Elias 4

TW// Trauma, Describing/imagining graphic violence

Elias stayed until Tivon fell asleep. He carefully laid him down, picked up his shirt and quietly exited the room. He couldn't sleep after what happened. He needed to go walk around the castle to clear his mind. Unintentionally, he found himself in the room of family portraits. Most of the portraits of Gyla and Urien were still there, but the big painting of Urien at the end of the room was replaced with a portrait of Rea in a purple gown with silver embroidered sleeves.

Elias looked at the paintings of Tivon. They had made a portrait of him every year. But the numbers of them didn't add up. He quickly realized why. His early portraits of him were lively and happy. He looked like sunshine. Elias' lips curled into a smile. And then after eight paintings it looked like someone had cut up the film. Tivon looked much older than the last few photos and his left eye was covered by his hair. And he didn't just look sad. He looked...

Terrified.

He remembered the fear in Tivon's eyes from earlier. Tivon looked terrified. He was terrified. It's my fault. No, it couldn't have been. It was neither of their fault. Elias knew that it wasn't his fault, but he still felt guilty. I shouldn't have done it. He was tired, I shouldn't- I should never have let him take that job.

At the end of the day, he could only blame himself. If he wouldn't take him to the Jade Paradise, this wouldn't have happened.

Elias started walking out of the room. He tried to think about something else, but he could only see his frightened eyes. He never wanted to see them again. If Elias could make one promise, it would be that he would do anything to not see Tivon afraid ever again.

He stopped by the slightly opened door. It was Rea's office, and the lights were still lit up. He pushed the door opened and saw her buried behind the papers. She looked up.

"Oh, Elias. Aren't you sleeping?"

"Couldn't." He came to her and sat on the side of the desk. "Shouldn't you be sleeping?"

She sighed. "There's still work to do."

He looked over the table. There was a pile of papers with village taxes, a stack of the kingdoms alliances, sugar and salt storages, people's complaints and a map with all trading routes, and crosses over places where they've successfully found and saved Luana's houses. Elias would come here every once or two weeks to see if Ivan or Rea found any new of her pleasure houses.

"Did you find any new ones?"

Rea looked from her papers and over the map. She pointed at the village on the island named Asmye. "Rumours are going around, but I'm not sure. It's been getting harder to find them. We have already taken care of the most popular and big ones. The others are well hidden. They are illegal after all."

"I'll take care of Asmye." He pointed at the map. "But this one has been taken care of."

Rea reached for the pen and made a cross on the map. She quickly returned to her papers in front of her. She's working herself too much, thought Elias. He opened his mouth to speak, but Rea said. "I heard from Ivan that they found two burnt down buildings in Gashea and in Irlon. They were rumoured to be Luana's houses."

Elias crossed his hands. "Same in Trin."

Rea looked up. "Who is doing that? All these places were lit up from the inside and burnt bodies were found inside."

"She's doing that."

"How? She is locked up in here. And why would she even do that?"

"It's a revolt." He looked at a candle light. "Because she's imprisoned. They're burning off the houses before we can find them as a sign of rebellion."

"She's crazy." Sighed Rea.

"Always has been."

Elias looked back at the map. He pointed at an island. "You can get salt from here."

"Huh?"

Elias picked up a paper where it was written that they need to find a city which can trade them salt. "Hada produces a lot of salt. The transport would be quicker, and I can secure the route with some of my troops. The Darens are familiar with these waters."

"How come that The Rose Sparrow still has so many allies?"

"They stay loyal to the ship and the ship's Captain regardless of who it is." He put the paper beside him and smiled.

Rea eyed the paper. "I see that Tivon taught you well."

"He's a great teacher." He winked.

Rea laughed and reached for the paper. Elias snatched it out before she could grab it. "I'll give it to you if you go to sleep. You're working yourself too hard."

"But I still need-"

"You can do it tomorrow. You can't rule a kingdom if you're dead."

She sighed. "Fine."

He handed her the paper. Rea wrote something on it and then stood up to blow out the candles. Elias offered her his elbow, she took it, and they went to her quarters.

"How long will you two stay here?"

"Until you kick us out."

She laughed. "Then not for long?"

He gave her a look. "When Dorea calls me. Then I'll have to go."

Rea quietly nodded. Right before the doors to her bedroom, Elias stopped and asked quietly. "Is she still here?"

Rea held his hands. "Don't worry. I'm not letting that woman escape. I would never forgive myself if I did. I promise."

