Tivon 1

TW// Violence and murder, blood

My mother would always tell me stories. I loved her stories, even though I knew they weren't true. She loved to tell me about witches and their magic and curses, about pirates and mermaids. She loved to tell me stories about a murderous pirate The Masked Man. They always seemed so absurd and unrealistic to me. Even the stories where a prince runs away from his kingdom and gets kidnapped by a pirate ship, falls in love with a killer, manages to survive in a pleasure house owned by a powerful and rich woman. And I would certainly never believe anyone if they would tell me that the prince would get stabbed and then be brought back to life by a witch. If you would tell me that a year ago, I wouldn't believe you.

And yet, here I am.

Tivon followed Cornelis down a narrow path. He had to quicken his pace because she was walking so fast. She was mumbling something to herself in a language, Tivon didn't understand. The plan was nonsensical to Tivon.

"Why can't we just wait for The Rose Sparrow to come first? The two of us can't possibly do this on our own."

Cornelis sighed. "They'll be able to spot the ship. We have the element of surprise." Her Krens accent was rough, and she would always stress the wrong syllables.

"What element of surprise? They know we're coming."

Cornelis looked over her shoulder. Her golden eyes shone in the moonlight. "They know I'm coming. You'll be invisible and you'll step in if I'll need help."

Tivon still didn't like any part of this plan. "What do you even need from them?"

"Information, location, anything."

She quickened her step. Tivon didn't have any other choice but to follow her. After all, she did need him. He still, after almost a year, didn't know why. She'd told him that it was about his eye and because he was bonded to her and the other side, but Tivon just felt utterly useless to her most of the time. In the past year they hadn't found anything or anyone for that matter, who would help them even in the slightest.

Tivon ran his fingers through the scar over his damaged eye. Cornelis had said that she needed him for his eye. Why? He still didn't know. He couldn't see anything through it and the pain... He was grateful to Cornelis that she managed to take that from him. Living without the pain and not worrying about the stock of Hyssopy flowers - it was easier.

"We're here."

Tivon almost crashed into her back. He looked from behind her. There was a small village - if you could call it a village. There were only three houses beside a small dock, surrounded by a dense forest.

"So, what's the plan?"

Cornelis turned around to Tivon and handed him a small rock. "Hold this and nobody but me will be able to see you. We go through the main door of the big house." She pointed at it. "They'll be waiting for me. If something goes wrong, I'll signal you."

"I still think that it would be better if we wait for Elias and­ his crew."

Cornelis frowned. Her nose would always wrinkle upwards when she frowned. At first it seemed cute to Tivon, but the frowning began being a constant thing in their everyday life. He knew that he would never get his way.

He sighed and took the rock from Cornelis. "Just get it done quickly."

Tivon stood close to Cornelis as she knocked on the door. When the door opened Tivon peeked over her shoulder to see the roomful of people. She never mentioned there will be that many.

"Welcome!" A deep voice from the other side said. "Come in."

Cornelis came inside, Tivon followed right after, clutching the rock tightly in his hands, the other resting on the hilt of the dagger. He glanced around the cramped room. Everyone was staring at Cornelis with hungry, predatory eyes, but as Cornelis walked in, they stepped away from her, keeping a safe distance. They fear her. They know what she is.

"How can I help you?"

Tivon looked at the man sitting behind a table. The man's dark brown wavy hair was tied up into a low ponytail. He was wearing a dark brown coat. Tivon figured that it must be his favourite or the only coat he had, because it was worn out. His hands were ornated with many of different rings.

"I figure you would already know why I'm here."

"You want to find them?"

"Every single one of them."

Tivon moved away from the middle, closer to the wall, watching that he wasn't bumping into anyone.

"And if I tell you, what do I get in return?"

Tivon could hear the distant bell of a church from the nearby village. They're late.

"What do you mean?"

His laugh rumbled through the room. "I don't give out information for free. I know your kind."

Cornelis clenched her wrists. "My kind?"

The man slammed his fist on the table. "You know what I'm talking about. Witch!"

Cornelis raised her hands and grabbed the man's heart. Everyone in the room pointed their swords and guns at her.

The man laughed, struggling to breath. "K-kill me and you d-die."

