Necromantia: Vol. 1-3 (Three Book Set) Read online

  “I did…I did. Please excuse them. They are a little stressed about speaking with their mother and they had a hard time believing some of the descriptions I told them about. They are good candidates and they have been vetted for the ritual.”

  “No, I understand. Nathaniel and I spend so much time in this world that we have to know the mental challenges others may face.”

  Nathaniel chimed in, “Sir, I am sorry to interrupt, but we are ready to go.”

  “Fantastic. Thank you for getting this ready so fast. I need you to go out there and give them a little prep show. I've got some extra powder in the bags. People always enjoy a few fireworks. No spells or incantations, we don't need anyone listening in on what we are doing.”

  “Yes, sir.” Nathaniel walked over to the ring surrounding the fire. He pulled small pouches filled with various powders from a bag. His hands palmed the bags, hiding them from the view of the family.

  He greeted the family. “Good evening, everyone.”

  The two young sisters smiled when Nathaniel greeted them.

  “Again, my name is Nathaniel and if you have any questions feel free to ask. Right now we are going to start with the ceremony as we prepare the site. We like to involve the families with this. I know this is the first time all of you are doing this. So first, would you mind following me into the circle?”

  The trio followed Nathaniel. Each person carefully stepped over the chalked circle as if stepping over some small invisible fence.

  “Ok. Ok. First, we need to space out evenly around the fire. Good, good. Now please lift your arms up, about chest high, with your palms out, as if you are warming your hands by the fire.”

  The three followed the orders and lifted their arms. Nathaniel placed the red sash across his shoulders and orbited the fire pit. His feet shifted in a dancer's rhythm around the circle. The family stared in amazement as this thin man had now dipped into some unseen reservoir of confidence.

  His soft voice gave way to an unseen side. His voice suddenly deepened, releasing its gravelly texture over the fire.

  “Oh God, the giver of all wisdom and knowledge to them who are without sin, Instructor and Master of all Spiritual Learning, by thy Angels and Arch-Angels, by Thrones, Potestates, Principates and Powers, by Cherubim and Seraphim and all the hosts of Heaven, I adore, invocate, worship and glorify thy Name, and exalt thee: most terrible and most merciful, I do humbly beseech thee this day to illuminate and fill my Heart with the grace of thy Holy Spirit, thou who art three in one, Amen.”

  Nathaniel reared back sucking in the white smoke. He exhaled a slow stream that swirled and danced in the light breeze. His hips snapped back and his arm dropped a hidden bag of powder into the fire. His voice cried out, “COME!” The bag struck the fire and exploded giving off a brilliant green flame. The family's eyes widened as they watched the possessed man scream into the blaze.

  Lazarus smiled leaning into Father Luke, “The boy does a good job.”

  “Should we be tricking them like this?”

  “It is just part of the show. You know the real goal.”

  “I do, but I'm sure the real show is exciting enough.”

  “It is, but this boy has been working with me and I enjoy watching him working the craft. He will take over from me and he needs this time. You know it's like a father watching his son.”

  “He does look the part. Just try and get through all of this. I promised to deliver this family to you and I have.”

  “You've done your job and now it's time for me to do mine.”

  Lazarus's face opened into a smile, revealing his yellowed teeth. He pulled down on his black tunic and left Father Luke.

  Nathaniel saw Lazarus approaching and broke from his routine, falling back into the circle, mimicking the Greys with their arms outstretched. The clearing fell silent except for the popping of the fire. Lazarus glided into view. His movements were unnaturally smooth as he crossed the boundary to meet Jonathan's face. “We are about to pull your mother from the other side.” He looked at the two women. “I need to know you are all right. Are you?”

  Jonathan swallowed and nervously answered, “We are, we have things that need answering.”

  “You've heard this type of warning before, but I need to say it again. With what we're doing here tonight, I can't promise we'll be safe. There's always a chance something could go wrong. If it does, I need you three to back off and we'll handle it. Father Luke has instructed you on this. You must listen to him. He is your guide in and out of this forest. Do you understand?”

