Necromancer Chronicles Pt. 08

I smiled from that last thought, "Sounds good... where to?"

We ended up at a large bar not very far from the business park. The place was packed already and I wondered how many of these people came here straight from work in the same area, probably all of them. The music was loud, but not so loud we couldn't talk to each other easily. It had the comfortable neighborhood bar feel to it.

Toni bought us all drinks despite my protest. She took a long sip and smiled.

"I'm glad you came out, I'm new in the area by the way. I moved here for this job."

I grinned and knocked glasses, "Welcome to Chicago, nowhere else like it. I grew up here."

Abby took a drink then said, "Me too," turning to Toni, "So what made you take the job?"

Toni shrugged, "There was just something honest about Darnell. I didn't feel as good about the other interviews. Besides, who needs all that sunshine down south anyway?"

I snorted and was tempted to raise my hand, but remembered Abby was human.

We drank a few more drinks and told each other a few amusing stories about ourselves as the night moved on. It was difficult not to fall back into business talk and Toni mock scolded Abby and I a couple of times when we backslid into throwing theories which made us laugh.

Found out a few things. Abby was married, had been a few years now. She had been headhunted for this job. She was pretty reserved but managed to loosen up a little over the night.

Toni turned out to be raised in San Antonio. I'd never been there but I knew it got hot. Chicago was a little warm right now in August, but it was nothing in comparison. She was open and friendly and easily dragged Abby and I out, I found despite missing Alicia I was having a really good time. I realized over the last few months of hiding myself away from the media I had turned into somewhat of a geek and forgotten to have fun. Well, outside the bedroom anyway.

I ordered another round and made an effort to get to know my co workers a little better.

It was around nine when Abby called it a night, said she needed to get home to her husband. When Abby left I thought about calling it a night too, but Toni ordered us a round.

Toni grinned and said teasingly, "I was surprised when I walked in this morning, I didn't think you'd be one of us. Not with all that attention you've been grabbing in the media."

I couldn't help but smile back, "Yeah, you shocked me too. I wasn't expecting to see a sorceress walk through the door, especially one I didn't know."

Toni winked and said conspiratorially, "So give me the dirt, how is the community up here. San Antonio is pretty strict. I've heard a lot of different things about up here. To be honest reporting to the council kind of freaked me out yesterday. I mean, how do you deal with having a Nephilim on the council? And a half demon necromancer..."

She shivered, "Doesn't that freak you out?"

I broke out in a big smile, "Well... they are strict if you break the rules. But they don't try to run your life, or make you report in like an ex-con with a parole officer. What do you mean by strict?"

She blew out a breath, "They made us get approval to do anything. Move to a different neighborhood, take a new job, leave for a college."

She frowned, "To be honest I kind of took off when this job offer came up. I did like Darnell, but..."

She kind of trailed off.

"But?" I prompted before taking another drink.

She sighed and after a pregnant pause started to talk, "It's no big deal. I wasn't thinking of this story thought when I mentioned getting to know each other better. I was dating the sorcerer on the council for a short time... It didn't end well as he was horribly controlling. He wasn't very happy about me leaving...

"He tried to tell me I couldn't in fact. But that's against council law; you can't hold someone in the city against their will, so the head councilor overruled him. The rules are strict, but it wasn't quite that bad... Sorry, I don't want to be a downer, can we talk about something else?"

I nodded, "There aren't any rules like that here, and you can do what you want as long as you don't risk exposure. Look at me, Mr. newsworthy, they haven't killed me yet. The Nephilim isn't so bad; she'd be more likely to help you than try to control you."

I was trying really hard not to crack up laughing about the parent thing. I didn't want to embarrass her after her question about my parents freaking her out, so I kept it to myself. She'd find out of course, but hopefully after she was more comfortable with me.

Toni asked, "So when are you expected home?"

I shrugged, "Not sure, Kristi knows I went out so I'm sure Alicia does too."

Toni asked, "And are they like us?"

I nodded, "Human and werewolf."

