40; the boy born from flames

Just to clarify; Elias Sherwood has grown accustomed to being burnt in the eighteen years he's been alive.

He'd been crafted from the flames. He'd breathed in the smoke, survived the heat melting his skin- he'd learnt to harness the fire always flickering inside of him. His fire is like home, familiar, something he's able to control, like pushing the air out of your lungs as easily and you can suck it in.

When he'd attacked Victoria, it was a list ditch effort to save all of them. It was a sacrifice, he'd performed a service, because hey, he had thought, me dying, being murdered by her, has a lot more sense than the others. I'd be saving them, but I'd also be saving every Sherwood in the future. The curse will end with me.

He'd thought of Jasper as he attacked. The guilt of leaving him behind, the agonising ache of never seeing him again. Those moments he'd memorised his features came to- He could imagine his beautiful face, the way his lips curved when he found something Elias said amusing, the light in his eyes, the veins on his hands when he clasped them over Eli's, the arch of his throat when he laughed. He thought of it. It caused the flames to roar and he lunged with a new vengeance to fight, to protect, to live.

But Victoria's face had appeared near his neck as they rolled around in the snow. Her strong arms had squeezed, hard, around his torso. The crack of his bones didn't matter as her teeth latched onto his neck.

Funnily enough, Elias didn't even feel the pain, he hadn't realise the extent of a injury. The only realisation he was hurt was seeing Bella- across the clearing, in the exact same position Elias had left her only seconds before.

Funny, how a few seconds can alter your life. Your death.

Her mouth had opened in a silent scream, skin blending to the colour of the snow; she looked horrified, wide brown eyes staring at his neck. Elias had pushed his hands against his throat in reflex. Under his fingertips he'd felt the deep jagged lines out a injury. He'd felt the warmness of his blood and how is sizzled and cooled as it hit the snow covered floor.

It's a blur then, dropping the floor, trying to speak. He could comprehend what was happening- death and life felt at equal ends of a rope and he balanced in the middle.

Then the venom began spreading into his bloodstream.

This fire swallowing him is different. It isn't normal, human. Elias is accustomed to human flames. This, this is too painful, too much- its hell fire.

It starts in his neck, too hot, too painful. Like drinking from a boiling tap. He'd clenched his jaw to stop the scream, eyes snapping shut to concentrate on not screaming. He hadn't felt the needle going into his arm, but he hears Edward voice, over his sisters cries, low and in a tone that's trying to be reassuring. "The morphine might help with the pain."

It hadn't- not in the way that counted. It hadn't washed away the burn, but it took away his choice of reacting to it. He'd locked up, in the beginning, to not scream- but that wasn't needed anymore. The morphine took away his mobility- but not the pain.

So he's motionless as the fire trickles across his body.

He can't see or feel anything, but his other senses are working. Even if it's hard to concentrate on them when your body and mind are screaming; he can hear snippets, can smell how the irony tang of his own blood is replaced by fresh air, of the forest. He hears the wind, murmured words that don't make sense.

Nothing really, truly, breaks past the case of flames killing him.

Until Jasper.

Elias is home now- told by the smell of vanilla and white orchids, the flowers that Esme buys. The candles she buys but doesn't light. He's home, he's safe. He doesn't know what room he is, but he's guessing it's one of the upstairs living rooms that Carlisle had made into a makeshift hospital room. He can't concentrate on the background, because someone is opening his eyes for him- checking his reactions, checking to see if he's alive. Someone's looking after him.

Jasper appears, his magnificent face torn into despair. He's mouthing words Eli can't follow, but he's sad. So sad- it pours off him. Suddenly the only thing worse than the flames is the thought of Jaspers pain, of Jasper being tormented as he watches Elias.

So Eli forces himself to concentrate on surviving. His eyes are closed now, allowing his attention to be solely on the pain- and he welcomes the flames as they consume him. He'd rather face this alone than watch the boy he loves hurting.

It's a impossible kind of torture.

