Hey guys. I find it a little amusing when Silver just walks off a fight just after he almost did to Scourge what he did to Shadow. He snaps out of it, looks at Scourge, excuses himself and leaves the tent. I wonder how Scourge reacted to that? Meanwhile, Shadow is barely alive and he's being kept in suspended animation. And Tails and Sonic know!

Bloodstained Ivory

Chapter 9: Kill Me (or not)

Tails walked over to his laboratory, Sonic in tow. The going was fairly slow because of Sonic's incapacitated leg, but Sonic had insisted on coming. Once they had entered, Tails led Sonic over to a wall. He quickly pressed a few buttons on a keypad.

The wall slid open to reveal the alcove behind it. Sonic's eyes went wide in awe.

"Wow, Tails did you make this?" Tails scratched the back of his head modestly and nodded. Sonic stared at Shadow, who was asleep in the cylinder that was sustaining his life. Tails looked at a screen that was by the keypad. He scanned over it then turned to Sonic.

"So far it looks like he's a little better, but that's not saying much." Sonic turned to look back at Shadow.

"King Shadow, I don't know if you can hear me, but please. Get better. King Silver almost commited suicide because he thought you were dead." Sonic stopped, feeling a little embarrassed. It might've just been his imagination, but did he see the ebony hedgehog's hand briefly flutter as if in acknowledgement?

"Come on Sonic. We'd best leave," said Tails as he pressed some buttons on the keypad, lowering the wall in front of the tank.

"All right." They walked out of the laboratory, and back to the infirmary. When they got back, they could see Silver sitting on one of the beds, his eyes vacant and dull. Blaze was standing over him, looking somewhat exasperated, but worried.

"Ah Tails! I was about to come looking for you," said Blaze. Tails led Sonic back to his bed before walking over to the two royals.

"Anything the problem?" he asked. Blaze pointed to the wound on Silver's thigh. Tails eyes widened when he saw the wound, about one foot tops. It had stopped bleeding, but Silver's glove was stained red, so Tails didn't have to guess where all that blood went. He looked at Silver. "Tell me this isn't-" before he could continue, Silver held up a hand for silence.

"No it's not. It was that ground squirrel." Tails head cocked to one side thoughtfully.

"You mean Queen Sally, King Silver?" Silver nodded.

"I don't know her name, but it probably was her. I was duelling with Scourge and I ended up..." Silver didn't say anymore, but he opened his mouth so Tails could get a clear view of his crimson stained fangs.

"So she stabbed you in hopes of stopping you," Tails finished. Silver nodded. Tails sighed. "At least it's not self inflicted." He began to work on Silver's leg, shutting the gash, then bandaging it.

Silver thanked him, and walked out of the infirmary, Blaze walking beside him. On their way to the throne room, they passed by Knuckles, who was carrying something behind his back. Blaze looked at him curiously.

"What's behind your back?" He looked around cautiously, before revealing his hand to them. In it was a brilliant chrysoberyl. Knuckles looked a little embarrassed as he showed the gem to the two royals.

"I thought I would get Rouge a pre-birthday gift. It cost a fortune, but it was worth it," he said proudly, showing them the flashy gem in his hand. Blaze nodded.

"I'm sure she'll love it. Alexandrite right?" Knuckles nodded.

"It's extremely rare. When I set my eye on it, I knew she'd love it." Blaze smiled.

"Well I don't want to keep you on hold any longer, so why don't you go and give her her present?" Knuckles bent into the quickest of bows before walking off towards the infirmary. Blaze turned to Silver.

"So. What happened to Sally? And how did Scourge try to fight you with a wounded leg?" Silver rolled his eyes.

"Scourge is an arrogant fool. It will be the death of him. As for Sally, I think I just pressed a spot on her neck until she fell unconscious." Blaze's lips curled into something that could almost count as a smile.

"Serves the pest right!" Silver's lips curved into a brief smile. As soon as it came, it vanished. He walked up the steps and sat down on the throne, staring forlornly at the empty space next to him.

"I would let this kingdom fall if it would mean I could see you again," he said in less than a whisper. Unfortunately for him, a certain lavender princess happened to hear him.

"You do mean bring him back right?" she asked. He turned away from her. He could feel her citrine gaze piercing holes into his back. "Or do you mean die," she said, a little softer. His head snapped up from it's slouching position.

"I don't care as long as I can see him again!" She sighed, and rubbed his back gently before descending down the steps to attend to some business of her own, at the same time, leaving Silver alone. Silver's eyes fluttered from his dagger to his wrist.

