From Ashes and Dust (Book One)

Chapter 27.2

"I will turn off the barrier to the cell when you are ready. Are you sure you can take this creature on in your state?" Spyro questioned.

Vatra pulled one of her godkillers free and snapped her head up. "Someone's helping me, right?" Her jaw slacked.

"I'm no good in a fight. Remember, love?" Enyalius chuckled.

"What was that 'in this together' bullshit? Revna?" Vatra looked over to the woman. "If you don't help me, you two get the controls for the cell, and I'll have Spyro help me kill the thing."

"They do not know the controls," Spyro whispered.

"Spy!" Vatra shouted. "Someone better step up, now! It's not like the thing can kill you two, anyway." She added her last words under her breath, directing the comment toward Revna and Enyalius.

Revna hesitated, but then stepped forward and slipped Vatra's other godkiller from its sheath. She held it out in front of her, knuckles tight around the hilt. "All right. I will help you."

"Thank the gods," Vatra said sarcastically. She rolled her eyes and turned back to the cell.

Why Revna and Enyalius were suddenly acting so weak-spined was beyond her, but there wasn't time to question it. Vatra had a duty to kill the monstrous creature on her ship.

By the time they'd turned their focus back on the cell, Laverna had completed her transformation. She'd sprung to her feet, or at least what used to be them, and ripped through the remains of the fleshy bindings of what made Laverna recognizable as the goddess she was. As the flesh and clothing tore away from the gray hide, it faded away into ash; much like what happened when a god or goddess was killed with a godkiller. Except, what remained behind of Laverna was worse than nothing.

The creature before them was different from what Mercury had turned into. Over half a dozen legs tapped and slipped against the metal floor. Dozens of eyes darted around, peering out over a mouth lined with sharp fangs. Thick saliva dribbled from its open maw.

A piercing scream ripped from the creature's throat. It warbled and grew in frequency, vibrating and clattering Vatra's teeth together.

Groaning in pain, everyone in the room doubled over until the sound dissipated. Hands fell away from ears, and they all looked around with confusion.

"The hell was that?" Vatra seethed. She clutched her godkiller even tighter, willing the pain away that rattled around in her head.

"Kill it, now!" Spyro yelled. At some point, he'd made his way over to the controls for the cell door. Without hesitation, he turned off the barrier.

Vatra was surprised by his reaction. He must have realized something she didn't piece together. She gathered her bearings and rushed to the cell door.

Tight on her heels, Revna pushed in through the door with Vatra. The two of them used the door itself as a barricade to gain proximity to the beast, but also remain at a safe distance.

"Get out of here!" Vatra yelled over to Nat.

They'd created enough room behind them for Nat to slip through, which she did as soon as the opportunity was granted. The beast's flailing legs tried to claw at her as she ran, but Nat avoided them with agile movements and dove for safety. Once Nat was free, there wasn't risk within the cell.

Vatra and Revna let go of the cell door. The godkillers were too short to stab the beast through the bars, and holding it back any longer was pointless. They had to take it head-on.

Having been able to be close to the creature for even a few moments, Vatra had scanned it for any weak spots. There were many, thankfully. Its hide wasn't as tough as the other one, and there was a significantly lighter colored patch at the nape of where its neck should have been.