Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Thirteen
They covered a great distance thought the travel time was tedious and slow. Rose was hoping that Devlin’s teleporting ability would make their rescue mission go swifter, but he had to stop often to rest and feed. They appeared just a half mile outside of a small community village. From what Rose could tell as they made their way to it, there weren’t many people there and they seemed weary as their heads darted back and forth constantly.
“Have you been here before?” Rose asked.
“Yes but not for some time,” Devlin replied as he took in a deep breath of air, “I don’t recall it being this bad here though.”
“What do you mean?”
“These people are living in fear. Even this far away, the air reeks of it. My predatory nature is salivating.”
“Do you think the ghouls are responsible for all this fear?” Rose asked as she scanned the tree lines around them. The surrounding area was more of a valley with patches of trees here and there. The rolling hills plush with tall green grass but had tell-tale signs of firestorm, impact craters and scorched ground that had yet to recover. The mountains stood as blackened mute monuments to that horrible day five years ago when the firestorm reigned down everywhere. Boulders as big as skyscrapers lay at the base of the mountain range, making the mountains look like it had jagged teeth.
“There may be a few nearby but I get the sense that this is something else entirely…” Devlin trailed off as they enter the village, noticing that everyone had stopped what they were doing to look at them. Everyone seemed more on edge than before. Rose wondered if it was because of Devlin or maybe strangers have been coming through causing problems. She had heard about bandits and raiders attacking other villages and settlements from the tales the traders told when they came to Melona but time was running out for Duncan and they couldn’t play the wandering heroes for this village. The moment they set foot in the village, all the people scrambled and hid behind various objects or wooden structures.
“Go away!” one villager cried out in bitter panic, “We have nothing of value for you or anyone!”
Devlin narrowed his eyes at the individual. The lady was wearing tattered, mud-caked clothing that had rips and tears throughout the garment, like she had been in a fight or a mud wrestling competition. Her face was scratched and bruised but Devlin did recognize her so he said, “Beth, it is only me, Devlin. You know me. This beautiful jewel beside me is Rose Macready from the village of Melona. We mean no harm. Why are all of you hiding and what’s frightened my friends?”
Beth watched Devlin intently from behind an old whiskey barrel, still hesitating to come out into the open. Rose felt bad for this woman and her companions because whatever happened, it left them not wanting to trust anyone at all, even Devlin who they already knew. Devlin stomped his way towards the center of the village with a scowl on his as he demanded, “What the hell happened? Who’s responsible for hurting you? Just say their names and I will personally see to it that they never harm you again!”
“We can’t say,” Beth blurted out, terror slipping into her voice, “he will have his friends kill us all if we say anything!”
“Devlin, I know that these are your friends,” Rose said as she stood next to him, “but we need to go save Duncan before it’s too late. I’m not sure that they want our help.”
Devlin flashed his fangs – “I know this Rose! Don’t you think I know this? I’m sorry we can’t there any quicker but it takes a lot out of me to teleport someone halfway across the world. I need to feed and whoever hurt them WILL be my next meal!”
“I’ve told you before that you can feed on me if you need to since you’re doing all the work.” Rose said as she jutted out her chin, “I’m worried about Duncan and you as well.”
“Me?” Devlin said as if he’d been slapped with a cold fish, “Why worry about me? I’m right here in front of you. I’m not the one who was kidnapped by a fucking angel!”
A sound caught their attention, both Rose and Devlin turned and saw a little girl walking up to them. She couldn’t have been no more than eleven and barely had any clothes on. Her hair was matted with mud and blood as well as her face but she showed more courage than anyone else here. Devlin kneeled down with pity in his eyes. He pulled out a handkerchief and took Rose’s canteen to wet it. He beckoned for her to come closer which she obeyed without any hesitation. Rose took her canteen back as she kneeled down to meet this young girl. Her heart was breaking for her as she saw that she had dried blood between her gangly tights as well as cuts and bruises. Devlin wiped away the crud from her face as gently as possible while asking, “Who has hurt you, my dear? Who has hurt my sweet little Jenny?”
“B-bad people.” Jenny replied as tears gushed from her eyes as she hugged Devlin. She latched onto him like a leech as she sobbed. Rose couldn’t hold back her tears as she took the handkerchief from Devlin since he had been immobilized by the traumatized girl. More of the villagers came out from their hiding spots and walked towards them, all women and each one looked similar. Filthy and wore either shredded clothing or barely anything at all. Whoever did this to them was a sadistic bastard that got off on raping and hurting women, Rose fumed.
