A Bond of Venom and Magic (The Goddess and the Guardians Book 1) Read online

  “There you are, you naughty goat! Why do you keep on running away? Hmm? Now, where’s your friend?” she asked the goat sternly.

  The goat just looked at Diamond patiently and carried on grinding her jaws. Diamond could almost sense its lazy amusement. After a few more minutes she found the goat’s companion chewing the leaves off a thorny, yellow berry bush. Diamond swallowed her annoyance. It wasn’t Mr Stenson’s fault. He was elderly and not really able to cope on his own anymore. By the time Diamond dragged the two stubborn goats out of the trees and past the school grounds to their pen, she seethed with frustration.

  Grabbing the slats of the old gate, she heaved it off the ground and propped it across the entrance to the pen. Diamond wedged one end of a branch tightly under the gate and kicked the other end firmly into the soft soil, repeating the action several times until the gate was solid. Surveying her work with satisfaction, Diamond rubbed her hands briskly down her skirt.

  I’ll get Dad to come and fix this, she decided, hastening back through the woods, knowing Mr Stenson would never do it by himself.

  Diamond trotted up the steps to the school house then froze, her scream sticking in her throat.

  “Run!!” roared Arades as he saw Diamond in the doorway, her silver hair flying wildly in the wind.

  The creature snarled at her from the far end of the room. Saliva dripped from its fangs as it launched itself forwards with a blood-curdling growl, its yellow eyes narrowing. A piercing scream escaped her. Stumbling backwards, Diamond lost her footing and went toppling down the steps. The world tilted and she fell heavily on to the last two steps. Pain shot through her ribs as her breath whooshed from her lungs.

  “Dad!” she shrieked, lifting her head to see.

  But Arades could not answer. He stood facing the charging creature, his feet planted firmly, his knees bent in a solid, defensive stance. Diamond had never seen him look so fierce. In his hand he clutched one of the ornate Silverbore swords that normally was propped beside their fire place. Gasping, Diamond registered her father’s golden covered wings just as he swung the blade forward to meet the charging beast.

  His wings had never looked metallic before, but she knew what that armour meant, even as her mind grappled with her understanding. Her father was a warrior! Only warrior fae could protect their wings in such a way.

  “Diamond! In the name of the goddess—run!” Arades bellowed over his shoulder, already swiping a back-handed blow at the creature.

  The note of desperation in his voice made her stomach lurch. She scrabbled up. “Dad!” she screamed again. She had to help him! As her foot hit the first step, solid muscle grabbed her from behind. She squealed as the world tumbled, and did not stop until her spine slammed into a fallen tree trunk. Pain shot across her shoulders, a cry escaping her lungs as her head cracked against solid wood.

  Diamond forced her eyelids open. Blood dripped down the back of her neck, fear clutching at her belly. One of the hideous creatures had thrown her. Snarling, it jumped in the air and landed about six feet away. Her eyes widened. All she could see were the stringy bits of flesh that hung from its yellowed fangs. She screamed again, terror paralysing her limbs. It stomped towards her, sharp claws digging up the earth, its muscles rippling and shifting. Malformed hands reached out for her throat. Diamond cowered but the tree trunk at her bruised back stopped her retreat.

  It was difficult to grasp any sensible thought. Violent pain throbbed through her skull. Forcing her limbs to move, she patted the leaf-strewn ground for a weapon of some kind. Her fingers closed tightly around the end of a branch. Diamond swung at the creature’s head with all her might. It connected and snapped in two like a twig, the separate pieces flying in opposite directions.

  The creature hesitated, shook itself, then roared in outrage, covering her in a spray of stinking saliva and blood. Suddenly the ear-splitting roar was cut off. It looked down at the long Silverbore sword that protruded through the muscles of its abdomen. The blade disappeared with a grotesque sucking sound. Another flash of metal; and whoever wielded the sword embedded it with terrific force in the creature’s neck. Diamond squealed as warm blood sprayed over her face, chest and arms. She stared in horrified fascination as the creature fell sideways, making a dull thud as it hit the ground. Blood bubbled out between its sharp teeth and pumped from the large gash in its neck.

