pink dress the queen had on.

"What?" she asked, looking at the stranger.

Erika smirked "I used to work at Madame Carp's Dress Emporium" Anneliese's expression softened as she smiled.

"So, you made this?" the queen pointed at the gown she had on "It's my favorite—the design looks so complicated"

Erika chuckled, that was almost the same thing she said when they met.

"Oh, but it isn't really—you know what else I learned?"

"What?" Anneliese asked.

"I learned to fight burglars." the queen gasped, she was really falling into the conversation.

"Really? Oh, that must be awful-"

Erika wasn't sure if she could do this.

She was telling the truth though, she was an expert at safely knocking people out—burglars did try to steal in Madame Carp's store.

"No, no. I didn't hurt them; I only left the person unconscious for a few minutes. " Erika started looking for something around the room, and spotted a little figurine on a table. And walking towards it she took it as Anneliese foolishly followed her.

"I just took something like this-" she pointed at the wooden human shaped figurine, Anneliese looking at her in wonder "Then I did this-" she took a deep but fast breath, raised the figurine and hit the queen in the head.

And, certainly, it worked perfectly.

Anneliese was blinded by the darkness…

Finally, he arrived, the place he had called 'home' for a year.

To the small room that had become his 'house' and now he knew who the person knocking his door probably was, the man that had become his 'brother'.

That same 'brother' acted as if he owned his existence, like if he was his boss too. Therefore, every time he did something that was 'bad' in his terms, he would have to bear his speeches about why he couldn't do that.

Before he could answer it, the man outside kicked the door open.

He glared at him, but the man inside the room ignored him.

"I shouldn't even knock!" shouted the brunette man standing on the doorframe, panting from the anger he was feeling, "You're acting like a teenager!"

The other man was now used to the types of tantrums his companion suffered. So he stood there doing what he was doing before he stormed in, sitting on his bedside reading one of his books - pretending nothing was happening.

"Don't ignore me, it's very rude and it just proves how immature you are" Even when the man reading didn't looked at the other, he could literary feel his blue stare.

Still, he decided to say nothing.

Then, he entered the room and spotted a mask on top of a wooden table. The mask that the other man only used when he needed to hide. And he knew better than anyone that the other man only hid when he wandered outside their hideaway.

And knowing at once in what kind of danger his friend had been, the frown on his face hardened "You went to see her, didn't you?"

'Chief' like some called him, 'Boss' others did - but the man sitting on his bedside had gained so much trust from him that he had the honor to call him by his real name. And vice versa, he knew the 'man of the mask' better than anyone.

The reason why he had to wear that mask wasn't just that he couldn't be recognized, he had other motives. Another reason that worried the brown-haired person, the blond man that caused him to wear the mask lived with Anneliese - her husband to be more specific. And he knew his friend loved Anneliese since… well, before he even knew him, and it worried him that the girl's husband went further this time and took the life his best friend.

He sighed, the anger had decreased, and walked towards his best friend to stand in front of him.

"Love can blind a man, but while I'm still around I won't allow you to get killed over a woman"

The man sitting on the bedside abruptly closed the book he was using and glared upon his friend.

He clenched his teeth before starting to say, "She's not just any woman, Anneliese is my life" he took deep breath before continuing, "If she's not with me, I won't be able to keep living. I don't care if I die in the process of trying to get her back, and it's not your problem" he stood up from the bed and walked away from the brown haired man, who immediately tried to complain.

"It is my problem-" the blond-haired man cut him off.

"No, it's not! You can't even understand how I feel right now; the love of my life is married to another man!" And seeing that what he just said left his friend speechless, he decided to emphasize his real point. "You have never been in love"

The brown haired man dryly chuckled "Thank God I haven't, looking at you is a good glimpse at what could happen to me if I do"

"I would really appreciate if you get out of here-"

"Just listen to me-"

"I've heard enough, get out!" the man shouted, his friend now sensed the anger coming from him and decided that it would be pointless to keep talking to a man that wasn't searching or willing to take any advice.

He left, closing the door behind him - they did not share any other words.

Julian sighed, that man had been his best friend for almost a year now. He knew he only wanted the best for him, but Julian wasn't a kid; he knew how to take care of himself, even when he failed at it sometimes.

And thinking about the situation in a point of view where he didn't felt anything for a certain woman, Dominick was absolutely right. Julian was risking his life for a woman, a married woman. A girl that maybe had forgotten about him already; she was married and rich, why would she need him?

But Julian knew that was not correct, Anneliese felt something for him as well as he did. And he was willing to do anything for her, even when that meant he could lose his life.

