ugh, Im evil. I wanted to wait a while before I posted this one. Mostly to see if i could get ahead...which apparently I can't. Too much work lately. Don't get a factory job if you can help it, seriously energy draining. good pay though...I was trying to write between breaks but it was mostly for the snake pit. Im trying a slightly different method of writing with that one where i go back and re-read everything. I don't really do that with this one. Unless i get worried about a loop hole. Anyways Im going on vacation next month so I have no idea when the next update will be. If my vacation is boring i may be able to write more down on my down time, if not... sorry. It may be a while before I update.
Sans was having a hard time understanding what was happening to him. A man calming to be Victor, whom he thought was some ex-boyfriend of Annette's, who actually turned out to be her brother and was a magic wielding mage.
"Heh, didn't realize you wanted me to SPELL the beans."
Sans felt a tug on his soul as he was flung at the houses back porch. He hit the wood with a thunk breaking the wooden rails on impact. His feet caught in the bushes in front of him.
"SSAAANNNSSS!" Papyrus had rushed between him and Victor. His orange magic spiraling bones between him and Victor, cutting off any quick routes between the two. Victor forced to stop in his tracks skidded near the wall of orange bones that split up from the earth.
Sans could hear Victor muttering curses under his breath before he turned to Papyrus.
"Papyrus, if you won't stop your brother I sure as hell will. Don't make me hurt you. I don't want to hurt you." Sans could hear Victors voice wavering. It helped to settle his nerves somewhat that Papyrus had been with a mage that meant him no harm. Victor did not wish to hurt his brother but how far till Victor snapped and changed his mind?
"PLEASE, I KNOW THIS SEEMS BAD BUT MY BROTHER IS NOT AS FOOLISH AS HE SEEMS, EVEN IF HE MAKES TERRIBLE PUNS!"
Victor lowered his hand wielding the blue magic around his fist, his eyes never leaving Sans.
"Heh, can I get a HAND, buddy? Or do you need to 'work your MAGIC'?" Victor opens his mouth to say something but Papyrus beats him to it.
"SANS I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON BUT WE ARE ON THE SURFACE, YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO BE MAKING FRIENDSHIPS WITH THE HUMANS! I HAVE MADE ONE WITH VICTOR AND I EXPECT YOU TO MAKE FRIENDSHIPS WITH HIM AS WELL. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY YOU ARE FIGHTING EACH OTHER, BUT YOU ARE STILL MAKING PUNS THAT MAY LEAD TO BEING MORE HARMFUL TO OTHERS AND THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE."
"Heh, sorry bro." If what the man said about being Annette's brother is true he was going to have to make a good impression. So far he seemed to have a lot in common with Annette, a little too much in common. It would be easier with Papyrus there anyway. He could cont on him to bail him out if anything SPELLed more trouble. At best Papyrus could ease the transition over and explain calmly to Victor that Sans was just trying to date his sister...
He would have to rethink that last part...
"Hey, uh buddy." Sans turned to see Victor standing behind Papyrus orange magic. Victor narrowed his eyes to Sans un-thrilled with the idea of talking to him, but he released his hand and the magic was gone.
"I know I see RED a lot but it's good to see you looking less BLUE."
Victor stared at him, a similar stare like Annette's.
"Is that suppose to a joke?" A lot like Annette. Victor gaze remained on Sans, not even a flinch.
"SANS NO PUNS."
Papyrus yanked his own arm back and the orange bones in the ground disappear. Victor already walking towards them, his eye unwavering, mistrustful.
"Sorry bro. Must have landed on my PUNY BONE."
"SANS I EXPECT YOU TO BEHAVE YOURSELF IN FRONT OF MY NEW FRIEND, VICTOR, WHO GENEROUSLY GAVE ME A RIDE HERE. NOW, WHERE IS YOUR GIRLFRIEND THAT YOU TOLD ME ABOUT?"
Sans felt a cold shiver run up his spine and sweat on his forehead as Victor looked him up and down a look of disgust that he's never seen on even Annette's face. "he heh heh..., feeling a little GRAVE right now."
"SANS WERE ON THE SURFACE. NO MORE OF THAT STUFF." Papyrus looked a little taken back and was examining Victor out of the corner of his eye socket checking for any reaction that may prove fatal for himself or Sans.
