"Wait. Ellior."

I run after the elf, but he keeps slipping away from me, which is incredibly pissing me off. I'm freaking out too, damn it. We've been sucked into a time trap, and we're in a real war from the past. I understand that Ellior is depressed and heard the scary things coming out of the dark one's mouth, but it doesn't make me feel any better! I'm scared shitless myself. I have no idea what the rules are here, where I'm placed, or what I'm supposed to do next. And Ellior is adding to the problem.

"Stop right there!" I growl and throw a silvery glow forward with my arm. Ellior hits the glittering wall with all his might, and he's thrown backward. I finally reach him, holding my side where my ribs and lungs already hurt.

Ellior hisses and jumps up, but I slap him immediately to bring him to his senses.

"Shit, come to your senses!" Taking him by the shoulders, I shake him up. His eyes glow with a lavender, frightening light. "Please," I add more quietly. "Please, Ellior, come to your senses. You'll only make it worse."

"You don't understand a damn thing!" He shoves me roughly aside, and I hit the trunk of a tree. "He's coming after me, and it's my dad who's going to get hurt. I can change everything. I can..."

"We can't," I interrupt him. "You said yourself that we can't change history. Ellior."

I walk over to him and touch his icy fingers.

"Please don't. Those we care about now, in the present, could get hurt. Please. I realize that these events have changed you, inflicted a deep wound on you, and it always hurts in your heart. I really understand that. And I'd support you in your decision to protect your father, if it didn't play against us later, against Seraphus, Stellare and the others. How do we know who will be left in the present if we disrupt events now? Please, you must handle this. Please."

"They're going to rape him for years, Arkan. And I'll be a murderer for all of them," Ellior whispers bitterly, and his eyes stop glowing and only glisten now with tears.

"I know Stellare told me about your father and what was done to him. I'm madly sorry, Ellior. Madly and I'm not lying to you to stop you. I'm truly sorry that it ever happened at all and still does. But I can't let you change history. I can't. Seraphus will get hurt or maybe even die. I can't. I'm sorry."

A crystal-clear tear rolls down Ellior's cheek, and I wipe it away. I feel sorry for him. I hold him close to me and hug him. He clings to me in return.

"I know how you feel right now. I've felt the same way so many times, Ellior. It's the powerlessness that kills. And then comes the guilt of not having done anything. I've felt it so many times when Lua was raped and tortured. And I shouldn't have gotten involved. I couldn't protect him, but I was able to, and I had the powers, and I could have fought Isengard. But Lua forbade me to interfere. Forbade me to do anything to make his life easier. And then, when he'd come to me all beaten up, or I'd sneak in to heal him, my heart would bleed and the guilt would get heavier and heavier. And you can never get rid of those feelings. Never. They're always in our memories, unfortunately, but there's nothing we can do about it. I know, Ellior, I know how painful and unbearably hard to ignore a chance that came your way. You think you'll do better, but... alas, no. The consequences could be far worse. I'm sorry you can't help your family right now," I whisper sorrowfully in his ear.

And I really understand him perfectly. I don't know a worse pain, besides losing dear ones, as having the powers to protect dear ones, but not being able to.

"Here! It's close! I felt a surge of energy!" A loud male voice reaches me. Ellior abruptly pulls away from me.

"Damn, this is my fault. I used the dome, and that's magical power. We have to run," I whisper in horror. I used my power to stop Ellior.

"There's nowhere to go. We won't make it."

"Can you do the same thing you did then if we hide in a hole in a tree?" I whisper, looking around to see where the dark ones are coming from.

"The trees here are very narrow. None of us would fit in there. No, Arkan, it's impossible."

"Okay... okay, it's fine. It's okay. We'll just fight or..."

I'm suddenly hit with an idea. I quickly drop to my knees and pick up the wet soil. Standing up, I soil Ellior's face.

"What the hell are you doing? Have you completely lost your mind?" He hisses.

"Trust me. I've got something in mind. Also the hair, you need to loosen it. Come on, come on, Ellior, they're close," I ask him, continuing to smear dirt all over his face and neck. He grudgingly unties the ribbon from his hair, and it spills silver over his shoulders. I get them dirty, too.

