Remy, Virgil, and Logan stood in the middle of the hall, their path to the castle exit blocked by Markus and four or five guards.

Logan immediately set up for a spell, magic at the ready as he stood prepared. Meanwhile, Remy had drawn his knife and grabbed a thin glass vial full of a mysterious hot pink liquid. Virgil continued to stand at the front of the trio, pulling the gloves up as high as they would go as adjusted his stance. The guards in front of them had their weapons drawn and were stalking closer to them slowly, waiting for Markus's final command.

Eventually, it did, a quick and short demand for the guards to capture them and to make quick work of them. With that, the guards moved quicker and attacked. The fight greatly reminded Virgil of a few weeks ago when he and the others had first tried to escape out of the prison tower, only to be caught by Tafe and Markus and the news of his Grandfather not being dead had finally been given to him.

Logan was taking on two guards at the same time, sending one spell after another to the guards fighting him. It hadn't taken him long to notice just how well of a job he was doing at evading attacks, if this had happened a few weeks ago his ducks and weaves would be a lot more messy and wild. And Logan couldn't help but be glad for those horrific sword lessons his Uncle had forced on time these past couple of weeks. Not that he was any good at using a sword now, no matter how long the training the sword part had never really clicked well. But apparently, the footwork had, his movements were now much cleaner and calculated. Logan had even noticed his speed had increased slightly. He had never been much of an athlete, so that was quite impressive.

Meanwhile, Remy was struggling with just one guard. He'd do his best to weave between the sword, but with his only actual weapon being a knife, Remy wasn't able to get too close lest he risks getting stabbed. He did occasionally throw out parts of his family brewed concoctions, each one having a different effect but none of them having a strong enough one to take the guard out of the way permanently. He sighed quietly, really wishing he had taken Hollis up on those last-minute lessons he had offered before they had set out, it could've really been helpful right about now.

Virgil was doing a phenomenal job protecting himself though. Even with the guards having been given the order to not wound him too badly, the two were obviously very talented and trying their hardest. But Virgil was better. He was using Franklin's sword, which should already make this more difficult seeing as it was a different weight and length than his first choice sword but he was making do surprisingly well. He dodged between the guard's attacks and used his own skills to his advantage, every once in a while he would throw in a spell or two but he kept those to a minimum.

His time with Tafe hadn't taught him much, partly because he already knew much of the things the general had tried to teach him and partly because Virgil simply did not give enough crap about the man to pay attention. But going back to almost daily training and giving him new opponents who he hadn't already spared with his whole childhood and had memorized their strategy had obviously served him well.

With one final spell thrown at each of his attacking guards, the men went down and Virgil turned to look at his grandfather with a glare. He let out a breath as he took a step forward, sword in hand.

"Virgil," Markus said with a smile that would tell even the stupidest of people that he had a plan, "Aren't you going to help your friends?"

Virgil tensed, hesitating before shaking his head out, they could take care of themselves, he thought to himself. Markus shrugged, still smirking, "Oh well, less trouble for me," He told him before snapping his fingers. It all happened so quickly, Virgil didn't even have time to react or do anything to stop them. As soon as the snap was heard the guards fighting Logan and Remy had suddenly managed to restrain them. One of Logan's opponents tripped him and pushed him to the ground while the other pointed a sword to his throat. And the guard battling Remy barely even batted an eye as he pinned Remy to his chest, his own knife turned against him.

The last two guards did their best to restrain Virgil as well, but by that point he had caught onto what was happening and managed to keep them off of him and knock them unconscious. "Virgil," Markus warned lowly. 'this'

Virgil growled as he stood up straight and glared at his grandfather as if edging him on for a fight.

A short gasp and a shuffling sound caught his attention, "Virgil," Remy breathed out, the prince turned to him for a moment, fear sprouting in his eyes for a moment as he watched the knife at his boyfriends throat edge closer to him in warning, the guard holding him had attempted to kick Remy's feet out from under him but it hadn't worked so well.

