The Necromancer: The Reluctant Apprentice

by Rani Clark

  He dressed carefully before making his way down the steps and towards the kitchen. The clock read six-thirty. He wondered if that was AM or PM until Leif came in dressed. There was no chance he was getting up before nine so he knew it was later in the day.

  “How long have I been out?”

  “A while. Recovering from that sort of thing takes time. You’re still tired, right? You’ll need something to eat. Sit down, I’ll make you a sandwich while we wait for dinner to finish cooking.”

  Jaska realized he was ravenously hungry. He devoured the sandwich and the glass of soy milk he was given, but he still found himself starving.

  “It’s normal, don’t worry. Dying takes a lot out of you and you were gone for nearly an entire day.” He sat in the chair across from him, “I made something a little heavier than normal to make you feel better.”

  “Thank you. Where is Mr. Ragnar?”

  “He went out. He should be back for dinner.”

  Jaska wanted to fall asleep again, but he was too hungry. Leif stood to check on dinner; he stayed in the kitchen until he came out to set the table. Jaska stood to help, but Leif shook his head and told him to sit down. The food that was placed in front of him was mostly potatoes and sausage. He was unaware of what else was in it as he shoveled it into his mouth. Some of his strength returned as he guzzled down a glass of soy milk. Leif served him another helping and poured him another glass.

  “Thanks. Sorry, I’m a bit hungry.”

  “Yeah, that happens.”

  He heard the front door open and close. Mr. Ragnar stepped into the dining room carrying a bag. “How are you?” he directed his question at Jaska.

  “I’m weak and tired.”

  “Is that your second or third plate? Leif ate an entire pie when he was brought back. More than that, but that was to start.” He set his bag beside his chair and sat down, “I hope you’re a little less angry with me today.”

  Jaska ate the food slower this time, mopping up the sauce with bread. “I’m still really tired.”

  “You will be for a few days. It’s a side effect unfortunately.” Mr. Ragnar reached into the bag, “I bought you something. I feel very sorry for not telling you about needing to kill you.”

  “You bought me something?”

  Mr. Ragnar took out a wrapped box and handed it over, “I am very aware that you miss your family so rather than cut off complete contact I have decided that-”

  “I can write to them?”

  In the wrapped box was a stationary set. There was a quill and inkwell, papers and envelopes. Everything he needed.

  “Yes, if you wish to.”

  Jaska felt himself begin to tear up. He didn’t mean to, but he couldn’t control himself. “Thank you, so much.”

  “What happened was awful and I feel terrible about it.”

  “This is wonderful, thank you sir. How do I-?”

  “Give me the letters and I will have them carefully delivered.”

  Jaska nodded and stood, “I’m going to write to them now.”

  “If you wish to use your desk in the basement you can.”

  Jaska shook his head, “I-I’ll do it in my room.”

  He headed up to his room with the kit; he set it on the bed and carefully sat down. He could write to the people he loved. His mother was the first person he wrote to.

  Mom,

  I miss you so much! Mr. Ragnar got me a writing set so that I can write to you guys. I’m sorry about everything that happened. I’m fine here though. I have my own room. It’s huge and has a canopy bed. There’s also another person here. His name is Leif and he’s Mr. Ragnar’s apprentice as well. Mr. Ragnar is nice enough. Leif makes great food and he’s a nice person. Don’t worry about me. I’m getting used to this and I’m perfectly alright. You can write back I’m assuming. I’ll ask Mr. Ragnar. I love you and I miss you. We live in a place that’s like London but kind of half-Victorian, at least it looks like it. It’s kind of cool and I really like how quiet it is. I got to go to the candy store with Leif and it was awesome. The candy here is great.

  This is a new and interesting adventure. I’ll be alright and this will be fun. I love you mom. Take care of Ty. He needs it. Margo doesn’t need anyone looking out for her and will most likely be fine. Give them both a hug for me.

  Love Jaska.

  Lying to his mother was never a great feeling, but he couldn’t tell her Mr. Ragnar had shot him and killed him to get him a Spirit Guide. That part would remain with him for as long as he was alive. With little else to tell his mother he started writing his letter to Ty. He would tell him what he couldn’t and shouldn’t tell Lilly Ann.

  I miss you Ty. A lot. You’re my only friend and I miss you. Things are weird here. By the way, this is a different letter than I wrote my mom. As far as she’s concerned I’m perfectly alright and that goes for Margo as well. For the most part I am. Mr. Ragnar has been nice to me, he hasn’t pushed me into anything. When I got here I met his other apprentice that he didn’t mention before. His name is Leif. He’s a bit talkative for my liking, but I still enjoy having him around. He and Mr. Ragnar really care about each other. It makes me feel weird when I’m the odd one out. Anyway, I had my first lesson as a necromancer and it didn’t go well.

  Mr. Ragnar shot me and killed me.

