Swarm - Chapter 34 - Hidden Monsters

Photo credit: e_monk / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA

Jill kept the cowl of her cloak pulled low over her face. Layla and Robbie flanked her to camouflage her human scent among the young wolf servants entering the castle gates from the nearby villages. Once inside, they ducked into a secret passage.

"We won't be able to stay hidden for long. We have to release the swarm tonight," Layla said.

Jill and Robbie nodded and followed Layla through twist and turns that led to the east tower. The hum of the swarm grew louder as they climbed through the interworkings of the castle walls. Layla paused to listen once they reached the tower.

"Two wolves guard the door. There's a vent to the room up there. Judging by the sound, the majority of the warps are still dormant but we only have a few hours before they wake completely."

Jill looked up and saw the small vent about ten feet above where they stood. Robbie went first and climbed to the vent, examined the grate and pried it open. He disappeared inside for several minutes before immerging with a grin.

"It's big enough to get through. I've removed the vent guard on the other side but we better hurry, they're waking up."

Robbie reached down and hauled Jill and Layla up one at a time. They slid along the passage until it opened up into a large room. The air rushing through the passage felt much warmer here than from the outside. Robbie dropped inside the swarm room and helped Layla down and finally Jill.

Jill turned around and sucked in a sharp breath. Robbie cupped his hand to her mouth to muffle her scream.

"Don't scream. You'll wake them up," Robbie whispered in her ear.

Jill nodded, her eyes still large but she remained silent when Robbie removed his hand. The honeycomb structure reached the ceiling and spread over half the room. Moonlight shone through large windows covered with mesh. A few wasps the size crows idled around the top of the hive, their low buzzing sound like a turbine. She kept special attention on the wandering wasps while Layla and Robbie worked to remove the mesh as best they could from one of the windows. One buzzed around the vent opening before it turned to examine her.

"Robbie!" she whispered in desperation. He appeared just as the curious creature landed on Jill's arm. Robbie slid his hand along her skin and beneath the wasp.

"Hold still," he whispered. He lifted the wasp into his hands and away from Jill. He walked it over to the window, where the center of the mesh had been cut enough for it to fit through. The wasp sniffed the air and alighted from Robbie's hand and out the window. He removed his cloak and used it as a fan to move more of the fresh air around the room and drive the other wasps to examine the source. It worked. They backed away from the window as more of the wasp were drawn to the opening.

Robbie and Layla worked on the second window and soon wasp were leaving through that one as well.

Satisfied they rejoined Jill as she stood rooted by the vent.

The door opened. A guard, carrying supplies for the swarm looked their way and froze. He dropped his tray and rushed forward to seize them.

"What are you doing in here?" he shouted and realized his mistake too late. The hum of the swarm rose sharply as more creatures rose above the hive in irritation. The guard grabbed the kids and rushed them for the door but the attack had already begun. More guards appeared. They grabbed Layla and Jill, hauling them from the room. The first guard thrashed about the room, screaming and swatting at the swarm but soon the screams died away. Robbie reached the door and fell through just as the guards slammed it shut.

In the light of the dawning sun, Jill saw a sickening sight. Blood trickled from two bite marks on Robbie's back. He gritted his teeth and tried to stand but had no power. Instead he writhed on the floor in obvious pain.

"Robbie!" Jill screamed as she tried to break free but the guard held tight. Soon another guard appeared. His concerned expression turned to pure evil when he saw Jill and Layla.

The Grey.

CCC#317