B006T5JMRC EBOK (7 page)

It sounded as though whoever it was spoke to him from all directions. The effect caused Kale to lose any chance of tracking the location.

“I knew I could sense something...different about you.” It paused. “You did not smell like a normal human.”

Kale realized this must be the same creature that woke him from his sleep. He began to piece the whole scenario together, coming to the conclusion it was also this creature which must have attacked the travelers in the caravan—killing them all. Kale stood, like an animal lured into a trap, helpless, isolated, and alone, surrounded by water. He slowly spun around on the small island, investigating his surroundings in an attempt to determine where the stalker camouflaged itself.

Although his eyes had adjusted to the blackness of night, he still found it incredibly challenging to see through the cypress trees. Their trunks were rooted so closely together it created a wall of bark, nearly impossible to see through. The only noticeable clearing was the path where Kale originally approached the lake.

The voice broke through the silence, speaking to Kale once again. “So curious you are. My ability to conjure illusions is intended to show foolish and greedy humans what they desire above all else. To most—gold, riches, and power... But you—you are quite different. For a human to desire a beast is laughable. It was then I felt confident with my earlier assumptions about you. You are not a human...but a dragon. I sense a deep, bitter hatred within you. Could it be, much like myself, you too despise humans?” The creature cackled.

Kale realized the illusion he saw was a method the creature devised in order to lure humans—to trap them.

The creature spoke again, its voice slurred, much like someone attempting to speak without having the ability to pucker their lips. “It’s a shame you are now one of them; because we’ve grown hungry, and your flesh smells so delicious.”

We
? Kale thought as his heart quickened.

Suddenly, the water began to bubble as four arms darted out toward Kale’s ankles. His animalistic reflexes allowed him to dodge the attack, leaping toward the island’s center. Being in a human body did have its advantages; he was lighter and much more agile than he had been as a large dragon. He was stranded and his soaked clothes weighed heavily upon his body; he had no idea what type of monster he was up against. The blue and purple tinted appendages were long and stretched onto the sandy shore. They moved around frantically in search of Kale’s legs. Almost as if they could sense where he stood, they lashed out in his direction, causing him to dance around in order to avoid being caught.

The water began to ripple as two oblong hairless heads emerged; bright yellow eyes set deep in their sockets, stared directly toward Kale. With every movement the creatures made, a sickening pop could be heard. Their many joints were so disfigured that every time the monsters took a step forward the bones constantly shifted. The creatures moved in an abnormal fashion with their necks bent to the right as if permanently looking sideways.

Kale cringed as the pointed teeth, set within a lipless mouth, parted as the two creatures snarled at him, inching their way closer to where he stood. It was fight—or be eaten alive. Kale lifted the iron rod above his head; he prepared to thrust the weapon down toward one of the approaching creatures.

Without warning, another monster leapt down from the only cypress tree on the border of the small island and slammed into Kale’s shoulder. It landed with ease on the wet ground in front of him.

Kale lost his footing, slipping backwards into the thick, sticky mud. Surprised, Kale kicked out his left leg and knocked the creature backward into the water.

“Do not resist, boy. The pain will not last long.” The creature stood, approaching the island rapidly.

The other two positioned themselves on opposite sides and closed in on Kale—attempting to trap him for an attack.

Kale had already regained his footing, shifting his eyes around to view all three creatures. He knew he was outnumbered, yet, after having fled from General Jedah, his pride would not allow him to run a second time. One of the creatures crept close enough to extend a long, slender arm outward, wrenching its hand forcefully around Kale’s bicep. Kale grimaced and his arm burned, feeling as though it would be ripped from the socket at any moment. He struggled to keep his footing.

Kale knew he needed to make his move before it was too late. He angled his free arm back, preparing to swing a powerful blow. As the rod swooshed through the air, it made contact with the creature, slamming hard against its rib cage. The monster cried out, buckling over and gripping its side. Before Kale could feel any enthusiasm about his accomplishment, he felt an agonizing sensation on his leg. He glanced back just in time to see the third monster gnawing viciously at his calf. While focusing on striking the other creature, Kale had not noticed another of the monstrosities returning from the water. Vulgar words spat from Kale’s mouth as his body filled with a combination of pain and anger. He reached down to his belt, grasping the handle of the small dagger.

