Page 278 of The Lands Defying
“Shit,” I say as I look up again. “Take cover!” I raise my hands once more, creating a barrier as best I can, as more arrows are set loose.
We can’t go on like this!
My legs wobble on impact, and I can just make out the smiling face of Higher Aldus though the ripples.
I know we don’t have a lot of time. There is no way he hasn’t informed Charles of what is happening at his gates.
Just as I think it, he smirks, turning to speak to someone and then I notice it.
Snow in some places starts to dip, like small craters forming in on itself. Fuck!
I look up at the archers, at the blood dripping down their mouths as some fall over the walls. I look for Belldame, spotting her further back with a savage grin on her face.
Does she see the ground too? The spots of black?
I back away from one as it appears near me, my heart pounding in my throat. When I see a clawed hand reach out of it, I shake my head.
“No, no, no.Josh!”I look around wildly. Only some Elites have noticed it and are trying to get others to move out the way, and some of my pack do the same.
I look at Anna and Josh, Colten and Hudson at their side and fear threatens to overtake me.“Move, now!”I scream down the link at him, and without even asking, he grabs Anna and runsto the castle wall, Hudson and Colten following along with some villagers.
More holes appear, and more beasts claw out of them, their snarling mouths and deformed bodies unfurling as they lift themselves out.
Oh Gods.
“Darius!”
I back up, blade out and hand raised, preparing, but we were never ready.
All of a sudden, howl’s rent the air, and we all seem to freeze, even the guards that are down here do the same. Rogures follow the beasts out of the ground, and my body starts shaking as I watch black foam drip from their mouths.
We do not have enough numbers for this, or have enough trained warriors.
A beast closest to me sniffs the air, its grunting breaths sound while taking it in and then it crunches its clawed hands spreading out on the snow, as it bends and sniffs the blood there.
Tension fills the air as I see the Elites trying to get members of my pack and villagers to safety, motioning them to port out and some do. I can’t even blame them.
But some stay and even though terror rattles through me, pride has me straightening my spine.
When the beast raises his head and lets out his own howl, I’m ready for an attack, then the beast moves and the others follow.
I watch as one beast swipes at a guard and a rogure pounces on another in bloodlust, uncaring who is in their path.
“Port out!” I shout to anyone who can hear me as I move and go for a beast that has its back to me, advancing upon a villager who’s trying to stumble away.
I jump on its back, and Runa comes for its front, snapping at its legs as I bring the blade up to stab it. The beast stumbles, and I end up stabbing it in its shoulder as it thrashes, its claws out.
He swipes at Runa and she dodges back as I try to remove the blade from its rotting flesh. I gag at the smell of it, but a flicker of recognition enters my mind.
He smelled of bad blood.
This is what the beast smells like.
Fuck.
Runa continues her attack on its legs, and as the beast tries to stop her, I hold on with an arm around its neck, trying not to fall off. But then I have no choice as pain sears through my back and I’m falling.
I’m thrown left and right on the ground, my head banging on the surface as growls come from behind me.
