Much of Madness (The Conexus Chronicles Book 1)

by Summa, S. E.

  A threat toward me.

  “Enough.” Seraphina stood. “Enough, Death.”

  She had made a promise. She would have promised just about anything to cross the veil after feeling the love from Marceau and Finn pulling her back to life. But Seraphina wasn’t sure she would truly keep her promise until Death threatened everyone she loved.

  Seraphina knew what it meant for her, but she could stop this madness. She would not let Death destroy the lives of Khat, Finn, or Marceau.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Seraphina held out her arms, closed her eyes, and surrendered. I’m ready, Mistress of Death. I welcome you.

  Dark, intense magic seized her body. The Mistress had channeled even more death magic into Seraphina while she had been trapped within the veil.

  Now, Seraphina invited the Mistress to share her body and align their powers. She would provide the pathway. The Mistress could harness their combined strength to destroy Maximilian, as promised. Long locks of hair floated away from her back and shoulders. Cold, resolute hatred and infinite power blanketed her while her pulse aligned with the ebbs of magic flowing through her veins. She’d opened herself fully to possession and now channeled the Mistress.

  Death let out his eerie echoing laugh again.

  “You mean to challenge me? Oh, what a fortunate turn indeed.” His body lifted into an instant standing position. He twisted the head of his cane and a long blade shot forth.

  “Venom,” Marceau warned. “On his weapon.”

  “Finn, how much sin flows over Death?” Seraphina asked. The Mistress’s voice spoke in unison with her own.

  “What trickery is this?” Death demanded. “How is she speaking through you?”

  Finn replied, “His sins swirl so deeply over his flesh, I can hardly see his features.”

  “Twice I have lingered in the other realm, and twice I have returned. My magic was of the elements… earth, air, fire, water. Never has a Spellcaster harnessed power over the fifth element, over spirit, until now. It was your interference that corrupted my magic. In death, I garnered but a taste of the Mistress’s power over spirit and yet I possess such new power. That is how I gained death magic.”

  Her voice changed, deepened as it combined with the voices of others in the veil’s realm. The Mistress called forth all the souls Maximilian had wronged in his time as Death. She channeled their hatred and energy into Seraphina. “Now, after a second death, I drank deeply of the Mistress’s power. Spirit is at my call.”

  Her pupils disappeared into dark, swirling gray as her eyes were filled with the fury of countless magical souls.

  “Seraphina?” Marceau whispered.

  She heard him speak, but Seraphina was too full of spirit to respond. Her bones ached with the weight of so much magic.

  I… I’m losing myself.

  Seraphina screamed and the shrieks of thousands joined hers.

  Death took a step back. He tripped over the corner of the couch and had to catch himself to keep from falling. “I am the personification of Death. Therefore, I cannot die,” he argued. He raised his daggered cane in front of him.

  “False,” thousands of voices screeched from her aching throat.

  Khat, Finn, and Marceau all covered their ears in pain.

  She said, “You stole your power. You embody nothing. You’re nothing more than a common thief. Death is impartial. Death does not take souls or imprison the living. You have mutated Death’s purpose and manipulated innocents and altered their paths to leech their strength. When they had but a shred of sanity left, you continued to prey on their nobility, their loyalty, and their love.”

  Maximilian argued, “The world has grown, has changed. I needed to awaken my legion. When I accepted the Mistress’s deal, I asked to keep my men. I bargained to keep my army.” He stared at Seraphina. “If you possess her body, Mistress, you know I speak the truth. In exchange for my apprenticeship, you said I could keep my soldiers by my side forever. And then you let every one of them fall.”

  “I kept my word. Their bodies remained with you, intact. But I freed their spirits. You made no bargain to keep their souls.”

  He yelled, “What good are their bodies to me? Empty shells. Reminders of your cruelty. If you’d let me keep my men, I would have never betrayed you. I would have been your loyal apprentice, your lover, for eternity.”

  Seraphina’s body rocked back with the ferocity of the Mistress’s anger.

