Chapter 44
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
ALINA
The door was splitting from the outside with a force that left no hope for what lay beyond. Women screamed, panic spreading like wildfire around me. But I remained still, focusing on the entrance. I was the only one here who could try to stop it.
With one intense blow, the wood cracked and the monster’s head appeared on the other side. I stepped closer, ignoring the commotion behind me.
The crawler screeched and lifted up its head. Its massive claws tore at the remaining panels. Its eyes darted behind me, excited with the prospect of getting all the fresh blood and flesh.
My arms were shaking, my breathing escaped my throat in sharp, ragged breaths that seemed insufficient to fill my lungs with air.
I had to play my cards right. I needed to get behind it before it spit fire. A new wave of fear washed over me, but I gripped the handle of my sword with both hands, forcing myself not to think or feel anything except the task at hand.
The monster stepped inside, its sharp claws scraping against the stone floor, turning the scene into a nightmare brought to life.
But it was not a dream. It was happening in real time.
For a moment, I locked onto the intent in its eyes as it spread its wings and lifted its head, sucking in a deep breath.
I could not let it spit fire – one strike would be enough to kill most of us.
I darted toward it and swung my sword across its neck, cutting off the tissue and muscle that could help it produce the flames.
My attack did not startle it, it felt no fear, no pain.
In one incredibly precise motion, it grabbed my arm and pulled me to its bloodied jaws.
The rotten smell of its flesh, and the black slimy liquid on its skin, took me by surprise and I tried to break free, following my instinct to flee.
I struggled for a few moments before the realization hit; if I don’t fight, I die right there, not accomplishing anything.
I raised my sword and plunged it into its neck, then one more time, but the beast only growled, spraying me with its saliva.
Somewhere in the back, a child cried and that snapped me out of my stupor.
I lifted my body, trying to strike its head, but it was holding me tightly, I could not reach the top of its head. I screamed and pierced it right in the eye, but my blade did not go far enough to reach the brain. The beast took a step back, releasing me, shaking its massive head.
I clenched my sword, in my right hand, and launched myself at the dragon.
This time, the beast waited for me with its mouth open, its razor sharp teeth oozing with black slimy liquid.
At the last moment before impact, I dropped to the floor and slid all the way toward it, with my sword pointed directly at its jaw.
The blade went in without effort. My forward momentum stopped, and the massive body landed on top of me.
I screamed as the razor sharp teeth caught my shoulder.
Someone’s hands pulled me out as people stepped around me. My head hit the floor and I lost consciousness.
When I opened my eyes, there were three women wrapping my forearm and cleaning my face.
“You saved us,” one of them said.
“Is it over?” I managed to ask.
“It must be. We can’t hear any dragons outside. It must be over.”
I sat up, watching the people who looked pale faced and tired, but there was no fear anymore.
“Thank you,” I said, getting up to my feet.
“You need rest. We sprayed some holy water on the wound, but it is not fully healed. Please take care of yourself.”
“I’m only going to take a look and come back right away.” Slowly, I picked up my sword and stumbled out to the corridor.
My muscles were strained beyond what my body was capable of, but I kept pushing myself up the stairs. When I passed through one of the corridors, all the windows were broken and glass was scattered all over the floor.
That must have been how the crawler dragon got in, attracted by the screams and maybe scent of people. It took me some time to make it to the main floor and for a moment, I stilled touching the door, unable to prepare myself for what I might find on the other side.
I pushed the door open. On the floor, on the tables, there were bodies of the men who fought; bodies that were missing limbs, charred and distorted by fire. None of them had survived.
The breath halted in my throat when I saw Hanoch on one of the tables. His young wife was holding on to his neck, her screams filled the room, tearing my heart into pieces.
I staggered toward one of the warriors.
“Have you seen Tynan?” I asked.
He did not answer, only waved his hand dismissing me.
I moved out of the hall to the entrance where the main door was wide open. In the distance, I saw the clear sky, the sun was lowering to the horizon. It was going to get dark soon.
“Tynan?” I called, trying to hear him, feel his presence.
My heart immediately pulled me toward the valley, and without hesitating, I followed the call. I shifted and soared up into the sky, watching for any signs of him.
My eyes quickly scanned the field, where among many others, I clearly saw the familiar silhouette in black leather armor.
“Tynan!” I nosedived and came for a hard landing.
Warriors stepped aside, staring at me, but I did not care. As fast as I could, I changed to my human form. Tynan darted toward me, his arms wrapped around my waist.
“Why are you here? I thought I told you to hide.” He buried his face in my hair.
His warmth, his scent, immediately relieved the pressure I was under, and for the first time I was able to breathe. My hands traced up his arms, to his shoulders and stopped on his cheeks.
“I had to see you,” I said without caring that the others were also there, listening to every word I said.
Tynan kissed the inside of my hand and against my will, my eyes closed.
“What happened to your arm?” he asked and my eyes met his.
“Nothing. Nothing serious. I’m alright. Where’s Sol?” I asked.
Tynan shook his head, and I rested my forehead against his chest, swallowing my tears. Once again, death had followed us and there was no way of knowing how many more would fall to the disease.
How many more tears, how many more sleepless nights, awaited us in the future?
Our eyes met, and my anxious gaze locked onto the haunted depths of his umber eyes. It was then that I saw how utterly drained he looked, as if the weight of the world was crushing him. People around us kept staring, some whispering to one another.
“I guess they know the truth now,” I sighed, wiping my face. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he moved closer, his lips pressing gently to mine; slow and tender, as though nothing else mattered. At that moment, it truly did not.
Then, a female voice pierced the silence, “Help!”
I looked up to see Frid, supporting Victor, his head drooping. Blood trickled down his neck, soaking his chest and pooling onto the ground.