Fulcrum of Light (Catalyst Book 2) C.J. Aaron (unputdownable books .TXT) 📖

From below, a tiny pinpoint of light was growing in intensity as it rose to the surface. Ceado leaned closer to get a better look. The light from Ryl’s lantern penetrated the water. Its beams reflected off something glistening below the unexplainable light. The shimmering moved of its own accord, the light tracking the outline of a massive object from the deep.

“Get back from the water,” Ryl screamed.

The confused Vigil jumped at the sound, turning to face Ryl instead of backing away. The unexplainable glowing ball of light stopped at the water’s surface before flickering out.

Water exploded out from around the vanished light as a massive form surged from the depths. Its head was huge, black and circular, stretching easily two meters across. Its mouth spread open, rows of jagged teeth glistened in the light. A deep gurgling sound shook the tunnel as it rose from within the beast.

Ceado fell backward, his feet sliding across the wet stones as he frantically struggled to flee. His efforts were in vain; the vicious jaws clamped shut on the upper half of his body, hoisting him in the air with a spray of blood. The guard’s frenzied wail was silenced instantly.

Ryl dropped the lantern as he wrenched the Leaves from their holster. The blades burst to life instantly, illuminating the tunnel with their shimmering green light. The rest of the party—alerted by his warning screams—were steadily gaining their feet. He could see the fire growing in Vox’s hand.

All had occurred in a matter of seconds. Ryl’s anger surged at the death of his companion; the speed flowed forth unbeckoned. He had been so intent on warning the doomed Vigil that his focus had strayed from the water along his side. Time had yet to slow as he made to take his first step. An unseen tail whipped from the water, slamming into his back, tossing his body into the air.

Ryl’s body slammed into the cavern wall near where his companions rose from their slumber. He struck the wall with a bone jarring force, robbing the breath from his lungs, and the side of his head ricocheted off the stone, sending a lancing jolt of pain through his body. The Leaves went dormant as they slipped from his hands, clattering as they bounced off the rock floor below. Ryl watched in slow motion as the weapons rebounded upward before falling again. The sound that accompanied their impact was thunderous.

Ryl’s vision blurred as he reflexively sprang back to his feet. His footing was tenuous, his legs felt frail and hobbled, and he fought to retain his consciousness as the world around him spun. As he stumbled across the damp stone a fireball screamed over his head.

A solid thump echoed through the cavern of the underground river and the room flared with light as the fireball exploded on its mark. Ryl could feel the wave of heat from the blast as he staggered to collect his weapons. The hiss of fire extinguishing and the sizzle of burning flesh were followed by a roar that shook the cavern. Small streams of loose dirt and stone fell from the walls and ceiling.

He heard Kaep call his name as she quickly glanced back at him between launching her arrows. Her voice resonated in his ears, but the words were garbled and distorted. He stumbled, falling to a knee as he reached to snatch the Leaves from the ground near his feet.

Ramm streamed through the smoke that had formed from the detonation of Vox’s attack. His war-hammer was hefted at the ready behind his shoulders—an involuntary grunt rumbled from his throat as he swung the massive weapon at the side of the beast’s serpentine face. The creature thrashed in pain, swinging its head from side to side. Ceado’s lifeless legs slapped against its skin, still wedged among the teeth in the creature’s lower jaw.

An unexpected recoil of its writhing form caught Ramm unprepared. The side of its gargantuan head slammed into the phrenic, sending his body careening back toward his companions. The giant of a man was impossible for Vox to avoid. They both went down in a heap, taking with them Andr and Dav, who had valiantly surged forward to attack, albeit without the speed of the phrenic.

The creature’s head reared upward, its large wide-set eyes seemingly focusing on the writhing bodies of the phrenics and Vigil. Ryl gritted his teeth as the frustration mounted. His body failed to respond to his commands as his head still reeled from the impact against the wall. With a growl, he retrieved the weapons that had skipped out of his frantic reach. The shimmering blades flared to life; the gout of green fire burned along their edges. The creature opened its mouth as it moved in for a strike. A protective lid blinked over its eye. Kaep’s arrow shattered in a rain of splinters as it failed to penetrate the scaly skin.

This had all taken place in a matter of a few short moments. The curse of the phrenics speed left time to analyze and doubt the actions of the past as time ticked by. The monster from the deep moved with a frightening speed. Even with his boost of speed, it was relatively quick in comparison. Ryl had the sinking fear that the battle would be over soon; that his friends wouldn’t live to see the outcome.

From the left side of the beast, a shadow slipped from the darkened edges of the wall. There was a flash of green as the fire burning from the Leaves in his hands reflected off the naked steel of a blade. Deyalou darted under the belly of the creature, slashing his outstretched blade across the scales. He carried an object in his opposite hand, though Ryl couldn’t focus to solidify the details. A thin crease opened where his blade had passed, immediately oozing a stream of red blood. There was a second thunderous roar from the