Chapter Thirty Five: When An Immovable Force

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"Quite the day, huh?"

Getting up from the floor, I looked at Juhum with fear. The magi took out another piece of candy and began eating it. "Sometimes that's how it is. However, obviously something must have happened."

The vines were still on me. The blood too. My mind raced furiously.

I removed the vines, and Juhum stared at the blood with a smile. "I killed Vul."

"Ahhh, I see. She was supposed to get information from you, but Vul has never been good with instruction. No harm was supposed to be done. Obviously she didn't listen, and has paid the price."

"You work for the Sleeping Witch. You are bringing war. I will not be apart of this."

He smiled again. It was a dark, brooding smile. You know, I wasn't even sure what kind of magi he was. Dark, probably, or just cruel. The aura around him though screamed time to play.

"Come, let's sit on the couch. Relax a little. I'm just here to talk, eat some food, not do anything stupid. Maybe you'd like to change first?" He raised a brow. "Or not, if you're into blood now."

"I'll change."

This day was going from bad to worse, and odds are I'll be dead by nightfall. The meeting with Triton and Ditto was a clear omen of what's to come. Entering my room, I quickly threw on a clean set of clothes. Basically pajamas, because there is no point in looking nice. No point in trying. I paused, staring at myself in the mirror. My glasses were dirty. My face was smudged with grime. I managed to get the blood off, but I could still feel the warm liquid. It felt like a curse, pulsing on my skin, warping it cruelly. I swore my reflection twisted, shaping me into a monster. But maybe it was just my imagination.

Taking a deep breath, I moved away from the mirror. Leaving my bedroom, the dark magi sat there on my couch, once again watching the TV, however it was a local program and not the news. Juhum gave me a blank stare.

"Well, it's time to report."

"Report what?" I asked. Dear Kam, if I slip up too much, then the Rebels will die. The meeting, their location, what they know, all could go up in smoke in a manner of hours. How do I play this?

"You were seen with the Necromancer, going to Hij'Look. The Pillar wants to know what exactly when on there."

"I'm always seen with the Necromancer. That's not new information."

"But the Necromancer is working with the Rebels to bring down the Pillar. Why did you go see the Rebels."

Lie? Or tell the truth? Or steer the truth? Guide it? Nature is often hiding things in plain sight. Maybe it's time to... remind the powerful why nature endures.

I refused to look into his eyes. "He was there for the Rebels. However, they weren't there for the Pillar."

"No?" Juhum licked his lips. He popped into his mouth another candy, sucking on it loudly. I noticed a shape in his pants pocket. A weapon? He is dark, so unlikely. Maybe something a little more sinister. What is this man's magic?

"No. He was there, upset at them." That sounds plausible. He's upset at everyone. A very bitter man. Play on his obvious flaws. Restate the truth. "They stole something from him in their last encounter."

"Stole?"

"Yes, it was from the night of the warehouse fire. They stole one of his swords, and left him for dead." The smirk I gave was real. A nice touch, if I might add. "He was less upset about being left for dead, and more upset at the taking of his property."

Juhum soaked it in. Was it working? The lie? The truth? Should I continue to push it? Maybe something else could help add a nice--

Demons. Or creatures very similar started to swarm the room. I started to panic. Yelling, my feet got up on the couch and I began to summon power.

"Wouldn't do that if I were you."

"But demons--" That's when they shimmered, like a light flickering in the night. Their mutated, dark, slimy bodies then all shifted to harsh, angular, broken bodies. Fire flamed out of their mouths, but no heat followed. I saw no movement in their eyes. No life force. "Ah. Illusions."

"Oh, no, not illusions. Well." Juhum stood up. He gave a happy smile. "More like... extractions. Real, but just barely."

Extractions? Nothing comes to mind. I've never heard of that kind of magic.

Then it hit me. Years ago, there were rumors of a dark magic item being stolen from a vault of a rich manor. It was said to have the ability to harness false memories, then use them again, twisted, black, under the total control of a master.