'No' Vigil mouthed, he turned back to Markus, a desperate look in his eyes, 'Let them go,' he mouthed again. 'Let us go'

Markus shook his head with a smile, "I'm sorry, that's just not possible."

Virgil stared for a moment before suddenly lunging forward, sword in hand, as tears streamed down his face. The Clang! of metal hitting metal, and Virgil's ragged out-of-control breath sounded through the hallway. He glared at his grandfather, drilling holes into the other's eyes as Markus only looked back with that same sick smile as if he had already won.

"Was that a challenge Virgil?" Markus asked.

Virgil continued to glare as he questioned himself inside his head.

His grandfather, much like both his sons and his youngest grandson, was a great swordsman. The stories of him beating down an army of men echoed slightly in his head. The history of his grandfather killing his own brother and own father just so he could rule the kingdom. The older knights that told tales of how years ago they used to train alongside him. It was all so familiar.

But he was good at this too. He was good at fighting too. And he knew that. He was confident in that. So he nodded, and then tried to attack again, Markus blocked it again. "Ann!" Logan shouted, fearfully, "Ann! A-" his voice was cut off with a grunt of pain.

"Your orders sir?" One of the guards said.

Markus smiled, "Let my grandson have his fun," he said and then looked back to Virgil, "Though, I hope you understand, if you do this, there's no getting out of it. I'll win, you and Logan will return to your bedrooms and you'll never see boyfriend till his dying breath."

"Guess he's just gonna have to win then," Remy encouraged from behind, "Anx and I can't keep away from each other, so he'll win."

"I'm not so sure, Virgil's not quite-" Virgil didn't let his grandfather finish as he once again attacked, his grandfather blocking it with his sword and an angry growl, another attack from Virgil finally prompted Markus to actually fight back. The sound of swords hitting each other repeatedly echoed loudly in the hallway. The two would dodge and weave each other's attacks, neither one ever getting close enough to cause any actual damage to the other.

"You're a fool Virgil," His grandfather proclaimed as he slashed the sword through the air, "I could've given you the throne. I could've given you the world! And here you are, doing your best to ruin it all over again!"

'I don't want the throne.' Virgil jumped out of the way before lunging forward again. 'I dont want the world!'

"You could have been great! The first hybrid king of the Dark Realm, and the second king in our new empire! We could have ruled together as grandfather and grandson!"

'Janus will be the first hybrid king of his kingdom. And he and I can rule together, as brothers.'

"But you're giving it all away," Markus yelled as Virgil aimed for his grandfather's legs, the man stopping his blade with his own, "Just like your father and Uncle! After everything I did for them, they did nothing for me in return. Instead, your father married a bitch, you're uncle became celibate, and they threw me off my throne! My own sons, betrayed me!"

'Stop bringing your personal issues into this! I. Dont. Care!'

"Do you know how powerful you could be if you stayed here Virgil?" Markus asked, the swords slamming into each other again, metal biting metal harshly, "You could be the most powerful king to ever rule. With Tafe on one side, you'll have access to all the combat training you could want. And with Ira on the other, all the knowledge of magical affairs you could ever need!" Markus exclaimed, "And I'd be right in front of you! Paving the way and leading you to greatness!" Markus jumped away from Virgil's sword as the prince attacked again, "Just think about it Virgil, no one would ever call you weak again."

'But I wouldn't have the people who make me strong.'

"What exactly is so wrong about what I want? I just want what any great ruler wants, what's best for his kingdom. This would be best for our kingdom.'

'You, Ira, and Tafe plan to segregate and divide two unique and diverse kingdoms who separately will one day be united.' Virgil ducked to the ground and attempted to slash at his grandfather's feet but failed when he had to jump back from another on coming blade. 'You're forcefully relocating thousands of people, and what will you do with the outliers? The refugees that came to us for their protection? You'd send them back and be subject to who knows what? What you want would only be good for those who remain.'

