Page 40 of Bloodguard

The rain, though lighter than before, remains heavy. I can’t gauge my exact position. The only grace is that I can breathe and have a moment to shake out my nerves. Only a moment.

Screams and shrieks sound from ahead of me, followed by the trampling noises of a fleeing crowd. There’s a sharp snap like a bear trap shutting, then another, then several more.

I dive and swim in the direction of the more terrified screams. I need to get close enough to see what’s frightened them. To spare the energy I’ll need against my opponent, I use the water’s current to help carry me toward the commotion.

An intense succession of ripples bats against my side. I angle my body and head in the direction where they originate.

Above me, more screams pierce through the water, accompanied by that same awful snapping. There’s a brief pause in the screaming before heavy objects drop into the water like boulders. Unlike last time, the newcomers thrash violently, stirring up sand at the bottom of the arena until I can barely make out my own feet.

I feel it then. A primal sort of fear, one I can’t stamp out, but which sets my every sense on high alert. Higher. Humans are built for land, and I have none to stand on. Whatever creatures they dropped in here… I’m not just on their turf. I’minit. My thoughts come twice as fast, and they all screamthe same thing.Survive.

I am prey.

Strong ripples show me where they fell in and how fast the creatures are approaching. I dive, because I must do something, barely dragging myself out of the way of whatever is hunting me…

River sharks.

Fuck.

I stay low, flattening myself against the sand as they pass overhead.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Five river sharks.

Longer than me.

Stronger than me.

And I’m running out of air.

chapter 16

Leith

Fear gets the better of me, and several air bubbles escape my mouth.

Right away, two sharks reappear, the larger one slapping the smaller one with its tail to knock it out of the way.

They’re hunting.

They’re hungry.

And I’m the main course.

Hell, I’m theonlycourse. And with that fresh stab wound from the guard, they’ll be able to scent somethingediblein here with them. The deluge and churning waters are working in my favor for the moment, at least, diluting my scent. But these predators don’t rely on scent. They can sense my every movement.

The parting clouds along the magic-born gray sky offer me only a sliver of light. My surroundings are bleak at best. Unless these creatures are right on top of me, I can’t see them. The water is too murky.

They return, circling the area where I wait. When they don’t find me, they dart in opposite directions away from me, but it’s impossible to guess how far.

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