  The three faces nodded in agreement.

  “Then let's begin.” Lazarus walked around the circle breathing deeply. His mind relaxed as he closed his eyes. There was a calm silence surrounding the fire. All eyes were trained on the man's graceful movements. His fingers popped and his elbows tucked back against his sides.

  Father Luke had seen this ceremony before, the pomp and pageantry, but there was always something special watching Lazarus move. He would often tell his colleagues that it was the deliberate actions that impressed him the most. When watching Lazarus, it felt like you were watching an old master at work. A biblical creature channeling wisdom from the ages.

  “Everyone lock hands.” Lazarus reached into his pocket and pulled out a small parchment wrapped with an old linen cloth. He kneeled before the fire and pressed the object into the fire. The family members stared in amazement as Lazarus's arm remained untouched by the heat. There was no pain, no burning or curling flesh. Lazarus was quiet and focused. His eyes were filled with flames. Around the edge of the necromancer's arm was a dull blue aurora. It pulsed with the rhythm of a faint heartbeat. Around the fire was an audible but faint static. The white noise popped and sizzled as Lazarus lowered his head, gently whispering an incantation into the fire.

  Jonathan could not contain himself as his shock spilled over. His voice whispered out, “How is this possible?”

  Lazarus leaped up and the fire fell back to its orange color. His eyes were wide as he stared into the burning coals. A small slit opened in the coals. It was dark like a well deep in a forest. All around the pit, the fire fell down into the hole as if being pulled through. Lazarus's voice was deep and commanding. “Everybody freeze, no one move. She is almost here.”

  The fire melted into the ground and plunged the site into darkness before erupting like a geyser into the sky. The flames fell over their heads and down behind them. It continued to flow endlessly from the pit forming a tunnel over the participants. The fire rolled and swirled in a burning fury. A warm breeze blew down the tunnel taking up Baye's long hair and plunging it into the inferno. The edges of her blonde hair curled and smoked. A terrible thundering sound surrounded them. Lazarus's face was wild, teeth exposed as he yelled out like a roadside lunatic, “Hold fast!” His voice dropped. “She's coming.”

  The tunnel pulsed like a wave rolling over their heads. As soon as the fire tunnel appeared, it fell into the sand and disappeared. The glowing red coals remained in the center of the pit. They pulsed as if they contained some new life trying to breathe for the first time. The necromancer dove into the coals with his bare hands and pulled a pile to his chest. His clothes and arms steamed from the heat.

  He screamed out, “Everyone back!” He released the coals into the air and they sparked as they struck the ground. The embers lifted up and illuminated a figure hidden from view. “Nathaniel, the smoke! Get it!”

  Nathaniel broke to the bag and pulled out a chained urn. He lit a stick of incense and approached the figure that was dying into nothingness. He quickly fanned the smoke over her body, covering her like a fine powder. Her face and features appeared with each new layer of smoke.

  Lazarus whispered to Nathaniel, “A little more so we can see her.”

  He fanned again and once more. Her face was solemn and her eyes were glued to the tree line, as she ignored the pageantry surrounding her. She swayed gently like a branch in a soft breeze, flexing and bending. Her transpare
nt body flickered as firelight shone through. Fine wisps of ash were slowly pulled into empty voids where there were once soft blues eyes.

  “Jonathan, fall in behind me and grab your sisters,” Lazarus broke the trance as the family moved quickly. “Nathaniel, a little more.” The smoke fell on the woman's body again.

  “Lazarus, I think that's my mother.”

  “Speak her name.”

  It was barely a whisper, “Ester Grey.”

  Lazarus approached the woman. “Are you Ester Grey?” There was only the sound of static in the air.

  “Lazarus, it looks like my mother.”

  “She may look like your mother, but we need to know for sure.” His response hung in the air as Jonathan's eyes narrowed.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Ester, I shall have occasion for thy presence, and not to part without my license until thou hast duly and faithfully performed my will.” The apparition turned slightly to meet Lazarus. “Are you her?”

  Nothing.

