Thirst For You

Elias sat at the edge of Eva's hospital bed, his hands trembling as he brushed a strand of hair from her pale face. Her breathing was shallow, her body fragile as if it might shatter with the slightest touch. Magnus stood in the doorway, his usually composed expression stained with worry. The scent of antiseptics and the faint hum of the machines monitoring Eva filled the room, but all Elias could hear was the pounding of his own guilt.

"It's my fault," Elias whispered, his voice raw. "She's sick because of me. I shouldn't have…" He stopped, unable to finish the sentence.

Magnus crossed his arms, his gaze firm but not mean. "Elias, beating yourself up won't help her. Right now, we need to figure out what's causing this. She's not just sick. It's something… more."

Elias's golden eyes flicked to Magnus, desperation pooling in them. "What do you mean? It's not just… an illness?"

Magnus hesitated, then stepped closer. "She's not human anymore. Not entirely. When she sacrificed her immortality, something must have lingered—a fragment of what she once was. That's why she keeps coming back. And now, your presence might be triggering… something dormant in her."

Elias's breath hitched. "Are you saying… she's still connected to me?"

Magnus nodded. "It's possible. The bond between you two isn't entirely cut off. But that bond is unsteady. Her human body can't handle it."

Elias clenched his fists. "So what do I do? How do I help her?"

Magnus placed a hand on his shoulder. "We'll need to find a way to stabilize the bond. But that means digging into the magic that bound you two in the first place. And you're not going to like this next part."

Elias's jaw tightened. "Tell me."

Magnus sighed. "We need Lucian."

The room seemed to grow colder at the mention of his brother's name. Elias stood abruptly, pacing the small space. "No. Absolutely not. He's the reason she lost her immortality in the first place. He's the reason for all of this!"

Magnus's voice was calm but firm. "I know you hate him, Elias, but he's the only one who might have answers. He's been dabbling in black magic longer than I or anyone else we know. If there's a way to save her, Lucian will know."

Elias stopped pacing, his hands gripping the back of a chair so tightly the wood cracked. He hated Magnus's logic because it was right. Lucian had always been drawn to forbidden knowledge, even when they were just kids. If anyone could unravel the mystery of Eva's condition, it would be him.

But the thought of seeing Lucian again made his blood boil.

Magnus stepped closer, his tone softening. "I know it's a lot to ask, but this isn't about you or Lucian. This is about Eva. Are you willing to do whatever it takes to save her?"

Elias's gaze dropped to Eva's fragile form, her chest rising and falling with laboured breaths. He swallowed hard, the weight of his love for her crushing him.

"Fine," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "But if he tries anything…"

Magnus nodded. "He won't. I'll make sure of it."

The journey to find Lucian was as fraught as Elias had expected. Magnus had tracked him to a crumbling mansion deep in the Carpathian Mountains, a place steeped in shadows and memories of their shared past. The scent of decay and old magic clung to the air as Elias and Magnus approached the massive iron doors.

Elias's heart pounded as Magnus knocked. The sound echoed threateningly before the doors creaked open on their own. A voice, smooth and dripping with mockery, greeted them.

"Well, well. Little brother. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Lucian appeared at the top of the grand staircase, his presence as commanding as ever. His dark hair was slicked back, and his sharp, angular features gave him an air of untouchable elegance. But his eyes—a deep crimson—glimmered with mischief and malice.

Elias's fists clenched at his sides. "We need your help."

Lucian smirked, descending the stairs leisurely. "Help? From me? That's new. What could possibly oblige you to darken my doorstep after all these years?"

Magnus stepped in, his voice calm but firm. "Eva's life is in danger. And we think you know why."

Lucian's expression shifted subtly, his smirk faltering. For a brief moment, something unspoken flickered in his eyes. Then, he laughed softly.

"Eva," he murmured. "Of course. It always comes back to her."

Elias stepped forward, his voice low and menacing. "If you know anything, you'll tell me. Now."

Lucian tilted his head, studying Elias. "Or what? You'll kill me? Please. You can't threaten me into helping you. But…" He paused, a sly grin spreading across his face. "If my Eva's truly in danger, then perhaps I'm willing to… negotiate."

Elias's jaw tightened. "What do you want?"

Lucian's grin widened. "Oh, nothing too dramatic. Just a favour. A small one. To be fulfilled at a time of my choosing."

Magnus immediately stepped in. "No. That's too dangerous."

Elias, however, didn't hesitate. "Fine. Whatever it takes."