“Please, do tell us who the bad people are.” Rose looked at the other women, “We want to help put an end to this once and for all, but you need to follow Jenny’s example and talk to us.”
A curvy, red head woman looked at the others and as one they all slumped their shoulders in defeat. She put her arms across her bare chest and said, “I’m not sure anyone can stop them. He had all the men killed here and has left what few of us that are left to fend for ourselves.”
“Why did you want us to leave, Sarah?” Devlin asked as he rocked Jenny in his protective arms.
“Because he waits for new victims to show up!” Beth blurted out as she cried, “He’s nearby and somehow he knows when “fresh meat”, as he says it, arrives here.”
“Which way does the prick come from so we can set a trap for him?” Rose asked as she stood up. All the women looked at one another, as if wondering if they should speak something that seemed taboo. Sarah took a deep breath and said, “It’s hard to explain because it’s so strange and unusual that you might think we were making it up.”
“The fact that you’re specking to a vampire and a sorceress don’t count as strange and unusual?” Devlin grinned as his fangs extended. Sarah smiled sheepishly as she bit her bottom lip in response. Rose felt a twinge of jealousy spike its way her mind. Were they more than friends? Did Sarah share more than her bed with Devlin? She shook her head and smacked Devlin’s arm.
“What was that for?”
“Nothing Casanova, just keep those incisor erections of yours under wraps.” Rose looked back at Sarah and asked, “Tell us about them now so we can help all of you.”
“He comes out of thin air, like he’s invisible and then he’s there!” Another woman shrieked.
“And he brings a decent size horde of ghouls with him too!” Beth added, “Todd is his name. You would think it would be something that would sound scarier. When he first appeared here, Todd asked if any of us wanted to repent from our sins so that we could join him in the Promise Land. Naturally, we told him to fuck off but then out of nowhere, there were ghouls everywhere! They k-killed all the men and then Todd commanded them to bring each one of us to him…if he’s a man of God, then his God is a sick and twisted one that allows a rapist to run free.”
Devlin felt Jenny squeeze him tighter so he held on to her and whispered several times, “It’s okay, you’re safe with me.” Rose looked at the vampire and knew that he was a good man already, but seeing him handle Jenny make her heart melt. She may have lusted for him but Rose knew that Devlin was the kind of man she would enjoy spending the rest of her life with. Though it would be short lived in Devlin’s eyes since she would die long before he would. Would he risk an eternity of heartache to have a relationship with me, knowing I would one day die?
“Todd has returned here several times and each time it’s because we have new people come into our village. But lately, he’s chosen to pop in and have his way will all of us while his ghouls hold us down for him….” Sarah stated as she looked away in shame, tears streaming down her dirt face, “I don’t think I can take it anymore.”
“Why haven’t you ran away from here?” Devlin asked.
“He’s watching us!” Beth spat out, “We tried, but then he reappeared and surrounded us with his army of ghouls and said we can’t ever leave this place and if we tried to run again, he would have his ghouls cleanse us of ours sins like they did with all the men here. We would be spared that fate as long as he could punish us himself…sexually.”
Rose felt sick to her stomach. This Todd acted like Sully did back in Melona, with the exception that Sully wanted to wipe out her village and use it as a trap for other unsuspecting traders and traveling merchants. Were these men sick and perverted before they got reaped or did that happen after Sorath manipulated them in the Promise Land? Rose wondered when Todd would show himself so she decided it would be best to put out a mental call to the animals. “To any of my animal friends who wish to help I ask for your aid. There’s a terrible man who controls the dead humans that’s causing pain and suffering to a defenseless group of women. All who wish to join in this fight, please do come!” Rose wasn’t sure what would show up or if any would come at all, but it never hurt to ask.
“Is there anything else that Todd does that might seem odd?” Devlin asked.
“After he’s done, Todd talks to a rock, I think it’s a rock, and he always says “Back home to the Promise Land.” And then he and his ghouls disappear.” Beth replied and then she pointed and gasped, “Oh shit, he’s returned!”
