Necromancer For Hire- Arc 5

Arc 5, Chapter 27

The Freedom

Celeste stood in the midst of wide, rolling field, her fists balled tightly. Two guards, Luna and Stella, flanked her, weapons drawn.

Luna was a muscular, broadshouldered woman with fiery eyes and armor cloaking her burly form. Stella was slimmer, but just as imposing and threatening. Both spirits carried large spears, their pointed tips glimmering with magical enhancement.

A portal ripped through the air, spitting out Victor, Esper, and Seraph. Victor rose unsteadily, holding onto Seraph’s arm. Esper placed himself in in front of the two children.

Standing on opposite sides of the plain, the six were locked in a cold glare, none of them daring to speak. Victor trembled in fear, his skin crawling from being so close to such powerful beings.

“Seraph Harmony,” boomed Celeste, shattering the silence, “This foolishness is wearing my patience thin. Come home now and cease your insubordination.”

Seraph gritted his teeth, eyes darting back and forth in desperation. “I…” his voice trailed off. Swallowing, his tone grew louder, “I will not.”

Celeste’s plump lips drew up in a snarl as her pupils turned to pinpricks. Her body remained still, but she was practically eminating rage.

“Seraph Harmony, you are my child, and you will follow my orders,” she hissed, taking an aggressive step forward.

“I cannot follow your orders anymore, Mother.” Seraph’s breathing was ragged, perspiration dripping down his face. “I want to be free!”

“Spirits were made to follow! There is no ‘freedom!’” Celeste barked, “You belong to me! I am your creator, child.”

“I want to stay with Victor!” Seraph declared, flapping his wings. His voice cracked with emotion, hand clenching tighter around Victor's arm. “I do not care what you say!”

Celeste’s composed expression suddenly faded, replaced with menacing anger. “No!” she screamed, “Do not speak to me in that way, brat!”

Eyes flashing with power, Celeste held out her palm, white magic swirling around her hand. Victor instinctively flinched, recognizing her magic.

Seraph suddenly gasped in shock, color draining from his face. Blazing runes circled around his body as his knees buckled, and Victor felt heat radiating off of him.

“She's trying to burn him out from the inside!” Esper shouted, his telepathic voice ringing in Victor's mind, “She's killing him!”

“I will create a new Seraph Harmony!” Celeste snarled, her back arching.

“No you won't!”

In the blink of an eye, a massive vine ripped from the earth, slicing through Celeste’s neck. Victor’s blood ran cold as her head rolled across the damp grass, inches away from Esper’s feet.

Esper had changed his form, now resembling Acidia. His peacock train was spread out in full view, a blood-splattered array of beautiful feathers. He flapped his wings in aggression, his teeth like fangs. Pink magic was crackling around his body.

White sparks flared around the stump of Celeste’s neck, her head reforming in layers of muscle, blood vessels, and skin. She heaved for breath as her healing magic finished its work, power practically bleeding from her pink eyes.

“I've wanted to do that for a long time, you witch,” Esper whispered, cracking his knuckles. “You may have ruined my life, but you're not touching a hair on these kids.”

Victor knelt down, supporting Seraph with his arm. Seraph’s breathing was shallow, and his head flopped weakly against him. He wasn't dead, but he was close to it.

“Alright, Acidia.” Celeste’s dark skin shimmered with sweat. “I will destroy you first, something I should have done years ago.”

“Get back,” Esper murmured, and Victor nodded in understanding. “This is going to be dangerous.”

The two spirits met in a clash of magic, vines and beams of light thrashing against each other. Esper was merciless, focusing on mutilating her body instead of deflecting her attacks. Celeste healed her injuries with ease, but it took valuable seconds that Esper took to lash out. However, when Celeste got the opportunity to strike, she struck hard, throwing Esper back with harsh spells and sending him rolling across the grass like a ragdoll.

“Luna, Stella,” Celeste ordered, turning her head to her guards, “Kill the children while I take care of this creature!”

Victor's heart dropped into the pit of his stomach as the guards flipped their attention to him. Blood pounded in his ears as he desperately shook Seraph, trying to rouse him. Luna and Stella bested him in weight, muscles, height, and magic. Not to mention the fact that they were armed. He didn't stand a chance.

Sitting on the grass, Victor felt the oncomings of a panic attack. Sheer terror blurred the edges of his vision, his breath becoming laboured.

He hated feeling so useless. He despised his own weakness. Without Seraph or his parents, he was defenseless.

Victor’s stomach twisted bitterly, realizations heavy on his mind. He had relied on Seraph so much. Seraph had put his life on the line so many times to protect him, to keep him safe.

It was time to return the favor.

Author's Note- i should say that "witch" is a pretty strong insult in the verse.

and thanks, really, for following this story so far. it means so much to me that im entertaining you guys,,,,,that's really all i want.

...think we can hit 300 votes by the end of this book?