Mercutio takes a deep breath, but nothing he does can calm the rapid beat of his heart. He agreed to help Benvolio in his endeavor to take Julius down, but could he really? For as long as Mercutio knew, Julius has been nasty and clever. Lord and Lady Montague were too corrupt to care, and Julius played the image of a saint outside the Montague walls. Should Julius find out what he was doing—Mercutio shutters at the thought.

“Be brave,” Mercutio mutters to himself as he knocks on the door. “Milord?” he calls.

When he receives no answer, he enters, looking around to confirm he is truly alone. Seeing the room has no sign of life, he moves quickly. Trembling hands move through the draws of Julius’ desk, eyes frantic to find what he is looking for. When the desk has no results, he moves to Julius’ bookcase. It would take too long to go through every volume on his shelf, so Mercutio sticks to Julius’ favorites. 

“I see you truly have become a rat.”

Mercutio’s heart stops beating, and his whole body freezes in place. He feels Julius approach moments before his neck is caught in his grip. The book in his hands clatters to the floor. He grasps at Julius’ arms, struggling for air.

“Weren’t you the one who said you told him nothing?” Julius growls. “So imagine my surprise when I spot you two chatting once again.”

Mercutio gasps, tears streaming down his cheeks. Julius releases him and he collapses to the ground. Through bleary eyes, Mercutio sees Julius reaching inside his closet and pulling out a staff. 

“F-forgive me, milord! I was just—”

A blow to his back knocks the wind out of him.

“How dare you betray me!” Julius roars.

Another hit, harder than the last. Mercutio curls in on himself, praying for the beating to end as the strikes come faster and harder. He struggles to hold onto consciousness as Julius tires. He tosses his weapon to the ground, catching his breath.

Mercutio is numb, his back sore and aching. He glances through his arms, towards the bookcase and catches sight of a few loose papers sticking out of a book near the bottom. 

“You’re a worthless piece of trash,” Julius growls.

He hears Julius walk away, and Benvolio’s words from earlier echo in his head. Pushing himself to move, he crawls closer and stuffs the papers in his shirt. A sense of relief washes over Mercutio as he slumps back to the floor. He needs a moment to regain his strength and then, when the time is right, he will pass the papers to Benvolio and this will all be—

A sharp, biting pain pierces his back, drawing a cry from his lips. Adrenaline spiking through his veins, he just manages to roll over and block the next blow of Julius’ dagger, the blade biting into his arms. 

“I am your master,” Julius roars, slicing into Mercutio. “You obey me! And if you can’t even manage that, then I don’t need you anymore.”

Repeatedly, Julius stabs Mercutio, blood coating his hands and the blade. With every blow, he seems to grow madder and madder. He strikes Mercutio with all his force, the knife digging in as deep as it will go. Even when Mercutio’s eyes glaze over, his whimpers silenced, Julius continues to stab him. Only when his blade breaks, slicing his hand in the process, does Julius stop. His chest heaves as he rises from Mercutio’s corpse. He sneers.

“Fool.”

After washing the blood off of him and changing his clothes, Julius moves through the less traveled halls to Benvolio’s chambers dragging Mercutio’s lifeless body wrapped in a rug. He positions Mercutio on Benvolio’s floor, the weapon nearby and looks over his handy work. He chuckles.

“Sorry, cousin,” he mutters, “but I don’t think you’ll be getting out of this one.”

He hears maids approaching and leaves the room, leaving the door just open enough for them to see inside. He waits around the corner. A scream pierces the hall. Schooling his features into one of concern, he rushes towards the commotion. 

Moments later, after calming the maids down, and making a show of being shocked and devastated, he sends their fastest messenger to the Prince with a letter informing him of Mercutio’s death. Barely containing his grin, he then makes his way to his father’s study to deliver the news.

“What do you mean the boy is dead?” Lord Montague growls. “I swear if you—”

“But it wasn’t I, Father. I could never bring myself to do something so horrible to Mercutio. He was my constant companion after all.” He sighs, shaking his head. “He was found by the maids in Benvolio’s chambers.”

Lord Montague’s eyes widen in shock before reverting to a glare.

“You lie through your teeth,” he growls.

“I ordered the maids not to touch him. You are welcome to see for yourself if I speak the truth.”

