Nothing But Necromancy (Macrow Necromancers Book 1)

by J A Campbell

  He smiled when her eyes shifted to a silvery labradorite sphere where light and darkness danced.

  “Take it.” He gestured.

  Harmony took a breath and reached out for the stone. She let out a startled cry when the thing practically jumped into her hand, warming with her body’s heat. She closed her eyes and rolled it between her two hands, feeling the magnetic pull as it moved, whirring softly.

  “Very nice,” he said. “As I suspected, you already have an ability with the elements from your stone work.”

  “Now this.” He pointed to a rosy prism, which was pretty enough to affix to a My Little Pony.

  Harmony picked up the stone. She could feel the love and healing from it and admired the stone-cutter’s artistry at placing the point where a swirl of rainbows would emanate in the light, but nothing more happened.

  “Now.” He gestured to an empty wooden bowl. “What can you do here.”

  Harmony wiped tendrils of sweat-soaked curls from her forehead and concentrated. The bowl flipped over and rattled against the tabletop in a peculiar percussive drum roll. It grew scales and legs, then a tail and head appeared. Another breath and the shape refined into a dragon which roared at Ichabod, then collapsed from apparent exhaustion and resumed its old form, albeit a bit scaly and scarred for the use.

  “Well done,” Ichabod said. “Your ability to manipulate objects is somewhat surprising, but not unexpected. You have an agile and powerful imagination.”

  Probably comes from playing by myself all these years, Harmony thought.

  “My suspicions are confirmed.” Ichabod sounded self-satisfied. “Miss Hendricks, you are a full necromancer. This is a rare gift among mages which only occurs within tightly controlled Houses, specifically the Macrows. Congratulations. In addition, you have some skill as a creation mage and you have trained yourself in geomancy. This is not common and quite interesting. We will commence your training immediately.”

  House Macrow. Harmony smiled. She’d always liked the crows and even the grackles. She followed him back to the main Administration area where several of her instructors waited for the verdict.

  If my gift is so rare, she wondered. Why are all of them nodding like they expected it—like they recognize me from somewhere? Time to steal back into the stacks and see if I can find out something about the Macrows.

  Harmony sat in the headmaster’s office listening as he reeled off the list of skills the test had revealed. Oh, she’d pretended the test was dreadful like every other student after it was over. Was it just a game to scare the new kids? Her friends had all surrounded her afterward and offered kindnesses like she’d just come back from an appendectomy or something.

  The instructors who’d been summoned along with her wore a mix of expressions from jealousy to elation. Professor Harkenrider was the one she watched the closest. He merely nodded and glanced surreptitiously to see if the silver chain bearing the amulet he’d given her was still around her neck. It was. She’d detached the piece of ametrine after last night and carried it in a black leather pouch which she’d wished would shield its power from her until she pulled it out. Waking to see a concerned-faced stranger leaning over your bed instead of your roomie was too much.

  “Of course, you have the option of attending the Macrow House school,” the headmaster’s words were slow and reluctant as though he were spitting out something distasteful.

  “What?” that was the about the last thing Harmony expected him to say. “Sir, I’m a mudblood.”

  Their mouths turned down almost in unison.

  “It was on my reading list at my old school,” Harmony said. She didn’t add that she preferred Diane Duane’s wizarding series.

  “Of course.” Harkenrider nodded and all the faculty expressions shifted to understanding and acknowledgement of what she’d already heard was a flawed and ignorance-based school system. “Please understand, most of what you have read about magic—and particular about other types of magical creatures—is not true. You’ll receive appropriate training here.”

  Appropriate? Harmony thought of Lisa and Charlie. Was he telling her the creatures she’d seen on the beach weren’t real? Granddaddy had mentioned The Odd Squad like there was much more than just magic…What’s up with that?

  “With powers this strong, we’re coming to suspect you are indeed a product of the Macrow House,” the headmaster said. “I have notified Lord Alistair Macrow and they will be conducting an investigation into your background.”

