Read Alexa's Travels: A Prelude for Free Online Page B

and the men around their clever guide waited silently. They had no experience with the seven-foot monsters watching the coastline, but there was little doubt their mistress did.
    It had taken them only another day to reach the vast expanse of the ocean and the sights were even less encouraging than what they’d found on other shorelines, though the blonde leader was sure all of them were guarded now. The main difference was the water. It stank here, horribly, like mildew and rot, and it was strong enough to make eyes water and noses sting. They’d had their bandanas around their faces since dawn.
    The Ocean was sour. There were no signs of life in its dark depths, no birds overhead, and nothing moved on the beach except for the evil-colored Sand Demons, who had just noticed them standing on the rise half a mile away. Waves of menace surged in their direction.
    With a heart not quite thumping nervously, Edward made a gesture to the other men, and was rewarded by them falling into the protection detail they had learned together so long ago. Controlling the grin that wanted to spread across his face - he was indeed XO now - Edward circled the group with his hands resting on the well cared for butts of his guns… the first gear she’d given each of them.
    The dark-haired Horseman pushed away the distracting thoughts, grip tightening as the wind increased, hurting his eyes and nose with the stench. In this new world, a gun was more needed than water.
    Alexa turned slowly, evaluating gaze sweeping over each man with a vision that saw into their very hearts and knew great worry. They would not survive. She would need more like herself. Mere mortals stood no chance against Sand Demons, even ones as well versed in battle as hers.
    She looked at Edward, tone emotionless, “Keep them tight.”
    He nodded, face asking her not to go alone, but the blonde turned toward the beach with a curt motion that none of them could mistake. Stay here!
    The cloaked leader moved down the roughly sloping hill of stinking sand at a fast pace, the dark grains shifting treacherously beneath her boots, and found not a single place to slide through the line of sword-wielding warriors. Nature’s monsters guarded the water’s edge as far as she could see. One would not get by alone, and yet, she moved steadily closer as the wind howled in warning. She needed to see the battle line.
    The beach Guardians were moving now, flexing, and Alexa marked the spot with a memory of the rock pattern. She saw their cone-shaped bodies spread eagerly into long, clawed hands and fast, sleek legs. That was the alert line. Good to know, but she needed the point that would make them charge, and she kept moving as each creature drew its stone sword and hissed angrily.
    The sound was revolting, like nails on a chalkboard and she swallowed an automatic flinch. That would have to be taken into account as well. If it could draw such a reaction from her, it would likely disable her men during the fight, another strike against them surviving.
    Glittering, malicious eyes watched eagerly as she approached the tangle brush that lined the beach. Alexa saw their shifting muscles ripple, and their tense, gritty fingers tighten on glinting hilts. Before her boots touched the foul-smelling shoreline, the Guardians were leaving their posts, coming to greet her - all of them.
    Alexa stopped abruptly. That was it, then.
    The Demons moved like tornadoes, their legs spinning furiously as their long arms stretched out for her, but the woman stayed still a moment longer, noticing how they automatically adjusted for two of the largest monsters that were cutting viciously through the mob to get to her first. They were the Generals, and she marked them well.
    Alexa turned suddenly, the creatures almost to the brush, and she moved the way she had come at a very fast clip, not looking back. Glad to not hear them on her heels, she didn’t stop until she was at the top of the slick rise with her