"It's not your actual magic. An artifact stolen years ago from a manor."

"You are impressive, Ursula. What stayed out of the news that night, since the slaughter I inflicted was so great, was the artifact has origins with the necromancers."

Shit.

That means, whatever the magic, I was useless against it. There was no way of knowing what the tool could do without being told, and I'm guessing there's no way he'll tell me. It's probably the thing in his pocket, and I'll never get my hands on it. Plus I don't even know his actual magic.

"So let's be blunt. You seem to be at the center of this whole 'Ditto' thing. The Necromancer is no longer going to be studied or tracked. He is going to be killed. The Pillar has ordered it."

"Oh, so they get to decide who lives and dies?"

"Yes. They do. Now. Sit. Down."

I did, and he followed suit. The extractions stayed, but they were now grinning, dripping blood. Were they projections? Or simply weak solidified darkness? This is a gamble I can't gamble on. There are only wrong answers. Glancing at Jahum, it was hard to tell what he was thinking. Probably nothing.

"Why me? Why even bother with me?" I said, after a moment of silence. "Go after him yourself. Confront him yourself. The Pillar surely has the means. Why extract information from some no one?"

"Because in order to kill him, we need to know what makes him tick. Who else are we to ask?" He motioned to an extraction, and started to pet the cat like object. It gave me the shivers. "I'm sure you gave Vul vital info. But she's dead. Now how are we supposed to get what you told her?"

"The Pillar could just go after him with an army."

"Ah. Didn't you see what he did to the Golden General Jacro? He was our most powerful magi, our most powerful tool in the Pillar's arsenal. And the Necromancer ended his life like that." Jahum snapped for example. The snuffing of life. How plain. "How are we supposed to send an army against that?"

"Oh, I don't know," I said with as much sarcasm as possible. "By getting over a hundred thousand magi and throwing them against the man until he breaks! Are you joking? He's one man. One lone boy lost in this world. You dare compare his abilities to the collective of the magi?"

"Simple answer? Yes." Jahum let his pets dance around, making their mark in my home. "You want us to mobilize a whole army to hunt down one man? No. We're going to capture, torture, and kill him. Bringing an army to him is much too big a feat."

"But invading the Earth isn't?"

"Well," he said, smiling, "That's a different plan. I'm sure you're aware of how fucked the Earth is. Two whole continents are being destroyed by armies. They have to be put back in their places."

"There are six continents here. Why can't they lend an army or two?" Something wasn't right. What are they waiting for? Unless...

"Have the other armies been disbanded?"

Jahum paused, then gave me a dark look. "Perceptive. Yes, for the time being since the rebels are only here, we brought the armies here to focus on that."

He's lying. The Sleeping Witch doesn't want our armies ready. If they are, then they can stop her. Wait, if the magi are no longer together, then how are we supposed to stop her and her invasion? The Necromancer wants to take a city. To bring her forces here. The rebels won't be enough.

Oh no.

"When will he be back Ursula?"

"I don't know."

"You do."

"I don't."

He sighed. "Then I'll force the information out of you. Torture. Pain. Misery. Is that what you want?"

I shook my head.

"Then answer the question. When will he be back?"

Play the game Ursula. Play the game.

"In about a week. He's going to Uv'Ooni to meet up with the rebels." How much more truth should I tred on? I can't compromise their plan to take the city. But I can't lie and find myself in a trap that forces everything out of me. How do I camouflage everything at once?

"Uv'Ooni?" The dark magi considered the city for a moment. "Strange. It's a weak city, but of what value? There's nothing there but tourism."

"I hate to tell you this, but he doesn't tell me the important things."

"Then maybe a different approach is needed." Jahum cracked a few fingers. "Tell you what. I'll answer a question for a question."

"Any question for a question?"

He nodded. "Within reason."

Interesting. "Deal. The Pillar, what's the point of invading Earth?"