  Cool, Harmony thought. Maybe you’ll find out that Stevie Ray’s my dad and he really is a wizard.

  “You will have the option to remain here or go to their school,” the headmaster continued, smiling.

  Harmony smiled in acknowledgement. So far, she’d committed to nothing more than the high school level program, though she was well aware that the JM would not allow her to leave the school if they considered her ill-prepared for the outside world.

  “It’s definitely going to be interesting with two full necromancers to train,” one of the ladies that Harmony had only been introduced to for this meeting spoke.

  Harmony noted the others nodding proudly. According to school legend, it was pretty rare they had major talent onboard. The only other person she could think of who’d taken the test was Elise. So, being surrounded by the ghosts was part of the skill? She was going to have to add ghost research to her illicit library trip. There may well be much more she had to look forward to that she didn’t know about.

  “We’ll have a good deal of work to do,” the headmaster concluded. “But I have every faith that each of you will do your part. Congratulations, Miss Hendricks.”

  Harmony nodded and smiled. In truth, she couldn’t quite wrap her head around everything they were saying. Her skills would mean extra classes and staying in school for the next two summers, at least. They recommended an additional year of magical training instead of college, but had fast-tracked her already so she’d graduate from the high school portion of the school with at least her freshman year in AP credit. It was certainly worth considering. She already knew how dangerous her powers were.

  “Thank you,” Harmony said at the appropriate time. She accepted the computer-printed training plans which were drawn up for her and rose from her seat when the interview was over. Pausing before closing the door, she couldn’t help overhearing the bubble of excitement from the faculty. From their perspective, she and Elise were the best thing that’d happened to the school since…well, ever.

  She celebrated by slipping away to Portland long enough to buy some winter clothing. For once, she shopped at the mall. Seeing all those racks of the same item in half a dozen sizes disturbed her, but she didn’t know the city well enough to find good thrift stores and she only had time enough to grab items and go.

  Nights were getting colder. Being born and raised Texan, she wasn’t looking forward to winter.

  Harmony arrived as the car clock clicked over to midnight. She hastened to the dorm, hoping against hope she’d make it inside before the curfew. Mrs. Mathers stood at the door, an anxious expression on her face. She unlocked and opened it as Harmony rushed forward wearing her new coat and bearing several shopping bags.

  “You look nice,” Mrs. Mathers said.

  “Thanks.” Harmony’s teeth were still chattering from the damp wind coming off the river. “I didn’t have a coat, or sweaters, or gloves.”

  “You should have told me,” Mrs. Mathers chastened. “We would have helped you find something at least temporarily.”

  “Thank you.” Harmony meant not just for that but for not narcing on her for being late. She was too used to coming and going as she pleased. For that matter, she’d shopped for her own clothing and run her own errands forever.

  “You need to sit down, please,” Mrs. Mathers said, gesturing her to a set of chairs in the lobby where residents could sit and chat or wait on someone to pick them up.

  Maybe I’m not out of trouble yet? Harmony sat down and ho
ped to put an appropriately penitent expression on her face. True she had not asked permission for a pass, but to date, she’d not been reprimanded for trips off-campus.

  “I’m sorry to advise you that your mother’s dead,” Mrs. Mathers said and offered up a handful of tissue for her.

  A knot formed in Harmony’s throat. She stared between the tissues and Mrs. Mather.

  “The Austin Police Department called us a couple of hours ago,” she continued. “Headmaster opted not to call you and wait until you returned.”

  Harmony bobbed her head up and down in acknowledgment as the tears began streaming down her cheeks. Her mom wasn’t the best in the world, but to her knowledge, was all the blood kin she had.

  “What—what happened to her?” Harmony managed to ask.

  “We’re not sure,” Mrs. Mathers said gently. “The officer wanted you to know that any death which is unattended is generally investigated. It could be natural causes.”