Devlin rose up slowly looked in the direction just to his left and put Jenny behind him for protection. Rose wanted to burn Todd into ash but chose not to reveal that she had magic at her command so she unsheathed her katana. Todd smirked as he raise an eyebrow, as if unimpressed or bored. Devlin eyed Todd and saw that he did hold a small rock, no a gold nugget, and it glowed as he whispered into it. Right before Rose and Devlin’s eyes, about forty ghouls appeared out of nowhere. Rose glared at Todd as he grinned ear to ear.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” Todd cheerful announced as he greedily rubbed his hands together, “Not much of a catch but it will have to do. Newcomers, do you repent of all your filthy ways and sins? Answer yes and you will be welcome to join Jesus and the rest of us in the Promise Land where you can bask in His glory and will be granted everlasting life. Answer no you will be cleansed of your flesh…so choose wisely. Gather the villagers and set them aside for later, any who resist maybe cleanse on the spot.”
Devlin heard Jenny sobbing as she walked around him to join the other women. He felt compelled to grab her and teleport her to safety but that would leave Rose exposed to the ghouls. I vow that bastard will never lay another hand on Jenny or any of my friends here, Devlin thought as he watched a small group of ghouls circle around the battered women and herded them away slowly. Devlin slid up next to Rose and whispered under his breath, “That gold nugget is our key to getting to Duncan. We get that and we can open a portal to the Promise Land ourselves.”
“Well heretics, what is your answer?” Todd arrogantly called out.
“Give us a moment, this is a pretty big decision.” Rose replied.
“More like a life or death decision…you have thirty seconds!”
Rose whispered, “I put a call out for help so I have no idea if any animals will come. Do you think we have a chance?”
“I don’t have a clue Rose but I do know this, Todd will die today. If we don’t make it out of this, I pray that he will be dead so he won’t hurt these women…or Jenny.”
Rose nodded as she gripped the hilt of her katana tighter. They had to get to Todd and take him down or at least get that gold nugget from him. If he couldn’t call on reinforcements then this battle wouldn’t be so bad. Then again, the ghouls weren’t so easy to dispose of since they could communicate and coordinate their attacks. Fucking Hollywood never made a zombie movie like that, it was always mindless, shambling dead people wanting to eat people and that was their only goal in their second life. Ghouls had purpose and could single out a person and herd them into the waiting arms of a small cluster hiding out behind a building or anything that would obstruct the victim’s vision until it was too late.
“When Duncan killed Sully back in Melona, he said he had to decapitate him because stabbing the man in his heart didn’t work the first time. So Todd’s head needs to roll, got it?”
“Got my love. Shall I deliver it to you on a platter?” Devlin joked but show no signs of amusement.
“Times up, what is your choice?” Todd asked once more.
Devlin jutted out his chin as he defiantly replied, “We will not bow before the fallen angel who claims to be Jesus nor would we want to spend eternity in the company of a pathetic rapist like you.” Todd roared out in anger as he pointed an accusing finger at them, “Blasphemers! I should take you before Jesus so He can show you that He is the one true savior! You sir will be cleansed of your flesh!” His gazed fell on Rose lustfully, “You my dear will be cleansed of your sins by me personally!”
Rose Snorted as she twirled her katana – “Ha! Go eat a bag full of dicks and choke! If you touch me, I will cut off that tiny worm you have between your legs!”
Todd snarled as he commanded the ghouls, “Kill the man and bring me the bitch! You don’t need to be gentle on her either, I want her made ready for me so rip her nasty clothing off!”
“Real attractive Todd, is that how you pick up all your dates? Why not come and get me yourself or did your Jesus make you a pussy?” Rose steadied herself as the ghouls fanned out and surround them both.
“No but I find that it’s better this way.” Todd mocked, “You would get winded if you ran from me and so would I, but they don’t so why not have them do the leg work for me and prepare a filthy whore for me at the same time.”
Devlin stood by Rose’s side, still unarmed and unmoving. He watched in silence as the ghouls crept closer with their mouth snapping greedily and causing that green ooze to dribble out of their mouth like salivating dogs. Rustling of leaves caught Rose’s attention. She looked in the direction and just past the shambling ghouls she saw a clusters of animals gathering of all shapes and sizes, waiting for her to give the go ahead. Above in the sky, an assorted array of cries rang out as clusters of ravens, crows, hawks, and eagles flew in circles, preparing to strike. Rose grinned as she swung her sword with the confidence that Todd and his ghouls were oblivious to their surroundings. Devlin opened his coat and unsheathed a short sword stalked up the nearest ghoul and cut its head off. His hunger was growing inside him, demanding that he should feed so it made him wonder if the ghouls would try to bite him.
