Pendant: The Undead Hunters Book One

By Stephen C. Ormsby

Book 1 of the Undead Hunters series.

Varnok the Great Wizard wants revenge against the people who burnt him at the stake for murder three hundred years before. He has waited patiently in Hell for his opportunity.

Now, the Pendant has come together, and the time to make them pay for their actions against him is here. He will release his power upon Earth. Maggie finds half a pendant in a sea-side market and Logan is given his by family, forcing the two into a horrific world they had never imagined, and running for their lives.

Will they learn the secret of the Pendant before it is too late? Will there new-found love be strong enough to stop Varnok, a three hundred year old Wizard from the pits of Hell?

Pendant is the first book in The Undead Hunters series.

Ormsby without question has a talent for prose as well as a vivid imagination, and has combined them to produce a book that I found myself thinking about long after I had finished reading.
Brian D. Anderson, Author, The Godling Chronicles

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stephen C. Ormsby
• Release date: Mar 10, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310515880

Stephen C. Ormsby

Stephen C Ormsby was an IT professional for twenty years before deciding to lead a more creative life. He has always loved the idea of writing novels and had written four when Long Lost Song came along, demanding to be published.This is his first but will not be his last.He lives in South Gippsland with his wife, two children and a mad cat. He has travelled extensively, is an avid reader and enjoys listening to a wide range of music.

Book preview

Chapter 1

24 April, 1664

Hear ye, Hear ye! The Town Crier’s opening words and his chiming bell broke him out of a restless semi-sleep. It was the second time today those words and that noise plagued him. The first being this morning when they proclaimed the events of the day, but now the day had passed and the hour had closed in on him.

Hear ye all. On this auspicious date of the twenty fourth day of the month of April, in the year of our Lord 1664, we have now reached the hour of removing the heinous beast from our midst. The town of Beverly, Massachusetts has proclaimed the man known as Conrad White as a witch of the highest degree, using the magical powers granted him by powers unknown to Heaven to do unspeakable acts. For this, there is only one outcome – to be burnt at the stake.

He heard the rustling of tinder, as people added even more wood to the pyre he knew awaited him. Perfect night for being burned at the stake, Conrad thought. Even through the semi-conscious state he achieved, he still heard wood being moved in, and then people walking past all day adding more and more to it. Now he could hear the men grunting as they tied ropes around the stack. It must be large, as the footsteps to walk around it were many.

He hung on the wall, like a skeleton. His wrists chained to the wall above his head. Attempting to stretch only reminded him of his bindings and broke open unhealing wounds. He felt the blood running down his arms, from the chains rubbing against his wrists. His ankles were chained to the wall only inches from the floor, and he could feel a rat nibbling at his feet.

He had adjusted to the pain as he had hung there for many days, waiting for this night. He spat out blood running into his mouth and the cut on his face burned with infection. He had not been sure if he would die hanging on the wall, or being burned at the stake. Now he knew.

Don’t know why you are smiling. A whisper from his right invaded his ears as a crack of thunder lit up the dungeon for an instant.

Another bolt of lightning, indicating the storm coming would be all-mighty. Conrad looked over to the other man that hung naked on the wall only seeing a silhouette. The man had been there when he arrived. A peal of thunder resonated in the room and for a second, Conrad could see his bones piercing through the skin, as his wounds oozed with infection. What had kept that man alive? Conrad wondered.

The storm was still a while off, but when it reached them, it would cause flooding. He could feel it in his bones. Staring at the bedraggled creature next to him, Conrad spoke. People may mock me. They think I am weak and underestimate me. They are all wrong and will regret the day they turned on Conrad.

Least they are burning you at the stake, and going down in glory. They are just letting me hang here till I give up and die.

Conrad smiled, but there was nothing happy about it. This is your lucky day. If you die today, I will find you in the afterlife. You will join me when I seek my revenge on them all. Tell me your name so that I may find you.

My friends call me Isaac. I will call you Master. They say you are crazy, master. They say you are a witch. They say…

What they say and what they know are different things, Isaac.

Conrad looked up at the small hole, which acted as their only view of outside, in the wall. Light from the moon flooded through and for a moment he could see Melissa lying on their wedding bed, naked, as moonlight exposed her beauty to him. But then scene turned red, as he then saw her covered in blood with her throat slit. Pain shot through his heart, still not understanding how she could have betrayed their love with another man. He had sought his revenge of them both.

