Aelen

Day 7

Netedinark's guards laugh with pride at the daemon who was ripped up in half by a tree. I have been here for three days now, drifting in and out of coherence. "It's only a matter of time until we get the rest of them," says one of them on the ground, "I can't wait until we ripped more daemons along the way." What did my kind do to you that you so despise?

"Indeed," the other agrees, "What masterpieces that our Lord will do this time with them. This one is full of shit, anyway." Its fingers point at me.

I can't even show any sign of distress or throw grounded insults at them. They will mock me before more complications will arise. If a tree grows inside of me, they will use my blood as their own fruit. A fruit that I love to poison. They will taste my organs as if they are sweet cherries, solely to collapse thereafter.

"A few of our soldiers were found dead two days ago from a mysterious murder," a soldier whisper to another. Well, not exactly faint, more like loud.

"I've heard," the other one acknowledges, "Any leads?"

"Some suggest they're dumbasses that tried to do something they shouldn't. The others think it's treason."

"I really doubt they were traitors," the other disagrees, "Treason is also another dumbass decision. The Lord prepared our lives for triumph. They should be ever grateful."

Sheesh, I can't tell the difference between their looks, but by their voices. One's voice has a gurgling sound, choking down its own vomit while the other end is claws to old wood. Both of them sound repulsive and annoying, but I still pry. The gurgling one continues, "I think they were dumbasses. We have quite a handful and I am not surprised that the generals didn't do shit to kick them out."

"It's the only duty here. The Lord loves his loyal subjects. He should add more jobs pertaining to those subjects. If he was sexually active, he could open up a Harem."

"Don't start with that shit," the gurgling one warns, "He only does that to the outsiders. Besides, he is probably horny from one of the females from the foreign land. No one here is sexually attracted to the Lord. The only reason why we are still alive is that the Queenetas of the hive reproduce without pleasure."

"There's only one Queeneta left. We need more queens!" The one with the scratchy tone exclaims.

Okay, I am going to call Itchy and Chokey now, so no mix-ups. They aren't saying their names and Netedinark is the Lord, so why not? Want me to be annoying? I will be.

"The queens aren't reproducing another. If this queen dies without birthing another queen, we are done for."

"Lord Netedinark is aware of the troubles. If he has to, he will try to spread it within a liable host. Right now, he is studying the new additions to the territory. The ones from Earth, the ones from the disgusting universe," Itchy states. What did our universe ever do to you? My hearing perks up. I am now curious and desperate to know what additions he is trying to reproduce to his dying mass.

"Don't say it here; the bastard on the tree can hear!" Chokey warns apprehensively.

No, keep going, My thoughts urge. A light buzz takes over my head and my sight. It's close to lightheadedness without blurry vision. I never had that before, but I've been around humans enough to know what it's like. The coven faced lightheadedness from a bug years ago. They couldn't stand up without falling. Ella got them more often. She would faint, get sick, and be bedridden for multiple days every month. Her tubal ablation surgery eased her symptoms.

"That imbecile is more dead than the roots of the tree," Itchy reassures.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," Itchy goes on, "Thus far E is incapable of producing a queen or a hybrid."

E? Are they talking about Ella? I thought, They make it so obvious. How about numbers?"

Chokey distresses, "Shit."

"Don't worry, he's on the B.I.N.D material. He is testing them now. I think he wants N to be compatible."

"Thank goodness," Chokey sighs in relief.

How did Netedinark get Blath's, Nao's, Ive's, and Domin's blood? Was it from collecting their blood during the time Ivelisse was possessed? He probably got it while he was attacking them and has the power to store it uncontaminated by his own bodily liquids? I will figure it out soon enough. As long as Blath, Nao, Ive, and Dominique stay away from him and his people, they will be safe.

They also talk about how special the other kind brought to this world. They are talking about us. They took note of how all of them have powers that no other mortal is capable of. Some of them are stronger than most of the creatures on this planet. Their potential has been unlocked by the Lady of All Kind... Whoever that is... She was able to give her power to them before she returned to her own universe, which is this one. Ella is able to produce waves of anything. They are the darkest purple and they are capable of causing significant damage to the palace.

P: Phil probably, is capable of summoning dark forces, so unlike him. The dark forces he can summon are weak to their standard; therefore, Netedinark is giving him more of his abilities or planning to dispose of him after he is able to rise again. Right now, Phil is quite compliant. Naomi will not be happy about that.

R: Rick has healing and strength powers, not to himself, but to the people around him. One his powers must've strived from his study in medicine, how he helps us heal. I also find pity for him. What if he has healing powers that keep healing him only to feel pain again? I have to be severely wounded not once, but three times before my regeneration slows down. It's a defense mechanism, so the opponent will think I am dead; I will heal quickly after the attacker is gone. I am used to the power, but for Rick's human shell, it might be too much. Netedinark is still focusing on getting to the last four and exploiting them. What about Markus? Now I am wondering how I will get out of here?

The fuzzy feeling in my head returns, but only stronger. My vision turns foggy and my ears violently ring. I squint my eyes shut. I open them after they fade. I no longer feel the pain from a branch coming out of me. I see myself no longer in the tree. I look down to see myself in a Teteka's guard uniform. They look like a human real well, but inside they are branchy creatures that can stand on two feet. I can feel branches upon my back like additional limbs.

"Sinithis, are you well?" I hear Chokey's voice. I smile a devilish grin inside my helmet. Can I still use my powers? I cast a paralysis spell on Chokey. His body stiffens in total shock.

"Sinithis, what is happening? Can ya move?" He freaks out.

