Death God: The Necromancer

By Ron Wolfwalker

In a world where things that go bump in the night might eat you, Evan Falchion has kept Clark County, Nevada free of those creatures for years. Now with a new law that makes Vampires and Lycanthropes legal, he has to deal with the un-dead and furry crowd wanting to come to Vegas for a vacation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ron Wolfwalker
• Release date: Jan 29, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311751041

Book preview

Death God: The Necromancer

European Release

By Ron Wolfwalker

Chapter 1

Snapping the wooden connector at the end of the woven rope together to activate the containment circle, Evan placed the end of the rope on the ground. His eyes followed the rope around to make sure the circle’s shape had been maintained as he laid it out. Standing up, he caught sight of the judicial circus tonight’s raising had become and frowned in disgust. What had started as a simple re-animation, to have the victim raised so he could identify his killer, had gone from a simple three witness gathering to just this side of a cluster fuck.

The file you need Mr. Falchion, the court stenographer said softly, she had stopped several feet away from the rope-like circle the Animator had placed around the grave site and held it out towards him. Seeing the not very pleased look being sent her way, she lowered her eyes and backed away once he had taken the folder.

Strike one, Evan thought as he looked at the newly seated judge glaring his way. Flipping the folder open he glanced down at the paperwork inside and frowned. Everything looked correct, but it felt off, it felt incomplete somehow. Snapping the folder closed and using it to hit his hand as he tried to figure out why the situation felt off to him, he glanced over at Drake, his expression one of warning of things going wrong.

Any time you are ready to get started Mr. Falchion, Judge Barrett sneered in distaste at having to associate with someone he felt was just this side of consorting with demons.

Staring at the judge with an expression of contempt on his face, as the silence of the night was broken by the court stenographer tapping away at her keyboard; Evan turned his back on the crowd and stepped over to the grave. Kneeling in front of the mound of earth, he unleashed the control he kept over his power to call the dead back to the realm of the living and felt those laid to rest in the cemetery like embers of a fire waiting to be blown back to life as his power flowed gently across the ground.

Untying the leather roll with a selection of Japanese knives slotted inside, Evan unrolled it with a snap of his wrist; then dragged it across the soil so it was right in front of him. Fingers trailing across the dark black handles as he stared at the headstone unseeing, his finger rested on the third one from the right, as his power finished building a map of those resting below the ground. Pulling the Kunai out of the slot he examined it closely, all the while ignoring the sounds of frustration coming from the crowd behind him.

Satisfied the Kunai was as sharp as it was supposed to be, Evan flipped the leather flap back over the knife handles and rolled the leather carrying case up one handed so he could set it to one side. Falling into a trance-like state, his body on automatic, as he pulled the small pet carrier that held the live chicken over next to him; he started the ritual of calling the dead back to life. His power stabbed down to the human remains below his kneeling form. His voice broke the silence as he called out with his power over the dead at the same time he reached into the carrier and grabbed the chicken by its feet, Thomas…Thomas Greenfield, hear me.

Six feet below him the potential spark Evan had felt earlier flared to life with a roar. Right hand rising slowly so as not to startle the chicken more than it already was, the Kunai descended towards the chicken’s neck as he ordered the corpse to pay attention to him, Thomas Greenfield, hear and obey. Rise from the grave…

EVAN!! Drake yelled out a warning as he spotted the judge step on the protection circle as he tried to get closer, The circle’s been broken.

At the last second Evan was able to deflect the strike that would have beheaded the chicken, by releasing the Kunai. Sparks flew from a neighboring headstone as the Kunai flew from his hand and impacted the monument. With a shaky hand he practically slammed the bird back into the pet carrier and slammed the door closed. Feeling the spark below him change as it was denied the blood and life from the chicken that would have fueled the body rising from the earth, he growled out in anger as he felt the spark shift and change into something else.

Hand quickly seeking the special mix of salt and herbs, Evan threw his power at the newly awakened corpse as the minerals hit the soil, Be STILL…Rise no further. I send you back Thomas Greenfield, back to the depths. Fighting the restless spirit he thrust his power down at the soul who fought to rise, I command you to BE STILL!!!

