He moved back even farther.
Fernel stopped blowing the bone whistle mid-note, his wide eyes fixed on the hole.
Tall, pointy gray ears appeared. Next, below a bald, skeletal-looking head, came sunken dark eyes, a snout with angled vertical nostrils, and a gaping mouth lined with sharp teeth. The creature eyed each of them and then snarled, filling the air with breath reeking of rotting meat and sulfur.
Quint gagged while cringing.
KuTu began to chant under his breath.
The creature pulled itself up and out of the hole, looming in front of them. Its hulking shoulders filled the tunnel, blocking any chance of escape. Its body was human-like, but its head, hands, and three-toed feet resembled a bat. Not to mention the wings, which were folded in the limited space. The hooked claws at the wings’ top joints were twice as long as the others, probably able to slice off a head with one swoop.
“Camazotz,” KuTu said, pulling off his shirt and then kneeling in front of the thing.
Fernel whimpered, and squeezed behind KuTu, using him as a human shield.
So, this is the death-bat god that everyone was raving about.
Quint gaped at the creature that was sure to be the end of him, since KuTu had made it clear who was to be sacrificed tonight. “Damn, you are one ugly bastard.”
The thing rushed him, pinning Quint against the tunnel wall with one huge hand. The tips of its claws pressed into his neck, almost piercing his skin.
Camazotz might rip your head off if you’re not careful,Angélica’s words replayed in his head as he waited for the creature to squeeze.
Heat came off the giant man-bat like it was burning up from the inside out, along with an odor even more foul than its breath. Nausea stuck in Quint’s throat, just below where his heart was lodged.
The creature sniffed next to Quint’s head, then eased back, lowering its head to sniff again near his bloody arm.
It jerked away, recoiling, and then hissed directly in Quint’s face. Spittle coated him from forehead to chest. He gagged, swallowing to keep the contents of his stomach in place.
The creature let him go and stepped away, turning toward KuTu, who was still kneeling and chanting. It tipped its head slightly and trilled.
KuTu stood, holding his dagger out in front of him. He spoke in another language, and then pressed the tip of the obsidian bladeinto his sternum.
The death-bat god snorted and swatted KuTu aside, sending the old king tumbling toward the hole. The dagger skidded across the floor.
Quint dodged the creature and rushed to stop KuTu from falling into the lower chamber, catching him by the arm as he was teetering over the edge. He tugged KuTu back to safety, noticing movement on the other side of the hole.
Angélica!
She stared at the death-bat god, her mouth agape, her machete dangling from one hand. Her other hand was clenched at her sternum, as if holding tightly onto her heart. Her flashlight lay on the floor next to what looked like a coil of rope, the beam of light aimed toward them.
No, no, no!
She was supposed to be safe outside! Not in here! Not witnessing him being sacrificed!
A high-pitched scream rang out from behind him.
Quint turned in time to see the creature bearing down on Fernel, who was scuttling backward toward the opening in the wall, the bone whistle still in his hand.
The creature’s arm shot out, his claws digging into Fernel’s shoulders. A squeal filled with pain pierced the air.
Camazotzyanked Fernel up, pulling him close, peering into his face. Its breath steamed Fernel’s glasses.
Tears or sweat—or both—streamed down the trembling man’s cheeks.
“Let him go,” Quint yelled, reaching for the dagger laying on the floor.
The death-bat god looked at Quint, its nostrils flaring. It growled, baring its mouthful of pointy teeth.
