Rise of the Necromancer by Robert Lummus

Chapter 1: The Awakening

Everyone has a moment in their life where everything changes for the better or the worse. For some people, it is moving away from home, losing someone close to them, meeting someone new, or countless other possibilities. The problem is that no one ever knows when this moment will come or what effect it will have on their lives. The moment that changed my life started like any other day while I was waiting for my parents to pick me up from school. My name is Stevie and I am a tall, slim boy with a head full of fluffy blonde hair with green eyes almost hidden behind thick glasses. I went to the Kate Griffin Attendance center where all the grades from kindergarten to 12th grade was taught in Meridian, MS. On this warm day while the rest of the students rushed out of the school to enjoy their freedom during Spring Break, I was in the library alone. It was a place that I visited often, always looking for a new book to read where I could hide from the bullies that hung out outside on the playground. The schools library was always a calm peaceful place for me with the lime-green carpets and the rows and rows of metal shelves covered in books, many of them so old that they were nothing but blank covers until you opened them to discover their secrets. I knew that my parents would come pick me up soon as I desperately searched for a book to read during the annual camping trip that my father took us on to supposedly celebrate my birthday. The two of them loved the outdoors despite the careers they had chosen. My dad was an accountant for a large corporation that sold computers and anything related to electronics while my mom worked as a bookkeeper for a local art museum that was run by the city. As a result, they both spent most of the time indoors working with numbers , but every year they would arrange to be off work during spring break to take me to one of their favorite campgrounds just a few miles away from our hometown. I sighed as I stopped at the last shelf of books , finding nothing to read during the long week ahead as my eyes turned away from the shelves looking at the six beige tables in the room that were only used on days that a class used the library before I jerked in fear hearing a door open. As I turned towards the entrance of the library, I could see the familiar long blue skirt and white blouse of the librarian with her long red hair hanging down. I could see she was carrying a box hearing her panting for breath as she carried it towards the front desk. As I looked at the box, I could see that it was very old from the dust and the long strips of duct tape holding it together as I thought, Someone must have donated some books to the school, maybe I will find something to read after all as I walked over to the librarian smiling as I looked inside the box to see a lot of old books, the covers faded with age. As I looked into the box, my eyes were drawn to a black leather book as I looked up at the librarian smiling as she wiped some dust off her face chuckling as she said, these books just got donated and youre already here to look through them. Unfortunately most of these are not for young boys but here is something you may be able to use, she said pulling out the old black leather book and handing it to me. I reached for it and took it into my hands feeling a strange warmth from the book before it faded away thinking ,That was strange, I guess that it is just from sitting in the car, or maybe this box was just stored someplace warm as I opened the book to see every page was completely blank sighing in disappointment as I thought,I was hoping to read an interesting story while I was on this camping trip. I guess that it just wasnt meant to be frowning. I looked up at the librarian hearing her say, I know that the pages are blank, but that makes it even better for you. Since you love to read, maybe you can use this to create your own story while you are enjoying your spring break by the way, your parents are outside waiting for you so I think its time to go she said smiling as I nodded returning the smile as I said, Thank you for the book. I will see you after Spring Break. I turned running over to one of the table grabbing my open book bag putting the book inside before I zipped it up rushing out of the library. I walked toward the double doors that led out of the library as I thought, I dont need to keep my father waiting. He always hates waiting, I ..I am already not the son he wants remembering all the camping trips where he tried to get me to learn how to fish, play sports, and just become more of a physical person as I opened the library door shielding my eyes from the bright sunlight as I saw my fathers old blue truck with the back filled with duffel bags and several fishing poles hanging over the tailgate .As I walked towards the truck, I watched as the passenger door was opened seeing both of my parents were wearing blue jeans with their old black tennis shoes that they used on our camping trips. I looked at my mother with her long blonde hair that went halfway down her back, her blue eyes, and her smiling face as she stood there with a faded white t-shirt. She hugged me tightly as I made it to the truck as she whispered, I