Chapter 24: Shadow Finds Out

He saw his son in his room, lying on the bed. "Mephic, get to work," he said. His son started to protest. Mephiles growled and pulled out his whip, whipping Mephic across the back multiple times. "NOW!"

Trying not to cry again, Mephic swam out of the room to find some work to do. Mephiles shook his head and swam into his own room, thinking about Sonic. He didn't want her to die either. Pulling a book down from one of the shelves, Mephiles flipped through the pages to ensure there really wasn't anything he could do. The sea dragon sighed, and started to read. That book didn't have anything useful, and he returned it to the shelf. In the process of pulling down another, he heard Mephic talking.

He frowned and went into Mephic's room to see the sea dragon/merhog hybrid talking to himself and muttering under his breath.

"What are you talking to yourself about?" Mephiles had a brow raised and his arms crossed, staring at his son.

Mephic looked up at him hesitantly. "I..."

"What?"

"I was reminding myself of what I had to do."

"Well...get to it," Mephiles growled, taking out the whip and hitting his son. "I didn't make you my slave so you could lay around all the damn time."

"Of course, father..." Mephic got back to work, hoping to keep his father happy with him.

Mephiles snarled angrily and followed his slave. Mephic looked back at him, afraid he would hit him again. His Master was being mean, as always. The slave whimpered in fear and continue to clean. Mephiles watched him for a few minutes before nodding and leaving the room. Mephic seemed to be doing his job again.

He sighed and went into Sonic's room to see her breathing was weaker that before. His eyes widened in fear.

"Sonic? Sonic?" Sonic moved her head slightly in his direction, slowly opening her eyes. "Are you okay?" He asked.

"Don't think so."

Mephiles sighed and sat down beside her. "I can tell you're getting weaker," he said.

Sonic looked at him. "I'm dying, what did you expect?"

The sea dragon sighed. "Have you come to a decision whether you want to become an inanimate object permanently or not?"

"I'm not sure what I would become."

Mephiles smiled. "How about that coat, or the vacuum? Or you could transform into the palace again."

"I could maybe do the palace for the two of you to live in...if I can get enough energy."

"Alright, then. I can wait. How long will it take you to gather energy?"

Sonic shrugged. "A few hours, maybe all day."

Mephiles smiled, then kissed his wife and left the room. Sonic did as she had said she would, focusing on preserving her energy.

A few hours later, Mephiles came in her room. "Are you sure about this?" He asked. The sea dragon was thinking about his deal with Shadow. How would Shadow react to this?

"There's nothing else we can do."

"But..." Mephiles sighed. "I'll be right back," he said, and teleported out of the room, heading to Shadow's house.

Shade and Jet were watching a movie when Mephiles materialized in the room.

"You!" Shade asked. "What the hell do you want?"

"I want to talk to Shadow about something. Is he here?"

Jet nodded and rushed upstairs. A few minutes later, Shadow came down. "Mephiles," he said, crossing his arms. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Sonic has Tuberculosis."

Shadow's eyes widened in shock and tears came to his eyes. "What? H...how?"

"Something in the house, I believe."

The immortal hedgehog hesitated, then sat down. "Will...will she die?"

"I think so. But she wants to become that palace again in order to prevent that."

Shadow's eyes widened. "What? But...if she does that, what about our deal?"

"That is what I came here to talk to you about."

"Alright...tell me."

"Sonic wants to become the palace so she can remain with Shadic and me, even if she isn't really there. I wasn't sure what your opinion on the matter would be."

The hedgehog hesitated. "I...I don't know. Mephiles...I love her. I would like to see her again, and I want to see this deal fulfilled. What do you think I should do?"

"It's up to you."

Shadow hesitated, still thinking about it. He turned to his sons for advice. "What should I do?" He asked them. "Should I let Sonic become a palace, or try to see her again?"

The two looked at each other, unsure what their father should do.

"I...don't know," Jet said, and looked at Mephiles. "Sonic's immortal, right? So how is she dying?"

"She contracted the Tuberculosis before she became immortal."

Shadow sighed. "No...this can't be happening...she can't die! Not before I see her!"

"I'm sorry, Shadow. I never intended for this to happen."

"Well then you had better bring her back to life when she dies!" Shadow shouted at the other hedgehog. "I don't want her to become an inanimate object permanently just yet!"

Mephiles looked at the other hedgehog in mild shock. The words hadn't surprised him, but the shouting had. "The immortality will probably do that for me."

Shadow nodded, and Mephiles left.