Chapter 19 #2
The amphisbaena’s hide glinted mutedly in the stormlight as it threaded itself further into the ruined spire. Its scorched end dangled lifelessly out of one jagged window — a hollow, blackened skull and charred fangs were all that remained of it. Where the other lurked was difficult to say.
Vel made a swooping pass, circling the tower with a thunderous screech that did nothing to dislodge the enormous beast. She circled again, releasing a violet stream of fire at the beast’s exposed belly.
A shrill hiss sounded from somewhere within the tower as part of the creature’s body burned.
On our third loop, from the uppermost level of windows, sprang the remaining ebony head of the amphisbaena. It launched with such ferocity that neither Vel nor I could have anticipated the attack, and latched onto her hind leg with a sickening snick.
Long, thick fangs pierced the gaps between her scales right down to the bone, exposing a weakness I hadn't even known existed.
Vel roared in agony, reflexively jolting away from the tower — to no avail.
The serpent was acting as an anchor, entwined as it was in the metallic structure of the spire. Her wings flapped fiercely, succeeding only in rapid lurches away, only to snap back immediately — no better than a mouse caught by only its tail.
Her pain was so extreme that it reverberated down our bond, rattling my spine. Despite her best efforts to shield me, it still left an echo of agony in my own right thigh.
Hang on, Vel! I called, gritting my teeth, unlatching the straps holding my thighs captive in mere seconds.
Her answer was nothing more than another sharp cry threatening to split open my skull.
I’d never attempted this maneouvre before but she had to be extricated from the serpent’s teeth before she damaged those beautiful wings against the ruined temple — or before its venom could succeed in turning her leg to stone.
Without giving myself a chance to doubt the decision, I leaped to my feet, wobbling precariously on the smooth leather of the saddle.
Nightshade! Caelus shouted up the bond, sending a hefty dose of his alarm along with it.
Vel shrieked again, the agony of the bite increasing tenfold. The serpent had made use of the opportunity she’d unwittingly given it, fighting to maintain some sort of steadiness in the air so as not to dislodge me.
Hurry, she moaned. Her accompanying whine tore slivers from my heart, shredding them as easily as her talons would.
Using her spines to navigate the length of her back, I halted an arm's length from the massive, dark head of the amphisbaena. Its dull mud-coloured eyes glared with open hostility and no small amount of pain, hissing when I dared to glare back.
Vel’s skin surrounding the fangs had already turned a mottled shade of grey, petrifying further as I balanced, watching. Her keen wail ricocheted off the tower, slicing off more strips of my heart.
“You dare to hurt what’s mine?” I snarled at the beast, unsheathing Nightbreaker as I spoke.
I raised the weapon, relishing the dark fury that filled me, and levelled the tip with the snake’s nearest eye. Something within it flickered as the sword’s lightning and shadow magic twined around the blade; something akin to fear.
Good. Recognise your end, monster.
As I raised the sword in one swift stroke, half a breath from unleashing it upon the creature’s maw, it jolted without warning, releasing its fangs and drawing back into the relative safety of the spire.
Vel, having been unprepared for such a quick unlatching, propelled us sharply upwards with the next beat of her wings, dislodging me from her spine and sending me careening towards a shattered window.
The combined burst of Vel’s anxiety and Caelus’ panic hit me like a fist to the sternum — hitting almost as hard as the jagged pillar I slammed into instead.
Dazed and winded, I lay on the filthy, cracked tiles of whichever floor of the spire I’d landed in.
My lungs ached with both the pain of impact and the desperate panic of oxygen deprivation.
Stuttering, short rasps plagued me — nowhere near enough to provide any relief — and I clawed at my chest, succumbing to anxiety.
Breathe, urged Caelus, breaking through the haze of panic. Breathe, he said again.
Strangely, just the knowledge that he was there with me in the thick of it — even via a tenuous mental link — helped to ease the feeling. My lungs pulled in more air, the stridor less noticeable.
I’m okay, I reassured. Thank you.
Rolling over, I took quick stock of the room. It was a small space, made even smaller by the mass of black scales taking up half the available space. In such close proximity, I was afforded a view of the amphisbaena’s engorged midsection.
Its scales absorbed the daylight, reflecting back only a third of the sun’s rays.
Muscles contracted, forcing more of its body out the open window, and the sound it made as it slid — slowly at first, then faster and faster out that jagged hole — clawed at my ears like the whining scrape of chalk on slate.
