Necrophobia

by Devaney, Mark

  “You do?”

  He eased her aside and swung his axe with both hands smashing into the door with all of his force. Tall and strongly built Adrian’s swings tore deep into the wooden door frame with a loud crash. He reared back for another blow and splintered the ruined door apart. Above them more lightning magic exploded at the top of the tower. The lumberjack kicked the shattered door open, almost ripping it off its hinges and rushed up the circular stairwell.

  “Always wanted to do that.” He said with a grin.

  Hold on. We’re coming. She hurried up the stairs as fast as her exhausted legs could manage, the effort making her light-headed already. Adrian ran ahead bounding up the stairs missing two to three steps at a time.

  Reiner watched as his former comrade circled around stabbing forward with his spear, testing for a weakness in his defence. Standing proud in his defiled Caelite armour with Sevaur strapped to a chair behind him filled Reiner with a hate he struggled to put into words. Lightning danced between his fingertips as he braced himself ready to blast Falkner to pieces. With Sevaur so close by it was too dangerous to do anything drastic as Falkner exploited to his advantage. Electricity was a fickle magic that took years of practice. Though instant it was all too eager to jump and strike at anything but the intended target. Instead it took precise control over the air itself to chart a course of least resistance for the magic to follow and strike. Falkner smiled without humour as he paused in front of Sevaur. Upon seeing Reiner’s magic flare into life he altered the air around him to guide any incoming lightning to miss him entirely and strike Sevaur instead. The charged air raised the hairs on the back of his neck and agitated the caged birds further.

  “I know the sacrifices I have made. In time I will be judged by the gods. But not today, and not by you.” Falkner stood up straight and without breaking eye contact held his spear in Sevaur’s direction. “I lost everything that mattered to me. Force my hand and you’ll see how that feels.”

  “I’d still have my honour.” Reiner dispelled his magic but did not lower his spear. “Speak then.”

  “You must allow me to go free a little longer. Once we’re done and Vara is returned I’ll kill Haures myself and surrender.”

  “That is a risk I cannot take. What assurance can a traitor such as you give me? I have my orders I will see them through.”

  “Duty above all with you isn’t it. Is there nothing you value more than duty?” Falkner sighed and kept his spear level to Sevaur’s throat.

  “What is a knight without duty and honour?” Sevaur said in a quiet voice.

  “Free. Freedom of choice, freedom of thought. I did what I thought was right.”

  “Our definitions of right differ then.” Sevaur froze as the spear tip dug deeper into his throat.

  “Yes, behold the wonders of a life without duty.” Reiner swung his free arm theatrically. “Dabbling with necromancy, a life of hiding, fleeing the righteous hand of justice and taking hostages. ”

  “Better this! Than to be an unthinking automaton. I did everything that was asked without question. I followed my duty to the order and to the gods to the letter. I never once wavered in my life and what was my reward?”

  “The gods reward faith, they reward honour and justice. You of all people should know that.” Reiner took another step closer, a hard look of determination in his unblinking eyes.

  “The gods don’t care what we do. All the teachings have ever done is bind us. Have you ever lived a day in your life for yourself? Rather than just following duty on instinct because someone told you should? I never valued my life until it was taken from me!”

  Falkner’s glare hardened. Whilst initially he seemed broken and worn by the weight of the world the more he spoke the more his resolve strengthened. Sheer determination and drive compressed into solid iron; forged by the pressures he’d faced. He caught a glint in his brothers eye, a sparkle of defiance before the sounds of heavy feet rushing upstairs and the door burst open. A tall and burly lumberjack stumbled forwards an axe held in both hands as he surveyed the scene. Behind him Claire appeared holding a curious yet familiar rapier held ahead of her.

  “I told you to stay with her!” Reiner shouted as the situation spiralled out of control.

  “She’s safe! You aren’t!”