His train of thought led his mind to what happened almost a year ago, maybe it was his conscience trying to refresh his mind and make him realize the danger he was in…

*Flashback*

He was finally standing there, again.

The same spot from where she always admired the view of the land, from where she sang sometimes and the same spot where she used to relieve her own sorrows. So many times he founded her standing in the balcony alone; speechless, just thinking. And sometimes he would notice the tears falling down from her eyes.

Julian was standing in the same balcony where he had nearly tell her that he loved her. That time when she was watching those little girls in the garden, after the ambassador had visited them, and he could almost say that Anneliese envied the freedom of those girls. He was utterly sad, she was getting married and there was nothing he could do.

Now, he was there again. After multiple attempts to accomplish his goal, he knew this had to be one day where he would finally be able to win.

So many times he had been standing in her balcony, hiding. Hiding but still desperately looking for the chance to get to see her and maybe to talk to her. But luck hadn't been in his side, every time he had dared to fool the guards just to have a small possibility of finding her - she wasn't there.

Anneliese was never in her room, which he found completely odd. When he still worked at the castle, she spent almost all of her time in her room. And when he needed to help her, to see her, she was never in there.

But, this time he knew she had to be there. She had to.

Sadly and unexpectedly, Queen Genevieve had died.

Nobody knew why, yet all of them said that her age was the possible culprit. But Julian knew that the former Queen was not that old, her age was not a reason to die and she was not sick either.

And he had to tell her some important things he had been informed off, some details about her kidnapping.

Everything he suspected when she was kidnapped was true; he knew the identity of Anneliese's kidnappers and of the mastermind behind the plan. He also knew that the fact that Preminger 'rescued' her hasn't been causality, either product of hard work to find her.

Scrunching down to hide behind the railings from the guards outside, he moved towards the door.

His heart beating faster, Oh! How he wanted to see his beloved Anneliese!

And carefully looking inside the room through the door, he noticed someone there.

A person was in Anneliese's room; a woman, she walked towards her dressing table and opened a drawer to take out a handkerchief. Not sure if it really was her, Julian decided to wait. She was wearing a pink dress, had long blond hair; but what if she wasn't alone.

What if he entered and there was someone escorting her? He could to wait.

After wiping under her eyes, the woman started to walk out of the room.

His excitement and desperation betrayed him, and without thinking it twice, he opened the door to enter the room. He still wasn't sure if that girl was Anneliese, the glass of the door made everything blurry, but he was not missing his chance.

Julian entered the room; everything was still the same. Her bed, her books… everything just as he remembered. But he knew that everything was untouched because she wasn't there constantly; she was married now.

Unfortunately, luck let him down again. The girl walked out before he could even speak to make himself noticeable. He grumbled to himself in distress as she closed the door behind her.

Asking to himself - Why? Why life was treating him this way?

But his self-asking moment was short-lived; he recoiled a bit when someone coughed behind him. The way it sounded told Julian that he had made it on purpose, like to get his attention.

And slowly turning back to face the person, he met with the most deadly glare he had ever seen.

A middle-aged man, wearing a white powdered wig, a black tuxedo symbolizing the grief of the queen's death and a pair of angry amber eyes staring back at him.

Julian didn't know how to start to talk; he could have been arrested for just sneaking into the castle. He had to be careful with his words, but the King didn't seemed eager to listen.

Preminger's fists clenched at both sides of his body "You again" he hissed.

The venom in his voice was as clear as water, Julian was already nervous.

"Your - majesty" Julian's voice slightly trembling.

Preminger started to walk around Julian, he wasn't happy at all to see him "I thought I had made myself clear when I told you that I didn't wanted to see you around here anymore" The King had been very, very clear indeed.

This wasn't the first time Julian sneaked into the palace, and the last time he had entered Preminger caught him and told him not to come again. He wasn't kidding, Preminger knew the tutor was dangerous - he could ruin his plans after everything he had done to succeed!

Julian's mind was racing, trying to find rational answers to persuade Preminger into thinking what he wanted -and what would benefit him. "You were very clear indeed, your majesty. It's just that… I-I…I wanted to give Anneliese my condolences for her mother's death." Yeah, that was a nice excuse. Maybe he could pull this off.

The older man frowned at the younger; he was trying to trick him. "Then why you didn't use the front door?" Preminger smirked as he raised an eyebrow, Julian didn't know how to respond to that. "And, if what you say is the truth; why wouldn't you want to give me, the king, your condolences too. The queen was my mother-in-law" Preminger wasn't taking any chance, if Julian had really come there to give Anneliese's his condolences why did he sneaked into her room instead of using the front door like everybody else? Who doesn't have anything to hide, doesn't has to be scared.