Tivon slowly started backing away. No, no, no. He grabbed his dagger. This isn't going to end well. Suddenly someone bumped into him, causing him to drop the rock. In an instant all eyes were on him, even Cornelis'. She rolled her eyes and reached into her bag.

"Get t-them!"

Before any of them moved Cornelis clenched her hand, killing the man. With the other she pulled out a grey powder and dropped it on the ground. The smoke spread into the room in an instant.

Panic rose in the room, and everyone started slaughtering each other. Tivon and Cornelis dropped to the floor, where the smoke wasn't present. Tivon crawled to her.

He had to scream over everyone for Cornelis to hear him. "That was your plan?!"

"Not really. Where is The Rose Sparrow, they should be here by now?"

"Oh, now you need them."

"Look Tivon, the smoke will disappear in a minute. We need to get out of here."

"You could've told me that before we got here." Said Tivon hysterically.

The smoke had already started to dissolve. A loud bang sounded through the room. Tivon's eyes sparkled.

"I know the sound of that pistol."

Cornelis went up on her feet, her hands raised in front of her. Tivon reached for his knives and stood up, back-to-back behind Cornelis. Tivon could already see some familiar faces, helping them out. Suddenly an arrow flew past them. They both looked up at the choir like looking balcony where an archer was posted.

"I'll take care of him." Said Tivon as he ran to the stairs, still glancing up to the archer. It didn't seem like he was paying him attention, so he hurried up and crept behind him. He stabbed him in the shoulder, just enough that it would cause pain, but that it won't be fatal. Tivon never amid to kill even to this day.

He then kicked him down the balcony. As he turned around someone was pointing a gun at his head. The man had to get through the window behind him.

"Gotch ya."

Tivon dropped the dagger on the ground and slowly started backing away. He quickly found himself on the edge of the balcony.

"This is the end for ya boy-"

A bullet went through his head and the man dropped to the ground.

Tivon looked at a figure standing before the window and frowned. "You're late."

Elias smiled and lowered his pistol. "Dorea wasn't feeling like it. She wanted to take it slow."

Tivon picked up his dagger and eyed Elias. "Dorea?"

"The sea." He removed his mask.

"You named it?"

"She can be very stubborn." Winked Elias.

Tivon rolled his eyes, blushing. He wanted to take a step back, forgetting that he was still at the edge of the platform. Elias slid his hand around him, catching him mid-air. He leaned closer. Tivon took in the sweet, salty smell of him.

"I missed you." Whispered Elias.

"Me too."

Tivon reached up, just as Cornelis shouted. "Stop flirting and do your job!"

Elias rolled his eyes. "I see someone hasn't changed one bit."

He pulled Tivon up on the balcony and let go of him. As he was about to turn Tivon grabbed him by the collar of his coat and pulled him into a kiss. When he leaned back, he winked and whispered. "Later."

He let Elias process the word as he ran back down the stairs where the massacre took place.

"That was your plan?" Asked Elias, as they stood in the middle of the room filled with bodies. "To just talk it out, but instead you just killed a man."

"Tivon dropped the rock."

"Don't blame it on me. I said we should wait for Elias. Now everyone is dead or has run away."

"Not everyone." Cornelis released her hand and a man near them started breathing again. "Always leave one man for the questioning."

The man tried to stand up on his feet. "Y-ye won't get a-anything from m-"

Cornelis reached towards him, and the man dropped to the floor.

"You said you won't kill him?!"

"He's not dead." Hissed Cornelis. "He's in a coma." She nodded towards Elias. "Carry him to the house."

She turned towards the door and started heading out. Elias leaned to Tivon and whispered. "She hasn't changed. If anything, she became even more demanding."

"I heard that!"

"Of course, you did." Elias whispered something under his breath and picked up the body. Tivon giggled and followed them.

Tivon and Cornelis had a temporary wooden home on the cliffs, just far enough from the village Aramore. They tied the man on the tree and gathered around him. Elias ordered The Rose Sparrow to stay back at the village dock. Cornelis reached into her bag and pulled out a vial and held it under the man's nose. His head jerked up, waking him up.

"Where are they?" Hissed Cornelis.

When the man came to his senses he barked. "How should I know, witch?"

Cornelis clenched her fist and the man struggled to keep the air into his lungs. "Tell me, I know he told you."

He only laughed. "T-they're all dead. You just m-might be the last of y-yer kind. Except if t-they are further in l-land. But I w-wouldn't get my hopes u-up."

