The Necromancer And The Spirit Bleeder

Written By: Samuel J Hoppe

“What about the grave over there?” said the necromancer.

“No, hers will be much bigger.” said the spirit bleeder.

The pair walked through the endless tombstones searching for one that matched the description a slave had given them. The pair had been searching for months with no luck, with the danger of the demons hunting them growing ever nearer. The necromancer wore a long coat with no shirt underneath revealing nasty scars across his chest. His pants were ripped at the knees from kneeling to check so many graves. He held a metal chain over his shoulder that was attached to a large coffin he dragged everywhere. The spirit bleeder was tall and pale. He was shirtless and his body was riddled with scars. His pants were ripped at the knees as well and he carried a large sword on his back with several knives around his belt. 

“It seems like we've been walking forever.” Said the necromancer. 

“Three months and 16 days. We must not give up. We’re the only ones left.” Said the spirit bleeder. 

The world had been taken over by demons. Fierce beasts with dark red skin, and large wings. They viciously killed everything in their path. Destroying the human race and taking over earth.  All that was left now was the two men, the tombstones marking the dead, and the few human slaves the demons kept as pets. The pair heard rumors of churches on holy land that have been untouched by the demons, but have found no evidence of this.

“Did you hear that?” Said the spirit bleeder as he brought his guard up. 

“Yes, they’re close.” Said the necromancer. 

“Summon him.” Said the spirit bleeder. 

“You think we’ll need him?” Said the necromancer.

“Yes, we’re too exhausted to fight a horde right now.” Said the spirit bleeder.

The necromancer lifted the lid on the coffin revealing a terrifying monster. The necromancer pulled his grimoire from his coat pocket. The book opened with magic and he started chanting a spell. Red magic flowed from the necromancer and into the book. As the last word of the spell was spoken, the red magic shot from the book and into the monster. The beast roared to life. Its rigid limbs started to move and slowly made its way to its feet. The spirit bleeder pulled the large sword from his back and handed it to the monster. 

“They’re almost here.” Said the spirit bleeder. 

Flapping wings approached from all directions. Shrieks from the skies echoed all around them. There were more than they thought. 

“There's too many. Even for him.” Said the necromancer nodding to the monster. 

“I will help if needed.” Said the spirit bleeder. 

The demons attacked. The monster swung his giant sword, killing multiple demons with every swing of the sword, but they kept coming. The spirit bleeder pulled a knife from his belt and cut a long gash diagonally across his chest. Spirits rushed out of his body and flew into the sky attacking the demons. The spirits were faceless light ethereal creatures that defended the spirit bleeder from danger whenever his skin was cut open. Once they were let loose he could control them with his mind. The spirits flew high and attacked the demons in the sky, any that got through the monster below would kill. It took everything the monster and spirits had but they were doing well at defending their masters. But then the sound of horses galloping approached.

“The horsemen?” Said the necromancer. 

“If it's only one we may stand a chance.” Said the spirit bleeder. 

The horsemen appeared at the top of a nearby hill. All four horsemen were there. They locked in on their targets, gave their horses a kick and rode straight for the men.

“We’re dead.” Said the necromancer dropping to his knees.

“We mustn't give up.” Said the spirit bleeder.

  “But it's all four of them.”

The four horsemen were upon them now. Riding in a circle around them. One started shooting arrows at the pair. One hit the spirit bleeder and a spirit burst out towards the horsemen. Another horseman slashed it down with a scythe. 

“I’ve always wondered what would happen if I died.” Said the spirit bleeder pressing a knife against his throat.

“What? No!” Said the necromancer as he lunged towards the spirit bleeder to stop him. But he was too late. 

“Don't attack the necromancer.” Said the spirit bleeder. 

The spirit bleeder plunged the knife deep into his neck and pulled it straight through to the other side. Spirits rushed out faster than ever as he collapsed to the ground. The necromancer rushed over. There was nothing he could do but watch as his friend gurgled up blood. An explosion of spirits came out of his body, thousands at a time rushing into the air killing the remaining demons. Then they set their sights onto the four horsemen who were still circling. Thousands of spirits attacking them at once. The horsemen unleashed their most powerful attacks and started decimating the spirits. But an endless stream of spirits continued bursting from the slit in the spirit bleeder's neck. The gurgling from the spirit bleeder stopped and his body went limp. Upon his death, a large shockwave burst out of the spirit bleeder's body knocking the necromancer back. His head slamming into a tombstone.

When he came to, he was the only one left alive. No demons, no horsemen, no spirits, no monster, and no friend. Just their remains. The necromancer walked over to his friend's body and started dragging it. He brought him to his coffin and placed his bloody body inside. 

“We’ll meet again, old friend.” Said the necromancer with a tear running down his face. 

He continued walking, dragging the coffin behind. Stopping to check the random scattered tombstones. He wouldn't stop searching until he found the one labeled “God.” for she was the only being that could make this world right.

Part two coming soon.