Of the many things Vincent had imagined the Necropolis to be, not having breathable air was not high on the list. The moment he crossed over through the portal the air immediately assaulted him like smoke from a cigarette. It reached into his lungs and throttled them like they needed to pay protection money.
He hacked and collapsed to the ground, his hands on the ground eyes bulging. His mind screamed to go back through the portal and that this was a mistake in many ways. And then he felt pressure on his back and suddenly oxygen flooded his lungs. The relief almost brought tears to his eyes and he rolled over.
Alison was crouched over him, both eyes blurred white with black veins but no less panicked. Penny took both his hands and helped him to sit up. “What the hell was that?”
“We didn’t think about the atmosphere of this place,” Penny said softly. “This is not a place for the living.”
“Well with a name like the Necropolis I wouldn’t think so. Thanks Penny.”
They nodded staring at him for a moment longer and then pulled him to his feet. They looked at everyone else recovering from the sudden lack of breathable air. Suddenly Vincent was very glad to have as many mage allies as he did. As he turned around, he truly saw how different their environment had become.
Beyond the light of the portal that they had taken everything was pitch black. His eyes strained to try and see beyond but whatever endless night that this place was in, consumed it all. He tried looking to the sky to see stars but those were missing as well.
“Where is everything?” Gemini asked turning around frantically.
Cancer shook his head keeping his back near his twins, “No idea. Anyone else able to see things?”
“I can fix it,” Ryze said grabbing his shovel. Turning the tool around, he shoved the blade into the ground and let his magic pour through it. Five points of light raced away from them, completed a circle, and suddenly all twelve of them had their eyes flash and suddenly the world around them came to clarity.
The ground was hard and smooth, like compacted rock that had melted, reshaped together and then cooled. The ground was uneven to move around on in every direction except for one. A castle loomed in the distance that somehow looked sickly.
Entire walls had crumbled while others were barely clinging on. Sharp parapets mingled with towering spires of metal, crooked and gangly. The entire castle had a faint green aura to it. Just staring at it made Gemini take a step back in apprehension.
“I have vague memories of this place,” Ryza said softly. She raised her hand and the spectral bat appeared resting in her palm. “What do you think? Would you call this home?”
“What not talking to your rat?” Orion asked.
“I left him behind with Coal. I’d be heartbroken if something were to happen to him in this place. Honestly Orion, would you bring him here?”
“She does have a point,” Benidict added. “Even the horses of Cerise would be hard pressed to be of use here.”
“How are we getting in?” Scorpio asked. “It can’t be as simple as just walking in.”
“Considering the state of the castle it wouldn’t surprise me if it were,” Cancer shrugged.
Vayne nodded, “It is that simple. I can sense that the building is without fortifications. With victory so close we guess Pride would be focusing her army. Defense of this place wouldn’t rank high on her radar when something better is on the horizon.”
“Then we just march in and kick some necromancer ass then?” Vincent asked.
“It can’t be that simple,” Virgo said looking toward the castle with glowing white eyes.
“It won’t be,” Morrigan started walking toward the castle. “But the direct approach in this instance is best.”
With no other arguments to be made they followed the necromancer forward. The portal closed behind them and almost everyone shuddered as the light disappeared. Being able to see wasn’t the concern, it was the engulfing darkness that ate at the corners of their eyes. On top of that, there was almost no noise. No wind and no animals. Just the dull crunch of their own footfalls.
They walked in a tightly packed circle, Morrigan, Vincent, and Vanye leading, Ryze, Ryza, and the Harlequin on the fringes of the circle, the zodiac and Alistair in the center and the rear brought up by Alison, Orion and Benidict. They walked in relative silence for the better of half an hour when Ryza called for them to slow down.
Her bat flapped in her hands and crawled rapidly to her shoulder. She pet its head gently and pointed ahead of them, “We’re going to have some trouble ahead.”
“Oh yay. Trouble,” Vincent shrugged. “What could be considered trouble in this place?”
“Let’s find out,” Morrigan said slowing down.
The ground they walked on stopped abruptly and turned into a sharp drop off into a ravine. Morrigan kicked a rock into the darkness below but she saw that it wasn’t that deep. However, what was waiting at the bottom of it startled her. The rock bounced against the wall and hit something at the bottom that began to shift and move. And it was like a wave came to life. It stretched in every direction curving out of sight.
The others came to the edge of the ridge and stared into the pit as well. They watched the writhing mass that was there and exchanged glances. “What is that?” Alistair asked slowly.
Gemini shook his head, “No idea.”