  Max continued, “Death should have dominion over the mortal realm. Well, now I have them back. My soldiers are reanimated. With my Sin Eater, my general, in place, I will once again have them under my command.”

  “Why do you need me? Why can’t you lead your own damned army?” Finn asked, demanding an answer.

  Maximilian snapped, “They are shackled to quell their protests until I join their minds. I need you to take command of the hive.”

  “Control your own damned hive then. Why me?”

  It was Marceau who answered, “Because he already controls another hive. I don’t think he’s strong enough to control them all. He is powerful. But he could never be as strong as the Mistress, the rightful Death.” He turned to his benefactor. “That’s it, isn’t it? You can’t command your own men. That’s why you have searched so long for a Sin Eater with the mental fortitude to survive the full transformation.”

  “Why does it have to be a Sin Eater?” Finn asked.

  Marceau said, “His army was legendary for their atrocities. They ravaged the lands they marched across. If they all died at once, then their bodies are still rife with sins. You need them bound into a collective mind with a Sin Eater as a general to insure you can control them. To make sure they do not fall victim to possession.”

  Marceau paused before turning to Finn, “As general, you would know every movement of your men. Their bodies are eternal, but a mortal wound could send their spirit back into the veil. You would know if a soldier fell and left his body open for possession.”

  Finn asked, “But the soldier’s bodies have been empty all this time, why are they open for possession only now?”

  The Mistress answered through Seraphina, “Because I did my duty as the Mistress of Death. I let their souls cross over but sealed them from possession. This imbecile leaves corpses open for possession because he knows not, or has not, the power to protect them. The soldiers were at peace. They were no longer your legion to command.”

  “You brought them back to a world they will not recognize, to wreak havoc on mankind.” Finn’s fists clenched.

  “I brought them back because they are mine,” Death yelled.

  Finn emphasized each word. “Then. Command. Them.”

  “They were ruthless, even for their time, but they were still souls worthy of passage to the other realm. Death must be impartial. All of your reanimated creations have been brought back without the freedom of choice. You ripped their souls from the veil without permission,” Seraphina’s strange voice said.

  “And they should be led by one who respects them, one who understands they sacrifice their restful peace if they choose to stay. One who would lead them with honor.” Finn’s body shook with anger.

  Seraphina turned and took Finn’s face into her hands. She leaned in and connected their minds once more. In her voice alone, she whispered into his thoughts, Will you accept this responsibility? Would you lead those who choose to remain? Lay the others to rest beyond the veil? My choice is made. I promised already. But I would leave you free, Finn, if you desire it. Would you serve at my side?

  “With honor, love,” Finn said out loud and within Seraphina’s thoughts.

  Once again Seraphina spoke with the voice of many, “Then I grant you their command.”

  Seraphina offered her hand. Together, she and Finn rose from the floor. Ebbs of power flowed through her and into the Sin Eater.

  Clouded magic swirled in Maximilian’s eyes. He fought and took a blind step forward. “No, this is impossible. Stop this at once.”r />
  Seraphina raised her other hand and Maximilian raised from the floor. With an expression of fear and disbelief, he kicked his legs wildly.

  Flipping over her hand, palm up, she pulled her fingers slowly inward. Maximilian threw his head back and screamed. As her fingers closed, his body curled into a fetal position in the air. When she closed her hand and brought it to her lips, she sucked in air and dark magic from the end of her fist. Then smiling, she reversed the hand as if dropping something insignificant from her palm.

  Maximilian collapsed onto the floor. With shaking arms, he pushed himself up to look at Seraphina and Finn. His eyes were now a normal shade of hazel. He threw his arm out, trying to strike her down with magic, but nothing happened.

  The Mistress and Seraphina laughed.

  Maximilian jumped up and slashed his cane at her. Marceau dove between them and tackled Max to the ground.

  Seraphina and Finn lowered back to the ground and their hands separated. Finn’s eyes glowed in matching swirls of gray and black.

  “General,” said the voices of thousands from Seraphina’s lips.

