by A. J. Locke
“Alchemy has its positive uses, there’s no doubt about that,” I said. “Renton himself came up with various useful runes using Alchemy. But there is always a dark side when it comes to things like that. Just as you can experiment to do good, you can experiment to do bad. Renton did both. The power to re-create bodies isn’t something anyone should have. It’s—in essence—playing God. No one wants to die or experience someone they know dying, but it is a natural part of life.”
“So do you think the Paranormal Sector should disband their Alchemy department altogether?”
“I think it needs a lot of restructuring if it is going to continue on. There is always the potential for there to be another Renton. I don’t know if closing down the department is the answer, because that could just mean someone will conduct dangerous experiments on their own, and who knows what trouble that could lead to. At least with a public department, things can be monitored. Although, let’s face it, the ball was dropped with Renton.”
“You echo the sentiments of many,” Taj said. “Yet the louder call is for Alchemy to be done away with altogether. The general public holds a lot of fear over the power it has.”
“Understandable. I myself am no longer in awe of it as I once was. I’d rather have nothing to do with it.”
“That must create a bit of tension between you and Micah Stone, then.”
“Because his uncle was so involved with it? Yeah, it has not always been easy…”
“No, I mean because he’s accepted a position within the Rune Development Department that’s been established within the new Paranormal Control Center. They are going to continue using Alchemy to develop new advancements with runes such as the ones Renton worked on.”
I took a moment before I spoke so I wouldn’t fumble over my words. I didn’t want Taj to hear the surprise in my voice over what he’d just said.
Micah had failed to mention that he was working for the new Paranormal Control Center. In their Rune Development Department, no less. I’d thought we were both booted from Affairs of the Dead and unemployed.
Anger rippled through me, but I composed myself. This was too reminiscent of the recent past when Micah had been keeping secrets from me. I had really hoped we’d moved on from that.
“Oh right, of course. Well, whatever tension there may be is something we will work on privately, so I’d rather not comment further.”
“Of course, sorry for overstepping. It’s just that there’s a lot of noise over Renton’s nephew joining the ranks Renton was in.”
Man, I should really watch the news. I had avoided it because I wanted to give myself a chance to clear my head, and watching the news would just beat me down with the things I had endured pre-coma.
“Let me guess, people are afraid he will be a copycat. That he will take what he learned from Renton and become an even bigger monster.”
“That pretty much sums it up.”
“I can assure you that Micah is nothing like Renton. But he will be under the thumb of the Paranormal Sector and, more directly, the PCC, who I am sure will not let history repeat itself.”
“I do hope you’re right,” Taj said. He again flipped to a new page in his notebook. I tried not to be nervous about all the notes he took.
The interview went on for about fifteen minutes more before Taj declared he had everything he needed to write his article. He put away his notebook and recorder.
“Thanks so much for giving your exclusive interview to the Guardian Sun,” he said. “The story should run in a week or two.”
“Great, just make me look good.”
Taj smiled. “Your courageous efforts against Renton have already done that for you. The ceremony should be starting soon. Shall we?”
That nervous flutter in the pit of my stomach was back, but I gave Taj the affirmative. After we paid, we left the diner and headed over to the park. A large crowd was already gathered in front of a platform stage. Behind the stage was the memorial, which was a large, abstract-shaped sculpture that had the victim’s names etched onto it.
Micah was behind the stage with people I assumed were officials from the government, judging from the way they were dressed and how they carried themselves. He saw me and beckoned me over, and Leora guided Taj to where the other reporters were set up in front of the stage. They had their notepads, cameras, and recorders ready. Once people spotted me, they started cheering, which flustered me a little, but I smiled and waved as I hurried over to Micah.
“Where’s Tielle?” I didn’t spot her among the officials. I almost said “where’s your new boss,” but I was going to refrain for bringing up what I had just learned from Taj. It wasn’t the time or place for an argument.
“She got pulled away by something important at the office,” Micah said. “She’s sorry that she will miss it, but wants to meet up with you soon.”
“Yeah, sure.” I wondered what was so important that she had to miss the ceremony.
People were still cheering and calling out to me. Positive things, but I felt like ducking down and hiding behind the stage. It was polarizing to be treated like a hero when I was standing near the names of so many people whose deaths I felt responsible for.
Micah introduced me to the government officials. Some were from the Paranormal Sector, others were from the regular U.S. government. They all gave me a warm handshake and made polite inquiries about my recovery, as well as complimented me about my bravery in stopping Renton. I endured the meet and greet as best I could.
While some official or another was making small talk with Micah, I surveyed the crowd and was surprised when my gaze landed on Jacob McNabb standing near the front row. I had never seen Jacob in person before, but there had been a large portrait of Andrew, Jacob, and their father, Ernest, hanging up in Andrew’s office. Jacob was three years older than Andrew, so he was approaching fifty. He had a similar build to his brother—tall and broad-shouldered. Their father did too. Guess it was genetics or family gym time to thank for that.