Kale maneuvered his fingers around the weapon until they pinched the tip of the blade. He bit his lower lip, preparing for the pain he would endure when he jerked his leg from the monster’s mouth. The skin tore and blood splattered to the ground as he tore free. As Kale’s anger rose, so did his determination to live. His palms grew hot, the temperature increasing with every passing moment. He flung the dagger as hard as his wrist would allow toward the creature that had bitten him. As the weapon spun through the air, Kale became fully aware of his surroundings and managed to duck down to avoid an attack as another creature reached to grab his neck.

Kale watched in awe as the dagger’s tip pierced through the creature’s forehead, sliding smoothly through its skull. The dagger exited through the back of the creature’s head, taking small pink pieces of brain along for the ride. As the dagger hit the lake’s surface it sizzled loudly before sinking out of sight. The monster’s yellow eyes rolled back into its skull as it plummeted face down into the mud.

Kale felt a refreshing sense of confidence after his successful kill. There were only two opponents left—he had a chance. Kale gripped the rod with both hands, prepared to finish the fight. His palms were emitting even more heat than before as he swung the rod fiercely toward the next closest creature. Its disgusting mouth hung open, preparing to rip a chunk of flesh from Kale’s bicep. The rod struck the monster’s jaw with amazing force. Kale’s eyes grew wide as the upper half of the creature’s head spun through the air. Blood and chunks of innards that resembled maggots flung in every direction. The creature’s body fell lifeless and limp to the ground.

The remaining monster took a step back, now intimidated by Kale.

From his peripheral vision, Kale could see a faint orange glow along the iron rod, the same appearance as metal heated to an extreme temperature.

What is happening
? Kale thought. He blinked, quickly shaking the thought from his mind. There was still one creature left to fight—he had not yet won the battle and this was no time to become reckless, or allow his mind to wander. He dug his toes into the mud as he prepared for another swing. His calf muscle flexed and pain seared through his body from the open wound. Kale could feel blood trickling from the gaping hole where the monster had torn a chunk of flesh. He gritted his teeth and forced his eyes to focus on the monstrosity before him.

The creature lowered its lids as if pondering where to lash out for an attack. The skin above the creature’s top set of teeth raised as it snarled, wrinkling its nose. Then, unexpectedly, it parted its pointed teeth, releasing an ear piercing scream.

Kale was momentarily stunned. He had not yet struck the monster, and thus, there was no reason for it to cry out in what sounded like bone-chilling agony. The creature soon ceased screaming and began to chatter its teeth together. Kale was baffled by the gesture, unsure of how to react.

Is this abomination attempting to surrender to me
?
Kale wondered.

The creature continued to hammer its top and bottom rows of teeth together in a repetitive, steady rhythm. Within seconds, Kale heard multiple splashing sounds as a dozen pairs of yellow eyes blinked along the shore of the lake, positioned in a perfect circle—surrounding him. Kale realized the scream had been a battle cry, used to summon more of its kind to aid in the fight. He swallowed hard, knowing that swarmed by such a large number, and already injured—things were not going to be in his favor.

Kale looked toward the sky.
Pan, I hope you’re watching over me...
he thought while wistfully praying to the mighty dragon god said to live among the stars. He took in a deep breath, holding it as he ducked before springing back to avoid another swing of the creature’s long arms. The surrounding monsters began to rhythmically chatter their teeth in unison as if it were their drums of war.

“What did I do to deserve all this?!” Kale yelled out in anger. The veins on his neck pulsed as he tightened his jaw. “At least when I was to die as a dragon I could have kept
some
dignity!” He began to recklessly swing the orange glowing iron rod in a mad frenzy. “I’ll kill you all!”

