Bride To His Darkness
Chapter 225: Mutated Scorpion

Chapter 225: Mutated Scorpion

"WHAT DID YOU TWO DO??" Jack screamed in panic when the uprooting sound became more and more approachably audible, and far ahead, they could see trees falling, as though they were being effortlessly sliced through by something– not just anything, but rather, something deadly.

"Run run run!" Maurice and Jack didn’t have to think twice before picking up their belongings and bolting for their lives into the jungle. They had both been overtaken by fear that they failed to realize that Bryn had been left behind. Meanwhile, Bryn had stood on guard, his sword poised in his grip, looking ready to attack whatever beastly figure headed his way, and when the menacing creature got close, the instant scurrying in his direction stopped.

When the figure within the bushes lifted itself to look at Bryn, the once confident Bryn could feel his bravery facade drop when the creature towered over him, the tail of the creature rose in an attempt to strike, the hook-like tip poised, as if ready to sting the one that had taken away its gemstones. To Bryn’s unfortunate encounter, he had one of the gemstones in the hilt of his blade.

Maurice and Jack continued to run for their lives, staying about their wits. They hardly turned back to steal a peek and confirm if the creature was still after them or not, all their brains could process at that moment was finding a safe place to hide, and after running for a good amount of time, Jack and Maurice took cover behind a tree, their chests heaving, whilst they panted due to the long run, already exhausted.

"Is it coming?" Maurice whispered to Jack, stealing a side-glance in his direction, but the young adult who seemed to be at his age was still too frightened to look. Howbeit, they could no longer hear the sound of the creature coming, and that was enough to give Maurice the chance to take a look.

The Forest was dark as it was already nighttime, and Maurice had to stay cautious before peering out. Aside from the scary-looking wild bushes, he did not see the creature that had been after them, and that made him plop to the ground in relief. He could have sworn he felt his heart at his throat when the creature approached them, but he felt glad to know that they had made it out safely.

"I think it’s gone." He said to Jack who also released a sigh of relief. Dropping to his knees, Jack opened his sack and cross-checked his gemstones. After confirming that they were complete, he glanced at Maurice.

"Did you get your stones?"

"Yes." Maurice whispered back, "what about you Bryn? Did you–" turning his head to look behind him, there was no sign of Bryn.

"Bryn?" He quietly called out, hoping that the notorious vampire would answer, but when he got no response, he looked at Jack who was also trying to peer through the darkness to find Bryn.

"Where is he? Did he follow a different route?" Inquired Jack who had risen to his feet, but when he met the apprehensive gaze of Maurice, he could tell exactly what the lad was busy thinking. At first, Jack chuckled it off, since they all ran away but the more he was made to ponder on it, he... never saw Bryn make a run for it.

"You don’t think he’s–" Jack could hardly finish his sentence when a loud ’boom!’ caused the Earth beneath their feet to shake, as though an earthquake just took place, and when they glanced alarmingly at the direction of the noise, the sight of smoke evaporating into the atmosphere made them grimace at the realization. The sound they heard must have come from Bryn who was probably in a combat with the creature.

"He’s a vampire, he’ll survive. We’re humans, let’s get outta here." Jack whispered to Maurice who was hesitant to take off, his conscience already judging him. No matter how annoying Bryn might be to the two of them– as well as intimidating, he was still a part of their team, and teammates don’t run and leave the other to suffer in their plight.

Another loud ’BOOM’ was heard, and it made Maurice curious about how the hell that vampire was fighting such a beast on his own.

"We have to go back." Maurice said to Jack whose expression blanked in fear. For someone who always messes around and tries to get under Maurice’s skin, Jack didn’t know the lad would still bother to save the selfish Bryn. When they all ran away, the least Bryn could do was follow, and now they had to return back there all because of him!!

"I didn’t sign up for this."

"Come on." Maurice gave Jack a pat on his shoulder, and although they were both frightened to the bone, they returned to the place where they had left Bryn and the creature.

Silently drawing out their blade as they inched closer, they could hear the creature’s angry shriek, and that sent shudders to their cold bones. Hiding behind the thick foliages, Maurice carefully parted them, and before his eyes, he watched as Bryn single-handedly went into combat mode with a gigantic..... is that a SCORPION???

Maurice’s mouth hung agape.

