The Necromancer's Wife (Remastered)
Chapter 2: The Birthday Fiasco

The harbor tavern was bustling with activity. Soldiers, sailors, tourists and itinerant workers all congregated within its walls. The tavern’s theme was the sea, in honor of The Floating Capital. Nets, life preservers, oars, starfish, and boats decorated the walls. The bar featured a large Fonic Arte water sculpture, and smaller ones sat in the center of each table. The entire city utilized artes and fontech to create it’s almost mythical existence.        
                 
The tavern was noisy; glasses clanking together, eating utensils scraping against dishes, loud voices and laughter created a racket of almost deafening proportions. Situated in the corner was a large circular booth. It had the best view of the entire tavern and it was there that the birthday bunch had gathered. Jade sat in the middle of the booth and was flanked by Peony and Frings. Guy stood nearby, tossing darts at the dart board with a mutual friend.

Peony looked ridiculous in his “disguise”. He wore a stained white shirt with blue pants. A faded beige jacket covered the shirt and a tatty woolen scarf was wrapped around his neck. The Emperor even wore thick black rimmed glasses and his hair was a mess.

He looked like he was homeless. . .

Jade sat back against the booth’s plush cushions, trying to enjoy a glass of Merlot. A plate of curried rice and vegetables sat untouched in front of him. Their table was littered with about a dozen empty wine bottles; most of them centered around the Emperor. Much to the chagrin of the others, Peony was dead drunk. He laughed uncontrollably, slurred his words together, and kept going on about how much he “loved” all of them.

“Wanna know something?” He murmured to Frings and Jade. He pointed at the two of them. “You guys are. . . so. . . great.” Peony paused to take another drink of wine, emptying the bottle completely. “Always got my back, see?” Tears welled up in his eyes. “You’re like. . .” He stopped as he attempted to find the right word. “Sisters. . .” Peony smiled stupidly. “I love you. . .” He patted his chest. “Like my own blood. . .” The Emperor sat back in his seat and outstretched his arms. “And I love Gailardia. . . but you know, I mean NOT in a man/man kinda thing. . .” He shook his head. “Cause you know. . . I’m not like that! I love a good piece of ass once and a while, but. . . only of the female variety.”

Peony took up another bottle and found it empty, going through five more until he realized that the wine was all gone. He turned towards the bar and shouted to the bartender.  “Gimme me wine!” He slurred as he held up four fingers. “I want . . . want. . .” The Emperor turned to Jade. “How many fingers is this?” Jade let out an annoyed sigh.

“Two.” He replied flatly. Peony smiled.

“Two!” Peony shouted back at the barkeep. He then scooted closer to Jade and lay his head on the Necromancer’s shoulder.

“Thank you, Daddy.” He muttered. The monarch closed his eyes and smiled. Jade hung his head in shame, pushing his glasses back up his nose. The Emperor sat up and looked Jade square in the eye.

“Dude!” He began. “Did you know you have red eyes?!” Jade felt his face twitch.

“I’ve noticed.” Peony stared at the Necromancer intently.

“I never realized how pretty they are. You know you’d be really hot as a woman? Look just like Nephry. . .” At the thought of his lost love, the Emperor started to cry. “My darling! Why couldn’t we be together? Why, Lorelei. . .”
“WHY?”  

Peony rested his cheek on the table and bawled like a baby. Jade shook his head while Frings covered his face with a napkin.

This happened every time they went anywhere with the Emperor. The monarch would get drunk, make a mockery of himself in public and embarrass the rest of them. This was Jade’s favorite restaurant, but now, because of Peony, he wouldn’t be able to show his face around here for a least a week.

Peony continued to cry, stopping only to take swigs from the new bottles of wine. Finally, Frings could take no more. “Okay,” He began, rising from his seat. “Time to go home, Your Majesty.” The General tried to pull Peony up onto his feet.

“No, I can’t go home yet. The rappigs don’t like it when I come back drunk.” He argued. He motioned for Frings to come closer. The silver haired man leaned his ear towards the blond. “They’ll rape me like the cheagles did. . .” He whispered a little too loudly.

Jade let out another annoyed sigh. Happy Birthday, Jade. . . He thought ruefully. He took off his glasses and rested them on the table. He closed his eyes and massaged his temples. Yet again you have been humiliated, harassed, and given a splitting headache. . .
This can’t possibly get any worse. . .

