FOREVER KNIGHTS: #12 Primal Intent
RADIX - Making a Noni

Stone Peak, Black Mountains, Battling Border

RADIX MALORUM

Under the Black Mountain moon, Simon Worthington had arrived at Radix’s request despite that he hated the stifling caves of Stone Peak.

“What’d you w-want?” Worthington asked, changing his tone to a request when the demon shot him a sharp look.

“I wanted you to see something.”

Worthington’s stomach clenched and he began to sweat. The hairs on his neck went rigid as he heard a man shouting pleas.

Radix led him deeper into his lair.

Eventually, when the tunnels seemed to feel like they were pinching in until it was hard to breathe, he heard Mac Turner screaming a ways ahead of them. A lumbering yellowish ogre was striding toward them. Bare feet scraping then slapping flat onto the stone floor. He had a fistful of Mac’s red hair and was yanking him down the stone corridor on his back.

Mac flailed trying to get away from the two Targue who held his arms in their jaws. Bloodied from the flesh he’d torn as he struggled against them.

Mac twisted, trying to jerk free. Catching sight of Worthington, he pleaded. “No! Simon, help! Don’t let them do this.”

The Targue pulled him forward to Radix.

“I wanted you to see for yourself what I’d do to you if you continue to fail me.” Radix’s eyes glittered. He methodically raked a clawlike nail over Mac’s shoulder. Tearing his skin as well as the shirt. With the flesh still bunched under his hooked finger he leaned forward to spit in the wound.

What landed in it didn’t look like saliva. It was black and began to sear and smoke like acid while Mac wailed and kicked.

Unable to tolerate the sounds of Mac’s screams, Worthington covered his ears. Even through his hands he heard the terrible snapping of bones.

Mac’s screams became shrill until finally dying out. He struggled along the ground like a fish out of water. Back arching then contorting at impossible angles. His skin grew taut as everything shrank until he was limp. Looking hollow.

Then his body flopped upward. Arms slapping limply and jaw dangling. It happened a few more times until dark claws emerged from the animal’s side. Then a snout with triangular teeth. Followed by a round orange eye.

Soon a Noni had fought its way out and now stood at Worthington’s feet. Blinking up at him.

No remnant of Mac remained.

“Watch.” Radix ordered with a smile baring jagged yellow teeth.

Worthington’s eyes returned to the Noni. He watched in horror as Radix lifted his palm in an off-handed gesture.

In response, the Noni lifted its front paw and bit it off. Yanking and tearing until the bones and tissue had freed. Then it spit it on the floor. The leg seeped black ooze as it hung it back down.

Worthington gagged and fled the cave.

Radix Malorum’s laughter chased him up through the stone corridors.

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