Necromancer For Hire- Arc 8

Arc 8, Chapter 40

The Demigod

Pilate collapsed to the ground, pain rushing through his entire body, emanating from his lower back. The concrete was cold against his face, but it did nothing to ease the fire that seemed to be blazing in his right eye.

He knew it was over. Several inches away, through his blurred vision, he saw Life stand up.

“Master Life,” Pilate sobbed, weakly reaching a hand out, snagging Life’s pants leg, “It hurts. What do I do? It hurts so bad. Make it stop hurting, please.”  

“I don't care, human,” Life growled, red eyes burning through his white hair. He seemed much larger at that angle, less inviting and more beastly.

“Master?” Pilate whispered, his voice hoarse, “What are you talking about?”

“There's no need to be nice to you anymore. The contract has been made. You're mine.”

Pilate slipped into hysterics, fat tears rolling down his cheeks with every labored breath he took. He clung to Life’s leg. “Master Life, please! I don't understand! I'm scared!”

Life slung him off his leg, letting Pilate crash into the ground. “Are you an idiot, Pilate? It was a lie. I needed you in my order, and now you're mine.” He leaned down, glaring at Pilate’s trembling form. “And a servant shouldn't touch his master so freely.”

“Boss,” a voice broke through the tension as a head poked through the door, “I just got a call. It's bad news.”

“Come to my office. We'll meet there,” Life said solemnly, stepping over Pilate without a hint of hesitation.

Pilate was alone.

Something cold and unforgiving strangled his chest, squeezing his heart and lungs.

It was a lie? All of it? Pilate couldn't breathe. This couldn't be happening.

He heard footsteps at the door. Was it Life? Had he come back for him? Pilate lifted his head, struggling to focus.

“I told you something was goin’ on,” Hawkins murmured. Beside him, Asher gritted his teeth.

Pilate drew his knees to his chest as Asher approached him, glaring down at him. “What did you do, brat?”

Pilate’s bangs grazed across his face, slipping behind his ear. Asher’s eyes widened, and he heard Hawkins gasp.

“His eye…” Hawkins breathed, hovering by the door.

Asher became enraged, driving his boot into Pilate’s ribcage. “Say something, brat! Tell me what you did!”

“I made…” Pilate choked, “I made a contract with Life…” The words felt like acid on his tongue. This was really happening.

Another kick. Pilate bit his lip, muffling a scream. “So this is what Boss was planning this entire time? To give you a jump in power?” Asher screeched, breathless, “I didn't give you permission for this!”

Pilate was thrown across the floor, to and from with the force of Asher’s blows. His head lolled passively, his eyes glazed over with pain.

Hawkins snatched Asher’s wrist, preventing him from striking Pilate once more. “Cut it out, Asher.”

“Don't you realize what Boss’s done?” Asher snapped, struggling to free himself from Hawkins’ grip.

“Hurting the kid isn't goin’ to change anything.”

Asher’s nostrils flared. “It's none of your business what I do to him!”

“I'm just sick and tired of watching you beat some helpless kid!”

Asher flashed a row of jagged teeth. “It's the circle of life, y’know. My daddy beat me, so I get to beat the brat. Doesn't that make sense, Hawkins?”

Asher drew back his other fist, slinging it at Hawkins. Hawkins caught it with ease, snapping his wrist.

Asher stumbled backwards, cradling his broken wrist. He dragged his eyes to Pilate, laying a hand on his belt. “I'm tired of this stupid kid. I don't need him. Life pays me three times as much as the freaking check I get for being a familiar.”

With a distinctive shlink of steel on leather, Asher drew his knife, grabbing Pilate by the arm and jerking him up. Hawkins moved to stop him, but not before he sunk the blade between Pilate’s ribs.

“If you like the kid so much, Hawkins, you can have his corpse.”

Author's Note- this story had gone far too long without Pilate Angst