Elemental 17 (long) (600 hits)
Category: GeneralRating: 1.66 on 18 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by kre8rix (View user info) at 2005-03-29 13:56:01 EST
Part 16: http://www.ubersite.com/m/61054
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The seven Elementals sat quietly around the rustic wooden table, eyes fixed on the opaque jar of glowing stones Sarah had produced. It had taken them until dawn to reach the 54th street training center, and they had been prepared to take a much needed rest. Sleep was the farthest thing from their minds now. Jessica and the two younger Elementals, Jaythen and Eirnin, had no idea of the significance of the contents of the jar; but judging from the reaction of the older Elementals, it was big. Seamus was the first to break the silence.
"Sarah, how did you..." He trailed off.
"I followed Aaron to the Golem Master's den. It wasn't difficult. Like you, his arrogance betrayed him." She replied reproaching.
Seamus shot a menacing glare at Sarah and the accusing look in her eyes wavered briefly.
"Something else," she continued, averting her gaze away from Seamus, "I think Phineas made a Necrolem."
"What?" Seamus, Alex and Erin exclaimed simultaneously.
"No way," Alex cut in, "There's absolutely no way. The Necrotic Arts were outlawed centuries ago; and not that the Watchers have any respect for our laws, but even they aren't foolish enough to make a Necrolem."
"Excuse me," Jaythen interrupted, "Not to sound completely idiotic, but what the hell is a Necrolem?"
The three young Elementals looked inquisitively at the elders; who were themselves exchanging nervous glances.
"Necrolem is short for Necro-Elemental Golem," Alex explained solemnly, "The golem you've all fought were at one point human. They were ones who still worship the Watchers as gods. The Watchers take their most devout 'followers' to the men known as Golem Masters. They use a combination of science and dark magic to mutate the human's bodies into golem; increasing their speed and strength exponentially and hardening their skin making it more difficult to kill them. The newer versions seem to have developed scales as protection. Unfortunately, the process destroys their minds and makes them very difficult to control."
"Which brings us to this jar," Erin added.
"Exactly," Alex continued, "The Golem Masters use these stones to give control to certain Watchers."
"And how exactly do they do that?" Eirnin interrupted.
"These stones are psychically linked to the watchers. Each shade is representative of a different Watcher, although some are so close in hue that only the Golem masters themselves truly know which stone is for which watcher. They are implanted in the head of the golem after its creation. It serves not only as a control device, but also as sort of a homing beacon."
"This is all fine and good," Jaythen spoke up, "But you still haven't answered my question. What is a Necrolem and what's the big deal about them?"
"A Necrolem," Seamus answered, "is...well, was at one point, an Elemental; one that has died and been brought back as a Golem to serve the Watchers. It's not usually done because of the level of decay after death. The more recently they died, the easier it is to make them; and they are much more powerful."
"Well what makes them so much worse that the regular Golem?" Jaythen asked, "I mean it's just another golem right?"
"Yes and no," Erin answered, "Somehow they are able to maintain their brain function better than the normal Golem can. They also still posses their Elemental abilities, though they may not be able to control them. Best case scenario; this usually leads to a conflict of interest in being controlled by their enemies. Worst Case scenario, they go insane and destroy everything in their path. Unfortunately, the latter always happens eventually."
The Young Elementals sat in pensive silence with their elder counterparts, now knowing the full weight of the situation.
"Wait a second," Jessica cut in, "If the Golem Master made a Necrolem, and it used to be an Elemental, then who was it?"
Sarah stared at the jar in front of her silently for a moment.
"I think it was Jason," She replied
------
Erik stepped emotionlessly over the mangled body of one of his servants and entered the Golem Master's chamber. He scanned the decimated room and cursed under his breath. He saw the headless body of the Golem Master and walked over to it. He knelt down next to the severed head, outstretched his palm and mumbled a few incoherent words. Phinaes' eyes snapped open, his mouth wide in a soundless scream. His face was a mask of fear and pain.
"Phinaes, my old friend," Erik said quietly, "What happened here?"
The Golem Master's head twitched violently as his eyes feverishly looked around the room. Erik picked the head up by its severed neck and looked into the eyes of the dead man.
"Phinaes calm yourself," He continued in the uncharacteristically calm voice, "You are dead my friend. Your body is on the floor behind you."
Erik turned Phinaes' head toward the body lying on the floor for a moment, and then turned it to face him again. He stared briefly into the fear filled eyes before continuing.
"Now, what happened here?"
Phinaes attempted to speak, but no sound came out and he started to panic again.
"Phinaes!" Erik snapped, commanding the dead man's attention once again, "You have no lungs, you cannot speak."
He let this information sink in before continuing.
"Use your mind," He persisted, "What happened here?"
"[Elemental]," Phinaes' voice sounded in Erik's mind, "[Sarah...Destroyed]"
"What was she doing here?" He spat menacingly at the sound of her name.
"[Kill...hunting us...destroy]"
"There is no reason for her to be here, unless...Tell me what you were doing." He demanded.
Phinaes remained silent and looked away in fear. Erik squeezed the neck of the man causing another silent scream.
"You will tell me what I want to know, or I will keep you like this to suffer for a very, very long time."
Phinaes once again made eye contact with his master.
"[Aaron...Dara...Necrolem]"
Erik's eyes blazed red at these words. Phinaes' eyes grew wide as his neck began smoking. He opened his mouth in agony for the last time as his head ignited in Erik's hands. Phinaes' fear filled eyes melted out of their sockets before Erik dropped the fiery head and started toward the exit.
"Aaron, you stupid fool," he said to himself, "We are going to have a conversation."
