EVERMORE ─ marvel ⁷

IX. The Blue Death

Chapter Nine
Zy'aire

I don't know what happened. I was focusing on Livy, on her pain, her loneliness, on the guilt I feel for not being there for her, and then I saw a towering figure standing in front of me. Then my back hit a wall. And now I can't breathe.

I can't breathe. I can't breathe. I can't breathe.

It's the only thought going through my mind, the only words I can think of. I'm not even focusing on the pain, though the pain is acute. All I can focus on is the air that I can't seem to force into my lungs no matter how many times I try. It's terrifying.

Jo has gotten to me. The moment she spotted me on the battlefield she formed a forcefield around me and lifted me, which hurt in ways I can even describe. I would have screamed if I could've managed it. She then carried me to the lab, slipping us both through her still in tact shield, then set me down on a medical table already prepared for me. That's where I lie now, and as soon as the forcefield around me drops, Ana gets to work.

"Zy stay still for me, I don't have time to knock you out before I do this so this is going to hurt." She warns me. I can't get enough air in my lungs to speak so I just nod, bracing myself for the pain about to come.

I tense as Ana tears open my shirt and brings a knife down to my skin. She begins cutting and I let out a gasping scream, my body convulsing. Jo runs over and holds down my shoulders. I don't know if Ana asked her to or if she did so by herself. I'm not paying much attention to them or what they're saying, only on the knife cutting into my skin and the air absent from my chest. When Ana is done with the knife she sets it aside and grabs onto some kind of needle and syringe. She injects the needle into the cut she just made in my chest and then attaches the syringe to the other end. She pulls on the syringe's plunger, then I take in a deep breath for the first time in what feels like an eternity.

"Bast." Is the first thing I say, my mind now having the capacity to focus on the intense pain I feel, my body convulsing once again in agony. Ana gives me a shot of what I assume is morphine and begins planning the surgery I'll need.

"No," My voice sounds incredibly raspy. "Later. Focus...focus on her."

Ana gives me a stern look. "Zy—"

"I'm not abandoning my wife and children. The surgery will wait." I try my best to insert some authority in my tone, but it still comes off as uneven and scratchy. It's firm enough though that she doesn't argue with me, just pushes the table I'm on over towards Livy, who's face is glistening from tears. I reach out and grab onto her hand, trying my best to smile.

"I told you I would be here as soon as I could."

She lets out a strained laugh, shaking her head. "If you ever scare me like that again I'll kill you myself."

I squeeze her hand. "Understood, my queen. How are you? Are the boys okay? How much longer?"

"She's fine, the boys are fine, and it shouldn't be that much longer." Aunt Shuri assures me with a sigh, gesturing for Ana to come back over. She does so after sending a pointed glare my way, which I ignore.

I bring Livy's hand up to my lips and kiss her knuckles. "I'm so sorry, my darling. I'm so, so sorry—"

She leans over and silences me with a kiss, her wet cheeks brushing mine. "Don't apologize. You're here, you're safe, that's all that matters."