Chapter 17

Liar, liar pants on fire.

Despite being in agony, I didn't want to see his filthy hands on my friend’s wand, so I charged towards him. Some unknown power swept me off of my feet and I landed on the ground moaning in pain. Then the entire building was jolted, and the girls began to scream. I had no idea what was going on, but supercharged light shot through the space, hitting the giant in his chest. Part of the ceiling came down crushing him and then he was lifted above the ground; his body twisted at an odd angle. He roared in pain—I covered my ears after hearing his bones crack—and within a few seconds, he was once again crushed on the ground. He lay there, this time not moving or making any sound.
"Julia, are you all right?"
Icy fear slithered through me, attempting to concentrate on my breathing, when I realised Jasper was the one who came to rescue me. He moved quickly, embracing me in his arms. My chest heaved, my whole body blazed in pain. My leg was probably broken.
"Jasper!" I choked "What are you doing here?"
This was the only reasonable question that came to my mind under these circumstances. Kate picked up her magic wand, her breathing shallow. Kelsie kept cursing off the giant that was now lying dead next to her.
"Do you really want to kill yourself? Are you fucking crazy?" Jasper asked, holding me, his brown eyes shimmering with dying magic. Questions were mounting in my head and I wasn't sure which one to ask first. I hated his guts, but right at that moment, I had to be grateful because he saved the girls’ lives, as well as mine. I got up feeling nauseous with my head steadily pounding.
"Hey, you," Kelsie said, "We appreciate your help, but don’t you dare speak to my girlfriend like that." She seemed to be in much better shape than me.
My ex-boyfriend shot her an angry look, twisting his lips in a sneer. We needed to get out of here alive, so I had to play nice. Maybe he was working with those pricks. He obviously had no idea that I was going to be here.
"Kelsie and Kate, just wait for me in the car. I’ll be there in a second." My voice cracked from the pain of my swollen leg, but I tried to push through it and concentrate on keeping Jasper away from the girls. I hated the fact that I owed him anything, especially my life.
"Julia, I don’t think—"
"Kate, please," I begged, shooting her a warning look. She had to leave if I wanted Jasper to talk to me. Both of the girls started moving towards the entrance, leaving me alone with my crazy ex-boyfriend.
"Jasper, you saved my butt… I get it, but that doesn’t change anything between us." I wondered what he was planning to do with me next.
His eyes hardened, and he took a step toward me. My mouth went dry; I didn't know what to expect. I hadn't seen him for a while, but I always questioned his sanity.
"I asked Georgiana to pass a message to you," he said slowly.
"Yeah, I got your message from her, and I still don’t know what you expect from me?"
“Isn't it obvious?"
I laughed, ignoring the pain radiating from my leg. "We aren’t together anymore, Jasper. Why is it so hard for you to understand that? It’s been a year; I’ve fucking moved on!"
"Fuck, Julia, we were great together. I still love you."
"You don’t understand what love is, Jasper," I shouted, glancing around. "I don’t have feelings for you anymore. Don’t you get it?"
He ran his hand though his hair, narrowing his eyes. There was an obvious tension in the air, and my heartbeat slowed down, as his eyes darted away from my face. He inhaled and started shifting his scent, wrapping it all over me. This was how he marked his territory. He used to control every aspect of my life when we were together. He used magic to make my mother like him; he never admitted to it, but I just knew.
"I know that you’re with that vampire. You’re a fool to think he has any feelings for you. Leeches like him aren’t capable of having feelings." He twisted his mouth in a nasty smile.
“It's none of your business. You used dark illegal magic to wipe his memories after I told you to stay away from me."
He laughed. "I won’t deny it."
"Stay the fuck away from me; otherwise you will have my father to answer to." I limped away, thinking that the ordeal was over. Before I had a chance to defend myself, he pushed me up against the wall. He parted my thighs with his and moved his face near mine, inhaling. His body twisted into mine as he moved his hardness over my thigh. I rose on to the tips of my toes, pain sliced through my left leg and I gasped. I hoped Kate did call my father. I knew Jasper wouldn’t let me go easily. He was an incredibly well-skilled wizard and I was at his mercy.
"Julia, I'm not here to listen to your threats. I know more about that vampire than you can even imagine. Since you started fucking around with him there has been nothing but trouble." He pressed his cheek to mine. Spicy, oriental fragrance with notes of cinnamon swirled around me.
Boiling pain coursed through every inch of my body. My injuries weren't severe, but he kept pressing down onto me, no doubt enjoying my misery. When we were together, he would push me to the breaking point. I would have to release my magic, to see what kind of power I held deep inside me.
“You're mine and you always will be, my power would crush that leech…" He kept talking but I didn't follow him anymore. I heard sirens in the distance and hope flickered through me, swelling inside me like a balloon. Right before he grabbed me up, I’d snatched the knife off the ground—it was now resting in my left hand.