But Julian was trying to make the King believe his words. "I knew you wouldn't allow me to enter, your majesty. You said it yourself; you don't want to see me around here"

Preminger smirked, 'touché' he mentally said. The boy was in it to win it.

The King stopped walking around the man and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Stop fooling around, Julian. I know why are you here, you can't hide that from me" he smirked again; Julian acted like if he didn't had a clue about what this man was talking about. Preminger waited the man to respond, but because Julian didn't said anything he decided to annoy him to make him a bit angry. "You're here to see my wife…" he watched how Julian instantly threw an angry glare at him "-the woman that sleeps by my side every night. You're here because you want her" Julian's frown hardened; he didn't care if he was thrown in jail, when it came to Anneliese nothing mattered. But still, the former tutor decided not to speak. "And I know that has been your goal all those countless other times you have sneaked in"

Julian didn't know how to respond to that. Anything he said could spoil everything!

Preminger was completely right; he was there to see Anneliese. But, he needed to see her now more than ever. He knew things that would make her want to go with him, things that made Julian very anxious. He knew she wasn't safe with a man that was eager to do anything to get what he wanted. And knowing that the woman he loved was in that man's hands made him agonize of pain inside.

So, he only shook his head at the King. For now, he didn't need to raise any suspicions. Who knew? Maybe he would buy it and would allow him to see Anneliese.

"Your majesty-" it was almost impossible to call him like that now that he knew how he had obtained that position "-your misunderstanding this situation." Preminger raised an eyebrow at him. "I've only come to speak with Queen Anneliese. Just to speak with her, and I assure you that our relationship has always been purely professional - nothing more than common friends" he was obviously lying, but Preminger seemed to be believing it. "I was her tutor, she was my student. And I thought that maybe stopping by to see how she has been these last months would be a nice gesture of me."

Preminger looked entirely convinced that he was telling the truth. Why would he lie?… Well, maybe to get to see her anyway… Nah. He reminded himself that those rumors about those two being in love where just comments of the castle's servants. It was Anneliese and Julian's word against all the employees' one.

"I see…" was all he thought about to reply to the younger man. His mind was still studying the situation.

If Julian wasn't trying to see Anneliese because he was in love with her… then why would he? The only excuse he was giving was that he wanted to be a good friend. Yet, Preminger knew that good friends didn't sneak into other person's houses to 'speak' with them. Or, knowing that their friend is married and has already been warned not to come, still try to do the opposite.

Something was not right…

He had noticed the way the treated each other when Anneliese was still the princess. The tenderness in their eyes when they were together, the sweet and caring way the treated each other… if that was how they expressed their friendship, then he didn't even wanted to imagine how they would act around each other expressing love.

An idea formed in his mind, if Julian was lying then a little pressure would make him spill out the truth.

"Mr. Mills," Preminger started again, making Julian look at him. "Why don't we sit down while we wait for Anneliese to come, I'll send someone for her"

Julian's blue eyes almost bulged out; he had fallen for it! His improvised plan was working!

He instantly nodded "Of course, your majesty. No problem"

Preminger smirked, as he walked out of the room. Not intending to bring the girl at all. He only stepped out of the room, waited a couple of seconds outside and entered again. Making the blond man believe he was actually going to call Anneliese.

As Preminger entered the room again, he locked the door.

"Well," he gestured Julian to sit down in one of the chairs close by "Sit down, Julian"

He obeyed; he was thinking about how he was going to tell her all those things.

The white haired man sat down near him, examining his nails as he started to hum a song.

Julian thought that he was maybe getting bored, he didn't cared either - but thinking that he had arrived in a good moment were the King was in a nice humor, he needed to build a conversation with him. Maybe gain a little of his trust, make Preminger believe that he was at his side. What he didn't know was that Preminger was really waiting for was for him to ask something. The older man was expecting him to act this way; he was waiting for him to bring out the subject to go to the point of this whole situation he had created.

The young man hated how much Anneliese was delaying. But it was understandable, her mother had died. He wasn't happy about it, but he wasn't very sad either. Queen Genevieve had been a great ruler and an amazing person with him; he always saw her as an example of integrity. Until she forced her young daughter to marry a stranger. Anneliese didn't even wanted to get married; still Genevieve wanted her to marry King Dominick. Unfortunately, she 'ran away'. And King Dominick couldn't wait for her so he canceled the wedding and left. Fortuitously, Preminger brought the princess back home that same day. Anneliese claimed that she had been kidnapped and that Preminger had rescued her; the Queen bought it all and rewarded Preminger with the hand of the princess after he added he had found a gold mine.

