by J G Jerome
Gwen gives me a wicked smile. “You could ask those souls if they would like to be my next meal.”
“How does that work?” I ask.
Gwen shrugs, “When people on this plane die, an Angélus Mórtis, an angel of death, picks up the soul and takes it home to our plane. Once there, we consume all the soul energy from the soul leaving a soul seed. At that point, an ‘Angélus Núntius’ returns the soul seed into the atmosphere of this planet, and it eventually gets called into a new baby. They have no memory of their former lives unless someone gets sloppy, or there is a lesson to be learned and remembered in the next.”
I ask, “Do those look like little acorns without the cap?”
Gwen looks pained. “More like a hazelnut kernel.”
I nod. “I have seen one, but it was in a zombie - what you called a ‘no soul.’ Why would there be a soul seed in a zombie?”
Gwen nods, “It’s like the biblical parable of the mustard seed. Sometimes the seed is cast in soil that is not fertile. I’m not well-versed in human souls other than knowing that sometimes they get returned with some bit of memory and that they taste good. Very good. Succubus are the only ones that come close.”
I pull out the bolts and find the one without a life glyph. I put the others in my pocket before I call out the soul from the unbound bolt.
I ask the soul, “This angel named Gwen would like to take you to the afterlife. Would you like that?”
“Maybe,” the ghost answers. “What will happen?”
Gwen says, “I would consume the energy of your soul, leaving just enough to maintain a vague memory of what happened when you trapped me. I think that bit of cautionary memory might serve you well in the next life. Then your soul seed would be absorbed into a new baby when it is born.”
The ghost shudders. I push some life energy into the ghost and see faint features of a tall young lady with shoulder length hair and a cute face. I would call her ‘strong’ rather than ‘stocky.’ I think about it. “You were the thaumaturge.”
She nods. “My father taught me thaumaturgy, but he decided that he could sell me off to Mr. Lafayette as an apprentice necromancer. Apparently, my powers were generic enough that I can practice any craft. That’s fairly unusual. Mr. Lafayette did teach me necromancy, but he really just wanted me as his pet thaumaturge. I’ve been a tool for men my whole life. I don’t want to be a tool for another male - even if it is an angel.”
“What is your name?” I ask.
“I was Josephine Carroll, daughter of Gryffin Carroll, a thaumaturge in the mines. Now I am nothing but a disembodied memory,” the ghost says sadly.
Rebecca says, “Josephine, I am the person that Gwen was ensorcelled to guard. I died before sh-he got the chance. William brought me back, treating me with kindness and eventually becoming my love. He is an untrained necromancer, yet he created this body for me, and is giving me a good life. There may be an opportunity for you, too. You don’t have to be his lover, just be a friend to me, Marissa, and William.”
Josephine nods at Rebecca’s words and turns to look at me. “I will think on it, if I may Mr. William.”
“I’m William James, Josephine. I would be happy for you to call me Will or William. I would be happy to be your friend,” I tell the ghost.
Josephine says, “I would like that, William. I am going to retire to my...room?”
I nod with a smile. “I will let you know when we get home. You can roam around free in our apartment” She nods and slowly fades from view.
I look at Rebecca. “You could hear her?”
Rebecca nods. “Once you energized her, yes. Before that, I only saw the mist. I may actually be your familiar. That’s an interesting thought to consider.”
Marissa says, “Oh baby, you are so familiar.” We all laugh.
I look at Gwen, “I am afraid I must say no to feeding you unless you want to slip over to our apartment.”
Gwen shakes its head. “No. I think I’ll just go home. I’m sure I’ll be able to feed once I return.”
Rebecca, Marissa, and I all wrap Gwen in a hug. “Best of luck,” I tell Gwen.
Gwen says, “If any of you need me, just call for me with intent...call for Angélus Gwenéfron.”
Rebecca says, “Maybe if we are just having a dinner party?”
Gwen bows its head. “I would be honored. Boiled eggs have a bit of spiritual energy in them that I find nourishing. Otherwise, I can actually eat just about anything and harvest a minor amount of energy from it.” It gives each of us a kiss on the cheek before slowly fading away.
