8

I looked at Sekka as if I was asking permission. Sekka nodded.

"I have an enhanced body that makes me far tougher then a normal human," I shrugged to myself, "I can make myself faster, and stronger by getting hurt. If I get my heart going fast enough I can move faster then normal."

"Are there any negatives to your abilities?" he lowered the platform, and repaired the cracks with a tap of his foot.

"Yes," I shifted my weight off my injured foot, "Pushing my heart rate up is painful, and it makes my head throb."

"How did you learn to mimic fighting styles?" he was curious about this.

"Time," I kept my body a hundred percent still, "My former masters thought it was funny that I could copy things. Seravive bought me, and started training me to be his sons body guard."

"You're well spoken, and you refer to your master by name?" he cocked his head.

A bit of irritation flitted through his aura.

"Only when I'm allowed," I bowed low like an obedient slave.

It was a smart move on my part.

"What do you think of my offer to your master?" he asked me directly.

"I have no right to think anything without my masters permission," I refrained from shrugging.

I had no intention of giving myself away as anything but a slave. The distance between us vanished as he blinked to the spot in front of me.

"Look me in the eye slave," he commanded.

I brought my eyes up to lock with his. The strike that hit me a split second later. His physical strength surprised me. I was actually knocked clean off my feet. I hit the ground a few feet away.

Blood poured from my broken nose as I lay limply on the ground as if I'd been knocked out cold.

"You reacted to that," he sounded almost amused, "It really is too bad that you don't plan on parting with him. I'd love to have an oddity like him in my collection."

"I'd prefer not to spend another decade getting another one trained up," Sekka dismissed his offer to take me off his hands, "One of his standing orders is to return to me no matter what gets in his way."

I surprised him by returning to my masters side with so much speed that the air kicked up his jacket. Popping my nose back into place as if it had never been broken before. The bleeding had already stopped.

"That might be a problem for you if you were to take him off my hands," Sekka smiled jokingly.

"Interesting," he struck me again, "I don't remember giving you permission to stand."

My temper flared as I stared at the ground beneath me. This elf was going to die. I was going to kill him.

"I would prefer for him to return to my side," Sekka sighed, "You know he's not allowed to strike without my permission. If he takes too much damage then I won't be able to use him again until he's healed."

My rage flared again. I was barely holding it together. My rage was slowly starting to push my body temperature up.

"This should change your mind," Sekka made one of my poison crystals appear in his hand, "A new type of mana crystal."

The lord took the crystal from Sekka.

"I will take you up on that offer for room, and board," Sekka smiled, "Perhaps we can discuss my new discovery."

I trembled with rage as I kept myself on the ground.

"Would you like me to board your slave with my own?" The lord smirked at Sekka.

"Nix return," Sekka gave me permission to return to my side, "I'd prefer he stay with me, but if you can let me borrow one of your guards I'll let you keep him where ever you want."

I cracked my nose back straight so it would quit wheezing when I breathed. I kept my eyes down. My legs were shaking. Not from pain like the guy thought, but from barely contained rage. He waved for one of the guards to take me out of here.

I cracked my neck as I followed obediently. Loosening some of my rage as I walked down the path that led underground. His slaves were stored in the roots of the trees. I sensed their lifeforce as we headed deep down into the depths of the earth. Most of them were badly wounded.

Many were forced to work under those conditions. I committed it all to memory as we spiraled down the staircase. The guard in front of me slipped on the steps only for me to grab his collar, and prevent him from falling. I let go as soon as he was steady on his feet again. He glanced back at me with disgust, but continued on to the bottom of the stairs before striking me in the gut.

His fist hit abbs that were as solid as steel. I heard the bones in his hands break. I looked at the pain on his face with a bit of satisfaction. I didn't dare let him see my smirk though. Letting him see my satisfaction would have just made him take out his wrath even more.

I sat down against the wall among the other slaves. He struck another one of the slaves on his way out. I smirked to myself as I thought about what was going to happen to him later. The poison rune on the back of his neck would activate once it built up enough mana. I'd used my most deadly poison for that rune.

It was completely undetectable until it activated, and depending on his level of mana that could be weeks. I leaned up against the wall, and crossed my legs. The other slaves were highly disturbed by my relaxed attitude. One slave that was better fed then the others kicked one that was near me. He didn't see the strike that killed him.