Iskall85 was slain by zombie

Cub stared at the message as it appeared in chat. The obligatory 'oh nos!' and pity messages that followed. And then another.

RentheKing: SIR CUBALOT YOU SHALL COME TO THE CRASTLE THIS INSTANT!

RentheKing: I have a proposal for you

He didn't reply, staring at the message. He'd already quit the court. He had no obligation to do anything... With a sigh, he decided to ask Grian

You whispered to Grian: U seen chat?

Grian whispered to you: I'll come too if u want and help if you need it

You whispered to Grian: thanks. Meet you in the shopping district?

Grian whispered to you: yeah, see you by the Entity

Happy with the agreement, Cub grabbed rockets and set off on the journey across the server, thinking.

Over the last few days, the situation had gone from bad to worse to a living nightmare. Martyn, Joe and Cleo had all be forced to become mobs, helped by Bdubs becoming half-warden. Pearl and Gem were both phantom hybrids and fighting for freedom more terrifyingly than ever. Etho had disappeared and no one had known where he was until Beef reported seeing him in the perimeter, his explanation cut short by the death message that said he'd been 'burnt to a crisp by DocM77'. Jevin had been staying low, but said he too had been asked to join The Perimeter: The Official Nation Of Hybrid Freedom as Etho had called it. He hadn't accepted but, according to Keralis, xB had. Day by day, the factions were growing further apart... The Perimeter, The Phantom Resistance, The King's Court and everyone else left terrified that they'd be next. 

Cub landed on the Entity, giving Grian a grateful smile. His friend smiled back, before they both set off towards the Crastle.

'I'll eavesdrop from the roof and if it sounds like it's going bad, I'll help you escape... Got enderpearls or any chorus fruit?'

'Good idea.' They landed again on the steps, where Cub grabbed some from his ender chest - though the Chorus Fruit ended up being substituted for Elven Kisses. And, with a nod to Grian, he flew up into the meeting room.

'My king.' Ren smiled as Cub landed, signalling for him to sit. Martyn and Bdubs stood either side of him as bodyguards. All he had were a couple of tricks, an escape plan, and Grian listening in from the roof.
'What did you want from me?'

'Loyalty.'

'I'm not becoming a hybrid.'

'That's alright.' Ren's seemingly goodwilled smile made Cub pause.

'What?'

'What I do need is someone to control Scar. Stop him from killing as anyone else. As you know, Doc's gaining allies in the Perimeter from people he killed and... I thought if anyone could stop him from causing harm it was you, Cub.'

'What changed your mind?'

'Current events. Control of the economy... I hid the server diamonds in the nether in a huge obsidian box.'

'What about the vault under the Crastle?'

'That private area has been breached too many times to be safe. Now, do you accept my deal.' Cub started at Ren's outstretched hand and the honesty in his red eyes.

'I'll need time to consider.' He replied. Hiding his evident disappointment, Ren nodded.

'Sure.'

'Can I go now?'

A pause. Martyn was looking at Ren, saying nothing. Bdubs was quiet too.

Before an answer could be given, Scar appeared. Cub got to his feet, ready to enderpearl out.

'I killed Iskall for you, my king.'

'Excellent wok, Sir Scar. Bring him, Joe and Cleo over here. It's time for another court meeting.

'Can I go now?' Cub repeated as Scar disappeared again.

'Sit down, Sir Cubalot. You are still part of my court.'

He did, waiting. It didn't take long for the group to gather, taking their seats. Clearly disoriented from his death, Iskall groaned, hoodie torn and skin mottled with sickly green. Joe and Cleo weren't looking much better - the former gaining 6 more red spider eyes and thankfully not 6 more legs too to match his hairier red-black arms while Cleo's hands and face were now that of a skeleton, eyes just glowing green holes in her face.

'Welcome to the first true meeting of the hybrid court where we must discuss the threats of both Perimeter and the Resistance... Yes, Sir Scar?'

'Can I kill Cub? There's an evoker in my base. It's a fortune teller.'

'No.'

'Then why is he here?'

'Sir Cubalot is still a valuable part of our court, Sir Scar.'

'I can leave.' He offered weakly.

'No, no. I'd like you to stay.' Ren's smile was the opposite of the one he'd had earlier. 'Now, what were we discussing?'

'How we're going to kill all the resistance.' Cleo spoke monotonously.

'We trap them.' Scar slammed his hand on the table in excitement. A growl back from Bdubs.

'Quiet.' He ordered in a deep quiet voice. Everyone looked at him. Before they all started looking at Cub when his and only his communicator buzzed.

Grian.

'You're spying on us.'

'What?' 

'Who's private messaging you, Cubalot?' Scar asks, head cocked to one side. 

'No one.' 

'Iskall?' 

Cub backed away as the zombie approached at a snap of Ren's finger, grabbing his communicator. A yell.

'Grian's asking if he needs help.' 

Yanking his now bleeding hand away, Cub turned to Ren, who was now on his feet.

'Is he now? And where exactly is Grian?' 

A firework, and a figure flying away. Cub continued to back up, one hand reaching for an ender pearl.

'You've been spying on us the whole time, haven't you?' Cub didn't reply. 'Well?'

'I... you know, it's time for a disappearing trick.'

'What?' Ren's expression turned to confusion and then fury as Cub hurled an ender pearl out the window as far as he could and, ever a fan of theatrics, defenestrated himself.

'GET HIM!' The king's yell could be heard, and then Joe jumping from the window, expertly sticking himself to the wall and dropping down on spider thread like some kind of demonic spiderman. But Cub was already gone, teleported to somewhere in the shopping district and taking to the air.