  Don’t panic about it though. Apparently to become a necromancer you have to die. He shot me in the chest and I went to this shadowy place to get my Spirit Guide. I haven’t met them yet so hopefully my Spirit Guide won’t be awful. When I woke up I was sore and angry. I wasn’t going to forgive him at all. Leif told me that when it happened to him, Mr. Ragnar slit his throat. He shot me to be nice about it. He could have done other things. For that I’m grateful. I’m still tired and I won’t be fully healed for a few days.

  Other than that, things have been normal here. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be ok. Don’t tell my mom or Margo any of this. Margo can’t keep her mouth shut and I don’t want to worry mom. Write me back. I want to know everything and I mean that. How are you? I know things have been bad with your parents. I hope my mom can help make you feel better about everything. No matter what they tell you, no matter what they try to make you believe, you are perfect the way you are.

  Love Jaska.

  He looked at the letter for a moment before setting it down to begin writing to his sister.

  Margo, don’t worry about me so much. I’ll be alright. You have to be strong for mom. I’m doing fine here. It’s like living in Victorian England but I can wear regular clothes. You would like it here. I wish you could come and visit. Mr. Ragnar has another apprentice named Leif, he’s actually pretty cool.

  Remember that time that we got locked out of the apartment in a snowstorm so we had to make snowmen until mom came home? I think about that a lot. I miss just sitting around and watching television with you. I know that sometimes you don’t understand the way I act, but you understand me. At least, I like to think you do. I like to think that as we grow older we’ll get closer and I always want to have my smart, amazing sister in my life.

  I know Ty cares about you and he needs someone who cares about him like a sister does. Please do that for him.

  There wasn’t much to say to his sister. A hug would have been better, but he couldn’t give her that. Jaska put the letters into envelopes, making sure to mark them correctly before sealing them. He hoped Ty didn’t blab. He doubted his friend would. When he started thinking about Ty he realized how worried he was. What would happen when he went back to the states? His parents already hated him. He wished things were different for Ty, he didn’t deserve the parents he had.

  He fell asleep with the letters beside him.

  13

  School was boring without Jaska. No one noticed he was gone which made things worse. Jaska Byrne was a remarkable person and he wondered why everyone was acting as if he didn’t exist. He frowned as he opened his locker. Suddenly, his soccer games didn’t seem so important and he didn’t fe
el like playing. He was so lost in thought he didn’t see his friend coming up behind him and jumped when his locker was slammed shut.

  “Jesus, man,” Donny laughed. “You jumped like a foot.”

  “Sorry. I wasn’t paying attention.”

  “Yeah, I noticed that. You ok?”

  “I’m just . . . I miss Jaska.”

  “God, whiny much? You’ll find another guy, relax.”

  Ty stopped walking. He stared at his friend, “What?”

  “What do you mean, what?”

  “I mean, what. What do you mean I’ll find another guy?”

  Donny stopped and turned, “I meant that you’ll find someone else. Jaska was weird anyway.”

  Ty pulled him to a stop when he started walking away again, “What in the hell are you talking about?”

  He raised an eyebrow, “You guys weren’t even dating that long. I don’t think-”

  “Wait, wait, wait, why do you think we were dating?”

  “Weren’t you?”

  “Why would you think that?”

  “Are you serious? You constantly stare at him, talk about him, and are with him a lot. We assumed your study sessions were just an excuse to make out in his room.”

  Ty couldn’t move. His limbs felt frozen, his heart pounded in his throat. Sweat ran down his forehead and he felt his stomach churn. “Why-why would I be dating him?”

  “Why wouldn’t you be?” Donny shrugged and started walking away, “Stop acting weird. Are you going to play or what?”

  “Uh, no. I have to get home. I have a lot of homework. I’ll see you later.”

  Ty wanted to run. Donny knew he was gay. However he knew, he knew, and that meant other people knew. He hadn’t been hiding it very well apparently. Not as well as he thought he was anyway. Not to mention Donny didn’t seem to care. He assumed his friends would be just like his father or at least have a harder time. Donny had been confused at the fact that he was questioning him about it.

  Margo was sitting on the couch when he walked in the door. She greeted him with a hello and went back to watching television. He set his things down and sat beside her. She didn’t speak until a commercial came on. “How was school?”

  “It was fine. How was it for you?”

  “Boring.” She turned her head to look down the hall, “I miss Jaska.”

  “Me too, but we can’t do anything about it. I hope he’s ok.”

  “He’s with some psycho so I doubt it.”

  Ty decided to change the subject, “Did you know I was gay?”

  Margo shrugged, “Not really. I mean, until my brother said something about it no. I really should have noticed though, with the way you look at Jaska.”

  “The way I look at him?”

  “Yeah, like you’re in love with him.” She sank further into the couch and leaned her head against the back, “It must be hard knowing he won’t love you.”

