The Soul Eaters (The Thin Hex Line Book 1) by Gwyndolyn Russell (e reader txt) 📕

end of the rails stretched up towards the sky, facing their tails. The same lilac lights lined each rail and each metallic petal at the base of their backs.

The team did not slow down, but they admired the colossal creatures. If they listened closely, they could hear the mockery of whale songs from the aether as each of the creature’s sang their own tune unique as snowflakes.

The largest of the titans at the lead slowed down until it stopped in a field. The others continued on, moving off to either side to give it space. Starting at its head, each of the lights lit up bright enough to make it seem like a sun was shining from them. One at a time, each light shimmered. They could not hear, at this distance, the electricity whirring down their necks, sparking the cannon to life. Like thunder roaring through the clouds, bolts of lightning ran up and down the rails.

Tendrils lifted up from its sides to tuck down into the bottom of the cannon.

When it was fully charged, the titan gave a call in song, then all the sound around it seemed to suck down into the cannon. An explosion of lightning burst from its back and down the rails, carrying with it a black sphere. Lit in the lilac electricity, the sphere launched skyward, bursting through the clouds and into the atmosphere. Dust and air rushed out in rings from the cannon, knocking over trees and burning the leaves straight off the branches. A trail of lightning followed the sphere, pushing it forth into the emptiness of space beyond.

With a gentle bow of its head, the titan sang once more and continued forth, following its herd.

Sparrow popped out of the hatch of one of the trucks. She stared up in complete awe at the sight of the titans.

“What the hell did it launch?” Reaper wondered aloud.

“I’ve seen those before.” Vactubstein stated, crossing his arms. He rested against the door of the hatch. “Shortly before your ship made landfall, that big one sent one of those things up there.”

Jackal brought the receiver to his face. “Wait, are you saying there could be another ship up there?”

“With any luck, Reynolds would have already gotten that thing off the Syndicate.” Reaper said confidently. “They’ll be fine if there’s anyone up there.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” Jackal replied and hung the receiver up again. He was not quite sure if he believed that.

“Hey, look at that!” Sparrow pointed up into the sky.

Coming through the white glow of sunlight were black specks, growing rapidly. They came to shape as creatures with leathery wings and heads impractically large, each adorned with a crest of equally bizarre proportions. They circled overhead, following the trucks through the field. They squawked at one another with a few of the smaller ones diving down lower.

“Don’t take any chances!” Reaper said into the radio. “Shoot those fuckers dead!”

It was at a time like this he thought having safety straps for the gunner’s was a smart idea.

Those sticking out of the hatches fired a few shots up at the leathery birds. This seemed to encourage the creatures. They swooped down low, pecking at the trucks and the gunner’s as they soared right by.

Fenris stopped running and stepped to the side to let the trucks keep pushing over the hills. It waited for one of the birds to swoop down into its range. Then it leaped, caging its head and neck between the claws of its larger hand. It brought the creature to the ground and stepped on its back. Pulling up with its hand, the valkyrie easily tore its head free of its neck.

It then tossed the head like a spear, its beak and crest creating the perfect shape to be thrown. The beak pierced right through the body of another one, launching it sideways and into the ground.

Flamethrowers ignited into a roaring inferno overhead, scorching those that got too close and keeping the others at bay. Fenris even blew its own fire of khexide into the air, freezing their skin instead of burning them.

One of the birds, hladrun, swooped down to dig its talons into Vactubstein. Lucky for him, his armor withstood, deflecting the talons. The miscalculation caused the creature to land in the bed of the truck before it could take off again. Two short, stubby legs hobbled forth as its wings, three times the size of its body and twice the size of its head, folded up to tuck away the metallic membrane and still be able to walk on a couple of tiny fingers.

Another swooped down, choosing to take out the gunner in the middle, Sparrow. She shot at it as it came for her, but it got its talons into her chest piece and yanked her from the hatch of the truck.

Sparrow dropped her rifle to the ground and held onto the short legs of the hladrun. It cawed, flapping its wings harder to stay at speed. Seeing one of their own with easy food, the others came in. One bit into her leg as it soared by, yanking her out of the mouth of the first. Then that one was bombed from above, forcing it to let go to right itself from a series of flips dropping it towards the ground.

“Fuck! Sparrow!” Yaaranam shouted. She reached for her rifle, aimed it at one of the birds diving after her. It whirred to life only to click and shut back down. “Fuck! I’m out of ammo!” She picked up the flamethrower again.

Fenris leaped between two of the moving trucks to be underneath Sparrow. It bounced in place until jumping straight up with one of its hands extended to catch her.

Another hladrun soared overhead, snatching her into its beak before Fenris could get her.

The valkyrie roared and swiped up, knocking down another bird.

Sparrow was carried off, further north. The creature did not make it far before it was swarmed by its own kind. They pecked and yanked, stealing her from the