Cars folded into the distance as they reached the peak of the hill, the light of the evening engulfing them. Nate had only stopped briefly to get everyone some food before hitting up the road once more. His teacher had slept through the whole thing, mindfully he ordered him something. He took the long sleep as a good sign since he could focus on driving.

  As if to spite his mood particles of light reformed in the seat next to him. Karah was wearing oddly bland clothes. A large oversized hoody which Nate had thought he’d left at the hospital, sweat pants, and no shoes. She went through the motion of buckling up but she probably wouldn’t get hurt even in an accident.

  They hadn’t spoken to one another since she told him about the pixies. The radio played as the silence drew long between the two of them. Karah fidgeted in her seat. Several times opening her mouth before shutting it again. Her indecision was working to draw his attention. If not unintentionally.

  “If there’s something you want to say then just do it. You're making it hard to focus on the road.”

  “Uh, um, I’m going to eat this burger.”

  Karah grabbed one of the bags and dug around inside. From the corner of Nate’s eye she looked like a raccoon trying to sneakily take some food for itself. He didn’t stop her as she began to eat aggressively. Silently he said a prayer for the burger, she ate it like it was her worst enemy. As she finished she rested her head on her knees.

  “HAAAA~ Nate I’m sorry.”

  The words came out muffled but Nate hadn’t suffered hearing loss. He heard her loud and clear. It must have been over what happened at the gas station. Nate had been waiting for her to broach the subject. The matter wasn’t one that should need a long talk but he knew she’d want one.

  Nate had learned with Karah that as action orientated as she was there was still a vulnerable person buried within. When it came to Nate it seemed to get far worse. She was at both extremes dominant and wanting him to dominate.

  “Don’t say you're sorry. You already did that.”

  “I know I’m sorry.” She sulked.

  “Why did you think I would get rid of you?”

  “I’m no better than any of the other spirits. I’m a monster, that means I’ll always be nothing more than your summon. Something to use. Just like that Scylla. I saw how it moved, It couldn’t even act without orders. Couldn’t think for itself. You could order me to do the same.”

  “And you think I would do that?”

  Karah reached over and grabbed him by the shirt collar. When she pulled they nearly swerved into the next lane. Nate had the feeling back for driving and was able to correct. She pulled him in close, her scent filled his nostrils unwillingly. Dark eyes searched his own though he couldn’t focus on the deep pools boring into his soul.

  “Karah, I’m going to crash.”

  “We’ll live.”

  After a long moment the car was driving smoothly forward with no problems. Nate hazarded a glance in her direction and she kissed him. It was different then other times she’d done so, in a word, desperate. He could feel her rummaging around in that kiss looking for a missing piece of herself. A piece that seemed to only lie within Nate.

  As they began to drift off course once more she pulled away. Her tongue licked at her lips which were pulled into a wide smile. Whatever part she was looking for, she had found. Karah’s body relaxed in the chair, fear and anxiety rolling off her.

  “We need to talk about your boundaries.”

  “Shut the fuck up lover. I know you wouldn’t think of me as some tool. It's just that Teachy got mad at me. I just worry what’s to become of us, not just us, but everything. Once that Necro is gone, and the Paladin. You're setting everything up for long term gains. Just like back then.”

  Nate drove in silence without answering for a bit. His own plans weren’t clear. If he survived this, then he could be a Necromancer. There was clearly a lot of money to be made. He could set up a better life for Teddy. The dangers were apparent but once they were eliminated there wouldn’t be as much a worry over.

  “I guess I’ll fulfill my end of the contracts and set up a shop or something. Start using my powers to make money. Worse ways to live.”

  “Back in the day, you were the one who spoke of the world ending. Lashing out at everything, but… But you were the one who worked for the future the most.”

  “You are right. I might act reckless but I do care about our future.”

  “Then you promise not to die?”

  “What do you mean? I haven't tried to die recently.” A teasing smile floated to his lips.

  “You could have summoned the damned wolf and sent her out to attack. The damage she receives heals in the spirit house. But your poppit died.”

  “That was unavoidable.”

  “Oh, then when we were fighting shotgun grandma did you have to risk your life to save the wolf? We could have tried to make a contract with grandma?”

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  “We both know that would have been a bad idea. What? Do you want me to sign a contract with the Necro once we kill him?”

  “Don’t joke, I'll grab you again. You aren’t like us, Lupita can come back. I can take a ton of damage, not sure on the whole coming back part, but I think you could do it. Only you can really die from something simple. A gun can kill you, a knife, or too much exertion."

  Nate paused his teasing smile falling away. He looked hard out the window. Karah watched his thrumming fingers against the steering wheel. Jaw clenching tight she really did reach over as if to grab him once more. Before she could pull them off the road once more he responded.

  “Stop. I know I’m weak. I have felt it since being placed in the hospital. It’s worse than even when you beat me in that fight. Muscles, flesh, and bone. That's what makes up my body. Finding it within myself to accept that my power is now using others is hard.”

  “Isn’t that what we did in the gang? I mean, I didn’t do it out of laziness. Killing people was a worry for me. It’s what made you so appealing not dying when I fought you.”