Rebecca, Marissa, and I all exit the garage. I ensure the lights are off and lock the door. We light up our flashlights, and we pick our way to the alley before we shut them off. We walk slowly arm-in-arm down the hill and turn right on Cortez to return to the apartment.
Once we return, we all get glasses of water and sit down. I call Josephine to join us, and she appears. She does have faint features rather than just being an amorphous silhouette. I point out the sheet on the loveseat, explain my thoughts on conservation of energy, and tell her to make herself at home.
I ask, “Josephine, is there a way I can call the other ghosts forth without removing the glyph?”
Josephine acts surprised. “You don’t know?”
I shake my head. “I don’t. Rebecca told you I was untrained. It’s true.”
She responds, “But you have a power well, and it seems infinite. Only master level necromancers have one, and yours radiates like the sun. Any necromancer would be afraid to challenge you. Lafayette’s well was considerably more limited, and he was considered a scary man.”
“I have no intention of being scary, Josephine. I just want to live my life and protect the people I care about.”
Josephine responds, “A necromancer without world-domination ambitions. That’s highly unusual. Charlene is the only other one I’ve met. Her major ambition was to stay young and beautiful forever, so she could get as many men between her legs as possible. She wasn’t a particularly strong necromancer, but she was strong enough for her goals. She was about ready to start preparing her meisterwerk. She actually taught me everything I know about necromancy. Mr. Lafayette couldn’t be bothered to teach me much. He kept Charlene for a bed toy. She was okay with it, and it kept him from using me that way.”
I say, “What can you tell me about the two gentlemen?”
She shrugs. “Not much. I met them two days prior to my death. The tall one was Mason Smith. I never heard him utter a positive word. The dandy was Sidney Beauchamps. He was really a sweet man, but I believe he would rather have been a sweet girl. Charlene confided to me the night before we met Mr. Clement’s apprentices, that Mr. Lafayette sent her to bed Mr. Clement. She said that Sidney was obviously Mr. Clement’s bed toy, and that Sidney was delighted to have someone to discuss fashion with when they were not pleasing Mr. Clement. Of the two, Sidney was the stronger sorcerer. I think that he was probably stronger than Mr. Clement.”
“Thank you for the information, Josephine. Let me know if you have come to a decision about whether to return to the living. I am pretty sure that I can push life energy into you to strengthen your form and transform it into a living body. It took about a week to do it for Rebecca.”
Josephine purses her lips. “I am still worried about that. I would be your slave, William. I meant what I said about being a tool for any man.” I see she’s starting to fade.
Rebecca chimes in. “Josephine, he didn’t know that rule. I had to tell him. Even then, he fought me on it - preferring that I remain a free, independent woman. I had to explain that I needed him to claim me as his property, so no other necromancer could take me away and make me a slave. William finally relented. We had no idea how to go about it, but I am pretty sure what we did worked. He used what little we know of his craft, our love for each other, and some awesome sex to create the bond.”
Josephine says, “That would work. It’s about the necromancer’s desire to keep
you. His will for you to be free would weaken the bond, but if he acquiesced in the end and did the things you described, you are safe. Normally I think there just needs to be a periodic declaration that ‘you are mine.’ Charlene would know for sure.” She pauses for a moment, and her features fade.
I tell her, “Josephine, you are fading. If you would place your hand on mine, I will push some more life energy into you.”
She asks, “Do you have enough?”
I bow my head in shame for a moment before looking into her eyes. “I have the energy I harvested from the glyphs, plus I ate a zombie today.” Josephine and Marissa both gasp.
I hold out my hand, and Josephine lays her fingers on my palm. It feels like a cold fog. “Do you want it all?”
I see her misty head nod. I breathe deeply for three breaths, then I reach into that well in my abdomen and start pushing life energy into her. I see her slowly taking shape and becoming more solid. As I’m standing, I see her eyes begin to form and her face take shape. Her neck and shoulders become more solid-looking as the energy courses through her misty figure. Slowly a tall, well-proportioned, strong woman with a cute face and ash blond shoulder-length hair is standing in front of me. I guess her height at 5’10” - she doesn’t have to look upward much at all to gaze into my eyes. She is wearing a shapeless dress.