  Diamond couldn’t drag her gaze from the carcass. Sightless eyes stared back at her. Dizziness threatened to overwhelm Diamond as thick, dark blood seeped onto the grass, running up against her legs in a warm pool. The rotten stench from its insides hit her nostrils. It was too much. She gagged, saliva rushing her mouth. Never had she smelled anything so foul.

  “Get up,” growled a gruff voice.

  “Uncle Amsal?” whispered Diamond disbelievingly, trying to swallow the gags that rippled from her stomach right up through her throat.

  “Yes. Get up. Now!” he barked sharply.

  Diamond tried to push herself up, stunned to see her father’s best friend with armoured wings framing his silhouette. What in the name of Chaos was going on?

  He yanked her hard to her feet. “Now, Diamond!” he barked, reaching for her shoulder.

  “No. We have to help Dad!” she managed to cry, and pulled herself away from his grasp. Before Amsal Edo could catch her, Diamond was running full pelt towards the door of the school house.

  A chorus of frightened shouts and screams of agony filled the air. The answering guttural roars from the creatures made her stumble, but she reached the doors and took the steps at a leap, wailing for her father. The hellish creature snarled at her as she skidded to a halt outside the open door. A loud scream bubbled up her throat. Arades hung limp and deathly pale in Cranach’s grip, blood pumping from a deep gash in his chest. A rip in his thigh splattered ruby red blood onto the old wooden floor. The creature bared his sharp fangs in a grin, his eyes glowing with malice.

  “Dad? No!” she cried, tears blurring her vision even as her father’s pain-filled eyes found her own. A strong arm encircled her waist.

  “Diamond!” yelled Amsal, then his head twisted to behold his friend. “Oh gods, Arades….” His voice turned hoarse with grief. He thrust his golden wings out from his back, but before he could take to the skies, another creature came charging around the side of the school house and leaped. Diamond screamed as the hairy, stinking body slammed into Amsal Edo, catapulting them both from the steps and across the ground. Loose stones ripped at her clothes, scraping the skin off her exposed skin. Barely functioning, Diamond could only watch as the creature loomed over Amsal’s inert body, opening its jaws to rip out his throat.

  “No!” she shrieked and picked up a large stone, throwing it with all her might at the creature’s head. It bounced off his shoulder but gained his attention. Breathing heavily Diamond scrabbled to her feet, grabbing the nearest fallen branch as a make-shift weapon. Immediately the creature left the general and stalked toward Diamond.

  The snarling became louder. Panicked, pain-filled screams echoed through the air as the nightmarish beasts tore into the townspeople. Diamond managed to keep from collapsing with fear. Her heart hammered in her chest, needles of pain shooting across the wounds on her hands as she tightened her grip on her pathetic weapon. Pitiful and small, Diamond stood facing the approaching beast, her silver hair blowing wildly around her head. Her violet eyes widened with terror. The creature stopped ten feet from her. Straightening his grotesque body he bared his rotting teeth. Bravely Diamond clutched the branch.

  Fixing her with his cold hunter’s eyes, he snarled but did not attack, instead he stretched his neck, took a breath and released a spine tingling screech. The sound froze Diamond’s blood. It was a summons.

  Fear unlike any she had experienced before stole her breath. Diamond spun on her heel, watching as more of the hideous beasts prowled out from the dark shadows between the trees. One by one they surrounded her, devouring her with their hungry eyes. Her very bones shook as she
noticed the fresh blood dripping from their jaws and coating their upper bodies in dark red.

  Why didn’t they attack? Diamond gulped, her mouth so dry now it was impossible to swallow. Frozen to the spot, her knees shook so hard they threatened to collapse. They were waiting for something. A bead of sweat trickled down her temple, mixing with the blood leaking from her head wound.

  With a shaking hand she swiped it away just as the flash of a greenish pelt blurred the corner of her vision. She whirled. The monstrous creature was emerging from the school house. Bigger than all of the others, he leaped from the steps and landed heavily nearby. The growl he emitted was long and low, his eyes now alight with triumph.