Jacob also had blue eyes like Andrew, but his hair was brown where Andrew’s was more of a dirty blond. His facial hair was neatly trimmed. Of the two, Jacob resembled their father more. But like Andrew, he was all about maintaining an impeccable look. The charcoal gray suit he wore looked expensive and well-tailored.
He caught my eye before I could look away and his expression tightened. He had no smile for me. It hadn’t crossed my mind that he would be here, but I realized that Andrew was as much a victim of Renton as anyone else whose name was on the memorial. I was certain Andrew’s would be there too. Jacob’s piercing gaze definitely fell into the “if looks could kill” category. I hoped I would be able to avoid him. That was an awkward encounter I did not need. I looked away.
A short time later, one of the officials went up onto the stage to give opening remarks, which finally quieted the crowd. Although there had been cheers, there were many somber, tear-streaked faces, and I knew they belonged to the friends and family of the victims. My heart suddenly felt like it weighed a ton. As much as I felt off balance without my reanimation power, I never wanted evolved power like that again. The damage it could cause was not worth it.
At some point during the speech, Micah nudged me and I zoned back in. Someone was being introduced. A young woman left the audience and walked onto the stage. She looked to be in her early twenties.
“Who is she?” I whispered to Micah. “What’s going on?”
Micah gave a small smile. “You’ll see. I wanted you to be surprised so I didn’t mention it before.”
I frowned, but soon had to turn that frown into a more neutral expression because moments later, I was invited to come onto the stage. I took a deep breath, gathered my strength, and headed up. I could do this. I could totally do this.
“Selene.” The speaker, a balding older man named Jerry, put his arm around my shoulder. I didn’t realize we were that close.
“This is Margaret,” Jerry said. Margaret smiled at me.
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��Margaret was on the Brooklyn Bridge during the rampage caused by the ghost monster Renton Morse was in control of and she was severely injured,” Jerry said, addressing the crowd. “She was pregnant—almost full-term—and it is only because Selene was able to bring the massacre to an end, thus allowing paramedics to get to her in time, that both she and her baby were saved. Margaret would like to thank Selene personally.”
My eyes widened as Jerry stepped back and Margaret came closer and offered me her hand. After giving me a handshake, she threw her arms around me and gave me a hug. I was caught off guard but I returned the hug, even though it was a bit awkward.
“I remember thinking that even if I died I wanted my baby to live,” she said after she pulled back. “But I knew that if I didn’t get help soon, we would both be lost.” She pointed to where an older woman she bore a resemblance to stood in front of the stage with a stroller next to her. No doubt that was Margaret’s mother and her infant.
“Because of you, my daughter has a chance to grow up, and I am around to watch her do so. Necromancy runs in our family, and when my daughter was tested at birth, it was revealed that she carries necromancer power.”
That elicited cheers from the crowd. Necromancy could be detected in a newborn using runes if the parent chose to have the baby tested. Reanimation power usually wasn’t detectable until adulthood, which was when a lot of reanimators either got caught or went into hiding. Mine had awakened when I was a teenager, but that was a rare case and my grandmother had kept me protected.
“I hope that one day Leah can grow up to be a strong, working necromancer like you, who helps others. Whether it is by helping ghosts with unfinished business, or as a member of the Paranormal Task Force.”
“I hope so too,” I said. “Although I certainly hope she doesn’t end up in the kind of trouble I did.” That got a murmur of laughter from the crowd.
“Thank you for the sacrifice you made,” Margaret said. “By whatever means you’re still here is a blessing, and I think it means you are meant to do great things in the world.”
“Thank you, Margaret, I can only hope—”
I was cut off by a scream somewhere in the crowd that wasn’t a cheer. When I turned, it was in time to see someone go flying through the air before slamming into several people. They all crumbled to the ground. People started shouting and trying to get away from the threat that had suddenly descended.
I soon saw what that threat was. A ghost.
The ghost looked as though in life he had ate, slept, and lived at the gym, and could have been a body double for The Hulk without any computer graphic enhancements. He was a nasty-looking motherfucker, and he barreled through the crowd like he was a wrecking ball and they were tiny bowling pins.
My heart felt like a fist had tightened around it when I saw the ghost reach Taj and Leora. Leora was agitated and trying to help Taj get through the melee, but the ghost knocked Taj down, grabbed Leora, and lifted her into the air. I watched in rising horror as a shimmering yellow glow engulfed them and Leora started screaming. The feel of ghost energy skyrocketed. It was as though tiny currents of electricity were dancing across my skin. At first I couldn’t understand what I was looking at; then, in horror, I realized what that ghost was doing to Leora.
He was absorbing her.
CHAPTER SIX
Leora screamed until she couldn’t scream anymore.
I watched as her human form dissolved into a stream of yellow energy that flowed into the ghost, whose hands had been tightly wrapped around her forearms. I tried to move forward so I could run off the stage and do something to save her, but the tremendous power unleashed by the aggressive ghost held me immobile. I threw my necromancer power at the ghost to try and return the favor of being held in place, but to my surprise, that didn’t work. The ghost had to be immensely strong if it was unaffected by my power. Shit.
Leora blinked out of existence, and suddenly I could move again and stumbled forward. Micah caught me before I hit the ground, and I looked at him with wide eyes and likely the same horrified expression he was giving me.