  “Jonathan, did you bring something of hers?”

  “Yes, a family ring.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the object. Lazarus took it from his hand and kneeled down before the woman.

  “Ester, we have something of yours and I want to give it to you. When I give it to you, I want you to tell me who you are.” He placed the ring at her feet and backed away. “I need you to tell me you are Ester. Can you do that?”

  The smoky jaw shifted and a cloud of ash puffed from her mouth. “Yes. I am Ester. What do you want?”

  “Jonathan, what is your question?”

  Jonathan stepped forward alongside Lazarus. “Mother, this is Jonny. Are you OK?” The ash fell from her lips, but no answer. “Mother, we have a question for you. It is about the will you left behind.”

  The smoke wisped off the edge of her mouth. The fine layer of ash cracked as her faint lips curled. Pulsing clouds of smoke fell from her lips as she laughed at the question.

  “Mother, this is important.”

  “I'm floating above a web of fire and you bring me here to ask me this?” She continued to laugh.

  “Mother, we have to know if you wanted your estate to be left to Penelope.”

  The woman's eyes shifted between her children. Her voice penetrated the night in a firm cadence. “You ungrateful sacks of shit. You just waited for me to die. Waited for a fortune to fall to you. Now, you are here wondering why it turned out this way?”

  “But everything going to Penelope? How will we live and manage?”

  “You'll have to find your way. In the end, that dog meant more to me than any of you children.” Her cheeks curled in enjoyment. “It never left my side and it was there in the end. So, she'll be taken care of for the rest of her life and you will be stuck on the outside. Much like how I feel right now.” Her hand swiped at her chest and she parted the layers of smoke crystals.

  Jonathan was seething in anger. “But, it's a dog! What were you thinking?”

  “I was very clear in what I was thinking. It was my money and I chose what to do with it.”

  “What about us? How are we supposed to move on?”

  Her body began to glow a dull red and the air boiled around her. Lazarus and Nathaniel could feel the heat pouring down from her body as she became visibly angry. Lazarus stepped up to Jonathan and whispered into his ear, “Is this the information you needed?”

  “Who are these two men? Why are they part of this discussion?”

  Lazarus continued into Jonathan's ear, “I think we need to end this now.”

  Jonathan turned and let loose into Lazarus's face, “I'm not done!”

  Ester stepped forward. “You’re not done with what, little boy? What do you think you are doing here? Is this some lawyer here to posthumously change the will?”

  “You are deranged, Mother. Insane. Do you hear me? I hope you are in hell where you belong. I can see the flames in you and we hope you burn.”

  The sand at Ester's feet began to glow red and Lazarus pleaded with Jonathan, “This has got to end now.” Lazarus looked to Nathaniel and nodded his head. They slowly shifted away from the family towards the fire pit.

  “My children even disappoint me in death.”

  “We'll fight this, I promise.”

  She laughed. “Good luck with that. I believe my lawyers drew up solid documents.”

  Jonathan stepped closer to Ester's face. “When you fall back into that pit, you'll be gone forever, just a bad dream.” He smiled. “I'll make sure that I kill that dog. I'll have it skinned and turned into drinks coasters.”

  As the words fell out, Lazarus and Nathaniel both turned to see Ester glowing. Fire dripped from her fingertips like water and pooled on the ground giving off a bright orange color that reflected off Jonathan's face. They both knew that this invocation was over.

  Lazarus yelled out to Luke, “Father! Get them out of here! Jonathan, take your sisters and leave now!”

  Nathaniel looked at Lazarus's face which was wide-eyed and focused. “Lazarus, what's going on? What's happening?”

  “I think Ester might be drawing attention from the other side. Someone might be taking advantage of the situation.”

  Father Luke rushed to Jonathan's side. “We are leaving now. Get your sisters and move!”

  “Casey, Baye, let's go.” The group broke from the clearing and sprinted to the tree line. They looked back to see their mother slowly taken by fire, her arms now ablaze and burning brilliantly. Her voice broke the commotion as she began to scream out in anger, flailing her limbs and leaving a burning trail behind. Lazarus and Nathaniel were crouched at the fire digging through a bag and rapidly exchanging inaudible words.

