A Kiss of Darkness (Gothos Series) Read Online Free Page A

scuffing the marble and left heading for village.
    The village would be considered typical with its thatch roofed houses and widespread marketplace. This one was blessedly protected by the Gogathon Knights and had clean drinking water from the river of Tythes that fell off the Dragus Falls. The fields brought in corn and wheat well each house had a garden of its own for fresh produces. It was the most prosperous in the Northern Territory. Walking into the bustling marketplace the scents and sights assaulted her senses making her a bit giddy and comfortable at the same time. Walking down the cobblestone street she already saw the people getting ready for the celebration tomorrow. Down the street was the House of Healing that was her destination.
    A screech filled the air nearly deafening her as she raised her eyes to the sky. The once sunny sky was now dark cloud, and the wind had picked up. Sera had no idea how the weather could suddenly change so rapidly, but what happened next would almost brought her to her knees. From above leathery wings dove down and picked one of the men in front of the shops and carried him off the ground then dropping him on the roof of one of the houses. A nearby woman screamed as one of her cattle that had been grazing in the pen had been torn to pieces by the creature. Sera took refuge behind a cart and beheld the terrifying scene. These creatures were the Sythians of legend. Their futures and physicality was humanoid, but they had long bat-like wings attached to their lower back and mouths filled with sharp canines. There were only a handful of them flying around dressed in tunics both male and female. The chaos caused her head to hurt, her eyes unfocused as she looked over the top of the cart. The sound was deafening as she felt helplessly trapped in something her mind could barely comprehend. She closed her eyes for a moment, her golden brow knitting together. In vain she tried to imagine herself to be somewhere else, anywhere else as these creatures swooped down in what seemed like bloody vengeance of sorts. When she felt that she couldn’t take anymore and at any moment she would be discovered and gutted she heard new sounds of heavy hooves and crossbows letting lose lithe arrows. Forcing her eyes open she placed her hand on the cart, bracing it, willing herself to stand up. She rose form crouched position and found herself face to face with one of the Sythians crouched on the cart looking right back at her with amber colored eyes. Despite the fear that was rising in her chest she took a millisecond to notice that the creature looked exactly like a human with noticeable variations. The face was angular with high cheek bones and thin eyebrows. The eyes were golden with a predator look about them. Dressed in a toga they had a long tail coming from the base of their spines that curled around their clawed feet. The most awe inspiring part of their physique was the long bat like wings, the stretched skin grafted against the almost visible bones underneath. This being was female as it crouched on the cart looking back at her, lips parted in an antagonizing snarl. Sera looked back knowing that any moment she was going to be torn apart by the razor sharp nails on the creature’s hands, her bones crunching under the fanged teeth. Her shoulders hunched in anticipation as the Sythian brought its arm back, fingers splayed to strike. The strike would never come. Instead an arrow flew through the air striking the beast in the chest causing it to fall back and off the cart. Sera stood frozen in her spot as she watched it happen.
    “That was a bit too close for comfort, wouldn’t you say?” a deep melodic voice spoke behind her. The one who spoke was standing a few feet behind her, breath warm against the nape of her neck causing her to shiver deliciously. She realized quickly that it wasn’t a voice she recognized which gave her pause. Turning she found herself looking up at a solider, no a knight. The