Unedited

Chapter 4: Trees Wear Shirts

Rider gripped my arm tight enough to leave a bruise; too bad that was my lowest concern at the moment. My inky hair escaping my hood and falling over one of my eyes as I'm hoisted hard to my feet. If it weren't for my thick clothes, my skin would be cut to ribbon from the thicket as he drags me closer and closer to the clearing until the smell of horse fills my nostrils.

I try and yank back and even bite Rider, but he's unmoving as he presses on. I want to kick and swear and throw him on his ass for even attempting to deliver me to this fat man, but that would create too much noise and give away our location anyway. I bare my teeth and try to hook my feet on anything to at least slow him up. "What the actual hell?" I hiss under my breath as quietly as I can with enough venom to kill a man instantly.

Rider just gives me an emotionless expression and yanks me hard enough to make me almost lose my footing; almost.

I silently flick open my iron claws and attempt to swipe open his uniform and split his skin open, but the bastard actually snatches my wrist and drags me like I've been arrested.

I may be the best assassin, but not the strongest physically.

As we approach the clearing and I know there isn't any turning back even if I could get away, I finally unleash the fury rolling around my like waves. "I always knew you were jealous of me, you just want me out of the way!" I remain to growl and Rider actually looks annoyed and rolls his eyes. I open my mouth to insult him again when he hisses this time.

"Would you shut up? They had guards posted on all sides, find a way to escape when they aren't prepared Mr. Assassin." He whisper yells at me and I just glare at him.

I could easily escape like he suggested, but that requires more effort and I'm not even being paid for it. Rider gets to walk away with his trousers filled with coin and I get handed over to a meaty king who thinks he's won a prize.

Now that hardly seems fair.

I'm not mad at Rider because even if he is betraying me, I can easily come back and squash him like the bug he is.

We finally approach the clearing we had just been standing in moments before and now is literally filled to the brim with guards and the king sitting at its center on a white horse that looks miserable from carrying his weight. I can already tell that horse and I would be best friends.

From the corner of my eyes, the regal brat aka the prince, steers his horse and heads back to what I assume the castle as I'm handed over.

The king beams and waves his arm for his guards to sweep in and take me from Rider who doesn't even look at me as I'm shackled in my weight in iron chains, all the way from my feet up to even an iron collar around my neck. I do my best to remain composed and not lash out as the guards place the cold metal against my bare skin and even rip down my hood.

The cold night air nips at my skin and my cheeks turn a red color, making me look more alive than I would like.

'Have to act nice, I am a guest after all.' I think to myself and only allow my eyes to roam around because if I look preoccupied, then I look like less of a threat.

"Thank you Rider, please come back to the castle for your reward." Rider shakes his head and crosses his arms, "I'm no idiot. Please have a footman deliver it to this spot in twenty or I'll spring my mate." He threatens though the king doesn't look fazed at all.

"Whatever you wish. I have what I need." The king commands for his horse and the troops to move out and I'm left following behind a guard holding my collar like a puppy walking along side its master.

I would throw up if I weren't playing the part of a gentleman; even though I'm chained like an animal.

My eyes dart back and forth between the guards, making a mental plan and also testing out the strength of my holdings.

I guess I should be flattered that they used the best restraints they could find, just for little ol' me.

Too bad they aren't strong enough.

Rider didn't give me enough credit, he thought I would need to wait until I was in some cell, but I can manage this. I halted long enough for the guard to turn around when he felt resistance on the leash and that's when I spring up like an acrobatic worm and kick him in the face and landing with a thud on my back. It hurts more with the chains cutting in, but I'd rather a few wounds than a moment longer with these losers.

The man I kicked is barely hanging onto his horse as it's spooked and takes off. While that happens, more guards come out way and attempt to both save their friend and run after me as I roll where I'm pretty sure a steep hill or cliff is. My pulse remains rapid when I feel a sharp prick on my exposed neck.

Tranquilizer.

"Don't let him escape!" The king bellows and I wish I could see his expression, but my imagination will have to be good enough. From his voice he's maybe mildly angry. I feel the vibration of footsteps coming closer to me as I don't roll away fast enough. With what little energy I have left, my shadow cloaks me into a crow and I swoop out of the chains and the hands of the guards trying to reach for me.

I only last as a crow for a mere couple seconds as I transform before I can reach the ground and go tumbling for a couple feet. I quickly get back on my feet as I still hear the shouting behind me, but I'm almost completely drained of energy. My legs soon feel as if they're made of lead. I can't even open a portal, so my only chance is to find a place to hide and rest. I feel the poison working quicker than I had anticipated, and I'm practically dragging myself to keep distance between the men and me.

