Chapter 15
Sounds of danger shrieked inside him. The snake was gigantic, its body a deep red color and the width of Ibba's. Ibba clawed at it, her eyes wide with fear, but it only tightened around her, pinning one of her arms to her body.
"Isika!" she screamed. Ben reached her first and pulled at the heavy coils of the snake, beating it with his staff and scratching at its scales. Isika was right behind him, and at her touch, the snake froze for a moment, then continued its slow crushing of their sister. Isika was gasping and crying and Ben felt like throwing up, shaken by the deep evil he sensed. This wasn't an ordinary snake.
There was a sudden fluttering and the three Othra soared into sight and dropped to the ground in front of Ibba and the snake. Tears came to Ben's eyes when he sa