As more ghouls approached Devlin, he stood in place and waited to see what their next move would be. Several got within arm’s reach and stared blankly at Devlin, unsure of what he was. Devlin grinned as he moved into the closest ghoul’s face, baiting it to try and take a bite out him. Todd watched in bewilderment, he cried out, “What are you waiting for? Kill him, damn you!”
One ghoul pawed at Devlin as it croaked, “Not alive…can’t cleanse…this one.”
“That’s not possible! If you won’t eat him then rip him apart with your hands!”
Devlin slashed with his sword and took two ghoul heads off and then cut off any hands that were reaching for him. If they won’t bite me, then I might as well disarm them Devlin thought with amusement. They would certainly go after Rose but she wouldn’t have to worry about being grabbed. The ground trembled as a stamped of animals rushed headlong into the conflict. Several bulls trampled and gored any ghouls that stood in their path. A massive grizzly bear barreled its way to Rose, swiping its razor sharp claws through the bodies of the ghouls, goblets of black ichor saturated the ground. It stood on its hind legs and roared at the oncoming ghouls that had gotten behind her.
Todd groaned in frustration as his ghouls fell faster than he expected. As he put the gold nugget up to his lips, Rose mentally cried out, “Hear me, my friends! We need someone to snatch that rock from that bastard’s hand. I don’t how you do it, just do it before more of these ghouls show up!” One of the eagles circled around in the air and then dive bombed at Todd. It swooped in and snatched the gold nugget so fast that Todd barely knew that it had grabbed it from his hand.
“Hey! Give that back you damn feathered prick!” Todd screamed as he shook his fist at the eagle. Ghouls appeared from thin air but some didn’t quite make it through the invisible portal and as a result, there were ghouls that were cut in half or had their heads loped off. Rose felt that was a small victory but more ghouls did get through and they had to work harder so they wouldn’t become a meal for the undead.
Crows and ravens landed on top of the ghoul’s heads and worked on piercing and tearing out their eyes. Todd glared at the eagle as it landed in a nearby tree with his gold nugget firmly grasped by its foot.
“Bring the bitch to me!” Todd commanded to the new ghouls as he march toward the tree that the eagle was perched in, “Rip the man apart while you’re at it!”
More ghouls encroached on Rose but with the aid of the grizzly bear at her back, she only had to be concerned with ones in front and the sides of her. She smirked as she swung her katana, knowing that after this wave of ghouls it would be all over and then they could wring information out of that pig, Todd…Wait, where was he? Rose looked around frantically in between her blows. She finally saw him attempting to climb the tree, wanting to get his little toy back. The ground rumbled once more as the bulls came charging through, knocking down ghouls like they were bowling pins. Devlin took advantage of the carnage and behead each of the downed ghouls. The horde of ghouls was thinning but if Todd manage to get his hands on that gold nugget, we would be so screwed.
“You take them out, I’m going after Todd!” Rose yelled to Devlin as he downed two more ghouls. He looked over at Rose and saw her do something he never thought he see. Rose had mounted the mighty grizzly and was talking to it as she stroked its massive head. She glanced up at Devlin and chuckled at the vampire as he stood there in awe. Rose gritted her teeth as she twirled her katana while she urged the grizzly forward.
Devlin sighed as he beheaded another ghoul, “Oh, how I love that woman.”
Devlin decided that it was time to end this charade so he started teleporting, taking off the ghoul’s heads with each move. He was swift and deadly, making easy work of the last remnants of Todd’s undead army using his supernatural speed, but at a cost. Devlin’s hunger was growing stronger with each teleportation, the need to feed becoming maddening. He feared that if he didn’t get it under control, he may hurt one of his friends or worse, Rose. He couldn’t simply teleport out of here to find the blood he needed because Devlin didn’t have the energy to do it. Maybe I could drink from one of these animals, he thought but then he shook it off. No I need human blood! Devlin could tell his eyes were going red as his hunger washed over him and demanded sustenance.
The massive grizzly bear ran at full speed towards an unsuspecting Todd. It would swipe its massive paws at any of the nearby ghouls while Rose swung her blade to finish them off. She saw Todd attempting to climb up the tree but he seemed to be having difficulty finding a good foothold to help hoist him up. Rose could feel her heart racing as the closed in on Todd, adrenaline pushing through her body, making her forget that she was nearly exhausted from the battle with the ghouls.