  Harmony forced herself to nod acknowledgement. Mom wasn’t yet forty and she was energetic as a kid. Okay, she didn’t have the most healthy lifestyle and she didn’t rest for days sometimes, but she was too young to…she didn’t allow herself to finish the thought.

  “Will there be a service?”

  “We’re not sure yet,” Mrs. Mathers said. “The coroner has yet to release your mother’s body.”

  Cold fingers crept down her spine. There was a whole lot more to this than she realized.

  “What happened?”

  “They’re not releasing any information, Harmony,” Mrs. Mathers explained gently. “One of her friends found her and called the police. That’s all they told me.”

  Harmony nodded. She followed Mrs. Mathers to the dorm office and let the woman make the phone call for her.

  “Headmaster said I should stay as a witness to what you’re saying,” she told Harmony. She nodded, willing to agree to almost anything just to get it over with.

  “We made sure the police knew you were here with us….”

  Detective Reader’s accent made her homesick. He sounded kind and concerned for her mom. He asked a lot of questions about her mom’s friends, activities, business—and her sex life.

  Harmony answered as truthfully as she could while Mrs. Mathers listened sympathetically. None of her answers made her mom look good. Yeah, she used drugs and she slept with a lot of men, but she did a lot of good, too. She’d raised more money for local charities than most people. While Harmony couldn’t say she had enemies, she could say she’d dealt with some pretty shady people. She also discarded lovers like some people threw away trash.

  “I’ll be in contact as soon as your mom’s body is released,” Detective Reader said. “Your family attorney has your mom’s will and will make the burial arrangements and disposal of the property.”

  “Okay,” Harmony said. She had known Melissa all her life and she’d do an honest and thorough job for her mom. “Thank you, Detective.”

  She sat down the phone and just wept, feeling Mrs. Mathers’ comforting hand on her shoulder.

  “Would you like to stay with my husband and me tonight?” she asked kindly. “We have a guest room and we’d be glad to let you stay.”

  Harmony shook her head. It wouldn’t matter where she lay down, she doubted she’d actually sleep. Mrs. Mathers escorted her upstairs, helping her with the shopping bags which had abruptly gotten too heavy to carry.

  “Elise,” Mrs. Mathers said after she knocked on the door briefly and opened it. “We’re sorry to disturb you.”

  Yup, Harmony felt a stab of guilt. Once again, she’d awakened her roommate. While her face wasn’t her real one, the bags under her eyes from having a night owl roommate were genuine.

  Elise’s eyes were wide as Mrs. Mathers helped Harmony stow her bags in her cabinet. Her hands shook so badly she couldn’t unfasten her coat and that had to be done, too. Finally, she lay down fully clothed and turned her face to the wall.

  Outside in the hallway she could hear Mrs. Mathers advising Elise of what had happened. Elise asked the same kind of questions that Harmony had and of course didn’t get any better answers about the cause of death. She sounded worried. Her mom was close to the same age and every kid would want to know if their mom was safe. Her roomie returned a few minutes later.

  “I’m sorry,” Elise said to her back. Harmony couldn’t move, speak to acknowledge. She kept her eyes shut tight in the hopes she’d awaken tomorrow and it’d be a bad dream.

  We made sure the police knew you were here with us. She recalled Mrs. Mathers making a point to tell her that before she’d spoken to Detective Reader. Like she needed an alibi, although from Detective Reader’s tone they didn’t have a cause of death yet and weren’t suspecting anyone or anything until the coroner was done. The truth was, all she had to do was wish her mom dead and she would be. Luckily the police didn’t know that…and wouldn’t believe it if she’d told them.

  “Harmony, I need to go out for a few minutes, but I’ll be back. I promise.”

  Her roommate grunted and Elise hoped she’d be okay for a few minutes. Harmony was nearly as pale as the linens on her bed and she stared endlessly out the window, barely speaking since she’d gotten word about her mom. Shock. Elise recognized it but she wasn’t sure there was anything she could do to help, other than to be there and call for help should Harmony’s condition get worse.