“Can anyone else hear that?” Scorpio asked.
They all went silent and it was faint at first but slowly began to grow louder. A constant groaning that echoed up like a chorus growing in strength. One by one they realized the source of it and took a step away from the lip of the cliff.
“Are those zombies?” Vincent asked.
“What the fuck?” Scorpio mumbled.
“It’s like they’re a moat,” Penny noted. “And so many.”
“Did you see how they’re dressed?” Ryza asked and Ryze nodded.
“Like we said,” Vayne folded their arms. “Pride has consolidated her forces. Turned those still loyal to her into a measurable fighting force. We’d be surprised if anyone that wasn’t one of the seven is still alive. Relatively speaking.”
“The important question is how are we getting across?” Benidict pointed to the other side. “None of us can fly I assume.”
Virgo raised her hand and Scorpio grabbed her wrist lowering it, “But I can Stingie.”
“Not for extended periods. And definitely not this many people at once.”
Penny stared at their hands, “Potentially we could. But it wouldn’t be guaranteed. Or easy.”
“We don’t have many choices,” Morrigan said and looked at the castle. “We need to get across. Take us in groups of two. Rotate between you. We’ll keep watch and do our best to prevent shit from going wrong in the meantime. Is that enough?”
“Yes,” Penny said simply.
Virgo nodded and Scorpio stood beside her uneasy but also nodded. Virgo walked to Penny’s side and waved at them smiling brightly. Penny blinked slowly but waved back. Virgo’s glowing eyes stared at them and Penny wasn’t sure how they felt about that gaze. A weight to it that could see through them.
Virgo down away and floated off the ground as easy as breathing. Penny watched her and blinked slowly and began to ascend spreading their hands. As they both floated, they looked toward their party. “I can carry two people without effort,” Virgo said.
“As can we,” Penny agreed. “Who’s first?”
“Ryza and Ryze,” Morrigan said quickly. “We need you both on the other side. You know the lay of the land. Benidict and Alistair as well. They’ll need protection in case something dangerous is on the other side.”
“Mori. Are you sure?” Alistair asked. But he laughed to himself and shook his head. “Of course you are. We’ll see you on the other side.”
“Don’t go finding a fight before we leave,” Benidict said winking at her.
She smiled watching them go but it did falter as she watched them be picked up by Penny. Levitated off the ground by a pair of invisible hands. Virgo did the same for Ryze and Ryza and Ryza looked around curiously never having gone through something like this before. And then they were moving.
There was a level of uncomfortableness being out of control that Alistair had forgotten he disliked that was reawakened with this crossing. To fight the feeling he cast his eyes toward the empty space and he could make out the faces of the zombies, some covered with hoods, or were shredded away revealing decaying flesh or full on skeletons. They didn’t truly pay attention to them, but some eyes did follow them before losing interest.
It only took a few minutes but once they landed Alistair collapsed to the ground his legs not functioning properly. Getting his bearings again with the help of Benidict he stood again. They stared at the castle that had gotten closer, its presence looming over them.
“Well we’re over here now,” Ryza said. “That was fascinating. I need to do that again. You. Virgo was it. We’ll have to do this again.”
“Oh? Maybe. I think that would be fine,” Virgo said not expecting the request.
“Ignore my sister,” Ryze pointed his shovel across the gap. “Get the next group. We need to move quickly before we attract any attention.”
“Right!” Virgo looked at Penny and the demon nodded. They both turned and jumped, flying across in a few long seconds. They landed together and Morrigan nodded quickly looking over who was still with them.
“Scorpio and Vayne with Virgo. Penny take Orion and Cancer.”
“Sorry but I’d rather stay with my brother,” Cancer said and put a hand on Gemini’s shoulder.
Gemini glanced at him and shook his head, “Go. If Morrigan says go I can handle it.”
“No it’s fine,” Morrigan said quickly. “You two are better together. You should be moved together. Troupe Master. Take his place.”
The Harlequin looked at her and then bowed his head deeply walking toward them. Virgo smiled at Scorpio and took her hand in her own. The six of them were lifted off the ground and they floated backward and then flew across.
Once they took off the ground to shake violently like an earthquake. After the first one, there was another just as strong and those who hadn’t fallen over the first time went down to their knees. “What the hell is that?” Gemini shouted.
“Not what. Who,” Cancer grit his teeth together as he stood up.
The four of them watched a shape running toward them, every step sending minor aftershocks their way. They had their head down and arms spread. Their hands started to glow and suddenly their entire upper body was engulfed in flames.
