Cuervito - Chapter 2
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The Lighthouse
"Lucanis?" Rook asked through the door of the pantry. A moment of awkward silence followed until he heard footsteps, the lock clicked and the door opened. There he stood, indeed. It hadn't been a dream. Lucanis was back.
And Rook was beaming. "Coffee?" he asked quickly, holding out a steaming cup to his puzzled counterpart.
The other smiled. "Gladly, thank you," he said and stepped back from the door to let Rook in.
“You know,” the latter started as he looked around the room, “We have other spaces. Spaces with light, windows. Why do you…”
Lucanis interrupted him. “Why does an assassin want a room with one entrance that has good choke points?”
Rook paused, then nodded with a smirk. “Fair.” And while Lucanis sat down on the makeshift bed in the corner of the room and inhaled the scent of coffee, he hastily explained, "No comparison to Café Pietra of course, but the best I could find for now. Think of it as a peace offering.”
"Peace offering?" Lucanis repeated before he understood what might be meant and said quietly, "You didn't do anything wrong."
"Oh, well, give me a little more time," Rook joked, scratching the back of his head.
Lucanis smirked briefly, took another deep breath over the cup and closed his eyes. He took a sip and hummed barely audibly. "After a year in that damn aquarium, this is a real treat. Thank you."
Rook felt a familiar warmth spreading through his insides. He hadn’t felt this way for so long, it was almost overwhelming. He was overcome with the urge to throw himself at Lucanis, to hold him tightly in his arms, to kiss him. He wanted to be close to him, just like before. It took all his strength to hold back.
And it got even worse when Lucanis smiled softly and remembered: "You used to bring me coffee in the mornings."
Rook pulled himself together and cheekily remarked: "Before your first coffee, it was impossible to talk to you, you know."
Lucanis huffed, took another sip and set the cup aside.
Rook grinned, too. But then his joy was overshadowed by the thought of how much he had missed all this. And by the uncertainty if they could ever return to the relationship they once had after being apart for over a year. The events of the previous evening still lingered between them as well. The shock, the remorse, Lucanis' sad look. His throat and chest felt tight again and he cursed himself for not having a better grip on his emotions.
"Is everything all right?" he heard Lucanis ask.
Rook looked at him, then back down. "It's just... I don’t know what to do. I thought it would be easier..."
"What do you mean?"
Rook paused for a moment. He was ashamed of his insecurities, his doubts. But he couldn't think of anything witty to escape the situation and so he explained: "I’ve been hoping to hear from you for so long. I imagined what it would be like if you returned. In my head, we just fell into each other's arms and everything was fine again. But now... I guess it’s not that easy after all."
Lucanis seemed speechless for a moment. His eyes had widened, but now his expression was relaxed again, understanding. "Sit with me," he asked gently, moving a little to the side.
Rook hesitantly accepted the invitation. His heart began to beat faster. Hopeful, longing, anxious. His throat was so tight it hurt.
Lucanis looked at him. His eyes travelled slowly over his face. "I’ve missed you too," he said softly. "I thought about you. Every single day."
The remaining parts of Rook's façade were now collapsing. His lover’s words hit him like an arrow in the chest. Tears burned in his eyes and he quickly hid his face behind one hand, stuttered an apology with a broken voice.
Lucanis carefully reached for his other hand and came a little closer. "It's all right, Cuervito, look at me."
Through the veil of tears Rook complied with the loving request, breathing deeply to calm the trembling in his body.
"I feel the same way, believe me. I want nothing more than to be close to you again. It’s not easy for me to keep my distance from you, but I need some time. To sort my thoughts. To get a grip on this cursed demon that lives inside me. I don't want to lose control in your presence again. I don’t want you to be afraid of me."
"I"m not afraid of you," Rook corrected instantly, trying to calm himself down. He sniffled and wiped away the tears. That Lucanis still felt this way was a comfort. Maybe the year underwater had changed him less than Rook had feared.
"I was surprised, that's all," he now explained, regaining his confidence. "We have fought far worse creatures. We can deal with this one, too."
"I’ve always admired your optimism," Lucanis said, leaning his head against the wall.
Then, after a short break, he went on, “So, tell me, what do I call you now? Rook, like the others?”
“Huh… yeah? I guess that will be easier for everyone,” was the answer.
“But when we're alone-,” he started, lost in thoughts apparently. He suddenly smiled and moved a curly strand out of Rook's face. "I like the hair." His fingertips brushed along the shell of Rook's ear, down along his neck and chest ever so slightly. “You used to wear it like that when we were younger.” For a brief, silent moment, they got lost in each other's eyes. Hazel meeting chocolate brown. Rook fought his urges once more. Lucanis' half-opened eyes, that look, made it almost impossible not to reach for his face and kiss him until they were both out of breath. "You don't even know how much I want you," Lucanis whispered, his gaze drifting to Rook's lips just for a second.
