Page 38 of Taming the Kraken

Faint smiles rested on Alexa and Brian’s faces as they both looked at each other. The acceptance kiss affected them both more than they’d thought. But it was in a negative and awkward way. No matter how much they’d discussed it before, it was different after it actually happened.

“Thanks, Mikey. I guess we both needed to get out of our own heads a little.” Alexa walked up to Mikah and wrapped her arms around him. “You really are the best.”

“I know. I told you that already.” He smiled and patted her head.

The sound of the wind fluctuated slightly. A light scent of something unfamiliar rose in the air. Brian began scanning the area as Mikah tucked Alexa into his side protectively. Leaves rustled, and another gust of wind brought another scent.

They heard strange knocking and clicking sounds around them. It started off quiet but then grew louder and louder.

“What the hell are they?” Brian breathed out as tiny gold lights began popping up around them. Only they were not lights but eyes. Eyes that had started to move closer and finally stepped out into the open.

“Oh. My. Gods.” Alexa gasped as her mouth gaped in shock.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Alexa studied the strange-looking creatures. It was as if the night had taken form itself. The dark creatures all looked different. Gargoyle-like wings flapped steadily as some creatures hovered and others crept on their hind legs. Drool dripped from their pointed white teeth and their golden eyes glared menacingly at them. Some held cleavers in their hands while others had black-bladed nails. A smokey mist emitted from their bodies, along with a foul sulfur stench. The strange ticking noises were soon replaced with menacing growls increasing in volume.

“What the hell are they?” Brian slowly turned his head, taking in the whole army as the creatures arched in front of them. There were dozens of them.

“Whatever they are, they don’t look friendly.” Mikah glanced over at Alexa nervously.

“Doesn’t matter what they are. They’re dusted,” Alexa said with confidence as she moved her hand quickly, sending a towering wave of ice into the creatures. However, she was mortified as she watched the ice go right through them, not affecting them at all.

Brian immediately sent a surge of flame toward the shadows, but it did the same thing as the ice. It went right through their bodies. He turned to Alexa, his eyes widening.

“Lex, do you think you can shift?” Brian asked, and she shook her head.

“Get her out of here, Brian,” Mikah growled, shifting into his goliath of a bear.

Brian reached for Alexa, but she glared at him. “Don’t you dare! We are not leaving Mikah here to face these things alone.”

“Lex, there is nothing you can do here.”

“You can shift and help! You can fight as a dragon. Don’t worry about me. I can evade them.” Alexa watched as the creature’s eyes began to all change color in unison. No longer were there gold dots surrounding them. The color was now an eerie, glowing red. She watched as they suddenly charged forward and Mikah collided with the army of the dark. He was able to make contact. Maybe they were just immune to ice and fire? Or maybe all elements? But they could be physically attacked.

“Brian, please help him!” Alexa turned to look at Brian. He clenched his eyes shut and let out a growl.

“You get out of here, Lex!” Brian growled as his body transformed. A dark crimson dragon turned its head toward Alexa. “Go!” He swished his tail to the side.

Alexa nodded and looked back at Mikah with worry. His body was covered by the dark creatures. And any time one of them went to get past him, he lunged for it, leaving himself unprotected. Mikah was the strongest guardian to have ever existed, but they knew nothing about these creatures and their abilities.

Alexa could only watch as Brian leaped forward, sinking his fangs and swiping his tail into the dark bodies. She’d never felt helpless before, but at this moment she was. She could only produce an ice sword to fight, which would do nothing against these creatures.

Brian and Mikah were outnumbered and overwhelmed. There were only two of them against dozens of the dark beings. She could feel Mikah’s pulsating aura that seemed to push the darkness back.

Out of nowhere, four of the winged creatures came out from the side. They had gotten behind Brian and Mikah and were making their way toward her.

A painful roar came from Brian as one of the creatures sliced into him with the massive cleaver it held. He swiped his tail, knocking the creature into the ground. Instinctively, he breathed fire on the body. This time, the flames did do something … they seemed to revive the creature. It rose back to its feet, uninjured, and dived back into Brian.

Alexa could feel her heart trumpeting in protest, wanting to help the two men. The dark-winged creatures were almost upon her, but she wouldn’t alert Brian and Mikah. They were busy enough, and she wouldn’t risk them getting hurt trying to come to her aid. She hated the idea of running when every fiber of her being wanted to fight. But she didn’t want to be a burden and there was nothing she could do … or was there?

Alexa, you are such an idiot, she said to herself as she pushed the light inside herself forward. Sure, she was a dragon, werewolf, and ice elementalist. But there was one power she rarely used that made up a big part of her, and that was her fairy magic. These creatures were immune to fire and ice. But fairy magic was different.

The glow around her engulfed her body and stopped. She tried to project it more, but it was as if it was also stunted. Like her wolf and dragon, she couldn’t call to it. The shadow creatures bounced off of the light, not able to get closer. It was working as a shield but not for attacking like she’d planned. Damn. It had been days, and she couldn’t believe her body was still so drained. Maybe it was because of the curse her body was trying to keep at bay?

The sound of a loud crack made her body jolt backward. Another shadow creature was now near her, and it had hit her light shield with its black sword. It raised the shiny obsidian blade again and hurled it downward at her.

The blade hit her shield and she felt a ripple inside her as it shattered. At the same moment, warm arms cocooned her. His scent embraced her, and her body instantly responded by leaning into his touch. The shadow beings combusted instantaneously. Effortlessly. Yes. This was the power of a deity.