I set myself up for battle. The lion of which was roaring inside of me. The guns which hung heavily on my belt, loaded with shots of anger. Where would thy stop. Too long the violence of hatred has broken out, it always ended the same. No change. But not this time. Romeo the worst of the Montague’s, a name that fills me with rage. Romeo will die. He has caused me pain, and there was no excuse for that. He fell in love with my cousin, my beloved Juliet. With Hair hazel and pure, longer than a horse’s mane though shorter than its tail. She has eyes that shine so bright the stars look dim in comparison. He will not have Juliet’s heart. Her heart, red and soft belongs only to a true Capulet.
I walked up the empty street from the tower of the castle. I walked with my pride hanging on my shoulders and my boy’s close behind. I strode up to the Montague’s gang, a bunch of useless life forms. I started off calm “Gentlemen, good e’en a word with one of you” I waited for a reply. Mercutio the darkest skinned of the ugly bunch turned around, sarcasm was written all over his distorted face.
“Oh, and but one word with one of us? Couple it with something, make it a word and a blow” The rest of the Montague gang laughed at his wit, but I wasn’t here for fun. This was business. “You shall find me apt enough to that sir, an you will give me occasion” Mercutio allowed the sarcasm to hang on his tongue, he still wasn’t satisfied. “Could you not take some occasion without giving?” I was bored, sick of his wittiness so I threw the words back in his face “Mercutio, thou consortest with Romeo?” Mercutio’s face went hard. I’d got him. “Consort?” Mercutio started “What dost thou make us minstrels? An thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but discords. Here’s my fiddlestick, here’s that shall make you dance. Zounds consort!” I opened my mouth to spit venom but the white skinned blonde freak by the name “Benvolio” cut in.
“We talk here in the public haunt of men. Either withdraw unto some private place, or reason coldly of your grievances, or else depart. Here all eyes gaze on us” Mercutio snorted. Totally unamused. “Men’s eyes were made to look, and let them gaze. I will not budge for no man’s pleasure” as he finished his sentence he looked toward me, but I was looking far into the distance. Though I had the temptation to unravel my wrath on Mercutio Romeo was running toward Mercutio and I, so I calmed myself and turned away from Mercutio “Well peace be with you sir” I started “Here comes my man”.
Romeo screamed out to Mercutio as he neared me, I couldn’t find the hatred in his eyes. Though, my eyes screamed loud and clear “die” “Romeo the love I bear thee can afford no better term than this, tho art a villain.” I spat the words in his face but rather than stepping up to me like a man he looked soft almost calm. As I waited for the reply I realised he was wearing formal livary, not that I cared about his fashion, he was my enemy nothing more. The grey castles stood tall above me telling me just to kill him. The trees around the walls whispered to me to just get it over and done with. Kill him now, but the sky was a harmless light blue not a single cloud was visible to convince me otherwise. The time was nearing.
"Tybalt, the reason I have to love thee doth much excuse the appertaining rage to such a greeting. Villain am I none. Therefor farewell I see thou knowest me not.” Romeo turned away hiding from the truth. The fire inside me was building. He will not get away again. “Boy this shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done me, therefore turn and draw” the words echoed in the air, all eyes of the gang of Montague’s were on Romeo and I but he kept walking. “Turn and draw” I shouted at him but he still kept on walking. I started running toward him the fire burning brightly inside of me. This was it. The time was now. “Turn and Draw, Turn and draw”
I grabbed him and pushed him harshly to the ground. I punched him multiple times hoping to get a reaction, for him to feel the pain I felt but he just took the punches. He finally brought his head up, there was blood pouring from his mouth.
“I do protest I never injured thee, but love thee better than thou canst device. Till thou shallt know the reason of my love, and so good Capulet which name I tender as dearly as my own. Be satisfied” Romeo looked up at me with such a childlike face that I almost felt sorry for him… I wacked the sword out of his hand that he was offering me, I would not be satisfied until he was dead. Mercutio started to whisper under his breath
“O calm, dishonourable vile submission” he turned away from Romeo eyes blazing with fury, they stood out compared to his dark skin. His hair fell just above his shoulders black tails of Puma’s, glued on to his head. His livary was grey mixed with some odd colours here and there. He was like a broken rainbow, shattered to pieces, grey overtaking the rest. He had the body of a leopard and the heart of a lion, the two in combination created such a brave, confident cat. He could pounce at any time, and no one would know when. He started to draw out his sword. “Tybalt” he turned to me “You rat catcher will you walk?” the words echoed in my head. Why would I walk? I turned to him “What wouldst thou have with me?” I walked towards him causing him to back away “Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine lives. That I mean to make bold withal, and, as you shall use me hereafter, dry – beat the rest of the eight. Will you pluck your sword out of his pilcher by the ears? Make haste, lest mine be about your ears ere it be out” I was done holding back from Mercutio so as I strode toward him I started to draw out my sword… “I am for you” I said. Romeo came in between Mercutio and I “Gentle, Mercutio, put thy rapier up” Mercutio ignored him and came toward me “Come sir!” I obeyed and our fight began.
Both Mercutio and I were skilled. Swords were crashing against each other in defence, the adrenaline from all the hatred. This was it. Romeo screamed to Benvolio “Draw Benvolio. Beat down their weapons. Gentlemen, for shame! Forbeat this outrage! Tybalt, Mercutio, the prince expressly hath forbid this bandying in Verona streets. Hold Tybalt, Good Mercutio!” Mercutio drew back then and Romeo came in between. His mouth was still covered with blood. I thrust out with the sword with full force at Romeo, Mercutio threw Romeo out the way and the sword entered Mercutio’s side. The part of his body which had no protection. I drew the sword away stumbling back, though I didn’t fall. Mercutio brought his head up barely standing “I am hurt. A plague a’both your houses” Benvolio stared at where I had stabbed Mercutio.
“What are thou hurt?” he seemed confused. “Ay, ay a scratch” Mercutio shouted to his gang pretending it was nothing, but Romeo and I knew better. He was hurt. “Courage man” Romeo started softly “The hurt cannot be much” Mercutio put one hand on his shoulder “Twill serve. Ask for me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man”
Mercutio laughed then and started to turn away. He tried to walk but he kept stumbling till finally he gave up and fell on the concrete, Romeo then came to his side “I thought all for the best” Romeo was crying, he knew what came next “A plague a’both your houses… A plague… a’both your houses” that was all Mercutio said then he just lay there motionless.
I turned away and started running back toward the tower. The sky was turning grey, clouds thundering with anger, as the light of the sun faded. I ran with my sword heavy in my hand, the tip covered in blood. Mercutio’s blood. I had killed Mercutio. Though I could wash it off, the stain will still remain… the stain of death.
