Dawn of the Sacred Land by Mark E. Tyson

Author:Mark E. Tyson [Tyson, Mark E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy, Coming of Age, Epic, Sword & Sorcery, Teen & Young Adult, Metaphysical & Visionary, Epic Fantasy
Amazon: B00VC4XRSK
Publisher: Shadesilver Publishing
Published: 2015-03-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16: The Apothecary

Dorenn was awakened by a tapping at his window. He opened his eyes and rose angrily, searching for the source of the irritation. Faint noises growing stronger, much like the sound of beating wings, startled him lucid. He jumped from his bed to peer out the window. Searching the darkness of the street below, he thought he saw Fadral scurrying out from the shadow of the inn. He flipped the latch clasping the windows shut, swung them open, and leaned out to call to him. Cool mountain air rushed inside and made him shiver. The street below was barren, and Dorenn listened for the beating sound that woke him but heard nothing. He yawned sleepily and pulled the windows closed. He reached for the window clasp and began to latch it when he caught the sight of a dark figure swooping down from the roof of the inn, gliding silently to the street. The tall figure loomed hunched over and then it straightened. Its body was tall, too tall. It looked as if it wore a long cloak. Dorenn opened the windows again to get a better look. The cloaked figure stood silently, unmoving. Dorenn strained to call out, but his words froze in his throat. The hair on the back of his neck began to creep up and goose pimples covered his arms. Fear griped him as the figure’s cloak shimmered, moving outward and upward like two colossal bat wings. Instinctively, Dorenn took a knee to hide beneath the window and out of the creature’s line of sight.

From his crouched position, Dorenn blinked and rubbed his eyes with his fists, but the apparition remained. Without warning, the creature’s head turned to look directly at his window, and Dorenn trembled in fright as he saw two red eyes staring back at him. He backed away from the window, stumbling over his own feet and falling to the floor with a thud. The sound of beating wings returned, and Dorenn clawed at his bed trying to get up. The sound abated, and Dorenn was surprised to see a hideous maw with long fangs inset within a twisted black face that stretched like leather over a deformed skull, elongated and gaunt. It appeared to have two small slits where a nose should have been and spiny bones jutting out around the eyes and jaw. He tried to scream but fear froze his throat tight. The creature moved to get into the small window, but it had trouble folding its wings close enough around its body to squeeze in. It saw Dorenn and made a high-pitched whine of glee as it tried to claw its way inside to get at him.

Dorenn frantically searched his room in vain for something to defend himself with. He rushed the window in an attempt to force it shut. The creature coughed and hacked at the boy as it still tried to get in, and Dorenn felt something thick and wet hit his chest. He stumbled as he backed away from the window, pushing with his feet as hard as he could.

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