“Fenris, please!” Reaper begged. “You’re the only one that can do it! Don’t you care about him?!”
Fenris cringed, its head dropping.
“If there’s only one good thing you do in your life, let it be that you’ve tried to save someone!”
Still, the valkyrie did not move.
Mjolnir held up a hand. “I don’t think he can do anything.” He shook his head.
“Yes, he fucking can!” Reaper snarled. “He was created to do this! Stop being selfish for one goddamn minute, Fenris!”
Its jaw clattered.
With no sign of it budging from the edge, Reaper dropped his head.
He folded his hands together and mumbled endlessly into the dirt. Praying for Jackal’s safe return. Praying that he would lose no one else.
Jackal took countless risks for Fenris. He could have lost his life on many occasions. He put up with the valkyrie’s nuances. Accepted it for who and what it was no matter what Fenris revealed. Was this what one would call a friend? It recalled all of the little things Jackal did for it and told it. Risking his own safety and going against his beliefs just to provide food when the beast was starving. Never being cruel. Only loving.
How dare Fenris let it all go as if it did not matter? It mattered to the valkyrie. Every ounce of it. Every purity from Jackal’s soul paved a new path for Fenris. That maybe, just maybe it was not a monster after all.
Without thinking of the dangers to itself, Fenris jumped.
It splashed down into the roaring waves and in a hail of bubbles sank like a boulder.
Not ready for the rush of water in its lungs. Fenris was forced to surface. None too graceful, its wingarms flapped down to get it back to the rough waves. They splayed out, its cloak serving to help keep it buoyant, but it still had to work far too hard to keep its head above water.
“Fenris! Are you okay?” Mjolnir called from the edge.
It paid him no mind. Took a deep breath, as much as its lungs could hold. Dove down by folding its wingarms up.
“He can’t swim, can he?” Mjolnir asked, looking to the others.
Reaper looked up, eyes growing wide. That would explain why it was desperate to get out of the lake when it fought the skuladr. Why Jackal had to save it from the water. That must have been why it avoided anything bigger than a puddle.
Reaper practically forced Fenris to go. Forced the valkyrie to its death….
Fenris would go down as far as it had to. It had the feeling that it would probably not come out of this alive. It would never see the surface again. Its body did not evolve to handle water. Its armor was airtight which kept the water out, but it had no true buoyancy, nor control. It did not even understand how it was meant to move in the slog of liquid. Its limbs wanted to move as if it were walking on land, but that wasn’t working. Its wingarms pushed forward, then down and back in swift motions, its cloak dragging with them. This helped propel it forward in bursts.
Its chest tightened.
It needed to hurry.
The calls of the serpents were not far. In fact, when Fenris looked hard enough, it could see the tips of their tails as they swam down towards the bottom. Fenris followed them as quickly as it could. As soon as it could touch one of them, it dug its claws into the tail, ripping right through the delicate scales.
At first, the serpents ignored it. They continued to descend into the darkness. Fenris dragged itself down the writhing body, one hand at a time. The soft flesh shifted to metal the further up it went. Large spikes jutted out from the serpent’s back, grown over in barnacles and coral.
Finally, one of the serpent’s shifted to see what was happening to its partner. It used its head to smack Fenris off, only to have the beast cling to its jaw.
The valkyrie clawed and bit into its skin. It scratched at one of the four eyes it could see. The serpent reeled and called out. Now the other turned around to face Fenris. It let khexide seep out of its body, forcing it into the wounds with each bite it took. The khexide reacted as if it were a liquid and not a gas. It moved with the waves of the ocean. Swept about with the motions of the serpents and Fenris.
The serpent’s mouth sparked with purple electricity. It snapped at the valkyrie, getting its sparking teeth close enough for the bolt of lightning to jump from it, to Fenris. The beast reeled, bubbles bellowing from its mouth. It bit down hard, shoving its claws into the soft part of the serpent’s cheek.
The other serpent twisted in the water to return to its partner. Jackal’s arm and leg was still hanging out of its mouth, limp and lifeless.
