Page 124 of A Blackened Bond

Verod flickers his gaze to me as I shake my head.

How had something gotten this close without me noticing again?

It could be a squirrel out for a late run, or an owl out hunting.

The noise grows louder. It’s a sound too large for any small creature of this forest.

Verod takes a step forward. “Whoever you are, show yourself. Ms. Bane is already in enough trouble—”

A deep growl rolls from the trees above the bushes and both our eyes flicker to the creature hidden in its leaves.

A creature unlike any other I’ve seen before drops from the trees with a heavy thud, standing at least six or seven feet tall as it stretches out its shaggy, black-furred limbs.

Its body is covered in thick, dark fur, with its arms longer than the length of its torso and legs and trailing below it. Curved claws tip each of its feet and limbs, with tusk-like fangs falling from its mangled jaw. One fang is broken and decaying, whilethe other is covered in blood and small tuffs of brown fur.And what looks to be the remains of some poor forest creature.

Verod takes a slow step backward, already casting in a low mumble as the creature turns its two black eyes toward us. Its large head bobs to one side, an eerie look entering its strange white pupils.

It was a creature of nightmares. And one with its gaze now set on us.

The creature suddenly leaps forward and toward us.

Verod’s chanting becomes quicker, his eyes never leaving the strange creature as a small barrier forms in front of us and deflects the beast’s oncoming attack.

It roars, smashing its long arm-like limbs against the barrier and continuing its brutal physical attack.

I grip the heels in my hand, glancing around for another weapon to wield as the creature continues its unyielding barrage.

The barrier begins to shake and crack after a few more of its heavy hits, and Verod’s eyes widen.

I have never seen a creature or beast this powerful in this life, and I don’t remember one like this from my previous one either.

I take my stance, gripping the heels in my hands as I prepare to attack, but Verod’s hand reaches out. His eyes narrow before he shakes his head toward me. His chanting grows louder, and flames form in a circle above us before he finishes his chant and sends them flying swiftly toward the beast.

Its black fur sets alight, the smell of burned flesh and rot seeping around us as the beast growls loudly, its white eyes narrowing in Verod’s direction. It seems unfazed by the flames burning its flesh and fur. As if it were a minor aggravation and bother.

Its movements still before it jumps back, its body shaking and convulsing before a strange dark green sludge forms over itsburned flesh, covering it entirely as it dissipates the flames. Its burned flesh begins to quickly heal, the skin repairing itself as the white pupils of the beast turn back our way.

It turns its gaze toward Verod again, its large eyes turning into slits before opening its jaw like a snake and letting loose an unholy screeching sound.

I cover my ears as the loud noise grows painful and sends shivers down my spine.

I feel a slight trickle on my hands as blood begins to drip down my fingers, with the beast continuing its shrill attack.

I peer over to Verod, who has one hand on his ear as the other stays raised to keep his barrier in place.

He begins to chant again, this time sounding slightly different as he tries to cast through the bellow of the beast.

Branches and bark begin to tear away from the nearby trees and form thick, dense spikes that float behind the creature.

Verod continues chanting, forming his magic until multiple spikes are fully shaped and aimed toward the beast. With one flick of his wrist, the spikes shoot toward the creature, aiming toward its head and torso. As if having eyes in the back of its head, the beast stops screeching and leaps away, landing in the trees to our side.

Only a couple of the spikes hit the creature. A loud growl ringing from the trees is the only proof that it was hurt as the other spikes land in the ground before Verod and I.

The beast leaps through the trees like some ape or monkey but with a speed three times as fast. It ducks beneath the leaves, its body camouflaged by the shadows and night.

I glance around me, listening for the soft pattern of footsteps or movement from the tree's leaves.

This creature had crept up on us quietly before. Or was it always there watching us?

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