Duel At Grimwood Creek (Book 2) (16 page)

“How powerless?”
 

“Ever make spitballs when you were a kid?”
 

“Shit.”
 

“Right. To be honest, I think he's gonna skin us. Put us on his fucking wall. Best we can hope for is to be dead before he pins us up.”
 

“No need to make me a picture,” she growled. “Anyway. Fuck it. We ain't got a choice. Tunnel's collapsed. Looks like there's another way out. But to get to it, we have to get past that bastard somehow. So, best guess time. How do we kill him?”
 

“Best guess?” He squatted in the dirt, running his fingers through his lank hair. “Silver. Don't suppose you've got a silver dagger on you somewhere?”
 

“I look like someone who'd need a fancy letter opener?”
 

“Never took you for the friendly type, no,” he admitted. “So there goes that idea.”
 

“Nothing else?”
 

He shook his head. “Look around you. You think this tunnel dates back to the Godwars? Well, then I think that thing is even older than that. In fact, I'll bet he was here all along. Snug in his lair while Grim and Rule pissed all over themselves out there. And, maybe that's what woke him. Maybe he's trying to get his power back. I don't know. I'm just making shit up because I just don't fucking know. When you start looking at things like this. Things from the the most ancient years of our past? Well. You're looking at shit which has crawled straight from the Shadowed Halls, Long-ear. Shit which has no right to live. Should have died a long time ago. So, whatever he is, all I can tell you is he's old. He's angry. And the fucker's probably un-fucking-killable. Now, there's still time to turn back. Find another way out. But if you really want to go in there, Nysta, then I have to tell you something,” he stared up at her with a bland expression. “I haven't enjoyed your company all that much. There. I said it. I can die in peace now.”

“Never asked you to follow me, Chukshene. Fact is, I reckon I told you not to.”
 

“And if I did everything I was told to do, Long-ear, you'd be fucking dead.”
 

She was about to ask him what he meant by that when a low moan grated up the tunnel from the chamber. The elf felt her heart skip a beat and she whipped to the corner to look sharply around the edge.

The hulking creature was frozen in place, glaring hatefully toward their position. Eyes glowing icy blue and mouth slowly opening to reveal sharp yellow teeth. As she watched, he let out another gut-wrenching moan. She jerked back into the tunnel, spine crawling as fear gripped tight.

His voice cut through the air like mallets pounding meat. What he was saying, she couldn't make out. But it didn't sound friendly.

“Too late to back out now, 'lock,” she growled.
 

Chukshene snapped open his grimoire and shuffled through the pages. “Oh, shit,” he croaked. “He's coming, isn't he? He knows we're here. Oh, fuck. I knew this was a stupid idea. A fucking stupid idea. What the fucking shit was I thinking coming out here? Now I'm going to die in a fucking hole in the fucking ground. You know what? I should've followed that fucking horse. Smart fuck, that horse. It had the right idea. But, no. I follow the mad fucking elf. What the fuck was I fucking thinking? Insane fucking bitch is gonna get me killed. I- Nysta...?”

She met his imploring gaze. Smoothly drew and twirled
A Flaw in the Glass
in her fingers. The venomous glow rippled around the blade. “Let me guess,” she sighed. “You're gonna need a few minutes?”
 

Despite terror scratching at his veins, he looked relieved. “Thanks.”

“Better be something real good in that book of yours,” she said. Took a few quick breaths, filling her body with oxygen. Feeling that ice cold ball of fear spin faster. Ready to burst. “Or we're fucked.”
 

“Just keep him busy,” the warlock said, not looking up. Finger stabbing at lines on his page.
 

She nodded curtly. “Sure, Chukshene. But don't you keep me waiting with baited breath.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

She was round the corner like a ferret down a rabbit hole. Ragged hair streaming behind. Snarling curses, she charged the thing. Sent
Go With My Blessing
ripping through the air to punch hard into the creature's chest, left of centre. Knew it wouldn't do much, but succeeded in getting his full and undivided attention.
 

The massive creature looked down at the handle jutting from his chest. Plucked it out using two thick fingers, something which took a while as the knife seemed too small for him to grasp properly. Stared at the blade curiously before tossing it aside.

The elf skidded to a halt at his feet.