  With Falkner distracted Reiner unleashed his charged blast of lightning directly towards the traitor. Sensing the static build-up at the last second all he could do in response was deflect it away with brute force. The bolt split into two, the larger sizzled through the air flying towards the door as Falkner swung his spear forward to keep Reiner at bay. With a cry of surprise Claire flinched as the rapier in her hand absorbed the reflected lightning bolt. The electrical energy sparked and dissipated down the blade without harming her, surprise evident on her face. The smaller burst continued towards the bound Sevaur and exploded against his breastplate. Sevaur coughed in pain as the remnants of the initial blast surged through him, his muscles coursing with energy. With a brute roar the lumberjack ran with his axe swinging through the air towards Falkner before a desperate jolt of energy caught him in the chest. The burly man stumbled forwards clutching his chest. Behind him Claire shouted something lost over the din of frightened birds and thunder. Reiner avoided a vicious jab from Falkner’s spear more by luck than anything else, the serrated spearhead scraping across his armour. The traitorous Caelite followed up his lunge with a potent gust of wind that threw Reiner backwards knocking the spear out of his hands and pinning him against the wall. Weaponless and with his arms pinned against the wall by the sheer force of the traitor’s magic he cursed. Claire and her companion were kept at bay by the reach of Falkner’s spear arcing in a large circle around the crowded room. Reiner threw himself towards his fallen spear as Falkner’s own spear smashed deep into the wall where he’d just been.

  “No!” Sevaur shouted and leapt forward his hands unbound and aflame. He gripped onto Falkner’s chest from behind and dragged him down towards the floor. His legs still bound to the chair Sevaur grunted in pain and punched a flaming hand towards Falkner’s surprised face. With a scream of pain Falkner threw himself upwards; a tempest exploding out from him in all directions knocking Sevaur away from him. One hand clutching his burned face and the other his spear Falkner backed towards an open window.

  “It’s over Falkner!” Claire shouted as she threw a hunting knife towards Sevaur landing with a loud thud on the floor. He grabbed it and began to cut open his bindings as Claire trained her rapier on Falkner.

  He half-sneered half-winced in pain as Reiner, Claire and the lumberjack advanced towards him weapons at the ready. “No! It won’t have all been for nothing!” He turned and threw himself out of the open window.

  “Damn it!” Claire shouted rushing over.

  “Are you injured?” Reiner enquired looking back at his brother dusting himself off as he stood up.

  “Only my pride.” Sevaur conceded, his sheepish face reddening.

  Reiner gave a curt nod and leapt out the window after Falkner, the cool air breeze rushing through his face and hair as he plummeted towards the ground. Falkner was already rushing off down the streets almost out of sight. Reiner cushioned his fall with his air magic and gave chase. Sprinting down empty alleyways and streets and vaulting straight up walls and onto rooftops was exhilarating. It was the most alive Reiner felt since arriving in the city between the freedom of movement and the thrill of the chase. Whether on rough cobble-streets or ageing roof-tiles it made little difference, his footsteps were silent and padded by magic. They leapt from rooftop to rooftop over the heads of Night Guard patrols below and dodging the search lights from the watchtowers above.

  Claire watched Reiner leap out the window of the aviary with a weary sigh. Adrian ran over towards the window and peered out into the inky night trying to catch sight of them. All around the caged birds began to settle down and watched the humans before them.

  “I could never get used to them doing that.” Adrian pu
lled himself away from the window. “We’ll never catch them now.”

  “How are your arms?” Claire asked taking Sevaur’s bruised and sore arms into her hand. “We came as soon as we heard.”

  He ran his fingers through his ruffled black hair and picked out small feathers that had become lodged within the tangled mess. “Thanks. I’m surprised you found me. How did you find me?”

  Adrian coughed. “I saw them take you but couldn’t reach you in time.”

  Sevaur narrowed his eyes at the shaggy lumberjack. “I waited hours for you.”

  “I’m sorry.” He held up his palms in surrender.

  “Where were you?” Claire turned her attention on him and folded her arms as she waited.

  He busied himself fiddling with his logging axe and avoided eye-contact. “I was down by the market trying to find something that might help.”

  “For half a day?”