Now she knew how Duncan must’ve felt back in Melona, fighting without getting a break is a real workout and can test one’s stamina. Thinking of that day made Rose pine for her friend even more. She hoped that Duncan was okay and safe, but being in the company of that damn angel meant his life was at stake and with each passing moment could die. They had to reach the Promise Land soon and Todd was the key to getting there faster. The gold nugget was enchanted and could somehow create a portal with no effort on the user’s part. Fucking angelic magic, Rose grumbled, must be nice to have that at one’s beck and call.
Rose saw that Todd was losing his cool so he grabbed a handful of rocks and started chucking them at the eagle. It squawked and screeched at Todd but it held its ground and the gold nugget too. Rose didn’t want the brave bird to get hurt so she called out to it mentally, “Come to me, brave eagle and hand over the gold nugget.” Between the rocks whizzing past its head, the eagle nodded as it took flight towards Rose. Todd turned to track where it flew off to and then saw the grizzly bear barreling down on him. He tried to move out of the way but the grizzly bear used its massive paw to bat Todd down to the ground.
The eagle landed on the grizzly’s back and put the gold nugget into Rose’s waiting hand. She rubbed the eagle on its head and neck saying thanks to the majestic bird. The grizzly hunkered down on the ground so Rose could easily dismount and to better hold Todd down. He thrashed his body but the bear wasn’t letting him go anywhere.
“You filthy beast!” Todd snarled at the grizzly bear, “Take your fucking paws off me! I will have your pelt for this!”
Rose lovingly stroked the grizzly’s fur as she walked around to face Todd. She squatted down on her knees, enjoying the fact that Todd was pinned and helpless. How ironic Rose thought, the pious rapist is now the one at the mercy of another.
“You wanted me Todd, well here I am. Looks like you’re having a pretty bad day.”
“You will be cleansed slowly and painfully once I’m free from this nasty fur ball!” Todd hissed.
“Now that’s no way to behave,” Rose said as she patted his cheek, “it would be in your best interest not to poke the bear with your insults.”
“Don’t touch me! I’m immortal and can’t die so I fear neither it nor you, harlot!”
“Is that a fact? Have you tried dying? Hmm I wonder if this gorgeous beast here were to, oh I don’t know, eat you whole would you still be alive? Guess we’d have to check his scat for a pulse.”
Todd gulped but replied defiantly – “I’m sure I would live! Jesus made me this way and wouldn’t make me where a simple beast could take me down.”
“And yet it did happen, didn’t it.” Rose tsked.
Rose looked to her side and saw Devlin standing beside her. He was clenching hands into fist as blood seeped past his fingers. Rose had a sense of panic inside her as she looked up at the vampire. He was in full bloodlust mode, his eyes were completely red with no white showing. Devlin’s gaze bore into Rose which made her slide her hand slowly to cover her carotid artery. He was a dangerous and deadly predator but Rose also saw him as devilishly handsome and sexy but in this state, Devlin could kill her without much effort.
“You wouldn’t know the first thing about being an immortal, Todd.” Devlin growled as his voice got huskier, “But since you can’t die, then I shall have no problem bleeding you dry. Why you would be the perfect drink, never goes empty and refills are free!”
Todd scoffed, “Oh I’m so scared now! The harlot’s man-whore is going to bleed me out! Tell me, what exactly will you do with all my blood? Bathe in it or have some sort of satanic ritual that all you heathens enjoy performing?”
In the blink of an eye, Devlin had yanked Todd out from under the grizzly bear and held him up off the ground with one arm. The scent of blood that trickled down Todd’s body from where the grizzly bear’s claws had cut him up was becoming more intoxicating to Devlin so he swiped a finger in one of his wounds and slowly suckled the blood off his finger.
“Your body has the taint of the fallen angel that transformed you. It’s bitter but your blood will have to do.”
“Jesus is NOT a fallen angel, you bastard! He’s – ARRRGHHH!”
Devlin pulled him into a bear hug and sank his fangs into Todd’s carotid artery. He groaned as he squirmed, trying to free his body from Devlin’s vice grip but nothing worked. He tried kicking, pinching, and clawing at Devlin but he was unfazed. Rose got into Todd’s face as she held out the gold nugget for him to see and said, “We are grateful for this lovely gift. It will make our trip to the Promise Land quicker and easier.”