  She needed some time herself to process everything she’d learned and she didn’t think she could do it with Harmony present. Especially since Harmony faced her own turmoil. She didn’t want her roommate to grieve alone, however, so she’d be quick. A few minutes outside. A few minutes to enjoy the lack of a cast. A few minutes to consider what had happened. Then she’d return.

  She almost felt bad that she was so happy. Though there were still a lot of questions surrounding her past, much had been cleared up. It was clear she was part of the Macrow family. How she’d ended up with her parents was currently anyone’s guess. Thinking back to her conversation with the teachers earlier, she sat on a bench and kicked her legs out.

  They’d told her she had no real talent with elements, though anyone could learn to use them and her classes would include the basics everyone should know. She did have talents for creation; the bowl of water had reacted to that skill. They felt that was related to her shapeshifting abilities. They’d try to teach her about those, of course, but there wasn’t a whole lot they could teach about an innate talent like that. Her strongest talent was necromancy, and all the skills that went along with that.

  Somehow, she’d ended up being adopted from the House Macrow. She’d even have the option of attending one of their schools instead of this one if she wanted. Elise wanted to stay here for now.

  Wondering how to break any of that to her parents, she sighed. At least she still had parents. Poor Harmony.

  Elise had left her roommate alone too long. She had to be hurting, and Elise knew just the medicine to help.

  Stretching her leg out, she marveled in the light feel of her leg. Walking was still something of an issue. She was completely healed due to her ability, but she still had to relearn how to move. The doctor had been amazed that the skin on her leg had been smooth, just like when it had gone into the cast. He’d warned her that the skin would be pretty gross. Now if only Elise could learn to control the magic on purpose.

  Carefully, Elise climbed to her feet and turned to head back to the dorms. As she did, a pair of black Mercedes SUV’s glided down the drive. Curious, she moved closer. It was late, and there wasn’t much light left from the sun, but the drive itself was well lit and Elise had always had good night vision. Now she wondered if that was another of her body-shaping abilities making itself apparent.

  The cars pulled up to the main office and stopped. For a moment nothing happened, but then two of the professors came out of the office and waited. After another moment, the drivers, both women in pantsuits, got out and opened the back doors, almost in unison. A tall wom
an wearing a black suit jacket over a sharp knee length skirt stepped out of one. She wore her hair in a long brown braid and when she turned to look around, she somehow seemed familiar to Elise. The woman had saunter down pat as she approached the teachers. Her driver followed, acting like a bodyguard.

  The occupant of the other vehicle, a tall blond man with curly hair, also wore a suit. Being the only male in the party didn’t seem to bother him, Elise judged from his body language as he and his driver approached the small group. She wasn’t close enough to hear what was said, but she saw them all exchange what seemed to be a polite greeting before entering the building.

  Intrigued and a little annoyed that she still didn’t know much about her new school, she hurried forward, wondering if she’d be able to find an open window. Of course, first she had to find out where they’d gone. There was no way Elise was sneaking inside. She knew she’d get caught. Outside, however...well, it was dark out.

  Hoping no one else sat in the vehicles, Elise walked forward, trying to pretend she was off to a late night class or some such. They did have an astronomy unit that had a nighttime lab.

  When no one jumped out of the cars to demand an explanation, Elise hurried up to the building. A light glowed in one window a short way down. Hoping that was where they had their meeting, Elise crept forward, hugging the wall.

  A quick glance inside revealed that the newcomers were inside along with the headmaster of the school, Professor Harkenrider, and Professor Richards. This had to be about her and Harmony. The coincidence was simply too high, otherwise. Elise wondered if the newcomers were from House Macrow.

  Unfortunately, the window wasn’t open. She could just barely make out the sound of voices through the ancient walls. Maybe if she could hear better.

  Squeezing her eyes shut, Elise focused on listening to the conversation, and gradually she could make out the words.

  “You’re certain?” A woman asked.

  “They’re both full necromancers. There’s no doubt.”

  Elise was right. They were talking about her and Harmony.