  Her bladder threatened to void. This creature had killed her father; it was her father’s blood that soiled this creature’s face, her father’s blood that dripped from his mouth. Her face crumpled, a loud sob escaping her. Clawed feet churned up the dirt as he stalked forwards, baring his fangs. Instinctively Diamond swung the branch at his head, but her arms were weak with terror. A large clawed hand caught her feeble weapon and yanked it from her grasp. Giving a growling chuckle, her attacker tossed the branch over her head. It landed with a distant thud.

  Diamond could only whimper as sharp claws curled around her slim neck, squeezing just hard enough to make it impossible to scream. Heat seared her insides, a singular instinct to survive overwhelming her. She curled her hands into fists, hitting and tearing desperately at his hairy arms and sweaty body with her fingernails. Sweeping her from the ground, he dangled her in one claw like a rag doll before pulling her right up to his jaws. He chuckled at her pathetic efforts to cause him harm.

  Diamond could not turn away from his foul breath. Triumph sparked in the creature’s yellow eyes. Leisurely cutting off her air supply, he tightened his grip and lifted a scrap of cloth to his nose with his other clawed hand to inhale deeply. Tipping her head slightly to one side with a twitch of his thumb, he pulled her close. She didn’t even have enough air to squeak as his tongue flicked out and tasted her blood.

  Anger and disgust sparked heat in her belly. This demon had killed her father! Realising she did not stand a chance of survival, Diamond swung her heavy arms over his muscled shoulders. Fighting to stay conscious she locked her fingers around his hairy head and shoved her thumbs hard into his eye balls, grinding her teeth and snarling. She would cause this vile creature as much pain as possible before she died. Warm liquid exploded over her thumbs, running in blood-stained rivulets down her wrists. With all the breath squeezed out of her she couldn’t even cry out in agony as he roared, piercing his claws through the soft skin of her neck.

  May the goddess save my soul, Diamond prayed, feeling as if her head was going to explode. With one last concerted effort, she thrust her thumbs further into the demon’s eye sockets. It gave an ear-splitting bellow and slammed her into the ground, almost throwing himself on top of her. Her head struck stone and stars exploded behind her eyes. Suddenly heavy, her arms fell away from him. Mercifully the creature released her neck and stumbled sideways, falling to its knees. She valiantly fought the darkness, but her eyes rolled skywards as she began to lose consciousness. Diamond blinked in disbelief. Winged figures hurtled towards her, too fast for her blurred eyes to follow.

  The creatures shifted into a circle around Diamond and their injured pack leader. Baring their fangs and tensing their bodies, they quivered in anticipation of more killing. The winged figures dived closer and the creatures leaped upwards with their clawed fingers extended like spears. With infinite grace, the diving figure closest to Diamond somersaulted, easily evading the attack and landed nearby. With his large metallic wings he knocked the nearest creature off balance before driving a sword into another.

  One creature vaulted to straddle Diamond’s body, a clawed foot landing on either side of her chest. A scream exploded from her as it reached for her ravaged throat. Once again her survival instinct kicked in, and her insides began to burn. She would not just lay here and wait to have her throat ripped out! Ignoring the sightless beast kneeling nearby, Diamond bent her knees and lifted both feet. Grunting, she shoved them hard into her assailant’s lower belly and sent him toppling backwards. He roared with rage; but before he could recover, the large figure cut the creature down with his two Silverbore swords. Warm blood splattered over Diamond’s face. She pushed herself up, her arms shaking, gagging. Her eyes darted around. She had no weapons, nothing with which to defend herself.

  “Here,” barked a gruff voice, and she found the cold metal of a dagger pressed into her slick palm.

  Diamond did a double take. Dark wings flashed a deep, rich blue as they pulsed behind him, their silver markings shimmering with light. A fae warrior. Diamond looked at him stupidly, her eyes huge and round. Never in her life had she seen such beautiful sapphire blue wings. They were stunning. She staggered as long dirty claws slashed out. The warrior’s gloved hand shot out and steadied her as he spun himself between her dazed form and the creature. Blood welled from the deep slash wounds now marking the side of his throat.

  “Fight!” he growled down at her before attacking at full speed, driving the creature back so fast he became a blur of armoured wings and flashing blades.

