Page 51 of King of the Unsightly

Kaschel grunted in pain and inclined his head. His expression now held a spark of delight as he grinned. “At least my power can be restored, unlike your mangled face.”

The beast shrieked and slashed its claws across Kaschel’s chest.

“You won’t be saying any of this when I drag you down to the Scáths where all the creatures you put away ... anxiously await to tear you limb from limb.”

Kaschel wiped his mouth and let out a dry laugh as the blood soaked his shirt. “What crawled up your ass and died?” He leaned harder against the tree and pushed himself up.

A spine-chilling howl came from the beast as it snatched Kaschel’s neck and squeezed, dragging Kaschel’s body up the tree bark until his feet dangled off the ground.

I watched in horror as Kaschel squirmed in the beast’s grasp, desperately trying to tear its claws away from his throat, and without a second thought, I ran to Gren’s side.

I cupped his limp body in my hands and brought him to my face. “You’ll be okay,” I whispered, choking back the sobs.

No pulse, but I wouldn’t give up on Gren yet. I snatched him up and sprinted for the front door.

A zap hit my hands like lightning as it convulsed inside me.

I shrieked as the spasms tormented my lungs.

A man’s voice rang in my head, louder and louder until only it occupied my mind.Spill your blood and draw the pentagram. Drop him in and he will be anew while you will acquire what you desire. You only have to recite:I give myself to you. Blood, bones, and all. Now hurry.

My body moved on its own as I glanced at Gren.

If I could save him, I could save Lucien.

Consequences be damned.

I gently set him down and brought my wrist to my mouth and bit down as hard as I could.

Blood spilled down my arm as I forced back the tears of despair.

I drew the circle first and then the star.

I picked Gren back up and placed him in the center.

I chanted under my breath, “I give myself to you, blood, bones, and all.” I waited.

And waited.

I choked back the tears threatening to come back when a cacophony of pain weaved into my chest and burrowed its way into my heart.

I wailed as my body blazed like an inferno lashing at my skin and sizzling it from the inside out. A part of my soul was torn from me.

My chest, now empty and hollow.

I crumpled to the ground.

I breathed heavily, in and out, unable to move.

Pitiful thoughts entered my mind as my legs refused to cooperate. It seemed I could never be the protector.

Gren’s lifeless body remained unmoving.

I bit my lip and stifled the tears back again, but they relentlessly fell despite my attempt to subdue them.

The crackling of Gren’s bones breaking and forming created a new terror in me as my breaths came out in erratic bursts.

His body transformed in front of me.

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