Chapter 46

TW// Blood, major character death

The sun had already risen up, but it was still dark and grey because of the clouds. Elias was still behind the helm, his eyes fixed on the horizon. When Tivon woke up, he went to him.

»Are you sure you don't want to sleep?«

Elias looked at him and gently smiled. »It's okay. I'll manage.«

He looked back at the sea and Tivon followed his look.

»So what's the plan now?« Asked Tivon.

»We're going towards Bradfordshire.«

Tivons body shivered when he heard that name. »Why there?«

»I have a feeling that she'll go there. It was already unusual that she left Bradfordshire. She never leaves that town.«

»You have a feeling?« Tivon sighed. »I trust you, but do you really think we'll find them there?«

»If we're lucky we'll meet them at sea.« Elias looked at him. »I'll go to their ship and trade Rea for the necklace. You'll stay on the ship, hidden below deck. It'll be better if she thinks you're not here.«

Tivon was patiently listening to him.

»When we get Rea back, we get out of here immediately.«

»Where will we go?« Asked Tivon after a minute of silence.

»Anywhere.« He looked at him and smiled. »The sea will be our limit.«

Tivon smiled. He would like that. To spend his whole life with them, somewhere far away from home.

»And I think that will happen really fast.« He grabbed the helm firmly. Tivon looked to where he was looking. There was a ship with green sails, small as the ant.

»Go below deck. Don't come up, no matter what.«

Tivon nodded and before he left, he turned around and looked at Elias. »Be careful.« He sighed and smiled. »Don't do anything stupid.«

»I won't.« Smiled Elias.

Tivon slowly waved at him and disappeared down the stairs as Elias ordered the crew to set down the additional sails.

Elias grabbed the helm tightly. I have one chance. I promise, I'll get Rea back. I'll get her back.

The ships were side by side, a board connecting them, for Elias to walk on. Elias adjusted his mask on and walked towards Luana, standing by her personal army, fanning herself and smiling at Elias.

»Oh, hi marily. Already missed me?«

»Cut it out Luana. I know what you want.« Said Elias sharply.

»Oh, really?« She closed her fan. »And what is that?«

Elias reached into his inner coat pocket and pulled out the necklace.

»Hmmm. Where's my jade boy?«

»He's not with me. And he is not yours.«

Luana squeezed her eyes, looking carefully at Eliass face, even though he was wearing a mask. It felt to him like she could still see underneath it. She nodded to one of her guards and he stepped forward to retrieve the necklace. Elias pulled it towards himself, passed the railing over to the sea.

»Not so quickly.« Said Elias. »Let's trade. Bring me Rea and you can have the necklace.«

Luana crossed her arms and considered it for a second.

She then said. »Bring the girl.«

Two masked men disappeared below deck. When they returned, they were holding Rea each on one side. Her hands were tied together and her cheek was swollen, but other than that she looked unhurt.

»Give me the necklace Elias.«

»Untie Rea and release her first, then you'll get the necklace.«

»Fine.«

She waved to them and they untied Rea. She ran to the railings by Elias and he walked towards Luana giving her the necklace.

»Glad that I can make deals with you marily.« She smiled. »But I never liked when you lied to me.« Elias heart stopped. »And lately, all you do is lie.«

One of the masked men punched Elias, knocking his mask off. In shock, he turned around to see a black ship behind theirs, swallowing it in its dark shadow. What is The Rose Sparrow doing here?

»W-what?!«

»You see I have the power Elias. Everyone works for me.«

She looked up at Sabur standing by the railing. She smiled and waved at him. »Hello, my marily.«

Sabur tilted his hat in a nod and it was then when Elias finally noticed the color of his feathers on his hat. A purple one for the alliance with The Kingdom of Naydawin and a green one for the alliance with The Green Woman. He then looked down on his ship. The captain was holding Tivon, a knife pressed to his neck.

»Tivon.«

He tried to run to him, but three men grabbed him and pulled him away. And two did the same to Rea.