Every lick of fire feels like the devil taunting Elias to death. The endless time goes on and it starts getting worse and Eli finds it more difficult to concentrate. The devil isn't dragging him to death- he's tearing Elias apart, dipping him in acid and forcing him to cook.

Fight the morphine, scream, beg for them to end this, a whisper haunts him every second, the weaker part of him that wants this to end. Elias pushes it away, thinking back to the blond boy. When this is over, he'll have the option to open his eyes, to be pain free, to have Jasper.

More time passes. Elias' hearing gets clearer as his mind is able to work around the pain. He's able to hear the fast beat of his heart in his chest, he's able to think back to why he needs to be still. Two families, friends, love, hurt, death... Eli thinks of it all.

The flames grow, so does the space and clarity in his mind. He's able to go to the moments before the burning, he's able to remember conversations with Carlisle that feel millenniums ago. Three days, that how long the change will last. If a person has a weak heart, it can last five.

Elias hopes he has a strong heart- he doesn't know how much fire he can handle.

As his hope starts to waver, more sounds come to him. The breath escaping different lungs, clothes rubbing together as someone walks, the whisper of air as they come closer to Elias. Past the house, he hears the wind against trees, animals scurrying around deeper into the forest. He can hear the water from the river a mile from the Cullen home- it sounds like a waterfall.

"Are you sure there's enough venom in his system Carlisle?"

If Elias could jump, he would have. Jaspers voice is unexpected but welcome. He sounds different- it takes Eli a moment to realise it's because he's scared. Jaspers hardly scared.

Elias hears the ghosting footsteps on the wooden floor, they're near him, "His heart is extremely strong, he's changing very vast." This voice is familiar too- older somehow, aged by knowledge. Carlisle.

Eli wants to smile, if he could- yes Carlisle, reassure him. Thank you.

"He's magnificent," a bell chimed voice says- Alice. Elias hears her enter the room from the right- she'd been downstairs a second ago. Her skipping footsteps stop where the closest person to Elias is. "Look at him Jasper. He's so beautiful even Rosalie will be jealous."

Elias doesn't feel beautiful- more like a churned black corpse.

"I wasn't there Alice," Jasper mourns in a sigh, so broken sounding. Not right. Elias wants to move, to comfort- but the morphines still robbing him of mobility. He could fight it, but he's sure the only action he'd be able to do is scream.

"You didn't know this would happen Jasper, do not blame yourself," Carlisle chides sternly, fatherly.

Alice hums, Elias can hear the noise vibrating against her skin. "Elias wouldn't want that, he'd kill you for being so negative," Her words get lighter, edging into humour, "He'd tell you to stop being a idiot."

"I'm sorry darling, I'm so sorry," Jaspers voice breaks, something Eli thought is impossible. He's a lot closer to Elias when he utters, "This will be over soon."

The pain intensifies, now an inferno, destroying every part of Elias. At the same time his senses get better, his mind clears more, able to track the torture he goes through and to think around it- hope dances with the flames. Is this the end?

Thump, thump, thump, the sound bounces around Eli's skull. Is his heart slowing? Thats a good sign. That means it's almost over, right?

No, it isn't his heart. Thats still as fast a hummingbirds wings, pumping the venom through him. Another human is here, their footsteps uneven, clumsy. Bella- that can only be Bella. He knows how she sound even when he was human.

She walks up steps, her breath uneven too. Scared. Anxious. Next to her is another person, breathing in and out with no actual need. Edward. Elias hears her- arguing with no end. She wants to see Elias. She wants to say goodbye. Force of nature.

Their noise comes closer, pausing where Elias knows the door is. The three other vampires breathing stop- what has surprised them? Bella? Are they waiting for a reaction? Elias wants to scream even more- he wants to see, to open his eyelids. He wants to stop. He should fight the morphine. But that isn't possible, not if he wants Jasper to keep his sanity.

"He's so.... frozen," Bella breathes out in a hitch, her heart unsteady. She walks across the room with Edward, bringing the lavender scent of her clothes, her perfume. Something salty clings to her, only a small amount, tears? Has she cried? Elias is surprised how he can tell that.

