Necromancer Chronicles Pt. 03

No more would die like that. I released my power and the grove and surrounding land was lit with white light. All eyes turned to me in shock, the fight stopping in its tracks. I guided my magic through my mind and the twenty plus vampires attacking were overcome. My angelic power destroyed their undead bodies and they fell to dust.

I let my power recede and looked around, the area darkened under the clouds and rain as my light faded. Willa's coven of twenty three, was now fifteen. I was missing something important as I looked at all the faces staring at me. Leanne was there, next to Willa, but where was Lisa?

Absurdly my mind corrected itself, with Amy it had gone from twenty four to sixteen, she just wasn't here.

"Lisa?" I gasped out the question, my voice cracking.

No one answered me, but Willa glanced at the house and shook her head. I ran toward it but Willa's pained voice cut through me like a knife.

"It's too late, she and the others are gone."

I fell to my knees in the mud. It felt like my life was draining out into the cold ground. Lisa, the youngest. She was barely twenty years old, so beautiful, so full of life, love, and promise. I tried to remember why it was so important for me to go healing today. How I was worried about how fast things were moving, to give me peace and allow my mind to catch up to my heart.

How worthless now, how stupid. Silas would die for this. The pain in my heart made things so clear. Less than a week had no meaning, I loved them. It was simply how it was. Trying to justify that fact, make sense of it, was a waste of time and effort. I stayed there, down in the mud, wanting to race off and find Silas, kill him, but I was also terrified to leave those I loved again. Not until the danger was passed.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered, my voice swallowed by the wind and rain.

I shook my head, I didn't have time for this, the house was still on fire. I pulled on my power, this time as a sorceress. The fire in the mansion sputtered briefly and went out, smothered by my will and power. It looked bad, I wasn't sure if it could be fixed or if it would need to be condemned and rebuilt, but I had done what I could. The worst of it was on the second and third floor, when I put out the fire I had known all the places it had been and was.

If only I had been here. I didn't blame myself for Silas's crime, but I did blame myself for not seeing it coming. I should have...

I stood up and turned back to the coven, walking through them until I reached Willa and Leanne, who pulled me into a hug.

I barely noticed the stares from the coven as we shared our grief. I didn't care about my secret anymore, it just didn't seem important. Hiding it hadn't helped, people were dying anyway. Silas would pay, and I would no longer hide myself. This was my home, my family and those that I loved. I would defend it...

Chapter 11 - Vincent

A few hours ago...

When we got home Amy and I shared lunch together, then I got to work. I had always kept to myself, but that wasn't possible anymore. I couldn't deny the fact that a necromancer would make a perfect spy master. So I briefed my ghosts to go out and spy on the vampires, try and locate Silas, and keep an eye on Krista's coven as well as that idiot James. There were no grumbles and they seemed genuinely happy for something to do. Up until now I used them as conduits of power, but with a few exceptions, most notably Hardin, I left them to do whatever they had wanted.

I told them only to report on things that could harm the community, and I really didn't want to know who was fucking whom, or try and get any blackmail on people. I felt weird enough about invading their privacy, even though they were the enemy.

I didn't send any ghosts to spy on my allies, I didn't see a valid reason to. Something that I would regret shortly. Amy was giving me a pondering look and I wondered what she was thinking. Finally I looked over and raised an eyebrow.

Amy blushed and said, "I've just been thinking about things and wondering how to bring it up with you..."

I grinned, "Must be big then. You never seemed to have a problem expressing yourself before. I won't get mad if it comes out wrong, just spit it out."

She got up and swayed over to me and sat in my lap, giving me a kiss.

She said, "Been thinking about our future and the people we should have in it. I think... you need to tell our allies, especially our new friends in my coven, what you really are."

I had been thinking the same thing myself, hiding it from a separate community was one thing, but hiding it from my friends was another. How could I ask for their trust without giving mine? Still, I was curious at her motivations. I felt like I was being maneuvered somehow, and while I expected the woman in the center of my life to do things like that on occasion, I felt it was important to put up at least a token resistance.