Standing up as he felt the spark die back to nothing, Evan clenched his fists as he suppressed the rage that was building into an inferno from the aborted animation. When he felt his power was as under control as he could expect it to be with his anger, he turned slowly, head rising up so he could glare at the person who almost caused a disaster. What the fuck are you doing?

Judge Barrett backed up a step as he felt an invisible power slam into him as he took in the visage of the pissed off Animator in front of him. His eyes were actually glowing with an unearthly power and he felt the hairs on his arms stand up as his senses screamed at him to run. Run away as fast as he could. Instead he screamed out, What the hell? Why’d you stop?

A flick of his fingers towards the circle caused it to ignite like a primer cord and sputter to nothingness in a flash. Evan crossed the boundary and stopped when he was within reach of the judge. Strike three his mind told him as he barely held his hand back from back slapping the man across the cemetery. His arm twitching as he forced it back down, he spit out between clenched teeth, I’m done here.

What do you mean you’re done? Judge Barrett sputtered in growing anger as the Animator started to walk away, turning his back to him. You didn’t do anything! You were paid to raise Greenfield so he could identify his attacker. Seeing he was being ignored he yelled louder, I order you to get back here and finish what you started.

Freezing in place, Evan looked up into the Sheriff’s face as the man walked into the light from the portable floodlights that had been set up, NO.

Looking at the man with an expression of disbelief on his face, Judge Barrett blinked several times before turning to the marshal standing off to one side and telling him, Marshal, I order you to place Mr. Falchion under arrest for contempt of court. I gave him an order and he blatantly has refused to comply.

Don’t do this Judge Barrett, Sheriff Blake tried to calm the man down, to get him to see reason before things went totally to hell.

Assistant Prosecutor Jameson knew something had gone wrong, just not what. Stepping forward he called out, Mr. Falchion can you explain why you are not willing to raise Mr. Greenfield?

Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly as he counted to ten in ancient Mayan, Evan answered the question, his voice carrying in the stillness, I’ve salted the Earth Mr. Jameson. No one will be bringing Greenfield back for two moon cycles. Turning to look over his shoulder as Drake came back from the truck where he had been putting all the supplies away he speared the prosecutor with a glare, You can blame the good judge here for that fact.

I will not repeat myself Falchion. Judge Barrett sneered as he motioned for the marshal to get on with it. You have two choices, either finish what you started or go to jail. One or the other, you’re not leaving here until I say so.

God dammit, Sheriff Edgar Blake cursed as his hand went to his service weapon. Stepping towards the marshal he tried one last time to get things to calm down before Falchion did something apocalyptic to protect himself. Everyone calm down and take a deep breath, no one wants this to go badly.

Drake’s eyes bugged out as he felt a massive wave of power erupt from Evan. If asked to describe what he felt he would have to say it was like standing next to ground zero when someone let off a nuclear bomb. Evan, please… he pleaded as he took Evan’s hands in his and pulled the rising power into himself.

Click

Back down Jensen, Marshal Henderson placed the barrel of his nine-millimeter against Jensen’s head. When Jensen did not move he pulled the hammer back on the Glock and growled, I said back down…NOW.

Judge Barrett, Marshal Jensen, I place both of you under arrest for violating Federal law 121.01, Sheriff Blake pulled his weapon and pointed it at the Marshal. You have the right to remain silent…

How dare you? Judge Barrett puffed up in rage, I’ll have your badge for this.

Drop your weapon or I’ll be forced to open fire, Sheriff Blake refocused on the judge when he saw his hand go to pull a revolver from under his robes.

Drake screamed in pain, causing everyone to freeze. Having pulled as much power as he could, as fast as he could, Drake fell to the ground and rolled down the incline out of the range of the floodlights, as the influx of power exploded through him, forcing him to change to his Lycanthrope form.

What the fuck was that? Judge Barrett yelled nervously as his eyes searched frantically for the cause of the scream.

Pulling his power back savagely, Evan searched for Drake in the darkness as he redirected his anger towards himself for losing control. Voice sounding dead he answered the judge’s question as he found Drake on all fours by the small copse of trees, That was my assistant swallowing so much of my anger it forced him to change into his Lycanthrope form. That’s strike four.

