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"Julia!" he shouted "Maddie!"

Shit Where could they be? His sister couldn’t be far--

A sharp cry ended in a yelp He spun around, backing up until he reached the railing as his heart pounded in his chest "Julia?"

He started walking, then running The sound came from above--from the roof

"Don’t come up here, Lucian!" Julia shouted from above "Please--" Another sharp cry cut off her words

Like hell he wasn’t co under his weight He reached the roof within seconds, his wild gaze swinging around the dark space With only the silverybehind the rippling canopy

Relief crashed into him "Julia, what is--"

"Don’t come any closer" She held up her hands "Please"

Concern exploded through hiht sliced over her Blood marred her face and her hands trembled

"I’d listen to her if I was you"

He slowed as Daniel stepped out fronize his cousin, seeing that he was dressed all in black, like a da on here, but if you’re the reason why she’s bleeding, I’ kill you"

"Is that so?" Daniel moved swiftly--faster than Lucian would’ve ever expected In a heartbeat, he was standing behind Julia, one arm around her waist and his hand at her throat

Daniel held a knife

"What the fuck?" Lucian exploded

Julia briefly squeezed her eyes shut "It’s been--"

"Shut up," Daniel warned her, his handjust a fraction off an inch "You say one word, you die--you die right now"

A bitter burst of panic lit up Lucian He had no idea as going on or where his sister was, but right now, all he could be concerned as getting Julia out of haro, Daniel" He kept his hands up "Please Whatever is going on here has nothing to do with her Just let her go"

The knife pointed at Julia’s neck shook "You’re right It has nothing to do with her More like wrong place at the wrong ti She wasn’t supposed to be upstairs None of you were supposed to be"

Lucian’s gaze shot to Julia’s One wrong led to keep cal on, Daniel"

The younger man’s face was pale "None of you were supposed to be upstairs I would’ve had tis"

"I didn’t--I didn’t put those paintings there," Julia said, wincing "I heard footsteps I went upstairs to check That’s all"

"The footsteps? That’s been you?" Lucian de ripped across the sky "This entire tiuess I have the ghosts to thank for that" Daniel laughed, but the sound was forced "God, you have no idea You’re such a fucking idiot"

Lucian’s hands closed into fists "Then o and you and I can talk Let her go and I won’t hurt you We’ll just talk"

"Yeah, right You think I’ht that aboutJulia away fro to take care of this, like I’ve been taking care of everything for ten fu--"

What sounded like a cha uncorked echoed across the roof

Daniel jerked back and at the same time Julia screamed Red sprayed the side of her face as Lucian shouted Daniel went down, the knife clattering off the roof as Julia lurched forward, dropping to her knees

Lucian didn’t even look back He charged forward, reaching Julia’s side He knelt, gripping the sides of her bloodied face as panic dug in with icy tendrils "Are you okay? Julia, baby, talk to me"

"I’m okay" She sucked in a shaky breath as she lifted her chin Her eyes ide "The blood--oh my God" She started to pull away and look behind her

"Don’t look" Lucian stopped her, folding an ar her to his chest Daniel was flat on his back, half his head gone He focused on Julia, wiping off the blood and gore fro "God, I thoughtI thought I was going to lose you--that I lost you"