"And you have such a bright young mind, Virgil!" Markus lunged forward, Virgil went backward "You and Logan, and maybe your brother and all your new little friends and this Remington fellow once they finally learn their place. You all can bring new and fresher ideas to this. You can change things for the better just like I want to do."

Swords slammed, 'I don't think you understand...'

"It'll work! It'll be perfect! If you all just listened..." Metal echoed and verberated.

'If you wanted someone to roll over and follow orders...'

Feet danced and glided across the ground, "You can get your brother to do the same, I know you have that power over him."

'You shouldn't have chosen me as your heir...'

"Join me, Virgil! It'll be perfect! And all you have to do is..."

'My life was perfect. And it can be perfect again. All I have to do is..."

With one last final swing of his sword, the blades connected and smashed. Virgil's iris's turned black as the gloves on his hands disintegrated away. The black veins that climbed along Virgil's arms glowed with a slightly violet tint as dark magic traveled through his body, the sword in Virgil's hands shattered as streams of black passed between weapons and into Markus's body. Magic seemed to make mad dashes out of the prince and it looked as if it had gone through his feet as darkness began to spread across the floor and up the guard's legs until they fell away. When the magic finally stopped its spread, and Virgil's eyes returned to their normal hue. The old king stood almost petrified, hands shaking, and dark vines spreading across his skin before he crumbled to the ground, breathless.

The sound of his fathers' sword hitting the ground brought Virgil back to reality. He stared at the broken hilt of the sword he had stolen, before dropping it and taking the surviving sword. For a moment he could do nothing but stare at his grandfather's corpse.

And then the softest of whispers caught his attention, "Virgil?"

The prince turned to face his friends behind him, fearing that now that they had discovered his secret they would reject him. The fear immediately seemed careless and selfish when he saw the slowly growing stain coming from his boyfriend's shirt.

Remy's legs collapsed from beneath him and Virgil screamed as he ran to catch him just in time. Virgil's fingers brushed against the hilt of the knife, only seeming to make him panic even more. Logan jumped off the ground and ran to their side, helping Virgil to lower Remy to the ground slowly, the injured boy's head laying down on the prince's lap.

"What happened?" Logan asked as he stared at the wound with wide eyes.

"That dick stabbed me when Virgil started winning," Remy said, he looked up at Virgil his eyes flashed between their regular color and purple as he stared at the guard who had been holding Remy back. Remy took Virgil's hand in his, "Hey, Anx, it's okay. I'll be okay."

Virgil only nodded and squeezed Remy's hand as he looked to Logan who was doing his best to assess the wound, he didn't look too hopeful. "Uhm, the knife missed his spine but, depending on whether it struck the kidney or not, removing it may be fatal. I-I dont know any healing spells that could heal a wound this detrimental quickly enough to staunch the bleeding."

'So dont remove the knife.' Virgil signed.

Logan shook his head, "Even if we keep the knife in him till we get him to a doctor, the chances of there being internal bleeding are high." Logan glanced down at Remy before leaning forward and whispering quietly, "Virgil, I'm afraid to say the chances of survival are not in our favor."

Virgil tensed, again his eyes flashed purple remaining that color until Remy tapped him again, "Virge, dont-dont listen to the nerd. If an idiot like Remus can survive a stab so can I."

Logan shook his head, he hadn't been aware Remy could hear him but regardless now that he knew there really was no reason to hold back, "Remus was stabbed from the front, you weren't. Given the position..." Logan trailed off as Remy suddenly began to cough and spit out blood. Logan was quick to turn the fairy on his side to avoid throwing up.

"Shit, not good." Remy muttered

'Do something!' Virgil demanded

Logan shook his head in slight panic, "I-I can't! I dont know any strong enough spells! And my uncle confiscated my potions! And-and-!" Logan stopped, hands curled in his hair as he did, "Ira has all that ingredients I'd need in her classroom. If I went fast enough-"

"Just go, you nerd!" Remy groaned as he broke into another coughing fit. Logan didn't wait for another second, jumping to his feet and running off as quick as he could towards Ira's classroom. The other two were left alone in the dimly lit hallway with the dead bodies of Markus and the guards surrounding them, and not having any other option except to wait for help to arrive.