hope you had a great day at school, I know were going to have a lot of fun this week with her regular cheery voice with a knowing look in her eyes as I nodded looking at my father with his thick black hair , a camouflage shirt bulging with his muscles from his constant use of the gym as he said ,Come on son, hurry upI want to make it to the campsite by nightfall before I climbed in putting my book bag on my lap holding it as I thought, another long week, but maybe this book will make it more enjoyable...I can write about something I actually enjoy as my father drove away from the school. For the next two hours, my family and I drove out of the small town into the campgrounds, far away from civilization. While we drove, I watched the scenery change from the suburbs of our little town to an endless stretch of fields, and finally the tall trees of the campgrounds as we drove through the front gate driving to our usual campsite far away from any of the other camping sites. After the long drive, my family unloaded the car to set up the campsite while I was given the responsibility of collecting firewood. I walked away from the small clearing where my father was setting up the tents to collect wood and have the only moments of privacy I expected to have for the next week as I collected twigs enjoying the silence of the forest. As the forest began to get darker, I had collected an armful of wood struggling to hold it all in my arms panting for breath as I walked back towards the campsite seeing the bright light of a freshly lite campfire, knowing my father had already got it started without the wood I collected. I sighed knowing that there would be a lecture awaiting me about taking so long with the firewood as I continued to walk towards the campsite, pausing as I heard a rustling sound coming from the forest around me. I turned around hearing something rustling through the forest, hearing a wooden branch snap from somewhere in the darkness hearing my heart pounding in my chest as I took deep breaths as I tried to see what was making the noises. I gasped suddenly feeling something within me feeling my body tingling with the feeling spread throughout my body as I closed my eyes thinking, What is happening to me? What is this feeling, and why now? As the tingling feeling began to disappear, the wood in my arms suddenly felt lighter to me and, as I opened my eyes I couldnt see anything but blurry images despite feeling that my glasses were still on my face. I dropped the wood onto the ground grabbing my glasses and pulling them off to discover my vision was clear once more. As I stared down at my hands I was taking long deep breathes terrified as I thought, What is happening to me, what is happening...I dont need my glasses anymorewhat what is going on , I thought confused about what was happening before I jerked hearing a roar echoing through the forest nearby. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I ran towards the light of the campfire thinking, What made that sound? Is it a bear or something? Is that what was making the sounds earlier. If that is the case, why did it suddenly roar like that? Its nothing nothing that dad cant handle, I just got to make it to camp despite knowing that roar was nothing like I ever heard before as I ran into the clearing. As I ran into the clearing, I could see my mother sitting beside the campfire looking worried before she saw me coming out of the forest seeing her relaxing as she smiled. I looked around seeing my father was coming from his truck with his rifle as he looked around the clearing staring into the trees before he saw me and ordered, go, get in the car with your mother now before I ran to my mother. I watched her stand up as I got to her feeling her soft hand grab mine as I looked up at her seeing her long blond hair hanging down as she looked down into my eyes as she said, dont worry, everything will be alright, I will protect you as she pulled me towards the truck parked on the edge of the clearing. As we got to the truck, I heard the mysterious roar again jerking in fear as my mother opened the truck door and said, get in and lock the door while I go grab the keys and your father.were leaving now. We can just come back for everything else as she shut the door behind her as she ran towards my father. I looked out the window smiling knowing that mom would convince dad to leave thinking, He may not listen to me about this danger, but mom is one person that can always get him to think about what he is doing. We will be gone before we know it, and we will be safe before I grabbed my backpack planning to move it out of the way so my parents could get in quickly. As soon as my hands touched the bag feeling the book through the material, I heard a strange voice say, You have awakened, and they are already after youI wonder what will happen, will I even get a chance toSeems you have bigger things to worry about before I dropped the bag terrified as I heard the roar. As my head turned to look out the window again, I could hear the crash of something hitting the truck hearing the metal being crushed as the entire vehicle shook throwing me out of my seat onto the floor groaning in pain feeling all of the stuff in my book bag being shoved against me. I looked up