Hay guyzzz... What a depresser! Silver's handed himself over to Scourge in Liza's stead. Boy that hedgie is so adorable at times! I kinda pity him though. Throwing himself into the jaws of the lion knowingly. I wonder how Shadow would react to that?
Bloodstained Ivory
Chapter 12: Falling Apart
"Why did I let you go? Why do you have to be so selfless?" Blaze questioned Silver, although he wasn't there. Liza sat by her, and put an arm around her. The two had become very close friends.
"Blaze...It's my fault...I should have stopped him. I should be dead," Blaze slapped her. She winced and looked at the lavender princess. "What was that for?" Blaze glared at her.
"You shouldn't be dead! Scourge should be!" Liza flinched. She turned away, and looked at the ground. Blaze looked at the pink chameleon, a little worried.
"Sorry, did I say something offensive?" Liza shook her head.
"No. It's not that. I'm just worried about what Scourge will do to King Silver..." she murmured in reply. Blaze sighed. "He's so kindhearted," Liza continued. "All the kings I've ever seen are so...cold... Silver isn't like that. He was willing to give himself in place of me, and he hardly knows me! To add to that, I've attempted murder on him!" Blaze's lips curved into a sad smile.
"He's selfless. His life has been an unusual one. It's taught him a lot of things, including compassion, and the meaning of sacrifice... But still, I wish I stopped him." Liza patted her back comfortingly. They sat there in silence.
Tails walked up to them, from the direction of the infirmary. He looked at them sadly. He sighed, before speaking.
"We don't have either of our kings to rule... Blaze, it's your job," he whispered. She stared at him as if in shock before shaking her head.
"No. I flatly refuse to sit on a chair all day. If anyone needs me, let me know." He nodded in resignation.
"Oh and Espio wants to talk to you." Blaze jumped up and walked to the infirmary, Liza following behind her.
She opened the door to the infirmary, and walked in. Espio watched her. She walked over to him, and sat down on the edge of the bed.
"You called for me?" He nodded.
"I wanted to see if you were all right. I heard about what happened...and..." he sat up and embraced her gently. "I'm sorry..." She sighed. A lone tear rolled down her cheek. She hated crying. It made her feel so vulnerable.
(With Silver)
"Well. Here's his majesty, grovelling before me," sneered Scourge, looking down at the prostrate Silver, forced to kneel. Silver looked up at him.
"Who, you? no I was looking for a worm. They're so much prettier than you are." Scourge snarled. He pointed a finger at the long scar travelling around his neck.
"I owe you for the scar, your highness. I don't let anyone go without a little gift." Silver's eyes widened as he was dragged back to the stake. He saw Scourge flourish a evil looking curved knife. Scourge grinned evilly at him.
"Nice toy. Be careful though. It's sharp. You wouldn't want to hurt yourself now would you?" he mocked, although he was starting to get afraid. Out of the corner of his eyes, he could see the soldiers lips twitching. Scourge was steaming.
"I'll make you eat those words when I'm done with you," he hissed. Silver was about to retort, but before he could, he felt the blade caress his lips. "Maybe I'll start here?" Scourge asked. Silver glared at him defiantly.
Scourge dug the blade in deeper, cutting Silver's lip. Silver winced slightly, but continued to glare at Scourge. Scourge took the blade out, and Silver, licked his bleeding lip.
Scourge laid the curved tip on top of Silver's backbone before moving his hand upward in a hooking motion, at the same time, dragging down. Silver shut his eyes tightly, refusing to give the other the satisfaction of pain.
"Enough?" asked Scourge, and edge of malice to his voice. Silver opened his eyes and kept glaring at him. Scourge looked annoyed, but it soon turned to glee as he continued to hew into Silver. Silver stubbornly refusing to cry out.
Silver's body was soon stained red, a colour that he was all too acquainted to,and soon, from all the blood loss, plus the fact that he had not had any in so long, he began to devour the red liquid, seeping out of himself.
Silver, writhed on the stake trying to get to the crimson flows. Scourge watched him, half in shock, half in triumph at seeing his former enemy in such a state. When Silver was too exhausted to do any more, Scourge lifted his head with the flat of his knife.
"Enough?" Silver, still not coming to full awareness, snapped at him, trying to get to his neck. His vision was clouded as he tried to reach the lime green hedgehog. He felt something press against his neck until he fell unconscious. Scourge ordered his soldiers to untie Silver. Looking at the crimson stained ivory hedgehog, he smiled.
"You're a special one. Maybe I won't kill you. Maybe I'll keep you..." he crooned. He picked up the limp hedgehog, and carried him to his tent.
Silver woke up to find himself chained to another stake. He felt something around his neck. His hands were free, so he felt the thing around his neck. His fears were confirmed. It was a leather collar. He saw Scourge walk into the tent. The green hedgehog turned to face him, a smirk alighting on his features.
"Someone's woken up. Nice sleep?" Scourge sat down next to him. Silver moved away from him.
"Don't you think of touching me!" Scourge's smirk grew wider.
"Oh I won't. Not now at least. But when I do, I will make sure that you will tear apart piece by piece. I'll take this kingdom in front of your very eyes before I take you, In front of the amazon's eyes." Silver snarled at him.