I could feel flames on my fingertips, but I kept my power at bay. It had been over a year and I was ready to kick his ass.
“You're my destiny, darling, and if that vampire gets in my way, I'm going to kill him," he whispered. I smiled and pushed the knife I held in my free hand toward his stomach. His pupils dilated, and his body automatically tensed.
"Continue to touch me and I’ll slip this knife straight into your guts," I said, then he pulled away from me. I heard voices, but Jasper’s dark eyes were focused on mine.
"I saved your life, Julia, so you owe me." He laughed and without giving me a chance to react; he took a few steps backwards raising his hands. “I'll be watching you. Always."
"Fuck you!"
He disappeared into the darkness. My legs gave out and I fell to the ground, breathing heavily. I still tasted blood on my lips and wondered if I could find the way back. I heard voices close to the building’s entrance and soon the corridor was filled with police officers.
"Julia!"
Dad got to me, looping his arms around my waist. Our eyes met, and I felt his anger, rippling with his energy, I was in so much trouble. His face was tense, and he kept cursing under his breath until we got outside. "Tell me what’s wrong. Is it your leg, hon?"
"I'm fine, just a bit bruised," I replied, holding my breath.
He helped me get to the ambulance. I felt like my leg was going to fall off, but I put on a brave face. Dad was barely holding it together. His skin was ashen, and his breath was sawing quickly in and out of his mouth as he clenched his fists.
"Julia, what were you thinking?" he yelled. "I’m barely restraining myself from taking you across my knee to beat some sense into you!"
"Dad," I moaned while the medics fussed around me, “There was no time. I thought that I could find Rufus!"
"Julia, for the love of God," he said, “You’re worse than your mother. I was going out of my mind thinking that you were dead!"
I looked above his head to see Nathaniel appear from out of nowhere. He took one look at me and inhaled, his eyes began to burn with rage. "I can’t believe that you were so fucking stupid!" he growled, then lifted my chin to take a look at the bruised side of my face. His eyes darted down to my leg, which I tried to cover up with the blanket.
"La Caz, my daughter needs medical attention," my dad said.
"I'm taking her to the hospital, Mr. Taylor. Her leg doesn’t look good, and that magical infection is worsening with every second. We will be at the hospital in minutes. If we leave her here, she might lose her leg." Nathaniel pointed at my leg that was now swollen to the size of a melon and the blood was pouring out of me. I clenched my teeth, trying not to cry.
Dad’s eyes settled on the injury and, for a second, I thought that he would lose his self-control, flipping with magic. "Fine" he snapped, breathless. "Take her."
Rage built inside me when I looked at Nathaniel. He wasn't talking right now and I didn't care how furious he was with me; I had more reason to be pissed off than anyone else here. Kate and Kelsie waved to me, and they looked like they were in good hands. Dad was called over, so he left me with the assurance that he would show up at the hospital as soon as he was done with the crime scene.
"I'm not going anywhere with you," I said, glaring at Nathaniel.
"Shut up, Julia," Nathaniel growled, and before I could protest he lifted me gently. Some of the medics started to protest but he was already walking away.
"Put me down, Nathaniel, right now. I want to walk," I shouted, but I didn't have much strength left to fight. My entire body was pulsing in pain.
“You're fucking mad if you think I would let you walk," he whispered. His fangs were extended but I didn't know if it was because of my blood or the anger that was radiating through him.
"For God’s sake, I'm going to use my magic, you humiliated me enough already."
I was still talking when he placed me gently in the back of his limo; I started to shiver from the cold and the constant excruciating pain. Nathaniel sat beside me; his breathing was rigid, his eyes hardened on me.
"Hospital, Roberto," he snapped, running his hand through his hair. His eyes flamed with anger. For about five minutes we said nothing. I wanted him to suffer, so he could understand what I was going through after Elena told me the truth.
"Have you calmed down?" he whispered.
"We aren’t talking," I replied, closing my eyes.
"What’s wrong with you, Julia? Do you really want to die?"
He kept his voice down, but it was pointless; Roberto was listening to every word.
"I'm not having this conversation with you. I thought that I was going to track Rufus—"
"Julia! You have no idea what kind of danger you put yourself and your friends in. I’ve been calling you for hours, pulling my hair out." He was breathing like a beast ready to attack.
I exhaled, ignoring him. "I'm going to be fine."
"Sir, we’re here," Roberto said.
Nathaniel insisted on carrying me into the ER. I wanted to tell him what I thought about him, but I was numb and in so much pain that I couldn’t even shout anymore. He wasn't allowed to go with me into the emergency room. A few paranormals examined my legs. After I was given some pills, I lost consciousness and fell into a deep sleep.