Meridian Chronicles: Keepers & The Soul Key (#4)

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Things were unusual in the cave, as Karma stood in front of the silent, cloaked mystery person who held an old scroll. Her red necklace blinked as she stood in front of their new friend. Karma turned and walked away from the cloaked creature, her face sunken, and her heart pounded through her chest. Her streaked brown hair draped over her shoulders, hiding her face away from the prying eyes of the guides.

"Karma? What is it?" Meridian put her hand on the nymphs' shoulder while leaned over to peer at Karma's face.

"I didn't think this would happen. I thought they were all gone extinct, so to speak. But it isn't true." Karma turned around to look at the cloaked silent scroll keeper. She held her fingers over her plump lips and gazed in shock.

Meridian observed what Karma eyes surveyed. "Karma, what is going on? Who is that? Do you know it? Or he? I don't know her?"

Karma nodded. "Yes, he is a necromancer. He calls on the dead, but I thought they were all gone..." Karma's fearful eyes fell on Orion.

Relic and Kieren both looked confused, but Talon seemed to understand and offered a question. "Orion, I have heard of the necromancers. I, too, thought they were all gone, and I believed it was Selena who was the one that accomplished this. What is going on?"

"Karma is right. It is a necromancer. However, not all necromancers were destroyed. Selena allowed for a few to remain here on Earth, but they had some responsibilities to her. The history of the Necromancer is long. Now isn't the time to discuss, but he won't harm us. He stays here, to guard several things, and one is the codex. It holds the answers to many mysteries of us all, and humans."

Relic busted out laughing, "A necromancer? Please, those are fictitious characters that humans made up in the folk tales and spare time. Please. A necromancer?"

Karma's eyes turned dark, "Shut up, you fool! What Orion speaks is true. He is a necromancer, and we do not makeup folk tales. I just thought they were gone." Karma's voice dropped to a mutter.

Meridian studied their new mysterious friend with curiosity, "So they commune with the dead? So are they human? Or are they demons?"

Venus answered, "Meridian, necromancers are not humans at all. They are a form of a fairy. They talk to the dead, and they used to help the ghosts cross over to Etheria, the dark realm, or choose a human life. In times past, necromancers helped with lost souls so they could move to the other side and go where they will be. Selena and the necromancers have a past, and there are only a few in existence. I do not think there is anything to worry about."

Relic appeared unconvinced as he stared at the nymph with a cocky grin and a raised eyebrow, "So Selena just allowed a few of them to remain? What happened to the necromancers? Who did they talk to as far as the dead? Why did you ever need them to begin with if you all help move the lost souls to where they need to go?"

Karma moved toward the boisterous mouth of the guides, "Relic, not all lost souls are good. Some are for the bad. Moloch, the dark one's soul collector, didn't always show up to collect the evil souls destined for the dark realm. There was a time that the necromancer's job was to export the bad souls to the gates. There was a time one fairy that did just that. But that is no more." Karma's eyes dropped, hiding a secret.

Aiden looked to his father for a moment, and his face appeared disturbed at Karma's words, and before he could say anything, Talon noticed his son's eyes look upon him. Aiden's curiosity peaked, "The gates? The entry to the dark realm?"

"Yes, there is quite literally a gate that a necromancer used. Or to put it in terms you can understand, they are fairies in many ways. That is why I was so surprised to see a necromancer here, on Earth." Karma said.

Aiden held Meridian as he listened to Karma speak of things that he only knew of to be legends or folk tales as Relic put it.

The necromancer rose from his seated position and motioned the group to continue down another long and dark hall in the cave. After they had journeyed about halfway through, the necromancer stopped and stood, only bringing his hand up in a peaceful gesture and a bow to Orion. He drew his hand back and reached inside his cloak and pulled out a perfectly cut stone in the shape of a circle. Even with the limited light, the stone reflected a red dazzle.

Orion took the stone from the necromancer. "This is it. We must walk to the end, there is a door, and this is the way to the key. Beyond those doors is the angel's quartz sword."

Aiden held onto Meridian tight, and Talon noticed and did what any father would do. He placed his hand on his son's shoulder. Aiden smiled, but his eyes were wide as plates, and he rushed his breathing.

Relic still felt cocky, "So this is it a little stroll here. I think we can handle it."

Lotus said,  "Relic, not that easy. He may be a necromancer, but he is the guardian to this cave, he is here to protect that sword from those who are unworthy. We will not walk down this hall without challenge. As a matter of fact..." she stopped talking and looked to Meridian. "She is the one who will have to pass the test. Not any of us can go in there."

Meridian walked forward, still holding Aiden's hand. "Can Aiden come?"

Lotus shook her head. "No, Meridian. This is something you need to do on your own, no matter if anyone else could retrieve the sword, it should be the chosen one."