"I really hope it's worth it, Arkan, or I'll kill you myself," he barks.

"Okay, listen. Keep your head down, don't raise your head at all so they don't recognize you. I'll do the rest. And get down on your knees, pretend you're tired, weak... and your damn clothes give you away."

I touch his shimmering gold buttons. My fingertips tingle as the screams of the dark ones already finding us erupt. Ellior's clothes turn to rags, horrible and smelly. He widens his eyes in shock, but I push on his shoulder to get him to his knees. And surprisingly, he obeys. Okay...okay. The only dark one here for sure is the one I saw in my vision and here by the fire. I know what he looks like in armor.

I start to feel nauseous as my body transforms, and now I'm looking at Ellior through the metal eye slits in my helmet. He watches me in horror as I create a metal chain in my hand and quickly wrap it around Ellior's arms, yanking him closer to me and covering him at the same time.

I turn around just as a dozen soldiers from the dark army run out to us.

"Dark Master."

All, as one, fall to their knees in front of me. I can do it. I just have to imitate that dark one, and he's not the nicest person.

"Why the hell are you still here?" I bellow at them as the soldiers get to their feet. "Did I make my orders unclear?"

"Dark Lord, but you...you went to the camp."

"We felt a surge of power and headed this way."

"We thought they were straggling survivors of the light."

"Idiots," I hiss, yanking the chain and it jingles. Mother Almighty, help me. I'm so scared. What if my power runs out right now? These soldiers are armed to the teeth. They'll just kill Ellior and me. We have to get rid of them as fast as possible. "I was already leaving when I sensed him, so I came back. And it's none of your business where I am. Get out of here. Don't come back to camp without results. You bunch of brainless assholes can't do a damn thing. Get out of my sight!"

They all flinch and scatter in rather directions. Breathing hard, I wait for them to move on, and then a shiver runs through my body and I cover my eyes.

"Arkan," Ellior whispers. His clothes are back on, as my strength has apparently run out, just as the chain has disappeared. "I didn't know you could do that."

"Yes, I know how to do it, but not for long. Mother, my hands are shaking. I was worried sick and afraid the illusion would disappear. They believed it, didn't they?"

"They certainly believed you. Do you even know who you're transformed into?"

"It doesn't matter. Let's go. We can't stay here, Ellior." I grab his hand and we walk on. We run, then we walk again. Running again, walking again. And it seems there's no end to this forest.

"We need to go further. There will be a village there. They've planted a new forest there now, in memory of the dead," Ellior mutters.

"Is it getting colder or is it in my head?" I ask him tiredly.

"It isn't in your head. It's night. It's the only way to track the passage of time now. We need somewhere to hide for the night. It's dangerous for you. It gets cold, like during winter in the mountains."

"Aren't you freezing?" I wonder, rubbing my shoulders and watching the steam escaping from my mouth.

"Yes, I feel cold, but not to the same degree as you. You have the fire element, Arkan, I don't. That's why I'm not as sensitive to the cold as you are. I can walk around in one thin shirt in the winter, but Seraphus hates winters in general," Ellior hums.

"I see."

I don't want to hear anymore about the amazing time he spent with Seraphus when I wasn't even born. It must be jealousy. Jealousy that ignites inside and gives birth to resentment that I'll never know what Ellior already knows. Shit. This isn't the time to think about it at all.

Up ahead, in the impenetrable night and away from the smoke, the looted small wooden houses are distinguishable. We leave the forest and head there. I listen to my senses and can't catch a glimpse of anyone alive nearby. Not a soul. I shudder as we walk between the ruined houses. Ragged children's toys, overturned baskets, and clothes lying on the ground. And there's nowhere to turn away from it. Not to imagine what's happened and where all the villagers were.

"There's a more or less whole house there. We'll spend the night there and hopefully find water and food. I need to wash up," Ellior whispers in disgust. "I wish I could just use the cleansing spell. It would attract the dark ones to us."

With a snort, I follow him, and we walk up to the porch of the cabin. It does look better than the others, but inside it's upside down, like a typhoon. A foul stench fills the space, and it makes me sick.

