Life Review Ch. 03

"That is an interesting skill. I haven't seen anything like it before," Denza looked intrigued.

"I learned that I can use the centripetal force when spinning my staff to add speed and power to the spell, kinda like a sling," Cassidy mentioned, spinning her staff in her hand. "It's some sort of spin centric combat style, but it feels off only having one end of the staff being a focus."

"Something we'll have to look into," Shawn smiled.

"Well, I learned I'm just as good with a mace as I am with a sword," Denza pouted, feeling left out of the revelations.

"And formidable you are!" Shawn laughed, earning him a small smile.

"We also found this," Cassidy pulled a large leather bound book. "It's a an alchemy book, but Denza doesn't know the language. I'll have to find a translation text before I have a crack at it."

"I also found this," Denza said, holding out a mechanical mouse the size of her palm. It was dark grey and had eyes made of clear crystal. The details were meticulously crafted to the degree that it was extremely life-like.

"What is a mechanical mouse doing down here?" Shawn asked. "That's kind of an odd trinket, don't you think?"

Denza smiled broadly, "When I picked it up it pricked me. Then I felt like something brushed against my soul, like how you bonded with me except not as painful as that branding."

Shawn blinked, "Branding? What are you talking about?"

She didn't make eye contact before she muttered, "When you bonded with me it felt like you branded me with a hot poker, leaving your mark on me forever."

Cassidy's jaw dropped, "What the fuck Shawn?"

Shawn ignored Cassidy, "Why didn't you tell me! You aren't hurt or anything are you? Oh Christ!"

"This is why I didn't tell you, you're overreacting. It's done and over with," Denza shook her head. "Anyway, the mouse bonded itself to me and it can use my energy to do some pretty interesting things." Denza closed her eyes and focused on the mouse. Its tiny ruby nose lit up like a flash light, illuminating the room.

"I can also move it as if it were an extension of myself," Denza smiled again. "It's pretty cute too."

"But...," Shawn protested weakly.

Denza let out a tired sigh, "Really, Shawn. We've been over this. Of all the things we've discussed, that is the one thing you are hung up on?"

"Okay, you have a point. I still feel bad," Shawn rubbed his face,deciding to table the subject for later discussion. "Alright, what's next?"

Cassidy walked over to a large stone archway with yet another set of stairs, "We aren't done with this dungeon crawl yet! Now that we've taken a short rest, let's go find the boss and kick its ass!"

"Ugh, I'm ready for a nap!" Shawn groaned. Denza nodded in agreement, she looked haggard. He noticed she still favored one side and guessed that she had bruised ribs at the very least. "Are you going to be okay?

Denza grimaced, "Nothing is broken, and the potion take the edge off. I should be fine as long as i don't tussle with more giant bipedal cows."

Shawn couldn't help but smile, "What on earth possessed you to tackle a minotaur, even a skeletal one?"

She looked sheepish, "I don't know, I saw them coming up from behind and my body just acted."

"I know the feeling," Shawn said sagely.

Shawn pushed himself to his feet and took point once more. Cassidy beamed at him as he passed. He wished he could share in her enthusiasm. The stairs were a straight shot instead of the curving passages they had been climbing down earlier. The hallway lead straight to a large set of double doors that depicted two figures is long hooded cloaks and masks: One holding a long ornate staff that looked to be made of a spiraling wood that ended in twig like branches that housed a spherical blue gem and the other had a long elegant carved wand of the same spiraling wood, a white gem embedded in its handle.

"I've seen this image before," Denza tilted her head back and narrows her eyes and she studied the mural. "I can't quite place it, but it's a prominent figure from the past."

"There wasn't any designation on the contract, it's just referred to as 'The Tomb'," Shawn mused.

"This could be a major archeological find," Whispered Denza.

"Well, let's clear this bad boy!" Cassidy encouraged. "We can let the archeology fanatics drool over it later while we get a fat paycheck. Not bad for our first week!"

"Let's get this over with, Cassidy is about to wet herself from excitement," Shawn pushed open the doors. He expected some resistance but the large doors that were easily fifteen feet tall swung open silently.

They were struck with a blast of foul smelling air that singed the inside of their noses. Denza wretched. The sickly sweet smell of rotting meat and the pungent aroma of dry blood and carrion rolled over them like a fetid fog.