It was such a coincidence… Anneliese gets kidnapped, Preminger rescues her and asks for her hand saying that he can help the bankrupt kingdom with his new found fortune - a gold mine he 'found' during his journey.

The Queen had been completely selfish, making her daughter marry a man that could be her father. Allowing him to - break her innocence without her own consent. When Genevieve could have marry him instead…

But, getting back to the matter at hand, she had died.

"Premin-" he almost started the conversation wrongly, he cleared his throat and started again "Your highness, I was wondering… what happened to Queen Genevieve?" asked Julian, Preminger wanted to smirk so badly but that was the question he had been waiting for - this was becoming easier than he had expected.

The King sighed, his face reflecting sorrow. "It was a pure tragedy," he started, putting much effort in making his voice sound sad. "They say…" his amber eyes met his blue ones "They say she fell down the stairs of the main staircase"

Julian almost gasped, fell down? The Queen wasn't such a clumsy woman, and her health wasn't such a remarkable issue for her.

"But, was she sick or something?"

Preminger nodded "Just a common cold, the doctor said. Maybe she was too medicated"

'The Queen was sick… Anneliese always took care of her mother when she got sick.' Julian thought.

"What about Anneliese? Why wasn't she with her?"

"She was visiting her cousin Frances at the moment." Julian nodded, understanding a bit the situation. "Although," Preminger started again, "Some say she might have been pushed"

Julian rapidly accepted that hypothesis; he knew she couldn't have just fallen. "Yeah… maybe someone pushed her. But, did someone found any clues?"

Preminger shook his head and then shrugged "It's just a possible explanation some people proposed… none of them know what really happened" Again, Julian nodded. Preminger sighed again "Too bad I was the only one there to presence it all" A smirk slowly appeared on the man's face as he looked at the other, Julian gasped as his eyes bulged out.

Preminger killed Queen Genevieve.

Julian stood from the chair he was, already panting.

This man was even more dangerous than he thought; he had to take Anneliese out of there as fast as he could.

"You-You killed her" Preminger remained calmed, that twisted and evil look upon his face. "How could you?"

The King shrugged again, rolling his eyes this time "She was getting too unbearable, too intrusive for my taste. And of course if she hadn't died I wouldn't be king yet." he chuckled.

Julian couldn't even figure out what to say, Preminger had just confessed to him that he had murdered Anneliese's mother - their now former Queen!

Taking some steps back from where the older man was sitting, Julian gulped.

He watched how he wasn't acting worried or repented for his actions; Preminger was just sitting there examining his nails as the former tutor went out of breath to keep thinking on what he should do.

So many questions running through his mind at the same time-

'What should I do? Should I tell someone? Should I get Anneliese out of here? Should I argue with him?' But most importantly: 'Why he told me?'

"Why are you telling me all this?" the blue eyed man asked the other, who glared at him as he stood up from his chair. Preminger started walking towards him; a corner of his mouth went up to form a twisted and maniacal-like gesture. Now, face to face with Julian, he was prepared to give him the answer to that question.

Julian was taller than Preminger, but in this type of situations he always felt so tiny and afraid of the other person. Knowing that they had done horrible things regardless their height.

"You know Julian-" Preminger started, crossing his arms on top of his chest "-I always thought you were an honest man that followed the rules. I didn't complain when they hired you, because of that same reason. But, I never thought you would come to this."

"What do you mean?"

"Break into my property-" he instantly hissed in response. "But that doesn't matter so much, you used to work here, the real problem is the reason you have deep inside you to enter here," He looked at Julian again, to make sure he was listening to him. "-see my wife"

Julian tried not to bite his lip, all he was saying was true.

And the older man continued, "Not just to see her, but to turn her against me-" Julian cut him off, trying to deny Preminger's accusation.

"I would never do that-" Preminger cut him off this time.

"Then how are you planning to get her to leave with you?" The young man was left without words again, how did he knew? Was he being too obvious? "She knows that if she leaves, this kingdom will be in my hands."

Julian was between a wall and a sword; he wasn't getting out of there lying, his actions were obvious and a bit revealing.

"Preminger, I-"

"Please Julian, stop" he started chuckling, it almost seemed as if he was making fun of Julian "You don't have to give me any explications. I know there is something between Anneliese and you and sincerely I don't really care about it-"

Julian didn't thought about it twice before asking it, "Then why won't you let us be together?" he angrily spat at the King.

'It was about time he admit it' Preminger thought to himself. But rapidly answered, "Because your mutual worship gets in the way of my plans!" he shouted. "If she leaves with you, it will mean that she wants to divorce me and I'll be expelled from royalty. Which means that I won't be king anymore!"

