The Creature and the Spy

11: The King's Tree

Dimito stepped closer between me and the door. As if on que, the door's vines grew thicker and longer, barricading the room further. I stood in front of him, unable to control my glare.

"What makes you think you can open a door without my permission, and a vined door, no less." His voice is deep and angry. "Act like a real diplomat! Or maybe, you aren't."

I have no time to explain to him, rather, he must explain to me. He has no family, he has no wife. There shouldn't be someone behind the door. He could just be hiding an important object or some instruments of war, but the food tray made me realize there is a person inside.

A person nobody must see.

I am aware of his fixation to Uncle Jerry. I am also aware that he mistook Geddy for his own father. I remember the times when he would visit Geddy in his room and give him blue midnight flowers. When I asked him about Geddy's possible whereabouts, he only mentioned how he was too late. He was not as remorseful as someone who just lost another prospect lover (As gross as that sounds since his former lover is Geddy's father).

My only hold of certainty about Geddy's death was Cesar Dick's unclear statement. Looking back, the guy was high when he was caught.

And now I'm certain about this fact. Geddy is alive.

"Move." I said, gripping the bolo - a sword shaped sickle - hidden inside my robe. Why a sickle, you ask? Well, it's the best thing to cut down a vine tree. I'm not joking. I once saw how useless guns could be against them.

King Dimito slowly summoned some vines along the walls to take the food tray, and while so, his angry eyes never left me. He's ready to attack, I could say, and so am I. "Why would I move? This is my palace."

I released the bolo from its sheath. "Because my cousin is in there."

I ran towards him, swinging the bolo directly to his face. A thick set of vines protected him, but not enough to keep him from falling down. I attacked again, shoving the vines with my brute, adrenaline-powered strength. The bolo's weight helps in putting so much force in cutting down the moving vines.

With my surprising and continuous offensive, King Dimito can't even defend properly. I am a lanky, weak, and sickly man, but not this time. Not here of all time. I summoned all my will-power, emotions, and hope, letting them fuel my attacks.

My cousin.

My dear cousin is in there.

I attacked him once again to shorten the distance between myself and the door. With that, he skid across the floor. He stopped the friction by summoning some of his vines to catch his behind. I began removing the vines with the bolo I have, but the vines in this door are especially thick.

So that's why I can easily cut through the vines that he uses to defend himself. It's because he summoned all the strongest vines to cover this door. In conclusion, locking-up Geddy is more important than his life. Is this bastard even serious?

"Hansel Juno." He angrily said. It's not hard to realize who I am now. "Who gave you a gem? How did you get in here?"

I was getting more and more frustrated with the vines. Dimito decided to run towards me as his vines follow. Some of his vines held my arms but I easily cut them off with the bolo possessed by my immense rage. I continued attacking the door, and when he was only a meter near, I immediately slashed in his direction. Seconds after the impact, I realized it was not him I slashed.

Before him, a familiar body fell. The body looked at him with relief as if thanking the gods he caught my attack. I halted attacking the door as the body's eyes stare at my direction.