I was almost near Lajjun, with Ziza in my arms, when I felt a chill run up my back. I knew something was going to happen. I knew it with my whole soul. I had a gut-wrenching decision to make: save Ziza or save Riddick. One lonely tear trickled down my cheek, finally resting on my quivering bottom lip. I have to save Ziza. It's a decision I know I won't regret, but it won't be easy.
As I finally reached Lajjun in the dark alley where we left her, I could hear her whimpers change into cries of joy. Her daughter was back. I wanted to stay and cry – tears of happiness and loss, but the Furyan in me couldn't give up.
With a quick kiss on Ziza's wet cheek, I ran back to the ship as a predator. I felt like a Hellhound from Crematoria as I ran back to the Necromongers. Back to my Riddick. I flew up the stairs almost as fast as I can throw a shiv. When I look back to that moment, I'll never know how I managed to be so swift. It could've been the Furyan in me or it could've been Imam's God taking revenge on Imam's death.
But what I saw next could've killed me on the spot. The Lord Marshall was leaned over Riddick's limp body and it looked like he was extracting his soul. Who would've thought that he had a soul? But it seemed that the soul was resisting, especially when it seemed to turn its head towards me.
Jack. She was back. That one thought made me fight back so suddenly and powerfully that the Lord Marshall stumbled back. With one quick move, I was back on my feet, as if my soul never left my body. I advanced towards the Lord Marshall, my feet not making any sounds. I noticed that Jack was creeping up on him from behind.
With a slight nod of her head, I felt us connect. I knew what she wanted, and I was going to enjoy it. A cold and deadly smile grew on Jack's face, mirroring my smirk. With a second nod, we both lunged towards the Lord Marshall. He was able to dance around some of our moves, but when you get stabbed, you bleed.
With each passing moment, he became weaker and weaker. I quickly wiped my shiv on my pants, and sliced him again. Jack rubbed her face with the back of her hand to wipe away his blood.
Then it happened. We both stabbed him at the same time. I went for his sweet spot while she went for his heart. His body fell to the ground like a pile of bricks. Crimson red pooled around him. I bent down and pulled my shiv out of him, and watched Jack mimic my movement.
Both of us just stared at each other from opposite sides of the Lord Marshall. I could see that Jack was relieved, but she was also tense. I slowly got up and went to her side. She stood up, as I took her by the waist. She almost leaned into me, allowing me to hold her, when she looked at the sea of Necromongers in front of us.
Why are they all staring at me? If they want to fight, why are they dropping their weapons?
Suddenly, there were thousands of Necromongers kneeling in front of us, bowing their heads in respect. I looked at them in bisbelief, while Riddick's face was as blank as can be. I didn't even bother hiding my emotions like Riddick taught me. Confusion took me over. I slowly backed up, and when the back of my knees hit something, I fell on it. I conveniently fell on the Lord Marshall's throne.
A Necromonger slowly got up and approached both Riddick and me. He looked as confused as me.
"Let me introduce myself. I am Lord Boah. Please excuse my confusion Lord Marshalls, but I have never dealt with such a situation," he said with eyes darting between Jack and Riddick.
"Dealt with what?" Riddick growled.
"Well Lord Marshalls, you keep what you kill, he answered shakily.
"Why do you keep saying Lord Marshalls?" Jack asked, as the shocking reality slowly dawned on her.
"Whoever kills the Lord Marshall takes his place. You keep what you kill, it's the Necromonger way. Since both of you killed him at the exact same instant, I believe that both of you become our Lords."
It's a good thing that I'm sitting because I don't know how I could've handled this standing up. I can deal with murder and mayhem, but being the Lord Marshall of a race I want to extinguish is not something I want. I looked at Riddick questioningly. With his slightest nod, I understood that we'd stay for now.
Fuckin' hell. I can barely take care of Jack, and now they want me to be the Lord of the Necromongers. They must have the wrong convict. But now's not the time to think about that. I need to figure out what to do.
"Get all the Necromongers out of New Mecca and on to the ship. NOW," Riddick commanded. He watched Lord Boah bow and jog away barking orders at the guards. He then found a woman to take him to his quarters. To their quarters.
Riddick and Jack noticed that four huge guards were following them, and preventing other Necromongers from approaching them. It seemed awkward that the same people who tried to kill them before, were now protecting them. As they went to the far end of the Basilica, they entered a private corridor. It had quards posted every few feet. They stood as still as statues, only their eyes were moving to take a peak at their new leaders.
A few doors down, the woman kneeled in front of a door. The doors opened automatically, and they entered. The guards stayed outside after seeing Jack's deadly glare.
The room was quite spacious. One the right side, there was a large window that stared out into the burnt city. There were many monitors next to the window with a single chair in front of them. On the left side, there was a large black bed. They would need to climb four steps to climb on to the bed.
There was a wall of glass behind the bed which would open to the washroom and multi-jet shower. No one could have privacy in that washroom. Everything was either in steel or in glass.
Riddick. You keep what you kill. Just like slam. Again. Except this time, we're the prison guards. The thought made me sad. Everything that happened to me in the past week built up. I slowly walked to the washroom and looked at my reflection in the mirror. I hadn't lost weight, but my face looked old and wary, just like I felt. I glanced back and saw that Riddick had followed me.
There is no way that I can sit on the throne with Riddick. He takes too much place. I guess I'll sit on his lap. The thought made me laugh and cry at the same time.