Falsified (Tarnished Book 2)

37 Just Thorns

Ravela settled his ire at me while the Valkrylupis began to foam at the cusp of its lower lip. The beast was even more nightmarish than I saw in my dreams. Its dark claws gouging the earth under it. The beast began to growl not only at Ravela but at me.

I sighed and strolled up to it.

It got on its haunches ready to spring up and tackle me to the ground. I cannot give up hope especially since this beast was here because of Ravela's taunting.

"Growl all you like, but I won't run. I know who you are just as you know me. Please, I won't let it mean nothing."

The beast continued to growl taking careful steps closer to me. It stared at me like a stranger when I saw it moments before now. It leaped into action and knocked me on my back. I stayed still while its claws dug into my chest. Its hot breath above my face as I could see its canines glistening in the daylight.

"Jaiden, what the hell is that?" Kay cried and the beast kept its focus on me.

It does not like me or Ravela, but what could that mean? It does not make any sense.

I searched its bright green eyes as they lit up in response to my stillness. "Kader, I know your angry and confused right now but this will not repeat. I would die before I go as far as you did to stop him." I gestured my eyes over at Ravela. "He brought you here, not me. You saved people, that's all I want to do with my life so please calm down."

The beast stopped growling. Its claws continued to dig further into my chest. It lowered its head my left arm and sniffed at it for a moment. It glanced at me from the corner of its eye and then bit into my shoulder. I cried out at the impact of his teeth burrowing into my shoulder. I struggled against the ground as thorns shot out from the ground and tied me down. The beast did not holt its feast and tears sprang down my cheeks.

"Please," it came out softer and whinnier than I wanted but the pain seared around where the beast bit me. "Kader, you are a hero. Stop this please," I cringed as the beast continued to ignore me and feast on my shoulder. I tried to use my powers but the thorns somehow deflected magic.

"Get off of him now," Artemis commanded. At the sound of her voice, the beast glanced in her direction. She scowled at its behavior like scolding a child. "Honestly, you chose to show up like this and attack the person who claims he wants the same as you." She strode up to the beast and it backed up off my chest. It snorted and turned its nose up.

I tore myself out of the thorns scratching up my flesh to get free and then cradled my shoulder. "I know you heard me, Kader." It returned its gaze to me and I heard a laugh escape its mouth. I was stunned to hear it. It sounded like...it could not be. I hurried to my feet and backed up unsure of the beast's identity now.

"Human, you are as blind as they come. Accept me will you, then you know my power will never be yours." It spoke for the first time I had ever seen it. "For there is another who possesses it." It glared at me.

"I haven't done anything to anger you, so why attack me?" I yelled at the beast, but it sat down on its hind legs and then onto its stomach. My shoulder continued to bleed as I kept pressure on the wound the beast gave me. "You're not Kader, are you?"

It laughed again. "You are rather slow-witted, human."

Artemis came to my side and to check my wound. I tore away from her and strode over to the Valkrylupis. I stared down at the large beast while thorns stuck close to the ground ready to ensnare me if I tried to get too close. "You bit me, you bastard!"