My grin smirks even wider. I can use my powers. My telekinesis returns to me and a branch breaks off from the tree that tally stands in front of me. The branch snapping is enough to hear.

He panics more, "He's escaping! We need to alert our Lo-"

The branch impales him in the back, going straight out of his chest. Clear goo burst out of the chest and onto the dark branch.

"Sinithis, help me..." He begs weakly.

"I can't move either," I lied. I resist the urge of telling him, I will see you on the other side, buddy. No one said to me when I died on Earth four thousand years ago. My mind drags the branch upwards, sliding to his neck, and out the top of his head. Organs are being sliced up and blood moving around with the branch. He stops writhing in agony and drops to the floor. Lucky for him, he had a quick death.

His screams attracted the guards at the very walls near the room. This poor guy shrieked so loud that the thick wall was a thin sheet of paper. The dark branch floats towards me and becomes attached to my back. My telekinesis can add enough pressure to keep it on. The guards burst in, asking for all the commotion. This time, I have to act fast. Before the guards talk, I pretend to freak out, "We were gloating about our victory over the daemon and suddenly, he became paralyzed. Then, something stabbed him viciously! The daemon is awake! I am paralyzed too!"

The guards come up to the tree, cursing at my motionless body. They are not like their branchy counterparts; they are tall and buffed, carrying axes. The tree suddenly vanishes. Two halves of my body plummet into the floor with quite loud thuds. The impact or the sound of my body and guts hitting the ground causes my body to jolt. I let out a yelp and my back arches before I collapse to my knees, panting. The guards look at me.

"I can...move again, but I am a little weak..." I declare.

"Suck it up and help us, you jackass," one of the commands viciously, almost a threat. He adds, "This bastard still looks dead to me."

I hesitantly got up as they stomped on my remains. More energy jolts through my body. I don't feel pain, but it's uncomfortable. I can feel the trauma my body is dealing with right this second. The tree branch unhinges from my body. I yell at random before collapsing to the ground. They glance at me again, only to be stunned by a branch.

"What the hell?" One of them cusses.

It flies towards with blazing speeds, stabbing one in the chest. The other one panics and tries to retrieve it from his comrade's body. I can't help, but lie here, trying not to laugh at these two idiots. I repeat the same thing with Sinthis to these big bad bulks of bait; I stab them and slide it up to the head– Instantly fatal. I went fast before their loud shrieks hurt my ears and alerted more guards. Minimal deaths create a profile low enough to get out of here before Netedinark comes in.

When all of them were dead, the fuzzy feeling returned to my head, blinding me. I wake up to see myself in my own body. I pant excessively as total pain knocks me out, only to wake me up. My organs never stop working even when torn apart. Organ juices like stomach acid, bile, and other nasty fluids never stop leaking. I can feel my other half as a sensor. It tells me where it's at. Despite not wanting to get up, I force myself up with my arms. I slide myself over to my other half, but it's not connecting.

"Come on, connect," I beg with a weak voice, "There is going to be more dangerous if I get out of here."

My powers listen to me. I deeply inhale as my body reconnects. I don't waste time standing back up. Excruciating pain all over my lower half, making me hiss. My organs threaten to excrete from my body. I look toward one of the guards and strip one of them of their armor. I put it on me, manipulating their size for a perfect fit. I take a step forward, only to double over. A fire is in my stomach and it doesn't feel right. "Please, work with me! Let me find a safe place, so I can heal faster. We are in a territory, please, cooperate with me," I beg again.

I walk again. The pain doesn't subside, but it's better. Still hell, but healing progresses. I calmly walk out the room doors and resist the urge to hunch over. Thankfully, there are fewer guards around. This place is huge and unnavigable! I try to be less suspicious by being slow, not looking around as much, and not stopping. It takes me half an hour to find an exit. Once I left the castle, I breathed in relief, only to find the territory. The buildings look like hives made out of rocks. They are the size of houses on Earth and they are attached to dead trees. The clear goo that never seems to go dry is plastered everywhere. The same creatures that invaded us during Ivelisse's possession are all here, except for wolves. I take myself for a walk, trying to blend into the crowd full of guards and naked creatures that trail. The chatter is small. I feel better more as the roads become less dense and the hives are disappearing by the numbers.

I hope no one saw me! I plead in my head as I walk towards a total clearing. Hours have already gone by when I've reached this point. I look back and watch the territory fade into nothingness. I turn back around and wonder a little bit, but my legs go out as I dramatically inhale like my lungs never took in the air for a while. I cough up blood. The warm light blood hits my face thanks to my helmet. I take it off. "Come on, you need to be healing, not the total opposite!" I scoff. I don't expect my body to answer back. I protest against my body's wishes as I stand back up and keep wondering. Hours have gone by before I met alive forestland. Finally, some camouflage...and a village. Villagers give me spiteful or fearful glares before hiding inside, locking their doors. It draws the attention of the massive wolves, guarding the village.

"You're not allowed here!" The wolf sneers, rumbling inside my head, "Leave now!"

The walk has tired me up, making me excessively gasp for air. "I...am...not...them," I say, taking my armor off. My clothes that I'd worn before being pulled into this place were holier than a honeycomb. "Please...don't hurt me... I am looking for my friends, Dom-" Blood spews off as I cough. The wolf doesn't budge at the sight of it as my legs give out again. I look at him with pleading eyes and say, "Please, spare me..."

The wolves notice I am not a threat. They declare to the fairies that I am not a danger to the city. They escorted me to a medical area in a royal section. That's when I met Bracus about what was going on and I told them about what happened at Teketa. Bracus nodded in understanding with worries beneath his face.