towards the drivers side window just in time to see the long sharp teeth of a beast as it roared seeing right down its throat, seeing the red opening was large enough to swallow a person whole before it bit into the truck. I could feel my eyes widening in fear watching the teeth tear right through the metal and glass with the glass shattering to pieces as I covered my eyes feeling a rain of glass falling down on me as I heard a gunshot coming from outside. I uncovered my eyes hearing one of the doors opening to see my mother as she grabbed my arms pulling me out of the truck. As I got out, I could see my father reloading his rifle as I got a good look at the beast. It had a huge lizard-like head, as smooth as glass with glowing yellow eyes that seemed to still be searching the inside of the truck. The rest of its body was shaped like an overgrown white lizard, its skin as white as snow and just as smooth as the head, and I watched as the tail twitched like a cat searching for its prey as I saw the trail of blood running down the side of the creature before it looked over the hood of the truck. The yellow eyes were focused on me like I was the catch of the day almost feeling that this beast was more intelligent than a normal animal before it roared as another gunshot echoed in the clearing. As I stared at the creature, I could see a new trail of blood coming from a new wound on the creatures neck as my gaze jerked to my father as he shouted, RUNRUN NOW WHILE I DISTRACT IT, GET OUT OF HERE MARGARET AND TAKE STEVIE as I felt my mother pulling on my hand before I turned and ran away from the truck with her. For the first time in my life, I found myself running faster than my mother as I passed her releasing her hand so I wouldnt end up pulling her down , feeling my heart pounding in my chest amazed at these changes thinking,I dont know what has happened , but thank god that it happened as I heard my father shout, ITS COMING AFTER YOUNO DONT before I stopped and turned confused by my fathers statement. His words soon became clear as I saw that my mother had stopped holding her arms out like she was trying to block the monsters path as it charged towards us roaring . I stood there feeling my heart pounding in my chest seeing that the beasts yellow eyes were still focused on me as it charged forward clearly ready to destroy everything in its path as I shouted MOM, GET OUT OF THE WAY, IT ISNT AFTER YOU, but it was too late. As I stood there helpless, I watched the beasts head jerk forward like a snake , its fangs going straight through my mothers body as it bite down. I closed my eyes hearing her scream of pain as she shouted, RUN.. I opened my eyes as I heard a thud to see that the creature had thrown her like an old chew toy towards me as it began walking towards me with an almost intelligent look in its eyes like it was trying to see what I would do. I looked down towards the ground feeling my heart pounding in my chest feeling tears in my eyes watching as a pool of blood began forming under her body not caring about the beast as I ran towards her. I looked down at her body seeing her shirt becoming soaked with blood coming from a gaping holes in her skin exposing her bones with the damaged muscles covering my mouth feeling like I was going to throw up as I turned my head to see her staring up at me breathing heavily cringing in pain as her hand covered the wound as she smiled up at me opening her mouth clearly wanting to say something. Before she could say anything to me, she coughed seeing a flood of blood coming out of her mouth as she gasped for breathe like a fish out of water. My vision grew blurry feeling tears in my eyes as I wiped them away, my heart pounding in my chest as I choked...momit's going to be ok kneeling down beside her feeling fresh tears streaming down my face. I saw her free hand reaching towards me wiping away my tears feeling how cold her hand was thinking, NoNoShe cant die. She cant die taking her hand in mine tightly squeezing her hand hearing her whisper I said, I would always protect younow go while you can I looked into her eyes feeling my lips puckering up as I struggled not to cry as I choked out, No...nooo I cant leave you like this. I just cantMomMomno please keep your eyes open. Please watching her eyes closing as she took her last breath her arm hanging limply in my tight grip. I looked down at her face seeing her smile vanishing in her death feeling my eyes filling with tears thinking, My mother is deadshe is dead and that creature is what took her from me as I stood up wiping the tears from my eyes as I looked up to stare at the monster that had taken my mother from me. I looked at the beast walking towards me, seeing an almost intelligent look in its eyes like it knew I wasnt going anywhere growling in anger as I felt my fathers hand on my shoulder pulling on me as he said we got to go now while we can it wont follow us, it it is like any other animal, it just wants to eat. We can escape not really listening to him as I glared at the beast my hands clenching into fists refusing to move from that spot.I watched as it slowly walked over with its yellow eyes focused on me feeling the new strength in my body as I stood my ground thinking, You killed my mother, one of the few