Information
Saskia the Bone Garden Fairy
Kadavr
The
Common Experiment #696Owner: Alkuna
Age: 5 years, 3 months, 2 weeks
Born: December 1st, 2020
Adopted: 4 years, 11 months, 1 week ago
Adopted: April 7th, 2021
Statistics
- Level: 40
- Strength: 100
- Defense: 102
- Speed: 101
- Health: 103
- HP: 103/103
- Intelligence: 57
- Books Read: 57
- Food Eaten: 0
- Job: Unemployed
Sarah and her mentor, Hunter Kyle, paused in front of the old, foreboding manor. The manor looked as though it should have collapsed years ago. The roof was sagging, and the windows were dark and hollow. The yard was a wild snarl of dead weeds, all whispering in the wind.
“Are you sure this is it?” Sarah whispered, her gaze flicking everywhere, trying to track every shifting shadow. “It looks like nobody’s set foot here in ages.”
Kyle nodded, calm as always, his hand gripping his crossbow. “Yeah. This is the place. "Kumori, the Nekomata, lives here.” He stopped right at the edge of the property line. “If you want proof, just step across.”
Sarah shot him a look, but did it anyway. She moved forward. Instantly, everything changed. The crickets stopped. The sky lost its stars, replaced by an unnatural red twilight that was somehow worse. Even the moon looked wrong, deep red and slick, as if it were oozing blood. The air grew heavy, thick with the stench of rot, mold, and something even worse.
“Oh my god,” Sarah breathed, stumbling back to where things felt normal again. “My instincts were screaming at me to run, and never look back.”
Kyle just gave her a crooked smile, dark and a bit sad. “That already makes you smarter than most who’ve tried this. Smarter than me, really, since I’m still planning to take us both in there.”
The path to the door was nearly swallowed by grass, and with each step, their boots sent up faint clouds of dust.
Sarah glanced at Kyle, half-joking but also half serious. "Just checking, but is there a real chance we’ll fall through the floor into some basement full of bones?”
"That, at least, I can promise you," Kyle reassured her, a note of grim, good humor in his voice. "Kumori likes her visitors... whole and intact. The floor is probably the safest thing in the entire building."
"Why," Sharah muttered, "does that make it worse?"
"Once again, because you're smart." Kyle reached up and knocked on the door.
The sound echoed through the stillness of the night, setting a chill down Sarah's spine. With everything inside her urging silence, the polite knock seemed to boom for miles, attracting the attention of everything in the vicinity. For a moment, it felt like the world had stopped spinning, holding its breath in anticipation. Then, the door slowly began to creak open.
The doorman, a grotesque figure that had once been a man, now a mere shell of his former self, stood before them. His skin hung in tatters, revealing the sinewy mess beneath. His eyes, devoid of life, stared at them with no emotion. A low, gurgling sound bubbled up from his throat, a macabre greeting to the uninvited guests.
Kyle swallowed hard, then bowed slightly to the undead zombie, "Our apologies for disturbing the lady," he said, his voice carefully polite and respectful, "but my apprentice and I would like to speak with her. It is incredibly important."
The zombie's head tilted slightly, as if processing the words through whatever was left of its rotten brain. Then with a swaying glide, it moved out of the way, granting them entry into the shadowy manor.
As they followed the zombie, Sarah noted that its movements were strangely smooth and almost choreographed, like a dance in slow motion. Nekomata, Sarah remembered from her studies, liked to make the dead dance for their amusement.
They followed the zombie through a grand hall where dust motes danced in the moonlight, illuminating the remnants of opulent decor that had once been vibrant and alive. The air was thick with the scent of decay and something else, something ancient and powerful that made the hair on Sarah's arms stand on end.
The zombie led them to a chamber. In the center of the room, a figure awaited them — a black feline-like creature with two tails, perched on a tatty throne-like chair. Her fur was so dark that they almost couldn't see her, blending into the shadows like a chameleon. A black robe wrapped around her, and on its front was a pattern of a green skull surrounded by runes that glowed faintly. Kumori, the Nekomata, regarded the duo with a black, unblinking gaze that seemed to bore into their very souls.