He started laughing, knowing that one day he and Melissa would be reunited in their absolute love for each other, and all would be right with the world.

They both heard the key enter the lock. The screech deafened them both as the door opened. Conrad watched as the goaler walked toward him. Conrad spit on him. I need water. I demand it!

The man unlocked the chains, wrenching him from the wall. Where you are going, you will never have water. So you had better get used to it.

Conrad fell to the ground, curling up into a ball of hurting flesh. A moan escaped from him, as he tried to stand, only to fall back down.

As Conrad tried to pick himself for the second time, the man kicked at him. Grabbing a handful of Conrad’s lank, greasy hair he shouted, Get up. Time to burn in Hell.

Conrad stood up under duress, ignoring the pain that ripped through his body. He could not remember the last time he ate or had water. Compared to Conrad, the man was a picture of health, obviously being well fed. There was even the scent of good whiskey on his breath.

The wench deserved to die, along with her lover for they betrayed me as no-one else has. Conrad spit the blood that ran into his mouth onto the man, watching it cover his face in a fine red mist. Anger sparked across the goaler’s face as he pulled Conrad’s hair in one fist and punched him in the stomach with the other, not giving him the chance to collapse to the ground again.

Conrad was dragged through the door before managing to find his feet again. As he walked outside, he wondered how long he had been hanging on that wall. He smiled as an apple smacked him in the face, tasting the delicious white flesh of the fruit.

A young boy yelled, Murderer! Rot in Hell, cried some old lady. After that it became a cacophony of noisy abuse directed at him.

Conrad forced himself to walk as straight as he could, smiling, showing off his blackened, rotten teeth. More rotting food covered his body, but the stench could not overcome his body odor. He reeked from many days of not bathing.

In the crowd, he saw Melissa’s mother and, for a moment, felt pain in his heart. Pain of betrayal, losing his own true love. That pain was replaced by revenge as his heart hardened. Knowing that he would get revenge on what Melissa did to him spurred him onwards – to his death.

The guard shoved him and Conrad fell at the base of the pyre. Bales of hay surrounded the teepee of wood and the pole. He looked up and for a moment saw Melissa, wearing the flower in her hair, waving at him from the crowd; beckoning him to join her as they may sure their immortal life together. She carried the flowers he had given her and wore the pendant he had declared his love to her with. Her warm, sweet, innocent smile that melted his heart and made him fall in love with her. She held out her hand and he reached out to touch her one last time. The guard pulled Conrad up and Melissa was gone.

They walked the steps up to the platform surrounding the pole. After Conrad was tied to the pole, his executioners moved back and dismantled the platform, to leave him hanging. He looked out on to the people that he once considered to be his friends. Now they had become his enemies, now and forever.

A torch was waved in his face and, as he watched it, it descended into the wood. Bright yellow flames licked at the wood and hungrily consumed it. Conrad did not flinch as the first of the flames found his feet. Soon enough he felt the heat of the flames and the growing crackle of the fire.

Above, clouds crashed together, bringing a noise of its own to the proceedings. Claps of thunder and bolts of lightning added to the party atmosphere, as the crowd now started celebrating, for the sentence against the animal was being carried out.

He smiled, knowing that he was going to go to the next level of his life. He felt the burning sensation on the bottom of his feet as the skin cracked and peeled away, but would never yell out in pain. He laughed. As loud as he could, he laughed.

The flames engulfed him; surrounded him, cooking his skin and muscle from his bones. Now he screamed, but it was not the scream of suffering. It was the scream of madness. The pain had finally driven him into the abyss, and he had come out reveling in the flame. He tried to dance and scream as the flames continue to torment his wrecked body.

Finally, the brewing storm burst forth with rain, as lightning arced through the sky. One arc hit Conrad directly in the chest, passing through him and setting alight the extra wood lying in wait. With the power of the electricity passing through him, Conrad’s eyes glowed bright; too bright for an ordinary person. His glare fell upon people and they felt as if their soul was being pulled from their body; as if their skin would slough off the longer they were caught in that gaze.