"Truth be told? The Pillar sees the Earth as starting to forget the power of the Light. It's time to put them back in their place." An extraction that looked like a screaming lady came up to me, it's saggy dark hair and dripping black goo all over the place. "Now, for my question. What is the Necromancer's most dangerous weapon?"

"Most dangerous?" I pondered for a moment, adjusting my glasses. Click. That's an interesting question. One that should be obvious to the Pillar. Unless they don't count intellect. They must not, or else he wouldn't have asked that. They want to know about something they can take, to make him weaker. But what is there? Think, think, think. "The sword. The purple one. It's name is Ever Heart. That sword in his hands makes him unstoppable."

"Ever Heart? Noted."

"Why are the Pillar so obsessed with him? The Necromancer can't be issue number one when there are demons, rebels, and other problems starting to rise."

"He needs to go because he represents the Pillars greatest failure: the total extinction of the necromancers. And now he's spitting in their face. Can you imagine? The guy defeated their greatest soldier, has survived this Layer longer than expected, and supposedly defeated a whole squad of elite magi. That's just one of them. We don't know if there are others out there. But if he falls, then who's left to defend the dark?"

Darkness. Somehow I think that's what we need right now.

"Next question. When will the Necromancer make a move against us?"

Huh. This requires thinking. Jahum said 'us'. Us, as in the Sleeping Witch, but for me to hear as the Pillar. I don't know about the Pillar. But to simply say, 'I don't know' will probably lead to me getting hurt. And I am in no condition to receive more damage. So what options are left? To say he's mobilizing against the invasion of Earth in three days would be suicidal. Every rebel and Ditto would die. To make up some incredible lie would mean I would surely die not much later.

However I can't sit here and go over my options for very long or he'll start getting suspicious. But what to say?! There are too many options. Too many ways for this to go wrong. Unless...

"Once he meets the rebels in Uv'Ooni, they plan on relocating to In'Op. They see the tactical advantage of having a large military base there they could use to move against the Pillar in the coming days. Please, that's all I know."

In'Op is the city with a large military base closest to Uv'Ooni. It would make sense that they would want to take that base. Lots of weapons, resources, and other goods needed to wage a war. It might be understaffed since the Pillar wants to march to Earth. There's even a chance they might draw troops out of the closer areas to Uv'Ooni to defend the base. A good chance? No. But a slight one.

"In'Op? Huh. Something will have to be done." Jahum took out a cell phone and typed something out real fast. His dark changing eyes focused on me. "So, what do you wish to ask next?"

Do I be bold? Do I dare push the envelope? I think I want to, even if I die. I'm tired of being pushed around, tired of fearing for my life. What has this world come to? All of this fighting, uncertainty, and death. The trees don't care about any of this. The plants, the flowers, the animals. Food, water, shelter, sunlight. The true needs of life. Power? Pointless. Ambition? Arbitrary. You need the substance of nature to make yourself right, feel whole.

I do not need fear. I do not need to play games that get me killed. If I die, I feed the earth, the grass, the trees, the air, the sky, everything. What, then, is the point of being afraid?

"Do they know the Necromancer is stronger than them?"

Dropped. Like a rock in a pond. The waves may hit my feet, but who cares! The world is too small, too large, too terrible to be left worrying about damp socks and shoes. Nothing is without sacrifice. The frog must eat the fly, the cat must eat the mouse, and the magi must eat the truth. We are but mere playthings to the Necromancer.

"Oh. So now we're being bold now are we?" Jahum laughed, but I didn't know why. He let one of his pets eat one of my flowers, raising my already raised anger. "No. They do not."

"You agree then."

"To a degree."

"How much?"

"That's two questions in a row," he said. "But I'll answer this once. Slightly, only because he is something very different than the Pillar."

"Really? And what's that?"

"Two more questions. What does he have?" The dark magi paused. "He has passion. More than the Pillar. He has the drive, and the will, to do what needs done. Power? Maybe. Friends? Unlikely. But drive? That need to accomplish his goal? More so than any person alive."

He stood. "That's enough for now. You did good here Ursula. The Rebels will be defeated utterly thanks to you."