“Whoa. . . who is that?!”

Jade opened his eyes at the sound of the Emperor’s voice and looked towards the stairs that lead to the second floor of the tavern.

She was no more than five and half feet tall and was dressed entirely in black. The woman wore a sleeveless black leather top with a tall collar. The front and back of her shirt were held together with several gold chains that ran up the sides. Her pants bore the same design; gold chains holding them together as well. In between the chains, one could see the her skin beneath. And a long piece of black fur wrapped around her long neck. The woman’s clothes were so tight, that Jade found it amazing that she could even breathe; let alone move in such constricting garments.

Black leather boots came up to her knees; their soles and three inch stiletto heels plated with gold. The woman wore black leather gloves that came up to her elbows. Thick gold and jeweled bands cuffed her forearms and wrists, and a matching belt graced her hips. Giant teardrop earrings hung from her ears and Jade saw that they were pierced five times; three lobe, two cartilage.

She was pale skinned with abnormally high cheekbones. A pair of ruby red, cupid’s bow lips rested below a small upturned nose. Her eyes were large; steel blue irises ringed with cobalt, bearing long eyelashes.

But her most striking feature was her hair.

Red-gold that contrasted sharply with the rest of her, long; falling over her shoulders to her waist. The woman’s gaze swept across the room as she looked for a place to sit down. Her eyes landed upon an empty seat at the bar. She made her way towards the seat; swinging her hips in an almost exaggerated manner. Jade assumed the woman was flaunting her body the same way a Black Widow spider flaunts their red hourglass. He figured it was the woman’s somewhat silly way of saying “Beware; I am trouble; I am a predator.”

The redhead sat down on one of the barstools and Jade noticed the two weapons she carried. They were an unusual design; two half-moon shaped hoops in gold and silver. Jade continued to gaze at the woman, her back turned to him. To his amazement, the fur around her neck began to move; and the Necromancer saw that it wasn’t a collar at all. . .

It was a cat.

The feline jumped from her shoulders to the bar. Once there, it stretched out its limber body; yawning widely; flashing its long white fangs. It wore a black collar studded with diamonds; finished with a shiny silver bell. The woman gazed at the animal and scratched it on the head and neck. As she did so, the cat rubbed against her hand happily.

Suddenly, Jade felt a mysterious, almost uncontrollable, longing and desire come over himself; one that he had never felt before. He closed his eyes and rested his hand to his palm, shaking his head; trying to get the strange, almost disturbing, emotions out of his system. Jade opened his eyes and they found themselves back on the woman. Yes. . . A voice murmured. Jade, startled, looked around, trying to find the one who had spoken to him. But he found no one. Frings had not moved from his previous seat and Guy was still standing beside the dart board.

Was it his conscience that had spoken to him? The small inner being that he kept suppressed in the farthest reaches of his soul? Had it now, upon seeing this woman, finally gained enough power to knock down the iron walls that had kept it prisoner for so long? It’s her you want. . . The voice continued.
No one else will do. . .

Jade gazed at the woman. She looked like a goddess and the Necromancer knew, that from this moment on, no other woman would ever hold any interest to him.

“Wow,” A drunken Peony began. “Thunder cleavage!” He laughed. “I have died and gone to heaven. She can punish me whenever she likes!” The drunken monarch rose from his seat and stumbled over to the woman.
“Hello, beautiful!”

Peony rested against the bar next to the woman; a stupid smile on his face. The Necromancer shook his head. Even drunk, the Emperor’s libido was as strong as ever. But to the Necromancer’s amusement; the woman did not respond to Peony’s greeting. She continued to face forward, ignoring him. But the Emperor, in his drunken stupor, failed to realize that. Instead, he continued to speak to her. “So. . .” He began. “What’s your name, sweetheart?”

The woman let out an annoyed sigh. “Sorry, but I’m not interested.” She replied. Peony frowned.

“Oh come on!” He slurred. “Don’t be mean to me! Just tell me your name, please?!” She rolled her eyes.

