I run my finger over Ellior's palm, savoring the smooth, silky light skin of his hand. Can hands be this beautiful? I've never seen fingers as perfect as Ellior's. I had never felt the urge to touch another being every minute. As if I didn't, I would lose my mind. And it's Ellior's touch that brings it out in me. Or maybe it's the kiss. I'm ashamed of it. Ashamed that it turned me on. Ashamed, as if I had betrayed Seraphus while I was secretly enjoying Ellior's lips. Or is it all about the fact that we're stuck in critical circumstances and he's the only one around me? Maybe that's the reason my protective barriers inside are gently lowering and I stopped hating Ellior a long time ago. I don't think I even hated him. It was just jealousy and wanting revenge on him for taking Seraphus away from me. But can you take someone against their will? Especially Seraphus? No. Seraphus just didn't choose me, that's all.

I flinch when Ellior's fingers rest on my arm and strokes my skin with his thumb like I did earlier. He's awake. He's watching me. And in that moment, I decide to do something very impulsive that will probably come back to bite me in the ass.

"He was going to rape me and make me his whore," I whisper, lifting my gaze to Ellior. He raises an eyebrow in surprise. "Isengard. He attacked me and tried to rape me, so I ran away. I was madly afraid of him and of the fate he had chosen for me. I didn't plan to go along with Lua's plan. I turned Lua down several times, as I felt that nothing good would come out of it. But my opinion changed when I was alone with Isengard. Turns out he was just waiting for Lua to make way for him to get to me. And he knew I had powers. He set the whole thing up that night. I was supposed to serve dinner, which I've never done before. I'm an insignificant creature, just a servant. But that day I was taken to a private room, washed, brushed and given clean clothes. Isengard was waiting for me, inviting me to dine with him, because he had missed dinner for some reason. That had already made me very wary. I hadn't eaten anything. I think he put something in the food and then in the wine. I didn't drink that either. He suggested I say goodbye to Lua, and I agreed. Fool. Went with him to the room and it was his bedroom. Of course, Lua wasn't there. He attacked me. He put me in magical handcuffs and started licking me, describing what he would do with me. He also told me that Lua had been deceiving him by calling me his lover. That was why he didn't come any closer but bided his time. He also told me that Lua was giving his body for pleasure and not sharing me as he should have, because according to Lua I was his whore. And whores are supposed to be shared. To be honest, I was in shock for a while, both from what he was saying and from the disgust of what he was doing with me. He was ripping my shirt off, touching me, and I just couldn't believe this was happening to me. And when he got to my pants, I came to my senses, broke my handcuffs and threw him off me. He's alive, but he was unconscious when I ran out of his room. I found Lua, agreed to all his terms, and helped him escape. I changed his appearance, but my magic didn't last long. Although it did help Lua pretend to be a human being. He had to get to the abandoned lands to find those who would adopt him. Isengard would never get to him then, and neither would to me. But if he catches Lua, he'll catch me. I know he's looking for me, but quietly. He doesn't want anyone to know about me or what I can do. He wants me only for him. And only Lua can lead me to him. Only him. I'll go to Isengard if Lua is in danger."

I shut up, catching my breath. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to tell everything because it's vile. It disgusts me to this day. I remember the lust in Isengard's eyes. I remember his hands on me, his tongue, and his scent.

"Arkan, I'll deal with Isengard. I promise you. Isengard won't get you," Ellior whispers, stroking my palm with his fingers. "He didn't hurt you?"

"He didn't make it. I pushed him away. He hadn't expected me to break the magical handcuffs, but I was so scared. Freaked out, to be honest. I'd never been treated like this before. Sure, I'd seen what Isengard's guests did to servants, and I'd healed Lua, but I didn't think I'd suffer the same fate. It still disgusts me, and sometimes I have nightmares involving Isengard. And Lua confessed that it was exactly as the Duke said. Lua had really deceived him that there was a bond between us. He traded the right to be with me for violence against himself. He didn't tell me anything. He was deceiving me, too. I could have defended myself. I would have been able to protect us both."

