Necromance Read online

  Okay, confession time… I lost my virginity at nineteen. Crazy, right? I was such a dork in high school. Not at all the confidant bitch I am now. I had horrible acne, I was in the band (school band, not some cool metal band) and no guy paid any attention to me.

  I’d met this guy at a party and he got me drunk and convinced me I was beautiful and he wanted to be my boyfriend. He never called me. I never saw him again, either.

  There were other people in the room, too.

  I looked around and saw the others, just like when it had originally happened. I guess it was happening again?

  My newest sister, Kayli, was sitting in the corner with a few other women. No one I knew or remembered. Had she really been in the room with me when I got my cherry popped?

  When Cheri lost her cherry.

  Kayli, who I guess was still Susan at this point, seemed to notice me for the first time.

  The guy was into his spiel about calling me and all of that bullshit.

  “Don’t worry about it. You were a lame fuck and I get off better doing it myself. Besides, the best thing you can do is never call or see me again. I don’t even know your name,” I said.

  His anger and confusion was adorable. In my memory, he was this super hot hunk of a guy who’d done me a favor and finally made me into a woman and on the right path to being sure of myself.

  In reality, he was a pimple-faced dork who was way too old to be at a party with a bunch of college-age chicks or younger. He was a scumbag and I’d fallen for his bullshit.

  “I’m Henry,” he said and smiled.

  “Excellent. I always wondered what your name was. I swore someday to find you again and thank you for helping me on my journey, but now I see you really had nothing to do with it. This few sticky seconds of my life meant nothing in the grand scheme of things.” I looked at his shrunken manhood and laughed. “It’s so small.”

  “Hey, fuck you,” Henry said. “You’re a crazy bitch, you know that?”

  I did know it. I’d always known it.

  Henry grabbed his clothes and left the room. No one seemed to care.

  My sister was still staring. I got dressed, amazed at how lame my clothing was at nineteen, and went over to her.

  “Kayli, we need to go,” I said.

  “Who’s Kayli? You have me confused with someone else. My name is Susan,” she said and snickered to her friends seated with her.

  Great. We’d been shot back into the past, or however that worked, but I knew who I really was. I still had all of my experiences and knowledge.

  My sister still thought she was Susan Wilson and this time was right here right now.

  Fuck. Now I knew why they’d given her a better deal than me.

  Because she wasn’t going to live happily ever after. She was going to be a pawn in all of this and she’d end up dead.

  Not only would I need to kill my father and battle all of my other sisters but now I had to protect this new sister, and do it in a body that was younger and in better shape but way more awkward to be in. Definitely not as pretty, either. I was still a couple of years away from working on a few things.

  “It’s time to go,” I said.

  “Go away, you whore. You just had sex with some older guy in front of everyone. It’s time for you to go,” Susan/Kayli said.

  Yeah, she was definitely my sister.

  I was about to either start an argument with Kayli or simply yank her by the hair out to my piece of shit car when the door burst open and two people I didn’t want to see right now came charging in.

  My twin, Krysti, and my younger sister Carli, were wielding swords and wide grins.

  They both nodded before raising their blades to kill me.

  Necromance 10: Eternal Damnation

  “Kill me,” I said to my sisters Krysti and Carli. I crossed my arms and frowned. “It won’t help, you know.”

  Krysti, my twin, shook her head and kept the blade raised in her hands. “Nice try. You’re not going to talk us out of taking you out so father can take over. We’ll be his new Council for The Cauldron.”

  I laughed, very loudly and very dramatically.

  Everyone in the room scattered and I was glad my sisters didn’t try to take a hostage or kill someone on their way out the door.

  Kayli, our other sister, tried to dodge past Carli.

  “Nice try, Kayli. Have a seat. We’ll deal with you next,” Carli said.

  “There’s been a mistake. My name is Susan. I came to this stupid party because my friend said it would be fun.” She glanced at me and sucked her teeth. “All we saw was a whore having sex with some loser. Gross.”

  I knew her life was in trouble but I really wanted someone to cut off her head right now. Ungrateful bitch didn’t know what trouble she was in. The fact I was her only ally in the room was obviously lost on her, too.

  “Look, I don’t want to hurt you two. We’re family, right? Let us go and we’ll meet up again after I kill father and everything is put back in its place. You have no idea what power the bastard is holding in his hands. He doesn’t want to rule. He wants to destroy,” I said.

  “He can do anything he wants as long as we come along for the ride,” Carli said. I knew she was going to be the tougher of the two to convince. I could see the look in her eyes and it was like staring at our father. She was completely wrapped up in whatever bullshit he was selling.

  “You don’t seem to get the most interesting fact: once he takes control, he’ll simply use the combined power to destroy the world. That’s his goal. Not to rule. To wipe out everything. He seems to think he’s going to be spared so he can create a new man in his own image. Quite frankly, our father isn’t the best-looking guy to form a new race from.”

  “You can make all the dumb jokes you want but it won’t save your ass,” Krysti said.

  I turned sideways and looked at my ass, which was impressive. I gave it a slap and smiled. “My ass is worth saving, unlike you, twin sis, who, based on how fat your ass is, seems to have found you can’t stop eating M&M’s.”

