Night Fury's Wrath

Chapter 85: Hunt [Part 3]

Duck.

I dropped flat on my belly just as a shrieking minion lunged for me, only to sail harmlessly over me and into Anari, who covered it in strange fire. It didn't seem capable of killing them, but it bought me time, and they certainly didn't like being set ablaze. 

It was an ambush. After a long teaching session Anari made up to help me remember how to fly with little success, we left to return to the hole we called home—at least for now. The scraggly 'forest' was still very new to me, so I looked around in wonder and stopped to smell anything new. It annoyed the Hel out of Caligo, but she had insisted she hitched a ride in my body for 'safety,' so she could get over it. Of course, in my moments of distraction, my former master's minions decided to swarm us.

Left in two beats. Right first.

I snarled, infusing my claws with sinister power, and twisted to the right to shred a minion that dared challenge me. I whirled around, whipping my tail into my first target to send it flying and facing my next with a barrage of claws and teeth. 

ABOVE!

Above—?

Something dense dropped dead-center on my back, driving the air from my lungs. I coughed, too dazed to stand.

"Move a muscle, and the demon dies!" Anari froze mid-step, and my eyes widened as something thin and clearly very sharp pushed against the right side of my throat. Did a minion just... speak?

That's not a minion! 

"Are... Are ya a Scaleless?" Anari breathed. A what-now?

I couldn't see it without lifting my head, but I didn't think that was wise with a sharp thing at my throat. What was a 'Scaleless?' Was it dangerous? If I strained my eyes to the right, I could barely see a small appendage at the edge of my vision. It was solid but still seeped the dark mist that the common minions had.

"Silence!" The creature snapped. "You will come with us, demons, or I will spill its guts!" I winced when the sharp object pressed harder against my scales, drawing a little blood. What do I do?!

Anari stared into my wide eyes, then slowly backed up a step. "O-Okay, we don't want any trouble..."

The 'Scaleless' chuckled as the minions closed in. "Good. Grab 'em, boys."

Out of nowhere, the stench of decay invaded my nostrils, followed by a pulsing headache. Realization struck me an instant before foggy darkness clawed at the edges of my vision. Death is here!

He's what?!

~Wretched INSECTS!~ The minions submissively backed away as a deep voice vibrated the air around us. ~You dare threaten my property?!~ A familiar darkness manifested before me and swung a wicked object. The 'Scaleless' holding me hostage silently slumped and fell off of me, its spindly body lacking a head. I paled. W-What...?

Before I could slip fully into my fear, I felt long claws wrap around and squeeze my neck, slowly lifting me. I kicked and writhed, gasping for air as I was brought before utter darkness, feeling as if it stared into my soul even without eyes. ~We made a deal, little light, but now you harbor the enemy? Tsk... Tsk...~

My head was suddenly alight with torment, drawing out a choked scream with what little air I had left. Images and sounds assaulted my fading mind as I suffocated, my kicking rapidly devolving into weak twitches. I heard Anari's voice, but it was too muffled to understand.

~Leave her body, Caligo. Your soul is mine.~

Screw you, Death! Power flooded my paw, which swiped without my consent, sending a surge through the dark mass when it connected with the appendage around my neck. An unholy roar of pain shook my world, but I was finally dropped to the ground, coughing and sucking in glorious air.