Page 59 of Of Magic and Rum
We all edge forward with weapons held firmly in our grasp. I kick the bush, jolting back when the creature yelps. Mary slashes her sword through the branches. The being screams, the tip of a severed tail flopping to the ground, oozing black blood. The creature runs past us, holding its bleeding tail. Seven more emerge from the shadows, letting the injured one hide behind them.
“Christ. What are they?” Ragnar asks, readying his blade.
With my pistol in one hand, I twirl the hilt of my sword in the other. “No idea.”
Certainly not of our world. More like Anne’s world.
Anne. I need to get toAnne.
With Mary’s sword pointed at the tiny creatures, her face kept forward, she says, “Are they going to do something? Attack us? Or will they stand there gurgling and drooling with their knuckles dragging on the ground?”
They vary in height, with only one tall enough to reach my mid-thigh. Some are a deep red, while others are muddy brown or taupe. Each has long, slender, pointy ears. One has a chunk from its left ear missing, another’s ears droop toward their cheeks, and all have small brass hoop earrings adorning their ears. Their eyes blaze yellow and orange like a raging fire, and their noses are gangly and pointed. They’re naked save for random bits of burlap slung around their waists or chests.
One slides forward, the tallest of the bunch, and clacks its long, jagged black nails together. Its mouth opens, revealing rows of yellowed razor-sharp teeth, and a series of garbles,clicks, and snarls follow. The rest of the creatures throw their fists in the air and charge us. We hold steady with our weapons raised, preparing for them to attack with their claws, tails, or teeth, perhaps? But they do none of this. Instead, they circle us, darting between our legs and hanging from tree limbs to swat our heads, cackling maniacally.
One wraps around Ragnar’s ankle and holds fast even when he attempts to shake it off. Grunting, Ragnar kicks forward, causing the creature to let go in a shriek and fly into a palm tree.
“These things aren’t trying to kill us. They’re just being anuisance,” Ragnar spats, his nose wrinkling.
“They’re distracting us.” I swing my sword at several nearing my knees, warning them to stay back. “Which means we’re heading in the right direction. Push through them.”
A command easier said than followed.
Whenever one of us gets more than two steps ahead, the creatures swarm our feet, forcing us to step and trip over them. I kick at some, bash others in the head with my pommel, and avoid all-out murdering them because I’ve never been one to kill while not being threatened. Except for the being who stole Anne from me—a threat on her life is a threat on mine.
Mary glares at one creature and slams her boot on its tail, halting it from running away. It makes a squeaky noise of surprise and blinks up at her, feigning innocence with those dewy, devilish eyes. Several of them have snuck behind her and are climbing her body until they’re at her head, pulling her hair and covering her eyes. Mary grabs each one and tosses them.
With every passing moment, these hellions wreak havoc, increasing the chances that something is happening to Anne. And to add oil to the fire, I have no idea why the asshole wanted her in the first place, which could make things worse.
“Enough of this,” I yell, my voice thundering. Picking one of the creatures randomly, I shove my blade’s point at its throat. “Either you let us pass, or I start lopping off heads.”
The creatures freeze but look at one another bewildered. One clacks its nails together; another pulls on its ears, and one squints a single eye at me.
“Can’t even make a proper threat because they don’t understand you. Of course,” Mary says with a groan.
I don’t lower my weapon and pan from one creature to the next, waiting for them to break. Because I don’t believe them as far as I can throw them—and that’s pretty damn far. Grinding my teeth when none of them make a peep, I shove the blade closer to the creature’s neck, drawing black blood. “Fine.” I start to slice.
“Wait,” one shrieks. A tiny creature, the smallest of them, standing only to my mid-shin, shuffles from the group. “We let you be.” This being is dark red, bordering on burgundy, and both horns are broken, leaving only nubs.
The other creatures swat the outspoken one, hissing and snarling. The swats become more violent, evolving into shoves and pushes. The talking creature covers its severed horns and dashes behind us, disappearing into the forest.
Ragnar moves to go after the creature, but I raise a hand to halt him. “Don’t bother. They’re retreating.” I lower my sword from the trembling creature’s neck, and it takes off, leaving a liquid trail of piss in its wake.
And I point at a trail leadingupriver.
“Your mate?” I reel backward, defensively curling my arms to my chest. “I’d say you’re delusional, but that much is abundantly clear.”
Nøkk grins, with a serpentine twist of lip and flash of pointy incisors. “Your willing participation would’ve been far preferred, but something tells me I’m going toenjoyyour oppression.”
This man is a few pearls short of an oyster.
Taking another step back, I stiffen when my butt meets one of the cold, wet cave walls. “And if I never accept this?”
“Eventually, you will.” Nøkk clicks his nails together, crossing one foot in front of the other as he strides to a curved rock, collecting water dripping from the ceiling. He dips his hand in, holding some in his palm, and walks toward me.
I hiss and call to my powers, willing the oceans to drown him from the inside out. Saltwater bubbles from his mouth, dribbling down his chin, but he doesn’t gurgle or choke. His eyes remain focused on me, and with little regard for my attempts to kill him, he reaches out and lets the water trickle over my skin. The blue scales appear down the length of my arm, and his gaze turns feral and ravenous.
“Because that will be the last water I give you until you agree to be my mate.” Nøkk slips his hands behind his back. “And if you’re anything like me, which, being aquatic, I assume you are, it becomes increasingly uncomfortable without water andinconvenientlynever kills you.”
