Flickering Light (Return To Avalore Book 0) Read Online Free PDF

fury.
    Rhia gathered healing light and energy. She should have centered herself or at least paid attention to where the power was coming from, but time wasn’t on her side, and no way in hell was she closing her eyes on the monster before her. The beast wouldn’t wait for her to be ready. If anything, it would attack fast and hard, hoping to catch her off guard.
    The heavy thumping against the pavement rattled nearby windows as its large feet stomped closer and closer.
    In a matter of seconds, it reached her and drew its paw high in the air, before swiping at her. Sharp claws sliced through her blouse and arm, leaving three deep, angry gouges in their wake. Eyes watering, her vision blurred for a moment as fiery pain shot up her arm. Warm blood trickled down to her elbow, but she wouldn’t let herself be distracted. Shoving the pain and discomfort aside, she focused on the beast. Already fatigued from her work at the hospice, she had to end it, and fast. She wouldn’t last in a long battle, not tonight.
    A faint mosquito-like buzzing niggled at her mind. What kind of trick was it using on her? Leaping to the side, she dodged another swipe as its paw came up again for another strike.
    Timing her move, she struck with everything she had as it raised its arm a third time. Her left leg swung out and delivered a hard roundhouse kick to its thigh at the exact moment she released the scorching ball of light from her hands. She’d have preferred to land her kick to its groin, but with its massive stature, she’d have to be Bruce Lee to kick that high.
    The ball of energy whined through the air, and disappeared into its chest, making it falter. Its eyes softened for a moment before darkening again with ruthless determination.
    White-hot, searing power sizzled in her palms as she prepared to strike again. “Come on, Benji. You could have at least pretended that kick hurt a little.” She goaded the creature, hoping it would get sloppy as its fury rose. “Give up. You’ve already lost. It’s time for you to go to whatever hell you came from.”
    The beast shook its head like a wet dog and roared as it fought the compulsion. Blood-laden spittle spewed from its mouth, arcing towards her in a repulsive stream.
    “You cannot get rid of me so easily, regal one.” The beast spat the words, its voice grating and hoarse. “I am too strong, even for you. Your time has ended before it has begun.”
    The Erritrol was close. Its black aura surrounded him as surely as his cloak did. The wisps of darkness floated in the air, naked to the human eye, but tainting it just the same.
    There was a subtle difference between an ill deed and an actual negative entity. Although a depraved act was unpleasant, a negative entity had the ability to influence others in a malicious way. This was definitely the latter.
    He had no allegiance to humans, but how could he, in good conscience, allow their needless suffering at the hands of the beast unleashed here? Humans had neither the knowledge nor the ability to protect themselves against the Erritrols. He knew firsthand of the dark creatures’ depravity, their merciless, brutal ways. As much as he needed to continue with his search, he could not allow humans to become fodder for the beasts.
    Drake sprinted down the narrow alleyway towards the creature, jumping over a stray cat as it crossed his path. The beast was near. Its rancid odor intensified the closer he got. The buildings in this older part of the city, built tall and close together, made it impossible to see beyond the corner. The violence washing over him was like a homing device, leading him straight to it. He could only hope it hadn’t harmed too many humans yet. He surrounded himself in a thick layer of white light, pulling it close, cloaking himself deeply before heading into battle.
    He rounded the corner and stopped short, transfixed as pure light in colorful hues twisted and twined around the body of a woman.
    One of the lost women of