Necromancer

Chapter 5

Somehow what I thought was a normal human was a necromancer of great power. I heard crazed laughter as everyone stared at him with fear. “YOU CAN’T WIN, IM GOING TO TAKE YOU DOWN WITH ME! YOUR ALL GOING TO BURN!” raising his knife stabbed himself right in the chest. But instead of dying i saw something so horrible i couldn’t even dare to describe it. His chest expanded and out came through the wound a dark thick liquid. His body decomposed slowly, his eyes sunk into the back of his head. A bright red ball of energy glowed around him swirling violently. Everything around him caught fire, a deafening boom . I flew back landing with all the air sucked out of my lungs. My ears rang through the muffled screams. What is happening. to. me. The taste of blood ran through my mouth as I lose consciousness.  
I open my eyes to a stone cold ceiling staring back at me. Laying on the floor beside me is my burnt clothing. On the ground in just my underwear in a strange place. Great. I slowly realized this is not my attic but a prison cell. Okay this is not good. I gotta get out of here! A rush of blood went to my head and made me even dizzier. My memory flashed back to me. The man. He wasn’t a criminal but a necromancer. It all made sense why he stood a chance against all those guards. The magic he used was definitely necromancy. I saw the curse seal on his chest. Somehow he turned himself into a living bomb, must be a long lost technique. I wonder if master knew how to do that. I cursed myself thinking such awful things. “Get up” a fat man stood outside with cell keys in his hands. “Where are we going, on a vacation?” “Shut up our i’ll have your tongue cut out!” “Easy there, and what have I done wrong? there's somewhere I need to be right now.”  I stepped into the hall of the jail and saw what an awful place it is. “Your charge with the murder of Captain Stoddard and other innocent people. You make me sick.” “That can’t be what do you mean i didn’t kill anyone!?” His words hit me like a bad hangover, I was the only survivor, so they thought I killed them. A feeling of dread went through my body. This can’t be how did I survive? I’m as good as dead now.

