Page 66 of The Last One
The snake snaps its jaw around the head of Boil Man.
The third man, Pigsty, squeaks and squeals and stumbles as he runs back to town.
“Coward!” Johny calls after him and pulls his dual blades from their sheaths. He glares at the snake. “C’mon, you fucker.”
Bad idea. But Johny doesn’t know a bad idea from a hole in the ground, and he thrusts one blade at a spot near the snake’s neck.
The blade hits its mark, and the snake hisses and thrashes.
“Not so tough, are you?” Johny taunts.
My blood begins to bubble again, in anger this time. I push myself to stand as the injured snake recoils in pain from the wound on its neck.
Johny lunges forward to thrust his dagger in the snake a second time.
I shriek, “No,” and my blood flares. I throw out my hands, and—Whoosh!Like with the sunabi, Johny flies into the sky.
He screams, eyes wide with terror, as he dangles in the air.
Yes!
I creep over to the snake, drawn to see its injury up close. “Oh no. You poor thing.” I reach to touch it with my free hand, and the wound heats under my fingers. The snake closes the transparent lids over its eyes, then opens them again.
“Please,” Johny shrieks from up high. “Lemme go. I won’t hurt you. I swear it.”
The snake twists around, recovered now from its injury. The beast stares eye to eye with Johny, nudging the guard’s grimy legs with its snout.
“Is it true that you and Narder hurt the people in your custody?” I ask, still holding out the hand locking him in place.
“It meant nothing,” he says. “Just a little fun. No one got hurt. I swear it.”
I slam Johny into the ground. “No one got hurt?” I slowly circle him as he squirms in the dirt. “Well, then, I’ll take that into consideration. When my friend here swallows you whole, you won’t feel a thing. It won’t hurt. I swear it.” I snort, then say, “Finish him,” yielding to the snake and watching as it wraps its mouth around Johny’s head. The snake closes its eyes as it gulps and gulps, working toward the guard’s torso.
Why isn’t this otherworldly attacking me like the sunabi and cursuflies did? Other than its size, though, nothing else seemsoffwith this snake. Perhaps it’s because I’ve offered it a meal. Assuaged its hunger.
“I’m leaving now,” I tell my serpent friend. “Thank you for coming to my aid. Help yourself to all of this.” I gesture to the rotting town. “Except for the candlemaker, his kin, the Gerys, and the little dog, Milo. Don’t make yourself sick on it, though.”
I remember those who do right by me—and those who did me wrong.
The snake’s eyes glow in the darkness, winking in thanks.“You are a blessing, Lady.”
Now where have I heard that before?
PART II
Through the Fire
In the shadows, there dangers breed,
Enigmas stand in urgent need.
Beneath the realm’s cold, watchful gaze,
Serpents follow through thickest haze.
Hear the haunting notes this night,
A haunting note, this dreadful plight.