people that ever understood me. One of the few people that accepted me for who I was. Something tells me that you know just how much you have hurt me. That intelligenceit is like you are just testing me. A normal creature would have run off after getting shot, or become angry attacking anything that it could. You have been focused on me this entire time, and I want to know why before I suddenly felt my fathers hands around my waist as he picked me up off the ground throwing me over his shoulder groaning as the breathe was knocked out of me as he began to run away from the creature.As he ran away from the beast, I felt my body bouncing on his pointed shoulder groaning in pain as it continued to jab into my stomach with every step as I looked at the monster. I could see its body kneeling down with its legs bent underneath its body like a cat getting ready to pounce on its prey before I watched it jump up through the air. Feeling like it was happening in slow motion, I watched as it glided through the air with its front feet stretched forward until its claws dug into my fathers leg hearing his scream of pain as the creature gripped his leg with its claws as my father fell forward. I seemed to fly through the air until I felt my back hit the ground groaning in pain as I pushed myself up my eyes widening watching the beast growling as it began walking over my fathers body coming towards me. I looked down at my father seeing fear in his eyes, as he stared up at the belly of the beast as it walked over him with his leg covered in blood seeing the long scratches from the beasts claws as my father looked up at me. I looked away from him to stare into the monsters eyes, feeling my heart pounding in my chest feeling like I should run, but something was holding me back. I could feel something inside me feeling like my body was connected to something feeling stronger with each passing second hearing my mothers voice repeating, I will always protect you ... in my head. I glared at the creature as I stood up looking into the glowing yellow eyes as it got closer to me thinking, I dont know what is going on right now, but I am feeling even stronger than I was before. It is like I am being charged up. It must be the adrenaline affecting me, but there is no point to running away. This thing is faster than me, and my father has already tried running away from it. The only thing I can do now is stand my ground as I shouted, YOU WANT ME, YET YOU KILLED MY MOTHERYOU ATTACKED MY FATHER...COME AND GET MEYOU WANT ME AND HERE I AMI WILL NOT RUN AWAY ANYMORE. I looked at the creature feeling my body trembling in fear taking a deep breath focusing on my mothers words as tears streaming down my face thinking you died protecting me, I wont leave dad to die, just so this thing can come after me I wish you were here, I want you here to help me suddenly feeling the power inside me disappearing. I felt like something had just drained me feeling my body beginning to tremble falling onto my knees panting for breathe as I looked up at the beast , not sure what was happening as the beast roared feeling my heart pounding in my chest closing my eyes as I thought Im about to die , we are all about to die.. . I stayed on my knees awaiting my fate before I suddenly heard the beast roaring, but there was something different about the roar as I thought, The beast is right in front of me, but the roar is muffled like it is far away. Just what in the world is going on? I guess there is only one way to find out . As I opened my eyes , I gasped seeing the creature bucking like a horse trying to throw a predator off of its back seeing something clinging to its neck tightening before I saw the clothes that my mother had been wearing as I thought,Mom? SheShe was dead.How could this be happening right now? What in the world is going on hearing the creature letting out another weak roar as it fell to the ground its mouth wide open exposing its teeth as it gasped for breathe like a fish out of water as its glowing yellow eyes began to dim. I looked away from the creature seeing my mother was on top of the creature as I let myself fall forward crawling towards my mother seeing her back was turned to me as I got closer to her . As I got closer to her, I whispered momis that really you seeing her head turn towards me expecting to see her blue eyes looking at me thinking, Did she survive? As cold as she was, I was sure she wasshe was gone I jerked back seeing a pair of pale white orbs completely devoid of life staring at me feeling my heart pounding in my chest as I looked away from her face seeing her pale body seeing some of the wounds on her back which werent even bleeding anymore thinking, She is dead, but she is moving. There is one way to be sure though I just hope that it doesnt end badly as I reached my hand towards her resting it on her back feeling for a heartbeat, but there was nothing there as I frowned. I took a deep breath as I looked towards the creature seeing its body wasnt moving to see the glowing yellow eyes go black as my mothers arms released its neck leaving thick purple bruises from being choked to death trembling as I looked at my mothers body. I started wondering what was going to happen now as my mothers body fell onto the creature seeing