  I knew it would piss her off because, if she’d said it, I would’ve lost it, too.

  When my twin came at me, sword swinging in anger, I was able to drop to my knees, punch her in the gut (which was bigger than mine… just saying) and catch the sword as she stumbled past me.

  I could’ve easily hamstrung her but I didn’t. I was still hoping we could all be friends again. Go to the mall and try on cute dresses. Do each other’s hair before the prom.

  “This is insane. I’m getting the police,” Kayli/Susan said. She stood and Carli put the tip of the sword just touching her throat.

  Kayli wisely sat back down.

  “If you bring the police, we’ll have to kill them all. Do you want that blood on your hands, sister?” Carli asked.

  “I’m not your sister. I don’t know who you all are but I need to get home.”

  I sighed. It would take too long to explain everything to Kayli so she’d understand and I didn’t have the luxury with my two other sisters about to skewer us to please our father.

  “Let her go. We can settle this once and for all.” I knew they wouldn’t go for it but I needed to create a distraction and I had no idea what it would be. Yes, I was stalling.

  “No,” both sisters said together.

  Poor Susan looked so confused. She slumped down onto the couch and covered her face. I felt sorry for her. Over the years, I’d gotten quite jaded when dealing with people. I saw the worst in everyone and responded in kind.

  Maybe, if I got through this, I’d turn over a new leaf. Start to become a better person. The woman I should’ve become.

  Of course, if I got through this, it would mean eternal damnation in Hell, so I guess I didn’t need to worry about it.

  I also didn’t need to worry about gaining weight since I was doomed. Now I prayed, when I got past this final battle, I’d have enough time for a few cheeseburgers and a buffet or two. I’d even try to find that delicious
pork roll sandwich I’d tried in Newark.

  “You need to step outside or we’ll destroy this house and everyone in it,” my twin said.

  I shrugged. “I don’t care who you kill.”

  I could see this confused my sisters, which made me smile.

  “This is all an illusion. Something pulled from my mind. Maybe by father. Maybe by my powerful allies.” I paused to let that sink in.

  No one commented but I could see a shift in stances.

  It was an illusion because the room around us began to blur before blinking out of existence, leaving us on a plateau overlooking the ocean. It was quite beautiful. A spot I knew from my childhood. We’d all grown up nearby.

  I knew it was another illusion created by our father.

  I wondered if it had always been just an illusion. What if he’d been manipulating us from the beginning to get to this very spot, this very battle, for his own dark purposes?

  We were nothing but pawns in his plans. We were too stupid to realize it, too.

  “I’m begging you all to take a step back and think about what’s happening,” I said.

  All five sisters were here with me and they spread out, all eyes on me in the middle.

  Kari and Chassi, my other two sisters, had appeared to join in the fight. I didn’t know either of them too well. They were both older than I was and had already been gone from the house when I began my training.

  They looked like two bitches, too.

  “Glad to see this family reunion is getting bigger. Do we have any other sisters we’re waiting on or should we start passing out Christmas gifts? I miss these family gatherings. Now all we need is our father to make it even more special,” I said.

  I spun around and smiled. “Where is dear old daddy, anyway? He should really be here to join in. Don’t you think?”

  Yes, I was stalling. I needed time to think. Time to formulate a real plan.

  My sisters were surrounding me now. Even Kayli. I needed to do something. There was no way I could fight all of them, but, if I could get one or two back on my side, I knew I’d have a fighting chance.

  “I know for a fact at least two of you agree with my stance. Don’t you see what father is doing? He’s manipulating all of us. Pitting one against another so we don’t have a unified front against the evil he’s about to commit,” I said.

  If I could only get through to one of them, maybe I could make another and another see I was right.

  None of my sisters seemed interested.

  “Kayli… Susan… surely you don’t believe any of this shit, right? You know the only person who can get you home is me. These women could care less about you. In fact, in case you haven’t picked up on their vibe, you’re quite expendable. Fuck, girl, you might even be a sacrifice. Come with me and we’ll get away. I promise to protect you,” I said.

  Kayli shook her head and put hands on hips. “It’s all coming back to me now. The training. The sisters. Not you, though. You were never there for me. They were. Helping me get through life. Watching as I overcame every obstacle. My sisters helped me. Not you.”

  “That’s not true. They manipulated you. Used you as a future weapon. Our father doesn’t love any of us,” I said.

  Krysti smirked. “Is that what this is all about? Poor little Cheri didn’t get enough hugs from daddy?”

  “Actually, he never hugged me at all. None of us ever got a hug from the bastard.”

  “No… instead he gave us powers no mere mortal could ever comprehend. He allowed us our freedom to do whatever we wanted and gave us the skills to be far superior to anyone else on this planet,” Chassi said.

  “Together we can defeat him,” I said.

  “Without him we are nothing. You still don’t get it, do you?” my twin asked.

  “I guess I never will,” I said and got ready to see what actual powers the denizens of Hell had gifted me for this battle.

  “Enough of this chit-chat. I raised you all better than that,” my father said from the edge of the cliff, his voice echoing and drowning out the crashing waves below.

