Images from the past were dashing in Elfy's head as the twilight of transgression. So clear, so livid emotions twisted her body with new force; thus, it was the first time she allowed herself to remember her past and actually feel it clearly.

She already stood in the middle of the ocean. She had to see it! She had to be sure! This was impossible. Impossible, but at the same time so desirable.

With a swift movement of her hand, a colossal basilisk opened its gullet. Dementors' crowd flew towards her, but Elvein could not feel fear, nor did cold bother her. Patronus was so strong and dense that she straddled it, flying towards the raven castle. Dementors were not giving up, moving towards the girl in endless numbers. Elvein saw a herd of dark figures, realizing those were the only barrier between her and the truth. She was not letting them deprive what she craved. Rage rose in her, covering her with blue flames. The burning aura felt so natural that she only greeted it, letting it burn with full flames. Dementors nearby started burning, frazzling in the air, disappearing.

Snake obediently twisted in front of the labyrinth. Elvein stepped foot in front of overgrown walls and did not realize how and why she said:

"I have returned home, and you will not dare to stop me!" With the move of her hand, walls collapsed, letting her in Demian's domain.

She just went stepping bare feet over and over again. Every single door submissively opened in front of her. As if the castle recognized the owner in her, bowing his head to her.

Elvein entered a filthy, moisture saturated, half-ruined room, and there he was! The skinny, mummy-like figure of Ekrizdis sat on the chair. Not even lifting his face, he said:

"Did you come to see my grave, Elvein?"

Her eyes shut on their own accord. Tremble to strike her body. Then anger has surfaced once again:

"You are alive!"

"I am sorry. Was not planning on that." There was not a trace of sarcasm in his voice. He talked firmly, with anger and confidence, meeting her wide eyes.

"You! Are alive! Alive! For so long!"

"I think we've already agreed on that aspect. Why are you here? Have you not gained your dream freedom? Have you not run away with your precious lover?"

Elvein groaned, and one more wall crumbled. Demian observed her closely. Ekrizdis, even in his state, had a stern imperious appearance. Elvein was stronger than she could have ever imagined, but she felt Demian standing above even in this exact moment. He was always superior between those two, even when he was fawning under her feet.

"Why are you quiet? Is taking care of me the right thing to do now? Is that why you are here? You've already helped that brat to gain his steady steps, and now you want to switch on me?"

A groan of anger and rage left Elvein's lips. This time, a huge chandelier smashed against the marble floor.

"I have been calling for you! Every single night!"

"Have you been calling for me? Or my ghost?"

"You! For you! For the very last thing what has left yours in this world! And you have not come to me!"

Something sparkled in Demian's eyes. Leaning forward from his seat, he pierced her with his unique, penetrating gaze.

"Why were you calling for me, Elvein?"

The young woman grabbed her hair, groaning desperately. Castle shifted. Elbow thick cracks sealed through stone walls, but none bothered by it.

"Has he seen your face and got scared? Or, have you finally looked in the mirror, understanding that that pup will never be equal to you? Or, maybe, you've got sick of all that charity, grew tired of being used?"

"Don't you dare!"

"Should I not dare what, Eleven? Voice the truth? Then why are you here?!" Ekrizdis was already approaching her with steady feet. It was surprising how he still manages to stand. "Have you finally opened your eyes?"

"You! Did! Not! CAME!"

She felt how flames exploded from her chest. She covered her eyes and screamed. For sure, she has finally killed Demian! Turned him into ashes! No! No. No. No! She feared to look, but she had already spent more than two years in darkness.

When she opened her eyes, blue flames were encircling her, but Ekrizdis did not stop for a second. Bravely stepping into the flames, in front of Elvein, he stood, as healthy, strong, and calm as when they first met. As if all those years have never happened. Elvein, for sure, has gone mad. Probably, her mind has played a cruel joke. She must still be in St. Mungo's clinic, drifting through her illusions. Rising from the stone floor, she reached for him. She had to feel him! She had to be sure! Ekrizdis reached for her, helping her up. She felt a brief relief till the same shattered piece of the mirror did not appear in her hand.

"You have run out of time, Elvein. There's no other way around. You will open your eyes and face the truth, or you'll have to finish what you have started."

Telling that, he lifted his shirt, revealing a silver scar, placing her hand with a piece of the mirror right on brand marrying his heart.

Elvein looked in his crimson eyes, not being able to believe:

"No." Whisper tore from her lips. "No!' The mirror fell on the floor. "The moment you fell, I wished that was me laying there, dying instead of you! I can't! No! No! No!" She gripped Demian's shirt with all her strength. Her fingers trembled, knees gave out, and in seconds, both of them sat on the floor, Elvein sobbing in his chest, saying words again and again. "I have been calling for you. You have not come. I have been calling for you... you did not come. You have left me!"

"Never!" Ekrizdis shouted out, grabbing her trembling figure in a firm embrace.

"I want to die!" Heaved out Elvein.

"No. You don't want to live without me. There's a huge difference."

"I am dying without you, Demian!"

"I love you, Elvein."

"From the very first day... till my very last breath."