𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍; 𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍

13

As the younger prince and his captain descended the stairs toward Tobias's prison cell, they were met with an eerie atmosphere permeating the dungeon. The air was heavy with dampness that clung to their skin, while the sound of water trickling down the rough, uneven walls reverberated, creating an unsettling echo that seemed to follow them. Despite the captain's cold exterior, the prince couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine as they drew closer to their destination. Finally, Eren walked in... his eyes locked on Tobias as he spoke.

"General Tobias... do you know the severity of the situation you find yourself in?" Eren spoke in a cold tone. His anger was building again; as he spoke, his voice was filled with hatred and malice... it would not be pretty.

"All this for a simple whorish maid? Your highness I thought you were better then this."

"Who do you think you are? Do you dare speak such words about my maid? You are nothing more in this world than the scum that's under my boot!" He yelled with a loud and aggressive tone... his feet stamped as he let his anger get the best of him again... his voice grew louder with every word he spoke. "You are a foolish, careless and weak man..." He let out a deep and annoyed sigh as he continued to speak. "You have no right to speak of her in such a manner..."

"Boohoo, your highness... hows the search been? Two weeks right?" He let out a frustrated laugh as Tobias spoke... he was a stubborn one... that much was obvious... no matter... he could either continue to waste time with the man or get to the point.

"You have a point... what do you want for Venus?... what would you want in exchange for her life?... I will listen to any offer." He spoke in a firm tone, and his voice was cold and filled with authority. "Make your offer and make it quick... time is not on your side."

"You let me live. Its quite simple. I tell you where she is. You get your whore back. I keep my life" The prince's eye twitched slightly as he listened to Tobias speak.

"I must ask you... how do I know I can trust you?" He asked in a cold tone... there was an unmistakable aura of malice and threat in his voice. "How do I know this isn't a ploy to lead me into your trap?"

"Do we have a deal or not? There is still time to save her. Be my guest unless you want to find her pale and lifeless." Eren paused for a moment as he thought.

"I will spare your life in exchange for Venus's life and safety. You lead me to her... and with zero funny buisness; otherwise, I will be the last thing you shall see. Do you understand, or do I have to spell it out for you, general?"

"I wont be showing you where she is, your highness. I will tell you instead. Be warned; I said you would find her alive. I never told her the state in which she would be in." Tobias paused and shot the prince and the captain a smile. "She is in the Marigold forest. There is a rundown cabin next to a waterfall. She is kept there." Tobias spoke coldly.

"Very well... I will not kill you just yet..." He drew his sword and pressed the tip directly against Tobia's throat. "When we reach this location and find Venus... only then will I let you free..." He spoke in a threatening tone as his eye's flashed to a red glow again." Do you understand?" He asked the general, staring him in the eye as he spoke.

"Understood." Tobias smiled. "Do tell Venus I said hello! I dreadfully missed the time I spent with her..." Eren took a breath.

" Fine..." He pushed the sword a little closer into Tobia's throat as he leaned his shoulder into him and whispered with a cold and calm tone, "I could just kill you and spare the trouble, though." He asked in an eerily calm and quiet manner. "If you keep this up, maybe I should do that." He whispered into Tobia's ear... he seemed serious about what he was asking.

"If that is the case, I suppose I should tell you she cried out for you, my lord." He grinned at Eren. "She kept crying for you, and you never showed up." His eye's widened slightly as his jaw tensed... he was surprised by the news he had just received... did you call out for him?

"  You're lying..." He hissed in a low tone as his voice became cold and distant again. "She would never... she wouldn't cry for anyone... let alone me." He spoke quietly... the thought of you crying for him... was strange... you were too strong to cry... right?

"And everytime she would cry for you, I would beat her just a little bit harder. She kept whining, your damned bitch now pleading. It was sad." He smirked at Eren, and the captain gave Tobias a look of utter disgust. His eyes widened... he was filled with anger once more... the thought of you crying was one thing... but the thought of you being abused was something else entirely... he was filled with so much rage.

"You beat her!?" His voice was filled with so much malice and anger... he was furious as he spoke, "How do you even dare!?" His voice seemed to shake with disgust as he spoke.

"She wouldn't stop crying for you. it was rather annoying." His rage was at its peak... the only thing he had on his mind was to kill the man who had hurt you ... but he still needed Tobias in order to find out the truth.

"You are a vile and disgusting man... you will pay for what you have done..." He hissed through gritted teeth. "Tell me the truth... where exactly is this... marigold forest...?"His voice was filled with hatred as he spoke.

"A couple miles off from the ocean... you'll know when you find the field of yellow flowers. If you find some of those flowers painted red, know that its her blood." Tobias laughed. A field of flowers... painted red with blood... it was at that moment that Eren realized... Tobias may have been lying about your state... maybe you weren't alive. He stepped back and let his sword fall to his side once more... he wanted nothing more at that moment than to attack Tobias, but he still needed his help. He sighed and took some deep breaths to calm himself down.

"How do we get there exactly?"

"There is a road along the ocean sands that takes you there within an hours time." He sighed. "You best be quick. She doesn't have much time." Eren was silent for a moment... everything would be decided now... if he were lying... if you weren't alive... he would kill him right then and there... there would be nothing stopping him.

"Very well... we will head that way then." He spoke with a coldness to his voice as he unsheathed his sword and began to walk toward the front door. "You will lead the way. If we find her dead when we arrive, I will kill you myself in the spot you stand in."

꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒦꒷

𑁍┊-TiredBunBun