Olivia patted Javien's back. She took five minutes to calm him down.
"Are you okay now?" she said while gently pushing him back to see his face clearly. But Javien only lowered his head, stiff and unmoving ..... as if he was still holding onto something he hadn't let go of yet.
Olivia smiled softly. Her hand reached up and wiped the last traces of tears from his eyes. Then she exhaled slowly.
She looked at Javien again. Patted his shoulder gently. And immediately jumped to one conclusion.....
Maybe he's embarrassed.
Olivia grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she stared at him.
Then , without even realising it ,her small little hand lifted high and landed square on Javien's back.
PAPP!!
"Don't be embarrassed!! This is completely normal!!" she said cheerfully, her hand not stopping, its enthusiastic patting.
Avelvion pressed his hand to his forehead and scratched his head that wasn't even itchy. Clearly irritated watching Olivia's behaviour.
"Not again," he muttered, stepping toward them and blocking Olivia's hand.
Olivia turned toward Avelvion who was smiling thinly.
"What??" Olivia said, then looked back at Javien in front of her. The corner of Avelvion's lips twitched like he was holding back his annoyance. He scoffed.
"Can't you see it?" he whispered close to her ear.
Olivia frowned, having absolutely no idea what Avelvion was trying to tell her. Without hesitation, he pushed Javien's stiff body.
THUD.
Olivia startled, her eyes widening.
"What are you doing!!" she said and glared at Avelvion whose face showed zero guilt whatsoever.
Avelvion covered his face with his hand and slowly approached Olivia.
"Are you dumb? Can't you see that he was asleep?" he said, his finger pointing toward Javien who was now lying flat on the ground.
Olivia went silent. She pressed her lips together and smiled with embarrassment.
"Ohh!! HAHAHA!! I didn't even notice!!"
she burst out laughing, her hand hitting Avelvion's back repeatedly.
He just stood there .... annoyed face fully activated, but somehow laughing along even though it sounded completely forced.
"HA. HA." he said flatly, rolling his eyes. Then he pushed her hand away and slowly stood up.
Olivia turned her face away.
Oh noooo!!!. I looked so stupid just now.
She cried internally.
Then she turned back toward Avelvion who was staring at her.
"So when are we going upstairs?" he said with a tired face.
"I'm sleepy already," he said, shaking his head to fight off the drowsiness.
He's right.
Olivia pressed both palms against her knees and pushed herself up. Then ....
"Alright!!"
She dusted off her clothes with both hands. Then her gaze drifted back toward Javien sleeping soundly in front of them.
His sleeping face looked more peaceful than she had ever seen it before.
His silver hair fell across half his face. Only his left eye was visible. The quiet sound of his breathing filled the room.
Her lips curved into a smile. She exhaled with relief.
Then her hand reached out and patted his hair gently, careful not to wake him. She picked up her lantern and adjusted her head covering.
"Sleep tight," she whispered softly.
Then she stepped toward Avelvion who was already standing by the door waiting for her.
Before she closed the door, she stole one last glance at Javien still sleeping without anything to cover him. Her chest tightened slightly.
He must be freezing in this cold air.
But she couldn't do anything for him. Not tonight.
Clack...
The door closed.
She turned her face toward Avelvion beside her. Both of them stepped forward toward the old wooden stairs. As always, Olivia carefully closed the basement entrance behind them, arranging the dry leaves back into place to avoid suspicion. Once done, they walked back toward the Aethelgard residence together.
The whole way back, neither of them spoke.
Not because things were awkward between them ...but because both of them were thinking. Emotionally and mentally exhausted after witnessing something far too frightening and overwhelming for children their age.
-------------------------------------
,
Before they parted ways toward their rooms, Olivia stopped.
"Avelvion..." she whispered.
"What," he said, mid-yawn.
"Thank you for today," she said, smiling sincerely.
"If you weren't there... I think I would have fallen apart," she said with a small quiet laugh.
Avelvion stared at her. Then grinned.
"I know, right," his smile softened slightly.
"Also .... if I hadn't come with you I would never have seen something so funny," he said, nudging her with light sarcasm. Olivia scoffed.
"Hey!! Don't be like that!!" she said, embarrassed, the memory of pushing sleeping Javien flashing back immediately. He laughed softly.
"Then .... goodbye YOUR HIGHNESS!!" Olivia said, bowing dramatically and waving her hand toward him before walking away, leaving him alone in the corridor.
Avelvion grinned and nodded.
He took a step toward his room.
"What a long day," he whispered.,
---------------------
That night was so cold.
But somehow, someone beneath them felt warm ... as if it's for the very first time, that cold dark room didn't feel so cold anymore.
Without realising it ..
His lips curved into a smile.
A genuinely happy one.
-------------------------
Meanwhile, in Olivia's room
The moment she arrived she immediately changed out of her slightly dirty clothes and threw herself onto her impossibly soft mattress.
"I missed you, mattress," she said, her hand reaching for her blanket.
She exhaled the longest breath of her life. Then stared up at the ceiling as her mind slowly replayed everything that had happened.
She had no idea what any of it meant. But somehow .... she was happy.
"I finally met him,"
she said softly, smiling at the ceiling.
She blinked. Once. Twice.
Slowly her vision blurred at the edges. The ceiling that had been clear a moment ago began to fade. Without realising it her eyes fell shut. The sound of crickets and wind slowly disappeared. Her breathing grew softer and softer.
Until she was completely, peacefully asleep.
------------_-------------
Right beside her wall ...
A girl sat on her bed, biting her fingers anxiously, trembling with fear.
"I don't want to do that."
"I won't."
"Don't force me!!"
"Stop. Stop."
"Go away."
She whispered it over and over, her eyes filled with terror. Both hands gripped her head as she hugged her knees tightly to her chest. Her fingers scratched at her own arm until something red appeared on her skin.
As if she was hearing voices whispering to her that wouldn't stop.
"Let me go..."
A quiet sound of crying filled the room.
To be continued....