"I see, and why is that?"

"Well, part of it is your situation," she hedged, "I was hoping they would be understanding. I have no problem at all with the fact you have to feed, but I thought it would be good for maybe my coven and of course, Kim, to take care of that. You seem to need... less with the supernatural. Plus I thought it would be good for you to care about those you sleep with, maybe even love them, instead of seducing humans and sneaking away after like you did something wrong."

She whispered, "I love you, I'm sorry if that all seems a little, heavy handed."

I was speechless. Not in a bad way. I did feel guilty picking up human women, who really had no chance in resisting me, and sneaking away after munching down on their souls, despite the fact I tried to focus on women who wanted one night stands.

No, what had me speechless was she was implying she wanted me to make connections and even have deep feelings for other women. Our soul bond did give her a large measure of confidence that nothing would come between us, but it still took me by surprise.

My voice sounded dubious, "That sounds okay to me love, but do you really think they would go for it?"

She just looked at me like I was dropped on my head as a baby, "If you hadn't noticed, they are into polyamory, and they all look at you as if at a tasty treat they'd like to pick up."

I shook my head, "Yeah sure, the physical attraction is there, there is also more perhaps, but feeding a soul to a demon is a game changer isn't it? Kind of like an attractive guy with VD, attractive or not any woman with sense would bail."

She shrugged, "Don't over think it. It would be worth it because it's more than empty sex with a hot guy. That was the old way. I am talking about real connections. You are a good man, and even more than that, you would be a fantastically strong ally. They would be getting more out of it than just a rutting, they would have your friendship, and someone to call on when in need. I am the link between you and them. I belong to you, with you, but I am also coven."

I just couldn't see it. I also didn't see the point of arguing about it. Even if that second part didn't work like she thought it would, it was still a good idea to give my friends the truth of who I was. This past week had turned everything upside down, and the most amazing part of that was sitting in my lap.

I pulled her tightly against me and stole a kiss before explaining my thoughts on it. It seemed almost a moot point since I decided I would tell them tonight, but I was curious.

"Umm, you said partially? What's the rest of it?"

She pursed her lips, "Do you trust me? I don't want to tell you, influence you. It is something that would be good for all involved, but I don't want to put the idea in your head. All I'll say is don't doubt me, and don't be afraid to follow your heart."

I nodded, I did trust her. Our souls were connected and I could feel her honest and loving intent, how much she cared for me. I also wondered how it could be bigger than telling me to use her coven as a feeding ground and that I should love them if I could.

Whatever it was, I felt a wistful sadness as well as hope behind it.

She started wiggling on my lap, and I couldn't help but respond and harden under her ass. She kissed me softly and turned, moving so she was straddling me before reaching down to undo my pants and fish out my member.

She bit my lip and I gasped as she stroked me up and down. She kneeled around my legs and pulled my face down into her cleavage and lowered herself down. We both moaned as I made the discovery she wasn't wearing panties under her skirt. Her ready and wet molten core opened to me and she slowly lowered herself taking me in.

I ran my hands down her sides while kissing the top of her breasts, and took her shirt up with me when I moved them back up, slipping underneath I cupped her generous breasts and rubbed her nipples in a circle with my thumbs. She looked so beautiful when I looked up. She was barely moving and we were staring into one another's eyes as she ground in painfully slow little circles.

I kissed her softly, lost in the languorous movement of her body on mine. We weren't in a rush and I felt a fierce tenderness toward this woman in my arms. I pulled the shirt over her head and dropped it onto the kitchen floor. She moaned softly when I dipped my head and started softly suckling on her hardened nipple.

Without conscious thought my hips started to push up slowly in time with her swaying circles. I took her other nipple in my mouth as I rubbed the now wet and swollen one with the pad of my thumb. I ran my other hand up her back, teasing her smooth skin with my fingertips. I gathered her hair between my fingers and caressed the back of her neck.

Her hands sent shivers down me, playing with my hair and neck, lightly pulling me forward as she pushed her breast against my face and arched her back. It was a slow decadent fuck, and we were lost both in the sensations we were engendering in each other, and in the intense connection between our souls.

