by Rani Clark
The Reluctant Apprentice
The Necromancer
Book 1
Rani Clark
Copyright © 2017 Rani Clark
All Rights Reserved
Acknowledgments
To my editor, who once again managed to help me polish this into something readable. Without her, the book would be an illegible mess. Seriously. Sometimes there were just random words appearing for no reason that came from my fingers going across the keyboard quickly to try to catch up to my brain. They weren’t even actual words a few times, just letters put together in a way that resembled a word.
Thanks to my friend Christy who was the inspiriation for Lilly Ann.
Thanks to everyone who supported me while writing this book.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
1
2
3
4
5
Part One
The Necromancer
1
Thick white fog billowed across the streets, blanketing everything it touched. Seeing more than a few feet was virtually impossible and it made playing soccer a ridiculous idea, but it didn’t stop the group of boys that were knocking the ball around in the back field of the high school. One of them fell and scraped his knee, the others picked him up. The four boys laughed and began to tackle each other, wrestling and laughing as dirt and grass covered their clothes. One of the boys stood and wiped the sweat from his brow as he spotted another person walking across the field. It was a boy with silver hair and dark eyes. The boy had his nose in a book, just like any other time they had seen him. The second boy stood and made to lob the ball at the silver-haired boy, but was stopped.
“Knock it off, man. Don’t be an asshole.”
“Why the hell do you care what that dork does, Ty?”
“Just leave it, alright?” Ty jogged across the field to the boy, calling out his name as he did so. “Jaska!”
The boy looked up from his book. His mouth twitched in a smile and he raised an eyebrow, but didn’t say anything.
“Hey man, what are you up to?”
“Reading,” he spoke in a soft voice, a voice that sounded like music. He had the manner of someone not suited to such a harsh place like the private school he went to. “Playing soccer?”
“Oh, uh, yeah. Do you want to play?” He knew the answer before he asked the question, it wasn’t that difficult to know.
“No, thank you,” Jaska shook his head.
“Alright. Well, maybe next time?”
“Maybe. Thank you for the offer, Ty. Are you coming over later? We have two chapters to get through.”
“I know. I’ll see you tonight,” he waved as he jogged back to his friends.
His three friends raised their voices and hollered at him, asking why he bothered to talk to the weirdo in their class. Ty just shrugged and didn’t answer. In truth, he wasn’t sure why he had asked his classmate to tutor him. Whatever the reason, he liked him. Jaska was interesting and quite funny when the right mood struck him. He supposed that the side Jaska sometimes showed him wasn’t a side he showed often. Their strict school gave Jaska a gloomy air. There was something about it that made Ty sad he wasn’t in a regular school. Shaking the thoughts from his head he continued with the game. He would speak to Jaska later tonight, but heading over early sounded like a better idea. He wouldn’t be able to get his mind off of his upcoming study session anyway.
* * *
Jaska watched the game for a few moments before disappearing into the fog with his book. He closed it and carried it underneath his arm, looking up at the gray sky as he did so. Ty would be over at four to study, he would most likely eat dinner with him as he so often did. Ty was a welcome person at their dinner table and the only friend Jaska had other than his little sister Margo. Ty was a perfectly nice person if not a little naive. He was a good natured person and it made Jaska like him all the more when he talked to him. Jaska made sure the road was clear before walking quickly across and turning right.
The apartment complex he lived in was large with a courtyard and a playground. There weren’t many kids there so he didn’t have to worry about running into them. He took his key from his pocket as he walked across the damp courtyard and made his way down a small walkway to the first building. The apartment he lived in with his family was on the ground floor. By the smell of things, his mother was cooking brownies. He closed the door behind him and dropped his bag by the door. He stepped into the kitchen to see his mother standing by the counter, drinking from a glass of wine.
“How was school, sweetie?” Lilly Ann Byrne asked, her blond hair a mess from the day. She was already in her pajamas.
“Slightly better than yesterday. Oh,” he pulled a paper from his pocket, “I got another A.” He handed her his history paper, “That’s all of my classes now.”
She took the paper and looked at it with a smile before hugging him, “Oh honey, good job. I think that deserves frosting on these brownies. Sound good?”
“Better than good. Ty is coming over.”
“That’s wonderful, I like Ty. I always have, he’s a good fit for you.”
Jaska leaned against the wall, “What do you mean?”
“I mean, talking to someone your own age is good for you. Sweetie, I love you, but you aren’t good with some things. Being with someone like Ty, someone who’s good at making friends and being with people, could help you make a few more friends.”
