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

This can’t be what it means to be a hero. I haven’t even done anything remotely heroic! It’s like I ran nose first into a brick wall. I got stopped as soon as I started. I’m not sure which is worse. Never achieving my dreams, or leaving behind all of the people I had grown to know and even love. I may not have been much in their lives, but they all meant something to me. It felt like I was letting them all down.

I was trapped in the mouth of a giant monster that probably had no idea what I was. It only cared about the crystal. Since I still had it in my grip, it would swallow us both. I can only watch helpless as my bird’s eye view changed to a more ground level view, then to one even lower.

If you’re real, say something. Give me a sign. Is this really how I’m going out? Tell me! I don’t want to go like this! I thought you wanted to hear my story! I thought that would convince you to give me another chance. I know I’ve always doubted you. Can you blame me?

I grew up on the streets without a family. The things I saw no kid should ever see. No one should have to live like that; digging in the trash for bones, worried about the bigger kids stealing what you scrounge up. I never had faith in you…

How do you expect anyone to believe in you if you just sit there quietly and watch us all suffer?! It doesn’t matter how loud, or how frequently anyone prays. You ignore it.

Why would you even come around to begin with if you just wanted to watch? Why did you make me think you were listening?

Even as this water rises to my neck, I still can’t just accept this. Does it humor you? You looked into my soul, a thing I didn’t even know existed until recently, and read me like an open book. Like I wanted to relive everything. Like it would help.

It didn’t.

It didn’t help me at all.

It only made me realize how much I fucked up. How much of an asshole I really am and how I never amounted to anything.

So, what’s going to happen to me now? Now that it’s all over. We’re back here. Is Death a real person? Is the grim reaper going to manifest before me to wisp my soul out of my body and take me to Hell?

Will I end up like Sparrow? Die and crystallize. Become a monster. Is there really another side to get to, or is this just it?

I can hear your voice. I hear you calling my name. The darkness is closing in around me just like the water. My suit doesn’t have a lot of oxygen left. I can feel my body growing colder. Each breath is getting harder to take. My lungs are on fire and my lip is stinging.

Just between all of the teeth caging me in is a light. It’s growing brighter as the darkness envelops me. I would come if I could, but I’m stuck. I’m trapped here in this monster’s mouth. Help me.

Please.

I don’t want to die here.

Not like this.

Not alone.

Please, help me.

I’ll fight until I can’t anymore.

Just give me something! Anything! The strength. The willpower! Break me out.

Fenris...where are you?

FIFTY-TWO

As Fenris and Jackal climbed up the basalt pillars towards the safety of solid ground, a great shadow was cast over them. Two monsters, larger than any mountain they had seen before, rose from the depths of the ocean. Cold water poured from their heads and frills that decorated them. Their mouths sparked with electricity as they opened up. Reaper fell to his rear, staring up at the colossal beasts. Their bodies thick in writhing muscles kept squirming through the crushing waves, the fins and frills folding back and forth in the wind. Soulless, white orbs for eyes pierced down at each one of them. They could hear the equivalent of a hiss rumbling from the beasts’ bodies.

Fenris did the only thing it could think of. It snatched Jackal up in the hand of one of its wingarms and chucked him up towards the edge of the cliff where the others were waiting. Then it began to ascend on its own.

It did not think the serpents, Jurm and Munga, could react quickly enough. The moment Jackal was airborne, kicking and screaming, one went for him. The other for Fenris.

Forced to defend itself instead of protecting Jackal and the artifact, Fenris hit the basalt hard. Teeth clamped down against one of its legs. It braced itself with its wingarms, keeping the beast from yanking it effortlessly off the pillars. It bit down into the beast’s nose and grabbed hold of its nearest fangs.

Now the serpent struggled against Fenris’ great strength. For such a small creature in comparison, it was easily overpowering the sea serpent. Its body writhed and coiled in on itself to better pull away, but Fenris did not budge.

Fenris dared to push a wingarm back further up the pillars. Then the other. A third time. Slowly, the valkyrie would pull the serpent from the safety of the ocean where it hoped the beast would be weakened.

Mjolnir clambered down the pillars, hammer in hand. He could do nothing to help Jackal, but if they could take out one of the serpents, perhaps then they could rescue Jackal.

“Jack!” Reaper called, rushing to the edge of the cliff.

They could only watch as Jackal reached out from the mouth of the serpent. It descended slowly into the depths of the water. Barely even leaving a trace of bubbles at the surface.

A few hits from Mjolnir’s hammer had the other serpent reeling. Yaaranam fired a burst of flames at its face, making it rear back further. Fenris let go as it slipped down the pillars, saving itself from dropping into the water.