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The laptop turned off with a underwhelming click. Derek left looking at nothing but an empty screen, he'd done it. He'd saved Avery, the world even. Soon he knew the king would fully transfer he'd enter his mind and the two would descend into madness together, a king and his lord. He thought about Avery as the pain in his head grew, his mind easily feeding him all the infinite possibilities of the two of them. He smiled at the thought, that he'd chosen one of the world's where Avery get's to live, to be happy, even if it's without him. His mind feels worse then it ever has, as he sits at his desk and shuts his eyes, he should've expected the merge to be painful. For the king to take his revenge out on Derek. He's surprised he doesn't mind as much as he thought he would, he's been finding out many surprising things about himself these last few days. His head starts to feel like it's splitting, his last thoughts are of Avery and his beautiful heart, before everything turns yellow. --- "you thought you were so clever Little Knight," the cool voice echos inside Derek's mind, soothing all the aches and pain that's haunted him these past few days. "Didn't you?" Derek's heart drops as the voice so familiar and yet so new, crawls into and across his consciousness. "You lost. What are you doing here? What am I doing here? You lost!" Even as Derek said the words he Knows them to be untrue, part of him had always feared for the worst. He supposd it was somewhat satisfying to be proven right. "Did you really think I'd choose the Imbecile to be my vessel? The worthless amalgamation of atoms?" Derek's stomach is in his throat and the world feels like it fuzzy and he can't tell if it's because of Him or the overwhelming panic he feels. It's almost enough to distract from his anger at the King, for taking about Avery like that, for talking about Avery at all. "You were perfect, smart and curious. The perfect vessel for my plans, you could even take my Knowledge unguided, unsupported. I couldn't let you slip through my fingers, not without great effort on my part." Derek feel a hand run through his hair, it isn't a real. "My perfect Knight, my perfect lord." His voice is smooth like a hypnotists, like He's attempting to gently lure Derek into his arms. Derek has to exert all his mental strength to resist. "I think you could've escaped, for a little while at least, you are quite the special thing. But your love betrays you." The word are said with such disdain, such malice. "He doesn't deserve your love my knight, he will never understand you." The invisible hand that seems to guide him grows sharp in his mind, Derek cant help but flinch away from the voice in his head from the imaginary figure infront of him. Oh god Avery. He's failed him, he's let the king live. His heart fills with guilt, he's failed Avery. He can barely stomach the thought. "Don't talk about him." Derek puts as much power in his voice as he can, still it comes out weak. The King laughs. Derek feels like hes lossing this battle of wills. He feels he's lossinh a lot of things actually. The laughter turns soft, but no less menacing. "Oh my dear Knight, would you close your eyes? Let yourself rest from these burdens, they are unbecoming of you," The voice is slow and smooth as it slips behind his mental barricades. He feels his eyes drop even as he fights with all his might to stay awake, to not give in to The King. But he cannot resist the lull, the promise of sanctuary, a break from his head, from the hurt, from the grief of falling the world, and more importantly, failing Avery.