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

the serpent’s shifted to see what was happening to its partner. It used its head to smack Fenris off, only to have the beast cling to its jaw.

The valkyrie clawed and bit into its skin. It scratched at one of the four eyes it could see. The serpent reeled and called out. Now the other turned around to face Fenris. It let khexide seep out of its body, forcing it into the wounds with each bite it took. The khexide reacted as if it were a liquid and not a gas. It moved with the waves of the ocean. Swept about with the motions of the serpents and Fenris.

The serpent’s mouth sparked with purple electricity. It snapped at the valkyrie, getting its sparking teeth close enough for the bolt of lightning to jump from it, to Fenris. The beast reeled, bubbles bellowing from its mouth. It bit down hard, shoving its claws into the soft part of the serpent’s cheek.

The other serpent twisted in the water to return to its partner. Jackal’s arm and leg was still hanging out of its mouth, limp and lifeless.

The valkyrie shoved itself away from the serpent’s eye and to the nose of the other as it came up towards them. It tried to shake Fenris off, but it persevered. Claws dug in tight. It worked its way down to its lower jaw where it scratched and pulled. It would either break away its teeth, or pry its jaws apart.

The other serpent took a bite out of Fenris’ cloak and yanked it off its partner. Before it could be thrown, its wingarm shoved into one of the smaller eyes nearly elbow deep. The beast reared back and Fenris took the chance to jump back towards the other. This time it ripped out one of its teeth and snapped a second one in half. It gnawed into the gums of its jaws until finally the serpent’s mouth opened wide.

Fenris dove into its open maw, staying away from the teeth. It scooped the limp body of Jackal up into its smaller arms, curling around him to protect him from the second pair of jaws crushing down against the valkyrie. A cry sent bubbles rushing from its mouth and neck. It did not see where the artifact had gone, but it could hear its voice. That was not its concern. Holding Jackal close against its frame, it could faintly feel a heartbeat. He wasn’t breathing.

It tucked his arms against his sides, adjusted its hold upon his body to keep him tight and secure against its torso. Its own chest was tightening, like a boa constrictor snagging itself firmly to break bones. Its muscles were tired. Filled with a searing pain. At this rate, it was not going to be able to make it back up to the surface.

Khexide poured out from its frame, encircling it in the chilling dark. By determination, and will power, Fenris let out a gasping roar. The concentrated khexide exploded out all around it as its wingarms thrusted upward. Claws dug into the roof of the serpent’s mouth, Fenris shoved with all its might.

The serpent’s jaws split apart no matter how much it pushed it back together. Its throat flooded with khexide made it reel back and hack. Fenris took this opportunity to push from its maw and make a break for the surface with the strength it had left. Both wingarms pumped downward while it hugged Jackal’s body to its chest. Khexide continued to flow down from its mouth and back. It surrounded both it and Jackal, chilling their bodies down drastically. It was just like being encased in ice.

One of the serpents came for them, rushing right past. The torrent of water sent Fenris flipping backwards and back down towards the bottomless darkness.

By time it was steadied again, the other serpent came from below. It pushed right by, swinging its tail up to smack Fenris upwards against the current where the other serpent was waiting.

The valkyrie braced for impact into its open mouth.

Lightning sparked between its teeth and along its spiny back. Unable to move out of the way, Fenris turned its back to the serpent, wingarms folding around its sides to assure Jackal’s body would be safe.

A single bolt of lilac lightning shot from its mouth, crackling and roaring through the ocean. The serpent recoiled from the blast itself, but kept the beam going. Water rushed out in all directions, pushed around by not just the lightning, but the sound. A storm was brewing above them, causing the current to strengthen.

Fenris took the bolt of lightning at full force. It sparked and cracked around its armor, biting right through. It could only focus on not crushing Jackal’s body once its muscles contracted.

They were separated. Jackal floated upwards. Fenris sank.

One of the serpents dove after Fenris. Easily catching up to the metal rock of a valkyrie. It bit down into the wolf. Over and over again. Black blood flowed from each puncture. Sufficient in the damage caused, the serpent gave one more bite and swallowed.

FIFTY-THREE

Had the serpent swallowed anything else, perhaps it would have been fine. A strong victory. It turned about to join its twin soaring through the rushing waves to snatch up the body of Jackal before it reached the surface. The body aimlessly floated up at no hurried pace, a bed of khexide seemingly carrying it upwards.

The serpent twisted sharply, its body contorting in drastic angles. Blood spilled from its mouth. Water rushed out from its maw and into the current. It continued to cough and blow until it expelled what was tearing its insides apart. A black ball, leaking blood from its surface.

The serpent called out, its voice an ear-piercing shriek through the water. The ball uncurled to meet the incoming beast. Fenris’ wingarms reached out grabbing a fang with one, the other shoving right into a nostril. The serpent reeled back, throwing the valkyrie upwards.

It took the chance to swim, or at least