Ashes Take Flight

CHAPTER 14: Tangled Vines

Keigo's POV:

Just before sunrise, I heard something rustling in the grass nearby.

"Touya is that you making all that ruckus?"

I peeked out of one eye to see green thorn vines ready to attack.

"Oh shit, Touya wake u!-"

The Vines wrapped around my throat, wrists, ankles, knees, and elbows. While pulling me into the shrub wall of the labyrinth.

^this isn't good. At this rate. I may have to use some feathers to break free.^

A woman speaks.

"Oh heavenly mother. I have done what you've asked of me. Now I shall hand him over to enji as promised my goddess miriko."

^MIRIKO!? So this is her replacement she chose.^

The more I resisted. The tighter the vines got.

"Please behave and come quietly icarus. I'd hate to shed any blood as fighting isn't my style. I actually prefer to keep the peace at any cost."

As I began to summon my wings. Her vines like hair captures every feather. Making any chance to escape impossible.

"T...ou...ya!"

"He can't hear you. The vines around your neck have a special pollen that prevents sound from traveling beyond it."

I relaxed my body to surrender. That's when the labyrinth opens up to the castle and a see a man with white hair, blue eyes, and glasses with two guards. The man spoke.

"We'll take it from here. As we agreed upon. Father won't burn the labyrinth as your reward for handing icarus over. Now we can return him home, and carry out Touya's sentence."

I thought back to the visions nighteye showed me. That's when they clicked together. The guards were careful when restraining me with chains. Even my wings were bound tightly after first being covered in cloth made of thick wool. If I had tried to use my power. They'd only get tangled deeper in the fabric. 

"You don't understand. Enji is lying to you all. If we don't stop him soon. The world will burn to ash!"

With a slave collar placed on my neck and an iron mask to silence me. The three men lead me to the dungeon beneath the castle. Once in a cell. The collar was chained to the wall. The guards left. Leaving me with the other male.

"My name is Natsuo Todoroki. I'll determine if you  get tortured before mistress miriko shows up or not. So let's see if you can be cooperative or not. Who knows, I may can get permission for touya to come here for a visit before his execution if you behave. Now answer my questions."

I glare at him as he removes the mask.