her body resting on the creature that she had killed as its body began to disintegrate turning to dust as I watched until it was nothing but a pile of dirt. I crawled over to my mothers body painting for breathe with my muscles aching as I stared down at her thinking, what happened to her, she was dead, but, but she just got up and saved meI justI dont understand. I sat down beside her body jerking back as my mothers body began to glow white. The glow came from her entire body before it centered where her heart had once been as a ball of white light came out of my mothers body. The white orb hovered around me as I heard my mothers voice whisper I protected you one last time before the orb of light vanished into thin air. I began to look around thinking, What was that, and why did I hear my mothers voice again? jerking as I saw my father standing over me leaning on the butt of his gun. I looked up at him taking a deep breath as I thought, Did he see all of that? I know he saw what happened to the creature, but did he see that white light as well? as I said, did you see thatlooking up into my fathers eyes. As I looked into his eyes, I could see that he was afraid before he looked away from me as he said A bear attacked your mother and us at the campsite thats allyour mother distracted it to save your lifeNow it is time that we called for help because we both need to get checked out , and we need someone to come get your mothers body. as he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket dialing 911 holding the phone to his ear as he limped back towards our campsite away from me. I watched him thinking why would he say thatthat was no bearI .I just dont know what it was thoughI guess he didnt see the light since he didnt even respond to it, but that might just be part of his act. He just doesnt want anyone to think he is crazy I guess. as I stared at my mothers body thinking about everything that had just happened smiling as I whispered thanks, momfor everything. I wont leave you right now. Not after everything that you did to save me and dad. I will always remember what you did even if he just wants to ignore the truth glancing towards the campsite seeing my father was talking on the phone as he shouted, I DONT CARE WHAT YOU SAY, THERE WAS A BEAR IN THESE WOODS AND IT ATTACKED MY FAMILY. I WANT YOU TO SEND SOMEONE OUT HERE IMMEDIATELY. I turned my head taking a deep breathe just trying to relax knowing that there wouldnt be much peace once the authorities got here to hear what happened and collect the body. The next few hours were a blur as the park rangers, the police, and an ambulance came to the campsite getting the details from my father, who managed to keep everyone else away from me since I was a minor, before they collected my mothers body. I watched as it was put into the ambulance from the inside of the truck once my father had swept away all of the broken glass from the broken window. When it was all over, I watched my dad get into the truck before we drove away from the campsite to head home leaving all of the wrecked camping gear behind with the flashing lights of the ambulance right behind us. . After hours of driving back home, I saw my father driving down our street with the green neon lights of the clock showing it was midnight as we pulled into the driveway. I got out of the car with my book bag as I looked up at the two-story building painted a baby blue just as my mother wanted, sighing as I began walking to the front door thinking and now she will never see it again as I walked through open door seeing the staircase right in front of me from the light shining from the streetlights outside. I walked up the stairs in the darkness heading to my bedroom not wanting to stay with my father after the long quiet ride home thinking, He just hasnt said a word to me ever since he got in the truck at the campsite. He doesnt want to talk to me about what happened, and there is no point to bringing it up. I should just act like everything is normal, and be alone in my bedroom as I climbed the last step walking toward my bedroom door. I opened the door quickly slipping inside closing the door behind me as I turned on the lights. I would see the familiar white walls of my bedroom between the bookshelves that covered every wall of my room. In the center was a queen sized bed with black sheets where I had a red comforter covering up the matching red pillowcase. I sat down on the edge of the bed taking off my shoes thinking, I should just go to sleep, but I really dont want to right nowWhat can I do? as I looked down at my book bag remembering the strange voice that I had heard in the truck before the creature attacked me thinking, Did I really hear that voice? Honestly I thought that I was just going crazy the first time, but after everything that has happened tonight, I dont think a voice from a book is that crazy. I guess it is a better option then just lying in bed trying to go to sleep as I unzipped my book bag seeing the book stuck between the notebooks that I used for school. I looked down into the bag considering if I should really do this jerking as I heard the same voice from before say It seems that you managed to survive your awakening. I have to say that I am surprised when I saw the