The Pearl Ch. 12

Dakota froze in horror as she took in the intruder. His skin had a bluish tint, the hair was matted, and there was an enormous spider leg where the right arm should be. Nonetheless, she recognized him, and the look of hunger on his face. It was the same from that night.

"Oh my God...." she whispered, terrified.

Mingzhu started to rise. The movement got the attacker's attention, and quicker than Dakota could follow, he was on Mingzhu. That galvanized Dakota into action. She bolted from the couch, snatched the chair from its corner and brought it down on the horror with as much force as she could. He dropped an unconscious Mingzhu to the floor and turned to face Dakota, unfazed by her attack. He smiled his hungry smile at her.

"Must be my luck day, I get a two-fer." He backhanded Dakota with the spider limb, and sent her sprawling onto the couch.

"You're dead," she squeaked out.

He pinned her down on the couch by straddling her. "Death isn't the set back it used to be."

This close, the smell of him was overwhelming. The stink of death, rot, and stagnant water washed over her until she thought she might gag. He used the claw on the end of the spider limb to rip her shirt and bra off. She struggled under him and managed to push the foul limb away from her. He struck her hard in the stomach with the human limb. This time she did start to retch. He waited for her to stop.

"Oh, no, you're not escaping by choking on your own puke. I've waited too long." He leaned in close and whispered, his breath hot and putrid on her face, "I've got plans for you."

Dakota started to scream and he whipped the fore section of the spider limb across her throat, limiting her scream to a gasping wheeze.

He then worked the same limb down her pants as he pawed at her breasts with the human hand. Dakota felt the sharp edges of the claw start to cut the outside of her vagina.

"Now I don't know how exactly this all works," he said. "But I definitely feel a hard on coming on. But at least you won't have to worry about pregnancy." He barked a harsh laugh before continuing.

"Of course, you wouldn't have to worry either way, really, since you're going to be dead at the end of this."

As the bakemono considered Dakota's death, different appetites awoke in him. The jointing of the spider limb allowed him to twist it back on itself as he leaned in close again. He ran his tongue along Dakota's breast, then bit down hard. She cried out. Her pain and fear broke over him in waves, feeding his lust even as the blood ran down his throat. His hard on got even harder and he contemplated eating the breast while fucking her. Oh yes, that would be so sweet. A sudden thrill of energy ran through the room and he growled at the interruption.

He looked over and saw another dragon standing in the middle of Dakota's living room. He stared for moment, taking in the red and gold creature that stared him down imperiously. Their eyes met briefly, and the bakemono was the first to look away. He covered by talking to Dakota.

"What is it with you and dragons?" He looked back over, avoiding the eyes. "Still, this one is smaller than the last one. I don't think it'll be any problem at all."

Qiang stood his ground while the bakemono casually got off of Dakota. He turned back to her and said with a blown kiss, "Don't worry, sweetie, I'll be back in no time." Before he had time to turn back around, he was grabbed and thrown with a great deal of force against the far wall, just missing the picture window. The bakemono rose up and saw that Qiang had maneuvered himself between the bakemono and Dakota. His baleful glare never seemed to waver.

"My mistake," the bakemono conceded. "You don't fight like the other dragon."

Qiang considered his delicate situation. Even at a smaller size he was still hampered in his movements. He also had the two women who were his responsibility and that could be turned against him. He took a risk.

Dakota, can you stand?

"Yes," she responded softly.

Then get Mingzhu and climb on my back. You both will be easier to defend. I will cover you.

Dakota rolled off the couch and moved across the floor to Mingzhu. The bakemono saw this and lunged for her. Qiang doubled over on himself to impose himself in the path. He landed in front of the bakemono and snapped at him. The bakemono raised the spider limb and brought it down in a slashing movement towards Qiang's eye. He ducked his head and the limb bounced of the ridge directly above the eye. Qiang slammed his lowered head into the bakemono's mid section, forcing him back a few feet. Qiang dare not remove his eyes from the bakemono, so he used his tail to track where Dakota was. She was moving.

The bakemono made to charge, then feinted and went for Qiang's underside. The claw screeched over the scales as he dove. The skin wasn't broken, but some scales came off. The bakemono was also in line to grab for either Dakota or Mingzhu. Qiang's head shot down and his jaws snapped down on the bakemono's leg. He pulled the bakemono out from underneath himself. While the scales underneath the body were not weak, the area just under the throat was. The bakemono jabbed into the area with the claw and ran a deep gash down his neck. He then griped Qiang's mane with the human hand and jabbed again.

