ST14 Fractured
A thrill of anticipation flowed through the imp. One of the humans was the key; he had felt the psychic energy flowing through the pool awakening its power. If he opened the gate his master would be very pleased.
The sulphurous pool was a fractured gateway, halfway between hell and earth. Incomplete it melded both worlds into one. It had lain dormant for thousands of years until a freak electrical storm awakened it. A bolt of blue black lightening had struck the ground, opening a path, sulphur, copper, carbon all harmless until they mixed with the blue black electrical current.
The demons had waited centuries for a gate to open. They gathered their forces ready to strike but the gate would not let them through. They could see the tunnel leading from one world to another but were unable to cross over. The door was locked, and they did not have the key.
Years passed before a demon could cross over and find a host. At last it was done the demon had found the perfect human to help him – Nylan was a brilliant scientist and a fanatic. The scientist would aid him in opening the gate.
In Demon Lore the creature that had possessed Nylan was an imp. Not too smart, more of a spy and a despoiler than gate keeper. His master aided him in possessing the human and ordered him to guard the gate. The imp had sought to impress his master, in doing so he had brought the gate to the notice of the humans. His master would spend the next millennium torturing him unless he could open the gate.
But the Nylan Imp had not escaped the creatures attack. Kneeling down he watched with hooded eyes. His creation was beautiful to watch, quick and agile deadly in the extreme and it was all his. He hoped the secret he had been searching for was locked inside the black monster; all he needed was the right key to unlock the mystery. Yet the source of the mutation eluded him, and it was driving Nylan mad. He'd tried everything, but it just wasn't enough, something was missing, he just didn't know what.
The black monster leaped for its prey. Only then did the Demon realize his danger. Jumping to his feet he slipped, one foot sliding dangerously close to the murky yellow pool. Growling he tried to recover when the tip of a black wing struck him in the back. Screeching in horror he flailed wildly as he tumbled forward head first into the pool.
Panic and fear consumed the Imp's and the human's mind. Nylan knew he had to get out, had to escape, but it was too late. Holding his breath he swam for the surface – but it wasn't there it wasn't anywhere. Frantic, his body convulsed his mind splintered when he could not find a way out. A blue black streak of electrical current sliced across the pool. His body shook with the impact. His lungs gave out expelling the air he had held so tight. The liquid filled his mouth and slithered into his lungs. He could feel himself drowning in the yellow sludge – but he didn't. He coughed and choked, soon his lungs changed, drawing in oxygen and absorbing the liquid.
Fire pulsed through his body with each successive strike of electrical current. Flailing frantically he tried to avoid the pain but only succeeded in drawing a creature closer. A scorpion that Nylan had dropped into the yellow sludge drifted close. He didn't see it until it was too late. Agony suffused his body as the scorpion and human became one.
Instead of splitting apart the human DNA absorbed and melded with the scorpions DNA. Skin hardened becoming a thick armoured exoskeleton. Arms stretched outward, hands becoming claws. Their minds merged, yet their memories remained intact – man – demon – and scorpion were one. Vicious and hungry, rage flared white hot in the creatures mind. Ebony eyes swirling with a rainbow of colours stared back at the world.
When the change was complete, the splintered gate pushed the creature toward the surface. One huge claw broke through the murky liquid. The monster silently dragged itself out of the pit.
The creature was a grotesque sight. Standing over eight feet tall, its hard exoskeleton was a muddy mottled brown color. Huge claws extended where hands once grew. Instead of two legs there were now six. A long tail curved up over the monster's back was tipped with a numbing venomous stinger.
A huge outcropping of rocks hid it from sight. Slinking across the clearing it slipped into the tree line.
The fractured mind of the creature flitted from one memory to another – Nylan's hatred overlay them all. Memories of a confrontation intruded. She was the cause and he would have his revenge. Ebony eyes searched for the source of its hatred.
oooOOOooo
A few miles away an injured hunter woke.