"I'll check the kitchen, you check the bedroom. We need blankets or bedspreads or something to keep us warm while we sleep," Ellior tells me, heading to his right. Nodding to him, I make my way through the living room, where boards are lying around, broken dishes and everything is covered in soot and grime.

The door to the only bedroom is ajar. My eyes water from the horrible stench.

"Arkan, wait!" Ellior's shout merges with the creak of the door to the room as I push it open.

"Oh, mother," I exhale, looking at the unbearable and ugly scene before me.

"Arkan, let's go. I'm sorry, I forgot this could be here. I'm sorry, let's go, you don't need to see this. Let's go. You don't have to..."

I pull my hand out of his and slowly walk to the bed where a half rotted female corpse lies. A male corpse is lying next to the bed, and he's holding something in his hands.

"Arkan, please," Ellior wraps his arm around my waist, not allowing me to go any further, but I stubbornly push him away and walk over to the man's corpse. Tossing aside the corner of the blanket, I gasp and vomit. Acid ascends my throat, causing me to whimper and spit.

"Oh, mother... mother," I wheeze, choking back tears.

"Arkan," Ellior pulls me to him.

"There's an infant in there... Ellior, an infant. A dead infant, they killed him, slit his throat. Why? For what?" I cling to his shoulders, feeling hot tears flow from my eyes.

"It's war, Arkan, it's ugly. Let's go," he pulls me behind him, but my legs refuse to go. How could this be done? They're living creatures. They're alive, damn it! How could they kill their own kind so cruelly? This isn't what Mother taught us! This isn't what she wanted for us!

"Come on, everything's fine," Ellior whispers, stroking my back and pushing me towards the door. He closes the door and wraps his arms around me. I cry, not understanding the reasons for such atrocities. I really don't understand them. What can move creatures? Control? Strength? Wealth? But the world is vast. There are many luxuries. You just have to see them. Taking the life of your own kind is a despicable betrayal of life. And we were made to live. We were made to breathe and carry on our line.

My tears are drying. I feel good in Ellior's arms. It's calmer, but it's also sad.

"We'll find another place, okay?" He asks me.

"Yeah. I'm fine. I'm sorry," I pull away from him and look away.

"It's okay, Arkan. I'm sorry you saw that. Unfortunately, it was a common practice to do such things. Warriors attacked villages, and if the villagers refused to aid them, they took their powers with an artifact and then killed them."

I can only nod, because I'm speechless at this cruelty. And I'm grateful he didn't humiliate me for my tears and my attitude towards what I saw.

We move on to another house, and it's equally ruined, but at least there are no dead bodies. We search with Ellior for water and food. But all we find is a piece of withered bread and a small decanter of water.

"We're going to get poisoned." Ellior shakes his head disappointedly.

"Stay here. I'll be right back."

"Arkan..."

"Trust me."

I jump out into the cold, gritting my teeth. Damn, it's so cold. It may be cold in the house too, but it's not that cold. I rip up some weeds and fly into the house, shaking my whole body from the icy wind outside.

"What are you going to do?"

"Purify the water, of course."

"With weeds?" Ellior snorts.

"Exactly. Weeds have been underestimated. Weeds actually have different properties. You can purify water with them, and they can also be used to kill. They can be used in poison, or they can be used to make a salve. I made one for Lua, mixed with other plants, of course, but weeds were the base."

I take the jug and begin to squeeze the weeds hard in my hands, since there is no mortar. Ellior watches me silently and finally the weed gives me what I wanted. It's only a few drops, but it's enough to get the rot out of the water.

"We need to wait about ten minutes until the water is completely clear, and it's safe," I assure him, wiping my hands on a rag lying on the floor. "And you can wipe yourself clean."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm alive, so I'm sure."

"You've been drinking water like that?" Ellior asks doubtfully. I nod and pick up the half-burned blanket. I wrap it around myself and sit down on the floor, as Ellior does. I hold out the tip of my blanket to him, but he shakes his head negatively.

