“You are Dobuk,” the priest said accusingly.

“And you are my next meal,” laughed the beast, “but not before you have suffered greatly.”

Vand rolled over and got to his knees. He bowed his head, closed his eyes, and began praying to Kaltara for help. Vand’s concentration was broken when the demon’s claws snared the priest and lifted him towards its mouth. Vand screamed as he gazed into the cavernous snout that would become his grave.

“I know you,” the beast said suddenly. “You are Kaltara’s puppet. What is your name?”

“I am Vand, High Priest of Kaltara,” the priest said proudly. “Have your way with my body. You have no power over me. Kaltara will save me.”

“Save you?” laughed Dobuk as he tossed the priest’s body to the floor of the desert. “The High Priest of Kaltara should know better. You have entered my domain willingly, Vand. No one can save you now except me.”

The Great Demon waved a claw in the air, and Vand started screaming. The priest shrieked as his robe burst into flames, and his skin began to sear. Vand’s hands flew inward and began ripping the burning robe from his body. He flung the burning scraps to the desert floor, but his actions offered no relief. The priest’s skin burst into flames, and Vand frantically rolled around trying to extinguish the flames. All he succeeded in doing was causing the sand to stick to his burning skin.

“Have mercy!” cried Vand. “Kill me, but end this torment.”

“Have mercy?” smirked the Great Demon. “Were you talking to me? My name is Dobuk. Let me hear you say it.”

Vand bit his lip hard in an effort to stop screaming. It did not work, but the action did succeed in slicing the lip open. The priest spit a mouthful of blood into the sand and screamed hysterically.

“Have mercy, Dobuk,” pleaded the priest. “I cannot stand the pain.”