    We traveled through the dark hall and up multiple flights of stone cold stairs. There was an ominous feeling that infected the jail. I couldn’t help but look into the cells and see criminals shackled to the walls. When we passed by they looked up with a glassy expressionless stare. This place gives me the creeps i’ll be glad just to see the sun again, even if my head is about to be chopped off. We finally came to a set of huge iron doors. The jailer fumbled with the keys before selecting the biggest one. He slowly opened the door as it creaked on its hinges. I was welcomed to a more comforting sight. A long hallway with red banners lined the walls. Suits of armor stood motionless seeming to wait for orders. I was in King Fredericks castle. “Follow behind me, and don’t even think about making sound.” I raised my finger to my lips, “quiet as a church mouse.” He glared at me with his pudgy face and turned around proceeding to walk forward. The castle was forebodingly quiet, I was expecting it to be bustling with city guards and laughter of nobles. But only the jangle of the jailers keys kept me from going insane. Guards lined the walls with full suits of armor and menacingly gleaming stalberds that haven’t seen bloodshed. We approached the end of the hall. The jailer spoke a few words to one of the guards as they opened the door. Inside i was greeted by a boom of laughter. I was in the dining hall from the looks of it. It was lit with chandeliers and two long wooden tables on each side of the large room. Noble men and women danced with mead sloshing in their cups. The  poor squire picked up the broken glasses of wine. “Dante, where is my golden chalice! I can’t have a party without a chalice!” a large man with a beard sat on the golden throne in the middle. Clearly past his prime he looked like a large baby throwing a fit. “You dolt i should have you thrown into the pig pen for losing it!” The squire stammered as he hastily bowed, “I’m i’m sorry your highness! I will find it right away!” Loud arguing went on for quite some time until he caught sight of us. The king glared at the jailer and me as he opened his mouth. “Moby what are you doing here and who is that skinny lad with you?” “Pardon your highness, but this is the man who killed Captain Stoddard and other of your guards.” He raised his brow in curiosity rather than anger. “Well well well is he now? Come here lad I want a word with you?” The smell of alcohol permeated through the hall. I can’t believe i’m going to die in a place like this. Maybe i could talk my way out of this heaven knows I have before. “Your highness i'm sorry to say this is all but a mista-” “SHUT UP, you speak when you are told imbecile.” The noble men and women looked upon me with disdain. They kept their noses high and were ready for me to die. “So your the man who killed Stoddard and my men ey? I’m surprised Stoddard would fall to the like of you?” The jailer spoke up sarcastically, “No he didn’t kill him he’s innocent” “HAHAHA” the king roared with laughter as he choked on his drink. “Innocent? We have proof from witnesses. You really think a lie could fool me?” “ I swear on my life i didn’t kill them! i was trying to protect your men. There was a dark skinned man who was also a necromancer there.” “What dark skinned man there is no evidence of his body?” “Suddenly the king's laughter turns to fear. “Did you say necromancer?” “Why yes i would know i’m also a necromancer.” shrieks of fear rang as the nobles backed away cautiously. Even the kings winced in retaliation and pointed accusingly. “I knew it! You were sent by the devil weren’t you? Come to take me a holy man from the throne!?”  Oh no I’d really done it now, I need to think of something quick before he send his cronies after me. “That's right I'm a necromancer and I could smite you right now!” Frederick shielded his face and begged for mercy “Please don't do this I have so much to live for? What do you want money? Women? Just take it take it all!” I wanted to burst into laughter but I managed to keep a straight face. “Listen here, all I want is your squire as a sacrifice.” Fear ran through the young squires eyes as Frederick didn't hesitate to give him up. “Granted he's yours now leave my castle!” I grabbed the squire and ran out into the hall. “Listen I'm not going to sacrifice you, just tell me where to get out of this place. The young boy mumbled still frightened and confused, “Okay just take a left.” I turned on my heel and sprinted down the hall. Surprisingly none of the guards tried to stop me. Everything was fine and dandy until I heard the cry of the king's voice. “You fools stop him! He's a necromancer kill him now!’ I was actually glad I had some sort of challenge now. “Ignis!” flame burst to life in the palm of my hand. I was ready to kill. I pointed my hand behind me and shot a huge flame that swallowed the hall. The fire was a raging river that swept the men away, there puny swords melted into puddles. The squires eyes widened in shock, he stopped in his tracks and looked in the flames. “Don't stop keep moving they will kill you too!” We went room to room trying to lose the massive trail of guards on our tail. I heard the angry cries as I bashed my way into the outside. The sunlight overloaded my senses and made me slow to a crawl. A sharp pain shot through my leg, I looked around to find an arrow lodged in my flesh. “Ahhhh!” The boy stopped running and looked back at me. We locked eyes for a moment, he resisted to move. “Just go!” I yelled through sharps pain aching my leg. Arrows whistled by as another hit me. “Ahhhh!” I collapsed on the ground and dared not to move. I knew what had to be done. An ultimate sacrifice. I grabbed the dagger from my belt and cut a small pentagram into my hand. The words of the forbidden spell came to my mind. I could almost feel them pulsating in my head. “Memento mori” Which meant remember death…  There was no turning back I had to face him again. I wasn't ready but I had to be.
Once again I closed my eyes and woke up panic started to take hold of me. Did they capture me? Or did I die? Then I remembered the eerie feeling that I felt once before. No this place is worse than death. Limbo, that is what this place is called. The thin line between life and death. I looked around and took in my surroundings. I was in a green grassy field and multiple flowers in pots stood in every nook and cranny. Why does this place look like a garden? This can't be the place. My surroundings we're  quiet almost serene. Something felt off. “ Child of death come forth.” A strong voice loud and clear echoed like a strange whisper.. It was almost if the voice was coming within my own head. I got to my feet and stepped towards the voice. A man of large stature in a cloak as black as midnight stood before me. The only thing visible we're his bony white hands which held a spade and a flower in the other. I managed to croak a response. “ Hello Mordem.” “You were a fool to come here, Your soul as already been frangmented twice you know.” “I know my Lord but the circumstances were dire.” He seethed a strange mocking laugh. “ That what you said last time.  Can't keep out of danger can you.” He strecthed forth a bony finger toward me. “ It will come with a price.” Mordem walked over to a empty pot and placed the flower in. Gently he padded the flower into the dark soil. “947th one today” Mordem strided calmy towards a dark pedaled rose. Somehow I knew it was connected to my soul. Slowly he plucked the flower and searing pain came from within me. As if my insides were melting. Ahhhhh! I collapsed to the ground in unbearable pain. Shaking uncontrollably seconds felt like hours passed by. Finally the pain slowly subsided. I got up from the ground shakily in cold sweat. “ Mordem ate the flower pedal behind his dark hood. “ He pointed to me again, next time it will be worse.” “Thank you Lord Mordem I am enternally grateful to you. “ Go now child and do my bidding. In the name of death.”  Everything around me started to disappear slowly like a thick mist . My eyes flung open and the yelling and pounding came into my ears. “Get the heretic! He's on the ground!”. The pain in my leg was gone and I jumped to my feet running as fast as possible to the gate. “ I can't believe it worked for the third time I thought. I guess my time wasn't up then. Looking around I saw the main entrance open. The servant boy must have escaped, good I thought. Arrows and spears stuck in the ground before me. Damn they don't give up do they. “ Impossible how is he running! We got him didn't we?”   I saw in the corner of my eye king Frederick standing on the balcony in a fit of rage. “ You simpletons! Close the gate he's getting away! Aggghhhh!!!”. A guard appeared near the gate and proceeded to close it. “Hahahaha you idiot necromancer! You will be burned at the stake and pay for your crimes. Hahahahaha!” Dang it how do I get past ? Stalling for a moment the guards behind me advanced weapons in hand. The gate slowly got smaller and smaller. I can't believe this is the end I thought. All of it for nothing.  Suddenly a tree in the courtyard burst into a flame sending embers flying. The guards stopped running and cautiously walked over the flames. Now's my chance. I sprinted towards the gate. I pointed my palm towards the guard closing the gate and yelled “Somnum!” The guard fell unconscious to the ground. “ How dare you defile the Kings sacred court! I will have you eaten alive, you hear me eaten!” I slid under the gate and kept running through the crowded of people that gathered around to see the commotion. Hey get him he's a necromancer!” He’ll kill us all!” The town men and women chased me through the streets throwing everything you could think of. Knives, buckets, pitchforks, bags of grain, even a child threw a doll. “ I'm not going to kill you I swear. Don't be foolish I mean you no harm. “ I'm not trusting a damn necromancer lies I tell you.”  The main wall was in sight I boundeed towards it as enemies came from every street. Ready for blood. A guard pointed his crossbow as I climbed the city wall. “Reflectant!” I screamed as the bolt flew back and hit the guard in the shoulder. My arms and legs ached as I got to the top. Adrenaline kept me from falling back to the ground. “ Now get out and stay out!” The town's people bellowed ferociously and threw rocks hitting me over the wall. “Ahhhhh” I managed to latch to the wall and slid down to the ground with a thud. Splinters dug deep into my hands I can't stop now. into the woods I ran not daring to look back.