Chomp

Chapter 28

CHAPTER 28:

I couldn't have been sitting there for more than ten minutes when the door to the room flew open with a bang. Ray stood there surveying the room, her eyes landing on me last. Both Adira and I stood at the same time, empty wine glasses in our hands before we placed them aside. Ray was covered in blood and I couldn't tell if any of it was hers. It looked as though her skin was cracking and crumbling away to reveal smooth grey skin underneath. Her eyes were still black and her hair was wild about her head. Her canines were protruding from her mouth in an angry snarl and her fingers had extended and morphed into sharp greying points. 

To say that I was terrified is an understatement. 

"Where's everyone else?" I asked feeling slightly dizzy from the alcohol. Ray closed the distance between us and grabbed my arms, careful to keep from cutting my skin with her claw-like fingers. 

"Jacey's gone, but your mom and Celtic caught up. They stayed behind to help Theo and Lizzie with their injuries," she rushed looking back over her shoulder, "They'll be here soon but I think Jacey's sent something after me right before she Realm Jumped."

Adira cut in with her arms crossed over her chest. "And what exactly did they send. Our home is practically untouchable with all of the enchantments and spells I've had placed about the building," she said gesturing to all of the charms and jewels around the place. 

"I know, Adira," Ray hissed out but it seemed more panicked than angry, "but I fear it's something more than even your magic can handle at this point."

As though on cue, the entire building rumbled and the lights flickered indicating that whatever was chasing after us was finally here. Ray's grip on my arms tightend and the harpies sprang to their feet as though prepared for battle. I could hardly keep my balance. Adira spun around and faced the adjacent wall, her eyes going completely white again as she extended a hand. At first nothing happened, but then the wall slowly broke away only to be sucked into a swirling black hole with a red glow at the end of the tunnel. 

"You must go through the gate before-" another violent rumble cut her off followed by the shrill scream of one of the harpies. 

I turned my head to see a harpie staring up into the hollow eyes of a creature crawling along the ceiling, its hollow sockets beginning to glow. The damn thing looked like something out of a video game designed to give you nightmares. Its body moved as though it were a marrionett being controlled by an adroit puppeteer whose presence was unknown. There was no skin or hair, but a form that resembled something of a demented crash test dummy. The arms and legs were much longer though it had a human-likeliness. 

The hands curved smoothly into claws, feet being similar to the hands. There was no mouth, nose, or ears. No features at all save for a symbol marked in deep red over where its heart might be on the smooth white surface of its chest. It had to be identical to the one uncovered on Ray's chest. Two more of the creatures seeped through the carpet like vapor and surrounded us. Ray shieled me and the panic in her eyes threw my fear into a frenzy. 

"They're Soul Eaters!" she warned as it appeared to be too late for the harpie who'd screamed. 

I watched in horror as it's eyes glowed with white light and the harpy's eyes began to glow as well. Her light- what had to be her life's essence- was being sucked out of her like the dementors in those Harry Potter movies. The light dimmed as it was quickly drained from her sockets and travelled directly into the Soul Eater's until she collapsed in a heap. Her eyes were wide open and there was only the whites to show for them. 

"What do we do?" I freaked latching on to Ray from behind. 

The other harpies were already past the shock of their fallen friend, their smooth skin tearing into brightly colored blue and golden feathers. They grew two feet taller shredding their garments and hissing at the Soul Eaters surrounding us and slowly stalking closer. I was tipsy and too confused to understand what the hell was going on or even be in awe by what it was that I was seeing.