Alpha Nocturne’s Contracted Mate by A E Randell
Chapter 152 The Most Dangerous Opponent
The ground beneath them seemed to erupt as vile, twisted creatures emerged as far as the eye could see, bringing with them a stench that was so overpowering a mult*itude of hands flew upwards to cover their faces with the masks of their attire as they gagged violently.
The rotting flesh of the gargantuan beast that seemed to detach itself from the mountainside rippled disgustingly as it lumbered towards them, vile fluids oozing from the open sores and dripping down onto the ma*s*s of creatures swarming below it.
The entire convoy seemed to freeze momentarily in pure, unadulterated terror as the scene that looked as though it had been ripped straight from a horror movie unfolded before them.
In seconds, the Enclave’s guards sprung into action. Those that couldn’t shift readied their weapons and offensive magick as the sound of breaking bones whilst the shifters changed filled the air. An eerie symphony rippled through the landscape, filled with the cacophony of grunts and otherworldly shrieks, punctuated by the snap of bones and hum of magick in the air, the only human sounds were the hastily shouted orders and the manic laughter that seemed to spring incessantly in their ears.
“With me!” The lead guard roared as he rushed forward, his glaive glinting dangerously as it arced through the air in a murderous rampage.
The guards rushed forward, engaging the a*s*sailants head-on, the predatory shifters savaging those that dared to come within reach as bursts of magick were fired overhead, decimating the ranks of the creatures that swarmed them.
The drivers scrambled down from their positions as the beasts began to panic, lunging at anyone that came close to them whether friend or foe. As soon as they had been unhooked from their burdens they charged headlong into the fray, disregarding everyone in front of them.
They cleared a path effortlessly before them as they surged forward, tossing bodies wantonly through the air with their tusks. The unfortunate victims that were either not paying attention or simply weren’t fast enough to move out of their path were quickly trampled into a grotesque mess under the stampeding of their heavy hooves.
The guard’s eyes flicked across to where the beasts f*orc*ed their way through as he dispatched the attackers closest to him and saw that they were effectively making a direct path toward the gargantuan beast that lumbered its way toward them.
He whistled to a few of the men closes and immediately they switched their focus, following his lead as he charged headlong down the gap in the ranks of their foes toward the most dangerous opponent on the field by far.
If they could dispatch the most obvious threat on the battlefield quickly, then it was just a matter of finishing off the stragglers. The smaller creatures that swarmed around them were only an issue because of their numbers. His heart pounded loudly in his ears, and his breath was beginning to come in ragged bursts as they finally reached within striking distance and as they launched their attack against the rotting ma*s*s, flesh falling in chunks and the beast relatively unbothered by the damage that they appeared to be doing, a deep sense of dread began to take root.
The creature glanced down at the tiny figures slicing away at his legs and seemed to frown as he lifted his leg and swept it sidewards, knocking 2 of the guard across the field, soaring above the enemy before landing in the middle of a large group and screaming as they were swarmed.
The lead guard had managed to avoid the first sweep and roared in fury as he redoubled his efforts.
The static of the magick flew past rapidly now, narrowly missing him as the magick users began to focus their efforts on bringing the beast down before them, their concerted efforts creating large holes in the body as it began to become increasingly irritated with their attacks, swatting at the figures as if they were flies.
With a lazy swing of its gargantuan arm, the enormous monstrosity missed the guard with his first shot but one of the smaller creatures that had taken him by surprise had distracted the guard enough for the second swing to connect violently with the guard’s body. Sending him soaring into the air, before crashing into a broken heap on the floor, his body now lying motionless.
The woman’s laughter intensified from within the cage as the elite escort that had been provided to see them safely to their new prison where they would await their death sentences was slowly, but surely, whittled down until only one driver remained.
He stood silently by the side of the cart, gripping his concealed dagger tightly as the gargantuan beast lumbered towards him and came to a halt, peering down at him curiously.
“It f**’**g took you long enough you rotten S*hi*t…’1 he grumbled as he strolled casually past him, stepping over the dead that now littered the floor.
The beast groaned forlornly as it lumbered after the tiny figure in front as they made their way to the cages on the cart and the driver looked back at it with a frown.
“What? Don’t you look at me like that! You aren’t going to make me feel guilty for your own inept*itude at getting rid of them! If you had been quicker they wouldn’t have done so much damage!” The driver argued furiously shaking his fist angrily in the beast’s direction as it m*oa*ned miserably.
The driver sighed heavily and ma*s*saged the bridge of his nose with his fingers in exasperation.
“Fine! Goddammit… I’ll fix you up when I get back… for goodness sake… will you just get these open…” He grumbled as he gestured towards the sealed cages.
The beast replied with a guttural gurgling sound and reached over him, taking hold of the cage with both hands and ripping the roof seal open in a matter of seconds, before peeling the cage open as if it were no more than an orange. The driver’s face split into a wide grin as a woman emerged from inside and stood peering down at him imperiously with an arrogant tilt of her chin.
“Figured you’d need rescuing.” The driver gloated as the woman narrowed her eyes at him.
“It took you long enough.” She snapped testily as she smoothed her luxurious robes down and looked around her in distaste.
The driver roared with laughter, tipping his head back as he did so.
“Come now sister, are you not happy to see your brother?”
“As happy as a condemned woman could be…” She answered with a bitter twist of her lips.
“Pah! Ever the pessimist Narcissa!” He chuckled, ignoring her icy glare completely. “Now, where’s my favorite niece…
“Sobbing like the pathetic child she is. We should leave her here, Ely. Ada serves no purpose anymore.” Narcissa snapped as she waved her hand dismissively toward one of the other cages.
Her brother chuckled darkly.
“Oh, I don’t know about that. The master can always find a use for pretty young girls… you know that…”