When To Fear The Living

by B. L. Brunnemer

  The cemetery was dark as I pulled in, but it wasn't hard to find the ghosts. Hades started barking as I parked. I left him in the car and went out to the group.

  "You didn't show up last night." Mrs. McClain instantly started complaining.

  "A friend of mine was sick, I was taking care of him," I explained.

  "So, the living mean more than the dead to you?" Mr. McClain accused me.

  I met his eyes and said quite plainly. "In this case, yes." Mr. McClain seemed to realize what he had said. I looked at the group. "Okay, who is first?" I asked. Mrs. McClain stepped forward. Great. I took off my bracelets and tucked them into my pockets. My barriers shook.

  "Can everyone else back up more please?" I asked. They did without a complaint. I wanted to get this over with fast.

  "Lexie, what the hell did you do?" Ethan was cursing. It was cold, but part of me was warm. "Wake up, Beautiful." I opened my eyes slowly. Ethan was holding me against his chest, one hand blotting my nose with a tissue.

  "Hmm?" I mumbled, not quite understanding.

  "What the hell happened?" He demanded, his voice shaky. I weakly reached up and took the tissues as I ran over what I remembered. Mrs. McClain had moved on through a door that looked like a street in Paris, Mr. McClain had moved on to a sailboat, then nothing.

  "I hit my limit. I thought that might happen." I admitted. He cursed.

  "You couldn't wait for me?" He snapped. "You could have cracked your head open on a headstone or something."

  "Sorry," I mumbled as I listened to his heartbeat under my ear. He sighed.

  "You're just lucky I didn't call Zeke." He pointed out.

  "Yeah, he would have killed me."

  "Next time, wait until someone is with you," Ethan told me, his voice strained. I opened my eyes to look up at him. His face was worried, and fear flickered in his eyes.

  "Promise." I agreed, he sighed in relief. Ethan held me until I was ready to move. Though to be honest, I liked smelling his cologne. Where'd that come from? When I was ready, he helped me up and followed me home. He waited until Hades, and I were inside before taking off. The house felt oddly empty. I went upstairs and knocked on Tara's door, no answer, she must have stayed at her Mom's tonight. I didn't bother taking a shower, I just climbed into bed and passed out.

  Chapter 13

  Friday

  After the best night sleep I had in weeks, I actually got ready this morning and I even did my hair properly. I was wearing blue jeans and a purple oversized sweater that I loved. I felt great. I had to cross the dead every day, but if the tradeoff was a full night's sleep? No problem. When I reached the table, the guys all seemed relieved.

  "What?" I asked.

  "Is your phone on?" Isaac asked. I pulled it out of my back pocket and realized it wasn't. I snorted.

  "Oops," I said as I turned it on. "Sorry."

  "Oops? You scared the crap out of us." Isaac looked at me like I was nuts. I narrowed my eyes at him.

  "Explosion in Chemistry," I reminded him. His face turned pink and he instantly dropped the subject. I was going to enjoy using that one. I sat next to Isaac as everyone started making plans for the afternoon.

  "What are your plans, Ally?" Asher asked.

  "I'm heading out to Serena's this afternoon. Then it's pampering time before the dance," I said as I frowned down at my phone. It kept vibrating as I received all my texts from the last couple days. There were a lot. What the...?

  Secret Admirer: It would mean a lot to me if you kept the ring.

  Secret Admirer: Why aren't you answering?

  Secret Admirer: Are you alright?

  Secret Admirer: I'm going to assume your phone died. Let me know that you are okay tonight.

  Secret Admirer: You aren't at school again. Are you okay? Did something happen to you?

  Secret Admirer: Are they hurting you?

  Secret Admirer: Do you need me?

  I blinked in astonishment as I read more and more texts. This had passed weird and gone straight to creepy.

  Alexis: Relax, you’re acting nuts. My phone was off.

  I hit send. My phone vibrated almost instantly.

  Secret Admirer: Are you okay?

  Alexis: I'm alright, I just forgot to turn my phone on.

  Secret Admirer: Did those guys make you turn it off? Did they touch you? If they hurt you, I'll kill them.

