The ashen plants disintegrated under the hooves of the horses, pluming up into a grey cloud. Several people near the back of the group covered their faces to avoid inhaling the burnt particles. At the bottom of the hill, they got a much closer look at the damage. Black tree stumps scattered the area. The stream was reduced to an acrid slimy trickle, cutting through the fragile grass. There were no places left to hide, but Megan couldn't see any sign of life in the scorched expanse.

As they crept deeper into the scarred clearing, a stale breeze kicked up the dry, suffocating ash.

Suddenly, the landscape tumbled and a slender crack split the ground between the horses. The fissure expanded as a hump of earth formed before them.

Ramon's black stallion reared, nearly throwing him to the ground. Dallen jumped from his horse as its leg sunk into the earth and it toppled over. A sickening snap echoed through Megan's ears as the horse hit the ground. Dallen tried to free the flailing horse as it was steadily dragged deeper into the earth.

The ground shook violently and a huge crack opened beneath three of the other horses. The trio plummeted into the depths with their riders, disappearing into the blackness of the hole.

The mound in front of them continued to grow  until it finally burst, showering them with clods of dirt and ash. Out of the resulting crater, a shriveled creature a little bigger than a man crept out. It was vaguely the shape of a human with long bony fingers, lanky limbs, and black, hollow eyes. It fingered a silver circle about the size of a small plate that dangled around its neck.

Megan dragged Shana onto her own horse as Shana's mare sank into the hungry earth.

The demon eyed the remaining horses, sniffing the air curiously. "Who dares enter my domain?"

Ramon steadied his horse. "This is not your domain, Thranus. You are not the master here."

Thranus smirked, revealing his pointed fangs. "We'll see about that." He rubbed his medallion greedily and the ground heaved beneath the horses' feet.

Several fell, breaking bones. Some fled at a gallop, jerking their riders off of their backs. Megan and Shana managed to retain their balance and keep a hold on Megan's horse, but they and Ramon were the only ones. The others lay sprawled on the ground, nursing wounds or unconscious. All had lost their mounts.

Thranus straightened up to his full height, leering down at Ramon. "You are no match for me. The magic that bound me here was forgotten long ago."

Ramon raised his voice and spoke with authority. "I know your weakness, Thranus. You no longer own your power."

Thranus tried unsuccessfully to look unmoved by this revelation, but his eyes betrayed his fear. He fingered his medallion more protectively. "You will never take back MY power!" Thranus' voice was raspy and guttural. Thrusting his hand towards Ramon, the ground heaved up then quickly receded into a hole.

Ramon rolled backwards off his horse, barely avoiding the danger as his stallion tumbled into the pit. Panting, he pushed himself into a crouch, favoring his right leg as he stood. "You cannot leave this place. If you try, we will fight back." Ramon gestured to his remaining companions. "We will kill you if we must."

Thranus opened his mouth, releasing a scratchy, screeching sound that Megan assumed was a laugh. "You have no power over me. Any petty attempt you make to stop me will only end in your own bloodshed."

Ramon glanced back at his meager company, his face smeared with blood and mud. Many of the group appeared ready to flee for their lives. Shana quivered behind Megan, her hands shaking uncontrollably. She was muttering under her breath and trying not to look at Dallen, who lay unconscious nearby, blood flowing from an open wound on his forehead.

Releasing the reins, Megan loosed her bow from her saddle and drew back an arrow as quietly as possible. She took a deep breath before firing the arrow at Thranus' chest. Before the arrow reached its target, the shaft disintegrated and the arrow head melted against his layered, wrinkly skin.

Whirling to face Megan, Thranus glared at her, his hollow eyes seeming to turn slightly red. "What do we have here." He snarled as their eyes met. "You're a brave one." Thranus stalked slowly towards Megan, his feet leaving behind burning footprints. He reached her horse and it neighed painfully. Collapsing under the weight of the two women, the horse lay limp on the darkened ground. Megan and Shana tumbled off the mare and rolled across the grass, smearing their bodies with ash.

Thranus knelt next to Megan. "But you are feeble. Your efforts are pathetic and vain." Reaching with his long fingers, Thranus gripped Megan's neck and hoisted her into the air.

Megan pried at the cold clammy hands, struggling to breath. Everywhere the demon touched her skin it burned.

Thranus drew her close to his face so that she could smell his putrid breath. "You cannot win this fight."

She pried desperately at Thranus' hands as her vision edged with black. "I know. I'm not trying... to win."

Thranus whirled as Ramon charged the demon and drove his broad sword deep into his chest. Thranus smacked Ramon across the face, flinging him twenty feet across the ravaged landscape. Dropping Megan, Thranus grasped the sword hilt and slid the sword free of his ribs, a sickening squelch accompanying the action. He tossed the blade aside, thick red blood gushing from the deep gash in his chest. He panted as he reeled to follow Ramon.

Megan coughed and spluttered. Looking up, she noticed Thranus' exposed neck, eyeing the chain of the medallion. It was fastened by a simple hook in the links. Pushing herself off the ground, repressing a scream as her raw blistered hands pressed against the earth. She rose to a kneel and pulled her quiver from her back. Lunging onto Thranus, Megan grabbed at the chain while Thranus bucked and reeled.

The demon reached over his shoulder and gripped Megan by the arm. A searing pain ripped through her arm as Thranus threw her to the ground, knocking the wind out of her.

Her fists clenched as she gasped for breath, unable to fill her lungs. She felt a cold bite in her hand. Shakily turning to look down at her hand, she found the silver medallion on its long chain.

Thranus released a scream that sounded like fingernails on a chalkboard. It ripped at Megan's ears as she inched her hand toward her boot. Fingering the hilt of her dagger, Megan pulled the small blade from her boot and plunged it into the medallion. The sleek metal blade sunk into the silver. A fountain of black sludge burst from the silver circle. It coated Megan's arms and chest and splattered into her face, choking her. The sludge burned her skin and throat. Her vision blurred. Collapsing onto the coarse dirt, Megan faded in and out of consciousness. The pain threatened to pull her under. Her surroundings became fuzzy as her mind darkened. A dark form approached her and she readied herself for whatever Thranus had planned for her.