The valkyrie shoved itself away from the serpent’s eye and to the nose of the other as it came up towards them. It tried to shake Fenris off, but it persevered. Claws dug in tight. It worked its way down to its lower jaw where it scratched and pulled. It would either break away its teeth, or pry its jaws apart.
The other serpent took a bite out of Fenris’ cloak and yanked it off its partner. Before it could be thrown, its wingarm shoved into one of the smaller eyes nearly elbow deep. The beast reared back and Fenris took the chance to jump back towards the other. This time it ripped out one of its teeth and snapped a second one in half. It gnawed into the gums of its jaws until finally the serpent’s mouth opened wide.
Fenris dove into its open maw, staying away from the teeth. It scooped the limp body of Jackal up into its smaller arms, curling around him to protect him from the second pair of jaws crushing down against the valkyrie. A cry sent bubbles rushing from its mouth and neck. It did not see where the artifact had gone, but it could hear its voice. That was not its concern. Holding Jackal close against its frame, it could faintly feel a heartbeat. He wasn’t breathing.
It tucked his arms against his sides, adjusted its hold upon his body to keep him tight and secure against its torso. Its own chest was tightening, like a boa constrictor snagging itself firmly to break bones. Its muscles were tired. Filled with a searing pain. At this rate, it was not going to be able to make it back up to the surface.
Khexide poured out from its frame, encircling it in the chilling dark. By determination, and will power, Fenris let out a gasping roar. The concentrated khexide exploded out all around it as its wingarms thrusted upward. Claws dug into the roof of the serpent’s mouth, Fenris shoved with all its might.
The serpent’s jaws split apart no matter how much it pushed it back together. Its throat flooded with khexide made it reel back and hack. Fenris took this opportunity to push from its maw and make a break for the surface with the strength it had left. Both wingarms pumped downward while it hugged Jackal’s body to its chest. Khexide continued to flow down from its mouth and back. It surrounded both it and Jackal, chilling their bodies down drastically. It was just like being encased in ice.
One of the serpents came for them, rushing right past. The torrent of water sent Fenris flipping backwards and back down towards the bottomless darkness.
By time it was steadied again, the other serpent came from below. It pushed right by, swinging its tail up to smack Fenris upwards against the current where the other serpent was waiting.
The valkyrie braced for impact into its open mouth.
Lightning sparked between its teeth and along its spiny back. Unable to move out of the way, Fenris turned its back to the serpent, wingarms folding around its sides to assure Jackal’s body would be safe.
A single bolt of lilac lightning shot from its mouth, crackling and roaring through the ocean. The serpent recoiled from the blast itself, but kept the beam going. Water rushed out in all directions, pushed around by not just the lightning, but the sound. A storm was brewing above them, causing the current to strengthen.
Fenris took the bolt of lightning at full force. It sparked and cracked around its armor, biting right through. It could only focus on not crushing Jackal’s body once its muscles contracted.
They were separated. Jackal floated upwards. Fenris sank.
One of the serpents dove after Fenris. Easily catching up to the
metal rock of a valkyrie. It bit down into the wolf. Over and over again. Black blood flowed from each puncture. Sufficient in the damage caused, the serpent gave one more bite and swallowed.
FIFTY-THREE
Had the serpent swallowed anything else, perhaps it would have been fine. A strong victory. It turned about to join its twin soaring through the rushing waves to snatch up the body of Jackal before it reached the surface. The body aimlessly floated up at no hurried pace, a bed of khexide seemingly carrying it upwards.
The serpent twisted sharply, its body contorting in drastic angles. Blood spilled from its mouth. Water rushed out from its maw and into the current. It continued to cough and blow until it expelled what was tearing its insides apart. A black ball, leaking blood from its surface.
The serpent called out, its voice an ear-piercing shriek through the water. The ball uncurled to meet the incoming beast. Fenris’ wingarms reached out grabbing a fang with one, the other shoving right into a nostril. The serpent reeled back, throwing the valkyrie upwards.
It took the chance to swim, or at least try to. Those wing arms pumped down and back as hard as they could. The lights upon its armor dimmed, flashed incessantly. It had gotten a second wind within the confines of the serpent’s gullet. Its only regret not tearing the beast in half when it had the chance.