He left, taking his pets with him.

I sighed, then realized I need to report to Triton.

My stomach growled. Right after a massive bathroom break.

XXXX

After taking a shower and putting on a fresh pair of clothes, though still my beat-up leather jacket, I decided to go outside and get some fresh cold air. The battle was still stirring in my head, the souls of the dead dancing in my mind, their memories still churning with their fear and hatred. Why should we die when you get to live? What's wrong with us? Are we not worthy? Are we not of value?

"Yes Necromancer, why did we die?"

"Because I could not save you?" I said.

"We know!" the voices cried collectively. "But why did we die?"

"Because that is the way of the world."

The ghosts were silent. "We do hate you so Necromancer. You couldn't save us, you make us suffer, you make us scream. Why did you do this?"

"Because I don't know what else to do. It is war. Don't expect much else."

The voices swarmed, so many at once. "Then WHY are you and your dear friends alive? Why are they alive and we are not? You promised to be a hero. To lead the war. Yet you lead nothing but our demise."

"Are you even real?" I asked. "Are you even speaking to me as spirits? This could be nothing. This could very well be all in my head."

"Then you'd already be insane, Necromancer. And then what? You'd be proving all the people out there right. You are nothing more than a useless, pathetic, shitty Necromancer! Are the voices real now?"

"Unsure."

"Then free us! Give us everything Necromancer. Stop leaving us for nothing."

"I am! I am Death! You are my servants. My servants. Nothing more. Nothing less. And I will deem whether or not you are worth forgiving."

"Ah, there is the anger. But you must forgive us or you will become the tyrant you wish to avoid," the spirits said in hungry greed. They now whispered. "If you don't forgive us, then you will lose everything you've ever loved. Look at you, wounded in soul and body. You are no fighter. Not really Necromancer. You are soft. This hard shell is an act. We all know that underneath you are merely a jester trying to make everyone happy."

"Happy? Happy!? I am trying to merely live like a man. It's not my fault everyone wants to bring their problems to my doorstep. I didn't ask for your deaths. I didn't ask to solve the world's problems. Why am I not allowed to go home after a long day, eat dinner, and relax with my husband? What did I do to deserve this?"

The voices laughed. So many voices at once. "You've never deserved that Demon Slayer. You act, and try, and do whatever you can to make sure you are the hero and person everyone wants you to be. But the truth is you can never be anything more than a fraud. We all know how you got those incredible powers of strength. We all know what truly happened the night your parents died. We all know why you are afraid of being alone."

"You don't know. No one knows what happened that night."

"Ah Necromancer. Demon Slayer. King of Ghosts, Nothing, Fools, and Everything. The Red Stain of the Canyon, the Red Death, the Obsolete Abyss, the Maker of Wills, the Sinner, the God-Forsaken, the Leader of Hordes, the Lover of Hope. The Dark Assassin, the Broken One, the Sword-Breaker, the Black Shield." They laughed almost, no, definitely maniacally. "And Sweet Child of My Night. You must understand now."

"How do you know that name?!"

"We've always been with you Necromancer. We will always be with you. You need us as we need you. You are no master. You are simply the host. Submit. Be ours forever."

"I--I--" But the words failed. I was lost. I couldn't fight two wars at once. The ghosts would win everytime, because to stop the Witch I must stop them. I just want my...

"Ditto!"

Sasha was holding my hand, yelling my name in my ear. I flinched, pulling myself away abruptly. The witch looked confused, but still stepped closer to speak. "Ditto, you were just standing out here not doing anything."

"I'm fine! I'm fine," I said, bringing my tone to normal, taking deep breaths. The wind stirred up some snow. I watched it drift away. "Just lost my train of thought there. How'd the rest of the meeting go? Did they manage to get a hold of everyone I told them too?"
She ignored that. "Ditto. You saw a lot of heavy action back home. The death of our friend, who we can't even bury. Don't you want to talk about it?"