“I’m not bad a making friends,” he muttered, very aware that he was terrible at it. He didn’t like discussing it since his mother wanted him to make friends and Jaska couldn’t care less if he had any. “Where’s Margo?”
“Studying. Which you should be doing.”
“I’ll save it for Ty. How was your day?”
Lilly Ann shrugged, “Boring. You’ll never guess though, I was just asked by a senior partner to be his paralegal so I’m going to be making more money.”
“Congratulations mom!” He hugged her tightly, “You deserve it for all the hard work you put in. Is it more work?”
“No, just more money. What do you feel like for dinner? Take-out sound good?”
“Always. Can we order from that Mexican place we had last week?”
“I’ll ask Margo if she’s alright with it.” She poured more wine into her glass, “By the way you have your supervised visit this weekend. Don’t forget.”
Jaska’s smile faded. His abusive father was allowed to have a supervised visit once a month for the day. Margo was reluctant to go, but didn’t hate it overall. Jaska often threw up the night before. Being hit hadn’t bothered him nearly as much as being demeaned. “Why do I have to go?”
She sighed, “Because that’s how things worked out. Once you turn eighteen-”
“I’m going to my room. Call me when Ty gets here.” Jaska made his way down the hall and into his room. He stepped into the neat space and shut the door, thinking about what to do, if he could do anything, to get out of his visit with his father. He could play sick, but he didn’t want to cause any trouble for his mother.
He sat down on the bed and looked at the thick book on the nightstand. He picked it up and began to read. After a few minutes, he gave up and tossed the book on
the bed. He couldn’t concentrate. Jaska stood back up to get out of his uniform and into a pair of sweatpants and his gray hoodie, his usual attire when he wasn’t at school. Ty had an upcoming math test that they would be prepping for as well as a history exam. Finals were coming up and that meant hardcore studying for weeks. Graduation was only nine months away , by this time next year he would be in college. Cambridge had already accepted him. He looked out the window at the clearing fog, thinking about a time when he wouldn’t have to see his father ever again.
“Jaska! Ty is here!”
He looked at the clock, Ty was early. He didn’t move from his spot when the door opened and the tall, athletic boy stepped into his room. “Sorry I’m early. I didn’t really feel like much more soccer.”
Jaska shrugged, “Its fine. Do you want to start with math first or-?”
He flinched at what Ty was doing. He had been kissed before and had told him not to. It seemed Ty wasn’t taking the hint. “I told you not to,” Jaska said quietly. “Please don’t do it again.”
Ty shook his head and stepped back, “Sorry. I . . . I’m just . . .” he shook his head, “sorry. What chapter do you want to start on?” He took his books from his bag and set them on the bed.
“I think we should talk about what you just did,” he said in his quiet, matter-of-face voice. “You’ve done it twice now even though I’ve asked you not to.”
“I know. I won’t do it again, I’m sorry.”
“I know you’re sorry.” Jaska opened the door, “My book bag is in the living room, I’ll be right back.”
What Ty had done didn’t make him necessarily uncomfortable, but he didn’t like it. He wasn’t going to make Ty feel bad about doing it. That would only lead to hurt feelings and a mess. Jaska grabbed his bag from the couch and went back into his room. Ty was beginning his math homework. Jaska went about doing his own homework and checking Ty’s work whenever he asked. Ty was excelling in school since he had started studying like this.
“Ty, may I ask if you’ve ever done that to anyone else?”
“Done what?”
“Kissed them.”
“Oh, um, no. Just you. Sorry.”
“Why just me?”
Ty shifted uncomfortably and shrugged, “You don’t yell at me for it. I shouldn’t do it to you, but . . . you don’t make me feel like it’s a bad thing.”
“That’s because it isn’t. Who did you tell that made you feel bad about it?”
Ty looked down at his work, “Is number sixteen supposed to add up to twelve?”
Jaska knew he wouldn’t get anything out of him this way so he stopped asking. Their homework and studying took two hours as it usually did before they were called to dinner. Margo was setting the table, her hair in a ponytail. She smiled widely at Ty, she had a slight crush on him that Jaska only rolled his eyes at. His mother was setting the food on the table as they sat down.
“I got a bit of everything, but if I remember correctly you love cheese enchiladas Ty,” Lilly Ann said with a smile.
“You were right about that,” Ty told her as he put a bottle of soda on the table and filled the glasses with ice.
“How is school going?” she asked as she sat down.
“Fine I guess. I’m excited for break though.”
“Are you going on a trip or anything with your parents?”