"Where is my sister? I won't ask again."
"Relax Buddy, she's fine. Just visiting some relatives...about six feet under."
"If she's dead i'm dusting you."
"WHA-" "Buddy, relax. Of corpse you can go see her. She's still kicking." Papyrus stood between the two still feeling very confused watching the two of them banter back and forth leaving him out of the conversation. He was starting to feel lonely.
Victor's magic swarmed around him again. Papyrus's hand landed on Victor's shoulder making him look at him and his eyes relaxed a little under the skeletons stare, Victor sighed dismissing his blue glow. Sans stared hard at Victor, for a moment he thought he saw a blush but it was too hard to see in the dark for that.
"Lead me to her, bone boy." Definitely related to Annette. Despite the magic Victor had used on him, he was starting to like Victor, even if Victor didn't like him back. Annette's chosen nickname was the same one he seemed to pick up and he was liking the nickname. They must have been close sibling if they were both coming up with the same nickname. The resemblance between the two was also uncanny. If he managed to stuff Victor into a dress, his the guys broad shoulders or something...easily mistaken him for a taller lankier version of Annette.
Sans shrugged his shoulders, pulled himself out of the bushes and led them back from where he left Annette. Sans began feeling around trying to sense Annette's soul nearby but as he drew closer he began sweating harder. He wasn't sweating harder because he possible had a mage behind him that would kill him if harm fell to his sister, but he was sweating because he could no longer feel Annette.
This is where he left her in the catacombs.
He couldn't hear, or sense her.
Even worse, the barrier from before was gone.
Sans turned back to Victor about to try and explain that his sister was now missing, but the look on Victors face felt like someone had tied a know in his stomach. Victor looked like he had seen death lean down and kiss him, his eyes never leaving the catacombs.
"Tell me, my sister didn't go down there."
"Well..." Victors face turned frenzied. He screamed out a 'Fuck' before making a beeline for the house. Sans didn't have to say anything to Papyrus to know to follow Victor. Sans let Papyrus lead the way his bro's height making it easier to travel threw the thick and tall grass.
When they reached the house again the kitchen lights were on the the door open. Sans wasn't sure about the door but he knew no one had left the light on when he left the house. Annette was too busy running from him, and he didn't care about the lights.
Victor jumped the two steps and flew into the house. Papyrus and himself followed him revealing a trail of rooms where the lights were left on until the trail finally ended in a sort of living room with a few bookcases and a roaring fire in the Corner.
Sans looked around trying to find a sign of Annette. A few sofas facing each other and a dusted off coffee table between the two didn't leave many clues besides the table being recently dusted. It wasn't anything more that told him someone was here since the roaring fire in the fireplace was blazing newly as well. 'Fas est ab hoste doceri' written above the stone mantle. A large painted portrait of a woman with the icy eyes he had ever seen stated down at him. A small gold plate below the painting that Sans leaned into to try and read the small lettering-
"One should learn from ones enemies."
Sans turned to see Annette standing there holding a metal tray with two cups of something warm and steam rising from it. The sugar bowl next to them gave way that it was most likely tea. Sans eye lights zoomed on Annette's face.
Something was horribly wrong. Her eyes seemed sunken in and a cold cruel feeling came from her eyes.
"Above the fireplace. Truly words of wisdom from a long forgotten time." Sans felt baffled besides the way her eyes held such a cold feeling her voice seemed to match.
"Annette?" A growing concern in his stomach rose up when he couldn't see the fierce beast in her pupils. That warmth he wanted for himself was gone. Something cruel and wicked was laying under her skin now.
"WOWIE, IT IS SO NICE TO FINALLY MEET YOU HUMAN. YOU MUST BE-"
"Papyrus stay away from her." Victor held back Papyrus from joyfully going to hug Annette.
"Oh, Victor I thought I sensed you. I wasn't entirely sure but I'm glad i brought you tea anyway." Annette gracefully moved across the floor setting the tray down on the dusted table.
Just as she began to sit down on the couch Victor was there clutching her arm roughly. "Get out" Victors voice sounded almost like an angry dog a undertone of a snarl threatening to surface.
"WHA- BUT SHE JUST GOT HERE."