  Finn knelt on one knee and bowed his head.

  “Mistress Death,” he replied reverently.

  “No,” screamed Maximilian. He writhed on the ground beneath Marceau but could not free himself. “Why can I not dematerialize? Where is my magic?”

  “You’re the one who is powerless now, Max,” replied Marceau. He coughed and looked down, blood darkened his shirt in a spreading stain. The blade had slashed his side when he jumped forward to protect Seraphina.

  Marceau managed a smile as he watched Maximilian. The cane’s blade protruded from Max’s chest and dark blood flowed from his wound, as well. “You’re mortal.”

  “You’re the one who is dying, not me,” Max said, thick saliva frothed from his mouth tinted red with blood.

  “We die together, Max, though I think the new Mistress may treat your soul differently than mine.” Marceau fell forward. He coughed again.

  “Seraphina. Se-ra-phi-na.” Khat screamed. She ran and jerked on Seraphina’s arm.

  Finn still bowed before her. He raised his head now and took in the scene around him. “Marceau.” He darted near and pulled Marceau’s body off Maximilian.

  “Damn it, you made me do this,” Khat said. She slapped her palm on Seraphina’s chest and scrunched her eyes closed. A blinding flash of gold magic blasted into Seraphina. She flew backward, landing on the floor. Seraphina’s eyes opened in her own shade of green again.

  “Marceau needs you,” Khat cried as she pulled Seraphina upright.

  Seraphina stumbled and almost fell on Finn. He held Marceau and pressed a throw blanket against his bleeding side.

  “It’s some kind of venom. He’s poisoned,” Finn said.

  Seraphina spoke with the voice of many, but much fewer than before she shared her power with Finn. “Death shall not claim him, not today.”

  Seraphina bent and laid her hand on his side. A fine trail of black venom seeped from his wound. “Blood is as water, flow back to his heart. Flesh is as earth, close, and heal.”

  Marceau flinched and drew a pained breath as the blood reversed and flowed back into his closing wound. His eyes opened and he took a deep breath. “Seraphina, are you still mine?” he asked in a faint whisper.

  Time seemed to stand still. So much hinged on that one simple question.

  “Always,” Seraphina answered in no voice but her own. She leaned down and kissed him.

  Maximilian writhed on the ground in pain. “Mercy. Show me mercy, and I will teach you the ways of Death. I, I will mentor you,” he begged.

  “You can teach me nothing of Death. You bastardized your duty. You abandoned your post.” She was proud of the words she’d chosen.

  Maximilian turned to Finn. “Sin Eater, you must help me then. If I am to die, I cannot pass into the other realm stained with this much sin. You can feed upon my indiscretions and know true immortality from their power.”

  Finn crouched and jerked the cane’s blade from Max’s chest. He threw the staff and it clattered across the floor. “I am the general of the Mistress of Death’s Legion.”

  Max cried out in pain as more blood flowed from the wound.

  “You will receive no mercy from me. I hear their screams in my mind. I go to release the legion’s bonds. Those who wish freedom will be released back into the veil. I will burn their empty bodies to ash so they can never again be disturbed.” Finn locked eyes with Maximilian and completed his answer to Max. “If they so choose, I will burn them all.”

  “N-No, you must not.”

  “I will. Any who remain will never know the disrespect of your command again. Freedom from you and the freedom to choose their fate will be my gift for their loyalty.”

  “No,” yelled Maximilian.

  “Enough. Silence,” whispered Seraphina. She placed a hand on Max’s face. His mouth opened and eyes bulged. He looked from Marceau to Lynette and then to Babette, but his screams made no sound.

  A mewling sound drew Seraphina’s attention. The silver figure from atop the cane crawled toward her. Its form was an indistinct mixture of animals. Its face and body shifted so rapidly, it could barely pull itself forward.

  “Come.” Seraphina pressed her hand down on the floor and the silver creature transformed into a large, long-limbed spider. It scurried in her direction, talons clicking against the floor.

  “Sera?” Khat called.

