Dark Blood(144)

Fen used a hellhound to leapfrog, rolling over its back to slam a silver stake deep into the chest of the Sange rau Zev had taken to the ground. As he rushed past the thrashing hellhound with one arrow in its eye and burned coat, he thrust a second arrow deep into the left eye and kept running.

Dimitri came after him, using the silver sword, slashing downward in a long arc to sever the head of the Sange rau both Fen and Zev had wounded. The hellhound was down, but the one Fen had rolled over, burning its back with the hyssop oil, was snarling and ready for him, its great jaws wide open, displaying the wicked set of teeth. A chunk of flesh hung from the side of one jaw, along with strings of venom mixed with blood.

Dimitri didn’t bother to slow down—he shoved the long blade of his sword coated with hyssop oil right down the gruesome throat and out the back of the massive head. They stood together, Fen, Dimitri and Zev, Razvan fighting his way to them, so the four stood back-to-back, prepared to keep everything and anything off of Branislava.

Dimitri’s eyes narrowed. Where is Skyler? he demanded, trying to see everything on the fierce battlefield.

Tatijana is missing as well, Fen added, his heart in his throat.

Razvan indicated the huge hole in the center of the field where the three women had disappeared.

Xaviero sent a worm for them. He backed away from the hole, although it was the hardest thing he’d ever done. We have to guard Branislava. Without her, we’re lost, and now both mages can work to kill her. Trust Ivory. She’s dealt with these worms and will bring them back safely.

He closed his eyes briefly. Ivory, be safe. Come back to me.





21


Ivory bit back an exclamation of pain as the worm’s teeth closed around her. It’s going to take us down into the hole. Don’t fight it. The more you fight, the more venom it will inject into your body. No matter how much it hurts, or how frightened you are, stay very still, she warned the others.

It’s taking us up, not down, straight to that foul fog, Skyler hissed, trying to keep still when she felt as if the thing was sawing her in half.

It’s rising fast, but it will go straight down again. Just hold on. Ivory injected calm into her voice. She’d seen the worms before, fought them, taken back Razvan from one.

Tatijana shuddered. It’s taking me back to the mage’s lair. I’d rather die than go back.

Don’t fight, Ivory reiterated. I know what to do. Just stay calm. Once we enter the hole, the worm can move fast underground. The tunnel is already dug and it just has to slide through. The ride will be much smoother. I’ve got some weapons we can use, but when it hits back to ground, it’s going to hurt like hell. I can’t risk losing them.

The worm shot up about thirty feet, just enough for them to feel the foulness of the fog overhead and hear the screams and wails of the spirits trapped in the black smoke. It paused there for a moment and then backtracked with tremendous speed, down into the earth where it was most comfortable.

I tried shifting, Tatijana said. It’s impossible.

The worm has a venom that prevents that from happening. I’ve milked these worms and used the venom along with my own chemicals to improve the solution. I dip my weapons into the compound before I go hunting to prevent vampires from shifting. Ivory did her best to sound matter-of-fact.

Now that they were sliding through the air at a dizzying rate of speed, the hold on them eased. For all its ferocity, the worm had a delicate touch when bringing prisoners to the mage. She knew what it cost both Skyler and Tatijana to stay so still within the grasp of the worm. When the teeth of the creature met flesh, it injected its venom to hold that form. Not only was it painful, it was terrifying to be dragged through a tunnel beneath the earth knowing the destination was far worse than the worm.

Skyler was very young and new to their world. Her lifemate had only just claimed her. She’d been human, living with Carpathian adopted parents who protected her from such things. Tatijana had been a prisoner nearly her entire existence in the mage laboratories. Of course she wouldn’t want to return. Still, neither struggled, using tremendous discipline to do as she told them.

Fighting a worm is very dangerous. Everything about them is venomous. The spikes he uses to propel himself forward and dig are especially perilous. He has a barb on the end of his tail. When you do get loose, stay far away from that.

Education was always the key to success. The more information one had, the more power to defeat. She eased a crystal-centered circular weapon from her belt. Very gingerly she pushed one into Tatijana’s hands and a second into Skyler’s, before pulling a third out for herself.

His mouth contains double rows of serrated teeth, and inside are sacs of venom. We’re going to have to go inside. If you find yourself outside of him, remember his tail can also break every bone in your body with one swipe and his hide is so tough it will slice your skin if you come into contact with it.