He looked like a transient and reeked of alcohol. His clothes were stained and his hair was a mess. Plus, he wasn’t even remotely attractive. How come the losers always hit on me?  She thought. Why can’t I get someone tall, handsome, intelligent and wealthy?

“If you tell me your name; I’ll show you something good.” He leaned closer and whispered. “I might even show you my little friend.” The redhead smirked.
“Sorry, but I left my magnifying glass at home.” The bartender brought her a glass of wine and her attention turned to the cat that now lay on the bar. She tickled its belly and the cat batted at her arm playfully.

“What a cute kitty. . .” Peony mused. He reached down to pet the cat’s head, only to be answered by an angry hiss. The Emperor pulled his hand away quickly; eyeing the cat nervously. “I have a pets, too.” He continued. “Rappigs.”

“Really?” She replied sarcastically. “I figured as much, since you look, and smell, like a rappig.”

Meanwhile, back down at the booth; Jade, Frings and Guy watched the inebriated monarch attempt to flirt with the redhead. Frings shook his head. “Five gald says she slaps him.”

The Necromancer’s eyes still rested upon the woman. His heart began to race and he felt his cheeks grow hot with blush. The air around him became stuffy and he was forced to loosen the collar of his black nehru jacket. This was unlike him. He was normally calm, logical, and poised. Now, with the appearance of this mystery beauty; all those parts of him seemed to run for cover. Torrid images flashed inside his mind. Jade wanted to run a hand over her flaming tresses and gaze into her dazzling eyes. Go, The voice urged. You’re not going to let that drunken fool steal her away, are you? Jade’s ruby eyes narrowed viciously at his competition. Look how he’s harassing her. Is that any way for a grown man to act towards a lady?
You’re a gentleman, Jade. Do something about it.

Jade’s fists clenched. At long last, he had found a woman he was very attracted to; someone he would like to have more than a simply platonic relationship with. But Peony, the letch that he was, apparently wanted the same thing. Slowly, Jade rose from his seat and began to make his way over to the bar. . .

As Peony continued to bother her, the woman’s patience started to run thin. She wanted nothing more than to be left in peace. “Sir, please,” She began. “I would really appreciate it if you would please leave me the hell alone. Go back to your rappig sty, you oversexed bastard.” But her words did nothing to sway him. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

“Oh don’t say that!” He leaned closer to her and murmured into her ear. “Listen, why don’t we go somewhere we can be alone, huh? Just you and me.” The woman took a deep breath and let it out slowly; trying to calm the rage that was building inside her.

“I’m going to give you five seconds to get your arm off of me; otherwise I won’t be held responsible for what happens to you . . .” As the woman said these words, her feline began to growl menacingly. But Peony only laughed.

“You’re so hot.” He began. “I like my women feisty!” The drunk swiveled the woman around on the barstool and wrapped his arms around her neck. She began to struggle violently.

As with every woman he met, the Emperor always found some way to sexually harass them. But most women usually fell helpless to his advances after awhile. But this one actually refused. “Then beat me like the bad boy I am!” Peony bellowed, pressing his lips to hers.

Jade came close to Peony, readying to pull him away from the woman before she could hurt him or vice versa. But he didn’t make it in time. The world around the Emperor seemed to slow as the redhead broke from his grasp and pushed him away from her. Peony landed on one of the tables; and it buckled and broke under him from the force of his fall. The woman came to stand over him; placing her foot on his neck.

“I warned you, asshole.” She crossed her arms, grinding one of her stiletto heels into his throat.

“Leave me the fuck alone!”

Peony whimpered in terror, trying desperately to keep her from piercing his carotid artery. Guy and Frings quickly grabbed the woman’s arms above the elbows, attempting to pull her away from him. But instead, she threw her fists into their faces, knocking them as hard as she could in the noses. The count and the general instinctively covered them with their hands; releasing her. Now Jade, who until now had opted to merely watch the humorous spectacle, let out a deep sigh. Seems this was a job for the Necromancer. “O mighty explosion. . .”
“Energy blast!”
His arte was aimed to blow up right in her face, and the force of the explosion sent her flying into the shelves behind the bar. Glasses and bottles shattered and rained down upon her as she landed on the floor face down.

Frings and Guy used this reprieve to move Peony out of harm’s way. As the two half-dragged, half-carried, him out of the tavern, the terrified man began shouting orders at colonel.
“Jade!” Peony barked. “Dammit Jade Curtiss, hurt that psycho!”

