Chapter 13: Necromancer's Onk

I looked up from the book I was reading while my daughter slept on my lap. Silver, Gloria and Jasmine walked in looking dark and angry. I closed the book and glanced at Melody before looking that them and whispering, “What?”

Jasmine smiled, “I do not understand why she always falls asleep when you read to her.”

Silver snorted and sat in another chair as Gloria paced, “Another couple was killed in the King’s garden with magic and their essence taken.”

I looked at my daughter and softly caressed her face as I thought. This was the twelfth time the killer had struck. I looked Silver, “Could the Necromancer’s Onk find him?”

They jerked and Silver sat up, “Maybe if we use it on the two...”

Gloria snorted, “And where are you going to find a Necromancer to wield it?”

I moved the drakes and Griffin off my daughter and stood, “I can not tell you that.”

I turned and handed Melody to Jasmine, “Tell the guards to keep the bodies together.”

I walked out and went downstairs as my mind whirled. I had met Whisper many years ago and promised never to tell anyone about him. I put a few tools into my pack before leaving. I glanced at Dragon when she landed on my shoulder and smiled, “Thanks for coming.”

She rubbed against my cheek and I turned to head through the city. The shop I went to had an orange glow that seemed to warm the heart. We were just inside the wall from the graveyard. I looked at the large orb in the window before going in and waiting just inside the door.

It was several moments before the whispers came, “Sinclair ... it ... is ... not ... me...”

I smiled, “I did not think it was.”

“Why ... have ... you ... come...”

I sighed, “Because I need help catching the one that is killing people.”

“I ... wish ... to ... be ... left ... alone...”

I shook my head, “So you would let another bring darkness? He is a Necromancer just like you. You may have forsaken the dark arts but he has not. Not only has he killed with his magic he stole their souls.”

The pale man I remembered stepped out of nowhere to stand in front of me, “So ... you ... would ... have ... them ... know ... me...”

I shook my head, “No. I am going to steal the Necromancer’s Onk. The spirits may not be in the bodies but with the Onk you could question the dead and track the killer.”

He turned to look into the shadows, “The Onk is very powerful.”

I smiled because he had not whispered, “And can only be used by a necromancer once.”

He waved as he nodded, “Once would be enough.”

I looked at him closely, “Enough for what?”

He turned to look at me as if weighting me before nodding, “To let my spirit go to its peaceful rest.”

I narrowed my eyes, “Peaceful rest?”

He smiled and a pale bony hand came out to touch one of mine, “I am very old Sinclair. The power that consumes me refuses to let me die so that my spirit may rest.”

I swallowed and bowed, “If the Onk can not, I will find a way.”

He nodded and I turned, “I will return after...”

“I will be with those that have died.”

I glanced back before leaving and moving quickly through the shadows. I paused in the darkness of an alley as I stared across at a large manor ablaze in light. There were no walls, only rusty iron bars with sharpened points. I finally moved and went straight across to what had been a carriage gate decades ago.

I checked the locking bar and lifted it as I slid it back and then struggled to lift the heavy gate leaf and open it. I went through once it was open enough and headed around the carriage house and stables. I checked before opening the servant door and stepping into the manor. I could hear voices and chants as I glanced around the corner and into the kitchen.

The kitchen was empty except for an oil lamp burning on the center table. I moved through and listened at the other door before feeling along the back wall. The servants stairs were hidden behind a panel and I climbed them silently to the third floor. I opened the panel and peeked out and looked down the hall.

I moved down and to the center room that would be over the front of the manor. I picked the lock and slipped into the room and opened the tiny mage lantern. Everything was draped in black except the snow white bed in the center of the room. I moved slowly and silently to the bed and went to my stomach to look under it.