It was so tempting. But he didn't want to. He sighed, as he remembered what Shadow had said. Maybe if we gave you enough, it would control your lust. He had a point. Silver didn't want to endanger anyone else, so he decided to do it. He took a deep breath as he unsheathed his dagger.

Quickly, he slid the tip into his wrist, before pulling it out. He didn't know how Shadow could do this so easily. It hurt! He sighed. He knew why the ebony hedgehog did it, regardless of the pain. Because he loved him.

"Oh Shadow...why am I not dead yet? I should be...I killed you!" He sighed again. He knew no one would answer. He sat there, staring blankly out one of the walls.

He wasn't paying attention to anything. That is, not paying any attention to anything until a pair of seemingly invisible arms pinned his to his back with formidable strength. He twisted around to see who was doing it, but he couldn't see anyone.

He tried to wrestle his arms out, but he couldn't. He sighed and stopped fighting. He closed his eyes and simply asked, "Who are you, and what do you want with me?" He felt the hold on him relax slightly, then disappear.

He could feel the air currents shift slightly. He watched as a form materialized in front of his eyes, bending respectfully on one knee. It was a pink chameleon, but he didn't recognize it. His eyes dropped to the weapon strapped onto one side of the chameleon. A dirk.

"Before you decide to execute me, your highness, allow me to explain myself," said the pink chameleon. "My name is Liza. I am an assassin, trained to serve under his majesty, King Scourge." Silver could see by the bitterness in her eyes, something was wrong. "I had orders to assassinate you, but something seemed wrong. I'm not sure what. I didn't want to kill you, but I had my orders."

Silver sat there, staring disbelievingly at her. She got up and looked him directly in the eyes.

"I ask your forgiveness, but as I've seen one too many times, I will probably be executed. It's all right." Silver's ears stiffened at her callous attitude, even with the words she had just said.

"Why would I execute you?" he asked, thinking he sounded quite stupid after he had said it. She looked a little surprised, but she soon recovered her composure.

"I have tried to kill you. I should be dead by now," she said, carefully, not sure of how Silver react. At first Silver stared at her blankly, then his eyes shut tightly. No. I'm the one who should be dead. Not you. A lone tear streamed unbidden down his cheek. He opened his eyes.

"No. No you shouldn't. From what you have told me, you don't serve out of your own will. Am I right?" She hesitated for a few seconds, but then slowly, she nodded. He continued. "My guess is that Scourge is a killer. Not an ideal leader." Again, she hesitated, but soon, she nodded again.

"I beg your pardon for talking without being prompted, but I should be dead now. If I stay here, I'll be killed. If I go back, I'll be killed. I'm afraid I don't have much of a choice," she said, after he had finished talking. Silver thought about this for a moment, before falling on a decision.

"No. You do have another alternative. Stay here, under my rule. I don't want to be the cause of innocent blood being shed. And I also can't stand injustice. King Scourge should give second chances." She looked surprised.

"You would allow someone who attempted to kill you, another chance?" Silver nodded.

"It wasn't your own decision. I can see that this was forced onto you. If I could guess, I'd say, his words were that you had to kill me, and if you didn't succeed, he would kill you." She slowly nodded, a little startled at his insight.

"Your highness, excuse my curiosity, but may I ask how one such as you can see things such as this?" He paused. She was still from the opposing kingdom. She could play him, then inform Scourge. He stared at her for a moment.

"I will tell you, but may I ask something of you?" She nodded, not daring to speak. He took a deep breath. He was not used to doing these formal ceremony things, but he didn't want everyone to know she was an assassin sent by Scourge. "Do you swear allegiance to this kingdom, and to me?"

He saw her stiffen. She stayed in that position, trance-like. He waited. She sank down onto one knee, and drew her dirk, Taking it, she brushed the blade with her lips before laying the weapon at Silver's feet.

"I swear allegiance to both this kingdom and it's king. I am yours to use, Sire," Silver felt embarrassed. No one treated him with this much formality before. Only Shadow. He sighed quietly.

"Please. Rise. I'm not accustomed to such formality." She got up, and stood slightly at ease. She looked at him as though she wanted to ask him a question. He nodded at her, urging her to speak.

"If you'll forgive me for using such terms on you, why are you not used to formality? Why wouldn't you kill me in return for trying to kill you? I mean no offence, but I've seen King Scourge kill for the mildest of offences." Silver smiled reassuringly, signalling that he took no offence.

"First of all, I don't want to sound distrusting, but can I really trust you?" She lowered her eyes.

"I can understand your suspicion. If I am deemed not to be trusted, you don't have to tell me." Silver, seeing the truth in her, (intuition!) decided to trust her.

