He knew it was a dream.
That didn't make it any less vivid.
The feline grace in movement, the familiar strength as he was pressed into the grass, a voice in his ear. The eyes he knew so well. Lips on his own and he smiles into the kiss.
Then a different scene, hands around his throat, burning till he couldn't speak. The body of an innocent. The clanking of chains. Then darkness.
Cain woke in a frenzy, hair slicked with sweat as he gasped, wordless and out of breath.
It took him a few seconds to remember where he was.
He breathed in deeply, allowing the salty smell in the air to calm him down enough for him to close his eyes again.
Markus had watched the scene unfold, frozen at the doorway. He gripped the hilt of his sword, conflicted. He waited until Cain was asleep again before taking his place across from him.
'Scary bastard,' He thought as he settled down for a few hours of rest.
When Cain woke the next morning, it was Alexis's face he saw first, too close for comfort.
He frowned instantly, making his feelings clear.
"Hey, don't be like that!" She grabbed the back of his shirt, trying to pull him up. "Come with me." She dragged him to the stairs, his body limp and sliding across the floor.
"Don't make me get Markus."
He clambered to his feet, signalling at her to wait. He followed her out onto the upper deck, shielding his eyes from the sunlight as she retrieved the map and journal.
"Tell me again." She smiled, bouncing lightly on her feet.
Cain rolled his eyes before pointing at a ring-like design on the journal and then at a place on the map.
"Yeah but, what's the ring supposed to be?"
He tilted his head, thinking, before mouthing : 'Sanctuary.'
"Actuary?"
He shook his head.
'Sanc-tu-a-ry.'
"Sanctuary?" She applauded herself as he nodded.
"And you think someone there will help Noah?"
He shrugged, looking over to where Noah had taken to walking, trying to escape seasickness.
'Hopefully.'
"Is it safe?" Her eyes widened as he looked up. "I mean, will we be attacked by a unicorn or a siren or-"
He flipped through a few pages in the journal, raising an eyebrow at something before closing it.
He shook his head.
"Yeah..." She squinted at him, only to be ignored.
She decided to use the greatest temptation available to teenagers.
"Food?"
He brightened, nodding as he followed her to the storage room.
*****************************
"Are you sure about this?" Markus asked her as they were nearing their destination.
"Hm?" She broke out of her trance, looking up at him.
"About Cain." He lowered his voice, glancing at the warlock who was at the other side of the deck. "You trust him?"
"Markus, it's not like he's an actively bad person." She leaned against the railings, "Why all of a sudden?"
He looked away from her, off to where Noah was having a one sided discussion with Cain.
"Damn, Markus, you're not jealous, are you?" She ooh-ed childishly.
"Jealous of what?!"
"You're jealous because you're the only one Cain doesn't like."
"Hate to break it to you, but I don't think he likes you all that much either."
"Shut up and watch this," She raised a hand over her head. "Cain, hey! Hi!"
The warlock looked around in confusion before slowly raising a hand in return.
"Yeah, see, he loves me."
Markus smirked, shaking his head.
Weirdo.
*****************************
By the time they docked at the port, it was past noon, the area as deserted as ever.
"Normally I'm against leaving kids alone like this but I make an exception for you."
"You're the best, Captain." Alexis called out, waving as Gunnar immediately sailed away from them. She turned to Cain.
"Now what?"
He looked around for a while before walking down a dirt path, forcing the others to follow.
"Are we going to the village?" Noah asked, jogging to keep up with Cain.
The warlock nodded, not taking his eyes off the road.
"So... How far is it?"
'Not very.'
They reached the village at twilight, giving Noah trust issues. Even Alexis was dragging her feet as they passed through the gates.
"I beg you, my guy, stop." She pleaded to Cain, who was fuelled by pure spite.
"She's right. We shouldn't travel at night."
Alexis cheered quietly as Markus took her side.
Cain finally gave in, leading them to the tiny inn in the middle of town. He pulled the hood of his cloak up, concealing his tattoo as he scanned the patrons.
As soon as he gave the all-clear, Markus asked for two rooms for the night, being the only one on the group who looked like a responsible adult.
"Who wants to room with me?" Alexis asked as they walked up to the second floor.
'Don't look at me.'
"You can sleep alone if you want, Lexi."
"Yeah, it's two beds a room, one of you will have to sleep with another." She raised an eyebrow in amusement at their reactions.
Cain took the initiative to push Noah towards her before stumbling into his own room.
"Excellent choice." She grinned as Markus looked at the warlock in disapproval.
This was one of the rare times he was too tired to argue though. After making sure Alexis and Noah were safe in the room, he closed the door behind him, glancing around.
The room was small, but dry, with wooden floors and walls. Two cots were pushed against one side with a door leading to the bathroom on the opposite wall.
'Not bad, actually.' He thought fleetingly before he noticed Cain moving to take his shirt off. He glanced back casually, making direct eye contact.
"Can you not?" Markus looked away, more frustrated than flustered.
Cain smirked, pulling his shirt back down before flopping onto the mattress.
Markus sighed deeply.
'Grant me strength.' He prayed as he followed his lead.
****
"Lexi?" Noah called softly from under the blankets he had piled on.
"Yeah?"
"Do you think they're getting along?"
"Depends on how many dead bodies we find in the morning."
"I see."
"Goodnight, Noah."
"Goodnight."