“Jade?” A voice murmured behind him. The woman staggered out from behind the bar, her arms and face littered with cuts from the broken glass. At this point, all who remained in the tavern quickly evacuated the premises for the sake of their own safety. Jade watched as she shook off any lingering daze before reaching for the crescent bollines on her back . “You’re Jade Curtiss the Necromancer?!”

Jade pushed his glasses up his nose in his trademark fashion. “Correct.” He lowered his hand and his red eyes narrowed. “Now, throw down your weapons. You do not have the strength or the power to challenge me.”

“Like hell.” She replied. “I’ve been wanting to cross swords with you for a long time, Necromancer.” The woman smiled smugly. “You probably don’t remember me but, I made you the laughingstock of Chesedonia six years back.” Jade’s eyebrow raised slightly.

“So you’re Elizabeth LeFey?” The woman nodded.
“You do remember, after all.”

“Yes,” Jade continued. His voice took on his signature sarcastic tone. “How could I forget the meddling woman who humiliated not only myself; but the entire Malkuth Military?”

“Don’t forget the Kimlascans.” Elizabeth laughed. “I made a mockery of all of you.” Her face turned into a sneer. “But even still; no matter where I go; all I hear are the tales of Jade the Necromancer; Necromancer, Necromancer, Necromancer.” Jade shrugged.

“Of course, I am quite famous. But do not think I have not heard your stories, LeFey.” He paused. “Or should I say, Witch Queen! I’ve gotten wind of the rumors to battle me, to prove that Elizabeth LeFey is the greater warrior. You’ve trained years as a Bounty Hunter, chasing the most dangerous of criminals in order to make yourself as powerful as I.” He flashed her an apologetic grin. “But I’m afraid all the training in the world would never be enough to make you stronger than the Necromancer; I am the greater fonist.” His lips changed to a cheerful grin. “However, I wouldn’t mind giving you a small demonstration of my abilities. The practice would be good for me.”

“Fine.” The Witch Queen gave her bollines a twirl. “Then I formally challenge you to a duel.” Jade bowed respectfully.

“Then I humbly and graciously accept. Prepare to be defeated.”

“Not on your life.” She came at him; her weapons drawn, but Jade did not move. Instead, just as she was upon him, he unleashed his spear, bringing it forth from thin air. Her heart seemed to stop. He was able to utilize the contamination effect!
He truly was no ordinary fonist. . .

“Sonic spear!”

The Witch Queen was forced to divert from her intended course; barely missing the point of his spear. She ducked and rolled back onto her feet. But before Jade had a chance to turn around; he felt the heel of her boot collide with the base of his spine; knocking him to the ground. The bases of her boots weren’t just plated in gold.

They were sharp as daggers.

Pain surged up his back, and even the Necromancer was surprised that her kick hadn’t paralyzed him.

From above, Elizabeth’s silver bolline descended to his neck; and Jade quickly raised his spear, blocking her blade. His legs wrapped around her right ankle, knocking her off her feet. The Witch Queen fell onto her back, hard, but quickly recovered, and the Necromancer saw that she was quite fast, as well as agile and flexible. Elizabeth came at him again, and Jade closed his eyes. “Howl oh raging wind and cleave mine enemies with your blade. . .”
“Turbulence!”

Mighty winds gathered around his opponent, lifting her off the ground and throwing her against the tavern walls. But the force was so strong, she broke through the wooden frame of the second floor and fell to the white marble streets of the Capital.

Elizabeth braced herself just before she landed on the ground. Jade jumped down from the second story, landing amongst the rubble from the hole blown through the wall.

Elizabeth looked up, her face, clothes and hair blanketed with dust. “That’s it!” She shouted. She outstretched her arms and her two crescent moon bollines began to hover above her hands. Jade raised a curious eyebrow. Somehow, this fonist had learned to manipulate fonons in the air around her, giving her the ability to levitate her weapons. . .

No, He thought. Her weapons are fon machines; most likely a more compact form of the fontech that keeps Grand Chokmah afloat.