“That much, at least, I can promise you,” Kyle said, forcing a grim little grin in hopes of lightening the mood. “Kumori likes her guests… in one piece. Honestly, the floor’s probably the safest thing in the entire building."
Sarah scowled and muttered, "Why does that make it worse?"
Kyle shrugged, already lifting his hand to knock. “Once again, because you're smart.”
His knuckles tapped the door, sharp and courteous, but in the stillness of the night, it sounded far too loud. Sarah stiffened. Every nerve screamed for quiet, but the knock echoed—like it was sending a signal to every shadow nearby. For a moment, she felt the world pause. Something out there was paying attention. Watching. The door began to creak open.
The doorman shuffled into view. Whatever he’d been once, he wasn’t anymore. Now he looked like a corpse dressed up for a joke; his skin was barely clinging on, eyes empty as a moonless sky. A low, gurgling sound bubbled up from his throat, a macabre greeting to the uninvited guests.
Kyle swallowed, then gave the zombie a small bow, “Sorry to trouble the lady,” he said, careful and polite. “My apprentice and I need a word. It’s important.”
The zombie's head tilted slightly, as if processing the words through whatever was left of its rotten brain. Then, with a strange, swaying shuffle, he slid aside and let them enter.
They followed the zombie, whose movements had a bizarre grace—almost like he was dancing, slow and deliberate. Some memory stirred in Sarah: Nekomata liked to make the dead dance for their amusement.
They stepped into a grand hall, dust swirling in the moonlight. Once, everything here had been beautiful. Now, the furniture hunched under sheets, and the air stank of rot and something older, stranger. Goosebumps raced up Sarah’s arms.
He led them to a chamber where, right in the center, a creature waited. It looked like a cat, but not like any you’d pet at home. Her fur was so dark that they almost couldn't see her, blending into the shadows like a chameleon. Two tails flicked with lazy interest, and she was perched on a tatty throne-like chair. A black robe wrapped around her, and on its front was a pattern of a green skull surrounded by runes that glowed faintly. Kumori watched them, eyes black and bottomless, as if she could see through them.
“You want to talk to me?” she purred, her voice smooth as velvet.
Behind them, the zombie burbled a garbled introduction, sparking a flicker of interest in her dark eyes. Kumori’s lips curled into a wild, toothy grin, revealing gleaming white teeth that seemed to glow in the darkness.
"Something important, hmm?" she said, all silk and menace. “So, what do a Hunter and his apprentice want from me?”
Sarah’s stomach twisted, but she forced herself not to shrink back. This was why she’d followed Kyle. To see monsters up close. To stop being afraid just because everyone else was.
She braced herself and stepped forward. “We’re looking for information on the Skinner,” she said, her voice surprisingly steady.
Kumori’s eyes narrowed, and the smile faded. “The Skinner,” she repeated, tails flicking. “That’s not a name people say lightly. Why are you chasing that kind of knowledge?”
Kyle answered without hesitation. “The Pillar of Mind is back. He wants the Skinner... the Pillar of Body. The Pillar of Soul is already sane again.”
Kumori laughed, and it sounded like bones snapping. “Ah, the noble Hunter; always eager to be the hero, aren’t you?” she said, her amusement echoing off the walls. Then her amusement died, and what rose in its place was dark and foreboding. “The Skinner cannot be stopped by mere mortal hands. Its power is ancient, its hunger insatiable. It is a force of destruction; an undying plague that leaves only bone and despair in its wake.”
She lifted a paw. Her claws slid out, long, black, and too perfect. Not like a cat’s at all, but more like scalpels. “No one meets the Skinner and lives to tell about it,” she said. “You understand that, right? He is more powerful than your charms, and certainly more powerful than your weapons."
Sarah’s stomach dropped at Kumori’s words. She couldn’t look away from those claws. They didn’t belong on any animal. They looked like tools meant for taking things apart.
