The Necromancer
By
Neztro
Chapter 3: A day in the life
Sitting at the dinner table I read the newspaper. In my line of work you had to keep up on the local news, not just for oppurtunity to capitalize on misery but also to shore up your defenses when good news reared it's ugly head.
I slapped the paper down on the table and left it lying. I reached for the box of cigarettes beside me and pulled out the slim stick. I took out my lighter and lit the nicotine stick then inhaled.
Another round of ecstasy entered my lungs. All the stress of the last year melts away for but a few minutes while the cigarette burns. Once it's purpose is done I put out the cigarette in my ash tray and then flick it into the trash.
The shuffling in the kitchen catches my ear as my homunculus begin making me dinner. I had ordered them to do so when I first awoke and that was an hour ago… at least they worked fast.
Homunculus 1 Came out with two huge plates one filled with bacon, ham, and eggs…. And the other with pancakes covered in syrup, whip cream, and had a strawberry.
Homunculus 2 had a pitcher of orange juice in one hand and a tall plastic cup in the other.
The two placed the foodstuffs in front of me and then stood at attention.
"any word from the council, homunculus." I ask pouring myself a cup of orange juice.
Homunculus 1 cleared his throat before saying. "the ghost council has invited you to cerberus club for a necromancer gathering and party."
I clear my throat and take a drink from my cup of juice. I wipe my lips free of juice with a cloth rag and then turn to the homunculus. "tell them I respectfully refuse."
the homunculus nodded his head and then turned to homunculus 2.
"the chairman left a message for you, Jean." she said in a sweet voice… almost like she cared but that though was utterly ridicolous.
"oh, what does he desire?" I ask picking at the pancakes… I use to love eating them but they had grown bittersweet once I became a necromancer.
"he wishes to arrange a meeting to discuss your performance during the last year as a necromancer." she said, looking toward me with a blank expression on her face.
"Dismissed." I said coldly as I took a fork and began to nibble at the bacon and taking another sip of my juice.
The homunculus bowed and go back to their house work. Homunculus 1 will need to get ready for work after he is done with his chores… this lifestyle doesn't come cheap.
Once they are all done with their chores the homunculus wait by the door while I eat.
I finish my breakfast and leave the dishes for later. I take another cigarette knowing for the next eight hours I won't be able to have anymore save for lunch period. I take a couple steps and enter the vehicles passenger side while homunculus 2 drives and homunculus 1 sits in the back.
We cruise through the neighborhood and I pass by scratches house… or I guess I should say molly mcgee's house. God, I really hope me and her aren't in the same class.
The thought of the amount of paperwork I'll have to fill in because of that girl will be astronomical.
The car stopped at the red light. I lean against the window and take another drag on my cigarette. I look out the window to see a boy about my age being lead to a car by an older woman… presumedly his mother.
The boy seems to be rushing to the car and the mother chases after him. She catches up and gives the boy a kiss on the cheek and then goes inside the car.
I watch the boy wipe his cheek with a disgusted look on his face… ungrateful bastard.
The light turns green and my homunculus drives toward the school. The car ride is the same week in and week out… silent. Summer is the same as well only that I'm damn tired due to people being happiest when the summer has arrived.
Once we reached the school I opened the car door and walked out. I say nothing to the homunculus and when I close the door I give the signal for them to return to their duties.
I walk toward the building I'm ten minutes early and the other kids would be having breakfast.
Except for the one in front of the door, leaning against the school wall.
The girl in front of me has pale skinned and a freckled face. She has long platinum blonde hair and wears a light pink hoodie. She wears a big smirk on her face and when she seems me her eyes glow with ambitious intent.
I sense that this girl's fear and desire skyrocket when I'm close and that always confused me… but I didn't question it. Considering she worked for me.
"andrea davenport, how much progress have you made in your assignments." I ask keeping a professional tone.
The girl smiled and giggled at my question… girls are weird like that.
"I did everything you said, the cheer leaders are being mean to the nerds, the jocks are picking on the theatre kids, and the punks are doing property damage. None of which can be traced back to us of course."
I nod my head, despite my displeasure at needing to invovle another individual in my operation I had to admit andrea did good work. "good job andrea." I made sure to empathize the an in andrea because that's how she likes to be called. I give her a couple head pats then attempt to enter the school.
I feel her following me, I don't look at her but I know she is right beside me and I also sense fear, hesitation, and desire.
"do you need something andrea?" I ask, trying to get this over with as soon as possible. Andrea has been working for me for a whole year and I knew that even though I never mentioned a reward she would expect one.
"That is a really nice outfit you got on." She said, lightly placing her hand on my shoulder. "Black is definitely your color."
"thank you…" I reply confused by her compliment, she does this often and knowing her reputation she is probably teasing me but I don't sense the typical venom and malice from her when she teases others… so what is she aiming at.
"and you are incredible tall for your age… and muscular. Do you lift? I have a personal trainer who would do wonders for your training regimen… not that you need it." Andrea said the last bit while waving her hands and I felt her nervousness and anxiety rise.
"Andrea, what do you want?" I say in plain speech making sure that andrea knows that I'm growing impatient.
"I just want to make you happy." she says the most shocking thing I had ever heard.
Me? Happy? Me? Not a chance, I haven't been happy since I was eight… five years ago before I started my training to be a necromancer.
"you know it's funny." I chuckle to myself, a fake chuckle but still.
"what jean?"
"when I approached you with an offer to bring misery to brighton, I half expected you to say no."
"I could never say no to you." Andrea replied under her breath.
"well the truly hilarious part is in the last year of our partnership, for the life of me. I don't remember you naming an expected reward."
Andrea's smile went from ear to ear and she let out a strange humm of glee… I sensed her excitement and desire had reached it's peak and it made me uneasy.
"well jean, I have a reward in mind but I can wait for it." she said waving her in a dismissive way.
"may I ask what you want?" I don't like owing people. I've learned in the last five years that owing someone can come back and bite you like a zombie out of it's grave.
"you'll see." she replied in a playful tone, her arms wrapped together behind her back as she swayed her hips.
"Okay," I said and then walked past her and headed to our classroom. I sat down in my assigned seat. Luckily the teacher put me in the back of the class far away from andrea and smack dab between kat and libby… the former feared me as some kinda monster and she's right of course… the other is someone I wish would fear me.
"Hey Jean, how was your weekend?" Libby was not much to look at… a tiny girl for her age with long messy brown hair and a sad look in her eyes. She wore a teal sweater and was utterly pitiful but to the forces of negativity she was a smorgous board of negative emotions.
Fear, self loathing, anxiety, and sadness… lots of sadness. If it wasn't for our shared history together then I would have loved to siphon those negative emotions for more power… but I'm not completely heartless.
Libby reminded me of better times… times long past.
A grunt was my reponse to girl and I was happy to find she had taken the hint.
The bell rung as soon as andrea took her seat as if to say… class doesn't start until the queen is on her throne. She took her seat then turned her head toward me. She waved flirtatiously… it's going to be a long day when andrea is in her teasing mood.
The teacher comes in and looks around. I decide I need a smoke and will go to the bathroom just before class ends…. Teacher won't mind, she knows better.
"alright class we have a new student." the teacher replied in an uncharacteristicly cheery tone. I didn't like it one bit and it got worse when she entered the room… molly mcgee.
This is going to be a very long day.