Julian woke to sunlight streaming through his dorm room window and the immediate, undeniable knowledge that everything had changed.
His body ached in ways that left no room for doubt—the deep soreness in his lower back and hips, the dark bruise on his throat where teeth had pressed deep enough to break skin, the unfamiliar weight of the marks on his chest that seemed to pulse with their own warmth. But it was more than just physical evidence. Something fundamental had shifted inside him, like a door had been opened that could never be closed again.
He sat up slowly, his hand going instinctively to his neck where he could still feel the phantom pressure of teeth. The mirror across the room showed him what he already knew—a dark bruise on his throat where teeth had pressed deep enough to break skin, surrounded by smaller marks that looked exactly like what they were. A claiming bite.
Valerius.
The name sent a shiver through him, bringing with it flashes of memory that made his cheeks burn. Golden eyes burning with desperate hunger. Hands that knew exactly how to touch him. A voice calling him beautiful, perfect, mine. The blood bond they'd formed that had freed Valerius completely from his magical imprisonment.
"Jesus," Julian whispered, his voice hoarse. He'd given his virginity to a demon. An actual, literal demon with horns and ancient eyes and a six-hundred-year grudge against something called a Soul Reaper.
The rational part of his mind—the part that had survived six years of foster care by being practical and skeptical—was screaming that this was impossible. But the connection humming in the back of his consciousness, the warmth that seemed to flow between him and something otherworldly, made denial pointless.
Julian stumbled to the bathroom, needing cold water and a moment to think. His reflection stared back at him, and for a moment he didn't recognize himself. His skin had a glow that hadn't been there yesterday, his eyes brighter somehow. Even his posture was different—straighter, more confident, as if something inside him had finally settled into place.
The water was shockingly cold against his face, but it didn't dispel the supernatural fog that seemed to have descended over his life and clouded his brain. If anything, it made everything sharper, more real. The bite mark on his throat was definitely there. The soreness in his body was definitely real. And somewhere in the back of his mind, he could sense something that felt distinctly not-human watching him with patient golden eyes.
"Okay," Julian said to his reflection. "Okay. So last night really happened. I'm bonded to a demon named Valerius, and apparently I have magical abilities that I never knew about."
His reflection offered no judgment, but as he turned away from the mirror, movement in the corner caught his eye. A shadow that didn't match the angle of the morning light, shifting and solidifying into a familiar figure.
Valerius stepped out of the shadows like he was walking through a doorway, his golden eyes immediately finding Julian's. In the harsh fluorescent lighting of the bathroom, he looked even more otherworldly than he had in the darkness—elegant horns catching the light, aristocratic features that belonged in a Renaissance painting, an aura of power that made the small space feel charged with electricity.
Julian's heart hammered against his ribs, but he didn't run. After what they'd shared, after the bond they'd formed, seeing Valerius felt less like encountering a supernatural threat and more like... coming home.
"Good morning," Valerius said softly, as if materializing in someone's bathroom was the most natural thing in the world. "How are you feeling?"
"Like my entire understanding of reality got turned upside down," Julian said, surprised by how steady his voice sounded. "But also... better than I have in years. Is that normal?"
Valerius's expression softened. "The bond we formed creates a connection between us. You should feel... different. More aware of my presence. But most of that comes from being truly seen and loved for who you are, Julian. So yes, it's completely normal."
Julian's breath caught, and he had to look away for a moment. His throat felt tight, emotions welling up that he hadn't allowed himself to feel in years. "I haven't..." He swallowed hard, struggling to find the words. "I haven't felt loved like this since my parents died. Since I was twelve. I'd forgotten what it felt like to matter to someone."
When he looked back at Valerius, there were tears threatening at the corners of his eyes. "I know this is all moving so fast for me, and I know you're not human, and I should probably be terrified. But for the first time in seven years, I don't feel alone. I don't feel invisible."
Valerius reached out to cup Julian's face, his thumb gently wiping away a tear that had escaped. "You are seen, Julian. You are loved. You are heard. And I've been waiting so long for you - for the one my grandfather said would truly see me, truly love me enough to set me free. You matter more than you could possibly know."
Julian leaned into the touch, closing his eyes and letting himself feel the full weight of that acceptance. When he opened them again, he felt steadier, ready to face whatever came next.
"How can I learn about my powers?" Julian touched the marks on his chest through his t-shirt. "Valerius, what exactly am I? You said I have magical heritage, but I don't understand what that means."
"It means you come from a bloodline that once wielded considerable magical ability. Most of those families integrated into mundane society over the centuries, and their children grew up unaware of their heritage. But the magic doesn't disappear—it just sleeps, waiting for the right catalyst to awaken it."
"And you were my catalyst."