Lucian's smile turned triumphant. "Excellent. Let's get started, shall we?"

Elias quickly asked what the favour was and what Lucian said next made him frustrated.

Lucian smiled as he spoke '' its really simple brother...you life and mortality for hers''

The air grew heavy in the dimly lit hall as Lucian's words hung between them. Elias's mind raced, torn between fury and desperation. He took a step closer, his voice low and trembling with barely suppressed rage. "You can't be serious."

Lucian leaned against the banister, his expression unreadable. "I'm always serious, Elias. Sacrifices must be made, and this time, it's your turn."

Magnus stepped in quickly, placing a firm hand on Elias's arm. "There has to be another way. Lucian, if you have knowledge of the bond, you can stabilize it without this… absurd bargain."

Lucian's crimson eyes flicked to Magnus, his lips curling into a mocking smile. "Ah, Magnus. Always the voice of reason. But you know as well as I do that magic this old demands balance. If Eva's life is to be restored, then something of equal value must be given in return."

Elias's fists clenched, his nails digging into his palms. "You mean to kill me. Is that it?"

Lucian's laugh echoed through the hall, cold and sharp. "Kill you? No, brother. I intend to free you. Immortality has been your curse for centuries. Wouldn't you give it up willingly for her?"

Elias faltered, the weight of Lucian's words crashing over him. For years, he had seen his immortality as both a gift and a burden. But to give it up—to lose the one thing that tied him to Eva across lifetimes—felt like tearing away a piece of his soul.

"And what happens to you, Lucian?" Elias asked, his voice laced with suspicion. "What do you gain from this?"

Lucian's smile deepened, though it no longer reached his eyes. "I'll admit, I have my reasons. Perhaps I envy your determination, your ability to love so deeply. Or perhaps I simply wish to see if you're as selfless as you claim to be." He straightened, his tone turning cold. "But my motives are irrelevant. The choice is yours, Elias. Her life or your eternity."

Magnus turned to Elias, his expression urgent. "Don't make this decision now. We need time. Time to explore other options… to find another way."

Elias shook his head, his gaze fixed on Lucian. "There isn't time, Magnus. Eva's slipping away. I can feel it."

Magnus's grip tightened on his arm. "You don't trust him. I don't trust him. If you agree to this, you're playing into his hands."

Elias pulled away, stepping closer to Lucian. He met his brother's gaze with unwavering determination. "If I do this, you swear she'll live?"

Lucian nodded solemnly. "I swear on the bond that ties us all. She will live, and the bond will be stabilized."

Magnus muttered a curse under his breath, but Elias had already made his decision. "Fine. I'll do it."

Lucian clapped his hands together, his grin returning. "Splendid. We begin at midnight."

As the clock struck twelve, the mansion's great hall was transformed into a ritual chamber. Candles flickered along the walls, casting eerie shadows that danced like spectres. Lucian stood at the centre, a circle of ancient symbols etched into the stone floor around him. Elias entered, his steps slow and deliberate, with Magnus trailing behind, his expression grim.

Lucian gestured to the center of the circle. "Step inside, Elias. Once the ritual begins, there's no turning back."

Elias hesitated for only a moment before crossing the threshold. The air within the circle felt thick, charged with energy that hummed against his skin. He glanced back at Magnus, who gave a reluctant nod.

Lucian began chanting in a language older than time, his voice reverberating through the chamber. The symbols on the floor glowed faintly, their light intensifying with each word. Elias felt a pull deep within him, as if his very essence was being unraveled.

Suddenly, a sharp cry pierced the air. Elias's eyes snapped open to see Eva standing at the entrance, her frail form trembling. "Elias, no!" she screamed, her voice cracking with desperation.

Lucian's chant faltered, his gaze snapping to her. "She shouldn't be awake," he hissed.

Magnus rushed to her side, but Eva pushed past him, stumbling toward the circle. Elias reached out, his heart twisting at the sight of her. "Eva, you need to leave. It's the only way to save you."

Tears streamed down her face as she shook her head. "Not like this. I can't lose you, Elias. Not again."

Lucian's eyes narrowed, and his voice turned icy. "She's disrupting the ritual. If she steps inside, it will all be for nothing."

Elias looked between Lucian and Eva, his heart torn. For centuries, he had longed to see her safe, to give her a chance at a life free from pain. But now, as she stood before him, he realized the cost might be too great.

"Eva," he said softly, his voice breaking. "What do you want me to do?"

"I'll see you in another lifetime," she said with her heart full of sorrow and a sense of deja vu.