"This is why I'm not interested in necromancy," Cassidy pinched her nose.

Beyond the doors a large circular room with two towering statues reminiscent of the mural stood over another set of doors at the bottom of a short set of stairs. Braziers flickered with blue flames on either side that seemed to be fighting off the sickening aura that permeated the rest of the room. A spectral woman floated a few feet off the ground with her back towards them. She was chanting under her breath, filling the room words of perversion and power.

Arcs of purple energy lashed out from the ghostly figure. Each time the energy struck any surface, golden runes flared to life in bright defiance. The blue flames in the braziers flared with each assault, sending dancing shadows across the walls and ceiling. It seemed to the group that there was an ongoing battle between the specter and the final defences that resisted all efforts to open its final door.

The woman stopped her chanting and looked over her ghostly shoulder at them. Her eyes burned with the same amethyst light they had seen before. Her face was gaunt and emaciated. She seemed to be a ghost of someone who was probably once very beautiful. She wore a long white gown that was trimmed with black cloth emblazoned with shifting blue runes that flare occasionally in a corona of light.

"Banshee," Denza breathed, the color draining from her face. "We need to leave. We can't fight this thing." She slowly backed away and squeaked when she found her passage blocked by a shimmering wall of blue energy. They were trapped.

The Banshee smiled coldly at them and floated down to the floor, "It's been some time since we've had visitors. I must congratulate you for making it this far, only eight others have been so fortunate." She gestured to eight rotting corpses on the ground, they must have been the most recent band of brave souls.

With a wave of her hand the bodies began to jerk and shake as they were forced upright, much like the skeletons above. Each body, three women and five men, rose off the ground and their orifices glowed. The sound of screams echoed in the room as the temperature dropped to freezing and the frigid air whipped around them like a miniature hurricane.

Suddenly, as soon as it had begun, everything stopped. The group of eight stood staring at them with pain filled expressions. The leader, a woman that was missing an eye and had a shock of white hair caked with dried blood, spoke in a hoarse whisper, "Kill us, please!"

"Now, now, Hecuba," The Banshee scolded the dead woman as if she were a child, "That isn't anyway to speak to our guests."

"That's sick," Denza whimpered.

"That's magic, my dear Elf. That is power," The Banshee's smile widened. "I, who have transcended death, and hold dominion over it!"

Cassidy scrunched her face, "Aren't Banshees the heralds of Death?"

The Banshee narrowed her eyes, "I am no mere Banshee, Child. I am a queen amongst my kind! I have been freed from my shackles and from my eternal lament, no longer am I Death's instrument to play at leisure!"

"What are you doing?" Denza hissed.

Cassidy ignored her, "Look, Death can be a dick. I totally get that. But Death can also be pretty cool too, to be fair."

The Banshee's lip curled, "Are you an agent of my former master? You don't seem like much, and you have the audacity to think that you could force me to return to my vigil."

Cassidy laughed, "Oh, heavens no. I just met Death once, I'm just saying I can relate with having a shitty lot in life, or death in your case."

"She's right," Shawn shrugged.

Denza looked at him with begging eyes. She was absolutely terrified. Shawn sympathized with her. He had no clue what Cassidy was doing, but he also didn't know much about Banshees in general. He trusted her instinct to be scared, but he was more worried about the eight sentient zombies in front of them. They didn't have the same air about them the other undead did, he sensed very real danger, more so than from the Minotaurs.

"If you aren't here as Death's agent, why have you interfered in my business?" The Banshee asked icily.

"Well, we need Proofs so we can go sign up with the Expeditionary Guild. We have one, we just need two others. An unconquered and unexplored tomb sounded like a great place to find some. So far, I've been right. What are YOU doing here, Banshee? This isn't your tomb from the looks of it," Cassidy pointed an accusing finger at her, as if she were the one trespassing.

The Banshee looked taken aback, "Excuse me?"

"She wants to know why you're here," Shawn repeated, trying to be helpful.

"I know that, you cretin!" The Banshee snapped at him.

Denza had been inching behind Shawn. She tried to appear as small as she could, but the Banshee's words struck a chord of anger in her. She opened her mouth to spout of some ineffectual comment but Cassidy beat her too it.

