Nothing But Necromancy (Macrow Necromancers Book 1)

by J A Campbell

  She let out a sigh of breath when Joy was gone. She knew from her lessons, she could call her back, but it would take some spellwork and effort and Joy had nothing to tell them. Someone had taken that from her.

  They backed out the door silently as the doctor returned to do his work. Cousin could take even rickety back steps silent as a cat. Harmony followed, doing her best to imitate his movements.

  “He...,” she said, once they’d reached the back door of the coroner’s office.

  Cousin’s fingers touched his lips.

  Harmony swallowed, nodded.

  “We can’t prove anything,” he said. “Perhaps the police forensics will show that the death was not suicide.” He sounded doubtful. It was a small local force and there was a note. Harmony wondered if the school would even press the police to suppress the truth if it came out.

  “The Lord….”

  “Is only interested in Macrow House offspring.” Cousin led her back to his car where they met Elise.

  Harmony wanted to argue, but she realized she knew nothing about running a House. Further, she didn’t want to know. There might have been a Lady Macrow at some time running the House, but she wasn’t volunteering to train for the position and she certainly was not going to act like she was challenging her father in any way. A long history indicated Alistair Macrow wasn’t above filicide or any other kind of removal of unwanted obstacles.

  “We’ve got nothing,” Harmony said to Elise once the three of them were in the car.

  Elise nodded. “And I don’t ever want a career in forensic science. I believe I saw two people before the fire was set, but I didn’t know them.”

  “Could you identify them?” Cousin asked.

  “It was dark.” Elise shook her head. “One of them seemed familiar. I’m not sure how, though. I think one of them was shorter, younger maybe? With long hair.”

  His phone beeped. He clicked it on, glanced at the message.

  “Before we go back to the school,” he said. “I’m to take the two of you to find better clothing and coats.”

  Harmony raised a brow at Elise, who covered her mouth to hide her surprise. Cousin, who could probably be the cover of the Bodyguard’s version of GQ was taking two girls who looked like they were refugees from a homeless shelter shopping. True, they needed to go, but this was a mission which befitted Mrs. Mathers or one of the female school staff. Knowing the school, though, they’d just tell them to wear the uniform at all times and forget about any kind of individuality.

  They both knew the real reason. Lord Macrow was somewhere deciding whether the school was safe enough for them to return. Already, Professor Thompson had gotten them into a club that nearly caused a beat-down, the man had tried to erase Harmony’s memory, and the dorm had burned.

  Would the House Macrow school be any better? Particularly since they were just learning what the House students had known probably since first grade? Someone had killed Joy—but students died from challenges in the House schools all the time and no one batted an eye.

  They weren’t ready to go to the House school. Might never be.

  “How did you find a store open in the middle of the night?” Elise looked at Cousin Macrow as he guided them through the quiet Nordstrom’s.

  Typical of Marcus’s responses, he merely glanced at her and arched an eyebrow.

  Sighing and shaking her head, Elise stopped once they got to their clothing section. Pulling a black sweater off the rack she fingered the soft material and held it up to her, to test fit. It would be perfect, and winter was coming. Then she looked at the price tag. Raising an eyebrow, she put it back on the shelf.

  “Is it the right size?” Cousin asked.

  Nodding, Elise blinked away tears. Unsure why she cried, she turned her face away. It wasn’t like she’d never encountered something she liked that was way too expensive before.

  “We’re spending Lord Macrow’s money today.” Marcus took the sweater and dropped it into the cart Harmony pushed. “There’s a lot of it.”

  Elise saw Harmony smile. She forced a grin and nodded. “Thank you.” Pushing away her tears, she looked around for her next purchase. While she still had clothing back at her parents’ house, she basically had to replace her entire wardrobe and a few other things.

  Harmony had lost even more. All of her possessions had gone up in the fire, but they both still had their lives which was more than some of the kids had.

  Shying away from those thoughts, she focused on underwear and tried not to blush when she chose a package and put it in the heaping cart Cousin Macrow now pushed. He simply continued to push, not reacting to the awkward situation. Somehow that made it easier than if he’d acted embarrassed.

  “I think that’s all we need for clothing.” Harmony eyed the overflowing cart.

  “Do you require anything else?”

  A new teapot, Elise thought to herself, but couldn’t bring herself to ask. People she didn’t even know had given her so much already.

  As if reading her mind, Harmony spoke up. “Elise needs a teapot and a warmer. The rest we can manage without.”

  He didn’t even blink, simply steered the cart through the empty aisles until they reached housewares.

  Elise blinked away more tears as Harmony took her arm and led her to the kettles and teapots.

  “Do you have a preference on design?” Harmony picked up a copper kettle.

  “No. Let’s pick one together.”

  The lights flickered while they looked over the kettles, but stabilized and Cousin Macrow looked unconcerned when Elise glanced at him.

  “What about this one?” Elise picked up a delicate white teapot with blue doves.

  “Test, test, test.” The words sounded over the store intercom.

  Elise and Harmony glanced up then over at their cousin, whose brow furrowed as he too glanced up.

  The lights flashed one more time before alarms blared across the com system and lights flashed red.

