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hurled the ball of energy at the sorcerer. |
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The Dark Man stood his groundstill with that contemptuous half-smile on his faceand caught the streaking ball in his hand. The energy blossomed like a tiny green nuclear cloud and encased his body inside a cocoon of transparent green power. |
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Speechless, Bryan tried to run, but it was as if his lower body belonged to someone else. He could still move his arms and feel his feet. He could wiggle his toes even. But from the waist down he was as stiff as a board. |
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The goateed man giggled and wagged his finger. "Mustn't leave now. The fun's just about to start." |
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In the meantime, the energy field had condensed into a halo around the Dark Man's head and was seeping down into his arms like thick gobs of petroleum jelly. He spread his hands apart and laughed manically as the energy sparked back and forth between his fingers like bolts of ball lightning. With each pulse, the air crackled and soon the living room reeked of ozone. |
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"You thought I was helpless," said the Dark Man. "You thought you had emasculated me." |
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"No!" Bryan hissed. "I swear! I meant you no harm." He held out his hands, palms up. "I only needed the" |
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"Silence!" the Dark Man ordered. "Be silent and observe what real power can do." |
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Closing his eyes, the Dark Man offered up a whispered prayer to Legba, the chief of his voodoo gods. As the ancient words dripped from his lips like drops of deadly poison, his body underwent a chilling metamorphosis. The skin of his face turned chalky white and his eyes rolled back and disappeared into his skull. A tall stovepipe hat suddenly materialized on top of his head and the feathered cloak changed into a dusty black tuxedo jacket. When the chant was done, two burning red balls of flame peered down at Bryan from the Dark Man's empty eye sockets. |
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The goateed man dropped to one knee and bowed his head. |
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