Elysian House: The Bitten Elixir [Remake] (1)

Chapter 25: Pereus

Chapter 25: Pereus

The moment I see the ship coming in, I felt relief build up in my chest. Sage and I haven't spoken in nearly two years. It was her plan to come here to see Elpis Zoe be crowned, but when Elpis Zoe became a tyrant over the land, she forced every ship to stay away, so that she could wage war on the humans. Which also meant Sage had to stay far away, back in Italy. So I sent her letters to let her know what was going on. Now that Elpis Zoe is missing somewhere, Sage has been given the green light. 

Snow stood beside me as we waited on the docks. Sage's ship comes to a halt and the unloading plank came down. As her crew comes off board, she spots me. And a smile spreads across my face. I rush over to her as she does the same to me and we collide into a harsh hug. 

"God," Sage whispers, in her thick Irish accent. "I've missed ya so much, haven't see ya in ages, Rowan. I heard of the arseways coronation with Elpis Zoe. How ya holdin' up?"

I shrug my shoulders. I haven't really been "holding up" per se. But I was doing what I could to get Elpis Zoe back. To the way that she was. "It's not important right now, Sage. I ought to be careful, Snow is here."

Sage's expression darkens. None of us were fond of the woman. We all knew what a great, big hassle it was growing up with her. 

She looks over my shoulder and she spots the woman standing on the deck, looking disgruntled with the pirates and fishermen walking around on the deck. "She was no bloody good at mothering, I'd say. Is she any use now?"

"No of course not," I shake my head. "She's still the same. Harsh, demands respect, always disappointed in us no matter what we do."

"Aye, I know where yer comin' from. We ought to be wide in this situation, Rowan. She's a dangerous woman, she is. Even to us. Hell, especially to us." She grips my arm and I give a tight nod. I would know more than anyone we had to have caution when Snow was present. "I'm not sure it's a good idea I'm here, then..."

"Why is that, Sage?" I didn't want her to think just because Snow was here, Sage had to leave. I didn't want to be stuck with the woman here. I wanted Sage to stay with me, to help me. Snow wouldn't be of any good luck to me anyhow. 

She looks back and I follow her gaze. 

The scent of human blood hits me hard and I almost reel back. I've never had trouble with human's blood before, but for some reason, I felt like I could drop to my knees in want. A small woman, in ratty clothing, bruises and cuts everywhere on her body, comes walking down the plank. She looks a bit lost and scared. 

"She's human, Rowan. Think she was a bogtrotter, but I'm not sure. She won't speak to me. She hasn't said a word the entire time." Sage looks over at me and I can see she's worried. Sage wasn't a fan of human blood and preferred humans as friends. All of us felt that way. Well, except for Snow. And Elpis Zoe never really liked humans, but she didn't kill them anyway. 

The girl we were talking about turns in our direction and I watch her arms come around herself protectively. 

"Sage, she isn't..." I look over at her, in worry. "You haven't..."

"No, of course not," she looks a tad bit offended. "I don't sit well with human blood, Rowan. You know me better than that. I found her. All alone, washed up on shore. Brought her on board with me, fed her and kept her safe s'best I could. But she ain't spoken a word to me the entire trip. She doesn't talk to anyone. Don't even know the boyo's name."

Footsteps were heard behind me and judging by the unpleasant chill on my neck, I knew it was Snow. "My, my. What a scrumptious scent. She must be a Royal Blood," Snow said lowly, and I knew she was talking about the girl Sage had found. "What a poor soul. To have found herself on Vampire docks. I'll take care of her."