“Selene, let’s go.” Micah started pulling me away. Getting out of here was a good idea, especially since the ghost was coming this way now, but as I started to run off with Micah, I noticed that Margaret was still standing there, screaming. She was frantic about her mother and baby. Her mother was not having an easy time trying to maneuver herself and the baby safely away. They were in danger of being trampled. Her mother was clutching the baby to her chest. The stroller had already been overturned.
“Micah, help them, I will try to find Taj!” I had lost sight of Taj and couldn’t imagine that he was faring well in the agitated crowd. Micah hesitated, but I pushed him and he grabbed Margaret and jumped off the front of the stage. He took Leah from her grandmother, and started leading them away.
Now it was my turn to get off the stage. But my attempt was hampered when something slammed into me and I had a painful meeting with the stage floor. The ghost had thrown a folding chair. When I looked up, he’d jumped onto the stage and was advancing on me. I started crawling backward, but soon realized that I was almost at the edge of the stage.
I got up and dashed to the side, trying to get to the steps, but the ghost grabbed me and soon had his hand around my throat. He lifted me off the ground as he began crushing my windpipe. My lungs burned for air and my vision crossed. My only hope was to snatch away his energy rune and render him intangible, but no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t reach it.
Then a shot rang out and the ghost’s body jerked so hard he dropped me and I fell like a puppet whose strings had been cut. The ghost still loomed over me, baring its ghostly teeth as though he was a lion and I was a gazelle ready for consumption. Two more shots came and once again, the ghost’s body jerked. When I looked around, the stage was surrounded by Paranormal Task Force officers in full riot gear with their rune guns pointed at the ghost. The ghost looked considerably pissed that his attempt to crush the life out of me was interrupted.
He reached for me again, but three more shots hit him and he decided against it. But he didn’t fall. Five shots and the son of a bitch was still standing. Damn, he was strong. Did absorbing Leora help him become so resilient?
Ghost guy jumped off the stage and more bullets rang out. They weren’t aimed at me, but you never knew when a stray bullet could find you so I stayed crouched on the stage near the upturned podium. The PTF officers chased the ghost, but he was getting further and further away from them. If their bullets didn’t stop him, then it looked like he’d be getting away. I slumped over, feeling boneless, confused, and astounded at the sudden violent turn this ceremony had taken.
“Selene!” Micah scrambled up onto the stage and came to crouch next to me, his concerned eyes sweeping my body.
“I’m fine,” I said hoarsely. “Mostly.” I rubbed my sore throat. “Did you get them to safety? Is the baby OK?”
“Yes. I put them in a cab so they could get out of the area. Are you sure you’re OK?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “That ghost came after me, tried to kill me.”
“What the hell for?” Micah looked up and around as though he expected the ghost to return.
“No clue. I’ve never seen him before.”
“Are you sure you’re all right? I should have stayed with you, damn it.” He gave me a scrutinizing look.
“No, you should have made sure those three got out of here safely, which you did. And I am fine. More so physically than mentally. That ghost just…absorbed Leora.”
“How is that even possible?”
“Your guess is as good as mine. But what it boils down to is that Leora is gone.” I looked around. “Where’s Taj?” Before Micah could answer, I spotted him struggling to his feet next to the stage. We ran over and helped him up. He was a bit bruised but wasn’t bleeding. He’d apparently taken cover under the stage, which was a smart move. He was trembling and looked scared.
“Taj, hey
, it’s OK,” I said as we helped him up. “It’s Selene and Micah.”
“What…what happened? What was that? Where’s my aunt?”
I couldn’t imagine how nightmarish this must have seemed to him. It was horrific, but being able to only hear the horror had to have been even more terrifying. Micah and I exchanged a look. I did not want to attempt to explain what had happened to his aunt’s ghost.
“Selene?”
“Taj, uh…your aunt’s ghost…”
“Can I be of any assistance?”
I turned to see Jacob coming up to us. He looked a little roughed up, but it seemed as though he’d gotten himself out of harm’s way early enough. I swallowed hard and exchanged another look with Micah. Jacob’s words were friendly, but the vibe he brought with him was anything but. I felt instantly uncomfortable.
“Ms. Vanream, Mr. Stone,” Jacob said. “I have to say I did not imagine an event to honor my brother and the other victims of your uncle would have turned out this way.”
The way he’d said “your uncle” practically dripped with contempt. Jacob shook his head and laid a hand on Taj’s shoulder, who flinched at the stranger’s touch.
“I can escort this young man to receive some assistance,” Jacob offered.
“No, that’s OK, we can—”
“I insist,” Jacob said. “I’ve already helped several people to the ambulances. I want to do my part to help. This should have been a peaceful day to remember those we lost. Instead, it almost turned into a blood-bath. You have a special touch, don’t you, Selene?”
He said that last part very softly and my discomfort grew. I fought the urge to squirm under his gaze.
“My aunt,” Taj said. “Where is she?”
“I will explain everything,” Jacob said. “You look like you can use some patching up; please allow me to escort you to the paramedics.”