He dove into his piece of pie. “Julian wanted apple, but cherry is better. It’s my favorite.”
What was he saying? Her insides shook. “Julianwanted apple?”
He didn’t even look at her. Just kept eating his pie. “Don’t worry. Anna. You’re the only one left.”
Was that a threat? “Julian, what do you mean?”
He stared at her. His eyes dark. Lifeless. “You’re the only one left who can fix him.”
She searched every corner of her brain. Why ... How...? “Fix him? Fix whom? Fix you? How?”
He frowned. “Don’t be stupid. I don’t need fixing.Juliandoes.”
His eyes changed, softened.
Julian.
This was Julian. But a moment ago ... it wasn’t.
“I’m sorry, Anna. I told him to be nice to you. You can help me defeat the darkness.”
Blinking, she gulped. Toldhim... “Told who to be nice to me, Julian?”
He shrugged. “Damian.”
Dear God in heaven ... She began to shiver uncontrollably. The brother everyone feared. “Is Damian ... the darkness?”
Julian’s nod was quick, as though he didn’t want anyone to see it.
Dad was right. Joshua was right.
Julian offered a weak smile. “Mother helped me. Until she was gone. My father killed her, you know.”
She put a hand to her mouth.God ... O God ... helpme....
Julian’s smile turned ... wrong. Evil. “When he told me, I killedhim. Julian couldn’t do it, so I did.” A sick laugh escaped his mouth. “Dad hated Julian’s garden. But that’s where he is.”
“I thought ... I thought he was buried in the cemetery?”
That hateful laugh again. “He didn’t deserve any such thing.”
She felt the blood drain from her face and took a deep breath. She had to stay alert. Had to find a way out.
Julian’s eyes softened, and he offered her a shy smile. “Mary was so nice to me. I loved her. She was going to help me.” He stood up and went to the window.
“Help you?” Her voice squeaked.
“Yes. But now it’s up to you.”
She watched him for several seconds, frozen in her seat. “Do you know what happened to Mary?” It didn’t matter what he did to her right now, she had to know.
He nodded. “She’s out in the garden.”
“No.”The whispered word fell from her lips. Her stomach lurched.
He snapped his gaze back to her. Studied her. His eyes darkening with every step he took toward her. Julian, but not Julian. Her Julian was gone. In his place was ...
The other.