  Diamond screamed as another creature lunged for her. The dagger almost fell from her trembling fingers as she slashed backwards and forwards ineffectually. Agilely the warrior leaped back in front of her. In two swipes of his blades, her attacker was dead, a foul stench filling the air as his guts spilled out. Diamond swallowed her disgust and stumbled away from the carcass.

  She watched wide-eyed as Amsal Edo, only a few feet away, swung his sword with obvious skill. Other fae warriors landed around her, forming a protective circle. With cold efficiency they killed all the remaining creatures. It was over in seconds. The only beast that still lived was the huge leader who had killed her father. Without hesitation, the blue-winged warrior slashed the tendons of its deformed ankles, incapacitating it. It roared its fury and pain but could do nothing. Kneeling blindly a few feet from Diamond, it sniffed the air. She swallowed her disgust. Despite no longer holding the piece of rag it was scenting her again.

  “Diamond! Diamond, are you hurt?” shouted Amsal Edo urgently. He ran towards her, his normally icy grey eyes wide.

  She shook her head, beginning to tremble from head to toe; cuts and bruises did not count. The ground ran thick with dark, almost black blood; guts and gore spilled all around her. Never had she seen such a gruesome sight. The animal stink and metallic odour of blood made her stomach clench. Swallowing didn’t do much good but she persevered, not wanting to throw up in front of these hard-faced warriors. Her blue-winged saviour raised his large Silverbore sword to end her father’s killer.

  Silverbore, the highly prized metal of the fae race. Strong, yet malleable for any gifted fae metal-smith. It was also iron-free and therefore would not burn the fae who were notoriously sensitive to the cheaper, lighter iron weapons favoured by humans.

  His blade glinted as he slashed down.

  “Wait!” she cried.

  With spectacular skill and precision, he stayed his hand, his blade halting a hairsbreadth from the creature’s throat. Glancing sideways at the warrior, she took careful and deliberate steps toward the creature. Clutching the dagger in her shaking fingers, Diamond steeled herself not to run when the creature pulled his lips back from his teeth in a defiant snarl. The warrior growled in warning and pushed the sharp edge of his sword against the creature’s hairy throat, drawing blood.

  “Still yourself,” he warned it. “Do not come any closer, girl. This Seeker wants to end you,” he warned with a scowl.

  She walked closer anyway and answered, “I know.”

  An overpowering chill seeped into her bones. Her father had told her tales of the dark creatures that lived in the far off Barren Waste Lands. A land wreathed in mist and home to monsters ruled by the Wraith Lord. An immortal being, he had been imprisoned in the Barren Wastes and had waged
a war on the lands of the mortal Oden dynasty for nearly two thousand years.

  It seemed the Wraith Lord was not content after finally overthrowing King Oden of Rhodainia and escaping. He was pushing his forces into Avalonia. All the monsters she had read about, heard stories about, had seemed so far away as to be imaginary; but this creature was very real, and so was the blood staining her clothes and drying upon her skin. Diamond knew the Seeker was still deadly even with the edge of a sword pressed against his throat, but she needed answers.

  “Why are you here?” she asked, keeping her voice strong and steady whilst staring at the mess that had once been its eyes. No remorse flickered in her soul, only a grim satisfaction that she had caused it harm and suffering, at least a little bit, before it died.

  The fae warrior laughed grimly at her efforts. “It cannot talk or understand, girl. There is no point in asking it questions. It just hunts and kills.”

  Diamond narrowed her eyes, tilting her head to study the creature. “Yes, you can, can’t you?” she said to it. “You can understand me very clearly and talk to me.”

  It was a statement not a question, and she knew without a doubt it was true. She could feel its intelligence, its absolute killing focus oozing from its soul. The warrior raised his eyebrows, looking at her like she was mad, but she ignored him.

  The Seeker rumbled a harsh laugh, making her and everyone else tense. She gasped as its growling voice resounded in her head. It was both an intimate and disgusting sensation. In response Diamond found her hand gripping tighter to the dagger.

  ‘You are our prey, you ignorant half-breed. Our master, Ragor—Lord of Wraiths—wants your blood extinguished from this world. He wants you dead so your womb may not quicken with foul-blooded offspring, and he wants that trinket you carry between those teats of yours.’ It growled another insulting laugh. ‘And I will still take it from you.’