Page 145 of A Taste of Torment
The moment it is in my hand, Mr. Vandozer stops. The rumbling has halted.
Whatever was happening on the outside of the building is either paused or finished. No help is coming.
Not fast enough, at least.
With a sharp stare, Mr. Vandozer in beast form inches forward on horrendous talon-tipped legs. “Sign,” he says, low and serious.
The ground trembles ever so slightly. A panel of light from above swings haphazardly, sending an orange glow dancing across the field. The demon is inches from me when the contract floats up in front of my face.
“Now.” He presses a claw against my throat. As I swallow, his blade-like talon presses against my skin. Warmth pools and slides down my neck. I wince then press the edge of the pen against the paper and begin to slowly scrawl the letters of my name.
Candic—
Then, with my left hand, I slam a glass vial against Mr. Vandozer’s face.
His claw clips my throat as I dive away, and more blood splatters. Mine this time. His monstrous form lets out a shrieking roar. My whole body pulses with terror and pain and—God, I couldn’t even name all the emotions. I can barely feel my own legs.
But damn if I’m not going to make this man suffer before I die.
“Kill the prince!” the jinn yells. “They’re coming!”
But Mr. Vandozer is lost to the world now. His raging demon is not interested in the strategy. He wants to kill the weak human who dared to touch him.
I crouch, holding my dagger loosely in my right hand. I’ve trained with similar weapons before. Obsidian is heavier than steel, but I’m sure I can adjust for this.
“Come and get me, asshole,” I taunt and grin.
My whole world is crumbling, but somehow, I’m pleased as a kitten that I got him in this position. The jinn must either have limited powers or she doesn’t actually care about him. She isn’t helping.
He’s as weak as Jarron is now, and he doesn’t even realize it yet.
The demon launches himself at me. Even without magic, he’s fast as hell. I dive away, but his claws slice through my calf. I pull my leg desperately from his grasp, flesh tearing, because I know I can’t let him catch me or I’m dead.
One well aimed slice is all it would take.
I right myself and breathe through the pain, readying for his next attack.
“Stop it!” the jinn yells. But there is nothing left of Mr. Vandozer. There is only the beast. And this beast wants to devour me. “Stop now. Kill the prince, you fool!”
The beast ignores her cries and comes for me again.
I slide forward as he attacks and shove my dagger into the thick skin of his stomach. He roars, but then his hand is around my throat, crushing my windpipe. I can’t even cry out. Can’t scream. Can’t breathe.
It doesn’t matter that he has no magic. He’s still stronger and faster than me.
I am nothing.
Black peppers my visions. I’m going to pass out.I’m going to die.
A roar ricochets through the arena. Anger—so much anger. The monster’s claws release me. The ground slams into my shoulder, and I cough in choking breaths. Acid scorches my stomach and throat.
Every breath is agony.
There are more growls and screeching rage from the alien beings, then a flash of light and the sounds stop, leaving only a ringing in my ears.
My vision is blurry, my pulse throbbing in my head, and then I look up into the pitch-black eyes of the monster standing over me.
His fangs and claws are dripping in blood.