Her eyes widened at that, and I had to explain a bit about Kristi having magic of her own, although I didn't explain how, or that all humans had that potential. We got back to more mundane things. She told me she had two older brothers and a younger sister. I told her about my three siblings. She was extremely easy to talk to and I had a good time. Before we realized it was close to eleven. I didn't have to sleep, but I knew she did.

But as we got up to leave I wondered why Kristi had wanted me to go, I had been expecting a little more than just getting to know my co-worker, though I wasn't sure what. She had also said it would all work out, which implies a problem of some kind. I loved Kristi to death, but when she hinted at the future it always spun my mind.

I was getting into my car when I heard a loud explosion, followed by a scream. I turned to see her car on fire and ran around to the other side where I had heard the scream. She was lying face down on the ground and there was a man standing above her with fire in his hands.

He growled, "You shouldn't have left me. How dare you embarrass me like that in front of the community."

I heard her moan and felt relieved she was still alive. I knew I needed to hurry up and do something, but I took a moment to scan for other people. It was ingrained in me now to make sure no one would take a photo of me using magic. There weren't any so I stepped forward out of the smoke from behind the car.

I said confrontationally, "Who the fuck are you? And what do you think you're doing, were in a human parking lot."

Toni groaned, "No, don't get involved Vinnie, he's strong, he's the sorcerer on the council in San Antonio."

He growled, "You bitch, is this who you were spending time with?"

He moved his hand and with a thought I casted two shield glyphs, one for each of us. The asshole released his fire into her and me simultaneously, but then jumped back at the golden light surrounding us.

I said, "You picked the wrong city asshole."

He had attempted murder, and arguably worse, risked exposure. He had also technically invaded our territory and attacked one of our own. His life was forfeit on all counts. Plus, he seemed to be an asshole to Toni, and that had me pissed off. Blow up his ex-girlfriend? Who does that?

He brought up shields with a sneer and tried attacking with ice. That didn't work either, but it did give me a fourth excuse, five if you include him being an asshole.

I casted more glyphs and spikes of golden light ripped through his shields like they weren't even there. His body was thrown back to the ground as his life fled. I turned off the shields and then put out the fire. I really needed to work on my sorcery, as that had been the hardest for me to do.

I kneeled down and touched Toni on the back of her hand. I healed her as I searched for any watchers. The music was loud in the bar and no one had come out, it must have covered up the explosion. There were also still no paparazzi. Toni was okay, completely healed but still passed out. Her car however was a lost cause. I used my magic to move the wreck somewhere it wouldn't be noticed, destroyed the assholes remains, and then I picked her up and carried her to my car.

I wasn't sure where to take her so I shook her shoulder and fed her a bit more magic. She woke up all at once and winced. The wince slowly went away as she realized she wasn't in pain anymore.

Toni asked, "What the hell happened?"

I coughed, "He's gone, the bad news is so is your car. Can I drop you somewhere?"

Toni cursed under her breath in Spanish.

"Yes, I'm staying in those council apartments until I find my own place, only got here two days ago. What do you mean gone, what happened?"

I started the car moving and said, "He tried to kill you... three times. Me just twice, he won't do it again."

She gasped in shock.

When I turned my head she was crying. Well, she had liked him at one time; it can't be easy for her even if he did deserve it.

She said softly, "I'm sorry."

I shook my head, "Not your fault. In fact I think I was meant to be here," I couldn't help but think of Kristi.

"Do you need a ride in the morning?"

She snorted, "I almost get you killed and you want more?"

I grinned, "Sure, we're all crazy up here. Besides, you were the one almost killed, not me."

She shrugged and seemed a little defeated, which really bothered me after getting to know the vivacious and beautiful young woman I knew her to be. Still, nothing I could say would help right now so I just waited for an answer.

Finally she said grudgingly, "Sure, seven thirty?"

I agreed and suggested we exchange numbers. We rode the last few minutes in silence.

As she got out of the car she said softly, "Thank you Vinnie," and then shut the door before I could reply.

Chapter 2 - Hope

Two days ago, Sunday morning...

I was running late for my first day of residency. I had a three bedroom townhouse I was renting near the hospital, mainly because I didn't want to commit to a house until I actually had a real job, not just my residency training to be a surgeon.