  He shrugged. “They’re pretty specific. And I had to check they were the real deal. That’s not easy y’know.” He reached into the pouches tied around his waist and picked through them.

  “What did you find?”

  “These!” He said with great triumph. He held out three pendants made from an unusual stone attached onto a thin metal chain.

  “Jewellery?” Claire was incredulous. “You left Sevaur alone in the city for several hours for jewellery? They’re nice and all but—”

  “—Not jewellery. Well, okay they are but these are special.” He pressed one of them into her hands and handed Sevaur the other.

  “Special how?” Sevaur asked inspecting the pendant with the expression of someone inspecting a spider held up by its legs.

  The pendant chain was cool to the touch and the stone itself was colder still. Claire turned it over in her hand and peered into the stone, it was like peering into a black marble and she swore she saw movement within. The stone seemed to contain a void, an abyss of darkened storm clouds swirling around each other.

  “They’ll protect you against psychics.” He announced as he looped his own around his neck. “They work too. I had them tested. Cost me an arm and a leg as well.”

  “Thanks. That could come in handy.” Claire conceded placing her own pendant around her neck.

  “They’ll shield you from mind-readers and mask your presence to most people’s psychic senses.” He stood proud with his hands on his hips. “I’m not sure how well they work against telekinetics though. Hard to find out on short notice.”

  Claire stifled a yawn. “This is about Isobel isn’t it. You don’t trust her.”

  “No. I don’t trust her.” Adrian gripped his pendant between his fingers. “But you told me you were hurled around by the Inquisitor’s telekinesis. If you’re going after him you’ll want protection.”

  Claire nodded her thanks and decided not to press him. After her chat with Veronica she wasn’t sure how much she could trust Isobel either. She seemed genuine and her history checked out with what her mother’s journal told her but trust had to work both ways. If Isobel didn’t trust Claire with information about her mother’s murder it was hard to trust her entirely in return. She was sure it would be professional distrust after years in the Inquisition or the paranoia of Kriegsfeld seeping into her rather than anything personal. Though she would be lying if she claimed Isobel’s mistrust didn’t sting a little.

  Sevaur slapped Adrian on the back and smiled. “That’ll help a lot. I survived so no harm done I suppose. Let me come with you next time.”

  “I messed up I know.” Adrian turned to face the nearest of the bird cages and eyed up the pigeons and doves kept there. They watched him with attentive stares and backed away from the mesh protecting them. “It won’t happen again.”

  “We do appreciate your help. Without you we’d be lost and we don’t know anyone else within the city. If it weren’t for you we’d probably have gone back after a day or two of finding nothing.” Claire said as she watched him.

  “She’s right you know.” Sevaur retrieved his sword from the corner of the room and inspected it. “Guess we found out what your sword can do.” He turned his boyish gaze towards her.

  “I’d almost forgotten.” She withdrew the intricate Caelite rapier and stared at the masterwork blade with wonder. “It absorbs lightning magic at least. Odd.”

  “That’s Knight-Commander Rhae’s blade.” Reiner appeared from one of the windows behind him, quiet as a mouse. His usual slicked hair was ruffled and falling out of place.

  Sevaur almost jumped out of his skin upon hearing his brother appear from nowhere. “I didn’t hear you approach.”

  “It’s a gift.” He didn’t take his eyes of Claire’s rapier as he dusted himself and came closer.

  “Falkner?”

  “Got away.” He shook his head. “He’s sought refuge on the Pavlovich estate. It’s too well guarded.”

  “What do you know about this?” Claire handed him the rapier which he took and held before him like a new father holding a child for the first time. That same look of reverence and fear of damaging it crossed his otherwise stern face.

  “It is a sacred blade. It is used for centuries to execute apostates and traitors.” He turned it over in his hands. “Amelia gave this to you?”

  She nodded. “Yes.”

  “You’d have heard about it if she’d have stolen it.” Sevaur tried to lighten the mood but Reiner was transfixed.

  “Use it well.” He handed the rapier back to Claire. “Curious that she gave it to you when Falkner is on the loose.”