Kyle’s voice jolted her back to reality. He sounded deadly serious; no trace of hesitation. “We’ll do what we have to,” he said, locking eyes with the Nekomata. “Can you tell us where he is?”
The Nekomata sighed.The Nekomata sighed, the sound harsh and dry, like wind stirring through brittle leaves. “Of course I can,” she replied, idly waving her paw. “Anyone with a hint of necromancy can sense that monstrosity.” She gestured, and from the shadows, a pale zombie shuffled in, arms trembling as it carried a silver tray. On it sat a slip of paper, a bottle of ink, and a battered old quill.
Kyle stiffened, and Sarah sucked in a breath in shock. She immediately recognized the face of the sad thrall that shuffled into the light: Malakai Thorne. Wealthy and corrupt to the bone, he’d disappeared a few weeks ago. Now she saw what his greed had cost him.
Kumori picked up the quill and began to write on the paper, her movements elegant and precise. “Do you like my pet, child?” she purred, her voice a mix of amusement and malice. “He came seeking what was never his, used tricks that let me claim his soul. Though I dare say I am far more merciful to him than the Skinner will be to you.”
Sarah forced herself to look away from the zombie thrall, her throat tightening as she found her voice, “If he ended up with you, he must’ve done something terrible. We just want the information. After that, we’ll leave.” She tried to keep her tone even.
The Nekomata made a noise somewhere between a purr and a laugh, The Nekomata made a sound somewhere between a purr and a chuckle. “Careful, girl, excusing others is a slippery slope.” She paused, those black eyes holding Sarah in place. “But yes, he tried something vile. As for the Skinner, I can tell you where it’s trapped, but I won’t downplay the danger. The Skinner is attracted to the living like a moth to flame. The difference is, it is the flame, not the moth.”
She extended the paper to a middle point between the two humans, giving both the option to reach out and take it.
Kyle picked it up, eyes flicking over the neat writing. “The Vale of Hungry Shadows,” he muttered, sounding resigned. “Of course, it’s there.” He rolled up the map, shoved it into his belt, and gave a stiff nod. “Thank you, Kumori. We won’t forget you helped us.”
The two-tailed cat leaned forward, her whiskers drooping. “Don’t thank me,” she said, her voice dropping to a more serious tone. “I’m sending you and your apprentice to nearly certain death. Call me whatever you wish. The Skinner is a nightmare, even for Hunters. Honestly, I should just take that paper back and tell you to run as far as you can and never look back.”
“I understand,” Kyle's voice was almost gentle, “Thank you anyway.”
The Nekomata leaned away, tails curling around her. “Good,” she hissed. “Go find your answers. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
With that, the Nekomata huffed and waved them off, her mentor now clutching a scrap of paper that could doom them both. The heavy door to the chamber closed with a thud, leaving them once again in the cold embrace of the manor's hallway.
The zombie doorman, seemingly unbothered by the exchange, shuffled back to the front door and opened it for them with a creak. They stepped outside, and the night air rushed in—cool, crisp, nothing like the stifling darkness inside. The moon was high, casting red light over wild, tangled gardens.
“Let’s go,” Kyle said, his voice taut. “We need to get back to Headquarters. There’s no time to lose.”
Sarah nodded, her heart thudding as she followed her mentor through the tangled garden. The moonlight danced over the shadows, making the overgrown plants seem like they were reaching out, trying to pull her back into the darkness. She quickened her steps, eager to shake off the uneasy feeling. Once they crossed the property line, everything seemed lighter; the ordinary world was waiting for them, silver moon gleaming overhead as if nothing strange had happened at all.
“She seemed… pretty reasonable,” Sarah said, stretching out the words thoughtfully. “I thought my talisman would heat up, but it didn’t. So, were we really safe?”
Kyle halted and turned to face her. “Yes and no. Being a Hunter gives us a few advantages. One is the right to receive information about Vale creatures. Kumori’s more civilized than most. Of all the Sin Monsters, she’s the only one you can even try talking to. If you’re respectful and your soul isn’t steeped in sin, she’ll leave you be. Might even act friendly, like tonight.”
