Free Descent Into Darkness (Book 2) by James R. Vernon Page A

towards the Cruxlum's face.
    Again the Cruxlum was able to grab the creature's leg, this time with its upper set of hands. The creature tried one last attack, sending its free pincher towards the Cruxlum's head as well but was unable to get at an angle to either catch his head or his arms with it. At a stalemate, the Cruxlum and the creature stayed locked in their position, both struggling against the other to obtain some kind of advantage.
    Trying his best to focus his own thoughts through the Cruxlum's pain, Ean knew the stalemate wouldn't last long. He could already feel the Cruxlum's strength waning as he was forced to hold the creature aloft by its front legs.
    Soon, both of those legs started to lower, their pointed ends getting closer and closer to the Cruxlum's body as they flailed about above him.
    The Cruxlum's upper arms nearly gave out, dropping the creature low enough that the point of its leg was able to slice into his right cheek and down to his chin. The pain and the blood dripping into his mouth brought on a second wind, or perhaps a surge of desperation, and the Cruxlum was able to slowly lift the creature back up into the air. But it would only be a matter of time before the last of his strength gave out and those pointed legs did real damage.
    "There is no glory in death."
    The Cruxlum's thought was like a shout in Ean's mind. If he had been in his own body, Ean would have shrunken back from the power of the thought as it cut through all the pain.
    "There is no glory in death, unless that death comes as the price of victory."
    Ean did not like the sound of that. He had no idea what was going on, if this was a dream or something more, but he certainly hoped the Cruxlum's death wouldn't lead to his own. Another image from the Cruxlum flashed across his mind, this time showing the right leg of the creature piercing the Cruxlum's stomach.
    "No!" Ean shouted in his mind. He knew it was useless, but he continued to shout anyway. How would getting stabbed in the gut help him be victorious? As a sense of peace settled into the Cruxlum's body intertwining with the pain, Ean began shouting louder. The mad creature really was going to let it happen!
    All four of the Cruxlum's arms began to lower slowly, allowing those pointed ends to get closer and closer to his skin. The creature, which had been quiet the entire battle, began to make excited chittering noises. It saw the end coming.
    With one last push, the Cruxlum lifted both of the creature's legs slightly higher, then let his lower two hands slip off the creature's right front leg. Letting out a few more chitters and clacks, the creature drove its now free leg down.
    An explosion of pain ripped through the Cruxlum's stomach, the sensation so strong, it made the pain Ean felt after a summoning feel like a stubbed toe.
    The leg made a crunching sound as it traveled all the way through the Cruxlum's body and struck the stone floor underneath. The force and the momentum of the blow caused the creature to tip slightly to its right, forcing its left leg to move higher instead of crashing down to finish the Cruxlum off.
    And that is when Ean, through all of the pain and anguish he was experiencing with his host, felt the Cruxlum's lips twist up into a smile.
    With a strength and speed Ean did not think possible, his lower hands shot out and joined his upper hands in gripping the creature's front left leg. With a sudden jerk and twist of all four arms, the Cruxlum snapped the creature's leg in two places, and then yanked with all of his might.
    The pain and surprise were clear in the creature's ugly face as it toppled to its side, clawed arms and legs flailing in every direction. It tried to catch itself with its destroyed leg as its pincher lost its grip on the Cruxlum's ankle, but the leg simply folded up at the places it was broken, and the creature rolled to its side. The momentum also pulled its right leg out from the Cruxlum's body as it fell, freeing Ean's