Belly of the Beast by Warren Thomas (story books for 5 year olds txt) 📕

            KA-BOOOOM!

            That pushed both doors in a good half-foot. The priest smiled to see the doors didn’t fit flush on the sides either, so the hinges were either bending or breaking out of the stonework.

            “One more time and we’ll be through,” Jessy cried.

            The team was already swinging the ram back and forth, faster and faster. Nizar moved up even closer, heart racing. His breathing short and shallow as he gathered his power.

            “Now!”

            They shoved the structure up against the teetering doors as the ram swung back again. Nizar threw all the kinetic power he could into it, sensing it was all Dakar could, or would, give him for now. And that reminded him of his God’s fight with the Arisen hundreds of miles to the north.

            KA-BOOOOOM!

            The massive portals of silver groaned, a ripping sound echoing through the underground chambers. Nizar stared, mouth open, and watched them slowly at first, topple over into the temple.

Chapter 93

            The battering ram strikes made Tane jump every time. No one could ignore that gods-awful sound. The faint sound of shouting men filtered through as well, while his friends remained grim and quiet as they faced the doors.

            But Tane continued sharpening that sword. He felt no objection from Kamain.

            Quinn had held everyone back, posting them about halfway between the doors and the forge. Part of Tane longed to stand beside his comrades in the coming fight, yet the compulsion to finish the Sword of Power couldn’t be denied.

            A particularly loud crash startled him, making even Raven and Joelle cry out. He noticed the stone around the hinges looked broken and loose, and then saw that last battering ram strike had pushed the doors away from the jamb.

            “Quinn! The doors…”

            KA-BOOOOM!

            The massive silver doors appeared to slide a little more inside, and then start to topple over into the temple. His friends jumped back, hands going straight to their ears. Tane didn’t react as fast, and his ears took the full brunt of the crashing doors.

            Marble exploded up and out, pelting them before a dust cloud spread out. Dark figures rushed through the door and dust. They emerged to become gray and black clad mercenaries.

            Joelle immediately let loose on them, taking out one with her second arrow. They raced toward Tane and his friends, zigging and zagging the whole way. And then more zombies began emerging from the settling dust cloud.

            “Surrender!” a familiar female voice shouted. “You can’t escape.”

            His eyes found the smallest mercenary of all. A young woman, with very pale blonde hair. Hair as light as his cousin…

            “Jessy?”

            “Tane! Thank the Goddess! Surrender,” she cried. “Stop what you’re doing and yield.”

            “Are you crazy?”

            “No. You’ve been tricked, Tane,” Jessy shouted, stopping to regard Raven as the Tyrian moved to block her.

            “Stay away from him,” Raven shouted and stopped between him and Jessy.

            “Don’t hurt her!” he cried. “She’s my cousin, Jessy. She’s one of us.”

            “I disagree,” Raven said. “She’s wearing the gray and black of Dakar.”

            “So are you, slimebag,” Jessy sneered. She planted her feet and presented her sword. It was slightly curved steppe sword. Odd choice for Jessy, but he understood she had to take what was available. “Surrender or die.”

            Raven frozen. Her sword point dropped to the floor, and she took a tentative step toward Jessy. Then she recoiled, and the sword came back up. Rage spread across the raven-maned Tyrian’s face.

            “Is that Tasheba?”

            “Yes. I think that’s what it is called.”

            “I gave it to her,” Nizar said, as he strode into the temple. He sounded amused. “Now it serves my God.”

            “That’s my sword! Give it back!”

            Jessy took another step closer, determination on her youthful face. “Take it if you can.”

            “I’ll take it and hand Nizar your bloody head, child!”

            “Don’t hurt her, Raven,” Tane cried as he rushed toward them.

            “You have to surrender to us, Tane,” Jessy said, eyes remaining on Raven who quickly closed with her. “Nizar is a priest of Ashtar, and we’ve been sent by Ashtar to stop you.”

            All of the mercenaries stopped to stare at Nizar. The zombies remained unaffected, throwing themselves at Quinn, Joelle, and Armin.

            “Are you crazy?” Raven cried as the fight resumed.

            Some of the zombies broke off to head toward him and Raven. They didn’t even glance at Jessy.

            “Nizar is a priest of Dakar,” he said. “Look at the zombies. They are ignoring you, Nizar, and the mercenaries. They are controlled by Dakar.”

            Jessy frowned. Raven closed with her at that time, and they crossed blades a few times, beginning to circle. He looked at Quinn.

            “He’s tricked her,” Quinn said. “Nizar doesn’t think you can fight and kill your own blood, so is using her against you.”

            “Nice try, Dakarites!” Nizar sneered. “But Ashtar Herself commanded Jessy and me to find and stop you.” He pointed at Tane. “You know what to do, Jessy. If he refuses to reject the path of evil, you mush slay him to save the world!”

Chapter 94

            A man cried out in horror. Jessy glanced over to see Jhonny crumble to the floor. The elf moved back from him, even as a glowing arrow streaked between them to blow up the chest of a zombie.

            The fight’s not going our way, she thought, returning her full attention to the black-hair Tyrian warrior. Raven suddenly lunged and pinked her tip in Jessy’s left thigh. “Bitch!”

            She rushed Raven, swinging widely. Their swords clashed, and then Jessy calmed down and tried to remember all of her training. Tane again tried to impose himself between them, but the women danced around him, finding a way to strike out at each other.

            Maybe Mom was right, Jessy thought. And I’m not ready for this.

            The Tyrian parried her best thrusts and cuts with frightening ease. Nothing she did got past Raven’s defense, and it