“Give that…back, bitch!” Todd growled, “No one…goes there…who isn’t…saved first!”
“Your pseudo-Jesus took our friend there and he hasn’t been saved. We want him back and if we have to storm that place and burn it to the ground, we will!”
Todd chuckled as he looked like he was about to pass out from blood loss, “The one called Duncan Morgan will be dead by the time you get there and WILL be beyond recognizable too! Our Lord has judged him for his crimes against our people and will suffer greatly.”
“Did you know a man by the name of Sully?” Devlin asked as he took his lips from Todd’s neck, “Duncan killed him you know. Wasn’t he supposed to be like you, immortal and undying?”
“Sully can’t die!” Todd cried out, “I don’t believe this nonsense!”
“Really?” Rose chimed in as she poked Todd in his chest, “Then why is it when Duncan took his head off did he not revive? I was there and he was deader than disco…and you’re next”
Todd’s paled even more so at this revelation and he looked like he was on the verge of a panic attack. All of his smug and distain was gone and to Rose, Todd looked more like a scared child than a creepy rapist. Devlin sank his fangs into Todd’s neck again and kept on drinking until he felt Todd’s body go limp. He slung him over his shoulder and walked back to where all the women were at, each one watching intently. Devlin felt a swell of pride as he dropped Todd on the ground at their feet and said, “Your immortal captor is down but not dead. If you want to have any therapeutic fun with him, I suggest you tie him down. If not the cut his head off and he will die.”
The ladies grabbed whatever weapons that they had hidden away and returned with a maniacal gleam in their eyes. Beth raised her weather-worn axe and brought it down on Todd’s thigh. Todd screamed incoherently but didn’t have the strength to move and could only watch as Beth hacked off one leg and went to work on his other leg. Sarah stepped down on Todd’s right wrist and started chopping away at his arm. There was barely any blood left his body as Sarah finished with his left arm and moved over to his right. Devlin seemed to approve of the carnage as he gave Rose a side hug but what threw them all was when Jenny decided to join in.
The little girl walked over with what looked like a rusty hand saw. She stood between the stumps that was Todd’s legs and glared at him while snarling. Jenny dropped to her knees and yanked off Todd’s tattered, bloody jeans and grabbed him by his shaft and proceeded to slice it off. Todd’s face paled even more so as little Jenny methodically crawled up and sat down on his chest with his severed member in her hand, then she grabbed his mouth and pried it open while screaming over and over, “Eat it, you little harlot!”
Jenny stuffed it into Todd’s mouth and manually made him chew it up and then she vehemently hissed, “You will swallow what I give you!” Rose became nauseated by the site and was ready to empty the contents of her stomach as Devlin turned and moved her away from the gruesome display of revenge. Devlin looked back over his shoulder, his anger rising. Todd more than likely said those exact words to Jenny as he forced himself onto her so he figured it was only fitting that she do the same to him. I don’t need to do any more, Devlin reminded himself, they know how to end it so let the ladies have their twisted fun with this evil man.
Rose looked at all the animals that came to help in the fight and gave them all thanks. She felt bad that she didn’t have anything to give them in return but times was running short and they needed to get to Duncan. She pulled the gold nugget out of her pocket and looked up at Devlin. He nodded and motioned for her to proceed. Rose wasn’t exactly sure how to use the gold nugget or if it would work for her at all but that wasn’t going to stop her from trying. Duncan’s life is at stake and he needed us now more than ever so Rose concentrated all her focus on the gold nugget and commanded, “To the Promise Land now!”
There was a static buzz as the air around them became charged with magic and shimmered before Rose’s eyes. Devlin squinted his eyes and asked, “I don’t see anything. Did it work?” Over the cheerful howling of the ladies behind them, Rose wrapped her around his and took his hand and said with a smirk, “Yes, now let’s go retrieve our friend!” Arms locked together, they both walked through the shimmering energy and disappeared. As they appeared on the other side, Rose saw that they were in a vast expansive room made of solid gold as well as ghouls.
They turned and looked at them and immediately their mouths were foaming with that putrid green ooze as they reached their arms out to grasp them. Devlin swore under his breath as he wanted to put himself between the ghouls and Rose but there were more ghouls behind them. They were surround and the only way out was either to fight or risk teleporting to another area that could be just as bad.
“I will do what I can to protect you Rose, but unfortunately I’ve fed and they can now smell me too.”