Morrigan drew her katana slowly as her blood flew over the blade, “Who the hell is that?”
Cancer and Gemini both drew their weapons and stood on either side of Morrigan as the Harlequin drew her long knife. “That’s Wrath,” Cancer said shaking his head. “We fought him at the Sanctum.”
“You mean Vayne fought him and we got crapped on,” Gemini said almost taking a step back but ground his foot into the dirt.
“We did but that was before,” Cancer took a step forward and crouched feeling his power welling inside him and focusing it at the tip of his katar. Before he could fire Wrath leaped into the air glowing like a comet in the sky. They jumped away as he crashed and exploded blowing them backward.
Wrath stood up and scowled at the four of them. “Pride said we might have some rats to deal with. Looks like she was right.” He turned and looked over the ravine and narrowed his eyes. He could just barely make out the group on the other side and Virgo and Penny flying back. “And there’s more of them.”
Morrigan ran at him and he turned to face her blocking her swing on his arm. But the bloody katana dug deep and he had to step aside or risk getting it cut off. She was quick in her step, turning to face him and swinging again. He ducked and caught Morrigan’s leg as she went to kick him. His fist connected with her stomach and an explosion of fire sent her flying back.
The twins appeared on either side of him slashing with their weapons. He blocked Cancer’s katar and caught Gemini’s sword jumping and kicking them both backward. But as he came down the Harlequin appeared at his back and the knife sliced it open with a quick cut. He shouted flames leaping up around him but the assassin had already put distance between them.
Morrigan was quick to start her attack again gripping the sword with both hands. Wrath turned onto her and rather than block or dodge met her sword with his fist. Each collision had a fiery explosion behind it that sent Morrigan sliding backward but she was ready to press her attack immediately.
She lunged feinting a swing into a slide. Wrath’s fist hit air and he looked down but not fast enough as Morrigan swung her sword and found the blow she’d inflicted earlier. Her katana sank into the wound and ate through his arm cutting it clean off. Rolling past him she smirked.
Wrath stared at the stump of his arm and turned pointing it at her. Fire leaped from it like a flame thrower engulfing her. But as the flames subsided a shield of water evaporated and Cancer panted standing over her. “Good timing,” Morrigan said to him.
Ice raced across the ground and Wrath jumped away. Another shard of ice appeared and skewered his stomach pinning him to the ground. Penny floated forward moving their hands ready to conjure another attack when Cancer shouted, “No! Get out of here. We have to stop Pride. Take Morrigan and the Harlequin. Me and my brother can handle this.”
“What? No!” Virgo shouted stumbling forward. “We’re not going to leave you behind!”
“We don’t have the time to waste all fighting this one,” Cancer said quickly. “There’s six more of them including Pride. Don’t get bogged down here!”
“Like he said, we can handle this,” Gemini shouted.
Morrigan looked at the pair of them quickly but finally nodded her head, “I dare say you two can. They’re right. We need to move. Harlequin with me. Virgo, Penny let’s go!”
Virgo looked ready to protest when both Gemini and Cancer looked at her. “Don’t worry princess,” Gemini said. “We’ll all be going home after this.”
She finally nodded and turned her glowing eyes onto the Harlequin as Penny picked up Morrigan. An explosion snatched the twin’s attention as Wrath got back to his feet glowing brighter than ever.
“You sure about this one. This sounds like one of my crazy ideas,” Gemini whispered at his brother.
“Maybe you’re rubbing off on me.”
First Wrath picked up his severed arm and twisted it back into place before leaping after their flying companions. “Where do you think you’re going?!” Gemini rushed after him as small platforms of water appeared under his feet. Ascending quickly, he jumped off one and spun, both swords cutting across Wrath’s chest, kicking him back to their side of the ravine.
Wrath crashed down and Gemini slid to halt pointing both swords at the necromancer. Cancer pointed his katars and fired two water bullets into the legs of Wrath dropping him down again. “You’re dealing with us,” Cancer said walking over to him.
Smoke streamed out of Wraths mouth as he looked at the pair of them, “You two think you can stop me? Especially after the last time I nearly killed you?”
“Oh, it won’t just be the two of us,” Gemini said spinning his swords and separating as Umbra and Luce took of their positions. “You’re going to be fighting the three of us. And trust me when we say, it’s not going to be like the last time.”
Wrath stomped his feet against the ground and squared his shoulders. The flames on his skin burned bright before settling to something that loosely resembled a regular person’s upper body. He growled at the two of them, “Fine. I’ll just kill you two first.”
The Harlequin Library 