He was taller than she'd expected, and she barely reached his waist. Looked up into the cold blue eyes and felt the icy ball of fear grow in her belly until there wasn't room for anything else.

He opened his mouth, tainted yellow teeth drooling black spit. Reeked of grave soil and rotten meat. “You will join the souls on my wall, little elf,” he said. His cavernous voice rolled through her. Echoed in the massive chamber. “Join those who came before. Die.”

 “Be polite,” she darted away from the swinging arm which howled over her head. Had she remained where she was, there was no doubt in her mind it would have crushed her.
A Flaw in the Glass
flared brightly, the enchanted glow coiling around her wrist. She struck once, feeling the blade tear into his belly. “And die first.”
 

Howling, he jerked backward, tearing
A Flaw in the Glass
from her grip. Spinning hard on her heels, the elf didn't miss a beat as her fingers found the handles of
Entrance Exam
and
In the Mood
. The twin daggers flew like steel insects. Plunged through the tattered robes and between ribs.
 

More futile gestures.

Thin green blood ribboned from the wounds and the creature turned on her. “Foolish little thing,” he said. “Foolish little toys. You cannot end me with these. My master made me strong!”

She could hear Chukshene's voice, chanting from inside the blackness of the tunnel. Twisted her mouth into a cruel grin. “Won't stop me from trying, though,” she said.

Star Studded Cast
appeared in her fist, swinging for his throat as she leapt through the air.
 

Sneering, the creature moved with a suddenness that surprised her. Seized her arm in a frozen hand. He spat a word she couldn't understand and a pulse of darkness pumped down his arm and cannoned through her body like a shock wave.

As the blast ripped through her core, she vented a scream and dropped the blade.

Releasing her with a contemptuous snarl, he watched with growing confusion as she staggered backward. Her feet felt too heavy to lift and it took a few moments to regain her balance. Felt like someone had hit her with a sledge.

She dropped into a fighter's crouch, still dazed, but ready for more. Felt the icy ball begin to melt as her patience ticked down. A flicker of flame.

His blue eyes burned in puzzled disbelief. “You resist. It cannot be. You must submit. Why do you still stand?”

She spat a thin stream of blood. “It's easier than sitting,” she said. And rushed in again.
I Spit on your Grave
cut into the arm which swung up defensively. It bit into bone, but still couldn't draw more than an irritated grunt from the creature. Tugged hard and the blade came free with a gasp of pungent green blood. Grabbed hold of his forearm and swung around his shoulder like a monkey on a tree limb.
 

Landed behind him, eyes gleaming as she stared at the irresistible target of his back.

She spun the blade into a reverse grip.

Pounced like a cat, slamming hard against his spine. One fist grabbed hold of a length of chain. The other stabbed. The wicked tip of the blade barely noticed  flesh. Glided between ribs as though through clay before bouncing off a bunched mass of chain buried hard against his spine.

Roaring, the hulking mass flailed in frustration. The chains whipped madly, sending her sprawling as she was thrown aside before she could strike again.

She landed hard. Rolled desperately along the broken stones. Felt her shoulder grind in its socket as she hit a chunk of rock. Looked up sharply, already trying to twist herself away as chains slashed into the ground where she'd been only a second before. Stone tore and dust exploded, choking her lungs.

“Fuck,” she growled, skipping unsteadily away. Her shoulder hurt and her arm hung limp at her side.
 

“You hurt me, little elf.” The creature hefted a fistful of chains. Links rasped against each other in a way that made her shudder.
 

Her eyes caught a foetid yellow glow from the tunnel. The smell was suddenly intense. A river of energy carrying a raw and bitter stench. She edged away from the creature, unable to decide what scared her most. His intent on tearing her to pieces with his chains. Or the magic Chukshene was about to unleash.

“Hurt you?” she rubbed her shoulder, feeling the tingle of nerves. “You ain't felt nothing yet.”
 

He paused.

Then spun toward where Chukshene emerged, surrounded in a sickly nimbus of light. The spellslinger snapped one last word of power and a terrible roar of magic erupted from the tunnel. Swirled around him like a tornado before channelling into the astounded creature on a thick beam of ghostly light. A beam which looked to be made of demonic clawed hands. Each ethereal hand slid through skin and into the creature's chest with incredible force, tossing him backward like a ragdoll.