“Searing Rage!” The dual blades came flying, circling around madly. Jade jumped out of the way; back flipping in midair, landing on his feet, just like a cat. The bollines passed the Necromancer, cutting through carts and stalls belonging to street vendors. Citizens screamed and ran for cover, escaping the battle zone.

The Witch Queen used this time to cast one of her own fonic artes. “Oceans of pain and loss, bring forth your rage. . .”
“Drowned Dreams!”

Water from the Grand Chokmah aqueducts roared up into a large tsunami and swept down the streets, taking everything with it. Jade merely yawned. “Child’s play, Witch Queen.” He smirked. “Oh roar of the earth, bring forth the fangs of the mighty dragon. . .”
“Ground Dasher!”

A massive rock wall erupted from the ground, blocking the wave. It came rushing back, and Elizabeth was swept up in the raging waters. Water filled her lungs as she was trapped inside a rip tide. She tried to swim to the surface, but it was too powerful. As it moved down the way, innocent bystanders were also swept up it. Men, women and children were flushed down towards the Floating Park.

Jade watched as the waters finally receded, and luckily, no one was seriously hurt. As for The Witch Queen, she lay on the ground; soaked and coughing up the water that had accumulated in her lungs.

But she wouldn’t allow herself to be beat yet. “My first darkened cry never-ending. . .”
“Screaming Nymph!”

An ungodly wail filled the air around him; but Jade was forced to cover his ears. The shriek became louder and the Necromancer felt as if his brain was about to explode. He fell to his knees, doubled over in agony. Windows of shops and homes shattered, raining on the ground like razor sharp hail.

Jade was surprised at The Witch Queen’s skill. Screaming Nymph and Drowned Dreams were two fonic artes that were quite difficult to cast; do to the intense concentration a fonist had to maintain in order to complete them successfully. But that was also their drawback and reason he himself never used them in battle; the necessity for such attention left the caster wide open to attack.

The scream increased in strength and the Necromancer could feel thin trails of blood trickle out of his ears. If he didn’t stop it soon, his eardrums would explode, possibly robbing him of his hearing permanently. Gathering as many fonons as he could, Jade made his counterstrike. “Oh darkened stormcloud, let loose thy blade and run mine enemies through. . .”
“Thunder Blade!”

Elizabeth looked up and saw a massive bolt of lightning come falling down upon her. The force of the impact blasted her backwards almost fifty feet; throwing her up against a thick marble wall. The back of her head hit the stone and for a moment, she was knocked senseless.

Jade, now free of The Witch Queen’s arte, began to cast again. Now was his chance; he could take back the battle and defeat her. “Rest in a merciless silver embrace. . .”
“Absolute!”

Five icy stalagmites rushed at her and Elizabeth was able to dodge all but one; the final spear piercing her just above her right hip. She cringed as she pulled it out and clutched her side. It was rather deep, and when she pulled her hand away, her glove was covered in blood.   

The Witch Queen bit her lip. Her injury was severe and she was fighting a losing game. If fate did not turn in her favor, she was going to lose to the Necromancer. Not wanting to shame herself, she resorted to desperate measures. Jade watched as she prepared to cast a powerful arte.

I can't loose to him! She thought. I won’t allow the Necromancer to be the greater fonist!  “Save yourself a penny for the ferry man, Necromancer, for I’m sending you straight to the Underworld!” Elizabeth outstretched her hand towards him. “Primal unearthly Goddess of fallen warriors, let loose thy hellish judgment!” Her eyes opened; but no longer were they the beautiful blue grey that had captured his heart.
They were inky black.

No. . .

All the color had been drained from them and a passage from a book he once read came to mind. They cannot hide their identity, for Lorelei cursed them for their evil ways, turning their eyes dark as the deepest night. . .

“Decayed Dignity!”

Jade’s eyes widened. Decayed Dignity was a summoning arte that only a witch and summoner could ever cast!

LeFey was an Eighth Fonist!

The sky above turned dark and hurricane force winds began to gust; blowing everything away. The few civilians that had been brave enough to witness the fierce battle were pushed to the ground. Red lightning flashed in the sky, reflecting in the glass of Elizabeth eyes. The Witch Queen began to change. The veins in her face protruded beneath ashen skin; her blood running black and Jade now understood why the Chesedonian Ripper had called her the embodiment of Nemesis.