"I'm not as cold as you are yet. Will you tell me under what circumstances you learned about the properties of weeds? It's just to make sure I don't die when I take a sip."

I roll my eyes and tsk.

"I've been punished a lot, and I used to sit in a pit. It was very damp and there were often puddles after the rains. I wasn't fed or watered for days at a time. I didn't know then that I could create food for myself. True, it did not get enough well, but it was possible to survive. And I saw water in the weeds. The rat drank it and ran away. I became interested, I conducted experiments and so, at least, distracted from hunger, from cold and loneliness. That's how I learned that weeds can purify water. I drank such water. Then I continued my study and mixed it with different herbs. I tested it on the same rats. That's how I learned a lot about weeds."

"Did you spend a lot of time in the pit?" Interested, Ellior sits down next to me, and I still throw the blanket over him. He's freezing. I don't want him to die of hypothermia.

"Often," I grin. "My mother loved to send me there for everything I didn't even do. Especially for things I didn't do. Sometimes I thought she hoped I'd never come out of there and die there. The first time I went in there was for washing vegetables for too long and wasting a lot of water. I was about five years old, I think. I washed them very well, though, carefully, so I wouldn't get punched by my mother. I was scared then. Terrified to be in the pit alone and in total darkness. And my whip wounds itched like hell. But then they began to heal, and I learned that any wound on me will heal in time."

"You have parents," Ellior says affirmatively.

"I have," I cringe, "but they hate me. I don't know why. Maybe because I was useless to them, and they couldn't sell me like they sold the rest of my brothers."

"Sold?"

"Yes, to Isengard and he already to others. I think so or he killed them. I saw none of them. But I hope they're just living somewhere, and a lot better than they would've lived with Isengard. He's a bastard."

"Is that why Luappo ran away and you took his place in the House?"

"I always planned to run away from Isengard, but Lua was the one who forced me to stay there. And it was Lua's idea."

"You do realize you're Isengard's slave and he's going to start looking for you, right? I'm surprised he hasn't brought you back yet, or noticed your absence."

"I'm not his slave," I kiss angrily through gritted teeth. "I don't belong to him."

"Arkan, I know Isengard welcomes slavery, though it has been abolished and for quite some time. Yes, it's not punished, but it's not encouraged. Isengard is a slave plantation and everyone knows it. It's also strange that you have no brand. Are you sure the branding isn't higher?"

"Of course I'm sure of it," I snort.

I roll my eyes and quickly lift my hair up, showing him my neck, then part my hair so he can see that I really don't have the branding.

"This is incredible. I just can't believe it, to be honest," Ellior whispers, touching the sensitive skin under my hair and goosebumps run through my body. I immediately lower my hair, causing Ellior to pull his hand away.

"I was just imitating the branding on my skin. Imagined it, and it was there for all to see. But I'm not a slave of Isengard. Otherwise, he would have found me long ago. He... he needs me," I push it out of me, and I'm driven to the bone by my disgust for the duke.

"Your power," Ellior guesses.

I turn my head to him and nod.

"But why isn't he looking for you? He hasn't put out a wanted list for you, because he needs you."

"I assume he's afraid of anyone finding out about me. He doesn't want to share me. So he's looking for me quietly, so as not to draw attention to me."

"And he'll seek you out in dishonest ways, Arkan. Isengard is impatient. He won't be quiet for long. He'll put you on the wanted list. You may even be captured and imprisoned, and there fake your death for the others."

"I did nothing wrong, Ellior. I worked as hard as anyone and protected Lua."

"You mentioned you treated him. Was he raped?"

"Yes," I whisper bitterly. "Isengard gave him to his friends for their pleasure, calling him a worthless whore. What they did to him was vile and I...it was all because of me. Isengard thought I was Lua's lover. That's what I found out before I ran away with Lua. So Lua protected me from the rape. Isengard knew about me, and he purposely decided to send Lua to the House of Knowledge to get rid of him. He knew that Lua was too weak, that he had little power in him, for we had fooled the Duke. And he was sure that he would easily give him up when everyone knew that Lua had lost his power. I think he had a heartwarming story to tell about how he wanted to save his son and he was an ungrateful whelp. He's scum, Ellior. I don't understand why he's still a duke. Why no one does anything about letting him treat living creatures like that, his own son? And I'll do anything to protect Lua from Isengard. Everything."

