Page 8 of The Curse of Monsters
“No, the buzzing is too loud. This is something else,” I said.
“He’s right. We’re about to have company,” Locke added, and that was when the first insect appeared above the canopy of the trees.
“Cruel seven devils,” Darian cursed. “What is that thing?”
Before anyone could answer him, a dozen large, winged insects had filled the sky above the tree line. Their shiny blue bodies were as big as rabbits’, four translucent wings flapped from each of their backs, and angry red stingers protruded from the ends of their thick, curved bodies. A dozen pairs of beady black eyes fixed on us, and I cursed the fucking fae and their world.
“Holy Mother, they look like giant bees,” Raine said as I moved even closer to her, my protective instincts on high alert.
“They’re not like any bees I’ve seen,” Darian commented as he rolled his wrists, preparing his body for the fight to come.
“Maybe they’re friendly?” Raine added hopefully, but as if they were mocking her suggestion, two of the giant flying insects changed direction, shooting toward us with the speed of poisoned arrows. Their long black antennae twitched, and aggressive red stripes appeared across their backs and heads, the distinct coloring resembling a warrior’s armor.
“Or not,” Raine added as she pulled two knives from the belt across her waist.
The insects drew closer, now arching lower, but before they could reach us, Darian released his stars. The weapons spun through the air, connecting with the creatures and slicing them in two. Steaming orange goo spurted from their bodies as they fell, lifeless, to the ground.
Raine sucked in a sharp breath.
We might have been in the fae realm, but I still hated the thought of wasted life. Still, as the other insects all turned toward us, I knew Darian had been right to cut them down. These weren’t ordinary insects. I wondered then if the fae king had bred the creatures himself. It was possible they were his spies sent out to watch the forest for intruders. Either way, it was them or us.
Asher placed the fae prince on the ground as ten more insects sped toward us, and I braced myself. The drone of furious buzzing filled my ears as some of the insects circled around until they were approaching us from all sides, their wicked stingers gleaming in the moonlight, and then they attacked. We battled the creatures, moving fluidly as we cut them down with our weapons, and when the buzzing ceased, I relaxed my stance and peered at the mess of insect bodies and orange goo around us.
“Well, that wasn’t so bad,” Asher said as he wiped the goo from his ax onto a nearby tree trunk. But as I stared at the fallen insects, their bodies began to twitch and move, as if pulled by invisible strings. Slowly, the severed pieces rejoined, melding until the insects were whole again.
“You were saying?” Darian commented dryly.
A strong, sour scent permeated the air, making my nostrils burn, and then even more of the insects appeared in the sky above.
“Fucking run!” I shouted at the others before sheathing my swords. Raine had just enough time to sheathe her knives and snatch the fae books from the ground before I lifted her into my arms. Asher grabbed Prince Azaren and flung him over one shoulder, and we all surged forward as the buzzing became louder behind us.
Locke remained at the back of our group, his preternatural speed allowing him to cut down the insects with lethal precision, one after another.
Raine stretched her neck to peer over my shoulder and gasped. “Kade, there are dozens now,” she warned, and the anxiety in her voice made me tighten my grip on her and run faster.
Angry buzzing sounded louder to my left, and Raine shifted in my hold, flicking her hand out to whack at the air with one of the fae books. Something thudded against the leather of the book, and the buzzing receded momentarily.
“There are too many of them,” Asher said as he ran beside us. “We won’t be able to outrun them. We need to try somethin’ else.”
“What about fire?” Raine suggested.
“We can’t stop long enough to create any,” I responded. I’d already thought about fire, but using the flint and steel in my satchel would take too long. We didn’t have that kind of time.
“I can entrance them and lead them away,” Darian said, and Raine stiffened in my arms.
Before she could protest, I spoke first. “No. We’ll deal with them together.” Not too long ago, Asher had almost been taken from us, and I wasn’t willing to let Darian risk his life. “Can you smell that?” I asked a moment later.
Darian nodded. “The water? Yes, there must be a stream or river up ahead.”
“If there’s a waterfall, we could hide behind it until the insects lose interest or we come up with a better plan,” I said, determined.
With that, we moved even faster, skirting past trees, ducking under branches, and dodging around fallen logs. But as a deep valley came into view, and I took in the sprawling river and the thick sheet of water that rushed over a cliff face, I knew we wouldn’t make it. The insects swarmed the air, creating a cloud of the buzzing creatures, the sour scent so strong it made my eyes water.
Raine held a book up, swatting at the insects, but there were too many. A shadow appeared to my right, and Raine’s hand swung upward. Soft leather smacked against my right cheek, forcing my head to the side.
“Oops. Sorry,” Raine said with an apologetic grimace, but then searing pain erupted in my left shoulder. It was as if molten lava was being poured into my body, and I didn’t catch what Raine shouted next. Looking down, an angry red welt was already forming where one of the insects had stung me. Venom polluted my bloodstream, sapping the strength from my body, and Raine yelled at me to set her on her feet, but I didn’t loosen my grip on her. And I didn’t stop running.
Darian cut down two insects with a single swipe of his sword before one of the creatures stung him on his leg, penetrating through his pants below his knee. His steps faltered, his knee almost buckling, but he stayed upright and kept moving. With every step, the river and waterfall drew closer. If I could get her there, Raine could swim to safety.