GOE 08 - Bound By Darkness [calibre 0.9.30]

“Are they all trolls?”

“Who?”

“The guards.”

“No.” The sharp scent of Valla’s fear filled the air. “There’s at least two imps and a pack of hellhounds who guard the exits. There’s no way out if that’s what you’re thinking. And if you try ... they’ll hurt you.”

“There’s always a way out.”

The nymph was momentarily speechless at Jaelyn’s cold confidence; then she gave a forced laugh.

“Yes well, I suppose a woman like you would think that way.”

Jaelyn turned to meet the faintly envious blue gaze. “A woman like me?”

Valla shrugged. “A warrior.”

“All women are warriors.”

Valla’s lips twisted. “Nice to think so.”

Jaelyn swallowed the urge to point out that the mere fact Valla had managed to survive two weeks in the dungeons of a slaver proved she was as tough as any soldier.

Focus, Jaelyn, focus.

“Who runs the place?”

“There’s a half-breed troll who is in charge of the auctions.”

“And?” Jaelyn prompted.

“There’s something ...” She wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Else.”

Something else?

That covered a lot of territory.

“What?”

Valla lowered her voice until it was barely a whisper. “A monster.”

Jaelyn moved closer to her new friend, sensing that she was coming close to discovering precisely what was making vampires disappear.

“A demon?” she pressed.

“I don’t know exactly what it is, but whenever they bring in a vampire it comes out of the cellars and drags them down there.”

Jaelyn followed the direction of Valla’s pointed finger, noticing the faint outline of a hidden door on the back wall of the cell.

“You don’t know what species it is?”

The nymph shrugged. “It’s something I’ve never seen before... .” Her eyes abruptly widened as the stench of old leather suddenly filled the air. “Oh no. That’s it.”

“Sssh.”

Motioning for the nymph to return to her narrow cot on the far side of her cell, Jaelyn moved to overturn the table, allowing the goblet and its nasty contents to drain into the dirt floor. Then, lowering herself to the floor, she stretched out as if she’d been struck unconscious, careful to make sure she could see the hidden door.

She had barely arranged herself to her satisfaction when the door slowly swung inward and a large form squeezed through the opening to step into the cell.

Peeping beneath her lowered lashes, Jaelyn barely repressed a shudder of disgust.

A vicious cross between a gargoyle and an ogre, the creature had dark, armor-like skin and a ridge of spines that ran from the base of its large, misshapen head down between its leathery wings to the tip of his long tail. Its short arms ended with clawed hands, as did his powerful legs, and when it turned toward Jaelyn she shuddered as she caught sight of its face.

Even by demon standards the thing was butt-ugly.

It had the grotesque features of gargoyles with beady crimson eyes and a snout with flaps over its nostrils. It also had a mouthful of razor-sharp teeth it proudly displayed.

But Jaelyn wasn’t fooled by the loutish cruelty etched into the face. There was an unmistakable intelligence shimmering in his eyes that was more dangerous than all his brute strength.

Remaining motionless, Jaelyn watched as the mongrel sniffed the air before it cautiously began to shuffle in her direction.

She didn’t so much as twitch a muscle as it halted near her feet, reaching out to poke her calf with a claw that was at least three inches long. She would bet good money that the creature was like most ogres, who preferred their meals to be alive and struggling.

The thing no doubt intended to drag her down to its private lair and wait for her to wake before it tried to eat her.

There was another poke; then the mongrel grabbed her around the ankle and began to drag her toward the back of the cell.

Knowing she’d only have one shot at catching the creature off guard, she remained limp until his head turned to glance toward the opening. His brief distraction was all she needed and, jerking her ankle free of his claws, she used the motion to rise to her feet and slammed her hand into his snout as he turned in shock.

She felt bone and cartilage shatter beneath her blow, but while the creature bellowed in pain, he remained upright and seriously pissed off.

Moving with surprising speed considering his heavy bulk, the thing grasped Jaelyn around the neck, ignoring the spikes of her dog collar, which bit into his thick hide, and lifting her to meet his glowing crimson gaze.

“Bitch,” he hissed, the word barely distinguishable between the sharp teeth.

Jaelyn smiled with cold anticipation, already knowing exactly where she would strike the killing blow.

“You’ve been a very naughty boy,” she mocked, hanging loosely in his grasp. “You should have known the vampires would come searching for you. We don’t like being prey.”

The thing wheezed out what she assumed was a laugh. “Tasty leeches. Yum, yum.”

He leaned forward to lick a rough tongue over her cheek.

A revolting mistake that Jaelyn made him pay for ... with interest.