Marissa gasps. “You’re gorgeous!”
Josephine frowns and says, “Hardly. I don’t come close to your beauty. What is your name?”
“I’m Marissa. I am a close friend of Will’s, and Rebecca and I are becoming close, too. I think you are beautiful. You’re so strong. It’s sexy. I am in a bit of a mess relationship-wise at the moment. Otherwise, I would be trying to get you into my bed.”
Josephine looks like a deer caught in headlights.
Rebecca hugs Marissa. “Honey, I know Carla hurt you, but Will and I love you. If you chose us, you will never be alone again. Either way, we are friends for life. Considering Will is a necromancer, our lives may be very long indeed.”
Josephine takes in the interaction between the two ladies with a considering look.
I continue to push more energy into her as I comment. “I agree with Marissa. If I saw you on the street, my eyes would be drawn to you. If we had struck up a conversation, I would likely have asked you on a date. Regardless, I suspect that comes a little close to the ‘not being a man’s tool’ goal you have stated consistently. Plus, I have three girlfriends, so it wouldn’t be fair to try to make you one, too.”
I close my eyes as I focus on what I’m doing for a moment. Then I continue. “Just don’t sell your looks short, Josephine. Not everyone will find you beautiful, but many men and a few women will.”
She acts shy as she says, “Thank you, William. You are very kind.”
“Not always,” I say with a shrug. “However, I prefer to be when given the opportunity.”
Josephine looks in my eyes. “That’s reasonable, William.” Then she ogles Marissa and Rebecca cuddling into each other. She asks, “Rebecca, did I hear you say craft? Are you a thaumaturge, too?”
Rebecca says, “No. I’m a witch. I got my powers back about a day after my body was complete.”
Josephine says, “My powers never left. As a necromancer, being a ghost just means that I have to leverage death energy more since life energy is in short supply. I am not certain if my thaumaturgy craft is still available, but I can still feel relationships in objects. If it’s not available now, it probably will be upon becoming a whole body.”
Suddenly the relationship aspect of what I’m doing strikes Josephine. “Oh damn.” She looks at me with resigned frustration.
I tell her, “Josephine, I can not claim you if you wish. Or, I can claim you and put the same level control that I have on Rebecca.”
“What is that?” Josephine asks.
“To live a good, full life. She has chosen to be my life partner. I didn’t ask her to; although, I’m happy she made that choice,” I clarify.
Rebecca grins, “I recommend taking him as a lover, Josephine. It’s very rewarding.”
Marissa laughs and says, “Definitely!” She hugs Rebecca to her like a lover.
Josephine looks at Marissa. “What claim do you have on Marissa?”
“I have no claim on Marissa. She is my dear friend. I’m in love with her. Sometimes she honors me by sharing her body with me.”
Marissa says, “William has my heart. I have been in relationships with both males and females since I started having urges. I have been in a committed relationship with a woman for the last two years until today; although, to be honest it’s been over since long before I ever came to William’s bed. William was my sometimes lover on the side who just keeps working his way deeper into my heart. I am his. He is mine. Rebecca is my new friend, but I’m falling for her fast. She is a beautiful soul. Does that clear it up?”
Josephine asks, “Is that normal now?”
I chuckle. “Only in fantasy literature and certain religious communities as far as I know.”
Josephine pulls her hand away. “I need to work with this energy to see if I can make this body permanent.”
Rebecca says, “I didn’t have to try, but then again Will fed me energy from his cock six to eight times every day for a week. That method may be easier to convert energy into flesh.”
Josephine says, “You what?” She steps back from me.
Rebecca grabs a pillow off the couch. “It’s easier if I show you.” She throws the pillow at my feet. She raises the skirt of her dress and kneels gracefully at my feet. Then she reaches for my belt buckle. She smirks at me and says, “Hun-ree, Master.”
