27 Chapter 27: Weakness

My bold proclamation intentionally fell on dumb ears, but I had to vent myself. If I hadn't I'm quite sure that I would have exploded inside. The hate in my heart was something I had never felt to this magnitude before.

'Though I suppose that makes sense. I was never powerful in my last life, so I was able to lead a calm life. If I want to grow here, then I'll need to change. I have been far to passive since I've arrived here. If I had attacked the rat Ravvin when I had the chance then I would be safe and sound already.'

The prince looks at me and nods his head once, and makes an odd gesture towards his men. I attempt to turn and see what they are doing, but that was a huge mistake. Right as I turn my head a huge imposing fist fills my vision. With no chance to move or block I'm struck squarely being flung over on to my side. The coppery taste of blood is all I can taste, as my breathing grows heavy again.

I desperately search inside myself, but I still have no connection to my powers. I try to force myself to calm down, but the rage I feel blazes hotter and hotter. I stare at the prince and in my defiance I spit my blood at him. I just wish the bastard had been closer so I could have gotten it on his shoes.

Sadly my crimson lugee is only able to travel a few centimeters from my mouth. My strength feels depleted already, and the beatings are not doing my body any good.

*creak* It seems that someone is moving around upstairs. My heart pounds fiercely, maybe I can figure out where we are.

I try and focus on the steps as they seem to be getting louder steadily, but aside from the odd grunt and footsteps I can't divine any clues as to my whereabouts.

'Oh good. I always wanted to sail up Shit Creek without a paddle'

My confidence is waning, I decide that perhaps answering a question wouldn't be the worst thing to do. This becomes an even better idea when the first foot rams into my sides.

I cough up some blood, but sadly my punishment is far from over. Again and again, their massively powerful foot falls strike me anywhere that I can defend, which sadly is everywhere.

'I am but a man.'

"Please." I call out weakly as my body pulses from the sharp heat of my wounds. My entire skeleton feels broken!

The prince turns again and snaps his fingers simply. They pick me up from the floor and the prince gives me an award winning smile as he gazes down at me. His eyes have a predatory gleam to them as he stares at me. "Now, there's a good boy." He praises me.

"Now, all you gotta do is tell me how to unlock the mana. They you can go home to lovely 'wife'." He sneers at the word wife. Pretty clearly he doesn't put much stock in the 'Cursed' race of the snake people.

The footsteps above us seem to be getting louder, but whether that is good thing or not? I have no way to tell. My body just can't take this form of punishment, much longer. I know I'm a weak man, but I see no other options. While I thought that perhaps I could resist torture, I'm ashamed to find that I could barely last through a beating without wanting to spill everything. If I didn't know for a fact that my explanation would only lead to death I would be more than willing to sing like a canary.

In a despondent whisper, "First one must commune with the great Earth mother."

The prince nods hurriedly and I can hear the faint scratching of the quill, though only barely. The footsteps upstairs are no more constant than ever before and the din of sound is making this all much harder.

"Very good boy!" That disgusting waste of air praises me again. "Now, slowly, tell me how to Commune!"

His eyes are shining like a wolf looking at a bloody carcass. There is a hunger there, deeply rooted too.

I sigh softly and try once more to reach at my powers, and the warmest sensation fills me. I can feel the connection to my forest, as my connection opens I feel the never ending vitality of the earth enter into me. My shaking body slows ever so slightly, as the pain recedes.

While I am far sight, from good help with my forest backing me, I should at least be able to take a few hits, however I don't want to act immediately. I look at the prince. Somehow this guy was able to seal my powers away from me, but was it on purpose?

Unsure of the answer I decide that hiding my newfound strength, until the critical moment is the right course of action. If they still think I'm helpless, then I need to wait for the first chance I get to kill his body guards.

I do not create any vines, or access my eyes yet. I simply focus on the connection that I share with Esmerelda. She is....close! Very close!

My heart is set pounding again. Why would she be...MAYA!!!

A smile sweeps its way across my face without me even trying to stop it. I look at my kidnapper, and feel for the first time, that perhaps he deserves some pity. Not that he will get any.

The steps upstairs come to a quick end. While no one in the room seems to be concerned with the noise, I have my suspicions.

The princes eyes widen at my smile. He turns towards his mean gesturing for them to check upstairs.

'Fuck, and here I was hoping he was an idiot! Oh well, this could be fun too.'

Slowly ever so slowly a vine begins to grow and flourish in my bound hands. It works its way down the ropes and chair rungs to the floor. It's roots spread quickly once it enters this fertile soil. The thumping upstairs starts again. "I think you made a small mistake." I say the smile causing my tone to seem jovial.

The prince looks at me with a bit of shock. I was so close to breaking earlier, and now...

'Haha, that's right you fucking piss ant things aren't going to be as simple as you think.'

My thorny vine is slowly creeping towards my unsuspecting target. It does not hide furtively in the shadows. Instead, much like all plants, it simply grows slowly. Subtly making its way closer and closer.

"AHHHHH"

A scream, came and went in a split second. The princes face lost much of the joy it held before. "What's wrong prince?" I ask innocently. He turns to me eyes incensed and he strikes me hard across the face.

"What did you do?!" He screams at me. His eyes wide with fear and anxiety.

I look down and speak softly. "It's quite simple my prince. Unlike you, I know how to properly allocate resources. You seem to think that you are the only one who is able to lay plans. But here, my prince, you are wrong. In fact you couldn't be more incorrect! We are, all of us, schemers and planners."

The prince was no mere centimeters from me. He had been getting steadily closer to me, as my tone got softer with each word.

I do not strike immediately. My vine slowly, and gently making its' way up the princes trouser leg. The soft creeping movements are so gradual and natural, that the prince doesn't even look down. He was far to focused on me.

"You see my prince. Unlike you, my wife loves me." I say with a small smile.

The princes incensed eyes widen. He pulls back his fist to strike me again, but in that moment the thorns on my vine suddenly germinate. The pierce several inches deep all the down the princes leg. The vine has grown to even shackle his waist.

The prince trys to pull back, but he is stuck fast. "AHHH, Why?!" He shouts to the heavens. He attempts to even pull and tug on the vines, but they simply cut deeply into his hands.

As the vines force their way into the screaming princes sensitive leg muscles, I focus my attention on one place in particular. His tiny, pathetic, little brother. I make my vines viciously stab through his shaft, and tear open his protective stack.

The prince screams harshly, a cold scream filled with infinite pain, and unfathomable sorrow.

I look at the door way, but the pretty purple hair I was expecting is curiously absent. Arith is standing there covered in blood and gore. The vitriol and blood cling to her, giving her a wild barbarous appearance. But I can honestly say, she never looked more kind in that moment.

She looked at me with eyes filled with sadness. Her beautiful lips quivered slightly. She does not spare a single glance to the trapped screaming prince, her only concern is on me.