  Ty stared at her, “I guess it is. I mean, I hate that I can’t be with him, but it doesn’t matter at this point. I want to be his friend.”

  “He wants a friend more than a boyfriend or a girlfriend right now.”

  “I think that’s what he wants period.” Ty stood, “Want a drink?”

  “Yeah. Get me a grape soda.”

  Ty went to the fridge and opened it up, grabbing two sodas for them. As he shut the door he saw a note taped to the fridge.

  I have to go and see your dad after work. Tell Ty to order dinner, there’s money on the counter.

  “Hey Margo,” he began as he walked back into the living room, “your mom left a note.”

  “I know, I saw. Dad isn’t going to be happy.”

  “What’s your dad like?”

  “I don’t know. We left when I was really little and all the visits we have are supervised. He’s nice to me, but Jaska is scared of him. I think he hit him to be honest, but we never talk about it. I don’t think mom likes to think about it. I know that she let it go on for longer than she feels she should have.”

  Ty popped open the soda and took a sip. Margo fell asleep as they watched television. He had always wanted a sister and he thought of Margo as just that. With Jaska gone he would look out for her if she needed it. He began to drift off with these thoughts until he was woken up by Margo.

  “Huh?”

  “I ordered a pizza. It’s here.”

  He yawned and stretched, still tired from the day. He went to the kitchen and took a plate, taking two pieces of pizza and another soda. As they ate, the door opened and Lilly Ann came in. She was carrying a tub of ice cream and a bottle of fudge. She shut the door behind her and stepped into the kitchen.

  “I’m glad you got pizza. I could use it,” she said with a sigh.

  She sat next to Ty on the couch with pizza and a beer. Ty wanted to ask her how everything was, but it wasn’t his place to question a parent who wasn’t his.

  Margo asked instead. “What did dad say?”

  “Not great things. I lied to him.” She shook her head, “I had to. I told him Jaska went away on a school exchange program. Pretty good lie I thought.”

  “What would happen if you told him the truth?”

  “Honey-”

  “Mom, would dad try to get us back?”

  “Yes, but I doubt he would succeed in that endeavor.” Lilly Ann sipped her beer, “Relax, Margo. Everything is fine. How was school, guys?”

  “I got an A on my English test,” Margo reported.

  “Excellent job, sweetie. I know you’ve been studying your brains out. How about you Ty?”

  “It was fine.” He didn’t want to talk about how much he missed Jaska or how embarrassed he was that Donny knew he had a crush on his now absent friend. “I’m exhausted,” he stood as he yawned. “I think I’m going to head to bed early. Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight, honey. Let me know if you need anything,” Lilly Ann said as he walked down the hall.

  Ty shut the door to Jaska’s room behind him. He felt weird sleeping in his bed, but it was getting better the longer he stayed. With a sigh, he took out his phone and stared at it. A missed call. From Elias Kircher. He never should have said anything to the man, he shouldn’t have hung out with him either. Like an idiot he called back.

  “Hello?” came a groggy answer.

  “Oh, um, I-I’m sorry to wake you,” Ty stuttered.

  “Ty?” A yawn. “It’s nearly three in the morning. Thank you for calling me back.”

  “I’ll let you go. I can call you back in a few hours. At a reasonable hour for you.”

  “Well hang on, don’t hang up. I want to hear about your day.”

  Ty hesitated before speaking, “One of my friends basically told me he knew I was . . . he knew I had a thing for Jaska. I didn’t know what to say.”

  “You don’t need to say anything.”

  “But-”

  “No buts. What you feel isn’t his business if you don’t want it to be and you don’t sound like you wanted him to know. Relax about it and just let things go where they go. Alright?”

  The words made him feel better. He nodded, “Alright, I guess. How is work?”

  “Fun. Just working on clocks as usual.” He chuckled, “I miss you. I miss having someone to talk to, to be honest.”

  “We only hung out once,” he said quietly. “You can always call me.”

  “It isn’t the same thing. How much trouble will you get in if she finds out you’re speaking with me?”

  “She won’t find out. I don’t want her to know, she’ll be angry with me.”

  “Are you embarrassed of me?”

  “No, I just don’t want to cause her more stress. With Jaska being gone she’s under enough of it. She doesn’t like you.”

  “No one likes me. She isn’t your mother, she can’t tell you not to call me. Besides, I’m not going to do anything to you over the phone obviously. Or ever as I’ve told you.”

  “She doesn’t think so because of what you are.”

  “Wh
at I am has nothing to do with our relationship so relax about it. Besides, phone sex isn’t technically touching you, now is it?”

  “I don’t-I don’t think I want to do that with you. Or anyone. That’s weird. Let’s talk about something else.”

  “Very well. Any news from Jaska?”

  “No, and I don’t expect any this soon. He’s just starting out after all. What is training with Mr. Ragnar going to be like?”