Belly of the Beast Warren Thomas (e novels for free .txt) 📖

him, and they were going to fight. The Black God reached out with a growl that Tane felt in his bones, in his very soul. Blind panic consumed him, and he lashed out at that humongous hand.

            The blade bit into flesh.

            “Aaaiiee!” Dakar thundered, yanking his hand back.

            “Yes! You hurt him,” Raven cried. She darted in and thrust into his side. “Die, monstrosity!”

            Dakar snarled and swung a massive arm at her. The Tyrian darted and ducked, stabbing him twice more before falling back out of reach.

            “I stung him,” she said, looking utterly delighted.

            Tane stared at her a second. How could anyone love fighting so much? If she lost, Dakar would eat her soul. So Tane couldn’t allow her to die. No more friends could die for him.

            “Your unholy reign of terror ends here,” Tane growled low as he focused on Dakar.

            Quinn and Armin attacked while the God was distracted by Raven. Seeing Him distracted again, Tane rushed straight at him. Dakar responded faster than anticipated, swinging his arm around to smash Tane away.

            Tane turned into the arm. He swung Kamain’s Wrath with all his strength, chopping deep into the God’s flesh even as he was knocked to his back.

            Dakar howled in pain, but Tane proved unable to hang onto the hilt. The Sword of Power went clattering across the temple. Tane rolled onto his belly and stared at the skittering sword as it stopped at Nizar’s feet. The evil priest reached down and picked it up triumphantly.

            “Fuck me to tears,” Raven said.

            “Victory is mine!” Dakar roared at the heavens.

Chapter 96

            “No, no, no,” Jessy whispered.

            Tane lay on his back, with Dakar standing over him. Defeated. Seconds from death. And she played a part in bringing her cousin down, and helped the Black God win.

            “What have I done? How could I be so stupid?”

            The Tyrian, elf, and Vikon warrior charged Dakar, distracting Him just enough for Tane to scramble away. But then Dakar quickly forced them all back to the forge. The God faltered, giving the forge a wary look.

            “You will continue to make Swords of Power for me, swordsmith,” Dakar’s booming voice commanded.

            “I will not.”

            “Then I will have you all sacrificed upon My altar, and devour your immortal souls.”

            Jessy’s breath caught. Was there anything worse than losing your soul? She struggled to comprehend the very idea of her, or anyone’s, soul being eaten. No eternal reward, or punishment. Just an end of existence.

            She shook her head. Unacceptable. That went against nature. If nothing else, it proved the depths of Dakar’s evil.

            Nizar moved up to Dakar’s left rear, holding the Sword of Power across his uplifted hands, as if he wanted to present it to his God. She moved closer, watching every move anyone made. Her heart hammered harder and harder the closer she got to Dakar.

            Evil radiated off the God. He stank of the Pit, as well. Her skin crawled as she stopped to Nizar’s left rear, careful to keep the priest between her and that most evil God. Only she held her sword by the hilt.

            “I grant you one final chance, swordsmith,” Dakar said. “Continue to make Swords of Power for me. Or my priest Nizar will start sacrificing your friends on my altar.” Dakar looked back at Jessy. “He’ll start with your cousin.”

            “No! Leave her alone,” Tane screamed, rage and despair warring across his face.

            I can’t allow Tane to make that unholy choice, she thought.

            Jessy stepped closer to Nizar, and then thrust her sword into his back. The priest bowed back, eyes huge as he flung his arms wide.

            She tried to grab the Sword of Power out of Nizar’s hands, but he lost his grip before she could get there. The sword clattered at his feet, and then he spun to face her. His foot struck the Sword of Power, sending it skittering across the floor.

            Dakar spun on her, roaring his fury as he lifted a massive fist to smash her to mush. She looked up and gasped. He caught her eyes, and she felt His vile magic wash through her, freezing her to the spot. No escaping death.

            My soul, she thought. Please, Ashtar, save Tane.

Chapter 97

            “Jessy!” Tane screamed when Dakar turned on her.

            Nizar turned on her as well, and Tane spotted the sword in his back. Joy burst within. Jessy found her way back. Then he spotted the Sword of Power clattering toward him.

            He only froze for a second. “Thank you, Kamain!”

            Tane and Armin lunged toward the sword at the same time. He snatched Kamain’s Wrath up before Armin. The Vikon warrior tried to take the blade away in his rage for vengeance. Quinn yanked Armin off, while Raven came up beside Tane in support.

            “I’m with you,” she said. “Kill him!”

            Dakar slanted a look back at him. That hesitation was enough. Jessy broke free of her stupor and darted away. And rage filled Tane as he charged Dakar.

            “Die, you monster!”

            The uplifted fist came down and back at Tane. He dropped and rolled under that vicious blow, coming back onto his feet inside Dakar’s guard. Tane thrust straight into the bestial God’s belly, and then twisted his blade back out. Blood followed the blade out, but only a little.

            He heals too fast!

            “The heart!” Raven screamed. “Stab Him in the heart!”

            “Cut off his head!” Armin shouted. “Kill him! Kill him!”

            The Vikon warrior broke free of Quinn. Dakar took another swing at Tane, forcing him to backpedal. Raven raced past him, and almost got within striking range. But Dakar backhanded her, sending the Tyrian warrior flying over Tane.

            Armin attacked Dakar’s right flank while he was distracted with Raven, thrusting his sword into the God’s side. Dakar snarled as He spun on Armin.

            “Run!” Tane screamed.

            The Vikon, face a mask of rage, attacked again. He