Midday was at full strength as Nate stepped out into the dilapidated parking lot. Grass wormed its way up through the cement reaching out for those ever so reluctant pieces of light. The struggle of a creature so small and determined. What hope laid within its vanishingly small consciousness was snuffed out. Large multi-colored bikes formed into circles blanketing the ground in craven shadow.

  The chief of the Husker Biker Clan was leaning against his bike absentmindedly. Having been in the position for some five years he was used to the normal rabble that irritated his senses. Necromancers of low worth, rampaging spirits, and most importantly the rival gangs. Not all were run by monsters, but all that stood at the top of the city did.

  The Huskers were mid-level because of a clear lack of effort. Chief Kev was a moderately passive man. This ran counter to how anyone would see him. Taller than any of the orcs, with horns that did not just poke out but pronounced themselves to the world. To the other local gangs he was known as the Half-Demon.

  Cilene was the first to exit the building. Her cheerful mood soured the Chief’s contemplative thoughts. He had already heard from his father how she had caused this blunder. This was the price of leadership. What your subordinate does will reflect onto you and your clan.

  She reached his side just as the door began to push open. He didn’t go inside himself given the Tyrant's attitude to unwelcome guests. Cilene in a way was a guest. Her position as delivery girl made her bound to that man. The taste of defeat, though it was not his to indulge, was still effervescent.

  The Necromancer came into his view as Cilene began to relay the detail of the battle she had witnessed. Six foot something, muscles pushing against a possibly just too tight button up shirt. The man’s faded green hair was obscured by a fedora which was a matching light brown to his overcoat. From the shifted weight he could tell his arm was injured and still in recovery.

  “And that's when that fine little specimen, oh yes he beat the shit out of Francis. Took an its bitsy scratch and then oh my he used my power like a pro. He couldn’t have won without me. Don’t you think he owes me? I mean look at that viscous face. He goes just perfectly with us.”

  Her words brought the chief to look closer at his face. A small scar was at the edge of his chin, but burning eyes made him want to shrink back. He could feel it, in the way he walked to hide that injury, the assessment happening in his mind over the riders around him. This Necromancer wasn’t considering how best to deploy his summons, no this man was prepared to take them on with his own body.

  It was a mirror image of how his father once walked and commanded the clan. Necromancers from his experience treated everything like a game. The lives of others, their contracts, and even their family. The few that went against the grain could be counted on one hand.

  “Oh shush shush. Here he comes. Can you put a good word in for me? He’s just so delicious.”

  “Can you not be this way? I swear Cilene.”

  Nate approached wary of the bikers, having twenty men here seemed excessive. Then again he considered the value of the items being brought and found it a reasonable choice. He kept close to the side where his good arm could be deployed the quickest as he approached around the circle. There were a few here that had already tasted Karah’s assault.

  Passing by the former victims they cast their eyes down. Not daring to look at the man, the Necromancer, that wielded such a vicious woman. There were several who lamented the fact that she was not a part of their clan. She would have brought them to the pinnacle of the city even if it took a generation or two.

  “You are the boss? You certainly look the part. Funnily enough you're not the tallest person I’ve met today.”

  A warm hand from his injured arm was offered to the bulky demon-like man. Nate was unaware he’d clocked the injury but the man still took it with care. He assumed Nate knew he could tell he was injured. To offer up his wounded arm despite that showed his trust in others. This was not only someone who held the life of his father and men, but there was more. Cilene had said he was still just a student. If that was the case then there was no question that he could be their way to the top. Playing it right could lead beyond the simple bounds of ViewVille City.

  “It's good to meet a Necromancer who’s not all skin and bones. A real Man.”

  “Oh yes he’s all man.” Cilene gave a flirtatious wink.

  “I apologize about her. Some crossbreeds are even worse then their families.”

  “No harm, she's quite the supporter. I just think I’m too young for her. That's all.”

  An awkward wind passed between the three of them. Cilene gave him a genuinely hurt look that brought a bemused smile to the Chiefs face. Never had he seen her so wounded by the words of another as she was just then. The constant harassment she dished onto the wider populace seemed to have finally turned back onto her.

  “What are you talking about, cutie? I’m only in my twenties. I ain’t super old or nothin.”

  “Well I’m only seventeen. You should at least wait another year before being so blatant.”

