Deathsong Chronicles - Prelude 4

"Emily!" shouted Ruby as he dove to catch her hand. He caught it, barely. Just as he was about to pull her up, something wrapped itself around her legs and tugged hard. Ruby cursed as he slid down the hole as well.

"What the hell." muttered Shadowz. He cast a light spell down the hole, and it reached the bottom, several metres down. He leapt lightly down, followed by Jennifer and Xepher. They sped down the tunnel, trying to rescue the two.

And at the back, two red eyes gleamed in triumph.

They ran on and on, eventually reaching a vast underground chasm. Ruby's scarf was on a staglatite up on the ceiling, above the gaping chasm. "It seems that they went over. Let's go!" which was followed by a silence. He glanced around. Xepher and Jennifer were a second ago, was replaced by an empty space.

"What the f***?!" muttered Shadowz. He leapt across the chasm quickly, nervous all the same. Eventually, he came to a crystal chamber, with several cocoon-shaped things hanging from the ceiling. Then he heard a muffled voice. "Xepher?" said Shadowz tentatively.

"Ahh, you're here at last. The last of my feast is here." said a rich, cultured voice. Then it laughed madly. Shadowz spun around and beheld a red eyed monster, looking like a cross between a giant scorpion and crab. "My name is Tom."

"..." Shadowz looked fit to laugh. "Tom?" he spluttered. "That's a weird name for a monster such as yourself." Tom laughed again. "Yes, is'nt it so? Now, I would like to have you as my appetizer. What do you say?"

"I'll say, no way. Who'd say yes?!" replied Shadowz. He conjured his katana and charged at Tom. Two lethal tentacles lashed out at him. Shadowz gave both glances, and spun his blade round once, slicing both into sushi.

"ARGH!" shrieked Tom. He lunged forwards and tried to swallow Shadowz. He suceeded. Or so he thought.

A keen blade stabbed through his back, and sliced all round his torso. With a last gutteral shriek, Tom died, his putrid blood pouring everywhere.

Shadowz hurriedly sliced through the cocoons' hooks, and they fell loose. He proceeded to slash through the bonds, freeing his companions.

Jennifer flung herself onto him, sobbing on his shoulder. He was speechless. "I thought...I thought that motherf***er was gonna eat us!"

"It's alright. It's ok, baby. He's dead." said Shadowz soothingly as he stroked the crying Jennifer's hair. Suddenly, the cavern rumbled. "Cave in." warned Ruby.

After safely escaping the hole, Ruby turned to Shadowz. "Good one. I suppose we owe you now." said Ruby. "Let's go on, the knights' castle is but a league away from here. We'll be there by sundown."