His words coursed through Rook's body like lightning, straight to his loins. He wanted to get closer and it seemed that Lucanis wanted the same. His facial expressions, his deep breathing and the tightening grip on Rook's hand were an invitation he could hardly longer resist. “You can have me,” he murmured, ready to surrender himself to his former lover.
Lucanis closed his eyes and turned his head away. "I can't," he spoke with regret. "Not yet."
Rook growled in frustration, followed by a soft laugh. He was not angry. The fact that his beloved still wanted to be close to him was enough for the moment. He playfully grasped the fingers of Lucanis' hand and placed a polite kiss on the knuckles.
"Then I guess this will have to do for now," he said cheekily and chuckled.
Lucanis joined in the soft laughter before saying, "Thank you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Treviso
People were dancing, laughing and chatting. Traders offering goods from all over the world. Colourful lanterns shone on the walls. Despite the siege of the Antaam the Treviso market seemed untouched.
Rook took a deep breath. Coffee, spices, herbs, leather - the smells and sounds of home enveloped him. Only now he got aware of how much he had missed it all. And yet he was nervous. They were on their way to the casino to meet up with Teia and Viago. So far, only Neve had been in contact with them. The clues they had needed to free Lucanis had also come from here. And the two of them now naturally wanted to make sure that their comrade was actually still alive. But Lucanis was not the only one to return home. Rook had been reluctant to pay Treviso a visit. They had sent him away. And he wasn’t sure if he would ever be welcome back.
With an uneasy feeling in his stomach, he walked behind Neve and Lucanis. The two were deep in conversation and Rook was glad that he didn't have to explain his mood. As they entered the casino, the Cantori Diamond, he continued to keep a low profile. He moved in the shadows of the rooms to not attract attention. Lucanis had been gone longer than him. Thought dead, in fact. He wanted to give his friends the opportunity to enjoy their reunion. And so he leaned against a parapet and watched as Teia and Viago approached Lucanis in disbelief, both embracing him and exchanging pleasantries. Even his cousin Illario managed a half-smile and gave him a cursory hug. Rook smiled. It pleased him that they were all having a light-hearted moment.
"Aren't you going to join them?" Neve snapped him out of his silent observation.
"Not yet," he replied, crossing his arms to hide the trembling of his hands.
In truth, he didn’t know how to act. Teia and Viago had sent him away for a reason. After Lucanis' disappearance, he had behaved impossibly. He had been drinking too much, fighting constantly, and reacted to well-meant advice with anger or coldness. And finally, he had put the whole family in danger by attacking the Antaam without order. Who would want to see someone like that again?
"I think you're worrying too much," Neve said, as if she could read the doubts in his eyes.
"What are you doing, standing there in the dark? Come here!" Lucanis' voice now echoed over to them and when Neve gave him a gentle shove, he complied.
"Àlvarito!" Teia called out after a surprised sigh escaped her. Of course she had recognised him first. She approached him quickly and literally collided with him in a tight embrace. For someone so small she sure had a strong grip.
Rook struggled to breathe for a moment, then he hugged his cousin back and buried his face in her wildly curled hair. She smelled like home. Family. He immediately felt a little better.
Viago was now standing with them too, and palmed his shoulder reassuringly. "It's good to see you," he said, sounding more sincere than Rook had expected.
Teia broke away from him and a sudden punch to the chest made him gasp. The short Elf had hit him and glared at him angrily. "Estùpido!" she snapped. "Where have you been all this time?"
He knew she wasn’t really angry, although she had every right to be. There had been no sign of life from him for almost a year as well.
"How much time do you have?" Rook asked, running his hand over the back of his neck in embarrassment.
Her fist hit him again, but with less force this time. "You better have a good excuse for why we haven’t heard a word from you," she grumbled and abruptly pulled him into another hug.
"That woman-" he heard Viago sigh. "Well… better him than me."
"I hate to interrupt," a smoky voice sounded from afar. It was Illario, who was now approaching them. He nodded briefly at Rook before announcing, "Caterina wants to see you."
~~~~~
Caterina Dellamorte. First Talon of the Crows. Every child in Antiva knew this name. Everyone knew that the fate of Treviso lay in her hands, that she pulled all the strings. By appearance she was nothing more than an attractive older lady, but her penetrating eyes told everyone that it was better to not mess with her.