"What if..."

"The water has already cleared. It's drinkable and you should wash your face," I interrupt him, not wanting to talk about it anymore. I've already told him too much.

I stand up and take the carafe. Taking a sip, I show Ellior that I'm alive and well and then hand it to him.

"I'm going to sleep for a while. If you need anything, wake me up." I throw a blanket over me and lay down on the tattered clothes we threw to one side to make it more comfortable. But I don't want to sleep. I stare ahead, thinking about how to get out of this trap.

"So you want to know who you transformed into in the forest?" Ellior breaks the grim silence. I turn and rise on my elbows.

"I want to," I nod.

He wipes the dirt from his face and grins crookedly.

"Into Seraphus's brother."

"What?" I exhale, shocked, and sit up.

"Yeah, that was his older brother. They have an eleven year age difference."

"Oh, mother."

"And he's dead."

"He was murdered?"

"Yes, Seraphus killed him."

"Oh, mother," I look at Ellior in shock.

"He was an asshole, so you can relax. He hated us. He raped my father himself, supposedly to get back at us. Even though his father was... different. But that bastard had so much cruelty in him. He abused Seraphus as a child, tormented him, set him up. And I'm glad Seraphus killed him. He killed him because of me, though. He found out about us, spied on us, never forgave Seraphus for revealing his devious plan. You've heard of that plan. That's when Seraphus' father found out how sneaky his son was and hid Seraphus in the House of Knowledge, just as I was hidden there, lest I be the cause of someone getting hurt again. And then, when we decided that we could stand up to the two powers and reach a peace agreement, Seraphus had him killed because his brother was eager to take my power away."

"Was that also the reason why Seraphus was exiled?"

"No. The reason was his betrayal of the power, as the dark ones believed. His brother spread word in the camp that Seraphus was fucking an elf. He turned many against Seraphus, and his patience was wearing thin. He and I then went to his father to talk. His brother caught us and wanted to rape me and take my powers in front of Seraphus. Then Seraphus showed all his powers and killed his brother as well as his warriors. These are the ones you saw today. They are all dead. But the fact that Seraphus is a traitor and became the whore of the light one remains forever. Everyone was on the verge of their emotional exhaustion at the time, so they wanted someone to blame and blamed Seraphus. He took all the blame to save me. Now he hates me for agreeing to it."

"Did he want you to resent his suggestion?"

"I think so, yes. But I wasn't at my best at that time either. I just wanted it to be over. I regret not having the courage to stand up for my relationship with Seraphus. You know, I never said thank you to him."

"You should do that."

"Yeah, if I stay alive," Ellior hums, tossing the rag aside. He climbs under the covers, and I lie down beside him. No, I don't feel sorry for Seraphus's brother. Not at all. Mother has punished him, as she punishes everyone involved in this horror. But then why is Isengard still alive?

"We really had Seraphus' second father," Ellior whispers.

"So they were just getting back at you for being the first to start this atrocity?" I turn my head toward him, and Ellior stares at the ceiling.

"Yes, but we didn't know. We found out when we started releasing the prisoners. Already after the peace treaty was signed. He was thrown out, weakened, and practically devastated. We found him near to our castle, though he'd never been there before. We would have sensed him. Also, many of the dark ones I found at Isengard and freed them."

"Why is Isengard still alive?" I hiss angrily.

"As father says, he's very powerful. If he's gone, his followers will revolt, civil war will break out, and it will weaken us. And then there are the dissenters who will take their chance and attack. It would start another war, only we're not likely to survive it. That's why we're watching Isengard."

"But he keeps raping the dark ones and taking their powers," I say indignantly.

"What?" Ellior turns his head sharply toward me. "He's doing this?"

"Yes, I know for a fact that the dark ones were brought to the castle and never seen again. Lua told me that his father is confident in his powers and knows that no one will punish him. But he catches the dark ones, the rootless, the ones no one will stand up for and whose absence won't be noticed."

