Sign of the Devil's Footprint [THE DEVILS CULT BOOK 1]

Chapter Three

Melione didn't want to acknowledge the creature that was stalking them. She could now see an outline of the creature from the corner of her left eye. She could tell by Grym's reaction that he was seeing it as well. Grym's horse was growing restless. It started to throw its head, trying to free its reins from Grym's hands.

He tried to soothe the horse as best as he could but wasn't successful. He kept stroking its neck and making soothing noises, but the horse wouldn't respond to his touch. Melione knew that he and his horse were bonded tightly, but whatever this creature was had gotten into its head.

What do you tasssste like? A hissing voice flowed through Melione's head. Sickening laughter filled her head. She felt something brush across her shoulder. Her head snapped over to her right shoulder but saw nothing. There was no evidence that anything had touched her.

Another ripple of laughter filled her head, tickling her consciousness. You're much sssssmarter than the other one, the high voice hissed again. Melione was starting to put together what was stalking them. It'll be much more entertaining tearing into your beautiful milky flessssssh.

A cracking noise sounded to her left, making her head snap in that direction. Three of the orbs that she produced were now gone. She hadn't noticed it until now. Her mistbeast wouldn't have eaten them. He knew that those were not for him, but for Grym to see. The orbs that were gone were near her and not Grym. She looked over to him to see if he had noticed that they were gone, but didn't give any sign that he noticed.

Most creatures in the Eclipse Sanctum liked the taste of the light orbs. Just like the mistbeast, they believed them to be sweet. There were few, although, that could reach into your mind.

Her first thought was that it was a vexsoul, but remembered that they didn't enjoy the taste of the light orbs. They were able to get into the mind of their prey, but not the way this creature was doing it. She felt vulnerable. She felt as if every single thought that she had, every fear, would be heard by this creature and it could use it to its advantage. She didn't like that.

You're closssssse, the voice hissed inside of her head. I want to know what your blood would tasssssste like. A slither of quick movement went by her left side.

She spotted it. A fucking aurasnake. She saw the blue glow of its eyes as it slithered by them. She needed to figure out a way to get to Grym without alerting the creature.

Fucking too late. Melione's heartbeat sped up even quicker as she turned over to look at Grym. Her heart lept when she noticed that Grym was no longer with her. She hadn't noticed when he left or how he left. She had thought that she heard his horse's hoofbeats walking beside her.

Fuck.

She stopped her mistbeast and turned it around. Melione held out her hand and released a dozen more light orbs around her. She moved her mistbeast back the way they came to try to find Grym. That creature was going to eat him alive if she couldn't find him. She opened her mouth to call out to him but thought better about it. There were other creatures out here that would want to taste either of their flesh.

Her mistbeast made sure that its steps were as quiet as they could be. The shadows moved around it covering them both in total darkness. To anything that was around them, they wouldn't see them. But Melione could see through the shadows. She followed one light orb through the forest while keeping an eye on the other eleven orbs surrounding her.

Her heart leaped in her chest as she noticed now that there were only eight. She hadn't heard or seen anything that had taken them. An aurasnake wasn't usually quiet. The young ones are loud and cocky, but the older that they get, the smarter they become. This one had to be ancient. It was completely silent.

I found him, the hissing voice sounded in her head. She stopped herself from jumping at the sound of the voice. She didn't want the monster to know how scared she was at the moment.

Now I'm a monssssster? The aurasnake sounded hurt, but a harsh laugh filled her head. A headache was starting to form.

She urged her mistbeast to move faster as she kept turning her head to the right and left, looking for any sign where Grym was. She had to find him. If the aurasnake was telling the truth, she was going to be too late. Once she found Grym, she'll kill the monster.

One thing at a time.

Somehow they had been moving in a circle. She recognized the trees that surrounded her. Melione let out a desperate sigh. Her shoulders slumped as she figured out how old this monster truly was.

This aurasnake was ancient. He was able to control her surroundings, making her turn in circles for who knows how long until she noticed. He was in her head. He knew her fears and her thoughts. That meant that he was doing the same to Grym. Grym was most likely walking in circles just like she was right now trying to find her.

Melione closed her eyes and sat up straight in her saddle. She took a deep breath and closed her mind. She thought of nothing. Melione held out her in front of her face and started to chant. A purple light orb formed in her palm. She opened her eyes and whispered to the orb. "Take me to him."

Melione released the orb out in front of her willing the mistbeast to release its shadows from around them. She needed the aurasnake to see them. If she showed it that neither of them was scared of it, he should leave them alone.

She hoped that would work.

The orb was leading them off of the path. Her jaw clenched as she realized that the aurasnake led him far away from her. She urged the mistbeast faster hoping to get to Grym soon. It was now that she noticed that the only orb that was left was the purple one in front of her. The rest of the orbs had been eaten.

Your light isssss deliciousss, the aurasnake hissed. Closing off her mind didn't save her from the voice. This monster was strong. Your flesh hasssss to be even more sssssweet. Your friend wasssss sssweet, but not assss sssweet assss you. A wicked laugh filled her head causing another stab of pain to go through her head.

Grym couldn't have been eaten by the aurasnake yet. She had to be the one to find him before the monster did. She didn't want to let the Emerald Realm know that she couldn't protect one of their own. The two realms were already straining in their relationship. This would set them over the edge. She didn't need a war when the lesser gods are being killed.

"Get the fuck off of me!" She heard Grym's faint voice growl.

Her heart lept when she heard his voice. He was alive. He was fighting something, but he was alive. She was going to keep it that way.

Melione urged the mistbeast into a gallop as she continued to follow the light orb toward Grym. She halted quickly when she saw that he was already fighting the aurasnake. What a nasty-looking creature.

Grym, covered in blood, held out his sword towards the aurasnake. Melione couldn't help but hope that the blood that was over Grym wasn't his. The aurasnake was up on the back of its tail, its two front arms reaching out towards Grym. Grym looked tiny compared to the aurasnake in front of him.

The aurasnake came at him again, its long, sharp claws hoping to dig into Grym's skin. Grym swung his sword causing the aurasnake to move back again.

Melione could tell that this one was starving. Not very many of her people wandered through these woods anymore. No wonder the aurasnake wanted them as badly as it did. Its giant head shook as it was forced to move back again. Venom dripped from its long fangs. If that venom touched your skin, it will dig a hole through you causing excruciating pain.

The aurasnake came at him again, but when Grym went to swing his sword, the aurasnake brought its tail around hitting him. Grym went flying into a tree. A sickening crunch coming from him. He sunk to the ground, not moving an inch.

"Grym!"