Page 21 of Crossing Between
"Sorry lamb cakes. Just give me a moment." Their hand shook slightly before they sighed regretfully. "Call Varon. Tell him you're going to finish your shift here assisting me with something. We have a lot to discuss."
"I....alright." I pulled out my phone and did as they asked. "Varon?"
"What's up?" He sounded distracted. He was probably working on more paperwork. He seemed to be permanently glued to his computer when he was in the office.
"Is it alright if I finish my shift at the morgue with Quilith? They've asked me to help them with something."
"Sure. Do you need me to drop off your laptop for the weekend?" The sound of his chair rolling back made me think of him stretching out his arms and distracted me vaguely.
"Oh. Uh. Sure." I didn't know what he asked but I didn't want to be rude and say I wasn't paying attention.
"Alright. I'll see you later. I'll text you when I'm there." Varon hung up and I stared down at my cell phone.
What was that?
"Alright," Quilith speaking suddenly made me remember there was a serious situation occurring.
I needed to get over my crush. It wasn't good to be in a daze around him when I needed to be focused on work. It took me a long time to type up notes at the end of the day because of him.
"I've sealed off the morgue. No one is allowed in until we're done." Quilith opened the office door. "Come with me, dear."
"I'm a little concerned. I don't think I've seen you serious like this before." I follow behind the dragon, curiosity getting the best of me.
"Oh shush." Quilith stuck their tongue out at me over their shoulder before moving their arm and several morgue drawers opened. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but you need to call these victims back. We need to get information out of them about the killer. This Essencefeaster they've told you about? It's a demon, a very ancient type of demon. The last time one was around was during the Black Plague." They looked at me.
The implications of what they'd said weren't lost on me. I felt nauseous at the prospect. "You mean they caused the Black Plague?"
Quilith nodded and gestured for me. "Which means we need to confirm this. If it's true, we'll come up with some way to explain the answers we found to the detectives. What do you need to summon them? I'll get whatever you need."
I cleared my throat. "I don't need anything."
Quilith blinked twice at me. "You're kidding. Most necromancers need the preparation of some kind of holy ritual, at the very least..."
I shrugged. "I don't know what to tell you. I don't need to do anything to use my power. I only use the things to summon souls as a Medium to keep up appearances."
Their mouth dropped open slightly as they stared at me. "You truly don't need to prep? That's impressive. Most necromancers require some kind of focus when they use their powers. I would like to learn more about your family line when this is all over."
"Sure. I don't see why not. You could come over and we'll make it a date." I walked over to a young girl whose left foot had been removed along with her liver and two ribs. She'd been beautiful in life. I'd have done anything when I was younger to have her red hair and straight nose. "Should we get started?"
Quilith stepped back. "Do your thing. Just," they paused briefly. "Are you able to send them back right after?"
I smiled reassuringly at them. "Yes. I can. Don't worry."
I turned my attention back to the body and let my power out. It felt joyous as it wrapped around the body and started seeking out the soul. Not finding it here or on the other plane didn't deter my magic, it seemed to get more joyous at the prospect of being able to reach out. I'd never stretched out my power as much as I was right now. It was like stretching after a good night's rest.
There. I'd found the blackness where the soul was drowning into nothingness. The girl's light was dimming. That was new. My magic sped into the darkness.
My power flared in response as the other's magic pushed against mine, but it was no match. The other's magic felt like it wasn't even trying. It just pushed against me, not really fighting.
It felt good. I wanted to pull more magic to take this soul from who held it. Make it mine. I could raise an army. Take over the city and stop all the killings by just pressing a bit further with my magic. I could make the men I fancied come to me on their knees.
Wait. That was wrong.
I abruptly tightened my hold on my power and pulled it back in. Needles of pain shocked me all over. It fought me every second until I had it under control. By the time I had the power locked down, my body was shaking and I opened my eyes, not realizing I'd closed them in the first place.
My knees buckled and I fell to them, clutching the table in front of me with a gasp.
"Zoey?" Quilith was at my side, kneeling next to me, their hands turning my face to look at them. "What happened? Are you alright?"