  She could have sworn she heard a twinge of jealousy in his voice but he offered a brief yet genuine smile.

  “Thank you for coming to get me.” Sevaur said as he traced his boot through the feather-covered floor. “You didn’t have to.”

  “As they should be.” He turned to face his brother and looked down at the sheepish youthful face of Sevaur. “Worry not, it was my duty to—”

  “—my duty.” Sevaur said simultaneously with a sly smile. “I know. But still, thanks.”

  Reiner stared at him for several moments and words formed on his lips but he thought better of it and looked upwards. Seeing Adrian stood nearby he paused. “I didn’t recognise you at first. You’ve changed Adrian.”

  “You haven’t.” Adrian grinned.

  “Reiner, we need to work together on this. You. Me. The Caelites — the Night Guard.” Claire interjected as she re-sheathed her rapier. “They’re too great in number and their noble connections give them resources we can’t hope to match. We need the Caelites expertise and you need us.”

  Reiner nodded. “Believe me, I know. If Caelholm failed to teach us anything it’s that our enemies wish to keep us divided and distracted whilst they complete their true blasphemies. Today I received a reminder first hand.”

  “Whatever they’re planning they’re doing it tomorrow. It sounded big.” Sevaur said. “I overheard Haures talking. They’re spooked and desperate.”

  “Any idea what it was?” Claire stifled a yawn and massaged her hunger.

  “No. Just that it sounded big. Whatever they’re really after here they’re running out of options.”

  “Then we must rest now and prepare for whatever tomorrow brings. We’ll accomplish nothing without rest.” Reiner turned to face Claire. “You can hardly keep your eyes open. I will find you all tomorrow.”

  She nodded and yawned. “I could murder a Roc steak right about now.”

  They left and headed towards Adrian’s home outside of the city limits as Reiner returned to the church. The Night Guard patrolling the checkpoints were less than amused to find them wandering around after curfew but Claire’s freshly made badge and credentials eased their reluctance.

  CHAPTER SIX

  The next day Claire awoke to find herself sprawled out on top of her bed still dressed in her Night Guard armour. Between the exhausting day and the feast upon returning home she must have fallen asleep. Aching muscles screamed in protest as she dragged herself out o
f bed and downstairs. She could hear a kettle coming to boiling point and the clatter of mugs. Sevaur and Adrian were deep in conversation. As she staggered in Sevaur’s grin widened.

  “Morning sleeping beauty.” He handed her a fresh mug of tea and hurried over to a stack of papers on the counter.

  “If you can call this morning.” Adrian pulled open the shutters and pointed outside the window. “It’s early afternoon now.” Outside the sun was high in the sky and thick clouds were coming in from the west. The air rushing in was cold despite the sunlight and felt refreshing upon her skin.

  She tried to give him a withering look of displeasure but bleary eyed and exhausted the expression was lost in translation. “You try fighting vampires all day.”

  “Hayley brought this over earlier.” Sevaur handed her an opened letter stained by a ring of tea. Seeing her gaze he apologised. “My bad there. If something big is coming she wants us there soon for further training and preparation.”

  “Have I missed anything?” She drank deep from the mug and felt the warm liquid revitalise her weary body.

  “There’s been nothing yet that we know of. The Night Guard are undermanned now, they finally got back a death toll from that prison breakout yesterday. Not looking good.”

  “Captain Falkner’s still at large.” Adrian added. “Reiner’s having difficulty staging an operation on the Pavlovich family and no wonder. They’re the most powerful family here after Lord Strigoi. No wonder the Night Guard are hesitant to do anything about it.”

  “What about the daughter?” The one I almost got myself killed trying to capture.

  “Safe in custody. She’s still under Inquisitor Pietas’s investigation.” He shrugged. “Not much we can do anyway. We’re no interrogators.”

  “True.” Claire conceded. She finished her mug of tea and began picking at a platter of bread and cheese. “Adrian, do you know anything of Morana Norwood? She’s a vampire doctor in league with Haures’ cult.”