The Black Knight (A Mercury Black Story: Part I)

Chapter 11

            As the sun began to rise, I was accompanied by the feeling of strong arms around my body, holding me in place against a muscular chest. I sighed as I opened my eyes, looking up to see that Mercury was still sound asleep. I smiled softly and gently lifted my body from his as he groaned, wanting me to stay with him.
            "Please don't go," he mumbled as I yawned, his grey eyes looking up at me.
            "Nope, time to get up, Mercury," I said as I sat up and stretched, "Do you want to try and walk? Or are you still too weak to do that?"
            "No, I can try," he said sitting up, "I'm pretty sure I can make it to at least the kitchen."
            "Alright then," I said, watching my friend try to get up, reaching to the point where he could stand, but then quickly collapsed. I quickly used my semblance to catch him before hit the ground, using my body weight to hold him up. "You okay?"
            "Yeah, I'm fine; just take me into the kitchen." I nodded as he clenched his teeth, trying to avoid the pain. I sighed and helped him walk down the hallway, setting him down at the kitchen tabled as soon as Marcus entered the room. I left Mercury and walked to the cabinet, pulling out three mugs, filling one with coffee, one with apple juice, and another with milk. I carefully carried the mugs to the table and placed them in front of the Blacks', while Mercury and Marcus stayed silently, not even talking to each other.
            "Good morning, Marcus, how did you sleep?" I asked trying to break the conversation. The older Black smiled at me warmly as he took the mug of coffee in his hands.
            "I slept nicely, thank you. How was your sleep?"                                  
            "It was good," I said smiling, "Mercury is a sound sleeper."
            "Always has been, always will be," Marcus joked laughing, "How did you sleep Mercury?"
            "I slept fine; my leg is better than it was before," he said calmly, "Zuri helped a lot though, with her other semblance. I'm sorry for snapping at you yesterday, by the way," he said turning to me, "I was just freaked out by that semblance of yours."
            "It's ok," I said, "I should have told you earlier. It's my fault you didn't know. But anyways, Marcus," I said turning to the man who took me in, "Is there something you wanted to tell me?"
            "Oh yes, that," Marcus said, taking a sip of his drink, "Zuri, I was thinking about sending you to Haven Academy in the Fall. I know it seems like it's so soon, but please here me out on this. I have noticed a lot of grimm appearing towards the house in the nighttime, signaling that Salem may be looking for you. With that said, I think you going to the academy will throw her off and you'll be safer there. You'll meet new friends and you'll be properly trained to fight grimm and other people who try and take your powers' away from you. And you can come home during holiday if you want. Mercury and I will always open our home for you, you know that."
            "I... I don't know what to say," I stuttered.
            "Just think about it okay? But I'll need an answer by tomorrow to notify the head master of Haven. He knows about your condition as well."
            "Okay," I said, not sure what to say. Does this I'm going to be separated from Mercury forever while I finish my training?
            "I know that this is a lot to take in, but I think it will benefit you. You'll be a lot safer there than you are here right now."
            "It's not fair," Mercury interrupted harshly, "Can I go with her?"
            "Mercury, you are in no condition to go anywhere right now, you know that, and now you want to go to a Huntsman academy? I need you to help me here-"
            "Why? So I can drag you to bed every time you come home drunk?" he spit out as all of us went white. I know that Mercury is unhappy about me leaving, since I'm his only friend, but he didn't have to go that far.
            "Mercury, that is enough out of you!" Marcus stormed, standing up, "She is leaving! Period! This conversation is over!" By that time, it was too much for me to take in, as I ran out the door. I ran as fast as I could into the woods, wishing that this never happened to me, wishing I had different parents that didn't give me such a semblance that everyone wanted. I stopped once I was out of breath, leaning against a tree trying to catch air into my lungs. I was frightened, but not by the fact I had to go on a mission to kill someone, but because I was going to have to leave the comfy cabin I've known for so long to go and live far away from here. I would be homesick... mostly for my best friend. I was thinking of the scary life before me when suddenly I heard a loud growl behind me. I turned around quickly to come face-to-face with a Beowolf. I slowly started to back up, trying to feel for the hilt of my sword, when I recognized a very stupid thing I did before leaving the house: I don't have Crystal Mayhem on me. I quickly used my semblance to rush back towards the house, trying to get away from the Beowolf as fast as I could. As soon as I saw the house in sight, I couldn't help but scream.
            "Mercury! Mercury, help me!"
            "Zuri?" I heard Mercury shout as he stepped outside, the Beowolf still on my tail. He looked at the Beowolf and pulled out his weapon, limping as fast as he could towards me, trying to shoot the Beowolf as I ran in the house to grab Mayhem and my quiver. I quickly ran outside as I saw Mercury trying to take on the Beowolf, the Beowolf knocking him to the side. I pulled out Mayhem, rushing to my best friend's side, slicing upwards to get a hit on the Beowolf to knock it back. "Zuri, get behind it, now!" I heard Mercury shout. I nodded and dashed behind it, I activated the ice Dust once I was set, slamming my sword into the ground as soon as the Beowolf grabbed Mercury's good leg, throwing him against a tree. I heard him scream in pain as he fell to the ground, the Beowolf incased in ice. I knew I had to finish this, so I quickly activated the fire Dust, slicing it across the grimm's neck, killing it instantly. I smiled triumphantly, but looked at my best friend by the tree, his leg spewing out too much blood. I ran to his side, placing my hand on his wound, trying to stop as much blood flow as I could.
            "Marcus! Marcus!" I screamed, trying to keep my sanity, "Marcus! Help me! It's Mercury!"