"Your desperate call that night was powerful enough to tear through dimensional barriers, Julian. That doesn't happen unless someone has serious latent magical ability." Valerius stepped closer, and Julian caught his scent—something dark and complex that made his pulse quicken. "The blood bond we formed has created a connection to your magical heritage, but those powers still need to be awakened and trained. Your bloodline carries old magic—the kind that was common in my time, before families went into hiding. Since you were able to pull me across dimensions with just your desperation, your magic is likely tied strongly to your emotions. You might develop telekinetic abilities, perhaps astral projection, maybe even the power to move between realms. The strongest witches I knew in my time had magic that responded to their deepest feelings—love, anger, fear, determination. We both saw what you could do without knowing your powers, using just the emotion of loneliness and hurt to tear through reality itself. Just think of the things you could do if your love is strong. The magic will show itself when it's ready, usually triggered by intense need or overwhelming emotion."
Julian thought about the portrait he'd somehow drawn of Valerius without remembering it, the strange dreams. "So the magic was always there, just dormant?"
"Yes. Once you learn what it is, you'll need guidance to learn how to control and develop it."
Before Julian could respond, his phone buzzed on the bathroom counter. A text from Noah: Had an amazing time yesterday. Coffee again today? There's something I need to tell you.
Julian stared at the message, remembering how happy he'd felt during their coffee date. But Valerius's warning about Noah being manipulated by Malphas cast everything in a different light.
"He's texting me," Julian said, showing Valerius the message.
Valerius's expression immediately darkened. "Don't respond. Not yet."
"But what if you're wrong? What if he's not being controlled by Malphas at all? Noah seemed genuinely interested in my art, in me as a person."
"That's what he would want you to think, and exactly what makes the manipulation so dangerous," Valerius said, his golden eyes serious. "Malphas doesn't create feelings from nothing—he amplifies what's already there, removes inhibitions, guides people toward actions they might take anyway but lack the courage for. Noah might genuinely be attracted to you, but his sudden boldness in acting on it? That's supernatural influence."
Julian's heart sank. Even the one human connection he'd thought he'd found was tainted by supernatural manipulation. "So I can't trust anything about our interaction."
"You can't trust the timing or the intensity, no. But that doesn't mean Noah's feelings are entirely artificial." Valerius's voice was gentle, though Julian could see it pained him to admit that possibility—that Noah might genuinely be attracted to Julian. "The important thing right now is keeping you safe. Malphas will use any connection you have to hurt you, and through you, hurt me."
"Why does he want to hurt you so badly? I know you said he's been hunting you for six hundred years, but what started it?"
Valerius was quiet for a moment, his golden eyes shadowed with old pain. "When my grandfather saved me from death, he used magic powerful enough to tear my soul away from Malphas's collection. Soul Reapers don't lose souls—it's not supposed to be possible. For six centuries, Malphas has been trying to correct what he sees as a fundamental imbalance in the natural order."
"And now I'm part of that imbalance."
"Now you're the most important part," Valerius confirmed. "Malphas can't actually claim my soul anymore—my grandfather's magic made that impossible. But he's noticed I've been on Earth longer than usual, and he's figured out it's because of you. Now he wants you, Julian. If he can't have the soul that escaped him, he'll settle for the one that matters most to me."
Julian set his phone aside without responding to Noah's text. "What do I do? I can't just hide in my room forever. I have classes, a life—"
"You go to your classes," Valerius agreed. "Just be careful, more alert than usual. Stay in public spaces, stay around other people. Don't go anywhere alone, especially after dark."
"What about Marcus? Will he be in danger?"
"Not directly. Malphas wants you, not random bystanders. But he might use Marcus if he gets desperate enough." Valerius stepped closer, his hand coming up to cup Julian's cheek. The touch sent warmth flooding through Julian's body, along with an unmistakable sense of rightness. "I know this is overwhelming. But you're not alone anymore, Julian. You'll never be alone again."
Julian leaned into the touch for a moment, drawing strength from the connection humming between them. "Will I see you during the day? Or do you just appear when things get supernatural?"
"I'm always here," Valerius said softly. "The bond we formed means I can sense when you need me, when you're in danger. But I can also just... be with you, if you want."
"I want," Julian said without hesitation. Whatever complications this brought to his life, whatever dangers he now faced, having Valerius's presence felt like the first solid thing he'd had to hold onto in years.
Valerius's smile was soft, almost tender. "Then I'll stay close."
Julian made it through his morning Art History lecture, but barely. Every few minutes, he would feel a light touch on his back or a gentle squeeze of his hand—Valerius letting him know he was there, invisible to everyone else. It was comforting and distracting in equal measure.
Professor Chen's discussion of Byzantine religious art took on new meaning now that Julian understood he was looking at actual magical symbols, not just artistic representations. The protective wards carved into church doorways, the demon-warding crosses, the saints whose eyes seemed to follow the viewer—all of it suddenly made perfect sense.
"The boundary between art and magic was much thinner in medieval times," Professor Chen was saying, her dark eyes scanning the classroom. "Artists and their patrons genuinely believed these symbols offered real protection against spiritual threats."
Julian touched the marks on his chest through his shirt, remembering their presence. Some of those medieval artists had been right.
Julian felt a gentle squeeze on his shoulder, Valerius's invisible touch letting him know he was still there. "Always," came the soft whisper in his ear. "You're safe."
The professor moved on to discuss iconographic symbols in Byzantine mosaics, and Julian found himself taking actual notes for the first time all morning. Having Valerius's presence there, even invisibly, made everything feel more manageable.
