The Night Magic (H20Vanoss)

~12~

Jonathan sat up abruptly, gasping as he panted. He looked around and saw that the sun barely risen into the sky; looking down he still saw that Evan was asleep, breathing soundly. Jonathan quietly got out of bed and went into the bathroom. Lowering the turtleneck part he saw slight burn marks right where the choker is. He shook with fear as he wanted this nightmare to end.
Jonathan went back to bed and held onto Evan tightly. Evan woke up by the sudden embrace, and looked down to see Jonathan burying his face in his chest.
"Jonathan?," he called softly, "What's wrong?"
"...I had a nightmare," Jonathan answered.
Evan held him close.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"...No."
Evan nodded. For a period of time they just held each other until they decided to get up. Jonathan sat in the library reading a book while Evan attended to something important that he had to do. Jonathan enjoyed the silence, but not quite the aloneness. He was nervous about being alone ever since that nightmare with Tenebris, and what he feared was that the man would appear.
Jonathan felt the choker around his neck, hissing a little when going over the burn marks.
Maybe some ice would cool it down, he got up.
Jonathan made his way downstairs into the kitchen where there an ice box. He took a couple of cubes and pressed them against his neck. It cooled the burns down, and put what was left of the ice he used into the sink.
"Jonathan," Evan called out.
"In the kitchen," Jonathan called back.
Evan entered the kitchen and smiled at the sight of Jonathan; he always made him smile. Jonathan watch Evan walk up to him and place a loving kiss on his lips.
"How are you?," he asked.
"I'm ok," Jonathan responded, "Only missing you when you go."
Evan kissed Jonathan again, Jonathan kissing back. They pulled away.
"I have a surprise for you," Evan cooed.
"What?," Jonathan asked.
"You'll see. Well, you can only see when we're there."
Jonathan raised an eyebrow. Evan told him to go put on his cloak and meet him at the door leading to the garden. Jonathan saw hands blocking his sight, smiling knowing it was just Evan.
"Ok," Evan opened the door, "Walk forward."
With one hand he covered Jonathan's eyes while with the other he held Jonathan's hand to help guide him, still walking behind him.
"Where on earth are we going?," Jonathan giggled.
"You'll see," Evan repeated, "Just be patient."
Jonathan felt the stone floor of the garden leave and be replaced by flattened snow; he was now even more curious on where Evan was guiding him. After a little while Evan stopped him, releasing his hand and putting it back with his other.
"Ready?," he asked.
Jonathan nodded; Evan removed his hands to reveal that they were on a cliffside looking over a snowy valley. A herd of deer were making their way across while the mountain range in the back hid a bit of the sun. Jonathan was amazed at it, smiling as he spotted trees and a river going by.
"Evan," he breathed out, "This is beautiful."
"I worked all day making a path up here," Evan explained, "I knew that you would've liked it."
He guided Jonathan over to a large rock that was clear of snow; Jonathan sat down and found out that it was warm.
"I used a spell to melt the snow," Evan explained, "Wouldn't want to be sitting on a cold surface right?"
Jonathan giggled. Evan wrapped an arm around Jonathan's waist, Jonathan leaning his head on Evan's shoulder with Evan's head rested a top of his. They looked out onto the valley and felt a sense of peace. Jonathan could feel that there was something on Evan's mind.
"Evan?"
"Hm?"
"What's on your mind?"
"Oh...I..."
"You can tell me."
"Well...Tomorrow is the anniversary of...my parent's....death."
Jonathan looked up at Evan's sad face.
"Tomorrow is also the red moon," he continued to explain, "Thus it's best that you stay in the castle...It's not going to be pretty."
"I understand," Jonathan said.
Evan turned his head and kissed the top of Jonathan's head.
"I love you so much," he murmured.
"I love you so much too," Jonathan returned the saying.
They walked back together hand in hand; Jonathan remembered that tomorrow was the third night. The night where the plan was supposed to unfold. He would be lying if he said he wasn't terrified about what would happen. He clung to Evan's arm to just remember the slight warmth that Evan kept, the love he feels from him. Evan smiled softly down at him.
"Evan?"
"Yes my love?"
"You will protect me no matter what...Right?"
"With my life."
Evan saw a distant look in Jonathan's eyes.
"Are you sure nothing is bothering you?," he asked him.
"I am very tired," Jonathan chortled.
Evan picked him up bridal style and carried him all the way back to the castle. Jonathan got into pajamas, making sure the choker was still covered, and joined Evan in bed. Evan held him close to his chest, and Jonathan embraced him. Jonathan waited till Evan was asleep when he would get out and look for the keys Tenebris spoke off. He opened a small drawer and found them there.
There were two keys marked with a red dot, and Jonathan carefully took them off the ring. He slipped them into his pocket and climbed back into bed.
I don't want to do this, he closed his eyes.
When Jonathan reopened his eyes Evan was gone, but a small note was on the nightstand to which he read.
—————————
My love,
I am taking a small trip
and will be back tomorrow at dawn.
Stay safe.
I love you.
~Evan
—————————
Jonathan gripped the note as he started to cry.
"I can't do this," he gasped, "I can't..."
"You can," Tenebris spoke in his head, "And you will. Otherwise, it will end very, very badly."
Jonathan sobbed.