Tivon entwined his fingers with Elias', his arms hugging Tivon. He was still asleep, his steady breathing on his neck. After days of his body almost freezing, Tivon finally felt warm. He traced the lines on Elias' palm with his fingers, coming to his wrist tattoo.
Cornelis had betrayed them.
For some reason, after everything she had done to Tivon in that cave, he still couldn't quite believe it. He had lived with her for more than two years and he didn't see it. He lived in her house where she stacked bodies upon bodies, she had sacrificed for her life. Now that he thought about it – her constant mumbling in her language, her unusual twitching of her head as if she was trying to ignore voices that weren't around her and her stories that never lined up with other stories. Tivon closed his eyes. He was stupid not to see it.
He tried to shift his body without waking Elias up, which was harder than it looked. The pain in his lower back increased with just a tiny movement. Tivon would almost forget Cornelis returned his pain if it weren't for the constant pain going through his scar and back. Was it always this bad? Tivon almost forgot how terrible his condition was in the two years he didn't feel it. Was it always this constant?
Elias hugged his arms around him, kissing his neck. It was his little reminder of waking up. Tivon turned his head around as Elias opened his blue eyes. He thought about them when he was held on the stone table, his body shaking from the pain and shivering from the cold. He thought he would never see them again – he thought he would never see Elias again.
"Everythin' okay?"
Tivon only leaned forward and kissed him. He then tilted his forehead to his, lips still brushing against his. Elias brushed a hand over his cheek.
"I'll take that as a no."
"I should've known." He said with a low voice. "About Cornelis."
"We all should and then again not. It was not your fault for trusting her. We all trusted her."
"But she could've killed me. She almost killed me." Tivon looked up, tears gathering in his eyes. "You could've died."
"I could've died a million times by now. She wanted to get rid of me, yet she didn't succeed." He took his hand and kissed the palm of it. "She didn't because of you." Elias lowered his voice till it was barely a whisper. "I'm more worried about your pain returning."
"You knew?"
"In the forest you almost died because of it. Fortunately, I still had some Hyssopy flowers."
Tivon smiled, but the expression quickly faded. "We'll need to stock up on them again."
"We will. I will have them everywhere. On the ship, in Naydawin, in my coat, everywhere. I promise I'll make the pain more bearable."
"You already do." Tivon laughed and pressed his lips to his.
A knocked sounded on the door.
"Captain?" It was Nick and if he was knocking that meant something was happening. "I'm sorry to disturb you, but you should come on deck."
Elias was up in the moment, pulling the coat over his shoulders. Tivon did the same, following Elias out of the cabin. They immediately stopped at the door as they saw Rea, Ivan and two other people standing by the main mast. Another ship sailed side by side with The Rose Sparrow.
"Rea?"
She turned to him, putting on a sad smile. Something happened. He approached her. "What's wrong?" Rea grabbed him and pulled him into her arms. "Rea?"
"They're dead." She whispered. "My parents. Luana killed them."
"What?!" Said Elias.
A person, the same height as Tivon stepped forward. "It's my fault. I should've figured it out earlier."
"We went in search for Rea as soon as we could." Said a woman, leaning against the mast, her wavy hair cover with a big black hat. "We were too late."
"Luana has the throne now." Said Ivan. "She put the blame of murder on Rea."
"Rea." Said Tivon, pulling away from her to look her in the face. "I-I…"
"I'm okay. I'll be okay." Rea took a shaky breath. "I'm glad you're okay." She looked around the ship. "Where's Cornelis?"
Tivon flinched at the mention of her name. As soon as she said her name, Tivon remembered who killed Elysis, Rea's aunt and on who Cornelis wanted to take vengeance upon.
"Tivon?"
He didn't realize that he was gaping at her, not answering, or elaborating on his silence. He tried to find the right words, but how could one tell a friend that her aunt hadn't killed herself, but was murdered by someone they trusted? Your aunt was murdered by Cornelis, Rea. He almost said it when Elias spoke.