  I frowned as dread filled my stomach. Okay, this was passing creepy.

  Alexis: Big girl here, I can take care of myself.

  Secret Admirer: You have no idea what those guys are capable of. I don't think you should hang around them anymore, it's not safe.

  I blinked at that. Okay. Now we've officially crossed into beyond creepy and into disturbing.

  "Um, guys," My voice was quiet. I looked up to find everyone watching me. "I might need some advice here." I held up my phone.

  "Is it not working?" Miles asked as Ethan took my phone and looked through my messages. Ethan cursed.

  "This guy has lost it," Ethan announced. "She has fifty-eight texts from him in the last two days." Ethan began reading them off to the others. Everyone else but Miles cursed as Isaac ran his hand up and down my back, comforting me.

  "Beyond creepy, right?" I asked when Ethan finished reading. Everyone nodded. Zeke took the phone from Ethan and ran through it himself.

  "How was he acting before you turned off your phone?" Miles asked. I thought about it.

  "He was normal, at least, until I told him I was going to return that ring," I told them.

  "How did he react to that?" Asher asked, frowning.

  "He... kind of got weird. He was rather insistent that I wear it." I admitted. The guys sent looks to each other as Zeke put my phone down in front of me.

  "Tell him to fuck off and cut off all contact," Zeke ordered, his voice told me not to argue. I met his boiling eyes.

  "You think that'll work?" I asked. He nodded.

  "Yeah, I think it will," Zeke said, his voice serious. I sighed and picked up my phone.

  Alexis: Your aggressive texts have made me feel uncomfortable; I won't be texting back anymore. Your ring will be in an envelope on my locker. Goodbye.

  I showed Zeke what I wrote before I hit send. I tucked my phone into my back pocket. It started vibrating, I ignored it. The guys came with me as I walked to my locker and taped the envelope with the ring to the door. When the bell rang, everyone scattered, except Zeke, he hesitated.

  "Zeke, class, go," I told him pointedly. He was frowning as I walked off. And to be honest, I wouldn't have minded if he had followed me to class.

  I was waiting for school to be over. My English State Test was already finished when my cell vibrated for the tenth time. Thinking it was one of the guys I pulled out my phone and checked it. It wasn't one of the guys.

  Secret Admirer: You're not talking to me because of those guys, right? They're stopping you from talking to me.

  Secret Admirer: Can't you see how bad they are for you?

  I debated what Zeke said about cutting off contact. I didn't know what to do. Class was over so I put my cell in my back pocket and grabbed my stuff. I was walking out to the parking lot when I heard my name. I turned to see Jordan jogging over.

  "Hey, where have you been?" He asked. "You never miss the gym."

  "I was taking care of a sick friend," I hedged as I adjusted my bag on my shoulder. "I have to get going. I have an appointment." I flashed him a smile and headed for my Blazer. I didn't look back as I jumped in and drove off. My mind racing as I headed for the highway and drove to Northridge.

  Serena's store was cute. It looked like a log cabin, complete with a front porch. I climbed the front steps and opened the door. The smell of incense filled my nose until I wanted to sneeze.

  "Serena?" I called as I looked around the shop. The store was cluttered with rows upon rows of items. I didn't understand how Serena could breathe in here like this. The back curtain opened to show a smiling woman. She was stunning with sk
in the color of mocha. She had high cheekbones, a small chin, and big silvery eyes. She was a sight to see. Her brown hair was back in a clip that matched her green dress and she was barefoot, as usual, in her store. For some reason, she never wore shoes inside.

  "Lexie, how are you?" Serena asked with a smile. I held my arms out and spun in place for her. She chuckled. "Yes, I saw your barriers. They're much stronger than last time."

  "Yeah, they've had to be." I sighed. I met Serena's gaze. "We need to talk." Serena blinked then gestured for me to join her in the back. I slipped through the curtain and took my seat at the two-seater table.

  "So, what's happened?" She asked as she set the kettle on. I took a breath and told her everything. Reapers, the Veil, the Way, even about Zahur. When I was done, I was tired. I'd been hiding more than I realized from the guys and Rory. Serena sighed.

