Page 19 of Survivor (A Space Pearl’s Treat #2)
The beast’s claws slashed through the air as Vraxxan deftly dodged, narrowly avoiding swipes that could have easily cleaved him in two.
He landed strike after strike against the creature’s head, which cracked through the air like thunder, yet seemed to do little more than disorient the beast for a moment or two.
The battle seemed to stretch on endlessly, each second feeling like an eternity as Vraxxan swung his branch while the beast deflected, waiting for the perfect moment to unleash its claws upon the man I loved.
And I did love him.
Dammit! Why did realizations like this always seem to come at the most inopportune moments?
A low, involuntary sound escaped my lips, a deep resonance that spoke of the writhing emotions within me—fear and love locked in a fierce struggle for dominance in my soul.
The sudden sound captured Vraxxan’s attention, and the beast seized the opportunity.
Its claws swung through the air, aiming straight for Vraxxan’s head.
At the last possible moment, Vraxxan managed to parry with his club, a movement that sent the creature’s slash angling downward.
Vraxxan jumped back, yet he wasn’t quick enough to prevent the creature from leaving a deep, ragged gash across his torso.
Blood poured from the wound, a crimson river that made me scream in horror as Vraxxan staggered backward, his strength momentarily sapped.
The beast pressed the advantage, striking out once more with terrifying speed.
This time, Vraxxan barely raised his club in time, deflecting the blow just enough to avoid a fatal strike.
However, the force of the impact sent him hurtling through the air, his body twisting helplessly before crashing into the sturdy trunk of a nearby tree.
He crumbled to the ground, his form unnaturally still and lifeless.
A cry of anguish tore from my throat as I ran, not away from the danger, but toward Vraxxan, my heart pounding with desperation.
The beast wasn’t content with just one kill. With a powerful leap, it landed in my path. The collision knocked me backward with such force that I landed hard on my ass, my body jarring against the ground making my teeth clack together painfully.
The creature prowled around me in a slow, deliberate circle, its eyes locked onto mine and its long gray tongue flicking out to savor the anticipation of the moment.
Desperately, I tried to scramble to my feet, but before I could regain my balance, one of the beast’s muscular arms lashed out, its claws ripping through the flesh of my left leg from knee to ankle.
The pain was excruciating, a searing agony that wrenched another scream from my lips.
My suffering seemed to please the beast, its monstrous mouth splitting into what could only be described as a sinister grin.
As its maw opened wide, revealing row upon row of razor-sharp teeth, I resigned myself to the inevitable.
Unlike cancer, at least it would be quick.
A piercing scream shattered the air, seizing both my attention and that of the creature.
Vraxxan struggled to his feet, blood gushing from a deep wound carved into his chest, while one of his arms dangled awkwardly, definitely broken.
His teal eyes locked onto mine, a storm of pain and regret swirling within them, and he took a faltering step toward me.
“Vraxxan, run!” I cried out, desperation tearing from my throat. Only one of us needed to die. My leg burned as if a thousand needles were stabbing into it, killing any hope I had of escape.
Vraxxan lurched forward, collapsing onto his knees. He would not abandon me. Tears streamed uncontrollably down my cheeks. This would be our end, but at least we had been together and happy. I love you , I mouthed, knowing my words would not reach his ears but hoping that they reached his heart.
Vraxxan’s teal eyes focused on mine as he struggled once again to stand. He made it to his feet staggering as he moved toward me then he….
Changed.
His steps shed the jerkiness of pain, becoming more powerful and purposeful.
With a sickening crunch that echoed in the air, he whipped broken arm to the side, snapping the bone back into place, yet he seemed blissfully unaware of the pain.
The wound on his chest ceased its relentless bleeding, and the gash sealed itself shut while the purple and teal scales surrounding the injury morphed into a deep, ominous black.
My vision swirled, a dizzy haze encroaching, and darkness crept into the periphery of my sight.
Yet I couldn’t tear my gaze away from him.
Through the fog of my blurred vision, I watched as his muscles bunched and thickened, sinews rippling beneath his skin, while his fangs and claws elongated, glistening with a lethal sharpness.
Sharp spikes burst forth along his shoulders and trailed down his spine, their edges like the tips of spears.
He seemed taller and more massive, as though his desire to protect me had manifested physically somehow.
A sound of pure, unadulterated rage erupted from Vraxxan, a primal roar that filled the air as he lunged forward. His powerful hands clamped onto the beast’s tail, yanking it away from me with a force that seemed to shake the very ground beneath us.
I grew dizzy as an unsettling, sickly warmth crept over my skin, making my head feel unbearably heavy, as if my neck could no longer hold it.
I collapsed onto the jungle floor, where the dense, lush grass tickled my skin with its cool, feathery blades.
Turning my head took effort. I watched as Vraxxan and the creature clashed in battle, their movements becoming a frenzied blur of limbs and scales, merging into one chaotic spectacle.
The last thing I remembered before the enveloping darkness claimed me was the sound of Vraxxan’s voice as he called out my name, a desperate plea lost in the shadows.