----
Jessica sat quietly keeping watch as the others slept. Although most protested the idea of sleeping when Seamus first suggested it, all had fallen asleep almost instantly. She stared intently at the jar of stones still sitting in the center of the table. She watched as the glow from each stone varied in intensity and hue, almost as if they were living. She glanced over the sleeping forms of her friends, imagining each of them becoming Necrolem. She shuddered at the though and swore to herself that that would never happen. She turned her attention back to the jar, and reached for it apprehensively.
Seamus stirred from his restless sleep groggily looking around at the others before turning towards the table where Jessica was sitting. He was unable to call out warning before she reached into the jar and picked up one of the glowing stones. A brilliant flash of light erupted, sending Jessica flying backwards into the wall.
"Jess!" Seamus called out as he jumped up from the floor.
The others had joined him, though somewhat disoriented; jumping to their feet at the sound of the explosion. The light was still emanating from the stone in Jessica's hand as she sat with her back to the wall shaking violently.
"Jess drop it!" Seamus yelled.
"I can't!" She replied shakily as her arm slowly moved toward her head.
"No, stop! What are you doing?"
He dropped to his knees next to her and pushed down on her arm, but was unable to move it.
"I can't stop it Seamus, help me!" She pleaded.
Seamus reached for the stone, and another explosion of light threw him across the room. Jessica's arm continued its slow ascension toward her forehead as she continued to scream for help. The others were frozen in fear where they stood. Seamus shook his head and looked up at Jessica as the stone contacted her forehead. Her scream made his blood run cold. Her whole body twisted violently, rising into the air as the stone bored its way into her skull. As the last bit of the stone was enveloped by her skin, her eyes rolled back in her head and she fell to the ground. Seamus ran back over to her and cradled her in his lap.
"Jess, Jess wake up," He pleaded lightly slapping her face, "Please Jess, wake up."
Her eyes fluttered open and she looked around but was unable to focus on anything.
"Seamus?" she asked, weakly.
"I'm here Jess," He replied, tears rolling down his face, "I'm here."
"Seamus," she repeated looking into his eyes as the others gathered around them, "I can feel him."
User Reviews
Submitted by Alter (user info) at 2007-09-26 22:27:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No, Comment.
Submitted by Kre8rix (user info) at 2005-04-04 16:09:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Part 18: http://www.ubersite.com/m/63495
Submitted by DamianD (user info) at 2005-03-30 10:30:01 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Excellent read but only a plus one as i had to read 16 again to remember what was going on due to the wait.
Submitted by Kre8rix (user info) at 2005-03-30 01:10:08 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I apologize for the length of time between installments.
Life has a way of fuckin with me when I least expect it to.
To address:
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-03-29 23:26:56 (#)
Ranking: 2
After I searched my brain for the memories of what happened the last time, I found I quite enjoyed this installment. The dialogue flowed more naturally and you bring up some nice little mysteries and foreshadowing and what not.
Although, I have noticed that Jessica gains a new power (or something similar) every installment, practically. I realize this may be a byproduct of the breakneck pace you're telling the story with, but it's getting to be somewhat predictable in that I expect something like that to happen to her in every story. But that's just nit-picking.
===
I tried to convey the actual properties of the stones a little better before I had that happen to her.
Remember, they are homing beacon/control devices. While she may be able to find him, he now has some semblance of control over her that she's not going to like too much. She's basically become a living Necrolem.
Not a power as much as a weakness.
and of course shit's always happening to her...she's the protagonist, and I just love fucking with protagonists.
Thanks again all, and sorry about the delay. I'm trying to find spare time to do this.
Submitted by redzone (user info) at 2005-03-29 23:36:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-03-29 23:26:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
After I searched my brain for the memories of what happened the last time, I found I quite enjoyed this installment. The dialogue flowed more naturally and you bring up some nice little mysteries and foreshadowing and what not.
Although, I have noticed that Jessica gains a new power (or something similar) every installment, practically. I realize this may be a byproduct of the breakneck pace you're telling the story with, but it's getting to be somewhat predictable in that I expect something like that to happen to her in every story. But that's just nit-picking.
Submitted by FuckTheArmy (user info) at 2005-03-29 21:04:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
If I have to wait this long again next time you will only get a +1.
Good stuff.
Submitted by Alcodis (user info) at 2005-03-29 19:04:00 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Very Nice
Submitted by algermetiphist (user info) at 2005-03-29 17:48:22 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No comment.
Submitted by Kre8rix (user info) at 2005-03-29 15:41:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I only ask because you dropped your rating after (apparently) reading it and I thought maybe there was something you didn't like about it.
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2005-03-29 15:35:18 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
hmmm... something you could have done better. hmmm.
welp...
I am the last person to ask that. I just sit back and enjoy what is written.
I liked it.
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2005-03-29 14:24:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2005-03-29 13:58:19 (#)
Ranking: 2
long awaited...
I had to stop reading to point this name out... Jaythen
is that like Jason but his parents had a lisp?
BWahahahahahahaha!!
but seriously folks, this is awsome. Please don't make us wait so long for the next. Good stuff.
Submitted by Dannie (user info) at 2005-03-29 14:09:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Kre8rix (user info) at 2005-03-29 14:08:21 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2005-03-29 14:03:43 (#)
Ranking: 1
FIN!
awesome!
===
Is there something I could have done better?
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2005-03-29 14:03:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
FIN!
awesome!
Submitted by Kre8rix (user info) at 2005-03-29 14:02:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Nah, It's nordic or swedish or something I think.
It was the possible name of my sisters as of yet unborn son before they decided on Eirnin.
Most of the names I use are actually people that I know.
Makes them feel special.
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2005-03-29 13:58:19 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
long awaited...
I had to stop reading to point this name out... Jaythen
is that like Jason but his parents had a lisp?
Submitted by Kre8rix (user info) at 2005-03-29 13:56:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Sorry about the delay.