Elias nodded. He looked up and smiled. "Try to get some sleep."

Rea opened the door. "You too." She closed the door with a gentle smile. Elias sighed and turned. He will get some sleep, but first he needed to pay someone a visit.

The guards looked at him confused but let him pass without any further question. As soon as he got to the cell she said. "Hello marily."

She slowly turned around. Even though she was a prisoner, her cell had more things that she should be allowed to have. The cell was big, and it contained of a bed, a cupboard, and a mirror. She was dressed in a simple beige gown, her brown hair put up in a messy bun. In her right hand she had her quellazaire, and the other had a scar over the palm of her hand. The only thing different about her, was the lack of her black smoky eyeshadow, still her lips were crimson red. She smiled viciously, sending shivers down Elias' spine. His back scars started to ache.

He kept a safe distance away from her. "How is she allowing all of that?"

"Rea?" She laughed. He hated that laugh. "Oh, the princess doesn't know. She barely visits."

"Then who is?"

"The guards. I always get what I want." She inhaled. "What honour do I owe you for this visit?"

"Why are you burning down your own houses?"

A playful smile crossed her face. "Oh, so they've started it."

"Started what?"

"The rebellion." She came closer and waved her bad hand through the air. "They don't like her mama to be stuck in a prison."

"But why kill your own?"

"It's the cost I must pay. I can sacrifice a couple of them. I have millions to spare." Elias stared at her, his eyes fuming. "Oh, don't look at me like that." She took a step closer, her green eyes fixed on him. "You know it would be easy. I'm here, vulnerable." She gestured around. "And no one is here to stop you." Luana squeezed her eyes and smiled. "Why don't just kill me?"

Elias stepped closer. "I would with no hesitation-"

"But?" She inhaled her cigarette, not taking her eyes off him.

"If you die, millions of boys will die too. I can't make that trade."

She exhaled the smoke into his face and turned around. "You've become weak marily." She looked over her shoulder. "He's making you weak."

"He's making me human!" Hissed Elias.

"But for what cost?"

He stared at her not knowing how to respond. She turned around and looked out of the small cell window. "Anything else, marily?"

"A ship with dark blue sails. Do you know it?"

Elias thought he only imagined a slight twitch of Luana's shoulder. "I'm not a pirate, marily. I don't know ships."

"You seem to stick your nose in everyone's business. Surely, you've heard of it."

She scanned him with her eyes. "I don't know it."

He stared her down. Something bothered him. Something on her face, or rather something missing. It was like she was reading his mind. "Oh, that? I still need to thank you." She went through her face with her bad hand.

"Thank me for what?"

"It wasn't me who set off the explosion you left as a gift at the Jade Paradise. It was one of my jade boys who was sneaking around the office. I got him executed after that. Well, it was a rather kind gesture from my part. I just put him out of his misery. The burns were quite severe."

Elias reached for the collar of her dress. She didn't even flinch. He didn't know why he did it or what he should do next. Luana smiled. Elias hated that smile. He hated the smell of her. He hated her voice. He hated everything about her. He hated her.

Elias wanted her to suffer. He wanted nothing less than for her to die. He would take pleasure in killing her. He wanted to bang her head against the wall, smearing the blood and gore of her on the wall till he couldn't recognize her anymore. He wanted to hear every crack of her skull, blood spilling down her face. It would be so easy.

So why did that terrify him?

He didn't even realize when he started to shake.

"Everything okay, marily?" She said slowly.

Elias released her and started turning around. He had enough of her.

"Leaving already?" She laughed. "Send words to princess Rea. Tell her I would love to chat with her." Luana waved her scarred hand in front of her, wiggling just the thumb and the index finger. "Still need to thank her for this." Elias was almost by the door. "Oh, and marily." He stopped even though he didn't want to. Luana smiled. "The witch is not who you think she is."

Elias stormed out of the prison. He had enough of her. He didn't know why he even went here. That woman is sick and she's just manipulating with you. With anger rushing through his body, he stopped before Tivon's door. He breathed in, calming himself down. Get her out of your head. He breathed out and quietly opened the door.

Tivon was still asleep. Elias sighed, glad that he was still sleeping. He laid beside him, looking at his peaceful face, balancing his breathing with his. He reached his fingers to his scar and brushed it softly.

I'll find a way...

He pressed a kiss to his forehead and hugged him to his chest.

I'll find a way to help us.

He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.