Fenris grabbed hold of one of the spines of the serpent closest to Jackal. It scaled the beast up its endless body until it finally turned to take a bite out of it. A blast of khexide spread out into its mouth, making it cough and pull away. Fenris continued for the body. It had no hope of defeating these serpents in the water.
Wrapping its bladed arms around Jackal’s body, the valkyrie held him close to its chest. Straight up. Its wingarms swung down, fighting the drag of its cloak with each motion. Its own lights were growing too dim to see. Khexide freely flowed from its armor, washing over Jackal and leaving a cloudy trail below. The valkyrie spun as it ascended, its wingarms uneven in their motions.
The serpents returned, not willing to let them get away. They intertwined with one another, spiraling up through the currents. One on either side of the valkyrie. When one came in for a bite, Fenris dug the claws of a wingarm into its nose, forcing it to skirt by. With it slowing it down, Fenris had to free one of its smaller arms. It pushed Jackal’s helmet into its chest, gave another burst of khexide into the face of the serpent coming for them. With a swing of its smaller arm, each of the layers extended and sharpened. From the elbow down, its arm shifted into the massive sword it had when it fought the skuladr. A thick, heavy blade powered by the mighty strength of the strongest valkyrie would certainly do damage.
Its wingarms continued bringing them towards the surface. The serpents continued spiraling around them, coming in for an attack from behind when the valkyrie was distracted. When one’s nose got in range, it swung as hard as it could, with all of its body and weight. The serpent’s nose split in half, right through the bone. Fenris used the momentum to narrowly dodge the other serpent.
The light of the twin stars above was shimmering down through the surface. Bubbles spewed from the valkyrie’s mouth.
Again the serpent came. Fenris swung, cutting down the length of its snout and cheek. Then the other came. A slash down its larger eye.
Fenris could see the waves on the surface, the flowing squares of sea foam. One swing of its wingarms. It could practically hear the waves hitting the shore. Another swing. Its sword arm shifted, each of the layers returning to normal. It grabbed hold of Jackal’s body with both arms. One more swing.
It broke through the surface, the side of its head smashed by a wave. Its wingarms rose up to push onto the surface of the ocean, its cloak spreading out to help keep it afloat. Still, it took all of its effort and majority of its concentration to keep not just its own head above water, but Jackal’s.
It clawed at the helmet until it ripped it off. Water rushed out, washing over Jackal’s face. Eyes shut. Mouth open and filled with water. Jackal gave no sign of life. No breath. His skin was nearly blue.
Fenris touched his face, lifted it up to keep it vertical and as far from the waves as it could.
“Fenris!” Reaper shouted from the shore. The others began to scream as well. They cheered. Yaaranam and Mjolnir clambered down the basalt to where the water smacked into the pillars.
Fenris coughed and hacked, pushing Jackal’s face into its soaking wet, furry collar. It caught a glimpse of one of the serpents breaching through the waves. They were back. Circling them.
“Fenris, hurry up! Get out of there!” Yaaranam screamed.
One wingarm reached out to pull it through the water. Then the other. It was moving too slow. Both wingarms in unison helped it move faster. As it neared the shore, Reaper and Vactubstein climbed down.
It grabbed what it could in the water to help pull itself closer. It could barely get itself out of the water, not to mention lift up Jackal’s body enough for them to take it.
Mjolnir held onto one of Fenris’ wingarms while Yaaranam took Jackal and handed his body off to Reaper and Vactubstein who quickly climbed back up to dry land. Yaaranam and Mjolnir help Fenris get itself out of the water and up the pillars.
The serpents continued to breach the waves, never leaving their heads above the water for long. They could only see the endless coils rising and sinking.
Finally back on solid ground, Fenris could hardly get itself up on its feet. Its wingarms dragged through the dirt and grass. It spat water out of its mouth and wheezed, its own blood coating its body.
