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

Not far from the head, black stained the grass. It splattered over a rock and against a tree. Squishy sounds of tearing flesh and spraying liquid sounded out from the shadows. We dared to get closer.

My heart raced. Every fiber of my being told me to run in the other direction. The shadows stretched out towards us. Plumed from the ground and rolled backwards like ocean waves. The brilliant cyan glowing down through the canopy of the jungle gave way to a trunk shaped leg lifting up from the ground. It kicked the air once before thumping the ground for the last time. Something was hidden just beyond it. The oil pearlescent in the light, shimmered as it rained down from above. The blackened creature was tearing bits of flesh away from its gut. Tossing the pieces up to better position them in its mouth.

Yaaranam waved at me to not get any closer. I couldn’t help myself though. I was drawn to the creature. To see it closer. To see if it was what I wanted it to be.

The smokey shadows blanketing the ground made me think of Fenris. Could this creature be him?

The wind blew in such a way it shifted the branches above. More light shined in just long enough for me to catch sight of two massive metallic arms barely reflecting any light at all. As big as the creature, the arms ripped apart large chunks from the long necked beast. Two extra arms rose over its shoulders, one torn off at the midsection, the other twitching up over its head. I couldn’t see any other limbs. That smoke fell over its back.

“Fen…?” I whispered.

Yaaranam grabbed my shoulder.

The creature paid me no mind.

She pulled on me, forcing my legs to move backwards. The little voice in the back of my head took over; I backed away. I let Yaaranam guide me to safety out of sight. Slow, deliberate steps. We watched the ground to avoid any twigs, or crunching leaves.

My gut turned to stone at the sight of the creature. We didn’t say a word until we thought we were safe, possibly a mile away.

“That thing was not Fenris.” Yaaranam said.

“I must agree.” Nostradamus added. “It was certainly an eos and so was that other creature it was eating.”

“Imagine how big that thing probably is to take that down.” Yaaranam shook her head.

“I don’t know...That smoke… It looked just like the one Fenris uses.” I said.

“There are many creatures that share the same properties. Fenris is most likely not the only one.” Nostradamus held up a finger.

She took a breath. “You know he’s fine.” She stated. “This is what he was built for.”

“Shouldn’t he have come back by now? It’s been three weeks and not a word from him.” I said.

“Can he not speak with you telepathically?” Nostradamus displayed a question mark.

“He can, but...he hasn’t.”

“You should be able to reach him the same!”

“What? That can’t be possible. That’s not even an ability we’ve figured out. I’m positive we wouldn’t be able to.” Yaaranam frowned.

“You should try!”

I stuttered on the words. I didn’t know the first thing about it. I barely believed it was a thing still.

"Wh-what am I supposed to do exactly?"

"Focus! It should come naturally I imagine." Nostradamus smiled.

I thought about it. About Fenris, where he could be. If he was hurt. Maybe he was in trouble. I tried to focus on just...making a connection, I guess. I really had no idea what I was doing at the time. Fenris didn't even know how to do it. He said it just happened because he thought about it.

I shut my eyes tight. Thought long and hard. Pick up. Fucking answer me.

Nothing.

"I don't think I can…" I sighed.

THIRTY-EIGHT

Reaper prayed sending Jackal and Yaaranam out together would not end badly. He wanted them to get along. Jackal still had a hard time accepting an eldiravan on the team. Perhaps if they were still at war, Reaper would have an issue, too. They needed more time together. Jackal would open up eventually.

Meanwhile, Reaper tried to help out where he saw few people. He watched the engineers and scientists attempt to remove that pulsating sack of flesh off the ship to no avail. Each attempt fried a tool or got someone shocked. Reynolds eventually turned to study the eos Fenris had been kind enough to leave them.

Reaper joined her to see the discoveries.

An exterior examination resulted in basic knowledge. Similar to Fenris, this creature was a grotesque combination of flesh and machine that defied their logic. Metal can be created, but grown? They couldn't grow metal like that. It resembled the scutes, or other osteoderms, of crocodiles. Grew with rings like trees and thick bones. Symmetrical design, something common of most life.

An interior inspection only confirmed Reynolds suspicions.

No bones. Only metal. It grew just like bones would, hollow and filled with an oily marrow. The bones of this creature formed air pockets, making it an extremely light animal for its size.

Air sacs like birds replaced familiar lungs, a series of these sacs filled the neck to the chest. Extra sacs, not for breathing, threaded through holes in the spine.

The most interesting part was the lack of other internal organs. A stomach led into a single intestine that branched out through its torso, connecting to veins of oily blood. A metallic heart kept the blood flowing while alive, but a second heart was encased in a cage of metal. It was shattered, shards splintered through the rest of its body. It leaked a thick, green liquid that seemed to infect what it touched.

"Strange…" Reynolds said as she pulled out each organ.

When the cavity was empty, she went back in with a bright light.

"What is it?" Reaper asked.

"Well...this is it." She gestured to the tray of organs. "Lungs, stomach, intestine, two hearts."

Reaper scratched his cheek.

"Where's the reproductive organs? A bladder? Liver? There's nothing else…" her voice trailed off as she looked around the pelvis.

There was empty space.