When I had joined our souls I wondered if it was the biggest mistake I would ever make, it turned out to be the most wonderful thing I'd ever done.

Her body shook over mind and she whispered, "Oh Vince," right before her body reached bliss.

I kissed up from her breast to her neck, teased her jaw then claimed her lips, letting her come down before we started moving again. We made love that way for at least an hour and her orgasms grew in strength each time. Finally her waiting body accepted my seed, greedily milking my length with her silken bliss.

We got up and I took her hand, wordlessly we went up and took a shower washing the sweat and sex off our bodies. We were getting dressed and lost in thought when I heard the crying. I turned in alarm and saw the last thing I had expected, or wanted to see. Lisa was there sobbing. I didn't have to ask what was wrong, it was obvious. Lisa was a ghost.

"What happened," I growled.

She shook her head, tears pooling in her eyes, "Vampires are attacking the coven... I... was completely worthless, didn't even hear them coming. I was dead before I knew they were there."

Amy said, "We need to go, it will take us at least twenty minutes to get there."

Lisa shook her head, "No, bind me and put me in a body, I can get you there through the oak."

I froze, "What?"

Lisa said, "Don't you know why the community fears necromancers? If you bind us at our death and put us in a body you'd have magical slaves. Humans are good for nothing but power conduits. But I trust you, you won't make me do something bad, and I'm not ready to move on... Please, we have no time."

She shook her head, "I hope it's not too great a temptation, I thought you already knew, imagine a legion of vampires, witches and sorcerers at your back, all bound to your will. I truly hope you are worthy of the trust I am showing."

I was shocked, I had no idea. But I didn't have time to even consider it right now if her coven was being attacked, possibly slaughtered right now. I didn't think I had any female zombies left, but then I remembered two of the vampires that attacked yesterday were females. I called them both and in a few moments they were in the room.

I said, "I can find you something else, but right now choose one of these."

They were both attractive, vampires didn't turn ugly humans after all. One had blonde hair and blue eyes, the other long black hair and green eyes. Their bodies were incredibly similar, both had C cup breasts, were about five foot four, and easy on the eyes. I wondered if the same male vamp had turned both.

Lisa said, "Thanks for giving me a choice, but that one will do, I always wanted green eyes."

I could tell by her voice she was on the edge of hysteria. I wasn't sure if she would serve me for ten years for me doing this for her, or not. It didn't feel right, she was a friend and I should help anyway. But a shiver ran down my spine, I can't hand out bodies to all my friends so they never die, can I? I would have to work through it later, but for now it would be a mind to soul bond, just in case she lost it at some point, I could always make her an independent revenant later.

I pulled some power to me, then prepared the body, formed the links and inserted her soul. It was obvious now, and a bit scary. I had the power of a witch at my fingertips now, and I wasn't sure I could be trusted with it. I had no inclination to gather hundreds of magic users and form an invading army, no, my issue was much more subtle. It would be easy to keep making them as supernaturals died and souls became available, keep them around to protect the city and those that I loved. Good intentions could lead me down a dark path with this power.

I said, "If it makes a difference," as we jogged through my house, toward the back yard and the oak tree, "I really thought your brown eyes were beautiful."

She giggled which turned into a choking sob. I berated myself, so not the time.

She chanted at the oak, then stared at it in disbelief.

"What's wrong?" Amy asked in a gentle voice.

Her voice was filled with loss, "The oak grove, it no longer recognizes me as coven."

Amy said thoughtfully, "Maybe you just need to be added back to the coven in your new state. After all, I am undead and was able to join the coven, I just wish I had been taught the spell. I haven't had a chance to look at the coven's spells."

She brightened slightly at the sliver of hope that Amy extended and said, "I think I have an idea."

Lisa grabbed Amy's hand and placed it on the oak, with her hand over top.

"Maybe it will recognize your signature even though I am casting. I can send the energy through you."