  Karah rested her hand on his shoulder. Gingerly she rubbed there, delicate fingers tracing down his arm. She thought it a pity he wasn’t like her. If he had been a monster, with a body like this he could crush even her family. Family popping up in her mind, she pushed it far away. She needed to focus on Nate, not her family drama.

  “It’s different. I held you back so you wouldn’t go ballistic, but all the other fights. I lead from the front. I am being made to take the back seat, I can help but not in the way I would want.”

  “You are already doing enough.”

  “I told myself I wouldn’t return to being a bad person. Yet, yet, It’s so close. I could just tip over and let it all out, do as I want. Teacher wants me to live with need, and I know I won’t do that. Karah, I’m going to become that man again, or worse.”

  “If you did, would it be so bad?”

  “You would say that. What was the initial request to take over the world?”

  “We can rework the contract if you want to change back.”

  “If I was to do that, what type of person would I be? Someone who just changes with the wind?”

  “I would call it honest.”

  “I can’t take over the world. That’s not something anyone man can do. I don’t want you to be right but I can feel the rush lately. My anger, rage, back where it should be. Pumping thick within my veins. My head feels cleared now.”

  Karah paused, for the first time she felt unsure over encouraging him. This was what she wanted, for him to fall into his old self. With just a little more effort he could slide back into a man meant to conquer the world. Even knowing that she couldn’t give that final push. It wouldn’t be him. Not the Nate she loved, he would need a different answer.

  “You don’t have to do that for me. Instead you should do like you have been. Controlling the anger, and let me be its outlet. I will take your anger and lay it down upon your enemies.”

  A hand reached out and brush a strand of hair from her face. Nate smiled at her from the corner of his eyes. He knew what she wanted but she’d placed him first. It warmed his heart.

  “I promise to let you be my weapon. I’ll fill my new role. About me becoming who I once was. I agree I can’t be. Instead I’ll become someone even more powerful. That way one day we can all live peacefully.”

  “Fine, but you better be careful, If you die you're dead.”

  Wayne was a mix of emotion, his student wasn’t a golem. He even had a woman that loved him. Was this really fair? He was young, but he’d been that age and made to fight. What right did he have to impose his own scars on the boy? Maybe being a proper teacher meant he needed to help him on his own path. If he survived maybe there was a better place for him to be sent to.

  ***

  Blood spread across the floor mingling with the limbs and bodies of the dead. The mayor writhed upon his back as adrenaline receded from his body. Large hunks of meat and muscle were hewn from his existence. Blood pulsed and squelched as it shot off into the air. With his thread bare body he lurched to his knees scraping bone against the concrete until at last he collapsed at his lord's feet.

  Red sticky blood dripped from the Necro’s face. He dabbed at the blood and rubbed it against his forefinger and thumb. A mere mortal had blemished his skin. Anger welled up within him and he gazed upon the bodies of the dead. Materials, that's what they were, high quality materials.

  “My lord. The pain I thought that I would not feel such things. Oh, lord above. If we had delayed even a week more then I might not yet live.”

  From the Mayor's bent and twisted arms two sickles of bone dug deep into the concrete. Wriggling about within the concrete as pain pulsed and radiated a deathly aura about his countenance. The lord lowered his hand to the man’s head patting it affectionately. He was to be a useful pawn, and now with the matter complicated, a useful bishop.

  The Necromancer clutched his bleeding cheek. Jeb’s body still lingered the most complete of those that were killed. How he had been able to wound his immortal flesh was baffling. His ear was ruined. The materials were adequate compensation. He let loose a single kick upon the corpse.

  “I, your lord, have blessed you. And so should you take a name befitting your condition. Rise Achilles. The hospital awaits.”

  He stood with a questioning look on his hook-nosed face. The flesh on his cheek was still full of holes making each word he said come out slurred. His left arm bent and reset with cracking and twistingly wet sounds.

  “My lord, what is this about the hospital?”

  “I meant to wait till after our meeting but time may be of the essence. That mouse has escaped, yes, I think I know which mouse she might be. If they warn the hospital what shall come of those who reside within? We no longer need the obscuration magic that I placed there.”

  “If the hospital is gone the parade may not come through. The danger.”

  “Worry not. We can count on those bastard Mancers. They won’t let such an important place for the civilians to come in harm's way. Once we have the corpses we will be one step away from our true goal.”

  “My lord with this immortal body I shall carry on your will from now until the end of days.”

  The mayor reveled in the knowledge he would soon live forever. His flesh might be unkillable but age was still a fear. Soon he would be free to always attend to the garden that would be Mawe. Further still he could take over this state, the country, and the world. Nothing would be out of his reach.

  With a swish of his robes the Necromancer turned away. The fool would follow anything he told him. Once he had those corpses it would just be a waiting game till he sacrificed the parade and this town would be done for. None shall live and he shall become a true god.

  Reaching out with one hand he pulled at invisible lines of energy. Corpses began to shuffle to and fro. Limbs clambered and locked together. Until a new monstrosity now formed, its oversized body undulating with the rage of the spirits trapped within.

  “From now on you may call me. Zeus. For I shall bring down the wicked titan and build the world anew just as I have done with these corpses.”

  “Yes, my lord Zeus. A world in your image.”