creature that attacked you, but now its time that I met you since you are alone againNow get me out of this accursed bag now jerking my hand away my heart pounding in my chest hearing the voice as I thought, what the hell is going on here? This book is talking about my awakening, and how he saw something through my mind? Just why is this happening to me? Why? . I thought lying on my bed getting away from my book bag as I stared down at it, unsure on what I should do as I heard the voice say, I am sorry, but it is really cramped in here. If you really want answers, then you need to get me out of this cramped bag so that I can get a good look at you. As I stared at the bag, I thought after everything that has happened today, how can anything in my book bag be worseBesides if the book can answer some of my questions, then I should pull him out reaching into my book bag feeling the leather cover of the book the librarian gave me as I pulled it out of my book bag setting it down on my lap looking down at it as I heard the voice sarcastically say, great you finally picked me up. I didnt need to stay in this bag all night, watching as the smooth leather cover began changing like there was something crawling underneath the leather changing its appearance. I watched as the book wrinkled until the cover resembled a face seeing the shape of two eyes and a mouth watching as the eyes moved up and down like a humans as it looked me over in a way that reminded me of my father inspecting a piece of meat. I looked down at the book feeling my throat dry gulping as I whispered, Who or what are you? Why was I able to do all of that back at the campsite, and what did you mean when you said you saw the danger through my mind. I looked down at the book seeing it staring at me almost looking intrigued as it said, Well it seems that everything that has happened tonight has you full of good questions, and the shock of what has happened hasnt hit you yet. To answer your questions in order,I am your magical guide to the new world that you have discovered tonight. When the first wizards appeared on earth, my kind was created to act as a magical guide and historian to catalogue all the things that we witness as we travel the world with our students. Before you think that I am just a guide. You should know that my kind is just like humans with their own personalities and emotions locked within the book. Everything that you read within these pages can be considered my memory. Since you have bonded with me to read the information locked within my pages, I am able to read your thoughts to ensure that I understand what you need from me, and to completely document your story as it is writtenAs to why you were able to do what you did earlier, you are a wizard . I stared at the book shocked at everything that it had said seeing the book pausing as I sat there thinking, That is a lot of knowledge inside of just one book, and he has lasted since the beginning of magic? Just I dont even know what to do with all of this information feeling confused as the book said I cant believe this puny little body controlled that surge of power I felt earlier, your powers have awakened , and at such a young age like it was almost talking to itself. I looked down at the book as I said whoa, whoa, whoafirst lets back upIm not that young, Im 14 and what you mean my powers have awakened... Tell me what happened tonight now I demanded as I stared down at the book needing answers, needing to know exactly what happened and why. The book responded calm down childthat is exactly what I am going to do. It is my job after all, now open me up to the first page, everything that I tell you and more will be in those pages..I looked down at the book as I flipped the cover open expecting to see the same empty pages from before, but instead I was greeted by a page full of strange words and symbols before I saw a heading in bold black letters at the top of the page that said The awakening of a Necromancer. As I stared at those words, I thought that explains what happened with my mothers body. A little anyway since a necromancer has magic related to the dead as the book said, Every wizard has an awakening, or a moment in their lives where their magical abilities reveal themselves, and for each wizard, the awakening can be different. That is what happened to you tonight, your powers revealed themselves to you which altered your body making it stronger in order to contain the great power that you have inherited from your ancestors though that power comes at a price which you have already seen tonight. Now that your powers have awakened, other magical beings can detect the power radiating from your body which is what caused that creature to come after you in the forest. I dont know how it got to the forest where you were camping with your family , but it shows how dangerous things can be for a necromancer interrupting him to say , Why is this so dangerous for me and not just all wizards. watching the words on the page begin to swirl around changing before my very eyes. When the words stopped moving, the heading had changed to What is a Necromancer. I watched as new information appeared on the page, not waiting for the book to begin reading it as I leaned over beginning to read the page.