“Nah. Dad’s going on a business trip and mom doesn’t like to travel. I’ll just be stuck hanging around town.” He turned his eyes to Jaska, “Are you guys going anywhere?”
“I don’t think so. Mom?”
“Oh, your grandparents called. They want you to visit for a week in Germany.”
Ty smiled widely, “Really? That sounds amazing.”
Jaska stared at his mother, “Germany?”
“Yes. If you want to.”
He shrugged, “Yes, of course. I like my grandparents.” He paid little attention to the conversations as he dwelled upon visiting his grandparents.
His mother’s parents were interesting people. His grandfather owned an old car repair shop. His grandmother made stained glass windows. The two lived in a small village on the edge of the Black Forest. It was going to be a fun trip. He hoped anyway, he hadn’t seen his grandparents in years.
After dinner he and Ty did the dishes, standing side by side by the sink. He glanced at his friend, trying to think of something to say to him that didn’t involve what had happened in his bedroom.
“Have you been to Germany before?” Ty asked as he dried off a plate.
“No. My grandparents have visited us, but not the other way around. It should be really fun.” He handed him another plate, “You’re a very nice person.”
Ty glanced at him, “What?”
“You never make fun of me and you are always happy and nice. It’s hard to be like that in school or in life.”
“Thanks, Jaska.”
Ty finished with the dishes and left, just like he did most nights. Jaska often wondered why Ty wanted to spend so much time here. It was too much for him to think nothing of it. Friendship wasn’t a mystery to Jaska, he understood it, and knew Ty wasn’t hanging out with him for the pure joy of his company. He was using him to get away from something. He sat down next to his mother and sister on the couch, staring at the television with a thoughtful frown.
“Does your friend want to live here?” Margo asked with a smile.
“No kidding,” Jaska muttered.
She stood, “I’m going to bed.” She kissed him on the cheek and then kissed her mother on the cheek, “Goodnight.”
Lilly Ann watched her go, “Are you alright, Jas?”
“Not really. Ty isn’t telling me something and I’m worried. Mom, he is here quite a bit. He isn’t my best friend, I study with him and that’s it.”
“That isn’t very nice.”
“I didn’t mean it that way. I’m only worried.”
“Why do you think he isn’t telling you something?”
Jaska wondered how much to reveal to his mother. Ty kissing him didn’t make him uncomfortable, but his mother would make a big deal out of it. “Something about his parents. He always tiptoes around things. So, grandparents?”
“Are you excited?”
“Yes.”
“You sound so pumped.” She changed the channel, “They’re excited to see you. The last time you saw them you were, what, ten?”
“Twelve, I think.”
“You’ve gotten taller since then and your hair sort of changed color.”
Jaska nodded and ran his fingers through his odd hair. The night he had woken up with his hair like this, they had gone to the doctor. The doctor had informed them it was some freak thing and he could dye his hair back if he wanted. He hadn’t. “Sort of. Mom, do you think Ty’s dad hurts him?”
Lilly Ann reached over and took his hand, “What happened, sweetheart? This isn’t over nothing and you can’t seem to concentrate.”
“It isn’t anything. He’s just been acting odd, that’s all.” Jaska wished he could ask Ty’s friends about it, but chances were they didn’t know about anything that was going on. To top it off, he was very aware none of those people liked him. They often made fun of him. “I think I’m going to turn in. Goodnight, mom. I love you.”
“Goodnight, sweetheart, I love you too.”
He went to his room and laid down on the bed without getting out of his clothes. He didn’t know what to say to Ty. There were things he could say, things that were normal to say to get him to talk, but he doubted that would help. As he lay there, unable to sleep, he realized he had to speak to him. It was eleven at night, but he disregarded that and slipped on his boots. Lilly Ann was still up so he climbed out of the window and began the walk towards Ty’s home.
Ty lived in a large house at the other end of town. The walk through the streets in the cool air gave him time to think. Maybe it wasn’t such a great idea to go and talk to him in the middle of the night. There was one light on when he
came to the large, red house. There were ten windows just in the front and a massive front yard surrounded by a white picket fence. There was a truck in the driveway so he knew someone was home. With a shiver, he took out of his phone and dialed Ty’s number, opening the gate and heading up the walkway.
“Hello?” came the groggy answer.
“Hi. Can you come outside? I want to talk to you about something.”
“What? Are you outside my house?”
“Yes. Sorry. If you don’t want to talk to me right now, I’ll go, but I couldn’t sleep.”
“Ok. I’ll be right out,” he answered with a yawn.