She was Lucanis' and Illario’s grandmother, had taken them in like sons and trained them as assassins. When Teia had joined the Crows with a very young Àlvaro in tow, she had paid them the same honour. For whatever reason, she had liked him a lot, spoiled him even if one listened to the Crow’s gossip. The day Viago had become a Talon himself she had insisted Àlvaro would join his house. And he believed it was to make sure to keep him in close this way. He himself always felt a nervous tug in his stomach whenever he just heard her name. For he remembered her other side. Her demands, her addiction to control everything and everyone, her coldness whenever someone acted against her will. And so he walked slightly behind everyone else when they approached her.
She sat in an opulent armchair next to the fire. Legs crossed, one of her hands resting on a crane. Her otherwise rather hard features softened slightly in sight of the new arrivals.
"My boys have returned home," she said solemnly, extending her left hand to them so that Lucanis and Rook could place a kiss on it in turn.
"The whole family united, how refreshing," Illario commented tonelessly, standing next to his grandmother now with his hands clasped.
"Quite right," Caterina agreed. "But as much as I would like to celebrate this happy occasion with you, we don’t have much time. There are clues to the whereabouts of Zara Renata."
"Zara," Lucanis hissed, and Rook could see the unbridled rage and a hint of purple light flaring in his eyes - The woman who had betrayed him. The one who had imprisoned him in the Ossuary, abused him for her experiments and bound Spite to him. Naturally, they both craved revenge.
"We’re still missing the crucial piece of the puzzle, but we're close to tracking her down," Caterina continued. "Revenge will be yours, Lucanis. You will free Treviso from a scourge. The day has finally come."
"I will," Lucanis agreed resolutely.
Rook couldn't ignore the bitter feeling in his guts any longer. Caterina didn’t even pretend to be surprised to see her grandson. "You knew Lucanis was still alive," he said sharply.
Caterina smiled. "Of course I did."
Rook looked at her, stunned. So did the rest of the present Crows, but nobody said anything.
"Zara is a remarkable mage, but she couldn’t fool me," she continued, “The body our people brought back was not my grandson. It was dressed in his clothing but it had been altered with blood magic to have his face.”
Rook wanted to speak, but Illario beat him to it: “My cousin was alive? And you didn’t think to tell me?”
“His ship was attacked. We knew someone sold him out… so you kept your suspicions to yourself,” Viago concluded.
“I’ve had eyes on the Venatori ever since they took my grandson from me. What you did to the ritual of that elven mage threw them into disarray. They made mistakes. And I had a location. That’s where your friend Neve Gallus conveniently came into play. She wanted a favour from me, so I asked for one in return. And now everything is falling into place."
Her smug smile made Rook sick. He had followed her explanations as if in a trance but now an anger flared up inside him, like a flame he couldn't control. “You should have told us,” he spoke through closed teeth, staring at the floor.
"To lose Illario and you too?" she countered dryly. "You would have gone headlong into battle. I couldn't take that risk."
Rook clenched his fists. “This wasn't your decision-”
“Everything is my decision.”
The cruel tone in her voice sent a shiver down his spine. The pain of that night suddenly caught up with him again. It tugged at him as if it wanted to pull him to the ground. His heart was pounding against the cage of his ribs, he felt nauseous. And so, so angry. "No, Caterina. Not this!” he protested and looked up. He heard Teia saying his name, felt her reaching for his arm but he escaped the grip by taking a step forward. “All this time… and you knew. You watched me suffer and break apart!”
“Don"t be so dramatic now, Àlvaro” Caterina said blankly. “I-”
“It almost killed me!", Rook shouted, interrupting whatever she had intended to say next. He felt a tear running down his cheek. It seemed all his strength had left him with this outburst. "How could you-" he breathed, wiping the tear away hastily and staggering backwards a few steps, intending to leave.
Lucanis made an attempt to follow, but Rook shook his head. "I need some air," he said and hurried out.
~~~~~
The water under the bridge was black and calm. Not far away, the colourful lanterns of the market shimmered and there was a murmur of voices in the air. Rook breathed deeply. The anger had subsided, the tears dried up. Now he felt empty, humiliated by his own behaviour. He didn’t want to go back. Not yet. Maybe never again?
He picked up a rock and skipped it over the water. For years, he had lived by Caterina’s rules, never questioning them. He had killed people at her behest! Always trusted her blindly. And in return she had kept this crucial information to herself because she thought he was a hot-tempered child. Well, maybe she was not wrong about that…
Suddenly, something brushed against his legs and snapped him out of his thoughts. He looked down at himself and discovered a street cat, black as the night with yellow eyes, which returned his gaze curiously. She turned around and rubbed her other flank along his calf before jumping onto the parapet and nudging him with her head. The moment he started to nuzzle her neck she began to purr eagerly. Her soft fur and the vibrating noises calmed him and Rook had to smile. He had always loved cats, desperately wanted one of his own as a child. And Treviso was teeming with them.
"Here you are,” a familiar voice said from not too far away. It was Lucanis. He sounded worried, but composed as usual. Reassuring.
