Our Little World II

Nicholas's head rose slowly, looking between the two at the exchange. "Rhys won't," he said slowly. "It will be a high price, if it is real. However," his hand went to Michael, "He also will not allow Michael to die. Even if we denied his price, I think we are more likely to have Rhys forcibly take Michael from us, than for Rhys to let Michael die. If Michael lives, in his full capacity, he can escape Sanguinaria again. As you both know, Michael at full capacity, is truly something to reckon with."

But so was Rhys. So was Rhys when he had an opportunity he hadn't had in a decade. Not to mention other snakes there...

Nicholas couldn't think about it further. He needed to act before courage failed him. He grabbed a blanket from Lien's bed, ripping the delicate fabric, before binding his head. He began to lift Michael, though it was a struggle. Michael was taller and more well built than all three. Cursing, Nicholas stumbled, fell, then tried again, lifting the twitching King.  "Lord Sai, grab the other arm, please!"

Stepping into the early morning light, the sunlight seemed like a harsh joke against Michael's white and bloody flesh. Nicholas panted, struggling with the weight of the King. "Won't one of you get the car?" He grunted, staggering, as he began to carry the King from his harem. Sanguinaria wasn't far, but Michael wasn't a good color. Lien left for the car. Nicholas panted alongside Sai, both becoming blood smeared. "Sai?" Nic said slowly, "You have that weapon that Michael gave you, right?" The manservant glanced over at him. "You may need it if things go foul in there. They likely will. Yet, he could live."

As the car drove up, Nic hastily helped Sai and Michael into the back seat. He placed Michael along Sai's lap. Michael truly seemed to have no idea what was happening. The wild eye movement under his eyes had slowed, and so had the twitching. Still, every few seconds, they could hear him take a rattling death breath. Nicholas sat up front with Lien. "Speed," Nicholas advised Lien. The manservant began to check himself. Under his robe, Lien could see the two long daggers that Nicholas had threatened him with strapped to his knees. A gun was against his side. Another in a deep coat. "Do you need anything?" Nicholas's voice was tight. Weapons like this were not allowed in harems, in case the servant turned against royalty. It spoke of Michael's trust of Nicholas that the servant was so well armed.

Nicholas stared down at Michael's bloody face. The spasms remained, violently twitching every minute or two. Nicholas began to cry. It was a slow start, but tears began to run down his face. "It is a story. The only story in the world to me. But..." His hands tried to wipe the blood from Michael's face. "But the doctors have told me he would die. I don't believe a hospital would help him."

Michael's blood wiped off onto Nicholas's hands. Nic lowered his head onto Michael's chest. It was a surprising move of affection for a manservant. "I pushed this child through a laundry drop," the whisper was hardly audible, but in the quiet of the room, it sounded like a shout. "He told me to go with him, but I couldn't. I.... It was the only act of defiance I had ever done in my life." He looked up at Michael, one hand lingering on his jaw. Michael's dark hair circled his head like a black halo. He hesitated, then rolled his long, brown sleeve up. With the humble servant's arm exposed,  so were the deep scars on his arm. Long, precise, and deep scars criss crossed Nicholas's arm. They were so deep, so cross patterned. It was a deliberate act with someone skilled with a knife. "He left my face," Nicholas whispered, pulling the sleeve down. "It wouldn't do to have a servant visibly maimed." It couldn't have just been that arm. There had to be more. Suddenly, Nicholas's thick brown robes that he had always worn now seemed omnious. "Rhys broke me," Nicholas half sobbed. He truly had tears on his face, something that was like blood in the water in a harem.  "Yet, I..." His hand scrabbled at Michael's face. His breath was hard, each one obviously taking everything for him. "I still... somehow.. ran. Knowing what would happen, knowing the wrath I already had on my back. I did it for him. I found him and protected him in the harems he was Prince in, and then stayed as he became King." Nicholas looked up, looking between Sai and Lien. "My lords, I am sorry. I have failed you both, and my King. It is a fairy tale, I know. Yet, I can't see him die. I can't live a day thinking that I could have done something, and didn't. If we go there, and it is false, I will die to get you both out again. My life is tied with his, and I can't let him die without trying." The manservant scooted back away, his hands coated in Michael's blood. He prostated himself, on the ground, his body bowing so low that his forehead pressed against the floor. "Lords..." he breathed, "It is dangerous, I know, but Firesse is our home. I will die before either of you, but... but I ca.. can't..."  Nicholas couldn't finish. He spluttered off to low murmurs, and the soft sounds of crying.

