TW// Abuse

Elias was already waiting for Tivon near The Jade Paradise. He was hiding away from the crowd in a dark alleyway. Even though not many people noticed him, Tivon already got a swing of finding him. For some reason, he could feel him when he was near.

When Elias saw him coming, he said. »How did you like Violet?«

»She’s a nice lady.« smiled Tivon.

»One of the best in town.«

He signalled Tivon to follow him. The alleyway they were walking through was narrow and dark, so Elias took off the mask. Tivon looked at it and asked, »Violet made it, didn’t she?«

Elias made a right turn and turned around. »You two were talking? How did you manage that?«

»I have my ways.« He winked at Elias. He was satisfied to see Elias’ face blush.

»But why the mask?«

Elias stopped and Tivon almost crashed into him. He turned to him, looking him directly in the eyes. »I wear it so that not everyone falls in love with my pretty face, Your Majesty.«

Tivon turned red. »Don’t call me that.«

»As you wish, Your Majesty.« He bowed down a little.

Tivon punched him on the side. Elias just laughed and continued his way.

»No, but really, why do you wear that mask?«

When Elias made another right turn, he said. »I was young when Sabur made me a killer. He thought that people wouldn’t be scared of me if they knew I was a kid. I was pretty tall, but my face was giving me away, so he got Violet to make me this mask.« He made a left turn. »That’s it. No other reason.«

»So you continued to wear it because they started calling you The Masked Man?«

»Pretty much.« He stopped by the door marked with red paint. »A shortcut.«

Tivon didn’t even realize that they were already there. He was happy that he’d be spending a little more time with Elias than yesterday.

As they were entering and walking up the stairs, Tivon asked. »So Violet and the crew are the only ones who have seen your face?«

»And you.« He offered Tivon his hand. He took it and he pulled him into the room. Elias noticed the new bracelet. »I see our plan is working.«

Tivon looked at the red bracelet. »Thanks to you.«

»I do the least here. You do all the work Tiv.«

Elias offered him a roll of bread. Tivon took it and sat down. »Did you find anyone for today and tomorrow?«

»Would you believe me if I told you I found three people.« Elias sat down.

»Impressive.« Tivon smiled and munched down on his bread roll. »Do you know them?«

»Not really. I paid them quite a lot. But I think I scared them enough, so they won’t touch you.«

»You don’t need to threaten them.«

»That’s like telling a dog not to bark.« He looked at Tivon, his look was serious. »If anyone dares touch you, they won’t have any fingers to touch anymore.«

»I don’t want anyone’s blood on my hands.« Said Tivon with a sigh.

»I guess it’s up to them.« He saw Tivon roll his eyes. »Don’t worry. I won’t let you go down that path.«

Tivon stood up and walked to the window. The sky was gloomy, and it looked like it was about to rain. Ever since Tivon got here, he hasn’t seen the sun. This town always looked so depressing. He leaned on the window.

»Why do all these boys go to The Jade Paradise?« asked Tivon after some time.

»They need to earn money somehow.«

Tivon remembered Violet's bracelets and earrings. »But why choose this place?«

Elias stood up and joined Tivon by the window. He leaned on the other side of the window. »It’s different for you. You can read and write, and you’re also smart. It’s a completely different story when you lack those things. The only thing you can offer is… yourself.«

»The Green Woman wanted you to be a part of The Jade Paradise, didn’t she?« Said Tivon avoiding his eyes.

»Luana?« asked Elias.

»Is that her name?« Elias nodded. »She wanted to have you?«

»Yes, she did, she still wants. But if she ever...«

Elias went quiet. Tivon moved his eyes from the window and looked into his eyes. He was looking at the ground, his look distant.

»If she ever what?« asked Tivon, trying to understand why Elias went quiet all of a sudden.

Elias sat down. »Elias?«

»I’m okay, I’m okay.« He breathed in. »I just remembered who are we up against.«

Tivon saw that Elias wasn’t breathing evenly – it was shallow, panicked even. Tivon stepped closer to him and put his hand on Elias’ shoulder. Elias jerked back.

