Time of the Necromancer: Chapter 9

“Move your feet! Faster!”

“I’m doing my best Penny!”

Alison slid backwards, skidding along the formerly polished and well-maintained floor. She kept stepping and running backwards as a sword thrust at her. It pierced her shirt and she stepped to the side and it tore at the waist. Scowling her hands glowed to life and she blasted the man backwards with a burst of ice.

He was slid backwards digging his hand into the ground to steady. He stood as if the tattered clothing and ghoulish skin meant nothing. Only in death could he have found a way to get even paler, his raven hair losing its luster but his eyes maintained their oily quality.

“To think a mage such as yourself existed. Her Majesty would have loved to have you. Pity I’ll have to kill you,” he said with a dry chuckle.

“We met Her Majesty,” she replied. “She was a lovely woman. Amazing. The fact that someone like you could have served Her is says a lot.”

“Oh. That bite. You are definitely a friend of Morrigan,” he replied and waved his rapier back and forth. “I’ll enjoy cutting that tongue from your mouth.”

“Stop talking, Maxwell, and kill her!”

“You don’t know how to have fun Morrigan,” he said bowing and flourishing his sword. “I will enact Her Majesty’s will and enjoy every moment of it.”

The Sanguiknight stood and brandished her bloodied weapon in one hand. Her other arm, though hung limp at her side blood running down her palm and fingers. The sleeve of her shirt had been torn off and wrapped around her shoulder where she had struck.

“Right of course. As if you’re not having fun toying with your own little traitor,” he replied like the hissing snake that he was.

She didn’t acknowledge him. She turned her gaze to the man in front of her. “Where is Alistair, Benidict? Could he not face me again? I thought he was more man than that.”

“Don’t worry about him,” he replied chest huffing and wiped his forehead. He licked the back of his hand slowly as his eyes flooded with red. “You’re having a hard-enough time dealing with me.”

“You won’t get past me Benidict,” Angling her sword down slightly she took a slow step around him. “I won’t allow you to get past this door. I won’t allow you to interrupt my Queen.”

“Our Queen died Morrigan!” he shouted through clenched teeth and saying that was like another blow to himself. “You have to fight what they’ve done to you! You’re stronger than this!”

His voiced echoed in the hallway and out the broken windows. The cold wind blew back at him and ruffled his hair. He could see the double doors beyond Morrigan and the undead Maxwell. The only way forward was defeating them. He learned the truth the hard way attempting to rush past her.

“Stop it Ben,” she said softly and he could see a glimpse of his Morrigan in there. The pain that colored her face, the inner quarrel about what she was told to do.

But then her red eyes were veiled by purple again and she was gone. “You know. I loved you once. And seeing this. This madness. That has engulfed you. See through it. See clearly. And beg for forgiveness from our Queen. She will forgive you.”

He looked at the ground shaking but raised his eyes to meet hers. He rotated the longsword and pointed it at her keeping his other hand raised for balance. “Come Mori.”

The pain on her face washed away like a cold mask. She looked at her arm and it jerked back under her control. Grasping the sword with both hands, she darted at him. He blocked the first blow but the second sent him stumbling backwards. She swung again aiming at his throat this time.

Ducking under it he retaliated with his own vertical swing. She jerked her head back but he still hit her chin. Pressing his advantage, he swung at her sword arm. Stepping back, she kicked his sword away and it slid from his hand. Stepping forward he slammed his forehead against her own and she shouted. The pain echoed in his head as he fell to his knees getting dizzy.

Pushing back to his feet he tackled her to the ground and drove his elbow into her wrist. She grunted and he punched her shoulder next but her fist flew to his jaw. He slid off her seeing stars and spitting blood. The blood from his wound was spilling into his eyes making things even worse.

Morrigan scrambled to her feet and spun her sword around lunging at him. He raised his hands catching the sword just inches from his face. He felt the blade bite into his palms and grunted digging his teeth together. “You’ve never been able to beat me, Ben.”

“Try us together then!” Alison’s hand touched her chest and with an explosion of ice, she flew backwards hitting the wall hard. Maxwell avoided a shard of ice his way, slicing it out of the air, and stood beside her. Resting his sword against his arm he raised his eyebrow.

“You’re looking like shit Morrigan. A peasant like you cannot keep up with a proper knight,” he replied shaking his head. “Her Majesty will be so disappointed.”

Morrigan stood and swung, her sword hovering it at his neck. “You don’t get to talk to me that way Maxwell. You should feel blessed that my Queen even called you to serve after the embarrassment I dealt you.”

He glared at her and shoved the sword away, “Once we eliminate them. I’ll turn my sights back onto you, peasant.”

 “You couldn’t beat me then. You can’t now.” She swapped her sword to her other hand and blood rushed from her palm and up her arm. She let out a shout feeling the blood from the sword fill her wounds like bandages. “Now shut up. And let’s finish them off.”

