Wicked Wicked

Then suddenly it began; The witchdoctor fell onto his paws, his body crouched and twitching as if he was having a seizure, his slitted pupils had become thread thin his bi-colored eyes wide open. His jaws opened suddenly and snapped around the small pouch with a loud “CRUNCH” the toxic dust filling his mouth and spilling over. His spine bent as his chest hit the smooth floor of the chamber, his knees locked and his paws outstretched. A single noise escaped him; a scream that rivaled a frightened fox’s but coming from the expressionless wolf seemed nothing short of unnatural. His jaws closed around the stone, his body rearing back and then coming down, striking the rock against the rusted rim of the nganga and ushering into the world a spray of sparks. The sparks caught on the dry grasses in the cauldron and set them alight with a sudden “Whoosh” of flame filling the chamber with blinding light and suffocating heat.

Dumois walked calmly along the mirrored edge of the crossroads, his claws clicking against the smooth surface as he wandered aimlessly into the black abyss. He strolled listlessly until a noise caught his attention; the frantic hiss of a rattlesnake’s tail. He turned nonchalantly to look at the diamond pattered serpent and grinned. “Dumballah!” He chimed as if he were greeting an old friend. “Wonderful to see you again! I have a bit of a request; Razi Abraxas has approached me with questions of her future.” The snake continued to rattle its tail, it’s forked tongue darting out of its mouth as it stared fixedly at the violent wolf, and then spoke; “əəs I əɓuɐɥꓛ ꓯ” It said. “əɔıoſəɹ puɐ sɹɐəds ɹıəɥʇ uʍop ʍoɹɥʇ ๅๅıʍ ʎəɥꓕ” The snake drew back, ready to strike and opened its moth to reveal two hooked fangs “ssəuʇɐəɹɓ əʌəıɥɔɐ ๅๅıʍ noʎ əɯɐๅɟ əๅʇʇıๅ ɥsnd ɥsnd ɥsnꓒ” The snake darted forward and sank its fangs into the priest, who seemed completely unperturbed. His work was complete.

His body had spasmed and twitched violently, the forgotten language of his practice spilling from his mouth as Dumballah spoke to him in the crossroads and mirroring what the serpent had told him. When he regained consciousness he flipped onto his paws and vomited violently, his body heaving for air as he flame continued to crackle in the middle of the room. “You’re a very fortunate girl…” He said calmly, letting his hips fall tiredly onto the floor of the chamber. “There’s someone in your future, someone you will cherish above all others, although you won’t expect it. This person will change you in a most unexpected way.” He licked the bile from his jowls and shook out his fur. “Your struggles and battles will end, you are so close to your goals dear Razi, you need only need to push just a bit harder, and you will succeed, not immediately, but inevitably.”