The Monster of Creasy's Hollow (Defenders of the Rift Book 1) Read Online Free

heard the
roaring. He wasn’t sure just what it was he was hearing, but he
knew that it made the hair on his arm stand up. That and sent shivers
down his spine.
    “ What the. . . .?” he wondered, looking out
into the night. He couldn’t see anything, but he could hear
what had to be every dog in the neighborhood barking and growling.
The sound made him think of poor Waldo. Chip sighed, shaking his
head. He had been so sure that the book he’d found would give
Waldo back to them.
    The roar, or whatever, sounded again, forcing all
thoughts of Waldo from Chip’s mind. Whatever was making that
noise sounded. . .angry. Angry and mean. And big.
    Replacing the trash can lid, Chip decided to go back
inside. He didn’t know what was making that sound, but he was
pretty sure he didn’t want to meet it.

    *****

    Monusuol stalked the darkness of Creasy’s Hollow,
content for the moment to simply enjoy his new found freedom. Much
had changed in the time he had been banished from this realm. Strange
lights burned without flame, and large metal beasts with glowing eyes
roamed the land. Beasts the like of which he had never encountered.
He would need to be cautious, at least until he knew more about them.
    The smells of this realm were almost overwhelming as
well. Some he could identify, others he could not. A few seemed
familiar, as if some ingredient within the smell was known to him,
but not in this state. Another mystery he would need to solve.
    There were many strange new sounds as well, including
the roar of the beasts with the glowing eyes. Some were quiet, almost
as if trying to avoid detection. Others, however, were loud, roaring
their defiance to others of their kind he supposed. A few were huge,
and Monusuol was reluctant to draw their attention. He was not sure
that he could defeat these largest of the strange beasts, and thought
it better not to challenge one unless there was no choice.
    Monusuol found himself walking along a hard surface that
blended almost perfectly with the darkness save for brightly colored
lines along it’s middle and sides. He had noted that most of
the strange beasts traveled these surfaces, and decided that doing so
himself might not be a good idea. With that thought, he moved off the
hardened area onto the bare ground.
    There were structures all along the sides of this marked
surface, many showing the same strange lights that burned without any
sign of fire. These lights were a source of puzzlement to him. He had
seen stones glow in such a manner, but they were rare, and almost
always lay in the possession of strong sorcerers, or worse still,
knights who spent their lives dedicated to keeping Monusuol and his
brethren from roaming the world at will, as was their right.
    These structures. Could they be dwelling places of the
humans? If so they were much changed from the last time he had walked
the Earth. Where were the castles, the rock walls, the trenches and
moats? Obstacles to his kind, placed there to protect the weak
skinned humans from Monusuol and his kindred. Had the humans advanced
to the point that they no longer needed such protection?
    Were the strange beasts with the glowing eyes that
seemed to patrol this particular settlement some new form of human
wizardry meant to prevent attacks by beings such as he? Were they,
even now, seeking him out with their glowing eyes and growling
sounds?
    The creature was confused. He needed time to think, to
study his surroundings. There was much to be learned here, and he
needed to be cautious. He was strong, of that there was no doubt. But
he had been gone from this realm for a very long time. Would his
strength still be superior in this new, unfamiliar surrounding?
    He did not know, and what he didn’t know was
dangerous. Monusuol had learned that the hard way. With great caution
he eased his way back into the darkness, then made his way into the
woods around the strange human settlement. He needed a safe place
from which to watch, learn, and