Cacodemon’s Prey (2)

Half a dozen men armed with spades and axes watched from the shadows, their shivering frames glistening with sweat. But not a soul dared to step between the Ethereal and its prey.

Xander was lying unconscious on the dusty ground, drained of all strength and trapped in a state of paralysis. But his fate was not as grim as the man, who had shot at the fiend. Bill's corpse had been so badly mutilated that it seemed like even the vultures wouldn't peck at it with their filthy beaks.

The Cacodemon had already claimed one victim and severely wounded two others. Leena was well aware that the fiend could tear her to pieces in the blink of an eye, but the cries of the pleading mother had strengthened her resolve, washing away her fear.

Leena knew that if anyone in the village had the faintest chance of stopping the bloodthirsty fiend, it was her. Thus despite her lack of combat experience, she backed herself to keep the Ethereal at bay.