Nicholas stopped his efforts. He sat there, clothed in his humble brown, his eyes fixed on Michael's face. It was a mess at this point. Blood drenched his hair and head, blood was continually coming from his mouth. His body wouldn't stop twitching, seizing up violently.

Firesse.... gone?  Nicholas was a harem baby. This was where he was born, and where he had expected to die. King.. how could he.. Nicholas suddenly had to fight back a well of tears. He could hear Sai and Lien arguing. Vaguely, he thought Michael would have been proud of the firmness in Lien's voice. It nearly sounded like him. However, Sai sounded like how Nicholas felt. The fear was there. He couldn't imagine living without the protection of Firesse. He had done such horrible wrong against Sanguinaria. It was most powerful, and Nicholas most vulnerable.

"Wh... What if he didn't die," Nicholas croaked out. He looked up at Lien, then at Sai, then rapidly between the two. "If the King lived, and a-and was of himself, not this..." He gripped Michael's thrasing arm, pinning it to his side. "Could Firesse exist? Cou-could we stay the same?" It was a frantic thought. Nicholas's thoughts were frantic. He stared at the, in actuality, two Princes. Such beautiful men, both above this thrashing and dying King, and him. He shouldn't be here, but he was. In the collapse of a Kingdom. "Remember," Nicholas whispered, urgent, desperate. "

The gesture of peace was enough for Nicholas. He sheathed his daggers quickly, entering the room further. One hand touched Lien’s shoulder as it went, “Sir, I know,” he breathed urgently, “it isn’t the time for apologizes, but I will pass mine when I know what Firesse’s future is.”

Nicholas watched as the pillow Lien had started pressing against Michael’s head turn red in Sai’s hands. Worse, the unconscious Michael began to cough. Heavy, wet, gory hunks of blood came from Michael’s mouth onto the carpet. He began to cough another, but his head was turned. Nicholas leaned over him, turning his head, but the rouge, bloody chunk wouldn’t cough out.

“All the doctors have told Michael he has no time,” Nicholas said. Sweat was on his forehead. He shoved his fingers into Michael’s mouth, working to try to get the chunky blood out of his throat. Michael gagged, and then his body began to spazz. Nicholas gave a low whimper, withdrawing his fingers.

“Doctors have nothing more for him.”

He began to hit Michael’s back instead, even as the King’s hands tightened around Sai and his body moved more violently. His eyes remained closed, but there was wild movement beneath the lids.

Nicholas, in his haste, turned to look at Lien. “Li, do you… the story…” He looked at Sai. “It’s… it’s make believe, but if we could use some magic now.. Did he tell you anything,  Lien?" He looked desperately at him. "For the future? For Firesse?” Nicholas tried to open Michael’s jaw again to pry the blood that was choking him out, but his jaw was tight and locked.

Michael floated. He could feel, but not move. Everything was numb. He was losing himself. He could feel his blood leaving him and it was… it was….
Death.

~~
 
Nicholas entered the room after Sai. His eyes quickly took in the pillow case, the blood, and the bruises around Lien’s neck. A long knife suddenly appeared from the humble servant’s robes, “Prince,” he breathed, “Back away from the  King.  Your highness, stop the blood.” He held a knife up towards Lien. His mind flashed to Michael telling him that Lien wouldn't be King. Could it.. no..  “Prince, but by the look of this room, I need you to back away.” The manservant’s eyes were icy. He couldn’t assume Lien’s innocence, despite their close relationship.  Many had killed to be King, and Lien had as much motivation against Michael as anyone. He approached, stepping into the room, and held his knife closer. He knew his King had been dying, but if it had been accelerated, especially before everything had been placed in order... Nicholas had never felt his heart thump in his chest like he did now. Please tell me no. The Prince didn't kill the King... no, no... "Stand, before I call for more."