"Stand at ease. I'll tell you." She relaxed, her slightly stiff position. "First of all. Why am I not used to formality? Most of the sapients in this palace are close friends. Also, not many know, but once, not too long ago, I used to be a slave." He saw the astonishment written in her eyes.

"A slave? Your highness, begging your pardon, but how did you then become a king?" Silver sighed and closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them, He spoke.

"This leads us to your second question. Why I would not kill you for your attempted assassination. It all started when I was a slave under my master...Shadow..." Silver teared up at the memory of the ebony hedgehog. "...Shadow wasn't hard or unkind to me. One day, one of my friends here, Sonic, he attempted to assassinate the duke who ruled over that area. He failed and they blamed it on Shadow, because Shadow looked vaguely similar to Sonic. Shadow was very fond of me, and they knew it, so as punishment, they ordered me to be flayed alive." He saw her hand go to her mouth at the shock of what she had heard so far.

"So you were beaten? You were supposed to die?" He nodded. Another single tear slid down his cheek.

"Yes. I was supposed to be. But...I only got hit once. I only got hit once, because Shadow...he...he took that beating for me...he took the stripes that should've been on my back. Back then, I was really scared for him. You see, I had feeling for him too. But then Sonic and some others came and saved us. It was by the words of Shadow's sister Blaze, that we learned he was a prince. The Crown Prince of this kingdom. What happened, was first, Shadow killed the duke, before we all left to come here." He paused, thinking of what to say next. Liza was hanging on to his every word.

"So this Crown Prince Shadow, shouldn't he be king? Where is he?" Silver held up a hand.

"It comes to that later. As you probably know, Queen Aleena ruled this kingdom. She was not willing to give us the kingdom. We had to earn it. We called a vote from all our subjects, and Shadow ended up winning. Aleena wasn't very happy, and she slashed Shadow at the neck. He fell unconscious, and I was enraged because...well...you see...Shadow wasn't just a friend. I loved him." Liza looked like she was about to comment, but his held up hand stopped her. "He fell into a coma that lasted for about a month. When he woke up, he proposed to me. That's why I'm king." He lowered his hand, allowing her to speak.

"Your Majesty, if you'll excuse my interest, That didn't explain why King Shadow isn't anywhere. Or why you don't want to kill me." Silver sighed. He was saying a lot, but he did say he would explain. Besides. If she killed him, he deserved it for what he had done.

"It was only two days ago. You see, I'm infected with this terrible virus. This virus, makes me want blood. It makes blood a necessity. For this past month, Shadow's been cutting his wrists to give me what I need. Unfortunately, this virus drove me mad. I ripped into Shadow's neck and tore his windpipe. I...I...killed him...That's why I won't kill you...because I'm the one who deserves to die..."

Liza looked at the argent hedgehog in astonishment.

"What you've just related to me is difficult to believe, but it would explain quite a bit." Silver nodded. Something caught the edge of his vision, and he turned to look. Blaze was standing at the entrance to the throne room, one hand on her hip, her eye ridges raised.

"Who might you be?" Blaze asked Liza. Liza, somehow knowing Blaze was royalty, dipped into a bow.

"Princess. I am Liza the chameleon." Blaze walked up to them. She inspected the chameleon from head to toe. She turned to face Liza.

Why are you here? Why don't I recognize you? Liza's eyes widened. Silver nodded, telling her to go on. She gave a small sigh.

"Princess, you don't recognize me, because I was an assassin sent by King Scourge to kill King Silver." Blaze's hands clenched.

"Then why are you still here?" Silver decided to step in.

"Blaze, she's still here because I took her in. She no longer serves Scourge, but me. Besides, if she went back with an incomplete mission, Scourge would kill her. She wasn't serving him out of her own free will." Blaze's shoulders relaxed somewhat.

"Okay. If you trust her, I guess I can." She turned to Liza. "Come on. I'd want to get acquainted. Know you a little more."

"Yes Princess."

"Oh and one more thing. Don't call me princess, your highness, your majesty, or anything like that. Call me Blaze."

"All right Blaze."

"That's better, now come on. Let me show you around..."

Silver watched as they walked off, chatting like old friends. Now he had an edge. Not all of Scourge's soldiers served under their own will. Maybe not too much blood would have to be shed after all...

So Silver is being naive, but he trusts Liza. If you don't know who Liza is, she isn't an OC, so you can search her up. I needed a chameleon who wasn't an OC, and all I found rather than Espio was Valdez and Liza, so I thought I'd use Liza. Review?