“Jack? Jack, wake up.” Reaper was knelt down over Jackal’s body, patting his cheek. “He’s not breathing. Medic! Medic!” He called. Both hands against Jackal’s sternum, Reaper pushed down repeatedly, counting softly to himself. One, two, three. One, two, three.
When the medic got there on the fourth attempt, he checked for a pulse.
“Captain…” He said softly. He put a hand to his shoulder and shook his head.
“No. Don’t fuckin’ tell me that.” Reaper growled. He continued pushing down on Jackal’s chest. He would keep doing it until his arms could do it no more, or Jackal sprung to life.
“Get the defibs!” Reaper ordered. “If you won’t do anything, I’ll do it!”
“Y-yes, sir.” The medic dug into his medical kit to pull out a small case. Unclipped and opened, he unzipped Jackal’s jacket and cut through his shirt. In doing so, something fell out. Rolled from his abdomen and to the ground next to Reaper.
He didn’t even look. He was too focused on trying to resuscitate him.
“Captain, is that…” The medic asked.
“It’s the artifact.” Vactubstein scooped it up. “He protected it the whole time.”
“That’s why I’m not giving up on him. Get the fucking defibs!” Reaper shot a glare at the medic.
Jumping back to work with a hard swallow, the medic grabbed the receptors of the defib kit and placed them on either side of Jackal’s chest. Battery turned on, he left his finger over the button to activate the charge.
“Three. Two. One. Clear!” The medic said.
Reaper pulled his hands from Jackal’s chest. His back arched from the electricity, the soft whirring sound of white noise flowing from the defibrillators. With no luck, Reaper continued to pump his chest. The medic tried to again.
“Guys!” Yaaranam called. “Guys!”
“What is it, Yaara?” Vactubstein looked over to her.
“We have a problem!” She pointed up towards the sky.
The serpents had risen from the waves. They towered over the basalt, hissing and snapping their bloodied teeth. They had been maimed severely by Fenris, wounds still fresh and bleeding.
“We should be fine, right?” Ianisse asked. “They’re stuck in the water.”
Fenris slowly picked itself back up. Exhausted and weakened, it could not stand straight. Its wingarms supported most of its weight.
With a snap of its jaws, one of the serpents came f
orth, slithering right up the basalt and onto the land. Its serpentine body was still mostly in the water, but its head towered over them a hundred feet.
“They aren’t restricted to the water!” Yaaranam shouted.
Mjolnir hurried to Fenris’ side, pulling his hammer from his back.
“Come, friend!” Mjolnir said with a grin. “Bring me its head so we can smash it in!”
Fenris gave a nod.
Then it roared out as loud as it could muster. Its own voice made the earth tremble and crack.
The spines on its back and sides sparked with electricity. Its mouth opened to show the same electricity jumping from tooth to tooth as it charged up. Before anyone could react, a beam of lightning thundered from its maw. It shot it straight towards the ground where Fenris and Mjolnir were, its head rearing up to send the beam through the trucks and into the sky. It did not seem to have the strength to control its own recoil.
Fenris leaped towards the beast. Mjolnir hurried away from the blast. The others could only pray that they weren’t hit as the beam made its way around the ground. Reaper did not leave Jackal. He kept trying to resuscitate him.
Fenris grabbed one of the spines nearest to the belly of the beast and pulled. It clawed at the flesh it connected to and yanked as hard as it could until the spine ripped free. The serpent writhed and flopped its body around as blood sprayed out from the open space. Its tail whipped up, smacking its partner in the back of the head before crashing into one of the trucks.
Yaaranam and Ianisse charged in, both equipped with flamethrowers, to hit the beast in the face as it came down low enough. Vactubstein picked up the only gun with ammunition left and fired upon the same beast.
The other serpent slithered up to solid ground, its back sparking with lightning. It crackled and thundered until the serpent could no longer control it. The electricity burst out all around it. Struck the ground a dozen times and chained further from it. The bolts of lightning branched and moved, bouncing from place to place.
The grass and dirt ripped up from each impact zone, short lasting fires combusting and dissipating. It swung its tail, smacking Mjolnir several meters away.
The Soul Eaters (The Thin Hex Line Book 1) Page 45