  Chief Kev burst into uproarious laughter. Cilene seemed to fizzle out for the first time in his entire life. All her pranks from when she was a kid. The times he had to pull her and his daughter out of trouble. At the moment it seemed worth his amusement. It truly was worth the price of these items seeing her shocked face.

  “Well, haha, well then I have what you requested. Cash is more useful for us so your choice of taking relics is appreciated.”

  “I thought you’d be more upset.”

  “I am, if I was there at the time I would have beat the shit out of you and let Cilene do with you as she pleases. But this is the law of the jungle, today we were too slow, tomorrow, it could be you.”

  Nate frowned at the man’s nonchalance at using others. His days as a gangster had meant exploitation but the callousness wasn’t something he wanted to fall into again. This man was no different then his master, it was something within the people of this world. Something eventually just breaks.

  The first item was a goblet. The magic writing meant little to Nate who lacked a proper education in such matters. A cylinder composed the main drinking vessel. A complex magic was placed there to store huge amounts of differing liquids. From the Chiefs own estimate nearly one thousand litters of fluid. The problem that it had was that being knocked over meant letting out every drop. With no lid it could easily happen.

  “That one is old but not really useful. My father brought it back from his old clan. Their stories of week-long benders are legendary.”

  If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

  “If whatever goes in keeps then it must have a preservation spell as well. Interesting.”

  The last magic item was none other than a Rune Bound Lantern. Spirits floating in the area were drawn down into the opened door. There they shrieked in pain as the lantern grew brighter, illuminating everything around it. The glow pushed at the edges of everyone's shadows. Within each shadow it showed their true natures.

  Nate’s was a twisted puddle with a single building nestled within. Each of the orcs looked more or less as they did but Cilene had an extra pair of large bat-like wings. It was an unwelcome surprise as it revealed secrets that were best left unsaid. The Chief had a sheepish grin as he realized his mistake.

  “I only meant to demonstrate. Its use of spirits as fuel is handy for removing those that are bound to a location. If they keep coming back, feeding them into this would solve your problems.”

  “The book?” Nate’s voice had become cold.

  “Here, we killed some no name Necromancer years ago for it. Something, Something, or another. We have all the spells we need bestowed by our ancestors.”

  “It seems to be his grimoire. Thank you. With this our business is over. For now.”

  Before the chief could attempt to repair his mistake and draw the Necromancer in Cilene shoved him to the side. Pointing aggressively at herself she nearly shouted right in the man's face.

  “I can wait for you. A year isn’t that long to wait for true love don’t you think? I mean we already were so intimate.”

  She gave Nate upturned puppy dog eyes. His mood had already been dampened by the lantern fiasco, but Cilene wasn’t the brightest. It’s why she was trouble incarnate. The Necromancer seemed to brush it all off as he headed back to the store. Kev breathed a sigh of relief that was echoed with disappointment by Cilene.

  The man stopped at the door. Looking back over his shoulder his eyes pierced deep into the Chief's soul. It was then that he felt it. This whole time the man had been approachable, friendly. When was the last time that he’d allowed anyone outside of the clan to get so close. He was a Necromancer and could have killed him instantly. Yet, he treated him as he would a person.

  “I will see you in a month, Cilene. Please do not be late.”

  The Chief brought a weary hand to his face. Cilene jumped up and down in ecstatic happiness. Being told not to be late seemed to mean to her he was interested. Her boss knew this without having to ask after having her around for so long.

  ***

  “Your student is a good person. He reminds me of Jimm…”

  “Don’t bring him up.”

  The Tyrant’s skull had dimmed clearly off focusing on another area of the store. Wayne was left with his old school mate and she was glued to his side. They sat at a small table set, steaming cups of tea rested in front of each of them. Her mother had come by trying to be nosy but was whisked away by the Tyrant.

  “We don’t have to act like he didn’t exist. In a way he helped me fall for you.”

  “So I have more than one reason to hate him.”

  “Do, do you really hate him? Back then it was inevitable some of us would die. The Academy has a high fatality rate for a reason.”

  He didn’t respond right away. Two spoonfuls of sugar went into his tea. Stirring slowly as if the delay might excuse him from having to answer. It hurt his heart to think of him. All that time together the amazing things that they had built together. A promising future of innovation ruined. If he was still around none of these golems would be so half baked.

  “I do hate him.”

  Silence preyed upon the air. Each drip of the removed spoon is loud and grating. The rustle of the wind through the shop racks the only thing to accompany the sound. Tickling aroma’s of the tea prevailed in their senses.