Frozen. So he's actually controlling himself. Good, he was scared some part of him was giving away the pain- that his efforts to brush off the feeling of death is working.

"I don't understand, why isn't he..." Bella trails off, the question clear. Why isn't he begging for death? Why isn't he thrashing, screeching? Is the venom working?

"I'm unsure, his thoughts aren't clear to me. But everytime he thinks of moving, he forces himself not to," Edward recalls in surprise- mind reader. Eli remembers. Stay out of my head you fucking- the rest of the sentence is lost to Elias as Edward catches up the deeper meaning to Eli's actions. "I think it's to not upset Jasper."

Snap- Eli's control breaks as the incredulous anger burns like the venom. The morphine washes away, giving him control. The muscles in his body loosen, his eyes open a sliver, catching the blip of light of the room. He tries, for a moment, to be angry. To hold onto it. Elias can feel his hands curl into fists, air sizzles up between his clenched mouth- he aims to tell Edward to shut up. But in the millisecond he's got control back, the pains won. His mouth opens- something between a whisper and a scream comes out. He can't tell.

Jasper sucks in a sharp surprised breath at the sound of Eli's cry. He's moving closer, saying Eli's name like a question- he's in pain.

Thats it, Elias locks up again, stopping himself from ever moving. Jasper. Jaspers more important than anger. He'll stay still a thousand years if it means Jasper won't get more upset.

"I wasn't supposed to say that," Edward notes in guilt, further away from Elias, Bella too. As if him reacting is dangerous. "I'm sorry Elias," he sighs, truly meaning it.

"So it's safe to say his tempter hasn't changed?" Bella asks, forced humour over her worry, over her fast paced heart. She shifts on her feet and something sweet gets wafted to Elias- not her perfume. Something different he's never smelt before.

"He's gonna be one interesting new born," Alice hums again. She's no doubt talking about how dangerous he'll be, how many people he'll slaughter with his slipping control.

"I have faith in him," that's Carlisle, moving closer, just as close as Jasper. He smells like books, like his office. But also like the hospital- he hasn't been there though. Why does he smell of the hospital?

Quiet again. Just the sounds of breathing, Bellas fast heart- and his own, still hammering the venom around his body. How long will this go on for? How long can he take the fire? How long? How long? How long?

"A few hours," Edward answers Eli's mental pleas. Thank fuck. Elias will hold on, it's been days already, he can do it. He can do it.

Bella coughs, the joints in her body moving.

"Yes Bella," Jasper murmurs, answering a unasked question. He sounds protective. He moves back from Elias, footsteps like a feather landing on the floor. When he moves, Elias can smell him too- he smells faintly of cleaning chemicals, of bleach. It hides his usual scent.

He and Carlisle must have cleaned Elias off, since he can't smell any blood. That's why they smell so differently.

Bella's clumsier feet pattern comes closer. Next to Elias' burning body. She exhales shakily, body moving again, but Eli can't tell which part. That alluring pure flowery smell comes to Eli's nose- what is that?

"He's so cold," she gasps, is she touching Elias? He can't feel it, the fire burns away everything else. "I'm used to sweating as soon as I'm near him," she sounds nostalgic. A odd noise comes out her throat, part curious and saddened, "Do you think his power will transfer into this life?"

"Well, I can see him now the tumours have gone. But it's just like before, trying to focus on just his timeline is trying to see a object across a smoky room," Alice speaks in a glum tone, not liking her own words. She'd been betting that since they're the same species, Eli's future would clear up. Instead of looking at other peoples timelines and trying to scan if he's with them.

Can she see when this will end? What if they're wrong, what if it's not hours? What if it's two more days? Elias doesn't like it, he'd rather die. Too much, too much, too much. I should just scream, ask them to kill me. Too much, too-

"-I can't feel anything from him still," Jasper whispers, broken. Agony- him and Elias. No, this isn't right.

