When the Universe Began [A Blackmadhi Fantasy AU]

Chapter Thirty-Seven

I stumbled up the stairs, searching for where that silhouette of a man was coming from. Oh Holy Mother, Miss Metis. As the light faded from her eyes, she reached out a trembling hand towards me. The man laughed, pulling the knife from her stomach before turning to me and smiling.

"Beautiful is she not Mister Blackquill?" He grabbed my hand pulling me over to Miss Metis, "now don't close your eyes, I want you to see this... because the exact same thing will happen to the one you love most next and you won't be able to stop me." Miss Metis... her blood spilled on the floor, it made me sick to see her like this. Why her?

The scenery around me shifted. Oh no, I recognized this hall. Please not him! Not now!

"You're just that weak Mister Blackquill, you'll never be able to save a single soul... not now, now ever." The sight of his blood staining the floor flashed in front of my eyes... please... no...

"Yuty!" Simon's chest heaved as he screamed out his name. He ran a hand through his sweaty hair. Oh thank goodness, it was just another terrible nightmare.

"Don't call me that..." he muttered, rolling over and smacking Simon softly, "oh goodness...Simon, are you alright? You're crying."

"Thank the Holy Mother you're okay," He grabbed Nahyuta into his arms, pulling him close and squeezing him tightly, "I promise I'll never let anyone hurt you."

"While that's quite flattering, this isn't like you. Why are you saying this all of a sudden." Of course he'd pick up on that, he knew Simon better than he knew himself sometimes.

"It's complicated..."

"Simon, don't be an asshole. You know you can tell me anything." Simon sighed, running his hands through his silky hair. He had a point... he might as well...

"It's about that man I captured a bit ago... the Phantom."

"Is it still bothering you Simon?"

"Wel, yes and no. He made a threat on your life and I'm scared that if he made a move on that threat that I wouldn't be strong enough to protect you."

"Oh Simon.... You know you're only here for extra protection right?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" So cynical, he was such a mystery, one that Simone would never be able to figure out.

"Just that I can protect myself." He flicked Simon's forehead, his fingernail almost cutting into it.

"We'll see about that."

~~~

"Don't worry, I promise I'll go easy on you. Wouldn't want you to get hurt." The pair of them stood about five feet apart in the garden. Simon was testing his skills to see if he really could protect himself.

"Oh... it's not me I'm worried about getting hurt." he muttered under his breath, barely loud enough for him to hear.

"What was that?"

"Nothing." He flipped his braid behind him as Simon stretched out his arms. And the next minute, before he could even contemplate what had happened, he was on the ground. He coughed, grabbing at his throat. What in the world?

"What the hell was that?" he asked once he was able to form words, glancing up at him prince.

"Winning." Simon stood up, dusting off his pants and letting out one last cough as he smiled cockily at me.

"Okay, now that I'm prepared, let's try this again." Nahyuta nodded, walking back over to his spot and running a hand through his bangs. Thank the Holy Mother he hadn't done anything fancy to tie his hair back or Simon would've been much more distracted than he already was. He took a few steps towards the prince, this time he would be the one groaning on the ground. As Simon got close to him, he planted his foot in his stomach, launching him a good four or five feet back to where he started.

"What in the world Nahyuta?"

"Sorry, I couldn't help myself. You don't cover your weak spots at all, so it was an easy target." Why did he sound like he knew what he was talking about? Why did he look like he knew what he was doing? Simon couldn't find a single weak spot when he looked him over, his stance hid all of them from him.

"I guess the third time's the charm then." Simon kept my distance, looking for any sign that he was going to move. Perfect, no sign of movement and he'd even overlooked a blind spot. That's where he would go for then. Too bad that he didn't notice that his left foot was prepared to kick dust in my eyes and before he knew it, he was on the ground again. Simon didn't get up this time. He'd probably left that spot open on purpose... he was too good at this. He walked over to him, laughing softly and offering him a hand up.

"Nahyuta... why do you have a bodyguard if you can beat up said bodyguard?"

"Awww... don't feel too bad Simon. My father and Uncle Datz taught me how to fight dirty, it's a very useful skill." he said, laying down next to Simon and snuggling into his neck. How dare he try to act all cute after what he'd just done?

"Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that you have that skill and that you can protect yourself; but where does that leave me? I knew I was right, I am too weak to protect you. There's no point to my being here."

"Don't say that Simon, I never have my guard up because I'm too busy trying to be the perfect prince, so you're here to protect me when I'm not prepared." Simon cupped his hand around his cheek, pulling him into a kiss.

"I'll always be here, even if you don't need me Nahyuta. At the very least, I can be your shield." While he wanted to laugh at his own morbid little joke, Nahyuta did not agree. He smacked his cheek gently, his lips forming a frown.

"Simon, if you ever make another joke like that, I swear to the Holy Mother you're looking at a repeat of what just happened and I won't go easy on you this time."

"That was going easy on me?! But seriously Nahyuta, I'll do whatever it takes to protect you. You can't stop me."

~~~

The next few days were relatively peaceful... that is until Simon heard a noise out on the balcony in the early morning. He walked over, flinging open the doors to see what it was. Then, he felt something stab into his chest. As if it was a reflex, Simon reached a hand to where the knife was planted, feeling the wetness of blood against his fingers. Blood... oh shit... Now what? 

A/N: The first part of this chapter that is in italics is left in first person on purpose, don't tell me I did anything wrong because it's supposed be like that