Buddy. Friend. Why, why did you have to leave me at this time? I need your wisdom most of all.

God of all the problems to have.

"He--it's, I don't know Sasha. Why? Do you know why he left on his own?"

The witch sighed, tears forming, almost going to burst. She dabbed at them with the sleeve of her large jacket. "Obviously you know his past. The fights with his parents and older brother. How he betrayed that pack. He said he needed to make things right. To end what had been started. I tried to stop him, I really did. But he wouldn't listen."

Of course he wanted to. That idiot. "Tyrion will pay. He's still upset that I killed two of his pack all those years ago. Now, I'm going to kill him."

"Ditto, is it smart to really seek revenge? I mean, Tyrion of all people probably isn't the one who we should be trying to kill."

I looked down at Sasha, watching her blue eyes follow mine. She was also under a lot of stress. How selfish of me, to solely rely on one woman to lead a war, when I wasn't even here most of the time. What kind of person am I?

"Sasha, I am so sorry that I have to leave again. The magi must be stopped. If they're not then..."

She laughed. "Then we're all doomed. Yes, yes, this isn't the first time you've done something stupid."

"Buddy's death will not be in vain. We will win. Once my allies come, then the tide of the war will change." Sasha squeezed my hand tighter. I sniffed. "We will get our home back, and give him a proper burial. Everyone who died. People like to think they've seen me angry. They haven't even come close. We will rain hell on them all. The Sleeping Witch will know what true fear is before we drive a stake in her heart."

"So, she's a vampire now?"

"No--poor choice of words," I laughed. We stood, watching the snow for several minutes, just silently observing the city. A few cars now and again, but really no people. Our citizens were out at the parks outside the city, and I could see some campfires even from here. "Where are the others?"

"Fina left trying to find Huna, Paul is setting up food shelters, and Jamie is making sure none of Tyrion's forces are following us. The council here is trying to find some kind of entertainment to keep up morale."

All my fault. It's all my fault.

Yes it is, said the voices. And you should be ashamed.

'Are you with me now?' I said in my mind. 'Even when I don't want you too?'

You really are dumb, aren't you?

"Ah. So being useful. Where I am just standing here." Sighing, nothing felt right anymore. "Doing nothing."

"You have another purpose."

"I'm aware." But I wasn't ready. "However, in order to stop the magi, as mentioned at the meeting, there will be a need for not only horrible magic, but direct confrontation. A whole army Sasha. I know I boast a lot, but the odds of me dying are very high. The magi are going to have heavy players. Names we here on Earth don't think about, but my guess include people like Harth, the Water Weaver, or Vendo, the Stone-Breather. Magi of high caliber."

"Magi who will want to challenge the only one they feel worthy to fight other than demons," Sasha remarked.

"Well, rebels might do it too."

She grunted, setting out a hand to catch some snowflakes. "Ditto, I know that... you have a plan. But, I must ask; are things going well?"

"In general, or the war, or me or... ?"

"The war Goddamnit."

"Ah. Eh. Um." I scratched my head, tring to find something smart to say. "My spies tell me North America is done. The Angels still are missing, even after our battle. South is gone, Central is silent. The other places, I don't know. The main goal is to get those puppet armies down to the Light Layer. The Witch has somehow enslaved an entire Province. Actually, more like two, because I'm sure ours isn't all that free. Now, the question is, how do we get those armies who have been drugged to follow a goddess to the death into an entirely different realm?"

"Hmm... does the news I have of the Council of North America change anything?"

I raised a brow. "Do tell. They've been silent this entire time."

Her face said it wasn't good. "They've... said each city is to send their City Guard to the capital of Little Rock City in Arkansas. For... war."

"Shit. Shit, fuck, hell. Why? Why! Goddamnit! The one place I couldn't get my fucking hands on, and they send our people against us too." I rubbed the bridge of my nose, breathing heavy. "Ugh. There are Planar Portals there. They can head to the Light Layer, but the question is will they? Do I even have people to send to take care of it?"