Elias fights his own thoughts, locking himself down more. He'll survive this, no matter what. Jasper needs him. Jasper needs him.

He repeats it like a mantra, above the pain, using it as locking mechanism to keep himself still now the morphine's out his system. After a while, his mind opens up more, allowing more train of thoughts. It's confusing, being able to think so many things at once- being able to think of Jasper to sit still, being able to think of death as the pain tortures him.

"Distract him. He wants us to keep talking to him," Edward requests after six hindered beats of Bella's slow heart. Yes! Elias wants to scream. He'd heard him.

Bella speaks first, the words rushed and wobbly- she tells Elias of what happened after the fight. Jake got hurt, but not intentionally. No one else had died. Good.

She speaks how the Volturi guards came. Scary, red eyes. She narrates every moment like she would if Elias and her are alone in her room, like old times. Like he isn't on a table being tortured.

Seth is guilty for Elias stepping in. Especially after he'd been bitten- stupid wolf. Not his fault. Such a good kid, he reminds Elias of Easton. Same kind eyes, same youthful expression. Elias had done it for him too, he'd died protecting him as well.

"I haven't said thank you Elias," Edward says honestly once catching that thought. "For saving me from Victoria, for giving me the time and distraction to save Bella. I just wish I could have been quicker to save you."

"Elias protects the ones he loves," Jasper whispers, sounding proud, past the obvious disappointment of how Elias had thrown himself to deaths door.

If it was possible, new torture wraps around Eli. The fire rages even harder, so much worse. He doesn't understand in the bewilderment of pain- Carlisle is saying how his hearts getting quicker. Jasper is speaking, to Bella, explaining that the heart beats quicker near the end. The faster the beat, the more pain. Elias hadn't known that. Of course it gets better before it gets worse.

When the fire starts to itch away from his toes and fingertips, Edward announces it like it's a bad thing. Elias doesn't understand. 

"Goodbye Elias, I love you. I'll talk to you soon I promise," Bella whispers, close to his ear like he won't be able to hear her. Her scent is alluring, so close to him, it's better than anything else. She leans back from him, sniffling, wiping the salt smell of tears, then she's walking out the room.

Elias senses expand, tracking everything around together. Every step of Bella leaving, the scent of everyone in the room, the taste of venom in his mouth. He can focus on it all. He can hear Nathaniel's- he's humming, singing to himself- from the right of Elias. But he's not near, he's coming from the forest. Emmett is with him, he walks louder, his voice is all business when he gets to the house. He doesn't have to come upstairs to speak, for anyone to hear him when he announces, "the forest is clear."

Emmett comes upstairs, bringing the scent of the forest with him. Nate stays downstairs, waiting. Bella walks to him, still sniffling her tears and Elias can hear how Nate comforts her. He's nice, assuring her that Elias will be fine- they walk to the car outside. They get in- Elias listens until he can't hear them. 

"Open the windows, get rid of the scent of Bella's blond," Jasper orders strictly, next to Elias again. That's what the alluring scent was? Blood? Eli feels his mouth water.

The fire pulls again, but worse. It drains from his wrists and ankles, leaving them pain free, but it shoots to his heart. It's fast beat doubles, triples, almost a singular beat in his chest.

Elias tenses further, stopping the pain from showing. Something else happens, a new feeling. His throats burning almost leaves, then a new sensation tears at it. Thirst, dry. It's like sandpaper rubbing in his mouth while sparks get thrown down his windpipe.

"It's almost finished, only a few minutes now," Jasper soothes, breath slow. He's excited. His fingers tap against the table in a anxious tick.

How can he be excited? This is killing Elias! Its getting worse. He knows, Eli reminds himself, he knows what's best. He'll protect you, listen to him. Listen to him.

Stupid words, Elias knows this already.

"Carlisle, Edward," Alice calls, urgently. She must see something. From around the room, both men move, band together, near the door. The exit.

