Page 20 of The Dragon Sacrifice

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Seela watched as the brothers stalked around their dining room table. She didn’t really understand what was happening. Only that Jerrard had been taken by whatever those things were that had once attempted to take her.

Stenton winced, pinching his head as if he suddenly felt pain. “They have him. They’re… feasting.”

“No,” Langdon whispered in horror, striding to the door. He made to throw it open, but Stenton put a hand on his shoulder.

“If you go out there, you know there’s only one way to stop them. And that way weakens us all.” Langdon met his brother’s eyes. “I won’t let him die.” With that, he threw open the rune-encrusted door and strode out.

Stenton went after him, but then turned to Seela. “Stay here. We’ll be right back.” Then he ran into the dark cavern.

Terrified, Seela stared at the open doorway and the hall beyond. She was just supposed to sit here while they fought for Jerrard’s life? Jerrard who’d saved her, who was now in this position because he’d used his one transformation so she could live?

Determination flooding through her, she glanced around the room. Spotting a sword on the little fireplace mantle, Seela grabbed it, pulling it out of the scabbard. The weapon was a good fit, not too big and not too small, but it appeared dull from age. But what choice did she have?

Gripping it in her fist, she took off running after Stenton.

But that proved a lot harder than she thought.

The cave hallways were dark, and she had nothing to see by. But sounds of a battled echoed her way, driving her forward with her heart in her throat.

Keeping one hand on the rough stone walls, she held the sword aloft with the other. What in the world she thought she was going to do with the weapon, she had no idea. She’d never even held one. Only blacksmiths had enough steel in her village to have swords, though the boys sometimes played knights by bashing sticks together. She’d never even done that much. Yet, she couldn’t do nothing.

All at once, she stumbled into the battle, though understanding what was happening took some time. There was Stenton and Langdon fighting with creatures she’d only seen in her wildest nightmares. They were black and hairy, like giant spiders, but their eyes were large and red, glowing in the darkness. They had six skinny, mammal-like legs tipped with long claws instead of feet. Their heads were small and tapered, dominated by a giant maw that opened to insanely wide proportions. As Seela stared, one opened its scissor-like jaws and clamped down on Stenton’s arm. He let out a cry of pain.

This was more than she’d bargained for.

But it was too late to turn back. A giant creature scuttled her way, big mouth opening to reveal hundreds of tiny razor-sharp teeth.

More afraid than she’d ever been, Seela raised her blade, hacking down as the thing jumped at her.

Her sword struck the creature, but its momentum carried it forward. She fell under its weight. Pinned to the ground with it on top of her, Seela screamed. Kicking out with her feet and pushing with her one free hand, she tried to roll the heavy, hairy thing off. It smelled like rotten meat and decay. Wet blood dripped onto her chest and arms as it flailed. Fear choked her along with the thought that soon all those teeth would burrow into her neck and end her.

Only it didn’t. The creature rolled off her like a sack of potatoes, then lay on the ground. Dead. A gaping wound, her sword sticking out of it, bled out onto the stone.

She had stabbed it through and killed it. A burst of pride welled inside her.

But it was short-lived as another creature turned on her.

She pulled her sword out of the dead monster’s body, shivering at the squelching noise. Then she readied for the attack.

“Seela!”

It was Stenton’s voice. He had spied her while fighting off three of the monstrosities. The one she’d seen bite his arm was still clinging to it, jaw locked tight. Stenton’s shirt was in tatters. Blood speckled his chest.

“You have to get out of here,” he said in desperation. “Now!”

“I can’t leave you here alone,” she cried, hacking down as a creature attacked her feet. She beat at it with the sword until it stopped moving. How many of these monsters were there?

When she looked up, she had her answer. Wave after wave was scuttling in from several hallways ahead of them. Hundreds of beasts. And the princes were killing one or two at a time. They’d be overrun any minute now.

“Langdon!” Stenton called to his brother, who had a beast in each hand and was bashing them together.

Langdon darted a glance where Stenton pointed. His eyes bulged at the huge number of beasts pouring in. Then he saw Seela. Langdon and Stenton exchanged a glance that Seela couldn’t read. Stenton gave a nod. Langdon returned it. Then he closed his eyes as the swarm of beasts surged over him.

What was he doing?

The monsters covered his body until she couldn’t see him anymore, just a mound of hairy black legs and snapping teeth. He was going to die. He was—

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