Alison helped Benidict to stand but he winced letting his arms drop. “Are you alright?”

“Mentally nor physically am I alright,” he told her and winced picking his sword off the ground. He tried to ready it but his hand spasmed and he dropped it. “But we don’t have a choice.”

“No, we don’t,” she replied and looked at the pair of knights as they circled toward them. She tried but she was running out of good ideas quickly. “Let me take over. You may not be able to handle them but I can.”

Alison gasped as Penny’s voice became more apparent. “What? You saying you can do things I can’t?”

“Yes. I’ve been absorbing your excess magic since we came together. I can use it to our benefit.”

That made Alison pause with concern but she nodded slowly, “Okay. You’re in the driver’s seat Penny. Let’s do this.”

The veins sprouted from the edges of her eyes and her eyes bled to black. The hand off was quick and all the change subtle for now. Raising their head and shaking their hair out they watched the two knights. Maxwell kept approaching but Morrigan stopped feeling a chill.

Penny looked toward her and the Sanguiknight jumped back on pure instinct. Ice erupted from the ground where she had been standing. Another pillar of ice shot forward chasing her down and instead pierced the wall. Maxwell raised his sword the blade sliding back as he fired two shots at them.

They turned and a sheet of ice materialized blocking both shots. They looked at him and ice blasted him off his feet and into the wall. They narrowed their eyes and lances of ice appeared out the air spearing through his arms keeping him pinned. They turned on their heel as  another sheet of ice appeared and halted Morrigan’s katana.

Their eyes met and Penny saw fear in Morrigan’s eyes. Fear that pierced beyond the magic that had possessed her mind. The ice from the wall locked on and tried to catch her feet. Though she was a few seconds off she was avoiding the patches as she put space between them.

“I see. This is why she respects you so much. Aside from your strength of character, you are skilled.”

Penny watched Morrigan closely but was vaguely aware of Maxwell freeing himself from the wall. They raised their eyebrow not caring too much as their gaze remained on Morrigan. She was the threat that needed to be dealt with first.

They raised their arms slowly and the air around them started to mist over. They flourished their hands and the ice surged across the ground. Morrigan jumped to the side but a small piece snatched her leg and she crashed into the ground nearly breaking the limb. Maxwell tried to avoid it but he was too slow and the ice grabbed onto half his body.

They yanked their arm backwards and ripped the zombie in half across the ground. He screamed as if he really felt the pain and wasn’t just some undead creature. Penny stepped forward curling their fingers sharply and then slammed it down. The ice came down like a ceiling of spikes and skewered him to the ground.

His screams ended but Penny turned to stare down Morrigan as she fought to close the distance between them. She avoided the first gust of ice and the second but the third caught her arm. Flash frozen she stumbled and sank to her knees leaning on her sword. Penny tilted their head to the side and approached her.

“I’ve always known a mage’s power to be fearsome. But this is beyond that,” she mumbled. Flicking her sword around she tried to point it them but the sword was blown from her hand and frozen to the wall by just a glance from Penny.

“Truly terrifying,” Benidict mumbled as he limped over. “I am glad to call you an ally.”

“Terrifying or not. I won’t be defeated here,” Morrigan shouted. “For my Queen I will

“As we’ve feared. You’re too far gone. We can see it on you,” they saw the haze of magic around the Sanguiknight. They knelt and lowered their voice so only she could hear. “The only thing left is to end your suffering.”

Morrigan adopted a brave scowl staring back at them, “It’ll be an honor to die serving my Queen.”

They turned slowly and looked at Benidict before gazing down at Morrigan again. “Then we’ll give you that honor.”

Penny raised their hand and ice coated the edge like a blade. They began to swing when they stopped eyes going wide. They snarled their hands shaking and taking a step back. “Stop it Alison! She’s a threat to us. If we don’t do this now then we’re all in danger! We have to str-“

They screamed and fell punching the ground turning it to ice and shattering it. They hit it again and again the scream getting louder. They whipped their arm to the side and the entire right half of the hall way was encased in ice, all the way to door.

They fell to the ground, ice forming under their hands and they stared at themselves. The black veins faded into her skin and the glow from her eyes disappeared. Alison stared down at her reflection, watched it turn into Penny and glared her chest heaving.

“She’s our family. And you were ready to kill her.”

“We tried to stop her but we’re not strong enough to free her. We have no more options.”

“That doesn’t mean we don’t try!”

“And if your brother died would you keep trying? Or Vincent?!”

Suddenly the door behind them exploded in of fire, kicking ice and dust along with stone and wood into the air. Alison shielded her face from it, avoiding the brunt of the damage. When things died down she raised her head and watched her brother, Vincent and several strangers walk through the hallway.

