There's Snow Place Like Home

[Strazio Rockwell]

Valerie watched helplessly as his body acted upon its captor’s accord. His mind was so painfully lucid, but so painfully impotent. Truly trapped within his own head. His biology metabolized poison in mere instants, hell even hallucinogens and magick-infused toxins never lasted for more than mere minutes. This thing was different. Its oppressive presence was intoxicating, drowning his free will in a heady mix of syrup. But there was hope. An infinitesimal, but not insignificant, amount of control was slowly being wrestled back from this horror. He was not completely buried, not quite yet.

Whatever was in this frozen flower was absolutely frightening to the devil that controlled Val. No more villainous taunting, this new threat had to be contained. Beneath Valerie’s skin vines twisted and wormed their way through his flesh. A spiderweb of thick vines erupted from his forearms and constricted the plant tightly. Large shearing cracks had formed upon its icey surface and the trapped being thrashed harder against its prison. Internally Valerie winced as frost traveled down the vines and into his veins. His puppeteer was even willing to sacrifice its new toys to keep this prisoner contained.

A burst of energy collided into Valerie’s shoulder, forcing him to stumble slightly and lose his footing. The verdant mage slipped and fell on his ass, but his tethers remained taut. Rock fired another burst, but Grundy’s massive frame stepped forward to absorb the blast. The robotic kid fired another volley, hoping to snake another shot past the wall of meat that was Grundy. Solemnly the guardian tanked the barrage, protecting the more vulnerable mage from harm. Against his will the verdant mage stood up and released another throng of thorny vines from his skin. Theses ropy plants wrapped around the prison, replacing the frozen ones with a shattering crunch.

“Bang!” Jade’s voice echoed across the plant-choked pit.

Green lightning cracked across the heavens and smashed into Valerie’s ribcage. He gasped and fell to the ground at the sudden impact. It was just enough to knock the wind from his lungs and lose control of his vines. Internally the mage cheered for Jade’s miraculous shot, but his body was busy gasping for breath.

“Sorry Valerie!” Jade shouted.

Now unimpeded from its escape the creature within the frozen bellflower erupted into the sky. The force of the frosty explosion was enough to knock down all but the most resilient. A beautiful blue phoenix spiraled high into the cavern, stretching its frozen wings for the first time in ages. Air crystallized into frost and snow, blanketing the cavern in a soft sheen of chill. The cryophoenix let loose a harrowing howl, and flew ever upwards towards the roof of the cavernous mountain.

Valerie’s body stood and spoke, “Very well, it seems things have turned quite sour. No matter.”

The green-skinned mage backpedalled deeper into the thicket of thorn-prickled vines. The bramble opened wide to accept him. Large petals bloomed around Valerie, creating an explosion of summer hues. A shell of twisted nature began to form around him. “We’ll just see how much fuel your friend here has to offer,” Valerie’s pleasant voice cooed as leafy walls sealed him tight. Only once the walls of his prison were complete did he regain full control of his body. His manicured nails scrabbled madly against the slippery slick walls of his cage. A smooth layer of sweet sap oozed from its fleshy walls.

“This is,” he spoke, frantically thrashing about, “this is a pitcher plant, wicked and devilish as they come.”

“Jade!” He yelled, “Grundy! Rock! Anyone!”

His normally vibrant skin grew pallid and he slumped over. Breathing was hard in such a confined space. No. Breathing was almost impossible. Life and vitality were being extracted from his very essence. This was the fate of those who trespassed within the mountains.

Withering death.