Prince Hollis, along with a small group of soldiers that had been waiting outside the door to the tower, led the princes and marquess to a small patch of trees. It was far enough from the castle that they were no longer in any immediate danger, but close enough so that they could still hear the battle going on.

"Where's my brother?" Janus asked as he glanced around the area.

"He should be on his way, Remy and I established a meeting place before the battle had even commenced." Hollis said in between conversations with the soldiers, he glanced back at the worried group and then sighed, "I'm sure they're fine. It's chaotic right now, they've probably just had to adjust their course of action slightly."

Remus nodded, "Ya JJ," he said as if assuring himself as well as his boyfriend, "Dont worry. Logan's great with his magic, and Virgil's the best sword fighter either of us knows. And we both know Remy wouldn't let anybody so much as touch Virgil without the squirt's permission."

Janus only hummed worriedly in response as he stared back towards the castle, waiting for the three to burst through the trees so he could hug his brother again. But after several more minutes, it was clear that something had gone wrong.

Remy laid on his side with his head in Virgil's lap, breaths slow and ragged. By now Remy's previously white shirt was almost all red, a puddle had formed on the ground, and Virgil's skin and clothes had been stained with blood. The boys face was pale and sweaty and would twist in pain with every other unintentional movement. He was repeatedly asking Virgil to tell him about some sort of shared event in their life and the prince would comply only for him to repeat the request as soon as the story was finished. 'Tell me about when we snuck out and went swimming.' 'When we had that prank war with Dee and Remus'. 'Halloween.'

Slowly the requests for the stories would become slower, vaguer, and the sentences were shorter. But Virgil still did his best to understand what was asked, and signed it out for him. Tears in his eyes the entire time. Remy's hand was holding Virgil's ankle in an attempt to provide comfort. When Virgil finished the story this time, Remy didn't ask him for another.

Virgil's eyes widened slightly with horror as a small whimper escaped his throat, Remy didn't react. Virgil began to grow frantic and shook Remy's shoulders only for his boyfriend to tighten his hold on his ankle and hiss slightly, "Chill babe," he rasped out quietly, "I'm not dead yet."

'Not gonna'

"Yeah," Remy said, closing his eyes again.

Virgil looked down at the puddle of blood that had formed around them, staring at it with slight horror before gasping in pain as his eyes turned purple again, and the first vision in a while played across his brain. The prince squeezed his hands closed tightly and a small sob escaped his throat and when he opened his eyes again his head danced from the pain.

Remy, who had noticed his boyfriends changed, looked up at him, "Anx?" he muttered, Virgil looked down, "Vee, what did you see?"

Virgil did his best to smile softly and shook his head, 'nothing,'

Remy watched him for a moment before looking down, mouth falling into a straight line. Virgil tapped him lightly before slowly and carefully pulling Remy up so the older boy was leaning up against his chest. It was painful but Remy did find himself comforted. Virgil held him close and for a long moment the two just sat there, their eyes were both closed yet tears still slipped past.

"I love you Rem," Virgil muttered, Remy's eyes snapped open and he looked up at Virgil with surprise and almost fear, "You-you'rre ssso awesome and great. You're smart and funny and brave. And you're nice and supportive, you never left me and I don't think I ever understood why but thank you. I-I really really love you."

Remy stared up at him, for a moment his breathing stopped as he tried to figure out what to say or do. He looked away before pulling slightly at Virgil's sleeves. Virgil opened his eyes and looked down to him, 'I really love you too,' Remy signed with a weak smile. Virgil squeaked slightly as he held Remy a bit tighter.

"Hey Anx?"

Virgil raised his head slightly.

"You'll- you'll take care of my siblings right?" Remy asked with a sob. Virgil gave him an odd look, "Like you'll look after them and shit? They already see you as a brother, please Virgil? Look after them for me?"

"What do you-"