»Tivon!« Scream Elias, trying to free himself from their grip. The same tried Tivon, but the captain was holding him firmly.

»Let him go Luana. Let him go!« He yelled at her.

»Now Elias, tell me. Why would I do that?« Asked Luana with a vicious smile.

»Leave him and Rea and I'll do whatever you want.«

»Elias no!« Scream Tivon. The captain pulled him closer and put the knife closer. »Don't do it.« He said more quietly now.

»Please Luana, I'm begging you. I'll do anything.«

»Elias, no!«

Luana looked over her shoulder at Elias. »Anything?«

Elias looked down and sighed. »Anything. Just let them go.«

Luana looked at him and then turned back to Tivon and the captain. The crew had already come to The Green Womans ship. Luana just smiled and nodded to the captain.

He gripped the knife and stabbed Tivon in the heart. Elias pupils widened. No. Tivon forgot to breathe. He looked down, seeing the knife in him, in his heart. The captain pulled it out, letting the blood spill out like a waterfall. He calmly walked off the ship to Luana as Tivon fell down. No. Elias couldn't move. His mind and body stopped working. No.

»Tivon!« He cried.

Rea couldn't even let out a cry, tears just started running down her cheeks.

Luana smiled and nodded to Sabur. He moved his hand up.

»No!« Screamed Elias.

Sabur gave an order.

»Don't!« Screamed Elias, this time trying to free himself.

The cannons started blasting, destroying the little ship into million pieces. No. Elias could feel hot tears running down his cheeks. No. In just a few minutes, the ship was no more. There was only wood lying on the surface of the sea, smoke all around it. No...

He could still be alive. Elias felt the men loosen their grip so he ran. He pushed them away and he ran. He jumped over the railings into the sea. The masked man tried to follow, but Luana raised her hand, stopping them.

»Let him try.«

Elias was swimming deeper into the sea, trying to find Tivon in the black water, surrounded by wood sinking deeper and deeper. He turned back to the surface and swam up to catch a breath.

»Tivon!« He screamed and dived back into the water.

I can still save him. He looked around to find anything that might lead him to Tivon. A heavy piece of wood fell on him, but he managed to kick it away. He went back up to breathe. His breathing became more and more unstable. He was starting to panic. No, no, no! He breathed in and dived back in. He can't die. Even though he was underwater, his tears wouldn't stop pouring out. Please, don't let it end this way. The smoke from the cannons colored the sea black and Elias couldn't see anymore. I can still save him. His heart was racing and he couldn't hold his breath any longer. He need to go to the surface. Elias swam up, breathing heavily. The only thing he could do was scream. So he screamed. He screamed his lungs out for him. For him.

Someone grabbed him from behind, pulling him on a boat. He tried to shake them off, but they didn't let him.

»I can still save him. I can still-« The tears wouldn't stop pouring out. »Tivon!« He managed to scream.

They pulled him into a boat and held him tightly, tying his hands behind his back. He couldn't fight anymore. His strength was leaving him.

They brought him on The Green Womans ship. Rain started pouring down. They shoved Elias before Luana. He looked at her with eyes as furious as the devil himself.

She grabbed his chin. »Don't look at me like that. I did the same you did to me.«

Elias moved his head and looked away.

»Put them down in the cell and set sail to Ascot, to the pleasure house.«

Elias quickly looked at Rea. Her face was numb. He didn't know if it was tears or rain on her cheeks, but he could only figure that they were tears.

They grabbed them and put them down and shoved them into separate cells, taking Eliass swords and knives. When they left, Rea turned to Elias.

»Elias.« He didn't turn around. »Elias, he could still be alive.« Elias only briefly nodded away. »Is he really...«

She didn't want to say it. She didn't want to believe that could be possible. She looked at Eliass back. He wasn't moving, but his hands were clenched, shaking.

Rea knew that if she looked him in the eyes that they would be burning. Burning with anger. He wasn't shaking because he was afraid. He was shaking in anger. They took his only weakness. They took his only anchor.