Elias can't focus on that since his heart takes off, violently. Every beat takes the venom from Eli's body and drags it back to his heart. This is so much worse than before, it hurts too much, it scorches. Elias feels like he's fighting against the sun.

The sun and his heart attack each other. Elias loses moments of control of his cool and pain free limbs- his hands curl, his mouth opens to hiss. He snaps down on his muscles before he can scream- no. Jasper won't like that, Jasper can't see him scream in pain.

Jasper, Jasper, Jasper, that one name keeps him sane. Jaspers name roars louder than anything.

The flames zero in, ripping Eli's heart apart. The organ stutters, no use to the flames- they kill it, Literally. The beat stops with a hitch and with it the fire lessens, as if realising it has won, that Elias is now truly dead.

The flames settle, resting in Elias' bones almost peacefully- it's job of birthing him from fire complete.

Elias considers the fact he's pain free for a second, almost disbelieving it after a eternity of torture.

He sucks in a breath, testing the waters to see if the flames come back. They don't, air twists down his throat, different tastes soaking into his tongue. Things he hasn't even tasted but knows what they are. Dust, aged wood, paint, silk, something else too.

The biggest scent and taste hanging in the room. Sweet, warm, deeply masculine in a way Eli hadn't realised when he was human. Amazing.

He snaps his eyes open, sitting up from the metal table without really thinking about it. He wants that scent, he knows it.

Elias remembers at the exact moment how Jasper had described the feeling of waking up. He hadn't been wrong.

Everything in the large medical room of Carlisles office is so sharp and clear- he can see the details of the wood across the room, the rays spraying from the lights bulbs, the way it shines multicoloured across the dark wood and white decor. Beautiful, but distracting.

Elias breathes in through his mouth again, unnecessary as his lungs don't ache for it but it feels nice to taste things.

Someone else breathes too- more than one. The use of his hearing blends too harsh against his other senses, especially sight. Overwhelming Elias. He locks onto looking at the wall, trying to fight the building panic. He was used to the senses when he was burning, but he had his eyes shut. Now he can see and use everything else- it's too much. 

"Elias?" A familiar voice calls, alluring and deep. Like velvet, or a musical note. He walks closer with careful and slow steps- not really slow. He appears in front of Elias' gaze in less than one second.

The panic leaves, melting into Eli's body as his senses focus on the most important thing in his life. He can feel the other people lingering across the room, anxious, aware. An instinct to react to danger flares up, he pushes it down.

Jasper was right- when you wake up, the world really does look brand new.

How long had Elias been stunned at Jaspers beauty? How long did Elias pour his heart into words on paper to describe the way Jaspers features align and how his wavy hair shines like the sun on a hot day?

Eli's was so wrong. His human eyes hasn't ever been capable to see so much beauty. Jaspers face is blurry as he tries remembering it. Like looking at them across a smokey room.

Jasper looks like a angel as he stops it front of Elias, his dancing dark eyes running up and down Elias in a way that warms his body. Jasper looks different, too.

The bite scars on Jaspers arms- which Elias was only able to see in the strong light, even then it was just raised half moon shapes- they are everywhere. They're his most dominant feature. They trail up from under his shirt, thicker, more ravaged around his neck and jaw. Any vampire who sees Jasper will know he is dangerous- how many times had he fought and survived, for those wounds to heal?

But Elias doesn't feel in danger. Something builds in his chest, coursing through his body, tingling his fingers and toes. Heat. He can still feel the power of his gift, even now. He's reacting. Not at the sight of Jasper, but it's the passing thought that angers him. Whoever tries marking Jaspers skin again won't be able to- they'd have to get through Elias first.

"Do you remember me darlin?" Jasper speaks in a lovely southern twang, the curves of his lips distracting Elias. His velvet voice, his scent, it wraps around Elias heavenly. The heat Elias just felt spring up, settles back into his bones.

Jasper looks afraid, as if Eli will say no. Elias smiles, wide, dimples appearing, without thinking.