"I hate to agree with the skeleton but he's right dear. I just got here, and I'm not going anywhere till I get what I want." Annette spoke as if she were speaking to Victor but her head looked to Sans as she finished her sentence.
"Who are you?" The words left Sans mouth before he could realize he was saying it out loud.
Annette's eyes narrowed in his direction. Her eyes spoke to him in a familiar way, not Annette's way but from something he had seen before he was freed from the underground. A disgust on her face, like she had stepped on a worm and was trying to scrap it off the bottom of her shoe.
"Her names Melissa Crooks. She is my...and Annette's Aunt." Victor looked to Sans a far more approving look on his face than when they first met. Sans turned to look at the woman on the couch again. She looked like Annette almost a twin besides that look of disgust on her face.
"I'd say mAGE before beauty but... you look kinda young to be an aunt." Sans pun was surprising ignored even by Papyrus as Victor gripped the woman's arm even harder. "Get out."
The woman stood up from the couch and turned towards him. "Then give me what I want. That's all I ask."
"NO. It's not for you to have." Victor was yelling behind clenched teeth you could see some of the spittle splash from the side of his mouth. If victor was close to Annette he would have no problem in tag-teaming with him to throw this woman out. Victor might even put in a good word with his sister for him.
"Hey, lady. He said, get out. Do you want to have a bad time?" Sans let his magic flare out to emphasize his point. Victor's muscles became tense and his eyelids narrowed at Sans, a silent warning to stay out of it. Sans wasn't sure about his warning but the woman didn't even flinch she even almost, smiled.
"Oh, go ahead Sans. You'd make my day. Try to beat me up till i'm nothing more than a meal for you and your brother, again." Melissa hissed out to him not even a spark of fear on her face. She twisted her arm around grabbing Victor and tossing him over the couch. Sans made to go for her but Victor pushed him back again with his blue magic.
Melissa stood in the center of the room a mocking smile on her face. "Tsk, tsk boy. Did you forget your sister strength?"
"I THE GREAT PAPYRUS...IS VERY...CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING."
Victor used the couch to help pull him self off the ground. "That." He was pointing towards sans above the mantle. Sans turned back to the portrait of the familiar woman. The gold plate below it. He leaned into it to read more easily. The woman's name caught his attention easily: Melissa Crooks. Below it listed a date but the date had ended about eight years ago.
This woman was dead.
"I was so happy to see your sister kept my portrait up Victor, darling. It truly warmed my SPIRIT, but Tell me skeleton, do you remember me?"
Sans turned back to look at her. Was he suppose to know her? She did seem familiar but he was having a hard time putting a finger on it. She even told a pun, why would he forget someone who had good taste in jokes?
"I REMEMBER." Papyrus stood staring at the painting above his head. "SHE DIDN'T WANT TO TRY ANY OF THE PUZZLES IN THE UNDERGROUND. IT WAS VERY STRANGE TO SEE SOMEONE WHO LOOKED SO HEALTHY DOWN THERE. SHE REFUSED MY SPAGHETTI TOO, BUT THEN SHE TRIED TO RUN. SANS WENT AFTER HER."
"That's right, and do you remember what happened after words?" Melissa's Icy glare now on Papyrus. He looked away from her unable to keep eye contact. Sans knew what that was he rarely made it unless he felt shame.
He was remembering it now too. He had chased a lot of people in the underground but the only time when Papyrus made that face was when he not only killed them, but tortured them. His mind was fuzzy from it but he could remember the adrenaline pumping him up as he chased her past trees till she fell down. Her screams woke something primal in him and he had hacked her legs off. The woman had not only insulted Papyrus but had been blatantly rude to him. Sans believed she needed to be taught manners. He healed up her legs before he put her in the shed next to the house.
It took her a week to die. Papyrus found her hanging upside down in the shed being drained of her blood.
Papyrus hadn't been happy with the torture but was happy to have more ingredients for his spaghetti.
A rumble from Sans got everyone attention as he began to bust out laughing. "HA, She a former GHOST of herself."
"Exactly." Victor dusted himself off from the couch. "Aunt Crooks has been holding a grudge for a while now."
"Hardly boy. I simply believe in 'Omnia mors aequat'. I want the playing field equalized." She crossed her arms and stuck her nose up in the air.