Julian stood quiet, it was true, but she deserved to make her own decisions on base of the truth.

So he ventured to respond, "What if Anneliese leaves you because she knows other things… things that do not involve me?"

Preminger glared at him again, his teeth already clenched. "What are you saying?"

"You were the one that kidnapped her; you also hid her until King Dominick canceled the wedding. Then, you brought her back to the castle saying that you rescued her."

Preminger was left astonished, shocked and speechless. Julian had somehow figure out how he had become king, his master plan had been discovered. He frowned at the blue-eyed man "How do you know that?"

"That doesn't matter right now- you hurt her, hid her, forced her to marry you and killed her mother … I bet that if she hears half of the things we have talked about today she will leave on her own."

Preminger shook his head, trying to convince himself that that wouldn't happen. He was determined to keep her there, Anneliese could never leave. It was too risky; just to have Julian wandering around there could be lethal for him.

His mind was racing, yet an idea formed in between all the mess in it.

"I highly doubt that," Preminger replied, a bit more restored. "How will she ever know about those things?" he asked, that evil grin that meant no good appeared on his face. Asking a question that needed another part to be truly understandable.

Julian took a fast and deep breath, grabbing some courage out of nowhere to answer Preminger's question. "I'll tell her"

Despite Julian's valiant response, Preminger's expression reflected no worry. He had already figured out a way to keep the tutor away from them. He only kept grinning, and slowly started to move one of his hands towards one of his jacket's pockets. Softly grasping in his hand the object that would resolve all his problems. "I don't think so," Julian raised an eyebrow in confusion. Preminger knew he had to be fast and accurate if he wanted to succeed at another unflattering act. "You know why I told you that I murdered Genevieve?…" He finally asked.

Julian frowned "Because you're a coward, a pompous bald moron."

Preminger evilly chuckled, not listening to what the young man had said as he continued to answer his own question. His grinned "Because I want you to know how dangerous is the man you are messing with, Julian."

He decided to ignore what Preminger had just said, and kept trying to make a threat of his own.

"I'll tell everyone, and they will all know the false, ninny and mendacious man you really are." Julian kept remarking, just trying to make sure Preminger knew what he meant. But it wasn't working so well, Preminger didn't looked scared anymore. He was only smirking in an evil way at him, one of his hands hiding inside his jacket.

In order to see if he changed his attitude and responded to the severity of the situation Julian was aiming to put him in, the tutor decided to reveal another one of his intentions to put more pressure on Preminger.

"I'll also take Anneliese with me. After she knows everything you have done, she will come with me and we both are going to sink you to the deepest abyss the dungeon has available."

Preminger chuckled at his threat "Silly tutor, I guess your jobless time has made you forgot how to use your head properly." Julian threw him another puzzled look and again started to walk towards him to be closer "You aren't going to tell neither Anneliese nor anyone anything," Julian frowned, what was he talking about? Preminger took a gasp of air; he was really going to do it. Get rid of the tutor once and for all, but maybe scare him a little bit first. Julian started to worry, his words were started to have a scary and bad meaning. "You know why? Because you won't be around to do it!" And in a flash, unexpectedly and rapid - Preminger raised his once hidden hand. In it, a long, sharp object that was being driven towards Julian's face.

The pain hit him immediately, as well as the warm feeling of liquid running down his right cheek. Yet, when Preminger struck him, the only thing he was able to see was the gleam of the blade that belonged to the object he was holding in his hand. It was all so sudden, he was breathless.

*End of flashback*

He still felt the pain as he remembered the event. Still felt like a coward for running away after that, instead of facing everything like a man. But he knew he couldn't risk himself, if he had stayed in that room Preminger would have killed him. Julian was defenseless against an armed man; he didn't go there to fight. If he didn't had anything to fight for in his life, then he would had allowed Preminger to finish him at once. But Anneliese was still around, and she needed his help more than ever.

Julian felt calmed though; if luck, faith or destiny - whatever caused that to happen to him - were not willing to help him get his revenge, he knew Dominick had already plans to help him get it.

Author's Note:

Hi! Long time since I updated this XD!

Anyways, is up!

It's kind of ironic that tomorrow is Valentine's Day and this chapter doesn't contain strong romance :( Still, I PROMISE that the following ones WILL! :D

Thanks to everybody who has reviewed and supported and has helped me with this fic, REALLY means a lot!

And I promise, again, that there will be LOTS of romance in the next chapters ;)!

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed, Love you guys! :D

PS. If there are spelling mistakes, do not blame my beta-reader. I'm trying to get better with my writing so we changed our 'correcting method' to make it more easy and independent ;).