You brought one of those things with you? Judge Barrett in his fear of those different than him, let his prejudice show through.

Drake is not a thing you moron, Evan sneered angrily. You know very well that under the new laws, he is a person just as much as you are, and he has the same rights as everyone else.

Moving quickly, Sheriff Blake and Marshal Henderson had the two fools cuffed and on their knees before the shock of a Lycanthrope being right here wore off. Reaching over, Sheriff Blake clicked his microphone, Oscar, move the car up to my position. I have two prisoners to be taken into custody.

Holstering his weapon, Marshal Henderson let out a sigh of relief as the Animator seemed to lose the other worldly glow he had gained when he got pissed. Glancing around the ground quickly for any signs of the dead rising from the grave just in case that is where the glow went to, he let his body relax as the adrenalin left his system when he saw nothing but undisturbed earth.

You can’t do this to me, I’m a Superior Court Judge. Judge Barrett cried out as rough hands jerked him to his feet and dragged him to the patrol car.

Actually, I can, Edgar shook his head as he felt the hairs on his arms lay back down. Under section 121.01, which was signed into law two years ago, any attempts to coerce an Animator to raise the dead is a Federal offense punishable by life in prison. Under 121.02, which we luckily avoided, he glared at the man, if the dead are raised by coercion, then it is an automatic death sentence. Getting into the sputtering judges face he told him, And under subsection three, if the Animator fears for his life during said coercion, he can use any and all means to save himself, up to and including raising the dead to protect himself. I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t want to know what it feels like to be pulled apart as Zombies gnaw on me.

Chapter 2

Throwing a nod at the sheriff, who had things well under control now, Evan jogged over to the trees to check on Drake. Hands on his friend and lovers shoulders he raised Drake’s snout up so he could see into the slitted electric-blue eyes. I’m sorry for losing control Drake. Hand caressing the side of his friends face he murmured quietly, So sorry.

Itsss okay, Drake hissed out gutturally. Reaching up with a clawed hand he returned the caress to his lover and gave a brief nodding bow of his head.

Sighing, Evan got to his knees, Meet up with me at the site of my second appointment in about an hour. It should go quickly and then we can meet up with our third client at Woodlawn Cemetery at one as scheduled.

Drake nodded his head, careful not to get his horns caught in the low branches and took off at a jog towards the edge of the cemetery. Maybe he would catch a rabbit, or three, to help ease the hunger a forced shift caused.

Waiting until Drake faded from sight; Evan turned and slowly walked to his truck so he could go to the other side of the cemetery and his second appointment of the night. Ignoring the sheriff who was calling out his name, he climbed into his truck and drove away. It was better this way he thought, it would give him time to calm down and put this disastrous appointment behind him.

Well shit, Sheriff Edgar Blake muttered as the pickup truck drove away before they could catch up with Falchion. Looking back at the rest of the group that had tagged along in search of answers his gaze fell on the marshal that had taken down Jensen, You’re here for a court ordered raising right?

Yes, Judge Adkins is on the other side of the cemetery for a will dispute, Henderson told them. It might be a good idea to let him know what happened here.

Agreed, Edgar nodded as he turned to stare at the fading truck.

Pet carrier in one hand, gym bag in the other, Evan trudged down the row of graves towards the lit up area where his second appointment of the night was scheduled to start in half an hour. Nodding his head in greeting at the grounds keeper, who had set up the portable generator to run the lights, he soon found the plot holding George Long; tonight’s star performer. Setting everything within easy reach, he quickly pulled out the protective woven rope. The rope had been woven out of ingredients designed to erect a protective barrier to keep the newly risen dead within the circle. Quickly, with an ease that told of well-practiced movements, he had the circle in place and with the final click of the wooden connector into the other end of the rope he was safely behind the circles protection. Turning to tell the judge and lawyers he was ready to begin, he found that the so-called clients from the aborted raising in deep discussion with the group that was here for his second appointment. Clearing his throat loudly he told them, I’m ready to begin if you all are finished gossiping like teenagers.

