A Battle of Blood and Stone (Chronicles of the Stone Veil 4)

Three of the barred doors are slowly rolling horizontally. I do a quick glance around the rest of the arena, but I don’t see any more cages opening. There are doors and something could be coming out at some point, so I’ll need to keep that in mind.

From the tarry black interior of the first cage where I had heard a low rumbling growl emerges a creature that has to be of Nimeyah’s making. It resembles nothing like what we have on earth, but it seems to be made of different parts of recognizable animals. It’s four-legged with a hunched back and low-slung hips and there’s a ridge of bony spikes running from the base of its neck between its shoulder blades and down to mid-spine. Its tail is that of a scorpion’s, arched up and over the creature with a sharp spike on the end from which drops of something yellow drip. The top portion of its face is squashed inward with bulging eyes, but the lower jaw juts forward with huge canines. Saliva drools from the corners of its mouth as it prowls out of his cage.

At first, I think it sees Rainey and I and intends on coming our way, but incredibly it looks left and then right, eyes peering around for its quarry. It doesn’t seem to see us and I wonder if it’s blind.

From the other two cages, the same type of animal emerges. Rainey makes a tiny sound of distress and I look over my shoulder at her with a glare, giving a shake of my head.

The message is clear. Right now, they don’t know we’re here so be quiet.

I look back to the animals. The first one lifts its head and starts to sniff the air. I don’t feel a breeze at all, and I hope to god our scent is stifled.

But, of course, we wouldn’t be that lucky.

The animal catches a whiff of something and throws its head back, letting out a horrendous howl that sounds like fingernails scraping on a chalkboard. I grit my teeth, resisting the urge to clap my hands over my ears.

My blood runs cold when the other two animals start howling, too, and then as if they were synced into perfect unison, all three of their heads turn our way and lock onto me. Lips peel back and they snarl as they start prowling slowly toward us.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I mutter under my breath.

My first instinct is to yell to Carrick for help, and I hate myself for it. I am a strong, accomplished woman who is deadly with a whip and six other types of weapons. I don’t have those weapons now, but I haven’t lost my spirit or ingenuity.

The first creature starts moving a little faster until it’s into a trot, the other two following suit.

Think, Finley.

Think.

The monsters get closer, loping now with confidence. Rainey squeaks in terror behind me.

Instinctually, I feel the power of what I know will be a solid bubble shield welling up within me. I think it will be big enough to cover Rainey and me both, but I’m not sure about that damn pole she’s tied to and I don’t know how long it will last against three attacking monsters.

It doesn’t take much thinking to figure out that Deandra put me into a situation where I can’t use my defenses.

Or at least I can’t use them with confidence as I don’t know they’ll protect Rainey.

I have no choice.

I am absolutely without choice.

I have to attack.

The realization of what I have to do—as well as what will happen if I don’t do it—flows through me with confidence. I remember Sarvel telling me that as long as I believe in my powers, they are mine to use as I want.

I do believe in my powers, but Deandra was right about one thing.

I’ve been afraid to use them before in all the other times I’ve tried to develop them.

Afraid of failure.

That’s just not an option right now because Rainey’s life is on the line.

A zap of warmth moves along my extremities and I feel a tingling sensation in the palms of my hands. I don’t question what it is or what I should do with it.

Instinctively, I throw my hands outward toward the advancing creatures—looking just like Elsa slinging ice and snow—and a bright light erupts from my palms.

It streams out in a white beacon tinged with blue and strikes the first creature in the face. It hits with such force, it’s blasted backward where it hits the ground and tumbles several times before stopping on its side.

It doesn’t move while the other two slide to a stop, now understanding its prey isn’t going to be easy to take down.

I prepare to blast the other two, but the first creature stirs. It rolls to its feet, shakes its entire body as if throwing off the effects of my blast, and then turns its head slowly my way. Its lips rise, revealing teeth intent on tearing into me, and it snarls so viciously I almost pee my pants. Its two cohorts do the same, and then they start yipping at each other. I recognize it for what it is—they’re communicating. This is confirmed as the animals spread out and start to circle Rainey and me.