“S-sorry, I didn’t mean-“

»It’s okay Elias.« Elias looked up and their eyes met. »I’m here and I won’t do anything. It’s okay.«

Elias closed his eyes and tried putting on a smile. I need to tell him. He deserves to know. He breathed in and out.

»Before Sabur claimed me as his, she got me. Her man kidnapped me and took me to her. She may not look scary Tivon, but she can be. Luana makes every monster, every demon seem like an angel.«

»Elias if you don’t want to tell me, it’s okay.«

»I-I’ll manage.« Said Elias steadying his breath.

He paused for a second and then continued. »I don’t know if she does that to everyone, but she did it to me and she took pleasure in it. Too much pleasure.«

Tivon was patiently listening, allowing him to take time to breathe.

»She took pleasure in c-cutting my back. With every cut on the back, she would say something and always end it with marily, which means darling. She would whisper it in your ear, slowly and quietly, while brushing your hair.”

Elias’ body was shaking. Tivon reached his hand to him, looking at him before he took it. Elias nodded and reached his hand to hold Tivon’s.

“My hair was short then, but since then I never wanted it short ever again. She ruined me that night. She made me more aware of my weak points. And maybe she’s the reason I became such a ruthless killer. Every time someone would brush against my back or go through my hair it triggered it. The memories, the fear.” His voice got quiet. “And anger.«

Elias squeezed Tivon’s hand. »I’m sorry I lied to you that day. After you told me everything, I wanted to tell you the truth I j-just-«

“It’s alright. That’s something hard to share, especially after hearing someone claim he’s a prince.”

Elias had to laugh at that. He let his head lean against Tivon’s hand, closing his eyes. It felt nice, his cold soft hands against his rough warm skin. He could stay like that for hours. But he couldn’t. He didn’t want Tivon to feel like him. He saw it when Pit was around Tivon. He didn’t want Tivon to feel the way he did that night.

Elias held Tivon’s hand and carefully put it away. »If anyone dares to do something you don’t wish for them to do, especially if it’s Luana, tell me.« He looked him in the eyes. »Tell me, scream for me. I will come.«

Tivon nodded. They heard a distant ringing of the church.

»I’ll have to go.« Said Tivon.

Please don’t go. Please stay. But Elias only nodded slowly.

»Will you be okay?« Asked Tivon, still holding Elias’ hand. Please say that you’ll be okay. I don’t know what I’ll do if you tell me you won’t. I don’t want to leave your side right now. Elias released his hand.

»I’ll be okay. We’ll see each other tomorrow.« Smiled Elias and Tivon smiled back at him.

When Tivon left, the silence of the room hit Elias. The little breeze felt like Luana’s touch, he could feel every scar on his back, he felt the blade slicing through the skin, and he could hear her whispering in her ear.

Elias’ body was shaking, his breathing was uneven. I’m okay, I’m okay. He tried to see Tivon, trying to see him telling him that he was okay. I’m okay, I’m okay, you’re okay.

For some ungod reason it helped. This boy that he randomly came across managed to calm him down, even though he wasn’t there. He helped him. He might not know that, but he did.

He was lying on the back, looking at the ceiling. Sleeping wasn’t an option. There was too much happening in his head. Too many questions and too much of him.

Tivon had two scheduled visits for the day, both arranged by Elias. During the visits, he mostly listened to the conversations, but his mind wasn’t focused on the discussions; he was preoccupied with thoughts of Elias. He could still feel the warmth of Elias' skin against his hand.

But he wasn’t just thinking about that. From the first time he saw the scars on Elias’ back, he knew they weren't just ordinary scars. He sensed there was something more beneath the surface. Tivon could never shake the image of the scars shaped like a peacock’s feather from his mind.

However, he could never have imagined the extent of Elias’ traumatic experience and the lasting impact it had on him. Tivon wanted to stay by his side, and he knew that Elias wanted him there, too. Yet, he couldn't take the risk. If he made a mistake, Luana might do something to him, just as she had done to Elias—or even worse.

But the thing with Luana didn’t quiet settle with him too. Why would she kidnap Elias? Why would she do things that she did? And why are the boys willingly coming here to work? He had to know. And he was going to figure it out. But first he needed some little thing from Elias.