|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Hail to you, Baron Samedi. Ride your servant to do thy will." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The energy still danced between the sorcerer's hands. Only now the stream was thicker and had started to coil sensuously in and out of the man's wide-splayed fingers. In a moment, the Dark Man lowered his left hand and the energy began pouring from his fingers like wine from a bottle. The stream humped and squirmed like a living thing as it slithered across the carpet toward Conrad. The muscles in the bodyguard's neck stood out like mooring ropes as he strained to free himself from the Dark Man's magic, but it was useless. Had Conrad been ten times strongerfifty timesit wouldn't have saved him, for it was death creeping inexorably across the floor and everything it touched turned black and gave off a foul-smelling smoke. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Please, boss! Please make it stop!" |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The stream touched the bottom of Conrad's shoe and he screamed like his soul was being ripped from his body. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Dark Man made a motion with his right hand and the bodyguard's cries were cut off as effectively as if someone had pulled a wire out of a stereo speaker. The soles of Conrad's shoes began to bubble, and as the energy tentacle inched its way up under his right pants leg, the cuff began to smolder. The bodyguard's eyes opened so wide that it looked like they might fall out, roll down his cheeks and disappear into his mouth. In a matter of moments his body began to vibrate and bloody puss began to ooze from every pore. More blood leaked from the corners of his mouth and dribbled in frothy strings from his nose. The smell of ozone was quickly replaced by the overpowering stench of charred flesh. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Then Conrad began to shrink. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It was gradual at firsthis chin slipped below his collar and his hands blackened and shriveled and vanished up into the sleeves of his shirt; his feet drew up into his trousers with a slow sucking sound like a shoe being pulled out of a mud bog. Finally the bodyguard's wide, pleading eyes disappeared into his shirt and the last Bryan saw of his longtime companion |
|
|
|
|
|