Epilogue - Where Everything Ends and Everything Begins

TW// Suicidal thoughts, violence

Days and nights became a blur to him. Elias wasn't sure how many years had already passed. He wasn't a kid anymore, but then again he stopped being one a long time ago. The mask no longer serve any other purpose, but to bring terror to others just by mentioning it. So, the mask stayed on.

The Rose Sparrow, which had never meant any good, was now feared more than ever. The stories said that if you come across a black ship with black sails and a black flag, a red sparrow with a red rose in its beak, that would be the last thing you ever saw.

Elias was sitting up on the highest mast - he would now, when they attacked certain ships, just watch from afar and intervene if someone might be hiding or trying to escape. Sabur had ordered that because Elias would go too far when rage got to him. Sometimes they were also looking for someone who could benefit them with a job, but Elias had forgotten who they needed, more so he didn't care.

They were sailing through a storm. The waves were big, crushing the side of the ship. The air smelled of electricity, as lightning struck like gunshots. Rain poured down in waves and it was hard to see. That was an advantage to them. The merchant ship still hadn't noticed them.

It reminded Elias of that night when they attacked the royal ship. The night when he saw them. Elias leaned against the mast, letting the rain pour down his face. His stomach still twisted with pain when he thought back to that night.

He looked down at the ship's deck, where the crew was already preparing the canons. Sometimes he thought about jumping, imagining his body crack at the impact. It would end quickly. Yet, something told him that his instincts would kick in and he would somehow ease the fall.

Sometimes he would also think about tying himself with weights and jumping into the water, but his father would always show in his mind, reminding him that he was stronger than that.

Elias laughed to himself - he was not strong. He was just feared.

The fight had already started and it ended almost just as quickly. Afterall, they were just a merchant ship. Elias watched from The Rose Sparrow, down the pirates gathered everyone together. Pit was holding a knife to the Captain's throat. They were talking, but Elias could not make out their words.

They killed the crew and then the Captain. They would raid the ship, destroy it to pieces and move on. Elias sighed, ready to move down the mast when he saw something in the corner of his eye. He reached for the dagger and flew it down the ship. He slipped the mask down on his face, grabbed a rope and swung down to the ship, a sword already in his hand. He pointed the sword at the boy's neck, just as he turned around.

His brown eye was wide open, terror draining his face off colour. Elias' mind flashed from the two soldiers to the wide eyes of the Captain's son.

Not now.

Elias tried to push away the images. He acted too quickly and wasn't prepared. Why didn't he see him? Elias always made sure he was aware of everyone on the ship. But he didn't see him. He properly looked at the boy. He wa short, yet he didn't look like a child. His features were too grown up.

"Where were you hiding?"

Elias wasn't aware he said those words out loud. When there was no response he repeated himself. The boy finally managed to answer. "B-behind the barrels."

Elias looked towards them. I didn't see him. How? He looked back at the boy who flinched with fear. Didn't Sabur say they needed someone short who is stealthy?

Elias lowered his sword. "The boy stays alive."

"Why do we need this shary?" Asked Pit. It was good Elias was still too surprised because he would've shot Pit on the spot. He hated that word - shary.

"He lives."

Elias didn't wait for any more disagreements, he just left the ship and went to his cabin. His order was to be obeyed just as if Sabur himself had given it. He was his right hand-man after all.

Elias just stood there in the middle of his room, water dripping off him. He was still shocked at himself that he didn't notice the boy. They would've blown him up with the ship if the boy stayed behind the barrels. He would be either dead or left to the mercy of the sea.

This didn't sit properly with Elias. For all the people he murdered, his stomach and heart twisted at the thought of killing that boy.

Elias grew fond of Tivon, the boy he brought on the ship. He reminded him of himself - trying to escape and being caught, being witty, not allowing others to see he was terrified to the bones. And he had to give it to him, the boy was smart. Elias knew from the first sight of him that he was no merchant or a sailor, yet he couldn't figure out who he actually was.

A runaway, he had said, but Elias suspected there was more to it. When he first told him his name was Tivon, Elias thought it sounded familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had heard it before.

Elias was struck by his own boldness - he had put the mask down in front of him, he had even told him his real name. Only the crew and some people knew of his real face and name.

He was enchanted by Tivon and he loved spending time with him or just talking. It put his mind at ease. When he was with Tivon he didn't think about anything else, he just looked at his brown eye and his peachy lips, that once you've got him to talk, wouldn't shut up.

However, he knew that there was more to Tivon than he led on. Sometimes when Tivon said something, he would trail off as if he wasn't supposed to say it. He would stutter at his own words and sometimes his body would start to shake uncontrollably as if he was in great pain. And he wouldn't let Elias show his back or touch his hair that grew over his left eye.

Elias knew better than to pry over that. Some secrets were better left unspoken.

Elias watched him from the Forecastle as Tivon watched Dalelry disappear. Every time Elias caught a glimpse of him, his stomach would swirl in warmth. He didn't know of this feeling, but he was sure it couldn't mean any harm.

"Ya're no different from me." Pit leaned his elbows to the railing beside him.

Elias hissed through clenched teeth. "I am nothing like you."

Pit laughed and brushed his finger against his hand. Elias snapped the knife from his belt and struck it between Pit's fingers.

"Relax." He smiled. "Yer not my type." He glanced down to the deck. "Well, not anymore."

He moved away before Elias realised Pit was looking at Tivon.

From birth Elias knew love and safety in the warmth of his parents' embrace.

He grew up knowing only fear and anger. Elias thought he would never be safe again. He thought he would never be able to close his eyes in peace and just rest. He thought he would never feel love or would be able to love someone again.

Yet this boy had shown him all of it.

Elias didn't know if it was because he had seen himself in Tivon or just the fact that when he was around him, he could forget about his pain.

He was at his lowest, contemplating the meaning of everything. Elias was drowning in the dark and cold sea of his mind and Tivon had reached his hand to him and pulled him out, holding him in a warm embrace and never letting him be alone or unloved.

Ever again.

The story continues in Two Swords and a Dagger