an: hi, guys! I'm updating so quickly because I read all of your reviews and it floored me how much you guys like this story! I'm so glad you guys are warming up to Julius. All of my characters have really complicated motives for doing what they do in this story, and you're only just starting to see the lengths that some of them will go to in ensuring what needs to be done over what they want. Okay, I'm rambling, but really thank you so much for the reviews! Keep them coming.(; Enjoy!
"Another cheer to the hero of the day!" Julius calls, gesturing toward me with his cup of ale.
The lost boys all hold up their glasses and holler. I blush wildly and raise my own glass yelling, "I couldn't have done it if it weren't for Jules."
More cheers erupt throughout the Tavern. The alcohol in the glass burns its way down my throat before settling in my stomach. My face feels hot and the music playing somewhere in the room is a happy tune that makes me feel lighter inside.
I spot Mary standing a ways away from me, smiling a small smile meant only for me. She has a glass in her hand as well and it takes me a moment to realize that she is not a child that cannot drink. Before I can motion her to come over to where I stand, she is swallowed into the sea of people that take up the room. There are so many people running by me, patting my shoulder or stroking my hair. Someone slams their cup onto the table next to me, loud as a gunshot.
Except it really was a gunshot.
I am back in the ballroom the night of the Choosing Ceremony and the pirates have just attacked. There are too many people in this room. I need to find Cassius.
I begin shoving my way through the pirates around me but there are too many people for me to make anything out. Another person touches my hair and I jerk away. "Cassius!" I yell. "Cassius, where are you?"
I am breathing way too hard. Where is Daphne? Alice? Cassius? I need to get them to safety.
Someone grabs my arm and I pick a knife up off of the table next to me, bringing it downward onto the pirate.
"Sophia," Cassius says, staring at me.
The breath leaves my lungs and I back up a step. I suddenly remember that I am not in the ballroom and the threat of pirates is miniscule. "I'm sorry," I choke out. There are still too many people around, taking up all of the air. They have all grown dead silent, staring intently at me.
"Told you she was trouble," Bart says.
I am still breathing too hard, trying to find air. "I'm sorry," I gasp again, "Julius, I-"
Jules pries the knife from my fingers and slams the blade into the wood of the table. "Nothing to see here," he tells everyone around us. Without another word he leads me to the ladder leading to the forest.
Once I am beneath the stars I fall to my knees, drinking in the cool night air. Julius knees in front of me, minding to keep his distance. His bow is strung across his back.
"I'm sorry," I say yet again.
Julius merely studies me.
"I thought I was back in the ballroom the day the pirates attacked the House. I didn't-"
He pulls out a canteen and hands it to me. "You've been through more than many people have in their lives. I would expect it all to come with some baggage."
"They're all going to think I'm crazy," I say.
"On the contrary, my woman in white," Julius replies as I hand the canteen back to him. "They all love you. In fact, Bart's wife you to be the leader of the Lost Boys- after myself, obviously." He smiles.
Bart has a wife? "Why would she do that?"
"Because she knows you. Better than any of us do, anyway. She did live you with you, after all."
I snap my head toward him. "What?"
"Kinsley is her name. Maybe you remember her?" Julius is still smiling as he stands and offers me a hand.
I take it and he leads me away from the Oak, most likely toward the room that I woke up in when I was first rescued by the Lost Boys.
"You see, Sophia, she has enough faith in you. Why shouldn't we?"
"You're not serious," I say, studying him as we walk.
His scar becomes more visible as he lifts his cheek in a small smile. "I'm quite serious. Welcome to the Lost Boys, Sophia. You're their second leader."
"I've hardly done anything to earn it."
"You just haven't done it yet, is all."
I stop walking and look at him. "What's that supposed to mean?" I ask.
"You said it yourself," Julius says, looking at me, "steal from the rich to give to the poor. You've been the only one with the initiative to do so in a very long time."
"Just because I steal from people who deserve it doesn't mean I have what it takes to lead an entire group of people. There's more to it than that."
"You're brave, Soph."
I almost flinch at the nickname as we continue to walk through the forest. "No," I say, "I'm not."
"Yes, you are. And besides, you've got me to walk you through this all."
The ground shifts beneath me and I fall backwards with a gasp of surprise.
Julius hooks an arm around my waist and cinches me close, catching me from falling. I'm sure if anyone were around us it would look as if Julius was dipping me backwards during some very intricate dance. I lose my breath entirely and he helps me back to my feet. "Like I said," Julius says with a smile, "I'm right here with you."
We drop down through the hole and into the pitch black tunnel once again. He takes my arm lightly like he did before and leads me to the room that I had woken up in.
"Whose room is this?" I ask, knowing that I must have taken it from someone.
"Mine," Julius replies, "but I find that it very well suits you, doesn't it? Besides, I wouldn't trust you sleeping with all the other Lost Boys; they like you too much."
I furrow my brow, unsure if he is being sarcastic or not. Either insinuation makes my palms sweaty from nerves.
"I'll see you in the morning when you wake up," Julius says, turning to leave.
"Where are you going?" I ask. I turn bright red when I realize how needy that sounded, as if I couldn't let him out of my sight, or as if I wanted him to stay the night with me.
Julius smiles, though, taking it all in stride. "I'm going to tell everyone that you've accepted the offer of becoming my second in command. Have a good night, Soph," he says as he starts to walk from the room.
"Do me a favor?" I ask and he turns back to look at me. "Don't call me that," I say when he meets my eyes.
I can see in his eyes that he knows exactly why I don't want him calling me that. He nods once and leaves me alone in his room.
an: this chapter is a little short, but I hope you guys still enjoy it! Let me know what you think! I based Julius' character off of someone very close to me (he was a little weirded out when I told him) and he's happily surprised to see how much you guys like the character! Anyway, till next time! I think when I get to 300 reviews I'll post a chapter in Cassius' POV. Hmmmm.(: