He held Tivon's cold body close to his chest and ran. Elias ran through the frozen lands covered in thick snow. He still ran when the snow on the ground was beginning to melt away. He ran through the damp forest, wet from the melting rain. He ran despite the pain and dizziness. Elias needed to get Tivon as far away from her.
Elias clutched Tivon closer, always listening to his weak breathing. Elias had to stop to help him, yet he still wanted to run. Elias shut his eyes. He trusted Cornelis, he had trusted her with keeping Tivon safe. He looked down at Tivon's body, still freezing to the touch, his pale lips twitching. He was still shivering from pain and cold. Why is that the thing, Elias wanted, more than anything, to give to Tivon, he couldn't? Safety. Why did he always fail at keeping him safe?
Elias finally stopped when the pain in his legs was so great he thought he would collapse. He gently laid Tivon down and removed his coat, wrapping Tivon's body in it. Then he immediately went in search of wood for a fire. When he lit it up, he sat close to Tivon, hugging his body close to him, hoping he could warm him up.
Tivon's body was so cold and with every shiver and every groan from the pain, Elias' heart was torn to pieces. Tivon's heartbeat and breathing were uneven. He kissed his forehead and leaned his cheek against it, wrapping his arms tightly around him.
"I shouldn't have left you." He whispered. "I'm so sorry Tivon."
Of course, Elias blamed himself – he did let Tivon go with Cornelis. He trusted Cornelis to protect him for more than two years. Foolish! Stupid! He shut his eyes, warm tears falling down on Tivon's face. He was so cold. He brushed his cheek over his forehead, coming to his scar. Elias flinched. His scar was burning.
Elias' head jerked up, looking at Tivon's face. He brushed a finger over his scar to make sure he wasn't imagining it. The scar was warm to the touch and when Elias came to his eye, he saw bloody tears coming out of it.
Why is his pain back? He hadn't had a pain attack in years, why now? As soon as he said it in his head, he realized why. Cornelis had taken his pain, but she has given it back. At this rate Tivon might die first because of pain and not hypothermia. He needed Hyssopy flowers, and he needed them fast.
Elias looked around himself. It was still too cold for the flowers to grow and even if they did, Hyssopy flowers weren't as common and looking down at Tivon, he wouldn't leave him to go search for them. Tivon's coarsely breathing only increased. Then Elias remembered. He always carried a dried Hyssopy flower in the inner pocket of his coat. He had it in the thought of Tivon.
Elias quickly rummaged through the coat, wrapped around Tivon, and pulled out a stem with little blue Hyssopy flowers, from the inner pocket. He crushed them in one hand and put them in Tivon's mouth. There was no water around so he closed Tivon's mouth, hoping that Tivon would swallow them, but hoping even more that it would work.
Elias didn't know what he would do if it wouldn't.
He cupped his face and watched him. Please work, please. Elias pressed his forehead to his.
"Please." He whispered.
And then he heard, felt Tivon's breathing. He looked at his face. "Tivon?"
He didn't wake up or respond, but his face did relax, and his body stopped tensing. Tivon pressed against Elias for warmth. Thanks, the Saints. Elias hugged him tighter, moving closer to the fire. He kissed Tivon's brow and whispered a thank you to the Gods.
The night was coming in close, and Tivon still hadn't woken up. Elias, in the meantime, had taken care of his wounds and the fire. He wouldn't go too far away from Tivon; he would stay in his proximity, throwing an eye on him every few minutes. When night fell, he sat beside Tivon, holding him in his lap. Elias wouldn't allow himself to sleep, despite being weary and tired.
He was stroking Tivon's arm and looking up at the snowy mountain, its blizzard still running strong. This changes everything. Now their enemy wasn't only Luana, but Cornelis too. The scary thing was that she always had been. And the woman melting from the stone, the one looking like Cornelis, except for her straight white hair – she couldn't be any less good than Cornelis. Not only that, but Cornelis' powers felt different this time. She was stronger.
He looked back at Tivon, whose colour had now finally returned to his face and his body stopped shivering. His eyes were still closed, resting, sleeping. God, Elias hoped he was sleeping. They needed to move, find help or at least a better shelter. But Elias didn't want to. Or was afraid too. He feared Tivon's situation would worsen if he moved and with his injuries, it would be harder to carry him. But staying here, in the middle of the woods, still too close to Cornelis – it wasn't safe.
"Tomorrow." He whispered to Tivon. "Tomorrow, we'll figure something out."
He leaned his head against the tree and looked up into the night sky, the stars covered up with grey clouds.
He was drowning again, both of them were. Why were they drowning? They were in the woods a minute ago. Why were they suddenly in a freezing cold water? Elias looked up at the surface. They were trapped underneath a frozen lake. He looked back at Tivon, at his unconscious body. He could get them up at the surface. Elias would safe Tivon, he always would. If it were the last thing, Elias did in this world, he would save Tivon.
Elias wrapped his arm around him and swam up to the surface, hitting the frozen surface of the water. He pushed against the ice, hoping that it would give in. Then he punched and hit against it – the ice wouldn't break. Panic seized him when his lungs started to ache, in need of air. He hit harder, clutching Tivon close to him with the other hand.
He needed to save Tivon. He would always save him, no matter what.
Elias opened his eyes to look up, wishing for just the smallest crack int the ice, but all he saw was a dark figure standing on it, looking down on them. Her golden eyes shone, through the darkness of the ice and water.
Air, he needed air.
He hit, screamed at her to let them out, and all she did was crouched down, her black lips curling into a corrupt, vicious smile.
He jerked himself awake, still seeing Cornelis' eyes in his image. Elias looked around himself. He wasn't in the water, and he wasn't drowning. He looked at Tivon, still sleeping. He wasn't drowning, he was still alive. He pulled the coat closer to Tivon and then leaned his head back, looking up at the sky through the trees. The sun was already way up in the sky.
I've fallen asleep. He shouldn't have done that. They were too vulnerable for that, and Cornelis could've gotten to them. She could've killed them with a snap of her finger and Elias wouldn't even know. She would kill them and left them to die, just like she did in his dreams. Could she enter others dreams? Elias didn't know to where her powers reached or where were her limits. Maybe she really could do it – sneak into someone's dreams and kill them.
A shiver rushed through Elias' spine. Preferably, he wouldn't want to go that way. He would rather die fighting, till the last drop of blood poured out of him.
He glanced at the fire and saw that it was dying out. He would need to find more wood. Elias straightened up and tried to move Tivon as gently as possible when all of a sudden he moved.
"Tivon?"
His eyes slowly, fluttered open. Elias could cry out of relief he felt in that moment. He pulled him into a hug, digging his head into his should.
"You're okay. You're okay." Elias sobbed.
"Elias, I can't b-breath."
Elias pulled him away, lightly holding his arms. "Sorry."
He looked him in his eyes. They were weary and tired, still he smiled ever so kindly. "Mornin'"
"Tivon."
Elias wanted to hug him and never let him go, ever again. Tivon was quicker. He cupped his face and pressed his lips to his.
"I thought I was going to die." He said with a weak, low voice when he pulled away.
"I would never let that happen. Not again." Elias said, pulling him closer, his hand going through his hair.
"It was her all along." Tivon's voice began to shake, tears falling down on Elias' shirt. "My curse, your curse, Violet, Rea's aunt. My parents hating on me. My pain..."
Elias didn't ask about what he meant by Violet and Rea's aunt, despite wanting to know. He knew Tivon wasn't ready to tell him, which was okay. Elias would give him time, days, or even years, however long he needed. Right now, all he needed was comfort and that Elias could do.
"I t-trusted her."
"I did too. We all did." He tipped Tivon's chin to look him in the eyes. He gently brushed his tears away. "It's not our fault for trusting her."
"How did you find me?" He sobbed. "You were at sea. How?"
"I stopped in Aramore, where I stumble upon Violet. She led me to Cornelis' house on the cliffs." He paused contemplating telling Tivon about the basement. He breathed in. "She had bodies of dead children in her basement."
"In the same house where I lived?" Elias nodded as the colour drained off Tivon's face. "I should've known."
"How could you? She did hid it well."
"I don't know." He looked away. "If I was just careful, learnt her language quicker. Maybe I could've known." Elias stayed silent, observing his face, when all of a sudden he turned to him, his eyes worried. "We need to find Rea! Cornelis brought back her sister and she is planning to bring more of her kind back to life. She wants revenge, especially on me and Rea. We need to warn her!"
He stood up, but almost fell. Elias caught him in time. "Tivon, you're barely fit to walk."
"I'm fine. We need to hurry." He paused. "There could also be something in Naydawin that we could use against Cornelis. My grand grandfather knew more about the witches than any of us. We need to hurry and go to Naydawin."
"We won't make it to Naydawin on foot. Unless…" Tivon turned to him, his curious eyes watching him. "Aramore is close, my ship may still be waiting for me."
"Then we'll sail to Naydawin." Smiled Tivon.
The Rose Sparrow was still harboured in Aramore. As they were walking towards it, he could see Nick and Violet standing by the railing looking down at the town. When Violet caught sighed of them, she immediately ran down to the dock and towards them. First, she hugged Tivon tightly, cupping his face in her hand, her face filled with relief. Then she turned to Elias, her eyes instantly going to the wound, bandaged up with his bandana, on his left arm.
"It's okay, Violet."
She looked up and Elias only saw relief and genuine happiness. Violet turned around to Nick. He smiled at them, tilting his head in a welcoming gesture.
"Violet?" She turned to Tivon. "Cornelis told me everything. I'm sorry for your voice."
At first she looked shocked, but it was quickly replaced with a smile. She took Tivon's hand and shook her head. She stroked his cheek and smiled. It was her way of showing forgiveness and telling Tivon that she will be okay.
When they boarded the ship, Elias went to Nick. "Where are Neirin and Amari?"
"We don't know. They left almost as soon as they came."
"They haven't told you where they went?"
"No, Captain."
Have they betrayed him? They could be working for Luana all this time. Elias remembered Neirin's wounds, the state she was in. Those wounds didn't belong to someone who worked with Luana, yet Elias still wasn't sure.
"Set the ship towards Naydawin."
Both Violet and Nick looked at him confused. "Naydawin? Weren't we after Luana?"
Elias' eyes were fixed on the sea in front. "We were. But something worse could happen if we don't get to Naydawin and to Rea." He looked over his shoulder to him. "We're dealing with more than just humans."
Nick needed no more explanation. Before he shouted the orders he turned to Violet and took her hands. "Violet, stay in Aramore. It will be safer for you." Violet looked at him with troubled eyes. She shook her head. "I know. I know. You just found me again and you don't want to lose me, but you are not safe here on this ship."
She pointed at him. "I'll be okay. I've been doing this since… Since our mother died."
Tivon's and Elias' eyes widened.
"I promise, I'll come to you when we're done." He said, with a smile.
Violet wrapped her arms around him, holding back the tears. She kissed his cheek and turned to still shocked Elias and Tivon, and waved goodbye. Elias saw the resemblance now – same shaped face and the same kind smile.
When she disembarked the ship, they set it sail towards Naydawin. Elias joined Nick by the helm, his eyes still glancing towards Aramore.
"You never told me you had a sister."
Nick sighed. "I thought she was dead. Sabur knew, yet he never told me."
"If I'd know, I would've told you."
"I know." Nick looked at him and smiled. "I know you would, Captain. Now you should rest, I know you that much to know when you're beaten up."
Elias laughed. "I guess you would know." He moved towards the stairs. "Call me if something happens."
He said, knowing damn well that if nothing too urgent would happen, Nick wouldn't wake him up. Elias entered his cabin, finding Tivon already asleep. He removed his boots and laid beside him, curling to Tivon's now warm back. He closed his eyes and fall into a sleepless dream.