“Alison, Ben!” Alistair shouted running to their side but slowed to a halt as he looked at Morrigan all but frozen to the ground. Benidict walked over to him and took his hand in a tight squeeze but both looked to Morrigan. With the ice still covering her arm and leg she was at their mercy.

“There you are,” she said softly. “I had hoped to see you again. And it seems that my life has been spared. Unless you wish to deliver the final blow yourself.”

Walking over to Morrigan he crouched in front of her and gently stroked her cheek. Her skin was cold and he could see the conflict in her eyes again. The purple haze glowed brighter and she flinched staring at the ground. “Get it over with already.”

“A peculiar situation,” Gest said as he approached her. “A knight turned against her nation. What has befuddled her mind, to raise her hand against her kind?”

Ryze came forward tapping his shovel against the ground, his sister behind him. They stood on either side of the Sanguiknight their respective eyes glowing. “You can see it can’t you Ryza?”

“Yeah. It reminds me of mother. But not as strong. An off shoot or variation maybe?”

“That’s right. You weren’t around long enough to really get to know them like I did,” he looked over at the half of Maxwell that was still in one piece. “Zombies with personality and can almost pass for living. But not much can be done about the dead skin. Mind controlling friends and turning them against one another. Lust.”

“Sorry but who the hell is Lust,” Vincent asked sheathing his sword. “And how does it help us get our friend back?”

Ryze looked at him blankly, not bothering to hide the annoyance. “It means I can figure out what she did. Maybe I can undo it.”

“Excuse me,” Gest strutted forward putting his hand on his hip and chuckled. “The solution to your problem I can see.”

“Oh great. Are you going to sing it out of her?” Orion mocked but Gest looked at them and nodded quickly. “You’re serious. And yet somehow you’re an assassin.”

Gest raised a finger to his mask’s mouth and then continued forward to stand in front of Morrigan. Benidict’s eyes went wide watching him approach and even Morrigan looked uncomfortable. “A noble knight. Loyal to a fault. Even under the enemy’s light, she’s still worth her salt.”

 He placed both his gloved hands on her cheeks and Morrigan stared at the empty black pits of the mask. And so, he began to hum, a deep and melancholy tune. As if his mouth were a string instrument strumming through a sheet that only he could read.

 He saw the magic in her flare to life and resist his magic but the music worked its way through her. His humming got louder and Morrigan’s face turned to pain as her body glowed a deep violet.

“He’s hurting her,” Alistair said trying to step forward but Ryza blocked his path.

She whispered, “He’s helping her.”

Morrigan writhed in her bonds trying to get away from him before finally screaming. Alistair and Benidict both flinched and moved forward but they stopped as they watched a purple image appeared behind her. It was like a shadow that was connected to her. But the singing continued and inch by inch it was ripped from her.

Gest looked at the shadow and the magic dissipated into the air. Morrigan slumped forward only being held up by the ice. Gest finished his song, let go of her face, and bowed slowly as he walked back. “Rise knight of our Queen. Your soul is now clean.”

Alison let the ice fade away and both Alistair and Benidict were there to catch her when she fell. Her dark hair was slick with sweat and her body felt light. They could feel her breathing heavy in their arms and slowly she looked up at the two of them. Her eyes were no longer red, instead they were tired emeralds that looked at the two.

“Mori?” Benidict whispered.

“Is that you?” Alistair asked.

She coughed but slowly she began to nod. “Al. Ben. You never gave up on me. So stubborn.”

Alistair laughed a choked sound and pulled her close and Benidict wrapped an arm around her. “You’re one to talk about being stubborn.”

Benidict stroked his fingers through her hair gently and just laughed happily fighting the tears in his eyes. “I never want to run that close to losing you again. Either of you.”

Morrigan smiled tiredly but raised her head and stared at Gest. The masked jester bounced back and forth on the balls of his feet. The mask caught the light and illuminated a shine in the eyes of the mask while casting his blonde hair to silver.

“I didn’t think any of you were still alive,” she mumbled. “Less did I think one would come to my rescue. I’m in your debt.”

“We all are,” Benidict added and slowly stood keeping his hands on Morrigan’s arms and wincing from his hands. Alistair stood with them both letting them lean against him.

Gest turned to face the trio and tilted his head, “A trio of knights owing debts to a clown? No debt needed,  it will only bring my face a frown. Our line is that of her Majesty. To not ensure that line remains strong would be a travesty.”

“A peculiar one indeed,” Benidict groaned lightly letting his arm hang limp. “What is your name?”

Twirling on his toe he bowed, “For those who know me best, I go by Gest.”

Vincent went to stand beside Alison. He looked at her and frowned deeply seeing the far off look in her eyes. “What happened?” he whispered pulling her against him. But she pushed him back shaking her head. “Alison?”