"How could I ever forget you goldilocks?" Elias exhales out, the words shining out his mouth like a bell- no, not a bell. Its deeper, more perfect than Eli used to sound.

Some part of him wants to panic at the change, but the stiffness of Jaspers face smooths out. Love, adoration, complete and utter happiness shined brighter than the silvery scars on his face.

He comes towards Elias, his lean and strong body moving like water flowing over smooth rocks. Jasper reaches, long and marble fingers aiming to cradle Eli's face. Elias feels his chest tighten in want- he leans forward, going to meet him halfway.

"Be careful Jasper," Carlisle warns. Danger. Despite the fact all Eli's senses are aware of the others waiting in the corner, the threat of Carlisles words, the warning, sends Eli into overdrive.

Elias moves fluidly, no delay between thinking and acting. His muscles bunched and vibrate, body shifting, turning around to face the others, one arm moves behind until his fingers touch Jaspers stomach- checking he's there, protecting him. The other hand is burning, curled into claws at his side.

At the same time Eli's lips pull back, air hissing out from his throat and spitting out his clenched teeth in warning, all senses pulling together to search for the danger.

But its quiet. No scent, nothing- just Carlisle, Alice and Edward tense and on edge, ready across the room. They're waiting to interfere.

"Shit," Eli cut his hiss off, realising his overreaction, that he is snarling and ready to lunge for Carlisle. Carlisle, of all people. Behind him Elias can feel Jasper move, his clothes rubbing against marble skin. He inches closer to Elias, but Eli doesn't mind that. "I'm sorry," he swears, guilt eating at him. He hadn't meant it. He wouldn't dare do that.

Carlisle and Alice step forward carefully but Edward holds an arm up, stopping them. "He thought someone was going to hurt Jasper, that's why he reacted," he explains, a moderate shock over his humoured voice.

Eli doesn't get to question his tone as Jaspers hand gingerly curves against Eli's clothed hip. His touch is like electric, it sinks to Eli's core. It's a struggle to not step back, completely be basked by the blond. It's easy, especially as his brain shifts in thinking. Jasper is safe. No danger. The alert feeling disappears, calm floating around Eli's body and mind.

Alice grins first- the light sparkling her teeth. "How do you feel Elias?" She asks, her voice more bell chimed then Eli remembers through his human memories. It suits her.

Strong. Elias can feel the power humming in every limb, he can hear, see, taste and protect better than any other predator on the earth. He can feel how Jaspers touch electrifies his body- how right it all is.

Then the flames scraping his throat flare. "My throat, it's burning," he gasps, hand came to touch his neck. The skin is silky smooth, not one imperfection. At the same time it is hard and impenetrable. Weird.

"That's normal," Carlisle smiles in a way that's soothing, like a father reassuring their child that what they're feeling is valid. "You can go hunt now to help the thirst. Do you wish for anyone specifically to go with you?"

"Jasper," the words came out like a praise. Eli turns his head, gazing at the blond, caught off guard with how magnificent he looks again. No one can make him feel calm like Jasper. He doesn't want anyone else.

But then as the image of hunting comes, so does the panic. What if Eli snaps, what if something goes wrong? He won't hurt Jasper- he never would. Even now, in this now stronger body, in his mind that's wired different- he knows it. It's why only one hand burned as he panicked- the other hand been touching the blond, so it hadn't warmed.

"We'll go with you," Edward assures, catching the first part of Eli's worried kind, "We'll keep our distance, you and Jasper won't know we're there."

Elias doubts that, he notices everything with his new senses. But it helps, a little.

"Come on," Jaspers voice coaxes the worry better. His hand tightens on his hip, Eli doesn't even think about it as he relaxes into the touch. "Let's hunt, Elias."

Vampire Elias! I know this chapter might go on, but I wanted to show exactly how he hurt and how different things are now and stuff.

Also, I want to change my username (sorry if you follow my Wattpad or insta, you've heard this, but I'm lost lmao) I want to keep the Raye part, but change the scorn. Any ideas?

Don't be a silent reader!