Chapter 19: Confrontation

Teebs and Shards were sailing to Northern Zenith, right to Simon’s dock. Endro’s words rang inside Shard’s mind like a high pitched bell. Teebs was adamant on getting rid of Simon any way he could, which she found kind of strange. He hadn’t acted like this when they were getting vital information from Margual’s officials, people WAY more important than a zenithan. They pulled into the dock, making their presence blatant to Simon.

Oh Cybel, these guys…, Simon thought.

Teebs didn’t bother tying the ship to the dock, his mind only fixated on Simon.

“What is your problem?! I thought we agreed to not try to kill me,” Simon said, hauling off a crate.

Without saying a word, Teebs grabbed Simon’s arm and mumbled a few words. Simon passed out and Teebs tossed him into the nearby ocean.

“What are you doing?” Shards yelled, tying off the ship.

“Making things speed up. This has been drug out long enough,” he said, watching Simon sink.

A few guys tried going in after him, but Teebs pushed them back. Eventually, Shards got him out.

“What are you doing?!” Teebs asked.

“I’m not going to let you kill someone who has done nothing wrong! What’s the matter with you?!” Shards said angrily.

Teebs just stormed off to the ship without giving a response. Shards got someone to him Simon and went after him.

“You didn't answer me,” she said.

“We’ve been waiting way too long. He needs to die soon, or else things will start going sideways,” he replied.

“You promised you wouldn’t,” she said.

“No. I ‘agreed’ to not kill him. Big difference in having an agreement and making a promise,” he said.

“How do you even know how things will turn out?” she asked angrily.

“There are infinite possibilities, but once you narrow it down, there’s only so many left. Especially with Simon,” he said, going to untie the ship.

“And those are?” she asked following him.

“Either he dies or we do,” he answered, untying the ship.

The ship was starting to drift out of dock, but stopped suddenly as if it hit something. Teebs went out to check what it was. It was ice? It was too warm to be ice here. He looked back at the dock to see Simon with his hand pointed at the water.

“Who do you think you are!?” Simon yelled, a glare pointed straight at Teebs, “Running off after trying to kill me? What’s the matter with you!?”

To his surprise, the ice was getting thicker, almost encasing the ship. But Teebs focus was at the one who was doing it. Getting up and walking closer to the ship, Simon made his hand into a fist. The hull of the ship started to creak as the ice started to crush it.

“What are you doing to my ship!?” Teebs asked.

“Crushing it! Punishment for attempted murder!” Simon said, keeping his hand a fist.

The hull started to crack, the wood snapping under the pressure.

“Simon! Stop it!” Shards said, her hand surrounded in purple fog.

Simon pointed at her and mumbled something. The fog on her hand blew back and dissipated around her.

“I’m sick of you two trying to kill me! Don’t you have anything better to do?! Get married! Have kids! Do SOMETHING other than kill me!” Simon yelled angrily.

The ice started to melt, making the ship flood with water.

“We can’t let you live! You’ll kill everyone here!” Teebs yelled.

“How?! HOW?! Just tell me, how in the name of Cybele will I do that?!” Simon yelled.

Shards looked at Teebs, waiting for an answer. Teebs didn’t give one.

“That’s EXACTLY what I thought! You don’t even know! Your reason is always changing! ‘I’ll kill everyone, I’m a pendant spawn, blah blah blah.’ WHAT IS IT!” Simon said, freezing the water again.

Teebs looked down, knowing that he was right.

“Simon, stop it!” Yuelia said.

The ice around the ship melted as soon as he heard her voice. She had a scowl that could cut stone if given the chance.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Yuelia asked.

“Punishing them for trying to kill me,” Simon said.

“Is that so?” she said, shifting her glare towards Teebs and Shards.

“It was his idea,” Shards said, pointing to Teebs.

“I don’t care who’s fault it is, all of you are guilty for all I care!” Yuelia said, glaring at the three of them, “Teebs, Shards, Leave right now. Simon, go home.”

“That’s it? A slap on the wrist?” Teebs said.

“Don’t tempt me, pirate. You’re not off the hook yet,” Yuelia replied.

She and Simon walked home in silence. Feeling the need to apologize, Simon did just that.

“Sorry I disturbed the peace…,” he said.

“I’m not worried about that. I was worried about you hurting the ones around you. You’re getting stronger by the day and it’s very alarming,” she replied, “Plus you could’ve ended it there.”

“Ended it?” he asked.

“You know… get rid of them?” she said, crossing her arms.

“You mean kill them?” he asked with a worried look.

“Yeah,” she replied.

“Why?! I would’ve just been proving him right,” he said.

“I suppose… but it would’ve stopped them from hurting you again,” she said, opening the door for him.

“Well… yeah, I guess… But that would be bad,” he said, going inside.

“How?” she said, following him.

“I would feel guilty. Plus, everyone at the dock was watching. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to get fired,” he said sitting on the couch.

Yuelia just rolled her eyes and went to her library. Simon sat and thought about what would’ve happened if he had killed them. Granted that it would end all the trouble they’ve caused, but they’re people too. To take another's life willingly… The very thought of it shook him to his core. Starting to get itchy, he went to get the blue liquid. He didn’t really understand why he got so itchy for medication whenever he got emotional. Rubbing the liquid on his arms, he sat back down. He noticed a little bit of purple stuff on his hand.

What is that? He thought, getting a closer look.

It looked as if it were pulsating, trying to contain itself.

Ew…., he thought, washing his hands.

To his surprise, the stuff didn’t come off. Then he started to pick at it.

Almost got it…, he thought, getting it off.

After he got off, it seemed to spread across his entire hand. Panicking, Simon gt a frying pan and started to beat his hand senseless. Finally coming to the realization that it was apart of him, he yelled in pain.

Why did I do that!? He thought, holding his now entirely purple and black hand.

“What’s going on?” Yuelia asked, walking in.

Thinking quickly, Simon hid his hand in the cabinet and said, “Nothing’s going on…”

“You sure?” she asked.

“Yes, ‘ma'am!” he replied.

“So… what are you trying to find in those cabinets?” she asked.

“Uhh…. spices… for dinner,” he said, grabbing the salt.

“Can I see your hand?” she said, holding out her own.

Simon held up the one that wasn’t in the cabinet. Yuelia gave him a scowl, making him show his other hand.

“What’s that?” she asked, stepping away from him.

“I don’t know. I just showed up…,” he replied, taking his hand back.

“What was that noise I heard?” she asked.

“I was beating my hand with a frying pan. I don’t know why, I just did…,” he said.

The purple stuff spread halfway to his elbow after that. They ate dinner and went to bed. The whole time, Simon was trying to figure out what the stuff was. Was it just a skin condition? Or was it just a new side effect from the medication? Either way, it was spreading quickly.