"Look here you whiny little ghost, you can fuck right off with that attitude. I asked a simple question, and it isn't Shawn fault you are too air headed to understand it the first time. Don't ask stupid questions if you don't want people to repeat themselves!" Cassidy snarled. If the room could have gotten any colder, Shawn was positive he would be instantly frozen on the spot. Cassidy still didn't understand social cues.

The Banshee glowered at Cassidy. Her anger seemed palpable as she rose in the air as her lips curled, "Insolent girl. Very well, I need to test my little experiment anyhow. Let us see if you can still run your vile mouth when your head is removed from your body!"

Hecuba, the leader of the eight, drew her sword from behind her shield, "I'm sorry. I don't want to do this but we have no control over our bodies! Forgive us!"

They lurched forwards as a group with their weapons bristling at the ready. Hecuba was flanked by a large bear of a man wielding a large two handed sword, a thin wiry man wielding two wicked looking axes, and a woman that was hefting a solid looking spear. The remaining four consisting of two archers and two mages spread out in a loose arc behind the main group.

Cassidy backed up and shifted close to Shawn and Denza, "Sorry, I got a bit heated at the end. I figured out a plan, but we don't have a chance in hell unless Denza gets that shield from Hecuba and Shawn you need that spear."

The first salvo of arrows and fireballs arced towards them over the heads of the slowly advancing group of four melee combatants. Cassidy whipped out her wand and fired off two returning fireballs that smashed into the others midair, cancelling each other out in a shower of sparks and tongues of flame. Shawn caught one arrow just before it struck Denza and deflected the other off the back of his hand.

"We don't have much time. Denza, send your mouse to sneak over to the Banshee. She will be a real problem after this first fight ends. When I give the signal, use the mouse's other ability." Cassidy whispered quickly, keeping her eye out for the next attack. "I can keep the rear guard busy and spells off of you for a short time. Remember, spear and shield. You two need to figure out how to do that. Do you understand?"

Shawn met her steely gaze and nodded. General Cassidy was back in control. Denza let out a soft whimper but nodded. She was no coward, but she also knew they were heavily outnumbered and outmatched. Cassidy stepped back and pulled out her staff and wand, standing ready with both focuses. Shawn shook his head and grinned. This was insane. Denza sensed his mood and growled in frustration. They moved together to meet Hecuba and her troupe in open combat.

Since they didn't have time fight cautiously, Shawn took intuitive and closed quickly. He sprinted forward and jumped over a spear thrust from the right, then drove both feet into Hecuba's shield and pushed off with all of his might to arc over a vicious double swing from the tall wiry axe wielder. Denza rushed in and grappled with Hecuba over the shield, keeping the struggling undead between herself and the spearwoman.

Shawn landed and was off like a rocket, sidestepping a heavy overhead swing from the greatsword. The wiry man swung both of his wicked axes in a cross chop meant to sever his arms, but Shawn batted one axe to the side and caught the remaining wrist in his hand. He grabbed the reanimated man and fired off a point-blank fireblast that pushed him back into Hecuba and the spearwoman who fell in a tangle of weapons and limbs. Denza was able to wrest the shield from Hecubas' failing grip in time to deflect a well-aimed shot from an archer that would have pierced her heart.

"Take the big guy, I'll get the rest," Shawn ordered Denza. It came out harsh in the heat of combat. Denza nodded and took off to intercept the large bear-like man.

Hecuba and her comrades had untangled themselves and were trying to encircle Shawn. He waited for the first strike to come. Arrows were incinerated above his head and spells collided in the air, the grunting and clang of metal told him Denza was holding her own. The wiry man, a very aggressive sort of fellow apparently, rushed in first, spinning in a whirlwind of blades. Shawn backpedaled and was forced further back when the spearwoman took her opportunity to jab at him with her superior reach. Hecuba joined the fray with savage powerful chops of her sword in a two-handed grip on her hand-and-a-half sword. Shawn saw his opportunity just before the wiry berserker could add his swings into the mix. After a particularly savage swing from Hecuba, Shawn's fists burst into the flames and he blasted the weapon out of her hand and then kicked her backwards in time to meet the berserker with a straight jab between wild swings that detonated with brilliant intensity.