She chanted again, and apparently that worked. She grabbed my hand and gestured for Amy to lead us through since the spell was tied to her. Amy stepped through the trunk and dragged us through. We came out into the middle of a thunderstorm.

There were corpses on the ground, but no people. Not sure what to do I headed for the house. It looked like it had been on fire at some point, but not now. I sent my power questing out and into the house, but I couldn't find anyone, where were they?

"I don't sense anyone."

I sent out a general call asking if any of my ghosts had seen them. May answered the call.

"I was hanging around Brandt when he got a call from Anise, her and the survivors of the coven are at the council chambers."

I was angry for a moment she hadn't contacted me, but it was my fault, specifically telling them not to spy on allies.

My cell phone went off with a text telling me the same thing. Apparently there would be an emergency session on how to deal with the vampires. I told the others what was going on. Lisa, with the help of Amy opened the oak and a few seconds later we were in Chicago, making our way to the council room.

It was a little awkward when we got there. Willa, Leanne, and Anise were in a group hug as soon as they figured out who Lisa was. They shot me grateful looks. The rest of Willa's coven was a different story, they looked... distrustful and suspicious.

Once Lisa explained that she had begged me to do it, and asked for our help with the attackers, the suspicion lessened quite a bit, but it was still there. Honestly I couldn't blame them, the idea of your soul being enslaved after death is not a pleasant one.

I cleared my throat and said tentatively, "There is something else you all need to know about me. I don't like keeping this secret now that we are friends. It seemed prudent to before now, but... Well I think it's time. I think it will probably come out soon anyway with all that's going on, and better from me than someone else."

"And what secret is that Mr. Jones?" someone with a deep voice asked behind me.

I turned to see Brandt with an amused look on his face, a number of werewolves came in with him. Including Kim.

I waited for everyone to find a seat, that would gain me a second or so before the lynching started.

"Well, my mother was not human. She is in fact a demon."

Saying that felt a lot like ripping off a band aid.

I scanned the room, there were various reactions. Anise and Amy of course already knew. Lisa looked like she was having second thoughts about what she had just done. Willa looked thoughtful, Leanne was blank, as if processing it.

Brandt chuckled, "I thought you were going to tell us something new Vince."

He slapped me on the back good naturedly and we all stared at him. It was my turn to show a blank face. How the fuck... oh. I looked over at Kim guiltily.

He grinned, "Did you think Kim didn't know after the first time? When I asked if she thought it was worth it she said fuck yes."

This strange acceptance from Brandt, whose honor everyone trusted, seemed to calm everyone down. They weren't exactly jumping for joy but I was almost sure I wasn't getting lynched. It had also raised my estimation of his intelligence and abilities. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect way to disarm the situation.

Brandt took control at that point, and questioned everyone on what happened. We learned another coven had been attacked as well, only Krista's was left alone. They had also left the sorcerers alone. Brandt theorized that Silas thought of them as possible allies through James. Since Anise was so new she really didn't know anyone in that community.

Brandt said, "Obviously putting this off was a huge error, you have my apologies. Any ideas on what we should do now?"

I said, "I sent my ghosts out looking for vampires earlier to keep track of them. Unfortunately they didn't get information on the attacks before it would matter, there are only a hundred or so and Chicago and the suburbs is a huge area to search. I would suggest we take Anise up on her offer, I can find them, eventually, and Anise can remove their compulsion. Then we question them or kill them based on how their own conscious falls."

Brandt nodded. "That sounds better than a general slaughter of vampires, and quite merciful. We must also include questions on where Silas is and what he is planning. His life is forfeit as he started a war with us. You should also ask about numbers, hangouts and locations of homes. It should speed the process greatly. I would like to suggest along with you and Anise, that you bring members from the other communities, some of those present here now. The witches most of all deserve justice."

He let that sink in and said, "I will stay here, those that don't volunteer will stay with me and get the word out on what Silas is doing via spell, phone, or any other way you have to contact others. Instruct anyone they are welcome here to ride out the storm."

He turned to me, "Don't take any chances, enslave them if you have to until they get sorted out, you can always let the good ones go. If you find any, send them here."