In The Blood by H. B. Lyne

Author:H. B. Lyne [Lyne, H. B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-04-08T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Some of the shifters had drifted away down various tunnels that led out of the cavern. Kirk was talking to Axe Man and Tattoo Woman, as I had taken to calling them in my head. Peter was with an older woman with a shock of wispy, grey hair. She had a crossbow strapped to her back and looked wild and fierce. Weaver led me towards Peter, smiling at me over her shoulder.

There was a sudden rumble and the ground shook beneath my feet. Dust sprinkled from the ceiling and every head in the place whipped from side to side to locate the source. Weaver struck out her arm to halt me but I had already stopped and was sheltering my eyes from the falling dust.

Another rumble shook the cave and an ear-splitting roar echoed all around us. A scream caught in my throat and I stood paralysed in terror. The shifters scrambled frantically into a cluster around Weaver and me. Those with weapons drew them. There was Axe Man, the woman with the crossbow, and various other swords and hammers. I looked around, quickly counting nine remaining shifters.

A third rumble that felt nearer echoed all around the cavern. From one of the wider passages leading away from the place came a slight billow of dust and tiny, loose stones. I watched, wide-eyed, as a dark hand with huge claws appeared out of the shadows and wrapped itself around the edge of the passage, gripping the stone and pulling itself through the opening. There was a loud scraping sound like nails down a blackboard and I clamped my hands over my ears.

The thing dragged itself out of the passage like something emerging from an egg, uncurling itself for the first time. It was midnight black and covered in hard plates like armour, underneath which ran rivulets of bright lava. The whole thing smoked and hissed and its enormous feet landed with thuds that shook the floor.

"Demon?" I asked in a petrified squeak.

"Demon," Weaver said. How was she so calm? "Okay guys, we've got this."

"We've never faced anything this big before." Peter's voice shook.

"Size is irrelevant," Weaver said. Several shifters around me whimpered with doubt. "Kirk, talk to it."

"Talk to it?" His head whipped around to glare at her.

"Talk to it. That should always be the first course of action. It's in the wrong realm, it might be frightened and trying to get home. Crystal, get ready."

I looked from face to face to identify who Weaver was talking to. It was the tattooed woman. She looked stony-faced and gave a firm nod. She pulled a small pack from her back and began rummaging through it. Kirk stepped out of the cluster slightly and held up his hands.

The demon looked down at us all; its huge red eyes shone and sparks flew out of them. It roared and hot air blasted down from its maw, blowing my hair and stinging my eyes.

"Blazing Furnace," Crystal hissed, pushing past me to get to Kirk. "That's its name.

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