I feel as if I'm going to get away with it when I see the edge of the forest line. My heart continues to pummel my ribs as I keep pushing. I'm starting to see black around the edges of my vision, but if I could just make it to that ditch, I should be home free. That's when I run into a tree I hadn't seen a moment ago.

"Going somewhere, Edward Leon Charles?" The tree uses my full name and I frown as I try to peek at it from under my hood. I finally can't move my limbs and the tree knows it.

"Screw you." I grumble, even feeling my voice holding a weight as my head falls back on the dirt packed forest. The tree reaches for me and that's when I find it has human hands.

Why does a tree have human hands? Is it an offspring of a tree-human hybrid?

"We'll see." It says and lifts me up to its strangely soft trunk. I press my cold cheek against the softness. It almost feels like it's wearing a shirt made of silk, but that's ridiculous.

Trees don't wear shirts.

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I awaken feeling like butt. I have to open my crusted shut eyes and that feels like a lot of effort in itself. My limbs feel as if they weight thirty pounds and my head weights fifty.

When my eyes finally come into focus, I see bars. Metal bars and cobble stone. The smell of iron and mold is weak but there, telling me I've been in here long enough to become used to the smell. Without moving my head -since I can't- I look around to try and remember when it all comes back to me how I was kidnapped and sold out for money.

"I'm going to kill him." I grumble when I remember Rider just assuming I would be fine and he'd get the gold. He didn't care if I was okay. Whether or not I escape he would have the money for my capture.

"Finally awake, are we?" A gruff voice sounds from somewhere in the dark when a face appears with a torch in hand. He's wearing a black hood over his head, making him look more like a reaper than me. He must be the prison guard or something.

"I wish I wasn't." I grumble back as he unhooks the cell door with the torch still in one hand. "You're needed in the king's office." He says rather bored and I quirk a brow at him. "I'm allowed in the presence of the king, by myself?" I try to mock astonishment, but the man just looks at me like I'm stupid. "You'll be heavily monitored and if anything goes wrong they'll poison you with Hag venom."

Hag venom is extremely rare and super expensive. It isn't like a quick death no pain kind of poison either. It works slowly by taking out your fingers and toes then it works to your hands and feet, up until you're only a head while the rest of you feels as if you're on fire and melting into a puddle. The psychological affects aren't much better. Some people say you see your worst nightmares until your release of death. Though no one can say for certain since every bit of information has come from a patient injected with the poison, so who knows if it's accurate.

"Sounds like my regular Saturday." I quip as I'm hoisted to my feet and led out by even more guards who don't speak a word to me. Not that I've said anything to them, but friendly guards would be a pleasant surprise for once.

"Should we take him to the bath house first? He reeks." The guard comments to the other as he wrinkles his nose to emphasize how much I smell. I quirk a brow as I listen to the conversation as if I'm not even there. "No, king said he wanted him as soon as he woke up. He's already grumpy." The guard comments back and that's when I start laughing.

"Well sorry, I haven't exactly had the time to freshen up. If I would have known I would be in the presence of royalty, I would have gotten my hair and nails done too." I feel a grip on my arm tighten as one of them becomes increasingly annoyed with me. "Shut up, you have no right to speak."

'I could sever your tongue with a single move and then we'll see who has no right to speak.' I want to say, but I bite my own tongue and wait for us to be in front of the king's office door. The hallway is well decorated and shows obvious wealth with expensive paintings and artifacts in every corner and on every wall.

What I wouldn't give to steal everything and leave him penniless.

We finally approach a door that looks much grander than the others and with a knock on the door, more guards posted inside open the door and I'm finally led inside. King Bardolf is sitting at his desk with many important looking documents spread out and an ink bottle with a feather sticking out.

"Ah, Edward Charles. We meet at long last. Please have a seat and make yourself comfortable." I need to be assisted in sitting what with me being chained and still don't have the best support of my limbs as I comply (without a choice) and peer up to the king with the stoic expression of a businessman.

"I would be more comfortable without the restraints, your majesty." He indicate my arms behind my back and he stares at me with reluctance before he gives the command. The guard unhooks my arms, but leaves my feet as I rub my sore wrists. "Much better, thank you your majesty." I say almost with a cat like purr that the king just nods to.

The king pulls out a fresh piece of paper and pulls the feather of the bottle of ink as he watches me like a little kid at the zoo for the first time; fear and excitement. He places the feather to the paper as he gets ready to write. "Alright Edward." He peers up at me with an intense gaze.

"Let's talk business."