Marissa moans. “If we’re doing this, let’s go to the bedroom!”
Rebecca asks, “Are you wearing the same undergarments today?”
Marissa nods with a wicked smile. “The lingerie is fresh out of the laundry. I had to replace the stockings. They were so soaked in his and my juices that they were crunchy. I don’t think I could get them clean.”
Rebecca unzips me and pulls out Willy while looking at Marissa. “Too bad, I would have loved to see you wearing the stockings with Will’s marks on you.”
Marissa groans, “God! You’re turning into such a little slut!” She grins lasciviously at Rebecca.
Rebecca rubs my cock on her face as she tells Marissa. “How about he fucks me, and you eat his seed from my pussy. Then I’ll do the same to you.”
Marissa reaches out a hand exclaiming, “Slut, slut, slut.”
Rebecca stands and grabs Willy in one hand and Marissa’s hand in the other. “Just for you and William, Marissa. I belong to my master and my beautiful friend.”
As I feel the pressure pulling on my cock, I follow Rebecca. I call to Josephine as I take in her amazed expression. “Josephine, make yourself at home. If you want to lie down, pull the cushions off the couch. There is a pull-out mattress inside. Have a good night!”
I follow my two lovers into the bedroom for a replay of last Sunday.
18 - Getting ready to face the world
I woke up Friday morning about 7am to find Rebecca laying on top of me with her left arm snaked down to twine fingers with Marissa’s fingers, her diminutive breasts pressing into our lover’s chest. Her head is resting on Marissa’s left shoulder with her lips pressed into my shoulder. Her right arm is lying across my chest.
I look up to see Marissa’s eyes watching me. She mouths ‘adorable’ and glances down at Rebecca’s tousled hair. She looks at me again and mouths ‘I love you’ as adoration shines out of her eyes.
I think to myself, ‘How did I get so lucky?’ I mouth to Marissa, ‘I love you, too.’
Rebecca grumbles. “Stop moving! Sleep more!”
Marissa and I both chuckle. Rebecca whines, “Stop!”
I wink at Marissa and say, “You sleep, Rebecca. I’ll just fuck Marissa all by myself.”
Rebecca mutters, “Okay. Me second.”
Marissa giggles, “Get up, sleep
yhead! You said you would help me move today!”
Rebecca mutters, “In the morning. Still night.”
I squeeze Rebecca’s tiny bum. “Well, I suppose if you want to act like a baby brat, I can spank you again.”
Rebecca wakes up with that. She squeezes her eyes shut hard and utters a low moan. “Oh goodness! That was so…” she opens her eyes and looks quizzically at Marissa as she searches for the word she wants. “...kinky?”
Marissa nods with a grin. Rebecca continues, “The spank hurt, but it didn’t. My butt felt warm afterward, and my pussy got really wet.” She looks up at me. “We could do that again.”
Marissa giggles, “Definitely kinky.”
I give Rebecca’s ass a sharp spank. She squeals as I tell her, “Get up, strumpet! We’re burning daylight.”
She looks up at me and moans, “Yes, Master.” Then she kisses Marissa wetly before doing the same to me. She slowly pushes up off Marissa onto me, and then gets up on all fours. She winces. “Oh my! My pussy has been well used.”
Marissa stretches and sighs. “Isn’t it glorious?”
I notice movement in the doorway. Josephine is standing there looking at us all lying in bed together. Little Willy starts to raise his head as I notice where she’s looking. She has one bare foot tucked behind her other knee.
I greet her. “Good morning, Josephine. I see your boots came off. Have you fully...manifested already?”
She shakes her head. “Good morning to you all. No, William. My dress is still attached at the shoulders and my pantaloons are still stuck at my waist. I was able to remove my petticoat and boots, which is an improvement.” She looks at the three of us sitting in bed naked looking at her as though it was nothing unusual. “I didn’t think you three would ever go to sleep last night.”
“Yeah. Apparently, our neighbor didn’t either. How many times did they bang on the wall?” I ask.
Marissa shrugs, which does delightful things to her breasts. She says, “I ignored them. My lovers had all my attention.”
