It Happened One Doomsday by Laurence MacNaughton

Author:Laurence MacNaughton
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781633881884
Publisher: Prometheus Books
Published: 2016-06-08T04:00:00+00:00

23

DEVIL IN THE DARK

As the scaly claws dragged Rane into the pit, her metal fingers clawed into the dirt, digging long, parallel troughs. But they did nothing to slow her down.

Dru stood transfixed with horror. She wanted to run and help, but a cold rush of fear froze her to the spot. She couldn’t move. She could only stare in stunned terror as the pit of gravel swallowed Rane’s feet, then her calves, and then her thighs.

Greyson didn’t hesitate. He charged directly across the ceremonial site toward Rane. A fiery glow lit him up from below. His footsteps left burning imprints on the ground, ruddy glowing footprints crawling with yellow points of light. Waves of magic raced up his body, clinging to him. But he didn’t seem to notice.

Greyson’s presence released some kind of infernal energy from the unholy ground. But what would it do to him?

He grabbed both of Rane’s arms. His face contorted with effort as he dug his heels deep into the dirt. The unholy energy slithered over his body, wrapping around him.

With a breathy grunt, Greyson heaved. Rane’s metal body went taut, like a rope in a tug-of-war, suspended for a moment between the pit and Greyson’s bulging arms.

Rane, wide-eyed, looked up at Greyson wreathed in flames, then glanced over her shoulder to Dru for help. “Dru!” she yelled. “Problem!”

“Hang on!” Dru jammed the torch upright into the dirt, set down her massively heavy purse, and dumped out the crystals she had just gathered from the cabinet. Green vivianite. Violet amethyst. Black tourmaline. Where was her galena?

Greyson let out a tortured groan, baring his teeth. With a final pull, he wrenched Rane free of the gravel. The two of them tumbled across the ground.

A spray of rocks erupted from the pit. With a screeching roar, a red scaly creature clawed its way out of the pit. Hunched, reptilian, bowlegged, it looked nothing like the human being that it had probably once been. A long, wickedly toothed snout jutted out from its wedge-shaped head. A line of spines ran down its back to a tail that twitched with a life of its own, ending in a viciously curved claw that gleamed like a newly sharpened blade.

With another roar, the demon charged, knocking Greyson to the ground again just as he got to his feet.

In a heartbeat, Rane vaulted onto the creature’s saw-toothed spine and hooked her metal arms around its neck. She braced one foot and yanked its head back.

The thing’s scaly back arched, and it reached behind to grab at Rane. Its claws raked across her metal skin, drawing sparks.

Dru tore apart the pile of crystals, frantic with frustration. Just as she was about to give up, she spotted the cube of galena gleaming happily up at her.

She plucked the shiny lead-colored cube from the dirt and sprinted around the outside of the ceremonial site, taking care to stay well clear of the other trenches and their painted horse skulls.

Before she could reach the creature, its tail snaked up and wrapped around Rane’s neck.

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