"I'll deal with it when I get back. We're not allowed to do that. We've had enough of what he and his associates did during the war. They hunted down strong dark ones and took them secretly, we didn't even know, and then they were responsible for it. My dad was responsible for it, as well as a lot of other light ones who weren't even to blame for what happened. Don't worry, Arkan, I'll handle it. I'll demand a thorough inspection of Isengard. And if we find dark energy or slaves with dark power, then that will be a good reason for a trial."

"Do you think that's even possible?"

"I'll try to convince my father, but you won't be able to testify in court, Arkan, so it might be difficult. I'll figure something out," he assures me.

"Thank you, Ellior. If he gets punished, or at least monitored more closely, you'll save lives."

I turn away and close my eyes.

"Is Luappo okay?"

"I don't know," I whisper bitterly. "I don't know. He was supposed to let me know that he's okay, but so far I haven't heard from him. I was planning to run away and find him. After all, the dissenters will hunt him down because of me, and Lua won't be able to defend himself. He's empty. He doesn't have any powers."

"Yes, Seraphus told me, and it's rather strange. He was born of Isengard and another elf with minimal dark power, and those are strong genes."

"I do hope he was just afraid to show his power. I really hope so. And now he'll find out something new about himself. That's what I ask Mother every day when I wake up. Only wish he's okay."

"Do you love him? Was there something between you two?" I hear rustling behind me and I have to open my eyes and turn around. Ellior's hand on his head, looking at me expectantly.

"No. There's nothing between us. And I love him like a brother. He's my family," I reply.

"So you've never slept with anyone?" He wonders.

"No," I tsk at his personal question.

"Don't take this the wrong way, Arkan, but you're a very good-looking guy. My brother drools over you, as do many others. Remember the dragon," Ellior cringes.

"Fima said it was because of my power. It's probably the elf power in my blood that draws the others. My father is an elf, but I look like my mother. She's a mage, a used to be mage, wasted her power."

"No, it's not elf power. I would definitely recognize it, Arkan. I'm an elf. You're just handsome. Is that hard for you to believe?"

"The first person who told me I was pretty was Lua when I was twenty-seven. Before that, I'd been called a worthless, ugly freak. And I thought it was true that Mother hadn't given me at least a somewhat pleasant appearance."

"Why have you been told such things? Your attractiveness is obvious," Ellior marvels.

"Probably so. I wouldn't sleep with anyone," I shrug. "But I didn't have time to think about relationships at home. I was working, or getting punishments, or healing Lua. I didn't even think about it."

"And now?"

"None of your business," I snort and turn away.

"Come on, why are you so secretive?" He laughs, shoving me in the back.

"Back off."

"I know you kissed Seraphus and you want him. You want him to fuck you, don't you?" Ellior breathes it out in my ear and I squint hard. His hot breath scorches me.

"Sleep, Ellior, we'll need energy tomorrow. Lots of energy."

"Aren't you cold?"

"A little," I admit, pulling the covers up to my neck.

"I know a way, without using magic, to keep warm."

"You're lying," I turn to him.

"No," he smiles slyly.

"And what is that way?"

"Sex."

"You're such a jerk, Ellior." I shove him in the chest and he falls on his back, laughing.

"I'm an elf, Arkan. I love sex. And everyone loves sex."

"You're impotent," I tsk and lie back down again.

"Not anymore, I'm not. Want to check?"

"Back off, Ellior. Seriously, leave me alone."

"Sissy," he chuckles.

Idiot. As if he had nothing else to think about.

But unconsciously, I smile, feeling the tension fade away, leaving a kind of lightness. Ellior had defused the heavy atmosphere, but I certainly didn't want to get closer to him. And I don't believe Ellior can be any different. He's a narcissistic boor, and when we get back, he'll be unbearable again.

Something inexplicable pulls me out of my dream. I sit up on the makeshift bed, listening to my rapidly beating heart. Glancing at the sleeping Ellior, I look around the gloomy and dark kitchen, not realizing what has happened.

"Every house. Check every damn house."

"Oh shit," I whisper in horror. Our location has been revealed.