With the onset of the rain, the crowd quickly dispersed. It came down in a great torrent. God himself could only make this much rain at once. He was telling them to rush away from witnessing this death, telling them to go home and pray for their souls instead of watching this one tormented soul burn and wither.

Once the lightning stopped piercing his charred body, Conrad’s head fell forward. Death had finally claimed him.

Chapter 2

24 April, 1964

Linda changed her dress for the fifth time, as she stared at the other dresses on her bed for a brief second. None of them quite did what she wanted them to say. She wanted to profess her love to her man for this wonderful life they now shared together. This one though would be THE dress. Short, but not too short and just tight enough around her chest – just as Henry liked it – whilst showing off the little baby bump she had developed in the last few weeks.

Standing in front of the mirror, she knew she had made the right choice this time – with the dress and with the man. She would marry him soon and they would lead a beautiful life of travel and fun. As she zipped up the floral dress, her fingers flicked across the gold pendant had given her just an hour ago to celebrate their six month anniversary.

The pendant was one of two that, when joined together, made the shape of a heart. She had one half and her fiancé Henry wore the other half. He had made a speech to her over dinner about the love he had for her and then showed off his half. He asked her to turn around so he could fit the other half around her neck. Henry declared they should go and live this wonderful life together at the dance tonight.

She did not care that the Henry bought the pendant at a flea market; that it was scratched up; and that it had only cost a couple of dollars. To Linda it made the pendant more special, knowing another couple who wore the same pendant years ago. Even the little, red stain did not detract from its beauty. She pulled it out from within her dress and gazed at it. It was just wonderful and such a beautiful gesture by this incredible man. Linda placed the heart shaped pendant over her heart.

A chill went through Linda as she felt a sharp pain in her stomach. Before she had time to react, the pain was gone. She looked into the mirror thinking that it was a sign of a miscarriage. She stared at the stain on the pendant. It seemed brighter.

Is that a blood stain? Linda asked the empty room. She scratched at it and some crimson residue came off. The rusty dust clung to her finger and seemed to creep under her fingernail. Henry told me that the seller said the last couple who wore it was killed violently. Maybe the seller was just trying to make a sale, Linda laughed. You’re just scaring yourself now, Linda. She looked around the room to make sure no-one had seen this. And now you are talking to yourself as well. What would Henry say?

She pressed her thumb on the blood stain. It came away wet unbeknownst to her. Linda fixed her lip stick and felt the stickiness touch her lip. Brushing it off quickly, she admired herself in the mirror. She looked great – except for that slight blemish on her bottom lip.

Moving closer to stare at her reflected face, she saw her reflection change from her to a young woman’s face splattered in blood. The lips were red like hers but turned black as she watched. The other face kept smiling. Linda turned her head away, but felt drawn to the woman’s face. As she looked back, so did the woman, but not before exposing the side of her head, where her skull was no longer. Worms moved around the open wound, as blood oozed down her neck. The woman turned back staring at Linda, as bugs crawled out of her eyes and out of her nose.

In fright, Linda jumped back. Her foot found the edge of the rug, tripping her over. As she fell to the floor, her head collected on the edge of the night stand. Quickly, she grabbed at the wound only to find blood starting to cover her face like the one in the mirror. Throwing a glance up at the mirror, Linda saw the woman was gone. She laid down, closing her eyes, wondering what had happened. Maybe it was the pregnancy. All those new hormones rushing through her body, she supposed. But wasn’t pregnancy meant to be a beautiful thing? Why would she be having visions of blood and a dead woman when she was going to bring another life into the world?

Fuzziness filled her eyes and her head, as she felt the wave of unconsciousness wash over her. The blood from the side of her head had already coagulated. She must have passed out and woke up hearing Henry’s calling her name somewhat frantically. She did not attempt to move until she heard Henry’s footsteps coming towards her. She felt his arms around her, helping her up.

What the hell happened? Henry said as he sat her down gently on the edge of the bed. He could see her blood trail on the floor. One particular puddle looked like a heart. Are you okay? Let me look at your head. He rushed to the bathroom, wet a towel and placed it against the wound.

