Page 9 of Wicked Magik

His chest looked like it was cut from stone against the stormy hue of his skin. Thick, coarse hair cascaded from his belly, forming a wild, unkempt trail down to the tattered remnants of pants that clung to him until just above his knees—or what I presumed were his knees. For below them, his limbs transformed into the powerful legs and sturdy hooves of a bull. His thighs were muscular and immense, like ancient tree trunks rooted in the earth.

His tail was an impressive, snake-like appendage, with scales that shimmered like those of a mythical dragon. The black scales that adorned his back and arms glistened ominously, catching the dim light and casting shadowy patterns across his body. As he swung around to snarl at Leo, who looked as if he might lose control of his bladder at any moment.

His obsidian claws slashed through the air, tearing effortlessly through a branch that dared to stand in his way. I instinctively leaped backward, my heart pounding as I left Mr. Marchant sprawled on the ground in front of me.

For a minute I thought about leaving Mr. Marchant there but my conscience wouldn’t allow it.

Gunshots rang out and I tried not to look at the creature. It was a mixture of everything demonic and hellish that I could think of.

Screams came quickly, one being of Leo. The beast had him by the neck and snapped him like a twig.

I gasped and tried to pull at the knots until Mr. Marchant wiggled the gag from his mouth.

“Go child!” He yelled at me.

More gunshots and screams from the men rang in my ears.

“I’m old and full of sin for this mess, especially raising a son like that. Run. I deserve to burn in the inner rings of hell!”

I looked one more time at the beast that sat in front of me. The skulled monster shouldn’t have been able to move, yet his jaws opened. Blood dripped from his teeth, his fangs glistening as he wrenched free from a mafia man’s shoulder.

“Damnit, run Vesper!”

I dropped the ropes and, since I could not run past the men to get out of the woods and back toward the mansion, I ran in the opposite direction, directly into the middle of the forest.

Chapter 4

Oryx

The wind blew against the fur around my neck. My body stiffened when the golden leaves around me blew past.

The wind had changed

I turned my snout to the sky. The bright moon glowed.

My job tonight was simple. My Lord said I was to go to the portal.There were strange happenings.

Hu-mans were using magik.

Magik that should not be used.Theydid not understand it.

They call upon spirits from the Under Shadows.

I shook my head, and a shiver ran down my body. Bad spirits. Hungry spirits.

I huffed. The warmth of my breath billowed outward and around my snout.

My claws unfurled slowly, their sharp tips grazing against the cold, unyielding surface of my petrified nose. I ran them thoughtfully up and down the rigid bridge, feeling the smooth, stone-like texture. My Lord had once explained that it used to be covered in supple skin and a soft layer of fur, but during the transition, it had undergone a transformation, becoming hardened and bleached to a ghastly white, as if carved from marble.

I tapped the snout again and stared up at the moon.

The portal between the realms was protected. No one from our side should be able to go to the human realm. Humans were too ignorant to find a portal.

But someone found it.

And used our magik soil.

Brought two animals' spirits from the Under Shadow, they did.