"That was friendly?" Sarah raised an eyebrow, her thoughts drifting back to the fangs and claws that were on display.
"She gave us several warnings, all of which were good advice and catered toward our own safety... one way or another. That's almost like a warm hug from her." He gave her a wry smile, then his expression turned serious, "But I need you to listen to me very carefully, Sarah... Kumori works for Vyces."
Kyle rested his hands on her shoulders, staring into her eyes. “That red twilight you saw? That’s your warning, clear as day. Everything that seems calm, reasonable, or polite about her, that’s the lure. She’s an ambush predator. Think alligator, not crocodile. Quieter: maybe. Less likely to actively hunt you: certainly. And in the end, just as deadly. She’s not your friend. For the love of your very soul, avoid her unless you have no other option. Like tonight.”
At Sarah's nod, he let go, and the pair headed toward Kyle's Jeep and rode back to the Headquarters in silence.
Back at headquarters, Kyle led her straight to the armory. The room was crammed with weapons, each blade and bow glinting in the overhead lights. He paused at the doorway, his gaze lingering on the weapons, both conventional and unconventional.
Finally, he turned to her, “Okay, Sarah, time to rely on your training. We're going into the Vale of Hungry Shadows, and unless Samael gets control of that thing, we're not coming back alive. Grab what you think we'll need, and by that I mean that I want you to prepare for war. I'll go over everything with you before we go, just in case.”
Kyle went to find Marcus to go over the plan. The new shipment of protective talismans was en route, and the Hunters were going to need them all.
Sarah's heart hammered in her chest as she surveyed the deadly tools before her. The smell of metal and oil was oddly comforting. It reminded her of all the hours she’d spent training here under Kyle’s watchful eye. She chose a sturdy crossbow, loaded it with priest-blessed bolts, and filled her quiver. She slipped a silver-dipped dagger into her belt and scooped up a handful of talismans.
Her gaze landed on a shelf lined with odd powders and artifacts. Among them, a small, unassuming canister of salt caught her attention. She grabbed it, feeling the weight of it in her palm; full and ready to be used. She grabbed it, remembering Kyle’s instructions about salt creating a barrier they could not easily cross.
She moved past the other weapons, hesitated, then reached for a heavy steel staff. It wasn’t fancy, but the weight was reassuring. Forged with iron alloy, it was perfect for grounding the Skinner’s supernatural energy. It settled into her hand as if it belonged there.
The most powerful flashlight the arsenal had to offer was next. It was a sleek, black device with a sturdy handle. She flicked it on, and white light blasted from the lens, cold and sharp, flooding the room. Far more powerful than fire, and safer, too. The powerful beam of light would blind a mortal, but against a creature of darkness, the light would burn it more effectively than fire... without setting the whole forest ablaze.
Ready, Sarah turned to see Kyle and the rest of Alpha Team filing in, all business. The room was soon filled with the sound of final preparations: whetstones on metal, the click of a gun being loaded, the rustle of armor being adjusted. Marcus surveyed the collection with a critical eye, his gaze lingering on the crossbow and the staff. He nodded, a rare show of approval.
“Everyone’s coming,” Kyle said, sounding half-proud, half-concerned. “Marcus doesn’t think the Skinner is something two people can handle.”
Marcus dropped a shimmering net onto the table. The room fell silent, every eye on the net with varying expressions of loss and grim hope.
“This one’s the real thing,” he said. “Pure silver, blessed. We won't make the same mistake twice.”
Once everyone was kitted up, Alpha Team loaded up in the jeeps. Engines rumbled to life, their headlights cutting through the night as they sped towards the forest. The drive was tense, the silence punctuated only by the occasional metallic clank of gear and the hum of the engines.
The Vale of Hungry Shadows soon loomed before them, a wall of darkness that housed the most dangerous creatures known and the birthplace of many more.
As the vehicles came to a stop, the engines cut out, leaving them wrapped in a blanket of silence so deep it was almost tangible. From here, they would have to proceed on foot. There were no roads within the Vale of Hungry Shadows, and the Vale didn’t allow vehicles, not even these.