  "Reapers," Serena said thoughtfully, her eyes unfocused. "That does make sense." She blinked then focused on me.

  "I think I've found some wards that should work to keep the dead away. Can you take a look? Tell me if they're bullshit?” I asked. Serena nodded. I handed her the wards I copied from the reports Miles got for me. Serena looked through the drawings, her brow drawing down further and further as she went. She looked up at me, her eyes hard.

  "Voodoo?" Serena asked, her voice sharp. "What are you trying to do, Alexis?"

  "I'm trying to keep the dead from coming into my house," I reminded her. "They are cooperating right now, but I don't know how long that's going to last." I pulled out some pages from the report. Over the next hour, I showed her what we found. Serena listened carefully.

  "What do you need from me?" She asked.

  "I need to learn how to manipulate energy," I began. "I was hoping you could teach me." Serena raised an eyebrow.

  "Said this thing impersonating you." Serena pointed out. "Just because this, Zahur, helped a couple of times, that doesn't mean it's on your side."

  "You don't want to teach me." I guessed. Serena sighed.

  "It's not that I don't want to," She began. "It's that manipulating energy is... for the living. It should be used for the living, not the dead. Besides, it’s dangerous to mess with that balance." I blinked at her. She wasn't going to help me? What the hell was going on?

  "I'm not trying to manipulate energy in this world, I have to do it in the Veil," I explained patiently. "I have no intention of using it at all here. I'm just assuming the technique will transfer to the Veil." Serena gave me a small smile.

  "That doesn't mean you won't in the future." She explained gently with a sweet look on her face. "People change over time, Alexis. If I give you that knowledge, I can never take it back. And one day, you may decide to use it here."

  "The Veil is dying, Serena," I stated. Surprise spread across her face. "I just barely have souls moving back through it. If whoever did this, realizes what I'm doing, they could kill the Veil before I can stop them." Serena was quiet for some time as she looked down at her tea. Then she sighed.

  "It is visualization, focus, and will," Serena announced. "Anyone can do magic if they work hard enough at it. Talent or no, they just need the right book, the right incantation, and bang, they've got the idea.

  "The right book?" I asked doubtfully. She nodded.

  "Witches have taken great pains to gather all books with real magic and either hide them or destroy them." She explained as she got to her feet and moved to the front of the store. I followed and watched as she walked behind the counter. "I don't work with the dead, but that doesn't mean I lack the knowledge." Inside, I went still. That's not what she told me back in October. My shoulders tensed and my hand shook as I held on to my temper by my fingertips.

  "You lied to me," I said calmly, though my words were heated. I met her gaze, there was no regret there.

  "Witches have been protecting real magic from those who have no business-"

  "No business?" I shouted. "I was being attacked by a ghost, and you could have done something about it!" I couldn't fucking believe this. I started to pace in the store. My hands running down my face as it hit me. "You could have stopped her. She might even still exist today if you had!" Serena's eyes flashed as she slammed her palm onto the counter.

  "You salted and burned Mary Summers’ bones. You destroyed her soul. That is on you and your friends." Serena declared. I scoffed.

  "You gave me the books with the instructions, when you could have done something else instead." I reminded her harshly. "You are just as guilty of it as we are." She flinched, then her jaw clenched.

  "Magic is for the living." She declared.

  "And what the fuck am I?" I snapped. I held my fingers to my neck. "I have a pulse, I'm still breathing. What does that make me?"

  "A Necromancer," Serena stated quickly. "Your powers come from death. Traditionally, it's a road that never ends well." I went still. Serena closed her eyes as if she regretted her words the second she uttered them.

  "What are you talking about?" I demanded. She shook her head. Then she met my gaze.

  "You need the education to save the Veil," She stated. "I'll give you that. Then we will reassess, and I'll decide if you need to learn more."

  "Why doesn't Necromancy end well?" I asked. Serena ignored my question and knelt on the floor behind the counter. She moved a rug to reveal a safe in the floor, she punched in a combo and opened it. I waited as she found what she was looking for. Why the sudden turn around? Was it just so I'd stop asking questions? Why did Serena lie to me when I first came to her? She could have helped in October. Mary Summers... I locked the thought away. It wouldn't do me any good. Nothing can change what happened, so there was no use looking back and saying what if. There was a loud clank as the safe closed. Serena got to her feet again and set an old thin book on the counter.

