The Soul Eaters (The Thin Hex Line Book 1) by Gwyndolyn Russell (100 best novels of all time .txt) 📗

Yaaranam must have raised her rifle. It did not take the threat lightly. Another blink of the eye and one of its larger arms swung out, back handing Yaaranam into the far wall. The other smacked Nostradamus in the other direction. Then it came for me. I couldn't even react. It hit me in the chest and sent me straight to the ground where I slid until I hit a rock.

I coughed and wheezed, gripping my chest. Each breath sent pain like lava through my body.

Yaaranam picked herself up to a knee. Snatched up her weapon and fired it. The rounds ricocheted off Fenris, but got his attention off me.

He turned on her and smacked the rifle. Half of the gun flew further into the cave, leaving what was in her hands sparking with loose wires.

"Fenris!" I cracked. I took a sharp breath. "Stop!"

Yaaranam threw the end of her weapon down and opted to go hand to hand. Fenris seemingly let her bust her knuckles against his chest before using one of his larger hands to grab her arm and throw her into the ground. He held her there, put a foot on her knee.

Perhaps under a different circumstances, I wouldn't care if she got ripped apart. She was still just a filthy eldiravan to me. In my eyes, I'd rather see her dead than part of the Syndicate. Reaper would never forgive me if I let it happen now. I wasn't sure if she deserved to be killed like this. At least let her go out as a warrior in a fight she could possibly have a chance in.

I forced myself up to my feet and hurried to them as quick as my searing lungs let me. I held my chest all the while as if it would ease the pain.

"Fenris!" I shouted, my voice cracking.

Another appendage sprouted from his back at his shoulder. A long, double jointed limb that ended like the blade of a scythe, a jagged blunt edge at the top. The limb reared back, prepping for a jab.

"Fenris!" I jumped between them. Stood over Yaaranam and put a hand to the valkyrie's chest. "Stop! It's us!"

The extra appendage twitched. His jaws clattered. He growled, made a jolt of his body like he would come for me next.

I swallowed the pain and used my officer's voice. The one that commanded respect.

"Fenris, listen to me. We aren't eos. We're your friends." I took a deep breath. "It's Jackal!"

All of his lights shut off for a few seconds.

When they came back on, they were reversed, falling down in quick succession. I felt his hot, puke worthy breath wash over my face.

He let Yaaranam go, moved his foot off her. Those giant arms lowered to rest against the floor.

The lights started to flow normally, that gravity defying waterfall. Yet the cracks for eyes still flowed down.

"Jac...kal…" his voice trembled with a mechanical flare. His head tilted to the side.

"Yeah, it's me." I tried to smile.

He reached up to touch me with both hands, but took a step backwards instead. Then another.

"I...Fenris hurt you…" His jaw shook. He grabbed his muzzle and pulled it down. "No…"

He stepped far enough from the light I could only see his red ones.

"Fenris, it's alright. It's dark. We snuck up on you."

"No!" He growled. "Lost self...again...monster!"

I followed him into the dark, the light on my rifle swinging over the floor.

"You're not a monster. It was an accident. It's all right." I grabbed his arm. "Come on, let's get out of here."

He looked at me, the trickling of his eyes slowing down.

"Not afraid of Fenris?"

"Fuck no. I'm not afraid of you." I lied. "I know you would never intentionally hurt any of us."

"Are they okay?"

"They're fine."

I grabbed the rifle and aimed it to use the light. Nostradamus helped Yaaranam up to her feet. She was wheezing, but smiling.

"Fuck. I knew you were strong, but wow!" She said.

What a champion, I thought. Got her ass handed to her, looked death in the face, and she still congratulated him. Eldiravan were something else. Reminded me of Spectre, or just alpha hunters in general.

She shot a glare at me. “I’m good, thanks for asking.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Let’s go. This place gives me the creeps.” I waved my hand and started for the entrance.

“As you wish.” Fenris followed me closely.

As we made our way back out of the cave, it clicked in my head. That strange appendage we saw before in the jungle. It matched the one that Fenris had on his shoulder. I didn’t see the other one while we were in the dark. Once we were out and into the light of the early morning, I looked up at him.

Sure enough, the other one had been ripped off half way. What was left of it was left extended, mimicking the other one in a more relaxed state. I had no idea he had more than four limbs. He even had more than six. Those giant arms of his were hanging like broken wings, just barely lifted from the ground. Where had those been all year? There was more to this valkyrie than I knew.

“Hey, you still have it.” I pointed to the pin still stuck against his chest.

“Yes. Gift!” He touched it. His head lowered. “Thought Syndicate left long ago.”

“We won’t leave without you.” I rubbed my side. “Are you hurt? You look like it.”

“Am fine.” He shrugged.

“You’re missing an arm!” I said. “I mean, whatever that thing is.”

Fenris perked up suddenly, looked at either of his shoulders, then down at the big hands that had lifted up at either of his sides. Both of the scythes folded down, attaching to his shoulders just tucked under the fur of his collar. The arms tucked back underneath his cloak.

“You can’t hide it from me, Fen.” My brow furrowed.

“I believe he is not hiding his injuries.” Nostradamus said, leaving Yaaranam sitting on the bed of the truck.

“What do you mean?”

A question