Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 142916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
The yellow eyes glittered as the serpent observed the demon strangling on the fumes. He went to his knees, his hands around his throat as he desperately sought air. Silke refused to be distracted. It was the reaction of the stones making up the pathway that caught her eye. More of the venom had dropped in great globs onto the surface. The venom hissed and smoked, but the stone didn’t even blacken.
The serpent suddenly spit venom directly at the demon, striking the hapless replica of Castello directly in the face. A blackened hole appeared instantly, as if the flesh had been eaten away that quickly. The edges began to spread outward, skin, muscle and bone quickly destroyed by the potency of the venom. The demon screamed horribly, the sound one of agony.
Tora, set up a transparent shield until I have my plan finalized.
It is done.
Everything in Silke stilled. Became aware. She shut out the demon and the consequences of being hit by the venom. She allowed her mind to expand, drift into the wind that surrounded the serpent’s undulating body, the flapping wings as it created a cyclone on the ground. Dirt, twigs and leaves were hurled into the air in tight formation under the powerful force the wings generated.
The connection with the serpent was almost immediate, but her stomach lurched and bile filled her throat. The thing was old. Very old. Evil. Extremely so. It delighted in killing. It felt powerful when it was spitting its venom onto a victim. The serpent felt invincible. It feared no one, not even Lilith. Certainly not the lowly demon slayer. It remembered killing her ancestor. Pitiful woman to think she could pit herself against such a powerful being and possibly survive. He had every intention of killing the slayer slowly so that every moment she lived was sheer torture.
Silke didn’t try to understand the serpent. There was no understanding such a foul, malevolent being. Instead, she studied its strengths and weaknesses. The scales were hard like the scales of a dragon, only more so. To try to penetrate them would be disastrous and laughable. She would have to destroy the brain of the serpent in order to kill it. To do that, she would have to find a way to render it unconscious. Not an easy task.
The serpent was no longer amused by the dying demon. He turned his malignant yellow gaze on her. A chill went down her spine, but she gripped her bow, slid it over her shoulder and caught up the arrows and rope, sliding them onto her shoulder. She would need every skill she had developed from her childhood if this was going to work. She had this one chance. One.
Silke gripped the invisible shield, holding it in front of her body, and without warning ran at the serpent at an angle that would take her between the wings and the neck. She ran for the great stones that created the terracing around the house.
The serpent spat his venom triumphantly, a steady stream, moving his head up and down so he could thoroughly douse her as she ran. The venom hit the transparent shield, splattering across it and running down it in thick rivulets.
Silke felt the shock of the serpent as its great head reared back and then swung side to side. She was already on the rocks, and she dropped the shield as she leapt into the air, landing with both feet on the back of the serpent. In midair, she caught up the bow and fit an arrow into it. The moment she stuck the landing, her body settling for the rough ride as the serpent tried to dislodge her, she shot the first of three arrows into the space behind the head of the serpent. Each arrow was connected to a rope.
Slinging the bow over her shoulder, she caught up the ropes and crouched low, her mind expanding in that of the serpent’s.
Fast as you can, knock her off with the wind. She pushed the suggestion into the serpent’s mind and then followed it with one thought after another so the evil creature couldn’t question what he was thinking.
Faster, fly faster. Show her she is nothing. She has no idea of your incredible speed. She will fall, and you can use your fangs on her, tear her in half for the audacity and disrespect she has shown. Faster, faster. Faster.
She kept repeating the thought, shoving it into the serpent’s mind until the creature was flying so fast the wind whistled and tears leaked from her eyes. She used the ropes as reins, turning him in a circle, keeping up the urgent thoughts as the serpent built his speed. In all fairness, she was nearly blown off his back. It took every bit of strength she had to hold on, even crouched as low as she was.