“I’ll tell you about it later Vince,” she mumbled. “We’ve got bigger problems to deal with now.”

He stared at her the shock really setting in. It was the first time in a long time that she had referred to herself that way. When she looked up at him her eyes were gently pleading that he drop it. He kissed her forehead lightly and nodded. “Okay.”

She looked down again because she felt her other half in her mind, felt their presence like a shadow behind her. They didn’t speak, they didn’t think, they were quietly obedient. But she couldn’t forget how close she’d come to losing control. How close they had come to killing Morrigan.

Ryze and Ryza walked toward the second door and it was magically sealed just like the last one. Ryza shivered as another cold wind blew over them and she clutched the shovel tighter. The runes felt warm to her palms and she waved a hand over the door. The magic struck back at her like a snake.

“Lust doesn’t want us interrupting whatever they’re doing. Shall we get to work?” she asked.

Her brother shook his head thinking. Keeping a hand to his mouth he looked over his shoulder at the assembled group that they had. “We need to figure out our plan of attack first.”

Staring at the assembled group she nodded, “I wouldn’t have imagined we’d have this many people on our side. Lust shouldn’t be a problem like this, right?”

“Honest answer little sister I don’t know,” he folded his arms and then shouted, “Can you two still fight?”

Benidict stared down at his hand and arm. The pain had subsided somewhat but when he went to squeeze his hand into a fist he winced and felt his hand shake. “I can’t wield my sword. Not like this. I’ll just be a liability.”

 Morrigan started to take a step forward and grunted in pain holding her arm. “I can still fight.”

Alistair shook his head pulling her back. “No, you can’t. Both of you need to stay behind here.”

She didn’t look happy but Benidict was already nodding his head and keeping his arm around Morrigan to prevent her from approaching any further from where they were. “The three of us will stay here.”

“Okay then that leaves the six of us?” Vincent asked. “That should be enough to take down one person, right?”

“You sound like you’ve never fought anyone from the Ouroboros before,” Ryze said and snorted turning back toward the door. Grasping the shovel with both hands he tapped the ground and stared at the door. “My sister and I will remove the barrier from there. Once that’s down be ready for anything.”

“Ready for anything. That’s not exactly inspiring,” Vincent shrugged his shoulders and Alison shook her head.

“I know you don’t feel it Vince but the air here is unsettling. It’s like out. My master’s magic but darker. More malevolent. Penny has been on edge because of this since before we left.”

“I know,” he scratched the back of his head lightly. “We spoke about it a little.”

“What? Never mind. Later,” turning to face the necromancer again she asked. “You know about this person. What can they do? What should we expect from them?”

“Their zombies are livelier than most. If they died with a weapon they’ll use it and know what they’re doing. They like to dabble in mind control so be careful getting too close to them. And from the amount of magic they’re calling right now they’ll definitely have some body guards.”

“Watch for zombies. Don’t get hit. Shoot what moves,” Orion shrugged and reloaded their guns. “Simple enough.”

“Simple. Right,” Vincent raised his gun as well and swung his sword a few times. He turned toward Morrigan and the rest and smiled. “Be careful. There were some zombies still chasing us. They might come and investigate you guys.”

“Noted. You do the same bandit,’ Morrigan replied and Vincent just barked a laugh.

Ryza grasped her shovel as well and twisted her hand feeling the magic spark to life and channel throughout the weapon, “Ready big brother?”

“Ready little sister.”

Blowing open the doors to the Cerisan Queen’s throne room had been difficult to say the least but it had worked. After some effort on the part of the two Necromancers and assistance from Alison they did it. The doors were blown inward, the reverse of their hinges and one actually snapped off and slid across the ground.

Somehow this throne room had remained untouched throughout the destruction. It showed little signs of damage or wear from the elements and even the ceiling above was for the most part intact. But it was dark within. No fires lit the candles or chandeliers and the sun outside couldn’t pierce the clouds to let any golden light in.

The four pillars of the throne room were tall and supported the room but it was still a very empty throne room. The few guards that may have protected the queen when she lived and the queen herself were presences that were sorely missed in the now very empty throne room. The air felt empty as if recently vacated. Not waiting Ryze beelined to the throne.

Ryze shoved the throne back and forth before toppling it over. Below the throne was dirt. Cold nearly frozen and hidden near the tile. They all heard the heavy sound of Ryze’s shovel in the ground as he struck it over and over to make space. He finally shoved the weapon into the dirt and his shovel glowed to life alongside his eye.

He remained that way, feeling his magic coursing through the ground. He dragged the shovel back out of the ground and swore. “It’s too late.”

“Too late for what?” Vincent asked.

“To stop them. Lust did what they needed to do. The Cerisan queen’s body is gone.”