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

while. The skuladr watched it for a moment before trying to take a bite out of it.

Up. Up. Fenris was quick to get out of its reach. Gnashing teeth and threatening gestures, Fenris gave a roar.

The skuladr slammed its side into the cliff, watching to see if the wolf would fall. With no luck, it hit the cliff again.

The valkyrie pushed from the stone. Through the air, it reached out to grab the top of one of the beast’s spines. It dropped from there, taking a bite out of the spine and twisting as it pulled itself down to its back. The skuladr shrieked and rammed into the wall again to shake the wolf off.

“Fenris!” Reaper called through the crowd. “Fenris!”

Ripping off a sheet of metal from the beast’s back, the valkyrie looked to the shouting.

Reaper held up the red orb just as the pack of reldul charged passed him. The beast leaped up, latching onto the skuladr’s head and neck.

Fenris leaped off, meeting Reaper and the others on the ground. Fenris took the orb and then looked to the Captain.

“This will help, right?” He asked.

Fenris nodded and tossed the orb into its mouth. A single snap of the jaws and it shattered. Each shard dropped into the back of its mouth to be swallowed. With a shake of its body, the spikes on its upper back grew dramatically. The missing scythe appendage sprouted new, moist in a gray goo.

The skuladr smacked one of the reldul from its face and gave a screech of rage. The guns attached to either of its sides sent out a volley of projectiles right for Fenris and the soldiers.

Fenris shoved Reaper to the ground and used one of its larger arms to pull Jackal down and under it. It bent over just enough to shield them and the others close enough. The rounds smacked right into Fenris’ body. Some pierced right through his cloak.

The monster swiped at them, but the valkyrie held its ground and braced for impact with its shoulder and two of its arms. It dug its feet into the ground, standing directly over Reaper.

The skuladr’s claws could move no further. Not against Fenris.

Jackal crawled backwards from underneath Fenris.

“Shoot it!” He ordered. “Shoot that fucking thing!”

The six soldiers that remained formed a line right behind Jackal. Some kneeled, while others stood. They held down their triggers to fire at the skuladr’s face.

Its face torn open from each impact only served to anger it further. It pulled its hand away and gave a ferocious roar.

Fenris turned, giving Reaper a chance to get out from under it. When the beast came for them again, Fenris opened its mouth wide and spat out a ball of fiery smoke. The flaming khexide burned through the air and against the skuladr’s face, making it reel back and turn away.

The wolf continued bellowing out the flames repeatedly, moving to follow the beast as it backed down. The reldul attacked again as one. They jumped on its legs, and clawed their way up. Those that fell, quickly recovered and fired their cannons at the monster.

The soldiers followed them, though wouldn't be able to pursue for much longer. One of them called out they were out of ammunition. Another spared his last magazine. Then another was out. Even Yaaranam's flamethrower was out of fuel.

Lacking a weapon himself did not stop Vactubstein from charging in on the geihildra's back.

The skuladr spun around sharply to knock off one of the reldul from its side. Its massive tail smacked right into Tunaaka and Fenris both. Both had gone flying. Tunaaka smashed into a tree with Vactubstein flying a bit further and crashing into the mud.

Fenris hit the compacted dirt and rocks of the lake. Nearly fully submerged in the water, Fenris clawed at the ground to get into shallower water. Only waist deep, it was stuck on all fours desperately crawling towards the dry land ahead.

The alpha reldul leaped to the skuladr only to take a smack of its claws at full force. It hit the ground with a loud thud. When it did not get back up, its pack mates cried and backed down from the fight. This let the skuladr go unhindered, marching right for Fenris still stuck in the lake.

Yaaranam ran for Vactubstein, dropping her emptied weapon.

"Captain, what do we do?" One of the soldiers asked.

Reaper looked around, trying to figure out a solution.

"How many vehicles are operational?" He asked.

"Four, sir."

"Do we have rope?"

"No, sir."

"Reaper," Ianisse chimed in. "What about the vines? Those are awfully strong."

"You're right! Get two trucks, and get as many vines as you can, we need to make a long rope."

The soldiers all accepted their orders and ran off to gather the vines and the needed trucks.

"What are you planning?" Jackal asked.

"That thing is huge." Reaper pointed. "We need to bring it down to our level.”

“Should have Mjolnir and Yaa--” Jackal suddenly winced. The breath taken out of his lungs. His chest ached as if it were just hit with a sledgehammer. He clutched at his chest and his head.

Reaper grabbed his shoulder, holding him upright.

“Medic!” He shouted.

Jackal tried to wave him off, but an invisible dagger plunged its way into his brain. His eyes began to glow red, the light wisping away like fire on a waving torch.

“Are you all right?” Reaper asked, trying to keep him on his feet.

“S-something’s….” He took a sharp breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. Eyes shut tight, the lids turned from the fleshy tone to black. The discoloration spread out over his eyes like vines.

“Wrong.” He exhaled. “F-Fenris…” He looked up, hands shaking uncontrollably.

Fenris was still in the water, now surrounded by a green smoke that the skuladr created from canisters it launched. It was unable to get out before the creature attacked it. Now it was further back in, nearly chest height in the water. Its cloak floated upon the splashing surface.

The skuladr smacked the wolf, trying to get it further in. Yet Fenris pushed to