P.I.E.: A Nymphic Faerietale

Chapter 22

Jimmy was sick of surprises, and he hated having another thing to deal with. A lampad, huh? Figures. He was destined to never catch a break. However, something hit him. If he perfected his newly found power, then maybe he could kill his victims more efficiently? Not a chance. Jimmy couldn't fathom killing someone without an excessive amount of blood. It was the sight of the redness, the feeling of his victim's blood running down his arms that made the murder worthwhile. But maybe he could ask Carlisle what he could do with his lampad powers? Maybe that would give him some insight?

He waited until Ghost was ready to do nothing but laze around, and then took control. He found himself doing this a lot more often recently, as life had finally gotten interesting enough to at least put the thought of trying to commit suicide again on the back burner. Not that watching Ghost and Toast fight ghosts was boring, it just got old when the hauntings turned out to be the same few entities over and over again. Occasionally there would be someone different, but usually it was Maxwell and Aimee trying to get P.I.E.'s attention.

Jimmy found himself in the recliner in the living room where Ghost was, and decided to find Carlisle. Carlisle was sitting under the magnolia tree outside, watching the occasional wildlife when they crossed her path. The sun hit her face, making it glow in a faint light. Jimmy found himself staring, and cursed himself for acting like that. Unfortunately, Carlisle had already seen him.

"Oh, you!" Carlisle giggled. "I kinda figured you'd want to find me, but not really like that!"

"Well," Jimmy stammered. "Staring wasn't my intention."

"Oh? Then why did you seek me out, Slim Jim?"

Slim Jim. That nickname made Jimmy cringe like there was no tomorrow. "Dear God, do NOT call me that, EVER!"

Carlisle began laughing, and Jimmy realized, she was trying to find the joy in the moment, and ignoring the obvious awkwardness that had just ensued.

"I couldn't help it!" Carlisle continued. "But it works! Your name is Jimmy, and you aren't the meaty-est thing in the world!"

"Well, I guess you're right about that..." Jimmy blushed, slightly embarrassed. He felt different, though. Normally, when he was embarrassed, he would get mad. But this time, he didn't. Did he feel something in Carlisle that made his instinct change somehow?

"So, what's up?" Carlisle asked.

"Well, I was thinking about how you, Mereda, and Sarah already have almost complete control over your nymphic powers, and I was going to ask if you could help me with that," Jimmy told her.

"And then go out with these powers and start murdering people in so many different ways?" Carlisle pressed. Was she mad at him? "Hell yeah!" Apparently not.

Jimmy was taken back by her positive reaction. She approved of his actions? Was she insane in her own way? Jimmy decided not to ask.

"Thanks..."

After some time of releasing power and grabbing hold of it again, Jimmy finally felt comfortable using his lampad abilities. He was finally bending shadows to his will, and not feeling like they were controlling him.

Of course, Ghost had been watching the whole time, and had become impressed with Jimmy's progress. Then Jimmy began to wonder, if he could use these powers, then could Ghost use them too? So, they decided to experiment.

Ghost took control, and, using the same techniques as Jimmy, began releasing the same energy, but not quite to the same extent. Carlisle explained that this was because the source of power, the "soul shard", belonged to Jimmy, and therefore was only able to be used by Ghost in a very minimal fashion. This was very interesting, and Ghost found it not just fascinating, but amusing. It seemed he and Jimmy were closer than they had originally thought.