FARHAYVEN: VENGEANCE by S. K. Ng Read Free Book Online

Ray opened his eyes. It was already nightfall. Spirit looked at him silently. Although he did not know what was going on in Ray’s mind, but he guessed that it was something tragic. He has seen Ray like this before. And he could identify with his human companion, for he too, had his past. Ray rubbed Spirit behind the ears. The nightly silence was broken by the rhythmic sound of crickets.
     
         A soft fluttering is heard. Meanwhile, the black jewel begins to spin wildly. Ray places the ancient book in his backpack and slings it over his shoulders. He gets up and turning to look at his wolf companion, receives a very dedicated and serious stare in return. The fluttering sound is erratic, which makes it very difficult for Ray to pinpoint the location of its source. After several long moments of scanning the sky, Ray sees it. The tiny, dark, unnatural figure of a half-human, half-insect demon is illuminated by the glow of the full moon. Ray breaks into a jog as he traces the flight path of the demon. Spirit the White Wolf runs along his side. It is a long distance to go, and Ray knows he will not be able to get there in time to prevent the demon from killing its first victim, so he does not bother to increase his pace. He knows that he needs to manage his stamina and endurance, or this will be the last day of his life.
     
         The demon lands on the roof of a dark wooden house that is approximately 300 paces from the large tree where Ray and Spirit had rested earlier. It walks on the wooden roof, peering into the house through the gaps in it. Meanwhile, inside the house, a family of three sit and hug each other in the darkness. The man of the house tries to console his wife and his little daughter, but the trembling of his voice betrays his effort. The little girl begins to cry. The demon stops, and then raises its head. It listens to the great symphony of fear and is thrilled by it. The little girl’s cries become louder, killing the silence of the night. Both the man and his wife try harder to quieten their child but to no avail. The cries of fear and sad desperation intoxicate the demon, as its body begin to sway to the tempo of an invisible melody.
     
         The demon leaps into the air and upon landing, breaks through the wooden roof of the dark house. Crash! Debris and splintered wood comes falling onto the wooden floor. The bright rays of the full moon illuminate the house’s interior and there, in the middle, stands the insect-like manifestation of evil. The little girl lets out a scream of panic and fear. Her mother is frozen with fear. Her father kneels in front of the demon, begging for the lives of his wife and daughter to be spared. Soon, the whole house echoes with the agonizing scream of the man as the demon drains his soul energy, leaving behind a hollowed body.
     
         The girl’s screaming stops. Her mouth is hung wide open. She stares blankly ahead, too deep in trauma to even think. The demon steps closer to the little girl and her mother. This time, there are no agonizing screams as the demon feasts on the woman’s soul. There is only silence; a long, strange and eerie silence.
     
         Suddenly, a loud explosion is heard as a fiery sphere smashes into the side of the demon’s head. The demon staggers sideways. Black liquid oozes from the burnt wound at the side of its head. It turns toward the direction of the attack and is surprised to see Ray and Spirit standing at the doorway.
         “Elementhar !   I did not expect this ! Leave me alone !   Can a demon not feast in peace ? ” says the demon to Ray.
         “Feast _ dare you ask me if you can do of this in peace ? Skin _ obviously yours of this is thick, both in the metaphorical and literal sense as my spell did not yet manage to kill you ! ” replies Ray.
     
         The demons snorts at Ray’s words.
         “Tough talk for a near-extinct pest !   I have had my appetisers, and this little girl here