Page 24 of The Hellbeast's Betrayal

However, I never got the chance to say a word in response, because Tyr hammered his axe down into the ground, cracking the stone as branches of power snaked out along the floor like lightening traveling the stormy sky. The ground shook enough for me to hold out my hands to my sides to steady myself. But I didn’t take my eyes from the sight of it hitting out at the HellHounds in its path. The branches lashed out the second they made contact, encasing them in a glowing net that made them howl before they each set alight into blue flames.

“You were saying?” Tyr said, making Garmr snarl before holding his arms wide and giving his HellHounds the signal to attack, making them now all race towards us as one.

“BRING ME THE GIRL UNHARMED!” Garmr roared as they all continued to pass him, hundreds now heading our way. Each with their snarling teeth at the ready to tear into my protectors. Their paws pounded on the ground like some death drum signaling the end. Both men held their weapons firm, their stances ready for the onslaught of enemies headed our way.

“Take the ones on the left, I will take them on the right and ensure that none make it down the middle. We honor our vow…”

“…Or die trying,” Asher finished, making me gasp.

I didn’t want anyone’s death on my hands.

They nodded to each other just before the first wave was close, and I held back a scream as they attacked. Tyr swung his axe around, taking out those closest by cutting straight through the heads of five of them. Asher took a different approach, spinning his sword around one side and then the other, doing so fast enough that it looked like helicopter blades were on fire.

Both techniques were affective, but not enough to stop them from getting swarmed. Tyr hammered his axe down at the ground, this time creating a wall of power to turn those close enough to ash. However, one slipped through his defenses, and I screamed when it started to come closer.

Which was when a startling realization occurred, because just like the HellHounds I had encountered before, this one started to transform. The memory slammed into me, taking me straight back to that day in the forest. Back before Orson had saved me. Only this time, the HellHound’s transformation was in reverse.

Its skin started to split, starting at its joints, making me swallow down the urge to vomit. The form of a person broke through the oily skin as its snout opened, like it was getting ready to roar. Only instead of stopping, its jaw peeled back on itself until the horrific face emerged. As if the creature had swallowed a man and it was now regurgitating its still-living kill.

The popping and snapping of bone were sickening sounds as its joints tore and the limbs of a man took their place. Its skin ripped away completely as it started to stretch, until its hind legs became straight. This was so it could rear up until standing, and it was like watching a werewolf transform into a half-man half-beast.

I started to stumble back the closer it got, still trying not to scream as its clawed hands reached out to me, with its demonic mouth full of razor pin teeth snapping at me and its eyes glowing a fiery red.

However, just before it could touch me, the sharp end of a blade pierced through its chest, making it cry out in pain. Then it turned to face the one who threw it, and I watched as its head became detached from its body. This now left me with Tyr staring back at me after swinging his axe.

Then with a nod of his head to check I was alright, he went back to fighting off the next wave. Asher continued to do the same and with no stopping in sight, I looked to Garmr. The men by his side were all creating their own portals so their own creations could join up as one, making a swirling wall of darkness behind their master.

Then the true horror hit me as more HellHounds started to step through, ready to bring in hundreds more. It was like Lerna had said, they wouldn’t ever stop coming. But then, if they didn’t have my power to draw off, did that mean there would be an end? And what if it ended with my two protectors dead?

I couldn’t allow that to happen, no matter what vow they had taken. And as if Garmr knew this, he shouted out to me,

“COME TO ME AND I WILL LET THEM LIVE, OR FIGHT IT TO THE END AND WATCH THEM DIE!”

I closed my eyes and shook my head, wishing I knew what to do. But then, as one HellHound got close enough to bite into Asher’s leg and another to claw at Tyr’s arm, I knew I had no choice. Because if they died fighting, then Garmr would get me, regardless. At least this way, I had a chance at saving their lives.

“DO YOU GIVE ME YOUR WORD?” I shouted back over the sounds of fighting, causing Tyr to look back at me and snap,

“Don’t be foolish, girl!”

But I wasn’t listening to him, I was staring straight at Garmr. Someone who clearly wanted me to see him, because he lifted his hood back, showing me his face that I saw in my dream. Then I watched as he mouthed two simple words,

“I do.’”

I nodded because, like last time, I had no choice. Whether it was to jump into a portal or walk toward the man who commanded them, I needed to save these men who were risking their lives for me.

So, I waited for my opportunity and before I could chicken out, I ran straight for the center, dodging Tyr and Asher enough that I slipped through. Garmr held out his arms, commanding the HellHounds to part and allow me through.

I looked back the second the two men shouted,

“NO!”

“ELLA, COME BACK!” Asher’s roar was the last I heard before he was forced to go back to fighting. The HellHounds that had given me space now closed rank behind me, encircling me, and herding me towards their master.

“That’s it… come to me, come to me and take your fated place by my side,” Garmr said, luring me forward, the red scars on his face glowing brighter with each step I took. But just as I was halfway there, suddenly the ground started to shake and, this time, it came with an almighty roar.

One I recognized.

But it wasn’t from real life experience. No, it was from a vision in the past. My past…the one I lost.

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