"That's a lot of soldiers Ditto. Our people. Isn't there--"

"Another way?" I finished. "I mean, if you can suggest one. But they're gonna come for us. Any City Guard was built by the Sleeping Witch. They are coming to at least either defy us, or let Tyrion's armies destroy what's left of our home."

"And what if they're not? What if they're actually trying to help us?"

I scratched my face. "Well, we don't know that. But we can't just let them organize unchecked."

Sasha half burped. "Sorry, ate before I came over. I'm thinking we send those one friends of yours. Who were they called again? The Khans of the Jagged Keep?"

My stomach plummeted. "How about not them. I know a few underworld crime bosses that can help. Or ninja groups. Or book clubs."

"They would be good for this, and you know it." The woman laughed, making my spine shiver. Not from the cold either. "Why is it they hate you again?"

"They are upset because I, uh, stole their legendary jewel the Hot Ruby, and then, uh, defeated the all four of their armies in battle."

"Ran. Ran from them in battle."

"I fought at least a few hundred of their forces. And beat them. Now they're pissed because I have their jewel."

The witch suppressed a grin. "I'm sure if you give it back, they'll help. What was so important about it anyways?"

"It was a necromancer artifact! Mine, by right! With the jewel a necromancer can apply so many more applications to their zombies using fire elements. The Hot Ruby of Sas'Nah. And it was mine by right, so they can die mad about it."

"Alright, calm down." Sasha breathed out, and I watched her breath fall go out into the world. What a strange thing, to watch your insides suddenly take form on the outside. "I'll contact them, and say they can try to steal it from you if given the opportunity."

"Fine."

There was silence for a moment. We just stood there, as the snow piled at our feet. The sun was beginning to sink. That cool winter heat. Oh, I know, it doesn't make any sense. But has anything ever made sense? Adjectives are just observations, but observations are lies to keep ourselves happy. The sky is blue because to think the sky is actually a bunch of layers of air that could disappear and kill us is too evil a thought. The grass is green because it's easier to kill something green than something flesh like. It's easier to pray to a god thanking him for being a part of their plan than thinking there's nothing and life just sucks.

On the other hand, observations also make us sad. It's hard knowing your insides being on the outside and thinking you'll be fine. It's hard to think about the waste you dump into the water and ignore the choking fish. It's hard watching your grandma die and just saying it's a part of God's plan, when you see the pain of the family surrounding her bed. What is an observation other then nothing more than the justice maker, the will-breaker, the heartless-killer.

"This part of the journey is coming to an end, isn't it?"

"Most likely," I replied with a hoarse voice. "But then the worst is to come. When the war is here, and we are fighting, you are going to be my right hand Sasha."

"Naturally."

"And Halina my left."

"So, she will be with us at battle."

I know what was coming next. "Yes. Not fighting, but she will be my eyes."

"And I your voice?"

A quick nod.

"Alright. But you'll be breaking your promise. You told me you'd protect her. You'd keep her safe. And, I'm no genius, but I'm pretty sure taking her to war is not keeping her safe."

"Oath-Breaker they'll call me."

The witch shook her head. "Don't disappoint me."

"By the way," I said, voice low. "Did your friends ever get the chance to look at the drug sample I collected a while back?"

"You mean the stuff you found back home? The Moon Juice?" Sasha let out a whispered sigh in a tired voice. "Yeah. It's advanced stuff. This Sleeping Witch is using drugs that I'm sure no one has seen in thousands of years. In fact, they weren't even sure how it was made."

"Can they find a cure?"

"Maybe. It'll take time. Lots of time."

Pulling out my phone, I noticed just how late it was getting. So much to do. Humming 'Mr. Roboto', there was nothing more to think about. "I need some sleep. I'm leaving in the morning. There is only one thing I can say Sasha, if only to clear your mind."

"Oh? What's that?"

The voices stopped.

"When hope is lost, only death remains."

But even as I turned away, the voices began their muttering, whispering madness. Whispering lies. Whispering truth.

Whispering demise.