Linda gasped, both in the shock of the coldness and in hearing fear in his voice. I’m not sure. I was getting ready to go out, trying on different dresses. I wanted to look special for you and I couldn’t decide which one to wear. Then I… Well, you will think I am crazy…. She took his hand and pressed his open palm against her cheek. The warmth of it filled her heart, chasing away most of the bad feelings.

Henry knelt in front of his soon-to-be wife. Taking both her hands in his, you spoke gently to her. I’m going to be your husband. He kissed her forehead, and could feel how flushed she was. You can tell me anything, my love. Is it the baby?

Don’t think so. Linda said, I still feel okay. It’s just… I’ve just felt… strange today. Different. Changed almost. She squeezed her eyes tightly closed, but could feel the close proximity of Henry’s pendant. Linda reached out and touched his pendant. Your pendant doesn’t have a blood stain.

We don’t know if it is a blood stain. Henry said. The old man was probably just conning me for a sale. He would have said anything to get my money.

But what if it is true? What if the story he told you actually happened? What if the young couple that had it before us died wearing these pendants. You know, I have felt different since you gave it to me, whispered Linda.

You are also pregnant. Henry said. You are going to have lots of new feelings with the pregnancy. Lots of things are going to change. Your body is changing and making room for this new life you are going carrying inside of you. This life we created is changing you. It’s changing me. This is the beginning of our new life together and, of course, you are going to feel different because of it. It is a big change for us. Exciting, big things are happening. And I love it. I love you.

Linda felt hot tears run down her face. Henry’s words always inspired her. His love for her had changed so many things for the better in her life. He had helped her give up cigarettes for the baby; had stayed with her when she had morning sickness, and never once complained. There was a joy in this man. Even with his kind words, she could not dispel the black, inky thoughts trickling through her mind. I saw someone in the mirror. Something bad happened to this woman. I saw it. She was dead, but still she smiled at me. She… she looked like me.

Honey, lay down and have a sleep. You hit your head as you fell. I’m surprised that you don’t have a headache. Let me get some bandages and I will patch you up. Then you will rest. Henry placed an arm around her waist, walking to the head of the bed. Let me help you get into bed. If you feel better later, then we might go out. There is plenty of time to go out. We have our whole lives to go out. But I don’t want you feeling sick, so just stay here for a little while.

Linda’s vision was still blurry from the injury, so as she stood up she leaned heavily against Henry. Collapsing on to the bed, she mumbled, I didn’t get much done today. I spent most of the day, just walking around, our new house, dreaming of what our lives will be like.

Henry chuckled softly. Honey, you can wonder and wander as much as you like. I don’t expect you to be too much. Your job is to keep our baby growing and safe. I know the house needs work, especially as it is so big. It may seem like a large task now, but I know we will feel this house up with love and children. Henry covered her with a blanket. You need to be careful and take care of yourself.

Here. Take these. Henry handed her two aspirin and a glass of water.

I will. Linda said. She laid her head on the pillow, already drowsy. Sorry I scared you.

As long as you are okay, then I’m fine with a little scare then and now. Oh, and before I forget we received another wedding present. Excited, Henry sprinted out of their bedroom. I’ll be right back.

Linda propped herself with the help of pillows and took the medication with a big swallow of water. She caught of the pendant as it glimmered red in the night light. Her hand went to it, stopping it moving. She felt a chill arose up her back and a sharp pain in her stomach. She doubled over in pain, letting go of the pendant, and the pain subsided.

She looked up at Henry when he came back into the room. She smiled though she knew it would have looked more like a grimace.

Everything okay? Henry asked, as he walked in carrying a tray with tea and crackers on it. There was something under the tray.

Only a man in love would use that tea set, laughed Linda. She remembered buying the tea set as a joke. It was a dainty little set with pink flowers, and reminded her of something little, old English ladies would use to drink tea out of as they ate cucumber sandwiches. Henry had loved it from the moment he saw it.

I love you more than you will ever know. Henry set the tray on the night stand. I made it just like you like it. Not too strong and not too weak. Just enough milk and no sugar.

I’m sure it will be fine. Linda picked up the tiny cup and sipped delicately.

Henry was not sure why he was so nervous. A tension had overcome him since Linda’s accident. Everything had been incredible, falling into place without much worry, but this reminded him that it did not take too much for things to go bad. This accident was a warning to be more careful.

Everything he ever wanted was in this house. His wife.