  Seraphina didn’t flinch as the metal spider leapt into her hand and ran onto her arm. She stood and peered into rows of dark eyes.

  “Yes. For now, I suppose,” Seraphina answered the question only she could hear. The figure melted and silver wrapped around her wrist. It formed a snake and bit its own tail, forming an Ouroboros bracelet.

  Max’s mouth formed repeated screams of the word “No,” but no sound escaped his mouth.

  Seraphina bent and laid her hand over the wound in his chest. His wound sealed closed, but she had not removed the venom. “Your veins will burn from the venom, and it will weaken you, but death will not grant you release. I am undecided as to your fate.”

  Babette asked in a soft voice, “May we please have him, Mistress?” She looked at Lynette and her eyes danced with the possibilities.

  Lynette’s answering smile was terrifying. “Yes, Mistress, we could keep him… occupied. Until you decide otherwise.”

  Maximilian shook his head and tried to scoot away from his former undead girlfriends. He rolled onto his stomach and across the floor on his knees and elbows, but the venom left him too weak to escape.

  Seraphina nodded at Lynette and Babette and said, “Why not? I believe the two of you have much unfinished business with Max.”

  He sneered up at her. Yes, he did hate that nickname.

  Babette clapped excitedly before leaning down and grabbing one of Max’s feet. She hummed and started singing an old, familiar song, “Tonight You Belong To Me.” The girls sang in unison while grabbing Max’s other foot.

  They slowly dragged his body to the top of the stairs as their voices harmonized with childlike merriment. Max desperately clawed at the floor and the veins in his neck strained from his silent screams of protest.

  His former Ettes turned and waved at the others, their matching pink baby-doll dresses swaying around their legs. They looked at each other and leaned in, sharing a soft, intimate kiss before resuming their song and bouncing Max along behind them down the stairs.

  “Next verse…”

  Thud, thud.

  “Chorus…”

  Thud, thud.

  “You belong to… us.” And their laughter echoed up the stairs and down the hall.

  Max’s body hit the last few steps and soon after, the bell above the shop’s door rang as it opened and closed.

  They all stood frozen. What was there to say after that?

  Khat finally broke the stunned silence. “It may take years before my goosebumps go away from witnessing
that. Creepy, undead revenge? It’s damned creepy.”

  Epilogue

  Marceau sipped his coffee and looked around the familiar café, but he no longer felt his former fascination with people watching.

  At one time, he had picked people and daydreamed about stepping into their lives and families. Now, he had a family of his own, some by choice, and perhaps others by blood.

  Vespa hadn’t been seen since her night at the AAA. And a week had passed since he’d last heard from the Ettes. They’d moved into one of the more secluded cottages Max had built in the Bayou Sauvage and kept to themselves most of the time.

  Max.

  Marceau hadn’t seen him in weeks. Still even the mention of his name set Marceau’s nerves on edge. He supposed there would always be a trace of lingering fear from the mention of his former benefactor’s name, even with the stripped-down version of his powers.

  Finishing his coffee, he set the mug on the table and placed a generous tip next to it. He’d come into the city to clear out the last of his possessions from his apartment. He now lived back at the main house with Seraphina, Finn and Khat, and a few thousand undead.

  Finn, now more powerful than a mere Sin Eater with his infusion of death magic, was making progress in laying the soldiers who chose to forego an afterlife, to rest. Progress was slow because of the sheer numbers.

  Just this morning, Khat reassured him they would get their old Seraphina back, in time. She’d been overwhelmed by her new power, the hive mind, and the responsibilities of being the new Mistress of Death. Some days, there were hints of the old Seraphina with shy smiles and playful banter. But other times, Seraphina lay in her bed crying out from the mental clutter of the hive mind. When she did leave her room, Seraphina often wandered around the mansion going from one undead to another. Touching them and seeing that they were real seemed to calm her as if she feared insanity.

  Marceau had to find a way to help her… figure out a way to get inside her mental fortress. Together he knew they could overcome the challenges before them. They had already accomplished so much to be together.