The size of the Scorpion was a terrifying sight to behold, its midnight exoskeleton glistening with menace. Its beady eyes gleamed with a dark unfathomable intelligence as it lunged another powerful attack at Bryn, its oversized claws flexing with the intent to rip Bryn apart. The jagged stinger of its tail dripped with a lethal venom, looking ready to strike with deadly precision, but thanks to Bryn’s vampiric speed, he was fast enough to evade the tail, yet, incapable of dealing with the Scorpion by himself.

"What do we do?" Jack whispered into the ears of Maurice, his panic increasing, but Maurice had palmed his mouth on time before he made the worst mistake of alerting their presence to the Scorpion. Returning his gaze to Bryn and the mutated Scorpion who growled with growing rage, Bryn had tried another method to strike, but the scorpion had sensed his attack and blocked it with its tail. Leaving Bryn at the mercy of its tail, it flung the vampire into the distance, sending him crashing with a deadly impact into a tree before watching him drop to the ground.

Jack almost passed out at the sight, and Maurice’s pupils dilated as it clearly wasn’t done with Bryn.

If they don’t act fast, Bryn might be dead before they can count to ten. As though it wasn’t enough bad timing for the day, a portal magically appeared at the other side of the forest, swirling in its mystical glory as it awaited them to go in and face the next danger waiting for them. The sight of the portal excited Jack, but Maurice’s glare made him stay put.

"Deep breaths Maurice." The lad mentally consoled himself, whilst closing his eyes to think. His mind raced with all forms of strategy he could possibly think of to help Bryn. The portal had already opened, so before it closes, they needed to make it in, but that cannot be achieved with a Scorpion ready to tear them in two.

"Ahah!"

Eventually, an idea clicked, and even though his actions would be tremendously daring, it was worth giving a shot. Immediately, he turned to look at Jack and asked.

"Among the stones you have, can any of them conjure wind?" He whispered to Jack who barely knew, but after going through his gemstones, he picked a stone in which the color was reminiscent of that of a white sand.

"I think this."

"Fix it on your sword and wait for my call. I’ll need you to summon a wind at the Scorpion. Remember, do it after my call." He instructed Jack who was evidently confused, but he nodded anyway, his youthful face reflecting his fear mingled with determination.

Gathering his courage, Maurice stepped out into space before the Scorpion could go after Bryn, whilst brandishing his sword to gain the creature’s attention. The blade of his sword immediately illuminated, the purple ring swirling around it, thus, drawing the Scorpion’s attention as planned. At the sight of its gemstone emanating a familiar energy, the Scorpion didn’t hesitate to lunge at Maurice, its massive claws swinging forth, but, somehow, Maurice had managed to evade the attack with a swift sidestep, narrowly escaping its grasp.

"What tha–!!" he momentarily panicked.

The Scorpion’s tail, which was poised to strike, missed its target as Maurice moved fast. Quickly setting his plan into action, the lad skillfully maneuvered his way between the Scorpion’s legs, deliberately taunting it with agile footwork. Seeing he had the Scorpion right where he wanted, he leaped onto the Scorpion’s tail and began scaling upward, his movement mirroring those of a seasoned acrobat.

He was thankful for his flexibility!

The Scorpion, whose sharp piercing screech expressed its anger, tried to dislodge Maurice from its tail, but Maurice’s grip was firm, his determination fueled by the portal that awaited them.

"JACK NOW!!" He yelled, and at a recommended timing, Jack stepped forward with the blade of his sword swirling with a gust of mystical wind. The gust engulfed the Scorpion in seconds, binding it and inhibiting its ability to strike. Unable to allow this opportunity to pass him by, Maurice seized his chance and carefully climbed up to the Scorpion’s back to locate its weakest spot.

With a swift strike, he plunged his blade into the vulnerable spot, unleashing a howl of pain from the Scorpion as it staggered back. Sensing momentary weakness, Jack was able to reach Bryn on time, and without waiting for Maurice, they both dashed towards the portal concealed in the depths of the jungle.

Maurice jumped down from the collapsed creature and dashed towards the portal along with his teammates, and he could see the portal flicker, as though it’s time for materializing in the jungle was about to run out. His heart pounded in his ears as he tried to reach the portal, his breathing labored, and as he raced forward, he could hear the Scorpion’s loud screech behind him.

They reached the portal as the wounded creature regained its strength, and without wasting time, it charged forth, tail flailing in blind fury.

"JUMP!" Jack gave out the signal as he leapt first into the portal, followed by Bryn, and before the raging tail could grab Maurice, he leaped into the portal, the jagged stinger a centimeter away from stinging his foot, and the Portal closed.