Void(38)

I inhaled, sniffing the stagnant, musty air with a grimace. “It was the least of my worries. I’m more upset about the lack of hot water and the rusted springs in the mattress.” I quickly moved to the pile of clothes resting on a worn dresser and got dressed in jeans and a baggy long-sleeved shirt as he observed the room. I put on my combat boots and brushed my hands along my shirt. It was my only option since the other uniform outfit was so disgusting. If I was going to stand out, I might as well dress the part.

Hyde ran his fingers along the wood walls and crouched low in the corner where there was a gnawed hole, likely put there by rodents. Using his long fingers, he dug around for a moment and pulled out something and cupped it in his palm.

“What are you doing?” I asked as he stood and glided over to me, a twinkle in his eyes.

“Showing off,” he replied with a wicked grin, revealing his bright teeth. “I hear that’s all paragons are good for these days. I’ve got to make a good first impression, right?” He had a quirky way of speaking, a dreaminess to his tone.

He moved to stand right in front of me, opening his hands so I could see what he was cupping. Ivory white bones in a haphazard array were splayed along his palm, along with dirt and unrecognizable grime. “A rat. Harmless. They live short, meaningless lives. Such a shame, really,” he murmured while stroking the bones with his thumb. His eyes flashed up to mine.

“Is this the part where you compare me to a rat?” I asked while staring at the sad collection of bones in his hand. I was so used to emotional torture and hatred that I could see where this conversation was headed a mile away.

“If that’s how you choose to see it, then sure. But even rats can be extraordinary with a little effort.”

He lifted up his hands and started blowing on the bones, his breath a red hue of misty, sparkling magic. I’d never seen a necromancer in action. I knew that the weaker ones could bring small animals back to life, only momentarily. Some stronger ones could bring back humans, but they were just a shell of the body, a zombie of sorts. They didn’t have memories of their former lives, and they only lived to serve their necromancer. But the strongest necromancers could bring bodies back to life with their consciousness and memories intact. And it was that level of power that allowed a necro to turn bones into flesh, too. It took a ridiculous amount of power, and it was rare. But here Hyde was, doing it right in front of my eyes.

I watched in awe as the bones rearranged themselves accordingly. Blood vessels and muscle appeared. Then fur. It was the color of snow, highlighting his red nose and pink feet. Then the rodent started moving slowly, the long nails on his palms twitching. His snout began sniffing the air, and I watched as his lungs started expanding, gasping for air as his body started to work. Lastly, his eyes opened, the beady red bulbs taking in the world around him before nuzzling in Hyde’s palm.

“Wow,” I said, leaning closer. Hyde lowered the rat and smiled at him, stroking his head with his index finger before stretching out his hands and offering the rat to me.

“Figured you could use a friend,” he said before tilting his head to the side and openly staring at me. His silver eyes flashed with mirth and amusement as they trailed up and down my body.

Lifting my hands up, I created a platform and touched the tips of my fingers to his, amazed that once again, the Void didn’t seek out his powers or rattle the cage of my amulet. The rat immediately ran from his hands to settle in my palm, cuddling up to me the moment he was steady. “He’ll serve you well,” Hyde replied with pride.

“Thanks. He’s cute, in an undead sort of way,” I observed while taking in his white fur and the X proudly marked on his neck, marking him as a resurrected. Running my thumb over his snout, he sniffed me before getting cozy. I smiled, feeling silly for being so excited about a pet rat.

“It’s the least I could do, considering I’m about to feed you to the wolves,” Hyde replied in a dark tone before placing his hands in his pockets. “Let me know if you want me to resurrect more little forest animals for you. You could sing as they clean this shitty shack.”

I laughed. It was a genuine sound, and so foreign that I surprised even myself by letting it out. “I think I’m fine with just Cheddar here,” I replied before setting the rat down on my bed. The little thing curled up into a ball and let out a relaxed breath, snuggling his whiskered nose into the blankets.

The curious necromancer clapped his hands loudly and twisted them up with flair before snapping. “Well, come on, Void. Time to face the ball music.”

He spun on his boots and headed out the door, impersonating a guitar solo as he went.

I quickly followed after him, shutting the door to my cabin. “I can’t go like this!” I called out breathlessly as I jogged to catch up with him. What was with all these paragons moving so quickly? “Can’t you just say that you couldn’t find me?” I pleaded.

He looked over at me as we walked, and once again, his eyes roamed my body. Licking every exposed inch of skin, he took in my lips, my shoulders, and even the little sliver of skin that my shirt didn’t cover. “Don’t worry, you look better than most the girls there. Besides, dressing the part won’t help you. If you’re going to have all eyes on you, then why not give them something to talk about?”

“I don’t want to be talked about. I get enough of that as it is. I’d rather be invisible,” I grumbled. I had to remember that even though I found myself liking the necromancer, this was the guy in the secret paragon meeting who had suggested that the others sabotage me. I couldn’t let my guard down. No matter how quirky and handsome he was.