It knows you’re in there! Vel boomed through my mind. The frantic beat of her wings echoed through the spire, sending gusts of air past me, carrying all the shattered remnants of coloured glass and crumbled stone along with it.
Get out! I’ll catch you! she called.
No. I’ll end this now.
Readying my stance just as Charon taught me, I gripped Nightbreaker’s pommel in both fists, holding it aloft above my right shoulder.
Inhale.
I emptied my mind.
Exhale.
I lifted my chin.
Inhale.
The beast’s fanged mouth lurched in from the level above. Its snarl reverberated off what was left of the walls; its breath tainting the air with fumes of rotting meat and decay.
Exhale.
Twist, pivot, strike. Just as Charon would.
The satisfying squelch of steel meeting flesh accosted my ears, overpowered only by the beast’s subsequent cry.
It writhed so forcefully, I was knocked airborne for a second time.
Flung out an open window, I had only the presence of mind to keep hold of my weapon, grateful to have done so when the serpent dove out after me.
Its thick, inky blood splattered my face, tasting of ash as it coated my tongue. Its saliva hit next, making my gorge rise as quickly as my sword did.
Its maw clamped shut on Nightbreaker’s length, impaled by its own desperate desire to kill, as the ground rapidly approached. The beast screeched again, and I stole the opportunity to remove the sword along with my now-freed hand, just as a set of talons closed around my ribs.
Gravity dragged me down as Velira soared upwards, sparing me the pain of a crash landing.
I twisted in her grip, eager to see the serpent crash — but as my luck would have it, the beast did not plunge into the ground. A great set of scaled wings unfolded from its back, delicately hidden in plain sight amongst the countless black plates coating its body.
With a sharp burst, the wings snapped open, saving the creature from certain death. Its charred head hung uselessly where its tail should be, the other maw dripping rivulets of oozy blood onto the battlefield below.
Shrieking one last time, the amphisbaena banked right and flapped higher into the sky.
I shuddered at the sight.
There was something inherently disgusting about a double-headed serpent with wings.
Vel roared, relenting. The beast would live to see another day.
Looking up, I could see that her right leg was now entirely stone. I estimated we had an hour at most before the venom worked its way through her entire body. She glided down to the earth slowly, and it was only once we were close that I realised—
Vel, be careful how you land—
I know, she snapped, pain lining the snarl echoing through my mind.
Drop me.
She did so without hesitation — which might have offended me any other day, but I was too consumed with the thought of how badly a rough landing might permanently maim her.
Shadows bracketed my landing, and I rushed to hurl them at her as well. They wrapped around her affected limb, cushioning the impact as taloned toes met the cobblestone road.
“Fetch me Apollo!” I yelled, hearing multiple pairs of feet launch into action. I ran to my dragon, pulling up short when she snarled.
Her body language screamed pain and danger.
Lilac, leathery wings enveloped her in a sort of cocoon, protecting her from further harm and further scrutiny. Her serpentine pupils were slitted, smoke exiting her nostrils in rapid bursts.
“Vel, it’s me,” I intoned, creeping ever closer.
She snarled again, sensing danger everywhere.
The sound of hasty steps thudded behind me and I hastily threw out an arm to stop Apollo’s approach — just in time, too, for Vel snapped at the space he would have occupied had I not succeeded. She shrieked, jerking backwards, keening at the sky.
“Vel,” I tried again. “You have to let us close. Apollo can heal you. He did it for me, once.”
Her large golden eyes blinked rapidly in response. The whine petered out.
Hurry, she moaned, lifting a wing to expose the petrified leg — now fully encased from talon to hip.
Apollo’s gaze flicked to me in question.
I nodded once and he darted forwards, mindless of the dragon who had attempted to eat him just moments ago.
He placed one hand upon her hide, calling on his incredible power.
A golden glow gleamed beneath his palm, matching the bright hue of his eyes as the magic worked to reverse the effects of the venom.
Slowly, the grey receded, leaving her tarnished scales a glittering metallic purple — just as magnificent as they were before.
Once the limb turned back to flesh, he focused on the duo of gaping holes left by long, serrated fangs.
They too closed over as if they’d never existed, and he released a harsh breath as he finished.
Slowly, Apollo turned back to me, something akin to despair in his warm, gilded eyes.