He landed on his back, sliding along the uneven ground before jarring to a halt against one of the pillars with a sickening crunch.

Where he lay, curled in a ball of crackling energy.

Dust sparkled as it floated down to settle on the chains draping the creature's unmoving form.

The warlock blinked, limping into the chamber. “Did I kill him?”

Opening her mouth to answer, the elf's words were cut off by a jagged sound emanating from the creature's hunched body and, with a shiver, the elf recognised the sound.

He was laughing.

“Oh, shit.” The warlock rushed forward to help her to her feet.
 

Her eyes watered as the overwhelming stink of magic soured the air around her. Pushing him away, she staggered toward the creature slowly uncoiling unsteadily to his knees.

By the time she reached him, her gait was steady and sure. She took hold of the jutting handle of
A Flaw in the Glass
still buried in his belly. Jerked it free with a spiteful grunt. His massive head lolled awkwardly, though he kept laughing wetly as she rammed the blade into his chest. A clinically impassive strike.
 

Again.

And again.

The blade flared hatefully with each stab. Green blood gushed down his chest. But the creature only laughed harder. “The master made me strong, little elf. And I will return him.”

“Chukshene!” She shot a desperate glance at the warlock. “Do something. Now.”
 

He trembled, holding out the grimoire uselessly. “Do what? Nysta, that was the most fucking powerful shit I had. It was made to kill frost giants. Fucking frost giants! If that won't kill him, then I don't know what will!”

The flame inside her guts flickered as she backed away from the creature.

He climbed slowly to his feet. Swayed gently, chains clinking cruelly behind his back. Slowly, turned his head toward her. Cold eyes burning. “Little elf,” he said. “Your Mistress was ever weak. Her weakness drove her into the arms of the invaders. Shall you inherit her weakness, and doom us all? Aid me. And I will return my master. Endless reward awaits those who serve him. Eternal suffering for those who defy. Submit, little elf. Submit, and we shall drive those upstart gods back to the world from which they came!”

“Nysta?” Chukshene called nervously. “Why are you so popular?”
 

“Fucked if I know, 'lock.” She rolled her shoulder, flexing the aching muscle. “Could be they've all got an idea what role they want me to play. But my method ain't an act. Means they picked me for the wrong type. Reckon the best thing for all of us right now is to get out of these parts.”
 

The creature took a lumbering step toward her, thrust his head forward and growled; “Submit, little elf! Do not resist again. I do not wish to fight you.”

“Could be your lucky day, then,” she said through her teeth. “On account of I ain't keen on fighting you, either. But I will if I have to. Kill you, too. May take a bit of time to figure out how you die, but you'll die. See, I ain't got time to piss about with your insanity. I want blood, you oversized piece of shit. But not yours. I want a feller named Raste. So here's my offer. Move aside. Let me pass. And before you do anything else, you should know another feller just like you tried to stop me not long ago. And he was powerful, too. Name of Gaket. Heard of him? You look the type to hang out in the same bars. Tried to recruit me to some bullshit of his own. But I told him to stick it up his ass. Just like I'm telling you. Now, he was stupid. Didn't look too stupid, but he was. Because he wouldn't get out of my way. And now? Now he's dead. And that's all you need to know about him. So all you should be thinking right now is how intelligent do you want to be? Stupid dead like Gaket? Or alive and smart? Those arms of yours. They're big. And those chains scare the shit out of me. But I'm pissed. Very pissed. Means I'm more dangerous than anything you've ever seen. So pick up your fucking chains. Go on. Pick them up. And get the fuck out of my way.”
 

He trembled with every word she spat at him. But not with fear. Rage bubbled in his eyes and hatred made the chains twitch. “I have heard of Gaket,” he said. “The very ground screamed his name not two nights past. I followed. And I found him. His body damaged too much to suit my purpose. It disappointed me, little elf. I would have liked to have him on my wall. I would have liked to peel the skin from him, the creation of cursed Veil. But it was not to be. Now you dare to threaten me as though I am weak like that abomination? My master made me strong! He gave me these chains. Bound them to my bones. You are afraid of them? Good. You should be.”