  She met my eyes. "In the physical world, you'll need incantations to give direction for your energy. Visualization exercises and ways to get in touch with that power. That's the first level. But in Veil, I don't know how it works."

  "I can do that in the Veil already, by dropping my barriers," I admitted. Her eyes snapped to me.

  "Really?" She asked, doubtfully. I nodded and I explained to her how I calmed the Way. She blinked at me, her face a little pale. Then she took a deep breath.

  "Alright," She muttered. She looked down at the book in her hands. "This is the very basics of Magic. Small things, but you’re smart, you'll be able to get more out of it than you'd think."

  "You're still giving me the first level?" I asked, not quite believing it. I could do everything she said I needed to learn already. Why wouldn't she give me the next steps?

  "Yes," She said, her eyes flashing molten silver.

  "Why?" I asked.

  "Because I'm not willing to give you the second level until I know for a fact that you know what you're doing." She told me. That's when I knew. She was lying to me again. But she was my only source on this, I needed to play by her rules. I nodded. Serena handed me the old book. I went to take it, but she didn't let go. I met her eyes.

  "Never lose it. Keep it on you at all times, or in a safe place. If this fell into the wrong hands, it could be devastating. Not just to us, but to the world," She told me, her voice stern. Her words didn't quite have the impact they probably should have had.

  "I promise," I stated. Serena took a deep breath and let it out. Then she let go of the book.

  "Read the book, practice in the Veil. Never in the physical world, not without me." Serena's voice was firm as she gave me my rules. I nodded then put the book in my bag. Serena looked around as if expecting someone to be watching.

  "Thank you, Serena, it should help in the Veil." I offered, still uneasy. She gave me a small, friendly smile. I gave her one back. There was a long, tense pause. I casually checked my phone.

  "Shit! I've got to go get ready for the dance." I said dramatically. I gave her an apologetic look.

  "Thanks, Serena, I'll let you know how Veil practice goes," I called
over my shoulder as I went out the door. I was back in my Blazer and headed out of town. My mind was full of questions, but only one thing was clear, I couldn't trust Serena anymore.

  Chapter 14

  Friday Night

  Winter Formal

  I spent the rest of my afternoon alone, doing my nails, and reading the book Serena had given me. My phone was finally silent. I hadn't had a text message from my Secret Admirer since that afternoon. He must have finally gotten the message. I was soaking in the tub when someone knocked on the door to the bathroom.

  "Kind of in the tub here," I called out.

  "Just letting you know that Tara is spending the next week at her Mom's," Rory said through the door. I cursed, Tara had promised to help me with my hair. With Tara, it always felt like three steps forward and four back.

  "Alright," I said.

  "Get home by midnight," Rory reminded me.

  I snorted. "You got it."

  "See ya, kid. Take photos!" Rory said before he walked away from the door. I sighed, and enjoyed my soak. When I was relaxed, I got out and pulled on my panties and the black silk robe that Tara had gotten me for Christmas. I opened the door to let the steam out and put my clothes in my hamper. I smiled when I looked at my dress hanging on the closet door. I was going to look amazing. I went into the bathroom and started my hair. I managed to get my curls smooth and glossy. But that was about it, it was almost down to my butt, and I just needed more hands to do anything with it. I cursed. I was going to have to call for help. I picked up my phone and dialed.

  "Hey, Ally girl." Asher's rich voice filled my ear. I smiled.

  "Hey, can I ask a huge, giant favor?" I begged, cringing.

  "Sure, what's going on?" He asked. I sighed.

  "I kind of have an emergency. Tara was supposed to help me with my hair, and she bailed. I need help." I admitted, cringing. "I have too much hair, and not enough hands.” Asher chuckled. I rolled my eyes and waited him out.

  "Yeah, I'll help," Asher said sweetly. "I'll be over as soon as I'm dressed." An image of Asher in only his boxers flashed through my mind, I bit my lip. Oh, yum.