"If you even think I'm going to be submissive to you, I'm going to strangle you!" Scourge shot his infuriating smirk at the ivory hedgehog.
"Ah ah ah. You're in no position to do that," he said, yanking on the chain, choking Silver, and forcing him to his knees. "That's better. You'll learn who's the master soon, Slave!" Silver flinched at the address, used so long ago, yet now requited.
"And what'll you do if I don't obey you?" he asked, still defying his 'master'. Scourge looked at him sadistically.
"That's the best part. I've decided, that if you submit, I won't throw war on this kingdom. On the other hand, if you don't, I'll turn this city to ash and take all it's inhabitants as slaves." Silver realized how much would depend on his decision. He sighed. This wouldn't be easy.
"All right. I'll do it. Just don't harm my sister's people." Scourge rose triumphantly.
"You're mine, slave. The moment you decide to disobey me, I will shed the blood of all the citizens of this kingdom." Silver hung his head, knowing he had lost.
"Yes, Scourge," he spat. Scourge lifted his head and grinned at him.
"No...either you...or the kingdom." Silver sighed in defeat.
"Yes...master," he finally said, hating himself. He would be more use dead than in his current situation. A tear of shame ran down his face. First Shadow, and now this. He dearly hoped that if the other woke up, he would forgive him.
(Back to the palace)
"Tails, can we go visit King Shadow?" asked Sonic. Tails was about to say no, but he re-thought it, and nodded slowly.
"All right. It would be reassuring to know that at least one is alive." Sonic stared at him, surprised at his bluntness.
"Tails! Don't be like that! I know this is difficult to deal with, but you need to be a little more optimistic!" Tails shuddered.
"I know, and I'm sorry, but I already miss him. I don't even want to think about what Scourge is doing to him. If Shadow heals, I don't know if he'll ever forgive us for letting him go..." Tails drifted off. They slowly made their way to the laboratory.
Tails opened the alcove where Shadow was contained. They stared at the ebony king, who was sleeping in the cylinder. Was it just them, or did the dark hedgehog's eyeridges look more angled than usual?
"How is he?" Sonic asked. The two-tailed kitsune looked at the screen.
"He's recovering well for the injuries he's sustained. In fact, he should be well enough to be taken out of suspended animation in the next two weeks." Sonic sighed deeply.
"I only wish that he would wake to the eyes of the one he loves..." Tails's eyelids squeezed shut as a single tear squeezed out of them. Silently, he prayed to no one.
"Please. If at all possible, bring King Silver back..." Tails couldn't say any more. He had more to say than words to say it. Sonic stared up at Shadow for a moment longer, before placing a hand on Tails's shoulder and leaning on him as they walked out of the laboratory.
They were met with Blaze and Liza. The two looked strangely worried. Liza looked particularly uncomfortable. Blaze made a 'follow me' motion with her hand. They trudged after her. They were led to the library, where they sat down (Sonic, thankfully).
"What's bothering you two?" Blaze looked both angry and worried at the same time, an expression that was appearing on her face quite often.
"I sent Liza to find out what was going on in Scourge's camp, and the findings were...were..." She looked choked up, but they couldn't see why. Liza took up the report.
"I went to see what was happening. As you know, I can camouflage myself to match my surroundings. I entered into Scourge's tent, and the sight was not for my eyes." She stopped. The two urged her to go on.
"I don't want to know, but I want to know. What did you see?" She shivered at the memory.
"King Silver was chained to a stake by a leather collar. His head was resting on Scourge's lap, and from his expression, I could see this was forced onto him. Scourge was cutting into him with a curved knife, and I could hear him say something about King Silver having to obey him, or the destruction of this kingdom," she finished.
Sonic and Tails were gawping at her.
"No..." Sonic whispered. "He's been through this once. How dare that green slug reduce him to this!" Tails blinked.
"King Shadow was a wonderful master... Oh King Silver..." He muttered. Liza blinked back tears.
"He'd go through all that...just for me...a lowly commoner who wanted to kill him..."
(Again to Silver)
"Now! Answer me!" Silver closed his eyes and refused. This humiliation was nothing compared to what that green example of arrogance had asked. He felt more lashes rain down on his back. He refused to cry out, but a tear forced its way out of his eyelids.
"Never!" Scourge stopped whipping him, and instead hissed into his face.
"What'll it be? The kingdom? or yourself?" Silver turned to him, back bleeding, eyes blazing.
"My kingdom. Always. Do whatever you want. But I will not be broken. Master." he spat. Scourge blinked in surprise.
"As you wish." Silver felt more blows fall onto his back, trailing dangerously close to the more sensitive parts of his body. He winced and gasped, as a stripe appeared on his neck. He fell from his position to his knees, clasping his neck.
"Ah, ah, ah!" Hesitantly, Silver took his hand off his neck, another blow fell on it, the pain near unbearable. He gasped, louder this time, a few more tears escaping from his eyes. Another blow fell on his neck, driving him unconscious.
Ouch! I really pity Silver now. Poor hedgie! Scourge is a terrible terrible master! Unlike Shadow of course. Now we have to wait two weeks for mister ultimate life form to heal! Silver's gonna have a loooot of scars by then. Yikes! Review?