The soft clatter of talismans and a few muted words of direction were all that broke the silence as the team gathered their gear and prepared for the trek ahead.
“Keep it tight,” Marcus ordered in a low voice, his eyes scanning each team member's face for understanding. “No stupid heroics, no checking out shadows without signaling the team, and for God's sake, don't let the Skinner touch you. I don't think I need to tell you why."
Just thinking about it sent a wave of nausea through Sarah, but she nodded in understanding. By the way the rest of the team went pale, their imagination was just as vivid as hers was.
Marcus and Kyle stepped forward, the Nekomata's map unfurling under the moon's glow. The paper was brittle, the ink a sickly green that seemed to pulse with a life of its own. They studied it intently, their eyes tracing the maze of paths twisting through the Vale. Judging by their faces, they weren’t holding some old chart but a living thing, powered by magic that clung to the undead.
The team moved with stealth and precision, boots barely making noise on the wet earth. Hours slipped by. By the time they reached the first row of talismans marking the Skinner’s containment circle, midnight had crept up on them.
The walk took hours, and by the time they came to the first containment talismans that marked the edge of the Skinner's containment circle, it was nearly midnight. The talismans hung from tree branches—bone, fur, antlers, and other things Sarah didn’t want to think about.
Beyond was a completely different forest. The trees stood stark and white, stripped of leaves and bark, so that only dead, white wood remained. It was eerily silent, the usual nocturnal symphony of the forest replaced by the soft clattering of dead wood. The underbrush was leafless and brittle, each twig snapping like a bone underfoot. The moonlight painted everything in a ghastly pallor, making the world seem like a graveyard of forgotten giants.
As they stepped past the barrier, the air froze, so cold that it felt like it was made of ice shards that stabbed at Sarah's lungs with each breath she took. By contrast, the talismans began to flare with heat, warning the team that danger was closing in on them. But the worst thing of all was the moon, or rather, the lack of one. The instant they crossed the threshold, the moon winked out, plunging them into a darkness that was nearly absolute save for the beams of the Hunters' flashlights.
Then a new sound echoed through the trees, wet and ugly, like something slimy being rubbed against something wooden. Sarah's head snapped to the left as something caught the corner of her eyes. Several other Hunters saw it at the same time, and the group jerked abruptly to a stop. Standing among a small stand of dead trees was the rotting body of a creature. It was like a zombie, if a zombie could be cobbled together with rotting flesh and decaying foliage stripped from the plants it had brushed against. It could only be the Skinner.
Then the Skinner noticed them. The thing's head turned in their direction, two eye sockets glowed red, tracking them. the red glow in its empty eye sockets tracking their every move. Its zombie grin widened into something grotesque, stretching wider than any comic book clown villain. She got an excellent view of a mouth full of teeth, but what really got her was the darkness inside. No light passed beyond the teeth, creating a void of utter blackness. And in that darkness, she thought she saw two eyes staring back: two pupils and sclera; no iris, no color. Just white, white eyes, and solid black pupils staring out.
Sarah felt tiny. Exposed. The creature stepped forward.
Something made the dead branches of a bush rattle. A split second later, a terrified Field Pherret burst out, desperate to flee. The Skinner lunged, catching it around the middle in one swift motion.
The Pherret gave a single, agonized squeal and then went limp as her green fur peeled away in the Skinner’s grip. A patch of green fur appeared on the Skinner's left arm. Instantly, a patch of green fur sprouted on the monster’s arm. As it held the little body, muscle and flesh slid off the bones and merged with the Skinner, pushing out rotten bits that looked too far gone to use. Finally, the bones rattled and vanished into the monster, leaving nothing behind.
The Skinner flexed its rotten, clawed hands and then lifted its head to stare straight at Alpha Team. Its jaw unhinged and dropped, that awful grin stretching wider and wider until the black hole of its mouth looked almost like a gaping parody of a smile. The creepy pair of eyes inside its mouth widened, looking crazed.
