Lesser Known Monsters by Rory Michaelson

Author:Rory Michaelson [Michaelson, Rory]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Rory Michaelson
Published: 2020-10-30T16:00:00+00:00

19

The Guardian of the Veil

The pace the Bugge set was hurried now. His stumpy waddle moved ever faster through the overgrown grass, weaving between tombstones with more agility than his frame suggested possible. Dmitri shadowed him closely and was speaking in a low, urgent voice that Oscar could barely hear as he struggled to keep up in the darkness.

“Is it what I think it is?” Dmitri asked.

“I reckon.” Gax’s voice was sharp and high with panic. “‘Ent never seen ‘im meself, but not felt anythin’ like it before. Fits with the whispers I’ve ‘eard.”

“So, then it’s true. The gateway must be here. After all these years...”

“Aye,” Gax replied, his voice hoarse.

There was a rustling in the bushes beside him, and Oscar near jumped out of his skin, eyes wildly searching for the source.

“Cat!” Gax stated loudly, barrelling forward. Oscar caught a glimpse of a ragged tortoiseshell cat, fat from mice, dashing between the bushes.

“Where is the Bean-Nighe?” Dmitri growled urgently.

“Not far now. ‘Round the old Egyptian avenue a few rows back,” Gax ribbited.

There was another rustle in the bushes up ahead, and the Bugge and Dmitri froze.

“Cat?” Marcus asked, voice high with hopefulness.

There was a low growl. Something about it seemed to resonate with Oscar’s core, his insides vibrating inside of him in a way that made him feel like his knees might just give out.

“Not a cat,” Gax croaked.

“The Bean-Nighe will protect you. Follow Gax.” Dmitri’s voice was stone.

Gax darted to the right, dashing between two tombs, and Marcus bolted after him, with Zara close behind. Oscar moved to follow but saw that Dmitri still faced the direction that the growl had come from, back straight, expression dark and determined.

“Dmitri,” Oscar breathed.

“Go!” Dmitri barked, taking off his overcoat and tossing it over a tombstone beside him. He bristled with anticipation and his eyes alight, flickering brightly with the promise of flames to come.

The low growl rumbled again, like rolling thunder far too close.

Whatever is making that sound is big...

Oscar couldn’t stop himself from turning to look.

Immediately, he wished he hadn’t.

It was almost dog-like in appearance if the dog were the size of a bull and made of slabs of raw meat. Something between ears and horns adorned its massive head, like a fleshy crown. Its eyes burned, a blaze beside Dmitri’s embers. Its mouth opened, splitting its head in two and drooling thick dark slobber, showing teeth longer than fingers and sharper than glass that filled its massive maw.

Every muscle in Oscar’s body froze, and horror took hold.

The beast lunged.

A dark shape barrelled into it with a roar. But the beast was too big. Quicker and stronger than its attacker. It twisted, rolling to the ground, and latching onto it with its massive jaws. Latching onto him.

Dmitri roared in agony as large, jagged teeth sunk into his shoulder, blood gushing freely and soaking his white shirt half crimson all at once. With his free arm, he pounded at the beast’s face furiously, earning little more than a blink. The beast dug in, shaking his head and rattling Dmitri like a doll.

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