Lord Montague rises to his feet, and storms towards Benvolio’s chambers, Julius following close behind. Lady Montague stands in the doorway to Benvolio’s chambers, no doubt alerted by all the commotion. She hides her face behind a fan, disgust in her eyes. Julius watches as Lord Montague joins her, his own face matching hers as he gazes at Mercutio’s bloody corpse. Julius’ desire to laugh is hard to suppress, but he just manages it as the guards come running up.

“Milord! His highness the Prince is here.”

“What? Why?”

“I informed him of what happened,” Julius says. “Mercutio was his relative after all.”

The rage in Lord Montague’s eyes is intense; Julius can feel him wishing his death. With the Prince here, there is no way for him to clean it away as though it never happened.

Sorry, Father, Julius thinks to himself as he follows after Lord and Lady Montague to greet the Prince, but this is one death I can’t let you erase.

When they arrive in the foyer, they find not only the Prince, but Lord Capulet in tow. Lord Montague scowls at the sight of him.

“And why is he here?” Lord Montague growls.

“Durmad,” Lady Montague hisses.

“I have a right to be here, seeing as the murderer has struck again,” Lord Capulet growls back.

“How dare—”

“Enough,” the Prince commands. “I did not come here to listen to you old men bicker.”

“Of course not, your Highness,” Lady Montague says with a bow. She glares pointedly at her husband.

Lord Montague bows. 

“Please forgive my rudeness, your Highness,” he says.

“Mine as well,” Lord Capulet says, also bowing.

“Well?” the Prince asks impatiently. “Is it true? Is Mercutio dead?”

“He is, your highness,” Julius answers. Ignoring Lord Monrague’s glare, he continues. “I ordered the maids not to touch or move him until you arrived to bear witness.”

“Show me.”

Julius leads the way to Benvolio’s chambers, a giddiness rising in him. He schools his features into one of sadness as he presents the gruesome scene to the Prince. Lord Capulet sucks his teeth at the sight.

“Such a violent waste,” he says. He eyes Lord Montague scornfully. “The lack of regard for life must run deep in Montague bones.”

“Watch your tongue, Capulet,” Lord Montague hisses.

“And why should I when I only speak the truth?” Lord Capulet turns to the Prince. “Your highness, if this isn’t proof enough that Benvolio needs to be stopped—”

“Are we certain this was his doing?” the Prince asks. He turns to Lord Montague. “I had heard you banished Benvolio from your residence. Is this not true?”

“I—”

“He was here earlier,” Julius interjects. “I noticed Benvolio and my father holding a meeting in secret. I imagine they were trying to make amends. He must have done this during that time.”

“But why?” the Prince presses. “What could Mercutio possibly have known or done to deserve an end like this?”

“Before Benvolio’s banishment, Mercutio was working closely with my cousin, all in the name of finding a cure for the dear daughter of Lord Capulet, or so Mercutio told me. I imagine he must have learned a lot during that time. Things that might prove Benvolio not as innocent as he claims.”

“Hmm.” The Prince turns to his guards. “Collect Mercutio’s body. We’ll take it back to the palace with us. In the meantime, I want every man available on the lookout for Benvolio Montague.”

“Actually, your Highness, if I may suggest a plan?” Julius says. “While I care for my cousin, I can’t overlook all the horrible deeds he has done. I believe Benvolio will come if my Father calls him here. That should be the perfect time to catch him.”

The Prince gives it some thought before nodding his consent.

“Make it happen, Lord Montague. And if you do, I shall pardon you and the rest of your family of any wrongs Benvolio has committed under your name.”

“But your highness!” Lord Capulet cries. “You can’t—”

“That is my order, Lord Capulet,” the Prince says gravely. “Whether you agree with it or not.”

“Please,” Lady Montague says, “allow me to see you off, your Highness.”

The Prince follows Lady Montague away. Lord Capulet glares at Lord Montague.

“Mark my words, Montague, I will have my justice.”

As Lord Capulet leaves, Julius can feel Lord Montague’s gaze burning into him as the guards prepare to take Mercutio’s body away. Their presence is the only thing stopping him from attacking Julius where he stands.

“I thought you would be happy, Father,” he says with an innocent smile. “This way, the Montagues will be free of any wrongdoing.”

“You’re playing a dangerous game, boy,” Lord Montague growls. “Know this. I will not hesitate to kill you if it means to protect our honor.”

Julius nods and walks away, his smile widening into one of madness and joy.