  Shrieking, Elise dropped the teapot and tackled Harmony to the ground, certain they were under attack. They slid on the floor until they bumped up against the display table, knocking several more pots to the ground.

  Conjuring up a shield, Elise hauled Harmony to her feet. “We have to get out of here!” Though she saw no flames and smelled no smoke, she knew the inferno would engulf them soon.

  “Elise!” Harmony waved her hands and raised her own shield.

  “Elise, Harmony, it’s only a test!”

  Someone ran toward them and Elise backed away, tugging Harmony with her. Their shields crashed into the teapot display, sending the remaining pots crashing to the ground. Ceramic crunched under her feet and the table coming up against her legs made her pause. No heat, no flame, no smoke. Harmony clutched her tightly, but there was no danger. Callie didn’t come charging to her rescue.

  The alarms stopped blaring, and the lights settled to the normal washed out florescent lighting.

  Elise gasped and Harmony released her. Cousin Macrow stood in front of them, hands held out in a calming gesture.

  Gasping for air, Elise looked around, in case Marcus was wrong. Her heart raced, but all she saw was shattered teapots, merchandize and an empty store.

  She looked at Harmony. Harmony grinned and they both laughed at their foolishness, their laughter turning into racking sobs as the enormity of the evening hit them like a sledgehammer. Harmony clutched Elise and they sank to the floor, heedless of the broken pots until they cried themselves dry.

  Marcus said nothing, merely helped them to their feet when they’d wiped snotty noses on old clothes.

  “We should get going,” Elise said. “I’m sorry about....” She pointed at the shattered teapots and sniffled.

  Marcus smiled. “I’ve seen worse. Looks like you’re getting the blue one with the cottage on the side.” He pointed at the sole remaining teapot. “I’ll find a warmer. Don’t forget a kettle.” He turned away and gave Elise and Harmony a moment to compose themselves.<
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  This time, Elise laughed for real, though her throat felt raw. “Good thing I wasn’t set on any particular one.”

  “I’ll pick the kettle.” Harmony smiled back.

  Cousin Macrow’s phone rang as he drove onto the campus.

  “Got it,” was all he said.

  Elise wanted to ask, but didn’t. When he pulled up to the library, she guessed the call had been about going there.

  “It may seem a bit odd, but the two of you are to sleep in the library. Though no one is going to admit it, the headmaster isn’t dumb and knows that fire was likely directed at the two of you. The Houses in general and House Macrow in particular have plenty of enemies. While Elise hasn’t asked as many questions as you have, Harmony, everyone knows you’re both from that House. The library is as fireproof as magic can make it. You’ll both sleep in a room set up in the basement. As an added bonus, you’ll have the local ghost to keep you company. I hear he’s testy.” He glanced over his shoulder at Elise and smiled. “So he should warn of any problems.”

  Before, that might have worried Elise, but she felt confident she could handle the ghosts now. Though she was sad she’d lost the poltergeist’s peace offering in the fire, maybe she could find another copy and return it. Not to mention the other necromancy books that had burned.

  Cousin Macrow had brought up a good point, however. Who were her biological parents? She should probably find out at some point, but more pressing was staying alive.

  “That sounds like it will be a good spot for both of us.” Elise forced a smile at Harmony, who nodded.

  “It’s settled then. You’ll stay at this school for now and I’ll remain with you. My room will be moved to the library as well.”

  Though not quite sure how she felt about that, Elise didn’t dislike the idea enough to argue. Harmony remained silent, too.

  They gathered their packages out of the back of the car and for a moment Elise felt bad. It hadn’t been difficult to replace her meager belongings. She’d left most of her stuff with her adoptive parents. Harmony, on the other hand, had lost everything she hadn’t been wearing, or had stashed in her car, and a lot of her stuff was unique. She hadn’t said anything, however, and Elise didn’t think it would be the best time to bring it up. Others had lost so much more.

  The three entered the library. The lights were dim and Elise conjured a small globe to light their way to the basement. A soft breeze fluttered around the skirt she now wore.

  “Thank you,” she mouthed to the resident ghost.

  Another breath of air lifted her hair before it vanished. She assumed that was a “you’re welcome.”

  Ignoring Cousin Macrow’s look, she led the way down the stairs. The only rooms they could possibly use as a place to live were in the back.

  When they arrived, someone had already set up cots and provided some sheets.

  “I’ll make sure you two have real beds soon, but for now, the cots will have to do. Do you need anything else for the night?”

  “Yes, we need a plan, and shields. Can you help us?” Elise put her bags down on a cot.

  Harmony did the same, arching an eyebrow at Elise, but nodding when Cousin Macrow glanced at her.

  “Very well.”

  “First, we need to shield this place against observation and ill intent, but we have to be able to let the ghosts in. They saved me before, I bet they’ll save us again if necessary.” She didn’t mention Callie. “I can do shields, but I’m not sure how to manage that.”

  “I can help with wards, that’s what these types of shields are called.” He nodded.

  “Good, and then we need a plan to stay alive.”

  “I can help with that as well.”