"For the love of all that is holy, fire!" Marcus roared, and the Alpha Team snapped out of their horrified paralysis.
Crossbow strings snapped in unison, and the night air was pierced with the high whistle of silver-tipped bolts flying true. They slammed into the Skinner’s chest with enough force to knock a regular monster down. But the Skinner didn't fall. Instead, it took another step forward, as though it didn't notice the silver barbs at all. Its rotten arm reached out for Kyle.
Sarah was too far back to use her staff just yet, so she reached for the only thing she could think of. She gripped the powerful flashlight she had strapped to her hip and snapped it on. A blinding beam of light struck the thing full in the face. The Skinner howled, rearing back and tossing its head from side to side as the light burned it. The rotten flesh on its bones began to smoke and dissolve, and the lights in its empty eye sockets dimmed. The second pair of eyes in its gaping mouth vanished, as if retreating deeper inside it. And the smell. Oh god the smell of rotting meat being burned made Sarah want to toss her cookies!
"The net!" Marcus shouted, and seconds later, the silver net soared over the team and fell over the Skinner, entangling it in the purifying metal strands.
The creature thrashed and writhed, its bone-white arms snapping and crackling as it fought to free itself from the silver embrace. The smell of burning rotten flesh intensified as smoke began to rise from the Skinner's entangled body.
"Sarah, your staff!" Kyle ordered.
Swallowing hard, she shoved her flashlight at the nearest hunter to hold and rushed forward, her heart hammering in her chest like a drum. The Skinner's glowing eyes seemed to blaze with rage, and she knew she had to act fast. She swung the steel staff with all her might, aiming for the monster's entangled skull. The impact sent a painful jarring sensation up through her arms and into her shoulders. It was like striking a mountain with a stick. But the staff had been forged for exactly this purpose, and she felt the Skinner's unearthly power crackle along its length.
She felt a faint, unpleasant pulling sensation in her skin and realized that she was close enough for the Skinner's terrible powers to start affecting her. The talismans flared so hot that they felt ready to burst into flame, their enchantments pushed nearly to their limits. However, she then felt the terrible magic of the Skinner flow over her and past her. The pulling sensation on her skin stopped before it became painful, and she realized that her staff was grounding the Skinner's power harmlessly.
The Skinner made a godawful screaming noise and burst into blue flames as its rotten flesh and decaying plant matter began to truly burn on its pale bones, rather than smolder. The smell of burning flesh and sizzling plant matter filled the air, making it difficult to breathe. Sarah's eyes watered from the acrid smoke, but she kept her grip on the staff firm, pushing down with all her might. It felt like she was trying to push an entire house into the dirt for all that the beast moved.
Sarah knew she should be feeling the heat from the flames, as close to the monster as she was, but the power and supernatural energy continued to slide off of her. The creature's scream grew higher and more piercing, the blue flames burning brighter, as it thrashed against the net and her feeble human strength.
There was a sudden sound of wing beats, nearly lost in the sounds of fighting as something huge plunged down from above. Samael, Nightmare Serpenth and the Pillar of Mind, reared up like a cobra the instant he landed. A black wing swung forward, sweeping the teen girl aside like a giant pillow before the Serpenth's jaws parted and a fine spray of venom hit the Skinner straight in the face.
Sarah staggered for a few steps, trying to regain her balance with the staff no longer in contact with the Skinner. For an instant, she wondered what good the hallucinogenic venom could do to decayed flesh, bare bone, and burning flame. Then the liquid hit home, and the Skinner made a deep moaning sound. The creature shivered violently, the bones rattling so vigorously that she thought it was going to fall apart. The flames intensified for a moment, consuming the last of the flesh and plant matter. Then they winked out. Sarah's talismans cooled abruptly and she knew the danger was past.