  The fucker was smiling.

  This was it. The final showdown.

  I hoped I’d get out alive.

  As my father stood safely back with a grin on his face, my sisters surrounded me.

  All five sisters.

  They’d made the choice not to go against the power of my father. They’d rather take the easy way out and see what happened later, even the ones I thought I could trust to help me.

  Bitches.

  I knew it was pointless but I had to give it one last try to convince one or all of them of the error of their ways.

  “He’s going to kill all of us if I don’t kill him. Can’t you see that? He’s using all of you. It’s been his plan all along. No wonder he kills our brothers as soon as they’re born. He can’t stand the thought of someone challenging him. He thought girls wouldn’t do that but I did,” I said. “Now it’s your turn to do the right thing.”

  All five sisters looked back and forth at one another. I held my breath, waiting for the first one to step into the circle and tell me they’d seen the light. They were going to change their ways and fight for the common good and against the enemy, our father.

  When they all began to laugh, I knew I was screwed.

  “Do you really think a dumb fucking speech will sway us from what we have to do?” Krysti asked. She spun her sword in her hand. “I wonder if I’ll feel anything when I stab you through the heart. They say twins are connected but I’ve never felt it, sis. Not once. You’re a total stranger to me. To all of us. You think you can waltz in and strike a deal, even though father has been taking care of us all these years. While you ran around the country trying to kill us.”

  “He’s been using you,” I said. “His ultimate goal is control of the Council. Once he has it, he won’t need you anymore.”

  “You keep saying the same things over and over,” Kari said. “I think we’re done talking.”

  I was hoping my father would intervene. I didn’t think he’d show mercy or not try to kill me, but I at least thought he’d have something to say before they attacked me.

  No such luck. The smug bastard stood a safe distance away and watched the action like he was at a boxing match.

  Which is what it turned into as Krysti took a swing at me. Not with her sword but with a fist. That was odd but I didn’t have time to really dwell on it, as my other sisters decided to use their fists as they moved in to strike.

  I had no qualms about using weapons on them, and, as Kari moved in with a punch and her sword arm back, I tried to tackle her. The goal was to wrestle it from her and either force them to rethink their strategy of subduing me or die trying.

  She swung again in the space between us but didn’t connect. I knew with my momentum she could’ve skewered me like a shish kabob.

  At this point, my five sisters were firmly between me and my father, who I needed to kill to save the world. It was that simple.

  I took a kick to the small of my back and that didn’t feel good. By the time I swung around, whoever it was had skipped to the left or right and didn’t present me with a target.

  “Fight me like men, er, women,” I shouted. “Either try to stop me or get the fuck out of my way.”

  I stared at my father, who was enjoying the show. He’d set us all up. I knew he didn’t care if I killed any of my sisters because he had no care except for himself.

  He was pure evil.

  I saw someone attack from the corner of my eye and turned with a punch, which connected to the face of Chassi. Bitch went down like a sack of potatoes.

  “Who’s next?’ I shouted and spun on my heels just as Carli drove a shoulder into my side and flipped me onto my back.

  I was able to kick my left foot to keep Kari and Krysti at bay as I rose back to my feet, but I knew it was only a matter of time before one of them got in a good shot and put me down for good.

  There was no way I could s
tand my ground for long against my sisters, who’d been trained tougher and longer than I had by our father.

  “How about we do this one on one, dad? Leave my sisters out of it. I’d feel horrible if I had to hurt one or all of them. What do you say?”

  The bastard didn’t even raise an eyebrow, completely ignoring me.

  “Stop trying to talk your way out of what you know is coming,” Krysti said. She dropped her sword behind her. “I know father wants us to cut you into little pieces but I’d like to kick your ass first.” She turned slightly to look at our father.

  “You were always such a little pet,” I said and charged her. If I could drop my twin before anyone else could get a beat on me, I might be able to break free of this circle and make a play towards the sonofabitch who was playing puppet master.

  I struck her high and hard with a forearm, catching her across the bridge of her nose and running roughshod over her body as she fell.

  It felt good, after all these years, to hurt her.

  Now to hurt him…

  I fell, face-first, to the ground, my arms stopping me from shattering my nose or gorgeous face.

  As I twisted, trying to get out of someone’s grip, I felt a body fall onto my stomach and knock the wind out of me.

  Only one of my legs was pinned and I used my free foot to kick Kayli in the face. She’d tackled me. As she struggled to keep her grip, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the girl, who hadn’t even known about her dark past up until recently.

  I didn’t feel bad enough not to kick her in the mouth twice, though.

  “Kill her. Now,” my father shouted.

  At least he was finally paying attention to me. He’d never bothered coming to my dance recitals or little league games or my graduation.

  Maybe I’d never done any of that as a kid, but still…

  “Get off me. Let me at least see if I can hurt him,” I yelled.

  Another sister dropped her ass onto my torso. My ass was smaller and not flabby. I considered it a very shallow win, especially since my time seemed numbered.

  Chassi fell down next to my face with a grin and a punch to my jaw which hurt like Hell. She grabbed my hair in her fingers and yanked my head and neck in directions they weren’t supposed to go in.