The rod struck the creature standing closest to him. As it made contact, the weapon sliced through the monster’s torso with ease. Its smooth skin singed and the smell of burnt flesh filled Kale’s nostrils. The creature staggered toward him, still determined to attack as if hunger was the dominant thought on its mind. It stepped forward, a long string of intestines trailing  from its gut, and fell to the ground in a bloody heap.

Kale barely found the time to inhale before many of the surrounding creatures thrashed angrily through the water toward him. The chattering of teeth ceased; they were now hissing as they closed in on him.

“It looks as though my time has come, my brethren.” Kale whispered into the air, speaking to the fallen dragons. Although Kale intended to fight until his last breath, the thought of death weighed on his mind, causing the joyful times he had spent in life to flash before his eyes. He pulled back the rod, readying himself for his final battle. The creatures were only feet away when Kale noticed a spark of light, followed by a loud snapping noise—something approached in his direction.

“Kale, do as I say and do not move!” a voice bellowed above the hissing. Kale immediately knew it was Thomas.

“I sure hope you know what you’re doing!” Kale yelled. He knew that with one false move he would become a feast for the creatures. They were so close now that should Thomas delay Kale would meet an inevitable demise.

Kale froze in place—his mind swarming with doubt as half a dozen creatures advanced toward him. He pinched his eyes tightly shut, placing his life within Thomas’ hands.

Thomas’ open palm rose to the sky. “
Mischenda lok vixairea.
” He then tightly balled his fingers into a fist and struck the ground. A large, red nova of light flashed brightly outward around Thomas’ body. It hovered inches above the ground as it made way for the island at an outstanding speed. Brief cries rang out as the red blast struck the creatures and seared through their flesh as if it were a sword made by the finest blacksmith and sharpened to perfection.

Kale slightly lifted his eyelids. He viewed in amazement as the red blast split directly in front of where he stood and created a V-like shape around him. The magical barrier deterred the spell from striking him. He watched as the creatures’ skin turned to ash, beginning in the area where the attack first struck and expanding in both directions until their ugly faces disintegrated. The pieces fluttered down in grey flakes to coat the surface of the murky water. It looked as though snow had fallen before the ashes melted away, sinking below the surface. Kale widened his eyes; the nova was gone—so were the creatures. He glanced around to view the damage done by the blast. To his surprise, none of the surrounding foliage was harmed. Everything stood as it had when he first arrived— completely untouched by Thomas’ spell. The attack was able only to affect breathing organisms with flesh and bones.

Thomas pointed at Kale, shaking his finger, “You should count your blessings that my bladder isn’t what it used to be! I’m sure you can imagine my surprise when I awoke, only to see you were nowhere to be found!” he called out from the bank of the pond as his grey brows descended over his eyes in anger. “Just what were you trying to prove by running off alone? You’ve only just become a human; it’s amazing you survived as long as you did before I arrived. These creatures are called monsloths. You’re incredibly lucky they didn’t rip the flesh from your body and feast upon your innards.”

“
Those
things were monsloths?!” Kale remembered a story Thomas once told him about the creatures.

They had ambushed a very small village to the west of Mirion many years ago, slaughtering men, women, and children—there had been no survivors. The King dispatched a small, but elite group of knights to hunt the attackers. At the time, a description was unknown other than the assumption it had been a sizeable animal. After three days on the hunt, they had finally managed to devise a plan to lure the beast out by roping a sheep to a tree. The knights’ plan proved to be a success as hours later, two monsloths emerged from the brush. They appeared hungry and prepared to indulge upon the helpless animal. The knights were utterly repulsed. They had never seen nor heard of such a monstrosity prior to this encounter. The knights watched in silence as the two creatures walked toward the sheep. The men had no doubts the monsters were responsible for the horrible murders, judging by the savage look they bore. The warriors jumped out from their hidden location and ambushed the two creatures. The end result was a victory and both monsters had been slain—however, it came at a price. They lost one of their own men, along with the sheep. It was a bittersweet ending.