Penanggal

from 'House of Corruption', by Erik Tavares:

“…The flesh at Lucinda’s neck split like old rags and her head slid from Kiria’s shoulders. It lifted into the air, sliding from her neck its dripping, worm-like spine. It was not Lucinda or Kiria or any of the innumerable hosts she had taken—only the penanggal. The creature rose higher into the air and flew, snaking around the standing stones, all shrieking head and scorpion spine. Its jaw snapped with a clack of sharp teeth…