"But he also protected you as best he could, Arkan. He had his reasons. He saw the whole situation from the inside. He probably didn't tell you much, so as not to scare you more. You protected and helped him, and Luappo protected and helped you. That's what friendship is, and maybe even love. Are you sure that between you and Luappo..."

"Of course I'm sure," I look at Ellior irritably. "My feelings for him differ from my feelings for..." I stop talking and bite my lip.

"For Seraphus," Ellior finishes for me and I have to nod.

"I think it's time for you to rest, Ellior. You're too weak. Get some sleep, please. We both need our strength. We won't make it to camp if we're weak, so get some rest. I'll keep watch over you and our neighbor." I cast a glance at the snake and smile. "Get some sleep."

Letting go of his hand, I pull back a little and sigh heavily. Ellior is silent, his eyes closed, and I hope he's asleep. I don't know what we're going to do next. Ellior won't make it to the camp. He's too weak, and he's wounded. His wound could fester in his condition, and that would be it. We still haven't found the artifact. What could it be? Something that shouldn't be here. But everything here is what it was. Even the flask. It's not even in our realm anymore. It's old and metal. No one uses flasks now, or only gold or silver ones, and that's rare. Even when we searched the houses for food and water, nothing great came up. But one good thing, Ellior is still alive.

"Arkan, you're freezing. Come here. Come on," Ellior whispers sleepily. I didn't even realize I was gritting my teeth.

"It's okay. Don't worry. I'll walk and get warm."

"Don't be stubborn. Come here." Ellior rests his arm on the side of his healthy side, and I happily crawl over to him. I'm insanely cold, and I'm also shirtless.

"Oh, mother, you're frozen, Arkan," Ellior wraps one hand around me as I settle on his shoulder.

"And you're warm."

"It seems so to you, but at least I'll warm you up a little. Rest yourself."

"But..."

"Rest. We'll hear them coming. At least take a little nap. You're wasting your energy now to keep from dying from the chill, and you also wasted a lot of energy when you resisted the dark one. Rest, it's fine."

"Alright. Thank you, Ellior."

My eyes are closing on their own. The fatigue and nervous tension are taking their toll. The last thing I feel is Ellior hugging me and kissing the top of my head.

My sleep is cut short when I feel a tug on my leg. I yank my leg, but someone pulls harder, like a rope on it. Opening my eyes, I turn my head to check what's going on and see a snake. It's clutching my leg and trying to drag me.

"What are you doing?" Perplexed, I whisper. The snake immediately crawls away and hisses. It rushes about in front of us.

"Ellior, wake up. Something's happening. Ellior," I slap Ellior's cheeks gently and he struggles to open his eyes.

"Arkan, what's wrong?"

"I don't know, but the snake woke me up. So it senses danger. Come on, we need to go."

Grabbing the flask, I fasten it to my belt and place Ellior's hand on my shoulder. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the snake push its eggs deeper under a dry bush and hide behind a tree.

"Go! Go! I can feel them! That asshole is here! And with his light one!" My eyes widen with horror as I hear Seraphus' brother's voice. And now a bright and sharp surge of energy hits my body.

"They're close. Damn it, Ellior, they're really close," I try to lift him up, but he groans.

"I can't... Arkan, I'm sorry, I can't get up. Go away... leave me here," he whispers.

"No way. Come on, come on, get up. Ellior, please, we have to go. Gather all your strength," I pull him towards me again and he hisses and gets to his feet, but immediately falls on me. He's so weak, covered in sweat, and too pale.

"Leave me here," he pleads.

"I won't leave you, Ellior. If we die, we die together. No, I'll never leave you. I'll make a wall against them or something. At least walk a little," I walk slowly with him, and the shouts and the closeness of the dark army grow. We won't escape. They'll catch us if I don't do something now. I have to protect Ellior, have to save him, or it all was wasted. I've been here wasted.

"I'll try to do what you did. There's a wide tree over there, there's a hole there. That's good. It'll work, Ellior."