Sarah was too far back to use her staff just yet, so she reached for the only thing she could think of. She gripped the powerful flashlight she had strapped to her hip and snapped it on. A blinding beam of light struck the thing full in the face. The Skinner shrieked, stumbling backward, shaking its head like a wounded animal. The rotten flesh on its bones began to smoke and dissolve, and the lights in its empty eye sockets dimmed. The second pair of eyes in its gaping mouth vanished, as if retreating deeper inside it. And the smell. Oh god the smell! Burning rotten meat. It assaulted her nose, curdled in her lungs, and twisted her gut. For a second, she thought she might really puke.
"The net!" Marcus shouted. Moments later, the silver net soared over their heads and crashed down on the Skinner, tangling it up in those shimmering metal cords.
The creature went berserk, writhing and thrashing, its bone-white arms snapping and cracking as it struggled against the net. More smoke. The reek of burning flesh worsened, so thick it was almost impossible to breathe.
"Sarah, your staff!" Kyle ordered.
She swallowed her fear, wrestled her nausea under control, shoved the flashlight at whoever was nearby, and charged forward. The Skinner’s gaze locked on her, pure hatred burning in its eyes. She didn’t have time to think. She just swung the staff with all her strength, aiming for its skull. The impact sent a painful jarring sensation up through her arms and into her shoulders. It was like striking a mountain with a stick. But the staff was built for this, and she could feel the Skinner’s strange power crackling up the metal.
She felt a faint, unpleasant pulling sensation in her skin and realized that she was close enough for the Skinner's terrible powers to start affecting her. The talismans flared so hot that they felt ready to burst into flame, their enchantments pushed nearly to their limits. But then something shifted. The Skinner’s power washed over her and kept moving, harmlessly grounded by the staff. The pulling sensation faded.
The Skinner madea scream that made her teeth rattle, and burst into blue flames. Its rotting skin and decayed plant matter finally caught fire for real, not just smoldering. Smoke and that greasy, awful stench filled the air, stinging her eyes and making every breath a struggle. Sarah's eyes watered from the acrid smoke, but she kept her grip on the staff firm, pushing down with all her might. It felt like she was trying to push an entire house into the dirt for all that the beast moved.
She should have felt the heat from the flames, being this close, but the staff kept the magic at bay. The Skinner’s screams grew sharper, the blue fire burning brighter, and it thrashed in the net with everything it had, but she didn’t let up, even with her feeble human strength.'
There was a sudden sound of wing beats, almost lost in the chaos. Something massive dropped from the sky; Samael, Nightmare Serpenth, Pillar of Mind. He reared up like a cobra the instant he landed, black wings sweeping Sarah aside, gentle but strong, like being hit by a huge pillow. As soon as the fragile human girl was out of range, his jaws parted, and a fine stream of venom sprayed the Skinner in the face.
Sarah stumbled, trying to regain her footing, suddenly separated from the monster. For a moment, she wondered what hallucinogenic venom could do to something so dead and burned. But as the liquid struck, the Skinner let out a low groan. Its bones shuddered so violently she thought they might shatter. The flames leapt up, burning away the last bits of flesh and plant matter, then flickered out. Her talismans cooled instantly. It was over.
The Skinner lay still, then, bones creaking, it slowly began to rise. The silver net slid away, revealing the clean white bones of an Experiment #696.
"Samael, brother and Pillar of Mind... you live," said a warm, clear voice from the skeletal figure, though Sarah had no idea how it could speak without vocal cords.
"Yes, at last. Thanks to the Hunters." Samael turned to the group, his long reptilian mouth curling into something like a smile. "Sarah, brave young Hunter, and Alpha Team, meet Kadavr, Pillar of Body, the third and final pillar of the forest."
"Uh... nice to meet you," Sarah stammered, suddenly self-conscious with the staff in her grip.
Kadavr chuckled, gentle and steady. "Well met, young Hunter. You fought bravely."
Sarah tried to smile back, still dazed. She couldn’t quite connect this polite, dignified skeleton with the terrible, flesh-stealing monster she had been fighting seconds before.
"It’s all right," Kadavr said, as if sensing her thoughts. "I was insane, and my magic was twisted. It is perfectly reasonable to still feel wary."