But that was beside the point, the point was I had a townhouse close the hospital, I didn't sleep, I had a cadre of ghosts and a zombie or two that kept my place clean. So how they hell am I running late?

Oh right, because Rafe and Bree had convinced me to stay in bed just a little longer, and me being a total slut for them couldn't say no. I finished putting my hair up and looked critically at myself in the mirror. I didn't look bad per say, but I was far from my best. I looked at my watch and cursed. I didn't have time for driving or the Metra; I only had five minutes to get there.

I pulled on my shoes and slid into limbo, then teleported straight to the hospital. It took me a minute to find a free corner and I was feeling a little frantic. I knew it was just first day jitters and when I stepped out of limbo onto the hospital floor I felt my body relax. I smiled as I walked up to my new boss, a whole minute to spare.

He coughed, "Dr. Jones, in the future I expect you here a half hour early to review the charts before our walkthrough."

I nodded, "Of course Doctor Andoman."

Paul Andoman was my boss; he was also the head of surgery at the hospital. My fellow intern whom I'd met yesterday in orientation was Allison Martin. She was rather... unpleasant. As we walked out of the room she gave me a vicious grin. She was very... ambitious, and she seemed to believe wishing others failure would get her ahead somehow.

Okay, she's a total bitch, enough said about Dr. Allison Martin.

Sam Chambers, another intern, gave me a friendly smile and wave as I left the room which I returned. It would have been nice to have him on the team instead, but he was under a different doctor.

Life had been interesting since I got back to Chicago a few weeks ago while I waited for my internship to begin. My brother was famous and in the public eye, so I'd been avoiding him, which sucked because I'd missed him while I was away. Still, the public scrutiny seemed to be dying down now for him. Mostly because of the riots that have been happening in other countries.

His discovery seemed to have stirred the pot so to speak. There are a lot of people pushing for advances as fast as possible, and then there are the ones that want to bury the information and forget it. It's kind of funny, neither one of us ever talks about the firstborn prophecy, but both of us are constantly updating each other on what we are doing, even if only in e-mail.

Callie, a security guard, nodded to me as she walked by on the way to the first patient's room. I had met her yesterday as well, though not at orientation, we had met at the council chamber to be introduced since we were working at the same building. Callie looked about twenty four, which is when she was turned into a vampire.

She was very friendly and I thought she had the most beautiful shiny long and straight black hair, and I was a little jealous at her expressive almond eyes. It's not that I didn't like my long golden blonde hair or blue eyes... because I did. I probably liked hers so much because it was different. Callie's job, besides the human one of guarding, was to guard the hospital from vampires gone a little feral.

Apparently hospitals were favorite targets for vamps that lose control, or are just passing through a new town and want a snack. I focused back on the job as we entered the patient's room. This was the first step in surgery; a surgeon needs to gather information before operating, to limit the chances of a death on the table because of some other medical reason.

The morning was going pretty well I thought. I had answered every one of the doctor's questions correctly in the first five rooms. I was tempted to send Allison a smug look, but I suppressed it. I didn't want to be an ugly person, but her attitude was bringing out the worst in me.

Ironically I could see the head doctor didn't care. Nice and sweet or mean and nasty, as long as we did our jobs right and wouldn't kill a patient, he truly didn't care.

The sixth room however was a disaster. I felt the magic as we neared the room and I froze outside the door. I was trying to understand how a warlock and demon was here on my first day at my job, and why that would be. The doctor gave me a strange look and I followed him in. The warlock was lying in bed in a hospital gown. There was a demoness there and she was...

Holding his hand?

When the demoness saw me she jumped up and stared at me aggressively though she didn't attack. I was frozen in place as my two worlds seemed to be colliding. Mom didn't talk about days like this. My eyes flitted to the bed for a second and the warlock... the patient... was staring at me like he was terrified.

Then I noticed Dr. Andoman staring back and forth between us.

Andoman said, "What's going on here, do you know this man?"

Sortof... I knew what he was, so I nodded once slowly.

Andoman sighed, "Very well, wait outside then, you get a pass on this one Jones since it's your first day, but you may wind up treating someone you know in the future. I don't like that frozen look on your face."

