Necromancer

Chapter 22

I nervously got to the entrance of the strange undead city. Its gated entrance unwelcoming and ominous. I inched closer as a loud voice rang out, "Stop right there!" I stopped on the ashy ground and held my hands up. "I just came from the lower level." I looked at the female guard peering down at me on top of the wall. "We know, where your ticket?" I opened the satchel and retrieved the golden ticket Thing 9 had given me. "Put it in the slot and be quick about it!" I saw the small slot between the giant steel doors. I inserted the ticket and it disappeared from view. Seconds went by and the door began creaking open. I walked inside and was greeted by more gaurds. They were covered in full black armor and had giant claymore at there sides. There helmets shielded there faces from view. "Welcome lost soul, enjoy your stay at the upper level. I walked past the gaurds making sure not to make any sudden movements. The city felt alive even though it was filled with the dead shuffling along. Some of them didnt even look dead at all, until you looked at there lifeless eyes that sunk back into there skull. I made my way through the streets of this strange city. I looked down at the crumpled piece of paper in my hand. Somewhere in this giant city was this obscure bar. It was like finding a needle in a haystack. I felt a pit in my stomach as I walked by the dead; I'm gonna have to ask for directions. "Excuse me can you help me find this place." I lifted the paper to the face of the portly man. He said nothing as he stared at the paper. Drool seeped down the side of his mouth as he gurgled incoherently. Crap I never learned zombie speak! I went away in embarrassment pretending it never happened. Well how hard can it be to find this stupid place. I swept the black hair out of my face and kept walking scanning each building I went by. Most were in shacks were in shambles. This must be where peasants live. The street began to branch off into many narrow paths I took a wild guess and went off to the right. This way doesn't look to scary. I tried to avoid looking anyone in the eye as I walked past. There deep sunken eyes creeped into your soul as you peered into them. I looked at each building as I walked by. The buildings slower started to get more fancier and more extravagant as I walked by. I couldn't believe how many souls lived in this city. The streets were filled with the dead strolling by. And they city seemed to keep on going. I looked up towards the sky and saw the great big glowing castle that glowed a blood red. Even through the hazy green smoke you could see its magnificence. I looked on the left side of the street as something caught my view. A young undead boy was leaning on the side of his newsstand. He held a pipe in his mouth, but looked to only be about 12 years old.. The grey smoke went straight out of the gaping hole in his chest. My legs seemed to gravitate towards the young fellow. He probably knows where this stupid bar is. "Hello there! Can you could tell me where this place is?" I held the crumpled paper up but the boy inhaled a long deep breath into his pipe. "You gonna buy a newspaper or what?" "I just need directions to find this Marza Franco Bar." The boy had a annoyed expression on his face, "Do I look like a map? Now get lost or buy a paper you bum!" "I'll buy one of your damn papers if you tell me where this is it's very important that I get there." The boy sat down behind the stand and propped his feet up. He casually opened a newspaper blocking his face from view. "Buy a newspaper first then I'll talk." I cursed under my breath as I stomped away. "Stupid kid how the heck I'm I suppose to get money around here!"  I looked at each soul that walked by. Some were young and some were old. About a block away I heard howling laughter coming from a shady looking bar.  I looked at the rusty sign above that read: "Marza Franco's  Gentlemans Club" The entire building was small and completely back almost like it blended into the darkness. Rusty bars were on the only window on the outside. I hurried over and looked through, but saw it was completely dark. Crap they must not be opened, I stared at large iron door and knocked. A slit opened and a voice spoke. "Password?" I rolled my eyes not this again. "Listen I'm just coming here to find an old mans book he said he left it here. He's blind and has a scraggly beard. "Never heard of him now goodbye." Before I could protest the slit shut with a large clang. "I'm not leaving until you let me in! I'll do anything to get in I swear it. The slit opened again. The strange undead voice came from inside "Anything you say?" "Yes anything now let me in!" The door creaked opened on its hinges as I saw a strange looking skeleton man with a tophat. "Welcome I'm Marza Franco, pleased to meet you strange boy." For a dead person he was extremely well dressed. He wore fancy clothes and had a gold pocket watch which he used to check the time. "Oh my it's already time to start hurry boy hurry!" I stepped inside and was greeted by a whiff of liquor and cigar smoke. I covered my nose as we made our way to the back. Ornate tables were spread out all over the place. The bar sat near the left wall. A horrifying man with tentacles for a face poured fine wine into fancy looking cups. His slimy tentacles seemed to each have a mind of there own as they did different things. A wrinkled old woman sat near the bar with a giant cigar in her mouth. The smoke curled to the upwards where crystal chandeliers hung from the rafters. "Ahh yes isn't the place beautiful. It's been in the family for over 5,000 years. I looked at the strange walking skeleton. "You've been here for 5,000 years?" He let out a chuckle as he walked with his  diamond studded cane. "Of course not boy how old do you think I am! I'm only 672!" "My apologies sir Franco." We weaved between the tables I tried not to make eye contact with the guests. "No need to apologize here my boy only a cold dead heart will get you far here!" We made it all the way to the back and in the corner. 3 strange figures were playing poker. The ash tray in the middle was already overflowing. A raspy voice spoke up. "So this is the kid you were talking about Franky, doesn't look like much." The man who spoke had a  jet black fedora on. He was fat and had a chubby round face. He had a piping hot cigar hanging out of his mouth. He studied me with his cold dark eyes.  Franco spoke up, "Yes but he has much to lose, Saggitaruis left his book. You know what will happen if he fails don't  you?" "The chubby faced man grinned, "Oh yes I know very well." He stared over at me, "You gonna play or what kid?" I breathed in heavily, "I'll play."