"Not, in my sister's body you won't. Get out. I'm getting tired of telling you." Victor met her glare with one of his own.
"I didn't even want her body, boy. She has strength but no magic, not like you. The only real benefit i get out of it is that if Sans wants your sister alive...and well he can't touch me. Bet the monster hasn't told you how badly he wants to stick his dick in your sister yet has he? I've been watching from that ratty cat body for a while."
"Out of my sister body!" Victors roared out and blue magic encircled her throwing her across the room. She smashed into a bookcase and fell to the floor in a heap. Hysterical laughing slipped from her mouth as she began to rise off the floor.
"Do it again boy, your sister has had one hell of a night. I wonder how much more she can take? Come on boy. Give me your body instead, or at least kill Sans and I'll let your sister go."
Sans felt the wind get knocked out of him, like he couldn't breath. Annette's Aunt, somehow a ghost was possessing Annette's body, plus she wanted him dead. He was used to people wanting him dead and then he handle it by killing them. Now, how did he get rid of Annette's aunt and get Annette back? Apparently if he offed himself she let her go, but then there was also Victors body. Annette would be pissed at him if he somehow helped in that way. He doubt she would ever forgive him for killing Victor in some way if they really were that close. He would have a hard time forgiving anyone that dusted Papyrus too.
"Aunt Crooks-" Victor laughed out loud it felt like the room was echoing about the area. Melissa stood there stunned, unsure about what he was laughing at.
"Boy, what are-"
"Stupid, your so stupid Aunt Crooks. My sister loves you to death, almost literally in this case, but your underestimating her so much. You always did cause she didn't show any signs of magic. But hey she did have magic. Human specific magic that ran in our family for generations, she just the only one who's been able to activate it. It's so funny. You didn't even notice but neither did she. No one but me."
"Hm, rude boy do you- What are you doing?"
Victor picked up the tea cup that his aunt had placed on the table and smashed it on the cement mantle. Sharp shards of the ceramic littered the floor. Victor picked up a large piece that could probably cut into the skin to draw blood but that would be about it.
"Ha, gonna try to hurt me with that boy." Aunt crook leaned down pulling a fork out of her sock and holding it to her neck. Sans felt his body freeze. This bitch was gonna kill Annette, her niece, just for revenge and Victor was practically helping the situation. Papyrus stood in the corner looking back and forth not sure if he should stop Annette risking her life with the fork or stop Victor from doing something with the broken tea cup.
"Pft, I have no intention of hurting my sister, Aunt Crooks. I know you well enough you don't really want to hurt her either. There was more than one reason why you left her the house after all. All that guilt built up inside you. You could have saved her from out father but you didn't instead you left her there under his beatings and rape till she no longer stand another persons touch. It took us forever to get better and in the end she's still recovering."
Sans stiffened his posture a tingling on his bones. Annette was raped? T-that couldn't be.
A sniffle came from Melissa, shaky breath leaving her. "I-I know. But, she'll be fine. She's always been fine."
"Shes never been fine!" Victors face turned red his muscles tightened on his face.
Melissa shook her head. "Doesn't matter now. I can't fix the past, but I can fix the future. Help me kill Sans. It would be terrible for her if she actually fell for him."
"I'm willing to take that risk." Sans didn't have ear but he couldn't believe what Victor just said. He was going to give him a chance.
"Don't think I approve or anything bone boy. It's my sister choice not mine, and not my aunts." Victors eyes threw daggers at Sans erasing any ideas of possibly calling him bro or brother in the future.
"Ugh, stupid boy. It would be so much easier this way."
"It time for you to leave Aunt Crooks. Last warning."
Melissa only giggled a little and shook her head her mocking smile back on her face.
"So be it." Victor raised his sharpened ceramic piece and drove it into his wrist. Melissa suddenly let out a surprised choke as Victor took the piece and continued to stab himself with it, blood running down his arms and soaking into his clothes. Victor fell to his knees catching himself on the coffee table.
"Annette please...help me."
Melissa froze on the spot as if some over whelming force had turn her to stone. Her cold icy eyes began to burn and she let out a piercing scream.
If any one wondering 'Omnia mors aequat' means: Death makes all things equal.