"I’ve never been good at hide-and-seek," Rook joked half-heartedly.
"Good for me," Lucanis realised, leaning back against the parapet so he could look at him. And at the cat, which was still enjoying a soft massage of her back, but warily kept an eye on the other man now. “I see you found a new friend already,” he commented while crossing his arms. He had never been very fond of cats. Or dogs. Anything on four legs, really. Rook remembered that he once said that he didn"t like the way animals stared into his soul.
“They just seem to like me,” Rook said, more to himself than anyone, while he gave her another good scratch behind the ear.
“I can't blame them,” Lucanis spoke with the glimpse of a smile dancing around his lips. But it died down when he asked: "How do you feel?"
"Like I have to punch someone," Rook admitted.
"Save that for our next mission. Or, Illario maybe?" Lucanis said with a wink and then suggested: "Come, walk with me."
When they left, the cat jumped to the ground and followed them for a while. But soon something else seemed to have caught her interest and she disappeared into the night.
Lucanis let out a sudden groan. He sounded annoyed and when Rook threw a questioning look at him, he explained: “It's Spite… He asked if we eat cats.”
“No, we don’t!” Rook laughed at the ridiculousness of it but then realised: “He didn’t take over to ask this himself?”
Lucanis shook his head and his gaze apparently followed the for Rook invisible figure of his demon. “I think he's busy exploring the city.”
“He should. It might be his new home.”
The other seemed taken aback by this statement. “Your view on things has always amazed me,” he breathed with a smile.
"I’m sorry I caused you such grief," was the next thing he said after they had walked through the alleyways in silence for a while.
"To be precise, Caterina caused it," Rook answered grimly.
"I understand you, believe me. And yet I think she did the right thing."
Rook stared at him.
"Look..." Lucanis continued quickly. "If she had told you - that I was still alive. That I’m trapped somewhere and Zara is behind it... wouldn’t you have put yourself in danger to find me?"
"Probably, yes," Rook admitted. "But that would still have been better than lying in my room for days on end, drinking myself senseless for weeks and starting one fight after another. I would rather have died than feel like that."
"I'm very glad you're still alive," Lucanis said seriously and stopped.
Rook did the same and looked at him with narrowed eyebrows. Lucanis smiled again. He stroked his arm with one hand until he reached his hand and held it tightly. "I’m not asking you to forgive her. But maybe someday you'll understand."
Rook sighed, "Maybe. Someday."
He felt Lucanis squeeze his hand a little tighter and finally let his fingers slip through the spaces between his. "Come, this way," he murmured promisingly and Rook immediately felt a tingle run through his body.
Lucanis strolled with him along the water. It was quiet, hardly any people to be seen or heard. And as they turned around a corner, it gradually dawned on Rook where he was leading him. At least he hoped so, and the tingling grew stronger.
He was right. They turned once more into a quiet alley. A small, golden lantern gleamed against one of the walls, ivy entwined around it. One could still hear the rushing water, but not much else. A peaceful place.
“This is where we first kissed”, Rook realised and felt Lucanis' smile even before he turned his head and saw it.
“It is”, he confirmed. Low, quiet, and Rook almost melted away at the sound. It encouraged him to lean back at the wall next to the lantern and say: “I stood right here.”
Lucanis' dangerous smile grew wider, his eyes heavy-lidded. “You did.”
“And you looked at me, exactly like you do now-”
“I said, This isn't a good idea.”
Rook smirked. “I said, Sometimes a bad idea is better.” He tried to control his breath. It felt like his heart would burst through his throat any moment and he swallowed.
“You like to walk a little too close to the edge,” Lucanis continued and came closer. He lifted his arm and placed his hand on the wall next to Rook's face, leaning in.
“So do you”, Rook murmured and let his fingers brush along Lucanis' chest.
Lucanis went on with the torture. His gaze was pinned on Rook's lips and his voice nothing but a raspy whisper when he repeated his last fatal sentence of that night. “At least I know I'm doing it.”
Rook shivered. Lucanis took a deep breath, tilted his head to the side and closed the last distance between them. Their lips met. So soft and careful, one could barely call it a touch. Lucanis sighed and cupped his face with both hands. Rook grabbed the leather of his coat and pulled him closer, inhaling his scent deeply. They parted, smiling and huffing, and reunited for a second, much deeper kiss. The world around them seemed to disappear.
And then it broke apart.
Several bangs went down on the city like thunderclaps. Stone shattered, fires blazed, people screamed. Lucanis and Rook scattered, stunned and confused. And then they saw it. A cruel black shadow arose from the darkness with a terrible roar, huge wings carrying it up into the air: a dragon.
"Teia!" Rook gasped. "We have to go back!"