Frowning in anger at what he had been told; Judge David Adkins motioned for everyone to move closer to the grave. Out of all the Las Vegas Judiciary he had the most contact with Evan Falchion and he thought he had a good measure of the differing moods the man had shown over the years. But this half-veiled contempt, packaged with a sense of wanting to be gone from this place was something new. Giving his court stenographer a gentle squeeze on the shoulder and a smile when she looked up at him, he nodded his head, We are ready when you are Mr. Falchion.

Repeating what he had done only ten minutes before, Evan readied himself and unleashed his power to creep along the graves in the area. He could feel his power latch onto the dead below and force the flesh to fill out, to become whole once more. With a flick of his wrist he felt the hot rush of life being released as the chickens blood sprayed over the ground. Taking that sacrificed life and pushing it into the corpse below, his words echoed across the grounds, Rise and speak George Long. Walk in the night air once more, I command thee.

The ground at Evans feet seemed to swirl like quicksand and soon a hand broke the surface of the sand-like ground. Moments later George Long pulled himself out of the ground and stood unblinking in the yellowish light from the halogen lamps. Taking a step forward Evan held up his cupped left hand that was filled with the blood from the chicken he had captured and ordered the newly raised man to, Drink and be whole George Long. Feeling an almost audible snap as the link between the corpse and his power solidified in place, he smiled as the light seemed to fill the newly animated body’s eyes and George Long woke up with a blink.

Looking around with a confused expression on his face, George tried to figure out where he was and who all these strangers were.

Seeing the look of confusion on the deceased face, David quickly stepped forward and started proceedings before the recently animated George Long become too confused to answer questions. Mr. Long, I’m Judge David Adkins, I have several questions I need you to answer for me about your will. You see your children are…

Tuning the judges questions out, Evan let his power float on the night’s air and searched for something, anything out of the ordinary. Because one never knew when a Blood Sucker or two would show up looking for their next meal, having been attracted to the rush of power and smell of blood from the chickens death he had used to raise the dead. Head swiveling slowly as his eyes glowed with power, he searched the darkness for the first sign of a Vampire heading their way.

Two years ago Vampires had won the right to be considered people by the courts. With the swish from a pen the president signed into law an act that made Vampires legal; they had all the same rights as the living, they were now considered people and to kill them without a court order was murder. Two things allowed that law to see the light of day, the money the old Vampires had at their disposal; and the rider that was tacked on in the last minute committee meeting that gave every other Preternatural being the same rights as everyone else. Personally, Evan was conflicted over the law. On the one hand he welcomed it, as the Draken, the Clutch of Were Dragons that were his familiar animal, now had the same rights as he did. But the downside was that the blood suckers were given those same rights. And anyone with half an ounce of common sense could have told you giving creatures of inherent evil due process was a disaster building to a showdown.

His thoughts of the past and the changes to the world brought about by new laws made him think of Drake and how open he could be now. Opening the link he had with the Draken he started to search for the bright spark that was Drake. Widening his search when he felt nothing in the cemetery, he found him a mile or two in the desert heading back this way. With luck he had found something to chase and catch so he could feed the hunger of a forced change. He winced as he thought of Drake pulling his rising anger and power into himself, forcing him to change, to keep him from raising every corpse in the area and tearing all those idiots limb from limb. Sighing, he shook his head slowly; it might have been better in the long run if he had killed them all. At least the law was on his side now, he had seen to that amendment personally when the bill went before Congress to authorize Animators as the only sanctioned executioners of Vampires and Lycanthropes. The Vampires thought they had won with that bill’s passing as Animators were few and far between. He smiled with the knowledge that the blood suckers had miscalculated with that manipulation; by giving Animators execution powers, it had opened the door for Necromancers, the scourge and bogey men of Vampires everywhere, to start to come out of hiding and grow in numbers. Because, that bill and the laws the blood suckers had fought for, meant they no longer could track down every whisper of a budding Necromancer and eliminate them before their powers grew to the point Vampires could be controlled with a word and touch.

Hearing the sounds of packing, Evan broke out of his musings and once again took notice of what