The towers shut instantly as if equipped with electronic locks.
All but the largest tower started to fade, dragging themselves back into the Earth. Chains sprouted from the ground, wrapping the smaller gates, while the huge doorway that swallowed Nikolai did the same.
As if they planned this from the start.
.
.
.
Nikolai struggled against the hand that grabbed him like a toy, "Damn it!" Unable to shake himself free, he enlarged his fangs and leaned back with a fierce light in his eyes. Then, like a ferocious beast, it bit the giant, copper-skinned palm.
"!!!!"
A low, inaudible cry sounded, neither human nor a language that Nikolai recognised as he fell to the floor, rolling across the sizzling dirt below. 'Red?'
It took ten seconds for him to come to a halt, the hot dirt creating burns down his forearms and chest. However, what shocked him the most was the surroundings.