I carry him on my back, and he drags his feet, whimpering in pain. I'm heartbroken for Ellior, but I can't hesitate now. I can't afford even a hiccup. We reach the tree, and I help Ellior climb inside.

"What should I do?" I ask him, looking back nervously. I can already see the torches coming toward us.

"Use any energy to make your back an extension of the tree. I'll use the light one, you can use any. The one that's stronger. They won't find you by energy, as the trail will be interrupted by their own energy."

I can only find the dark energy inside me. I seem to be overflowing with it.

Placing my hands at the sides of the hole in the tree, I close my eyes, imagining the same pattern as on the bark, the same curves. My back tingles and it's uncomfortable, but I keep imagining until my back stiffens in one position.

"Did it work?" Opening my eyes, I whisper to Ellior.

"Yes, you're doing great. You're so great, Arkan," Ellior nods weakly, covering his eyes.

"They were here," the dark one's voice booms behind me. "I can feel their energy. They were here just a short time ago! Where could they have vanished to?"

"Probably hid somewhere."

Oh, shit. No. No. No. No. I look at Ellior with fear. He shakes his head and presses a finger to my lips.

"Pierce the ground. They could hide under it. Where there's loose earth, that's where they are. Hurry!"

The air hangs heavy with the acrid stench of dark magic, suffocating my senses. Shadows dance ominously, their eerie whispers filling the silence. The sound of my rapid heartbeat echoes in my ears, drowning out any other noise. Sweat trickles down my forehead, mingling with the fear that courses through my veins.

I glance at Ellior, their eyes reflecting both trust and concern. Their presence alone provides a sliver of solace amidst the chaos. The weight of responsibility rests heavily on my shoulders as I try to maintain a facade of confidence, a flicker of determination in my eyes.

But beneath the illusion I've conjured, my body trembles uncontrollably, a physical manifestation of the fear consuming me. Each surge of dark energy that courses over my back drains me further, sapping my strength and diminishing my power. Time is slipping away, and desperation claws at the edges of my mind.

I can't afford to falter now. The consequences are too dire to comprehend. The thought of surrendering to the malevolent forces that lurk in the shadows sends a chill down my spine. I must find the strength to endure, to protect Ellior and myself.

Yet, as the seconds tick by, my grip on my dwindling power grows weaker. The darkness looms, threatening to engulf us entirely. I fight against the fatigue that seeps into my bones, but doubt gnaws at my resolve. How much longer can I hold on? How much longer until they seize us?

The answer remains uncertain, obscured by the fog of uncertainty that hangs in the air. Fear tugs relentlessly at my heart, a constant reminder of the stakes at hand. I steal one last glance at Ellior, hoping that my wavering facade still offers them some semblance of reassurance.

In this harrowing battle against the encroaching darkness, I cling to the remnants of my fading power, praying that it will be enough to shield us from the imminent threat. For if it fails, if my strength wanes any further, we will be swept away, consumed by the ravenous forces that hunger for our souls.

"Dark Master, they are not here. Then they're gone. We found blood. One of them is wounded. We can find them by the scent of blood, call in our werewolf or vampire trackers."

"Shit," Seraphus's brother hisses. "Damn. If I could remember who that bastard was protecting. Someone important, apparently, since he'd shown me his powers. Call out the trackers. Let them turn the world upside down to find them."

"It will be done, Dark Master."

"Damn! They were so close! So fucking close! I want that boy! Get him for me! Shit!"

I smile at Ellior with relief. They're leaving. It's all coming to an end. I can hold out for a few more minutes. I can...

"Shit! Shit! Shit! Bastard, I'll find you!"

A sharp pain pierces my stomach and as I lower my head, I see the sword sticking out of my stomach. It disappears and blood immediately collects in my mouth.

"No...no, Arkan," Ellior wraps his arms around my face and blood flows out of my mouth. It feels unreal, like I'm not the one being stabbed through with a sword.

"Bastard!" Another scream is followed by the stab of the blade against my back, and I flinch. And then again. I lurch forward, my strength at zero. I can't do this anymore.

