Undiscovered Origins

Undiscovered Origins - Chapter 36

A/N: Sorry it's been so long! I've been working on doing some editing to this novel. I would suggest rereading at least Chapters 28-36 due to the changes I've made. I've removed a lot about Marshall as I didn't care much for him as a character and added more about Caldwell. Anyway, I hope to focus on finishing this novel right now so I can spruce it up to try and get it published.

I love all my fans <3

Enjoy the new Chapter !

Chapter 36:

            Jade tugged at the thick bound ropes securing her to a tree to no avail. Her friend, the tree, whispered softly in her ear with rattled pine needles. It told her that it was sorry and wished it could break her binds but it simply couldn’t grow fast enough. She could have helped with it with her powers but she still didn’t fully understand them all. Besides she was worn and weak now after hours of torture.

            Caldwell sat across from her with his legs crossed and eyes closed in meditation. He chose not to observe the endless torture that Kenina delivered to her. It seemed he felt for Jade but Kenina’s power overwhelmed him. There was little emotion to his face as she studied him. He seemed content but not happy.

            Kenina held a long leather whip that she constantly slashed across Jade’s bare skin. Her flesh was tearing and blood dripped from all sides of her. The pain was almost unbearable sending shutters of pain through her body that pulsed fiercely. It was the jungle surrounding her that gave her enough energy to survive it. She felt the energy from the plants and trees surging into her to keep her strong. They gave up their hard earned hydration and photosynthesis to help her.

            The sun was setting soon though and most of the plants needed to sleep. Many fought to stay awake and feed energy to her. She felt bad and tried to push the plants away from helping her. Some plants were dying because they gave all the energy they had to aid her.

            Tears streamed down Jade’s untouched crimson face. The rest of her body was battered and beaten. She would still not give in to the cruel woman that stood before her smiling. It was sickening to her to see the woman enjoying torturing her so much.

            Jade’s unicorn neighed frantically as Kenina dropped her whip on the ground. The animal was bound just as strongly as Jade if not stronger. It seemed the creature knew something that Jade did not and that thought scared her. At first the unicorn had fought gallantly to refrain from being bounded but it kept its peace after besides a tearful glance towards Jade. Now she was frantic again to try and free herself to help Jade.

            “It seems the traditional torture route isn’t going to suffice for you,” she took a step closer; “I will have to try less primitive methods.”

            Jade’s green eyes twinkled in fear and she tried to turn away. She reconized the woman as one of the leaders on the council that ordered Drake around. Kenina quickly grabbed Jade’s chin and forced her to look into the cruel woman’s eyes. They burned like crimson flames so deep that it didn’t seem as if she had pupils anymore. A wicked smile replaced her soft face and her auburn hair seemed to catch aflame. The rest of her body followed until her entire body burned in flames.

            “Do not make me kill you Jade. You are the only half dryad… and your abilities may be of service to us.”

            “I would rather die than let my abilities fall into your hands.” Jade whispered.

            “That can be arranged.” Kenina smirked.

            Jade felt unbearable pain stiffen her entire body that made her feel as if she were melting. She closed her eyes and felt as sweat drained out of her. It felt like her insides were coming out and she wanted to scream but her voice was no more. There was little she could do and she was ready to give up.

            She heard a great roar in the distance and the pain eased up as she dropped to the ground. Everything around her was spinning uncontrollably and she couldn’t focus. Everything seemed to be in doubles and she saw several tigers thrashing the camp to attack both Caldwell and Kenina.

            The world around her began to spin frantically as she tried to focus herself. She could fee energy pouring into her from all of the oak trees that surrounded her, but even though it gave her energy it also gave her angst as she felt the life of at least three trees completely drain away. She gasped as she used her newfound strength to tear through her bonds and fell to the ground in tears at the loss of her forest brethren. She didn’t have much to work with as she scurried around searching for anything she could use. Her leather armor and even her dress had been stripped from her, making her wander the forest naked. She called to the trees as she picked up a fallen dead branch of one of the oak tree’s that sacrificed itself for her. Oak leaves began to fall to the ground, but instead of falling at her feet, they collected on her body, giving her a green and violet exterior as they covered her naked flesh.

            Jade called to the forest and felt as it surrounded her. She felt as the branch in her hands turned into a bow and the leaves at her back formed into arrows. Her breath slowed until it came in steady rasps before she began releasing arrows. Archery was one thing she never perfected, and yet her aim was precise as it struck down one after another of the half-breeds that seemed to come from the forest to support Kenina.

            Satyrs and fauns appeared but instead of being supportive of Kenina, they rallied behind Jade holding spears where they found to aid her. She was a dryad, a nymph of the oak trees, and someone to follow for most of the forest folk.  Even though she was scared, she dared not let it show on her face. She remained proud as she battled and noticed Stargazer returned and tore Kenina apart with the help of his tiger brethren and another.

            That was one thing she did not expect and nearly caused her to drop her newly found bow. Standing just behind Stargazer was a large green wyvern, breathing fire and scaring away the remaining half-breeds that tried to fight against them. After they noticed that Kenina had been destroyed by the combined efforts of Stargazer and Drake they began to flee in a flood of terror.

            The wyvern turned and stared deep into her astonished eyes before it transformed back into its human form. Drake knelt at the ground panting to catch his breath before he got to his feet and began walking towards her with a half-smile upon his lips. Her breath caught in her throat as he reached her and took her hands in his.

            “How?” she asked.

            “Stargazer found me and told me you were in danger. It’s hard to disagree with someone as intimidating as he,” he said.

            “Praise the trees,” Jade gasped.

            The sound of rustling leaves startled Jade and even Drake who turned and unsheathed his sword. On the ground crawling desperately away she noticed Caldwell who turned around to look at them in terror. Jade stepped forward and grabbed Drake’s wrist before he could strike the helpless man on the ground.

            “Don’t, please. He was forced into this. I believe that Kenina tortured him into service, but I believe he can be saved,” Jade whispered.

            Drake nodded and grabbed the same rope that held Jade captive only moments before to tie hard against Caldwell on the ground. He walked back to her and smiled as the two of them stared at each other.

            “You came back for me,” Jade whispered.

            “Why did you ever doubt?” Drake asked.

            With that he stepped closer to her and put his warm hand against her cheek and smiled. She smiled and rested her hands on his bare chest. He leaned down into her and pressed his lips against hers. Her mind swirled in colors that she never imagined before as the thing she wanted more than anything finally came to pass. Drake was back, and she was tired of playing games as she sunk deep into his kiss.