Chapter 19: Sickness

Sonic looked up when Mephiles returned. "Where did you go so suddenly?" she asked.

Mephiles smiled. "I just swam around the ocean for a while."

Sonic nodded. It had been five years since Mephic had been born, and Mephiles had made him a slave as well. He treated Sonic how he usually did, and the same with Mephic. Mephic came into the room, excited to hear that Mephiles was back. Despite being made a slave, he still loved his father.

"Dad," he said. "I'm glad you're back. How's mom?"

"She's fine. Did the two of you complete the tasks I gave you?"

"We did," Mephic said.

Mephiles nodded. He looked at Sonic, who was getting out of bed. She coughed and fell down, knocking something over. Mephiles growled angrily and brought out the whip. She looked at it in fear and got up again, bowing to her Master.

"I'll clean it up right away," she said.

The sea dragon sighed and put the whip away. "Are you okay?" He asked.

Sonic shook her head and coughed again. "I've been doing this all morning," she said.

"What's wrong?"

Sonic coughed again, but this time blood came up. Mephiles' eyes widened at the sight.

"We should get you to a doctor."

The mermaid nodded and followed Mephiles. Mephic did also, worried for his mother. When they got to the doctor, Mephiles explained what had happened and they examined her. Once the doctor did so, he frowned.

"What's wrong with her?" Mephiles asked, flicking his tail as he swam.

"I'm afraid she may have Tuberculosis. I'd like to do a few more tests to be sure."

Mephiles nodded. "Will she live?"

"I don't know yet." The doctor sighed and got ready to farther examine Sonic.

Mephiles sighed and nodded. "All right. Why does she have this disease?"

The doctor didn't say anything for a few minutes, finishing the examination. After the merhog doctor did so, he looked at Mephiles.

"What kind of places has she been to recently?" the doctor asked. "It will help me figure out the cause of it."

"She's just been around the house," Mephiles said. "Maybe she got it from there. Anyway, is it fatal?"

"I'll see if there's anything we can do to cure her, but I'm not sure how much I'll find."

"How long does she have?"

"I'd say a few months, but I don't know how fast it'll worsen."

"All right," Mephiles said. "Thank you." She took Sonic and teleported back to the house. Once they got there, Mephiles looked at Sonic. "You...you're going to die in a few months," he told her, looking away.

"I'm sorry." Sonic looked down as she apologized.

"Don't be...I just wish if there is anything I can do. If you want, I can make you immortal."

Sonic looked up at him and smiled. "Wouldn't I be stuck with this disease forever then?"

"Yes, you would."

"Can I become immortal?"

"If that is what you want."

The mermaid nodded and walked up to Mephiles, who closed his eyes and sent immortal energy into Sonic's body. Sonic felt different for a moment before everything returned to normal.

"Thanks," she said.

Mephiles nodded. "Get to work," he commanded.

Sonic gulped and nodded before going back inside to do what her Master ordered her to do. Mephiles sighed and looked at his other slave.

"What is there left to do?" he asked him.

The sea dragon looked at his son. "Clean up the house," he told tMephic nodded and swam inside to start cleaning.

Mephiles swam back inside, looking at his two slaves. They both had manacles around their arms, and were doing what he wanted. He still beat them with the whip and abused them, even though they were family. Mephiles smiled as he watched them. Treating them the way he had had done good. They did everything to the best of their ability, and as quickly as possible.

Suddenly, Sonic coughed as she was carrying something. She fell to the ground as the plate shattered into pieces. Mephiles growled, grabbing his whip and started to beat her. Sonic coughed even more as blood came from her mouth and she cried out in pain at the hits. Mephic looked at them, knowing if he had done that his father would do the same to him.

Mephiles tossed the whip to the side when he was done, growling in anger at Sonic. "Sick or not, I expect you to do your job properly."

The mermaid whimpered in pain, looking up at her Master. Mephiles grabbed her firmly around the arms, dragging her into the closet and locking the door.

Sonic hit her hands on the door, crying. Mephic looked at Mephiles, fear in his eyes. "Dad..." he said. "Why..."

Mephiles looked at his other slave. "Don't question me. Go do your own cleaning, or you'll be punished as well."

Mephic's eyes widened in fear and he backed away. "But I'm your son...Sonic is your wife...I thought you cared for us..."

He began to cry and swam away to do what Mephiles wanted. Mephiles snorted and sat in a nearby chair. The sea dragon shook his head, recalling what his son just said.

"I do care for the two of them..." he thought.

He sighed and stood up, swimming around the house. The closet had gone quiet, and Mephiles wondered if anything was wrong. He opened the door and instead of seeing Sonic, saw a coat instead. He looked at it, wondering why Sonic would become a coat. Sighing, he put it back in the closet.

"All right then," he said. "Come out when you're ready, I suppose." This time, he didn't lock the closet door when he shut it.