  Father Luke grabbed Jonathan's elbow. “Leave them. They know what they are doing.”

  “But she's out of control.”

  “And more reason for us to leave now.”

  “I…I just can't believe all of this.”

  “There's always more out there than you know. We need to leave.”

  The family and Father Luke disappeared into the dark clearing leaving behind the flickering light of a flaming woman who was now being encircled by two men gripping objects in their hands. The light continued to dance on the trees above them as they made their way down the walking path and out of the forest.

  Breath of Fire

  Ester Grey's hands dangled at the end of her limp arms. The fire raged across her body giving off a brilliance that illuminated that forest clearing. From the edges of her fingertips, fire drops cascaded off into pools on the sandy ground. The grass on the clearing edge smoked from the heat and sweat pooled on Lazarus and Nathaniel's faces.

  “She's going to light the whole clearing on fire. Do you have any of the salt bags left?” Nathaniel could hear the fear in Lazarus's voice. He knew this was one of those moments where their jobs became serious.

  “I think we do. Do you think she has one of the walkers with her?”

  “I don't know, but we need to get her back to wherever she came from. Move fast!”

  Nathaniel broke off towards the fire where their black supply bag sat. He reached into the bag and rummaged through it pulling out small cloth sacks and oils. His hand found a white sack with a black line down the middle and he reared back to throw. “Lazarus! Here!”

  Lazarus caught the sack in his hand and faced Ester. She had picked up a tree branch that was lying in the clearing. Her fingers were drenched in flames as they wrapped around the wood. Fire raced up the branch quickly illuminating the veins in the wood. She made a rapid motion and threw the branch at Lazarus. He turned as it broke across his back sending embers flying around him.

  “Who are you two?” her voice wailed and pitched. Lazarus knew she was in pain from the fire but there was nothing he could do. Sending her back through the opening was the only way to end her suffering.

  “We need you to go back, Ester!”

  “Back? Back to that purgatory. That sinful web?”

 
“Ester, we don't want to hurt you, we just want you to go back. You can't stay here any longer.”

  Her burning lips curled upwards. “You don't make that call anymore. I've seen where I'm going and I'm not going back.”

  Lazarus leaned back and threw the cloth sack, striking Ester in the chest. The bag split open and a white cloud of dust exploded across her body. The powder chased the fire down her limbs and left smoking ashes where Ester's feet stood. The clearing went dark. Lazarus breathed hard scanning the darkness for any movement. He could feel a warmth on his back and a tightness in his neck as he scanned.

  He called out to Nathaniel, “You OK?”

  “The question is are you?”

  “I think I might have a burn but I'm OK.”

  “Is she gone?”

  “Shhh…I don't know, just listen.”

  The two men stood with their arms up. Lazarus slowly moved across the clearing blindly reaching out, feeling for Ester. He stepped through Ester's footprints in the sand but felt nothing.

  “Tell me if you feel any static.”

  Nathaniel slowly scanned the black space. His eyes began to adjust as the stars showed above them framed in by enormous evergreens.

  From the clearing, Lazarus could hear a quick shifting of sand as if someone was shuffling their feet. A small red glow grew from the center of the fire pit, sending light across Lazarus's face.

  He whispered, “I think she's still here.”

  A hollow scream grew up from the clearing. It seemed to be emanating from every leaf and blade of grass. Lazarus and Nathaniel stood firm, scanning the clearing for any movement. Their black clothes fluttered in the warm breeze as they could feel the heat beginning to rise all around them.

  “Nathaniel, we need to get that fire out. She's tied to it. Get my bag and fill it with this sand.” He kicked the ground around him. “Douse that fire now.”

  Nathaniel moved slowly towards the bag, still scanning ahead for any movement.

  “Ester, are you here?” Lazarus moved slowly with his arms out feeling through the air. “I understand you might be upset, but you need to go back. You're not allowed to stay.”