"I'm sorry," I whisper to Ellior. He strokes my face, his eyes filling with tears. The sound of my own ragged breathing echoes in my ears, drowning out the distant cries and clashing of swords. Every movement sends waves of searing pain through my body, as if each nerve ending is on fire. Our foreheads touch, and for a fleeting second, everything else fades away.

"No, Arkan, you don't...don't you dare...don't give up. Don't leave me. No," he kisses my bloody lips and in that silence that has become our salvation, I can't hold my consciousness. My legs give out and I fall to the ground.

As I lie on the ground, the world around me blurs. Shadows dance before my eyes, distorting the faces of those I love. I hear through the noise in my ears as Ellior climbs out of the tree and drops to his knees beside me. He picks up my head, pulling me close to him.

"No, Arkan, you can't leave me. Don't you dare... please, hold on. I'll... I'll think of something. Please," he whispers.

I can feel the warmth of Ellior's tears as they mix with my blood streaming down my face. His desperate touch offers a fleeting comfort during this nightmare.

The ground beneath me feels cold and unforgiving, seeping into my bones. I struggle to keep my eyes open, fighting against the pull of unconsciousness. But my strength wanes, slipping away like sand through my fingers. The weight of defeat settles upon my chest, crushing my spirit.

Something warm and slightly rough touches my hand. I vaguely see the snake that was trying to help us. She has only one egg left, and she pushes it against my palm.

My history teacher's words are echoing in my head at this moment, "The black onyx was one of the worst casualties of the war. The entire species of these snakes were destroyed because their venom was the strongest and most healing. During the war, they were captured and destroyed to create armor from their skin, medicines from their insides, and healing infusions for soldiers from their venom. They were the most unprotected snake species in our history. But it's said that they've simply hidden themselves away and are inhabiting somewhere, although there has been no proof of this information so far."

"Ellior... snake," I wheeze, clutching the snake egg in my hand. "Snake... the black onyx."

Ellior lifts his head and looks at the snake.

"Oh, mother. They were destroyed, weren't they? They've been captured. It turns out they are still in our world. They are alive," Ellior whispers. "It's the artifact. Hold on, Arkan, just a little longer. Hold on, I'll kill her..."

"No...no," I beg him desperately.

Ellior lifts me higher, pulling me against him. He turns my face away into the curve of his neck and picks up a rock. The snake pushes my palm closer to me. It's as if she understands everything and asks me to keep her baby alive. Burning tears run down my cheeks.

"I'm sorry, Arkan, but there is no other way. I won't let you die, or we'll both die, me and Seraphus. I'm sorry, my sweet boy, I'm sorry."

He swings, and I squint, pressing my palm firmly against my leg. He hits the snake, killing it without letting me see it. And then the strongest force rips us somewhere upward. Ellior pulls me against him, and all I can hear is the whistling in my ears and the unbearable weakness. My head falls back against his shoulder, and I try to hold on to my consciousness with all my might. My whole body seems to stiffen and I feel cold, like I've been thrown into an icy river. Breathing is getting harder by the second. My mouth is filled with blood, but I have to save... the snake's child. I must. I owe her for what she did for us.

A powerful blow rushes through my body, but I can't open my eye. I have no strength.

"Help! Hurry!" I hear Ellior's voice. We're back... we're home... we're safe. We made it.

"Oh, Mother! Kan! Ellior!" Stellare shouts.

"Call someone... please, Stellare. I beg you, don't let him die. I beg you..."

"Yes, I will...now! Now, hold on! I'm already..."

"Ellior!"

"Seraphus! Help...help him...please. Help him..."

"Snake," I whisper, hoping Ellior can hear me.

"Kan... Kan, babe, no... oh Mother, no... not again. Kan."

I can feel Seraphus's warm hands on me and sense the fear in his voice. If only I could open my eyes and reassure him that everything will be alright. We managed to save ourselves, and Ellior is alive. We made it through.

But as my consciousness slips away, I succumb to the unforgiving embrace of the darkness. The pain, the fear, the fight—all fade into nothingness. And in that moment, I surrender to the unknown, leaving behind a love that will forever remain unfinished.