The Last Tree

Chapter seven

They pull into a full parking lot of other cars. It is the only cars Adam has ever seen and there are so many of them. Eric pulls the car in front of the large building. It’s huge and elaborate with decorations to show off the wealth of the emperor. It does not sit right with Adam. A leader should be humble, work with the people not work the people. Most of the buildings he saw driving up were falling apart, all but this and where the guards live. It disgusts him to see the people so low. Why is he not helping them if he is so great. They all looked like skin and bone, all but the guards. What will the emperor look like sitting on his throne, in his greed will he have been misshapen by it. Will his eyes look glassy with wanting everything. Adam will just have to see.

The walk into the grand building of the very man who killed everything he’s ever known. He can feel where the stones are from their constant cries.

“Eric, you’re back early, who is this.” A guard stationed in front of the throne room. He stared at Adam warily, he might be talking to Eric but he never looked at him.

“Be at ease Henry, it’s Cartwright’s son.” Recognition flashes in the guard’s eyes, but Henry did not look away. “He has answers to where the stone is in tree haven city, whether he wants to tell us or not.” A cruel smile comes onto the guards face, then he lets us through. The room is filled with priceless artifacts and shiny metals filled with jewels. Adam observed warily as they passed guard after guard. Until they stood before a empty throne. Eric and Ethan both knelt taking Adam with them. A man off to the side holding a stone, it’s whimpers constant.

“Do you want to know why I brought you here Adam?” The man spoke, filling the room with his authority. “Because I find it highly interesting that a human has a stone in his chest. How does that work, hmm?” He turned to look at him with a wild gleam in his eye. “I’ve tried to implant this stone into people before, and they never lived passed healing.” He walks over bringing the stone with him. “And yet, here you are, healthy and alive.” The emperor inspected Adam, because there was no one else the man could be other than the emperor. “You really do look like your mother, it was such a shame she died.” The man talks casually as if it was the weather, but his eyes, oh his eyes tell a different story. “My sister was fair and just and all that is right in this world.” His voice hardens, “so why, oh why did the trees not protect her?” He looked at Adam and his eyes softened. “Be glad you do not look like your father, if you had looked like him I would have cut the stone out of your body.” Adam’s heart missed a beat in terror. “Oh don’t look so scared nephew, rejoice we have been reunited. After my sister died, your father banned me from coming there because I had destroyed the first tree. But now, now we can catch up, this is so exciting.” He was petting Adams hair. “Don’t worry Adam, we’ll never be torn apart ever again.” His smile was twisted in his madness. “You can stay in my sister’s room. Oh she would of loved to show you around.” He pulls Adams head back by his hair when he tried to look away. “For now why don’t you go get comfortable? Hmm?” His smile was too wide with too many teeth. The bad magic he’s been using making his eyes black and his finger nails pointy. He scratched Adam when he grabbed his hair. “You could take a bath and then maybe read a book. I bet you haven’t read much in the woods. Oh,” he smiles sinisterly, “how I’d love to pick your brain about that.” He petted Adam’s hair flat in false comfort, “but maybe another time.” He waved a hand and Adam was dragged out by two guards. He heard the king talking to Eric and Ethan, “now what should be your reward?” Before he shoots both through the head with magic from the stone in his hand. “Yes, I heard you wanted a break.” Adam gasps in terror seeing both their bodies fall down. They didn’t even see it coming. “I’ll see you for dinner Adam, go get freshen up.” The emperor waves happily.

Something definitely went wrong in the emperor’s head when Adam’s mother died, but He guesses if you kill the magical trees bringing life to this world and taking their stone, that person has to be mad anyways. Adam shakes in terror as he’s dragged from the room while the stones cry out at the lost of more lives.

This evil man who was suppose to be Adam’s uncle is not the same as the beloved ruler who used to inhabit that body. Madness takes many forms and most of them mad with violence, hence why it’s called madness. Though it is not the same as being insane, because there are many kind hearted insane people. Madness is going past insane in a rage of violence to hurt someone or something, but this is just what Adam feels because sometimes he feels rather insane but he does not want to harm. And madness scares Adam, he does not want to turn out like his uncle. His uncle who was a stranger to the family after Adam’s mother died. How could such a loving and kind hearted person be related to the emperor, Adam doesn’t know. He’ll continue to wonder probably for the rest of his life. Which might be short with the way the emperor is acting plus being away from his stone.

Adam shivers with dread as he’s dragged into a dusty old room. It looks like everything was preserved how Adam’s mother had left it. The guards dump him on the floor and stride out the room and locking the door from the outside. A tear slips from his eye to be scrubbed vigorously away. A few minutes later the door barges open and a bucket of water plopped on the floor. Sloshing over the edge and spilling on the floor. A wet plop sounded as a rag and soap were thrown in the bucket making water splash on to Adam. The guard just laughed as he slammed the door. He wonders why they did that when he knows their is a bathroom behind one of these doors. Maybe just to humiliate him, that could be the only reason.