"She betrayed us." He said with a cold voice. "She is the source of it all – Tivon's pain, my curse, Tivon's curse, the death of thousands of children, Violet's voice, everything."
Tivon looked at him, waiting for the words to leave his mouth, even though he still didn't tell him about it. Those words never came.
"She cursed Tivon to get her sister back, with whom she will revive the dead witches." Elias continued.
Rea looked down, trying to process everything she heard.
"I knew we shouldn't have trusted her." She said quietly after a minute of silence. Her head snapped back at Tivon. "I shouldn't have let you go with her." Rea pulled Tivon back into the hug. "I'm sorry Tivon. I'm so sorry."
"It was not your fault Rea. Nobody could know."
"What do we do now?" She whispered into his shoulder. "Tivon I don't know what to do?"
Tivon felt her body shiver, her body tired of everything, her body weak form trying to make things right. Her sadness and grief fell on him. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her so she wouldn't crumple to the ground. Tivon wanted to reassure her that things will turn out well and that he had a plan when in reality, he didn't know what to do either. With Luana killing Rea's parents and taking over Lucine and Cornelis bringing her sister to life, Tivon didn't know what to do. This things were beyond him. He looked up at Elias for reassurance. Elias' look was distant and determent.
"We'll go to Naydawin." He said, his voice steady. Everyone looked at him. "Tivon's grand grandfather knew how to deal with witches – we will find a way to prevent Cornelis and her sister from doing anything and when we're in Naydawin we have the kingdom and the royal army, we'll be equal to Luana." He looked at the two people standing behind Ivan and Rea. "And we have Neirin's crew."
"What if the word spreads around?" Asked Rea.
"We'll be there before that." He turned towards the sea. "Meet me below deck, we'll make a plan." Elias quickly glanced at Rea. "If it's okay with her Majesty?"
"It is, Captain." Rea said with a smile and her face lit up with hope for just a brief second.
They turned and headed down below deck. Tivon turned to Elias. "Thank you." He said quietly, so the other couldn't hear him. "Thank you for telling her."
He leaned his elbows against the railing. "I didn't want you to relive it again."
Tivon placed a hand on his. "I didn't tell you everything." Elias looked at him. "It's about Rea and her aunt." He took a breath. "Everyone said Elysis killed herself, but it was Cornelis. She killed her and I don't know how to tell that to Rea."
Elias looked back at the sea, contemplating how to answer him. "I can tell her if you don't want to."
"I don't know if I even want her to know. I mean, I want to, but…" Tivon squeezed Elias' hand and looked at him. "Isn't it better she believed she killed herself?"
"We'll tell her when the time is right. She had just lost her parents, I don't think she can take any more bad news."
Tivon looked down and nodded. He was still troubled – not just because of Cornelis, but because of Luana. "Do you think Luana will attack Naydawin? Will she start a war?"
"She might. I don't know. I hope not." Tivon nodded quietly. Elias turned to Tivon, brushing hair off his forehead, tucking it behind Tivon's ear. "If the war does start, I won't let the kingdom fall. I won't let all of you die." He stroked his scar down to his chin. "I won't let you die again."
Elias pulled his chin to him and kissed him. Oh, how Tivon wished for this to last forever – to be like this forever, with no war, no betrayal, no hurt. Just him and Elias. Him, his hands on Tivon, his touch against Tivon's skin, Elias' warm lips, his blue eyes only for him and his love. Elias' warmth and love was all Tivon needed.
Elias parted and smiled at Tivon. "My promise still stands."
"Of running away?"
"Do you still want it?"
Tivon giggled pressing his lips to his. "With you? Always."
"Didn't know the Captain of The Rose Sparrow was such a hopeless romantic." Shouted a voice. Both of them looked at the stairs leading below deck, Neirin leaning against the railing. "We are waitin'."
She turned around and disappeared. Tivon looked at Elias with a quirky smile.
"I see you made new friends."
"I wouldn't call them friends. Just necessary alliances." He said while walking to the stairs.
Tivon followed behind. "That is practically friendship."
"Whatever pleases your heart Tivon." He said as they both disappeared below deck.