After class, Julian lingered while other students filed out, pretending to organize his notes. Professor Chen approached his desk with her usual kind expression.
"Julian," she said, gathering her materials. "I hope you found today's discussion interesting. The intersection of art and belief systems has always been fascinating to me."
Julian looked up at her, noting again the way her dark eyes seemed to see more than they should. There was something about Professor Chen that had always made him feel like she understood things others didn't. Now he wondered if there was more to that feeling than he'd realized.
"Professor Chen, hypothetically speaking... if someone discovered they had a connection to, uh, older forms of belief. Magic, I guess. How would they go about learning more about it?"
Professor Chen was quiet for a long moment, studying his face with an intensity that made Julian squirm. Finally, she sat down in the chair next to his desk.
"Hypothetically," she said carefully, "such a person might start with research. Historical texts, cultural studies, anthropological work on magical traditions. But they'd also need to be very careful about who they talked to. Not everyone is... open to such possibilities."
"But some people are?"
"Some people have always known that the world is stranger than most are willing to admit." Her voice was gentle, but there was something beneath it that suggested deeper knowledge. "If this hypothetical person needed guidance, they might find it helpful to know that my office hours are always available for students who have questions about... unconventional subjects."
Professor Chen's eyes shifted slightly, focusing on a spot just behind Julian's shoulder. "That invitation extends to both of you, of course." She raised an eyebrow. "And who may you be?"
Julian's heart nearly stopped. He spun around to look where Professor Chen was gazing, but saw nothing. Suddenly, Valerius's hand wrapped around his arm—a firm, steadying grip that conveyed his shock without words.
"You can see him," Julian whispered, turning back to Professor Chen with wide eyes.
"Clear as day. I felt supernatural presence around you during our last class, but today I can actually see him." Her expression grew more serious. "Which makes me very curious about why a demon is attached to one of my students."
Julian stared at her, his heart racing. "What are you?"
The air shimmered, and suddenly Valerius was visible beside Julian's desk, his golden eyes fixed on Professor Chen with wariness. "Valerius Ashford," he said quietly, answering her earlier question. "And you are?"
Professor Chen studied Valerius for a long moment, then looked back at Julian. "Professor Elena Chen, though I've gone by many names over the years." Her expression grew more serious. "Now, Mr. Ashford, would you care to explain why you're bound to one of my students? And Julian, I think it's time you told me exactly what's been happening to you."
"I'm not losing my mind," Julian said, more to himself than to her.
"No, you're not. You're awakening." Professor Chen stood, gathering her materials. "I can see that something significant has changed in you, Julian. Magic leaves traces, and yours is finally stirring to life."
She pulled out a piece of paper and quickly wrote something down. "This is my home address and personal number. We need somewhere more private than my office to discuss what's going on here. Both of you."
She paused at the door. "And Julian? Whatever's happening to you, whatever you're discovering about yourself—you're not alone. There are others who understand."
After she left, Julian sat in the empty classroom, trying to process what had just happened. His professor could see Valerius. She knew about magic. She wanted to help them.
"That was unexpected," Valerius said quietly, becoming invisible again as footsteps echoed in the hallway.
"She wants to help us," Julian whispered. "Should we trust her?"
"I think we may not have much choice. You need guidance, Julian, and she's offering it." Valerius paused. "Besides, anyone who can see through my invisibility that easily has considerable power. It might be wise to have her as an ally rather than leave her as an unknown."
Julian gathered his things slowly, his mind spinning. In the span of one morning, he'd gone from completely alone in this supernatural world to having a potential mentor. It felt too good to be true.
But as he walked back to his dorm, Julian couldn't shake the feeling that Professor Chen's offer might be exactly what he needed. For the first time since this all began, he had a path forward that didn't involve just stumbling around in the dark.
When Julian got back to his room, Marcus was at his desk studying, surrounded by anatomy textbooks and highlighters.
"Hey," Marcus said, looking up. "How were classes?"
"Interesting," Julian said, which was certainly true. "Actually learned some things I didn't expect."
Marcus grinned. "Always a good day when that happens. Oh, and I heard you had company last night."
Julian felt his cheeks burn. "Yeah, it's... new."
"Good for you, man. You deserve to be happy." Marcus went back to his studying, and Julian was grateful for his roommate's easy acceptance.
Julian sat on his bed and pulled out the piece of paper Professor Chen had given him. Her address and phone number, written in neat handwriting. Tomorrow, he could call her. Tomorrow, he could start learning about what he really was.
Tonight, he had Valerius's presence and the promise that he wasn't alone anymore. After seven years of being invisible, it was more than enough.
"Thank you," Julian whispered quietly, knowing Valerius would hear him.
"Always," came the soft reply. "This is just the beginning, Julian. Tomorrow, we start figuring out what you're truly capable of."
Julian settled back against his pillows, exhaustion from the emotional day finally catching up with him. But for the first time since this had all started, he felt hopeful about what came next. He had allies now. He had a path forward.
And he wasn't walking it alone.