Shawn felt a sharp slashing pain as the spear ripped into his side, but didn't quite penetrate Cadder's scaled armor. He reminded himself to thank Cassidy for making him wear the armor if they survived. He gripped the haft of the spear with one hand and wrestled for a few moments with its owner. A well placed kick to the knee allowed him to wrest it free. He heard the running footsteps that meant the berserker was rushing in for another round, so he waited until the moment was right and thrust the spear behind him. The head of the spear pierced the neck of the wiry man just below the jaw, no blood spilled out but it was enough to sever the spine. The light faded from his eyes and a smile curled his lips as he let out a contented sigh.

Without wasting time, Shawn withdrew the spear and twirled it around his body to face off with his two remaining opponents. Hecuba had retrieved her sword and was holding it in her hand, while the other woman took a boxing stance. Shawn admired her for her preparedness. He glanced quickly over to Denza who was in the process of smashing her shield into the bear-man's face, then back at Cassidy who was casting her spells two at a time as her eyes darted side to side as she tracked the incoming missiles. He could tell she was about to hit her limit from how much sweat was pouring off her face.

"It's been fun ladies, but our dance ends here," Shawn smiled as he spun the spear with a flourish until it rested point down.

"You fight well," Hecuba smiled. "Send me back home with a warrior's death."

"As you wish," Shawn bowed his head.

Shawn walked forward at a casual pace, his eyes watching each woman like hawk for any twitch that would betray their next move. Hecuba went first. She thrust her blade with the speed of a striking snake. Shawn batted away the blade with a twirl of the spear and trust its point in a deadly repost that caught her in the chest, piercing her armor. Knowing that wouldn't be enough, Shawn shoved the spear through and pushed her back, then rounded on the owner of the spear who closed in to throw jabs at his head. Shawn easily avoided the punches and responded with a flaming fist that fractured her skull and sent her arcing back to crumple in a heap on the floor. He finally returned his attention to Hecuba.

"Finish this, warrior," Hecuba grunted as Shawn jerked the spear free. He braced himself, then leapt forward to spear her through her empty eye socket. She fell to her knees with a smile on her face, much like the berserker had done.

Denza had neatly decapitated the bear-man and was rising to her feet. She looked at him with those wild eyes again, "Let's mop up the rest."

Cassidy was flagging, barely able to keep up with the spells being lobbed at both her and the others. Shawn, making use of his spear and speed, easily dispatched the archers while Denza pressured the mages before they three worked together to overwhelm and destroy them.

After the fighting was done, Shawn looked up to see the Banshee sneering at them, "Congratulations, you beat a bunch of walking corpses. My experiment was passable, but nothing stellar. I'll have to try again, maybe using your souls will provide different results?"

The Banshee reached out a taloned hand crackling with dark energy. Shawn felt the heart stopping fear of death for the first time. Whatever this spell was would kill him, no question about it. It felt wrong, and perverse, as if it were an insult to all thing natural and good in the world.

"Denza, now!" Cassidy shouted.

Shawn was blinded by a brilliant white light just as the Banshee released her spell in a torrent of necrotic energy. The lance of evil magic missed him by inches as the Banshee's aim was thrown off. Dark spots swam before his eyes, but he could still hear the howl of rage from the Banshee.

"Such insolence! Just accept your fate and die!" She screamed.

"Fat chance!" Cassidy spat. Shawn shook his head as another flash of bright light forced him to close his eyes. A thunderous explosion knocked him off his feet.

It took Shawn a few moments for his eyes and ears to start working. He saw Cassidy slumped against the wall, pale and panting. Denza had taken her bow out and was firing arrows as fast as she could. Shawn looked up to see the Banshee snarling down at the two girls looking singed but unharmed, arrows passing harmlessly through her ethereal form. Her outstretched arms crackled with black lightning as her power coalesced in her hands.

"Well, shit," Cassidy panted, looking up at her doom with a smile on her face. "I was banking on that to work."

Shawn's heart lurched in his chest. They couldn't die. Not after all this. He gripped the ember of power inside of him and channeled every ounce of energy he had into his clenched fist. Shrill alarms blared in the back of his mind as his hand felt the like core of a dying star, but he ignored the pain. Pushing himself past him limit, he stood up on shaking legs. He stooped over to hide his clenched fist.

"Hey!" He called weakly. The Banshee looked down at him with contempt.

"You're still alive?" Her lips curled into a cruel smile as she floated down to him.

"Just seeing spots," Shawn panted in effort. The miniature star enclosed in his hand was sending searing waves of pain up his arm. "Maybe a burst eardrum. Explosions indoors, you know how it is."