Cornelis stepped closer adding pressure to his lungs. Tivon stepped forward. "Cornelis that's enough."

The man looked at Tivon and laughed. "So, the traitor prince chose to join the witch." He spat out blood and looked at Elias. "Even you. We thought we could trust our fellow pirates, but ye just fell into their trap."

Tivon could see Elias flinch, hands moving to his pistol. Tivon looked at the men. "Just tell-"

But he didn't stop. "Couldn't even handle a kingdom huh? You exiled your own father and gave the kingdom to that whore-"

The men's head dropped down. Tivon looked at Cornelis. Her hand was clenched and shaking.

"Cornelis?"

She turned around and headed inside. "Get rid of the body." Followed by something she muttered to herself in her language.

Elias passed Tivon and said quietly. "I'll do it."

Tivon nodded and followed Cornelis into the house. He found her sitting by the table looking at the rocks spread on the table. She would always do that when she was upset. He took off his coat and sat beside her.

"I'm sorry I messed up the job."

"It was not your fault Tivon." She sighed. "He was right."

Tivon looked at her. "Right about what?"

"That I might be the last one. That all of them are dead."

Tivon reached for her hand. "I don't believe that."

She looked up and Tivon could see tears in her eyes. "Don't lie to me Tivon. You heard him."

"Yes, I did. He said-" He swallowed, words stuck in his throat. "he said a lot. But I know it's not true. I believe they are still out there."

Cornelis wiped away her tears. "How?"

"He said it himself. Further in land. Maybe they are many more outside of Krens. Look, I am here to help you. We can go in land to find them."

Cornelis smiled. It was so rare for Tivon to see her smile. Elias entered the room and Cornelis wiped away the remaining tears.

"Everything okay?"

Cornelis nodded and stood up from the table. "It's late, we should go to sleep."

They followed Cornelis out of the room down the hallway. Cornelis' bedroom was at the end of the hallway and Tivon's was in the little hallway on the left. As Tivon and Elias passed the little corridor, Tivon grabbed Elias' hand and pulled him in, pushing him against the wall. He held his hands against the wall and pressed his lips on him.

"Shouldn't we-"

"Shhhhh." Tivon pressed his lips closer.

Elias slid his hands down Tivon's back, picking him up in his arms. Tivon cupped Elias' face in his hands, not letting the kiss part. He reached up to slide the bandana off Elias. Even though it's been just two weeks since he last saw him, he missed him. He missed his touch, his lips, the smell of him and just him.

Elias leaned him against the door to his room, holding him firmly in his arms. Tivon reached down to open the door and as soon as he opened them, they almost crashed to the ground. Instead, they slammed into a cupboard. Elias put Tivon down, giggling through the kiss. Tivon slid the coat off Elias and undid the belt holding up Elias' two swords. In the meantime, Elias pulled off Tivon's boots. Tivon than removed the wide belt round Elias' torso, holding up his daggers and a pistol and then removed his white shirt, the lily necklace falling freely down his chest. Elias did the same. Tivon's belt with throwing knives clattered to the ground. Their lips only parted for a split second before they found themselves together again.

Elias slid his lips down Tivon's ears, his jawline, down his neck. Tivon had to prop himself up on his hands to not give in into the shivering sensation, trying desperately not to gasp for air. Elias picked up Tivon again and carried him to the bed, laying him down gently. He paused and looked Tivon down into his eyes. Elias long black hair fell over his shoulder. The moonlight shone through the window onto Elias' face, making his blue eyes sparkle.

Tivon loved his eyes, but then again, he loved everything about him. He reached up his hand and cupped his face. Elias held it and kissed the palm of Tivon's hand, down his arm, up his neck and on his lips.

Suddenly the door slammed shut. Elias' head jerked up. "What was that?"

Tivon leaned on his elbows and looked at the door. "It was probably Cornelis. I guess we're too loud."

"We're not loud."

"Yes, you are!" Shouted Cornelis down the hallway.

Elias rolled his eyes and leaned down to Tivon's neck. "I'm going to show her loud."

"Elias, don-"

But it was already too late. Elias moved his lips down his neck, over the scar on Tivon's chest, lower down his torso.

They no doubt were louder. Tivon only hoped that Cornelis wouldn't murder them in the morning.