  “I didn’t know you’d become so. Rough.”

  “I was always rough. This is a rough world, a cruel world. I just came to accept that.”

  “You weren’t rough with me. You used to be gentle.”

  “Both of those were so long ago, a lifetime. I try to forget about such things.”

  “I thought you might rethink it. I’ll still give you more time. Don’t try to convince me. Just visit sometime, our daughter misses you.”

  “Daughter! What do you mean?”

  Wayne stood abruptly toppling the chair over onto the ground. Was she telling the truth? But they had been so careful, it was so long ago. There’s no way she could have kept this from him, no how could she if it was true?

  “Just as the rest of us are currently bound by the spell on the shop, she hasn’t aged much. You even look good for how old you’ve become.”

  “Don’t joke with me. Wendy please.”

  “If I was telling a joke, I would be laughing.”

  “You had no right.”

  “NO, right? You just up and left at the end of school. No note, nothing. I had to return home. My time has been bound to the opening and closing of this place. Do you think that's anyway for a mother to raise their child? You promised to take me away from here.”

  “Wh.. wel… I never.”

  He picked the chair back up and slumped into its comfortable seat. It was hard for him to look into her eyes. They still carried that pristine brightness. The war had barely touched the store. She had been safe, unblemished by everything he’d been tainted with.

  “It would be better if she doesn’t meet me.”

  “You can’t believe that.”

  “Look at what I’m doing to the boy. He’ll end up like me. I’m dragging him down our path, my path. After the problem is solved, he will be pulled into the war.”

  “The war is over. You helped end it.”

  “No, it's just lost focus. It's better for children to be kept far away from monsters.”

  “We’re all monsters. Which just makes us all normal people. You would become one. A real monster if you abandon her again.”

  “You mean if I abandon you again.”

  Tears quietly streaked down Wayne’s face. He had an obligation, but that was true here as well. Wendy’s hand took his and he let her. He didn’t want to pull away, she was warm, a feature that his artificial limbs hadn’t needed. Just an unnecessary add on something for the comfortable not for those who swam with sharks.

  Nonetheless he had placed the feature into his arms. Even when not seeking the warmth of the world he couldn’t bear to part from it. To him she was always that corner stone, holding him in place, anchoring him.

  “I guess I could upgrade to be warmer.”

  “Does that mean…”

  “I can’t just leave the grandmasters' side. We’ll need a proper place to raise her. I refuse to bind into the store.”

  “If you are being true. Don’t forget about your student. You owe him.”

  “I know.”

  “Would you like to meet her?”

  “I think we should wait. This operation could get me killed, I don’t want to unnecessarily get her hopes up.”

  Wendy didn’t point out that he didn’t want to take the responsibility out into the field. Wayne also felt he wasn’t ready, if this was his child. He needed to be a good father. His own had cast him aside but he couldn’t let that happen to her.

  The door swung open. It was the call of fate. It didn’t change his goal of victory over the Necro but this just meant he couldn’t lose. A pit formed in his stomach as he fully realized he’d pulled a child into a battle meant for adults. Just as before he was making weapons out of people.

  “Don’t worry. You might not be able to tell but I can. He was going to get involved in whatever trouble you're in with or without you.”

  She slipped a photograph across the table. A young girl barely four, she had his smile but Wendy's small nose. Mother and daughter were playing with dolls as the old Tyrant's skull watched on in the background.

  “Her name is Beatrix.”

  ? Mesozoic Master ?

  by PaleoNovel

  Noah Ardennes began his life as nothing more than an aspiring zookeeper. He expected a peaceful life taking care of animals - instead, he found himself summoned to another world. When a fantasy world summons four heroes to protect it from demons from beyond the stars, Noah is dragged along as an uninvited fifth hero - given the powers of the Druid!

  Unwanted and feared as an unknown quantity by the nobility, and maneuvered into a cunning trap, Noah finds himself exiled into the Western Scar - a hellish wasteland left by the last demonic invasion! Survival would border on the impossible for the best survivalist, but Noah has a power that gives him the edge - The power of nature is not only linked to those beasts of the modern era.

  Faced with a wasteland filled with monsters and death, Noah calls on the powers of beasts that haven’t walked the world in hundreds of millions of years to aid him! Slowly embroiled in a conflict that will decide the fate of the planet, It’s Dinosaurs vs. Demons as Noah is forced to become the Mesozoic Master!