Page 81 of Devoured
“Down there is the only way out,”the Executioner stated without turning. “The ancient chamber holds power older than the Judge’s prison. There’s no other option.”
The ancient stone steps descended into absolute darkness, slick with moisture and worse things that made our feet slip and slide as we went deeper. The walls were carved with symbols that seemed to writhe, their meanings lost to time, but their malevolence still palpable.
From the side passages came the sound of skittering movement, echoing off the stone in ways that made it impossible to tell how many things were out there—or how close.
“Something’s following us,”Isaac observed, shifting his grip on Sela while his free hand tightened on the makeshift weapon he’d fashioned from a broken piece of metal. “Multiple somethings.”
“They’re herding us,”the Executioner corrected grimly, his helmet turning slightly to scan the darkness behind.
The temperature began to drop as we descended, and our breath began to mist in the cold air. The stone walls became smoother, more deliberately crafted, as if we were entering a more sacred part of whatever ancient structure this had once been.
“The air tastes different here,”Isaac noted, wrinkling his nose. “Heavier. Like it’s been trapped for centuries.”
That’s when the first attack came.
Hairless humanoid forms emerged from crevices in the walls—Mawkeepers. Behind them came the Grin-Hounds: flayed canine creatures with metal-hinged jaws.
“Fresh meat descending,”they whispered. “She didn’t break properly.”
The Executioner’s blade cut through them with wet efficiency, black ichor spattering the walls. We fought desperately while descending, but they kept coming.
“There’s too many!”Isaac shouted.
Five Grin-Hounds circled Tobias, cutting him off from the group. His weapon broke against an armored skull. The first hound’s jaws clamped on his forearm with precision. “Help me!”Tobias shrieked as blood fountained from the wound.
Isaac moved to help, but Marion grabbed his wrist. “He’s already gone.”
“You fucking cowards!”Tobias screamed as the hounds dragged him into a side passage, his voice fading into darkness.
We kept descending, the Executioner cutting down anything that approached. Finally, we reached the ancient ritual chamber.
The Executioner examined the seals on the massive doors. “Blood opens the way.”
Without thinking, I slashed my palm on a jagged protrusion. My blood flowed down carved channels, and the symbols began to glow. The doors groaned open with a sound like breaking bones, revealing a vast chamber that disappeared into shadow.
Above us, a vortex of energy swirled and crackled, showing glimpses of the surface world through its chaotic center.
“Everyone through, now!”the Executioner commanded.
But before any of them could reach the portal, a clicking sound echoed from the chamber entrance.
She glided in on spinning thread spools instead of legs, her body a fusion of human anatomy and medical equipments. Arms ending in hooks gleamed with fresh blood, and her torso was split open, revealing a cavity filled with living flesh-spools made from previous victims.
“Well, well,”she said, her voice soft as silk. “The faithless executioner returns to the house he betrayed“
The Executioner stepped protectively in front of me, his massive frame blocking her view of me.
“Seamstress,”he growled.
“Such a harsh tone for an old friend,”she purred, circling us with predatory grace. Her thread spools left trails in the dust, weaving patterns that hurt to follow with the eye. “Especially when I’ve come to help with your little... problem.”
“We both know why you’re here,”the Executioner replied, shifting his stance to keep me hidden behind him. “The Judge sent you to drag me back in chains.”
“Oh, my dear Executioner,”she laughed—a sound like breaking glass mixed with children’s laughter. “I’m not here for you. You’re damaged goods now, corrupted by sentiment. I’m here for her.”Her hooks clicked together with anticipation.
She began to move closer, and I could see the faces in her torso more clearly now. They were all women—all young—all wearing expressions of eternal terror. Their eyes tracked our movement, silently pleading for a death that would never come.
“You won’t touch her,”the Executioner growled, raising his blade.
