A/N: Sorry for not posting in a while! But here we go, another Dead Men fic. Prompt 22: Enemies
Disclaimer: I do not own Skulduggery Pleasant
Death and Dread
"Run!" howled Dexter Vex, the yellow streams of energy flooding from his hands. Skulduggery Pleasant groaned, picking up his disconnected arm. Pulling him to his feet, Saracen Rue growled.
"Come on! They're coming!" A sudden scream and Anton Shudder dropped to his knees, thin wound across his back.
"Too late," hissed Ghastly Bespoke, clicking his fingers to summon a flame. Before the Dead Men stood a group of about twenty necromancers. Skulduggery was already injured, left arm wrenched clean off and the other six were exhausted and marginally wounded. There was no way they could hold off the necromancers but they'd be damned if they would ever give up.
"Gimme that," grumbled Skulduggery to Saracen who was holding his arm. Sighing, he handed it to the skeleton who threaded it up his sleeve, grunting in pain as he reconnected it to his shoulder. He drew a breath.
"Ready, Dead Men?" Grumbling, Shudder said,
"Don't call us that." The skeleton clicked his fingers and everyone knew if he had lips, he'd be grinning. They advanced, gathering their strength. Crackling with power, the air was tense as the necromancers and the Dead Men grew closer and closer. Then, there was a sudden explosion of energy as the fight broke out. Howling, Shudder's Gist erupted from his chest, clawing through the necromancers. Ghastly threw his blazing fire at them as Skulduggery shoved them back with the air. Dexter lit up the battlefield with his glowing yellow energy. But however hard they tried; the Dead Men were losing ground to the necromancers.
"We have to retreat!" screamed Larrikin, catching Shudder as he fell, Gist returning. Skulduggery looked over the battlefield with a heavy (metaphorical) heart; they needed to protect this village but they were weary and injured. Then it happened. Screaming, Hopeless fell to the ground. He twitched once, twice, three times before he fell still. Dead. Roaring in anger, Larrikin leapt forwards to avenge his friend's death but Skulduggery's clear voice rang out across the battlefield, accompanied by fire.
"FALL BACK! FALL BACK! RETREAT!" Ghastly grabbed Larrikin, dragging him away as Dexter and Skulduggery held of the necromancers. The Dead Men managed to escape but they lost not only the battle, but the life of one of their own.