  “Okay, let’s get this done.” Elise rubbed her hands together, grateful to be doing something about protecting herself, even if it wasn’t much.

  Together, she, Harmony and Cousin Macrow warded their rooms. By the time they had finished, Elise wanted to collapse, but she felt confident that they’d be safe for a while, anyway.

  To make sure ghosts could get through, she quietly asked the poltergeist if he could come in. In response, he dumped her clothing all over the floor.

  Elise bent to pick up the bags. There was no way she could get angry over something so minor. Especially since he hadn’t dumped the bag with her teapot in it. That could have broken. As she picked up her clothing, she felt something firm in the pile. Frowning, she dug through the articles until she uncovered a book. A book she knew she hadn’t bought, and had thought lost in the fire. Whispering to Ghosts. Elise wiped away a few tears, grateful that the ghost had rescued his book and returned it to her. There would be time for thanking him and telling the others later. Shoving it in the bag, she dug in the other for her new tea making supplies.

  “Okay, tea and a plan. I got three cups.” She included Cousin Macrow in her glance and he settled against the wall, nodding his assent.

  The motions of plugging in the hotplate—Marcus hadn’t been able to find a proper portable stove at Nordstrom’s—boiling water on the kettle, and setting tea leaves to steep settled Elise more than she had known it would.

  Harmony seemed at ease once the ritual had completed as well. She handed Chamomile tea to her companions.

  “So, what’s the plan, Cousin,” Harmony asked her.

  “Well, I think stay alive is high at the top of the list.” Elise smiled and sipped her tea.

  “Yes,” Cousin Macrow agreed. “We must also discover exactly what is going on that you two would become targets and who is behind it.”

  “And how deep the plot goes,” Harmony added.

  Elise hadn’t considered that this might go beyond trying to kill Harmony and herself. “Yeah. Well, I know one thing, I wouldn’t be surprised if Professor Thompson was behind a lot of this.”

  Cousin Macrow nodded. “It’s possible.”

  Harmony rubbed her temples. “Elise, I hate to say this, but, we’ve gotta work on your poker face if we’re going to survive.”

  Frowning, Elise glared at her cousin. “What do you mean?”

  “She’s right,” Cousin Macrow interrupted before Harmony could reply. “I shall add poker face to our lessons.”

  Elise swore she saw the corner of his lip twitch. A humorous smile, from him? Not possible.

  “Okay.” She yawned. “I’m no good at this, apparently, so you’ll have to tell me what to look for, and how to act, but I’ll do my best. I’m not about to get taken advantage of again. Or murdered. Or have my mind wiped, or, well, anything that’s happened in the last few months really.”

  “Me either,” Harmony agreed. “Tomorrow, we start trying to uncover the plot, tonight, the ghosts can watch over us because I’m not sure anything short of another fire is going to wake me.” She pushed her bags off her cot and threw out the sheets, not even bothering to make the bed.

  Elise copied her movements, though she actually made her bed.

  Cousin Macrow stood. “I will be right next door if you need anything.”

  After he let himself out, Elise and Harmony changed into their new nightclothes and climbed into their squeaky cots.

  As Elise lay there after they’d shut the light, but before Harmony’s breathing had evened into sleep, she said, “We’ve got each other’s backs, right, Harmony? We’ll always be there for each other?”

  Harmony replied, “Damn straight, Elise. We’ll keep each other safe, and the ones responsible will pay.”

  The End

  About the Authors

  J.A. Campbell

  When Julie is not writing she’s often out riding horses, or working sheep with her dogs. She lives in Colorado with her three cats, Kira and Bran, her border collies, her Traveler-in training, Triska, and her Irish Sailor. She is the author of many Vampire and Ghost-Hunting Dog stories the Tales of the Travelers series, and many other young adult books. She’s a member of the Horror Writers Association and the Dog Writers of America Association and the editor for Story
Emporium fiction magazine. Find out more at http://www.writerjacampbell.com.

  Rebecca McFarland Kyle

  Born on Friday 13, Rebecca developed an early love for the unusual. Dragons, vampires and all manner of magical beings haunt her thoughts and stir her to the keyboard. She currently lives between the Smoky and Cumberland mountains with her husband and four cats. Her first YA novel, Fanny & Dice, was released on Halloween 2015. Her vampire short story collection was released in 2016. She's working on both short and long fiction on her own and with co-conspirators. Find out more at http://rmkyle.abckyle.com.

  Other Works

  By J.A. Campbell and Rebecca McFarland Kyle

  Necromantic Shenanigans

  The Macrow Necromancers

  Nothing But Necromancy

  Nothing But Nemesis (forthcoming)

  Necromancy By Necessity (forthcoming)

  By Rebecca McFarland Kyle

  Walking on the Weird Side

  Fanny and Dice

  By J. A. Campbell

  The Clanless Series

  The Legends of the Travelers Series

  The Tales of the Travelers Series

  Brown Ghost Hunting Dog Vol 1 and Vol 2

  Necromantic Shenanigans

  From building Towers of Solitude in Colorado’s mountains to freeing a bestiary held captive by a demon-possessed Scottish Laird, Elise and Hagatha Macrow are on the case.