Chad couldn't get a clear view of what was happening, but he thought he had a good idea from how Qiang was moving his head. Chad took off from his perch and flew in close to the bakemono. While both of his hands were occupied Chad lighted on the forehead. Before the bakemono could react Chad drove his small but sharp beak into the bakemono's eye with all his strength. The bakemono shrieked in pain and shock, and released his grip. Chad once again took to his perch. Qiang bit deeply into the leg, severing it. The bakemono and the leg fell to the floor. The bakemono curled onto himself, and rolled away.

Qiang felt Dakota place Mingzhu on his back and pull herself up afterwards. Chad was again on his antler. Those under his protection were in the safest place he could arrange. His movements were hampered, but the bakemono was down at least a leg and was gripping his face around the eye. He grabbed the leg and scooted further away. Qiang gave Dakota moment to settle herself, but in that time the bakemono reattached the leg and stood upright.

Enough of this, Qiang thought. "Hold tight," he addressed his passengers and dove towards the bakemono. He brought his front claws down in a vicious arc, breaking the skin of the chest and catching on the bone. This only slowed the downward thrust of his claws. The bones splintered under his claws and the claw continued its devastating way through the bakemono's chest and abdomen. Qiang brought his other claw up and with a swing removed the head from the shoulders. The body dropped, but it was a bloodless kill.

The bakemono lay there, still conscious in spite of the damage. Then he felt his consciousness break down into the spider bodies stuffed into him. It took a moment to realign his awareness, then the spiders leaped from the ruined body and skittered in different directions.

"Does this never end?" Qiang snarled. Chad found himself agreeing. He tried to track the myriad directions the spiders ran off to, but quickly lost track. He chirped his concerns to Qiang.

"There's only one way to solve this. I am truly sorry, Dakota." The human body flared brightly in flame, which then spread to everyone of the spiders that were crawling all over Dakota's home. Dakota flinched.

"Stay where you are and you will be safe," Qiang instructed. "This is my fire, and it won't harm any of us."

"Can't you keep it form harming my house?" Dakota tried to stay calm, but as she watched her home and her possessions, her beloved books, catch fire, hysteria crept into her voice.

Qiang turned his head around to face Dakota. There was deep regret and sorrow in his eyes. "If I try to block the house or your belongings, it will create a pocket one the spiders could get into. If even one of them lives, the bakemono can return."

They stood by and watched as the fire raged. As Qiang had said, there was safety with him. Even the tremendous heat and smoke didn't seem to affect those huddled on him. Qiang could hear Dakota crying.

"Can we go?" Dakota asked.

Qiang shook his head. "There is one thing I need to see to, so as to ensure this person will not return."

Slowly, a form began to take shape. It was human in shape, but still faint. The figure came into focus until the complete shape of the bakemono was developed. It was missing a right arm and seemed strangely insubstantial. He glared at Qiang with raw hate, his left hand balled into an impotent fist.

Qiang regarded the specter. As much as he didn't want to, he knew he had to lower himself to addressing him. The word gweilo started to form, but he never said it. Even though it was an insult, he couldn't bring himself to place this filth on the same level as Sebastian, or even Chad. He had managed to find someone so corrupt, so vile, it defied even his low expectations. So Qiang didn't give him the dignity of being properly addressed at all. With a jerk of his head, he indicated the space behind the spirit.

"That is the path you must take."

"Killed by two different dragons at two different times. Must be some sort of record," the spirit said.

Qiang said nothing. The spirit looked in the direction indicated. There was indeed a path leading off, though where it lead couldn't be seen.

"Where does it go?"

"To whatever the afterlife has for you. Your time on this earth has ended."

The spirit glared at Qiang. "And what if I don't go?"

Never breaking eye contact, Qiang lowered his head into the recalcitrant spirit's face. "If you do not go willingly, I will summon the guards and gate keepers of Hell to drag you off. I assure you leaving on your own is a considerably better experience. Or so I'm told."

The spirit tried again to stare down Qiang, but knew its time was at an end. With a final angry look, the spirit walked down the path. Qiang watched it until it was faded from sight. He drew on the floor patterns with his claw, a simple spell to ensure the fire investigators found a plausible reason for the fire. Then he removed himself and his passengers from the scene.