Asunder: A Gathering of Chaos by Cameron Hopkin (children's ebooks free online .txt) 📕

Mackey rushed her with a growl, getting both her wrists this time and pushing her up against the wall. “None of that, sweetheart,” he breathed, reeking of beer. “We’re gonna be good friends. You’ll get paid, don’t worry.” He turned to the others, who were watching avidly. “Guyrin’s no problem. They took in a half a kilo of smoking peat this morning. We could do her right on top of him and he wouldn’t notice.” That pleased his companions, and they muttered eagerly about finding a room.

Then Kest was there, pulling at the drunk man’s shoulder. “This wasn’t the deal!” he snarled, pushing the taller man away with ease. “She’s here for Master Guyrin, not some drunken grunters who want to all go at once. Back off.” The burly Beast Rider looked fearsome with his wide, hunched shoulders and balled fists. Had Mackey been on his own, he’d likely have backed down. Instead, before Nira could cry a warning, the young Pacari got a fist in the temple from Hibben – or maybe Pog – who swung at him from behind on his blind side. The wide lad grunted and dropped to one knee, clutching his head.

The two friends each took Kest by an arm and held him, and Mackey waded in, launching a sloppy haymaker at his defenseless opponent. He connected right on Kest’s eye patch, and the boy dropped like a load of stones, crying out and covering the empty socket with his hands. Then they started kicking him. I have to stop them! She had no hope of overpowering the guards, of course, but if she touched them… her costume had lacy little gloves, which she had been grateful for, but now she hooked a finger inside of one glove and stripped it off, gearing herself up for the charge.

She didn’t have to. The last guard stood with a long-suffering sigh and strode into the middle of the group, scattering them with stiff-armed, powerful shoves. “Enough. Mackey, enough! Stay back.” He nudged Kest with a foot, who took the opportunity to gain his feet and put his broad frame between Nira and the others. “Listen, you idiots, if you make any more noise, I’ll put a knife in every last one of you. I don’t want that door opening.” He motioned to the suite entrance. “And neither do you. Hibben, you know he already doesn’t like you. Keep thinking with your pants and we’ll all pay for it.” He gave the instigator a gimlet eye. “You calm, Mackey?”

The drunken, lecherous leader pulled an obsidian stiletto from his belt. “Calm enough to dock you a day’s pay for disobeying orders,” he spat. “Back off, Spinder.”

The contrarian guard lifted his hands up and out in a non-threatening gesture. “Do what you want. Just take it to the other side of the house and don’t make any more noise.” What a hero. Thanks for the help, friend. He edged out from in front of them and sat back down. Mackey pointed his knife at Kest, grinning evilly. And this is where it all goes wrong.

The Beast Rider reached behind himself and grabbed her gloved hand. “It’ll be all right,” he whispered. “Stay behind me.”

“Sounds good to me,” she responded breathlessly. How’s he going to beat three of them? Then it dawned on her. Oh no. He’s going for it. She snatched her hand away and backed against the wall.

“So now’s the part where you move, son,” Mackey said. “Have a seat with stupid over there. Play a round, win a few extra flats. We’ll be back soon enough.” Kest went suddenly rigid, his hands trembling as he clutched at his gut. The guard paused, looking confused. “What’s wrong with you, kid? Didn’t kick you that hard.”

Nira couldn’t help it. She peeked. Moving to one side and craning her head, she could see the side of Kest’s face. It was ashen, and his eyes were closed, the lids fluttering to reveal the whites beneath. “I think he’s about to puke,” muttered one of Mackey’s cronies.

With a curse, the slovenly guard pushed his friends forward. “Get him off the carpet! Stains get us docked!” Neither of the others seemed too eager to lay hands on the burly young Pacari, who opened his mouth wide and moaned. She couldn’t look away.

“What –” the seated guard began, and then his words dried up and his eyes went wide. All four men were staring at Kest with amazed expressions. His mouth opened wider, then wider still. It seemed impossible. Looks like his jaw is going to break. It was hideous. His lips were cracked at the corners, beads of red blood glistening against pale pink. He coughed explosively, and they all jumped. It was a wet, tearing sound, like all the phlegm in the world was trying to come up and out of him. Light above save us both!

He doubled over in pain, clutching at his throat soundlessly. “I don’t think that’s puking,” Mackey said dubiously. With a lurching step forward, Kest grabbed the would-be rapist by the wrists, knocking the blade free from his grasp. Disarmed, the guard reared back in surprise and fear. The Beast Rider let him loose, and his feet tangled under him, sending him sprawling.

And then long, sinuous centipedes erupted out of his mouth. Dozens flowed forth, black and glistening with saliva. Hoarse shouts filled the hallway. Nira was glued to her spot against the wall, watching in fascination as the young man put his hands on his knees and retched onto the floor, bringing up even more of the alien, multi-jointed creatures. He kept scooting back as he vomited them out, keeping his feet clear of the insectile ejecta. Mackey was scrambling back on all fours, but the fast-moving centipedes swarmed up and over his boots. He swept them off with clumsy hands, but they crawled under his long pants and latched onto his arms, sweeping over him in a wave. Barbed pincers latched onto the first flesh