Hidden Magic

  *

  Temorvick stared at the beast in the tank. An unnatural smile spread across his face, it looked like it was a strain on his skin to perform such an uncommon movement. He had an envelope in his hands.

  “Temorvick, he’s ready,” the serpent woman hissed.

  “Good. Feed this to him and stand back,” Temorvick said.

  The serpent woman climbed a ladder to the top of the tank. She opened the top of the glass tank and motioned for Temorvick to pass her the envelope. He approached her and passed it to her. She dropped the envelope into the murky water.

  Straight away, the envelope eroded and bright, thick blood was moving swiftly through the water like blood through veins.

  The woman quickly climbed down the ladder and stood next to Temorvick. They both stared at the tank and watched as the blood reached the beast. It penetrated its skin and ripples were visible all over the creature’s body.

  With a loud crashing sound, the glass broke, spilling water out onto the stone floor. The creature snorted at them.

  “Go now, retrieve the amulet.”

  The creature nodded and bound out of the room, sniffing like a curious dog. The serpent women snarled happily and then turned to Temorvick.

  “Don’t you have to follow it?”

  “No, he’ll be back. And when he does return, we won’t be disappointed.”

  The women cocked her head back and laughed. All of her hard work was going to pay off after all.