I suppressed a scowl; at least he came up with his own explanation.

"Yes Doctor," I said slowly as I backed out of the room.

It was probably just showing Andoman I was stranger than he thought, but no way was I turning my back on a demon. In theory I knew they weren't all evil, probably not even most of them as their actions on earth were usually the result of a warlock's order. At first I couldn't even make sense of the idea of a warlock in a hospital. I knew that witches wouldn't heal him, but can't they heal themselves?

My curiosity built as the day went on. One good thing about being immortal and not needing sleep is I knew when they worked me to death, and without sleep, that it wouldn't matter all that much. My first shift was twelve hours, and everything seemed to go well. Dr. Andoman told us he'd see us tomorrow, adding pointedly a half hour early to review any changes or new patients.

My curiosity had built over the day, so smart or not, I headed over to the warlock's room after reading his chart. Jeremy Ashton was a mystery. I also thought Andoman would expect me to be over whatever he thought today was about, so I needed to at least get them not to freak out... like we all had earlier.

I knocked softly and stuck my head in. The demon was on her feet again, and Jeremy looked extremely wary. Now that my mind wasn't blowing up I took in the details. The demoness of course had long black hair, dark brown eyes with sinfully long eyelashes, and a body that Barbie would kill for. She looked like pure sex. She didn't look angry though, if anything she looked worried, and protective.

I thought that was very strange. Demons are usually constantly pissed off when enslaved to a warlock. Jeremy was a little older than me, twenty nine. He had black hair and gray eyes.

"Umm, can I come in?"

Jeremy nodded and grabbed the demoness' hand.

I walked in but kept my distance, I felt very focused and ready for anything.

I explained why I was there, "I'm an intern here, this morning was just as much as a shock for me as it was for you. Can I ask... why are you here for knee surgery?"

He frowned, "Like the witches would heal me, or a sorcerer?"

I sighed, "But... can't warlocks heal themselves? Sorry, you're the first one I've ever spoken too that wasn't trying to kill me at the time."

He looked sick, "They can, but not like witches or sorcerers. Warlocks have to create a healing medallion and perform a ceremony over it before it will heal. The ceremony includes... human sacrifice, so I'm here instead."

I shook my head, curious as hell to ask about the demon too, but I felt like I had reached my quota for personal questions in this first conversation. I considered healing him, but held back. I wasn't sure he would trust me to use my magic on him. So curious.

"So, tomorrow when I show up in my doctor like coat, can we play nice? I give you my word I will bring no harm unless attacked."

I saw them both relax, and realized I probably should have started with that.

Jeremy said solemnly, "You have my word as well."

I felt that he spoke the truth, about all of it. He was a warlock who found the idea of human sacrifice disgusting. I bemusedly nodded and left the room. I ducked into the locker room; no one was there so I popped into limbo and went home. It was only as I stripped off my clothes and got in the shower did I realize I hadn't even asked the demoness for her name...

I had never even considered it before. They had always been trying to kill me, but they were just as sentient and alive as all the other races. I felt a little guilty as I remembered the protective look on her face; I had as good as treated her as the warlock's appendage. She was just as much a mystery as he was.

I got out and threw on a robe. Bree had the news on the TV so I plopped on the couch and rested my head against her.

Bree asked, "Okay day?"

I smiled, "I'm so proud of you, taking another day off."

She stuck her tongue out at me.

"It was okay, met a warlock and demoness. The strangest thing is he seems like a really nice guy. Even the demoness didn't seem all that bad."

Bree growled, "I'm coming tomorrow."

I smiled and stretched up her body to kiss her cheek, "You'd better love."

We watched the news for a while. There were riots going on in Russia. Some scientist claimed him and his partner opened up a window into another dimension, and saw a strange looking city. The device however exploded and killed his partner, so he had no proof. The talking heads were making fun of him, some of the guests were freaking out about defying the laws of god and nature.

It was kind of a mess actually. Why the hell did Vinnie submit that paper? What would happen if the humans opened a portal that was stable? Would they stay at home and panic, or kill what they couldn't understand. I still wasn't sure which of us were first born, but from where I was sitting Vinnie had just handed the humans a way to end the world.