No way would he survive Decayed Dignity; and in order for him to walk away from this battle alive; he too, would have to resort to desperate measures. Jade frowned; he had been holding back; not wanting to harm her too badly. Wounding, and killing, an opponent was never a difficult task for him; having done so countless times in the past. But this time it was different.

Jade had clinged to the hope that possibly, hopefully, at least one Eighth Fonist was still alive. Now he had, at last, found one. Almost all his life he wanted to learn their secrets. But for now, Jade had to subdue her somehow; before she finished casting her summon. He took off his glasses; so he may gather three times as many fonons; making the arte he cast far more powerful. . .

And deadly to himself.

His fonic sight was both helpful and dangerous. The eyes were the most powerful fon slots in the human body and fonic sight opened them permanently, taking the fonist’s abilities to godlike levels. But it also bore great risk. Taking in too many fonons at once could the force the fonic sight to go out of control, killing the fonist almost instantly, As a precaution, Jade wore his rather special glasses. His optical accessories were not do to poor sight; on the contrary, his vision was perfect. Instead they regulated the amounts of fonons that passed through his eyes, protecting him from losing control of his fonic sight.

“Oh flames of hell, cremate mine enemies in a cage of fire. . .”
“Infernal Prison!”

Flames erupted around Elizabeth, trapping her inside, stopping her from completing her arte. In less than a heartbeat; the sound of screams, pleas for help, and the cries of innocence viciously slaughtered filled her mind. She covered her ears; trying to block the cries out. Tears filled her eyes as she screamed. “Stop!” She begged.
“Please make it stop!”

But the screams became louder, drowning out the sound of her own. The fire of Jade’s arte began to burn her exposed skin; but she did not notice. The sounds of the past crippled her, and the world around her went black.

The fire receded and the Necromancer caught sight of the unconscious Elizabeth. He fell to her knees beside her. Burns covered much of her body and the wound from Absolute still oozed blood.  

Jade placed two fingers against her neck; checking for a pulse. Luckily, she was still alive. The Necromancer looked around him. There was extensive damage to the city and personal property; attesting to the force of the war that had just taken place. He had won; just as he had promised himself. Jade Curtiss was the greater fonist.

Elizabeth groaned, turning her head slightly. Her eyes fluttered open slowly, and the Necromancer saw that they had reverted back to their normal state. As her vision focused, she found herself laying on the ground, her conqueror hovering above her. Anger, shame, and disappointment filled her heart. She had failed; The Witch Queen had lost to the Necromancer. Elizabeth had grossly underestimated his power and over estimated her own.
She was a disgrace to the name of LeFey. . .

“You’re be all right.” Jade murmured to her softly. “We’ll treat your wounds.” Elizabeth let out a frustrated sigh.

“I can’t believe I lost to a scrawny little twerp like you. . .” She struggled to her feet but, she immediately began to fall. She did not even have enough strength to stand up and the Necromancer caught her just as she was about to hit the ground.

The Military Police finally arrived, along with a team of medics. Jade lifted Elizabeth into his arms and carried her over to the cot they had brought with him. “Treat her wounds, then arrest her. But don’t keep her at the Military Headquarters. She’s far too dangerous. Take her straight to Grand Chokmah Penitentiary; maximum security. I shall interrogate her personally later.” Jade began to walk away; but at the last minute, he turned back.

“Oh and place a fon slot seal on her. There is no telling what she’s capable of.” For a moment, the colonel gazed at Elizabeth.

Jade smiled to himself. Despite the the raging battle they fought, she was still the beautiful and mysterious woman that had captivated him. He grasped the younger man’s arm. “But under no circumstances is she to be harmed.” His voice was a low menacing whisper. “Treat her with respect. It took great courage to stand up to me. That’s is an order from your commanding officer.” The medic nodded nervously. It was terrifying to be under the gaze of the Necromancer. . .

“Yes, sir.” Jade began to walk away from the scene,
wanting nothing more than to just go home and recover from his own injuries.
“Colonel Curtiss?”

The Necromancer turned around, facing the medic that had addressed him. “Under what charges are we taking her into custody?” Jade let out a sigh.

“Mayhem, reckless endangerment, and aggravated assault upon His Majesty, Emperor Peony the Ninth.”