One Foot in the Grave: An Almost Zombie Tale (11 page)

“Oh, I do apologize.” The lich waves one hand and a comfortable looking couch appears.

“Neat trick,” I say before realizing how trite that sounds. The creature in front of me pretty much sold his soul for magic and here I am, making light of it. “I mean, that’s kind of cool.” Yeah, that sounds so much better. Sheesh.

“This won’t hurt,” Nacelles promises. “As long as you stay still, everything will be fine.”

Crap.

Eighteen:

One of These Spells is Not Like the Other.

The couch is super comfy and I slouch down, my back against the deep purple cushions. Ink sits cross legged next to me while Blair hovers in the background.

Nacelles rubs his hands together. “All right, then, let’s get started. Blair, I need you to put your hands on Isis’ shoulders. I’ll be using your energy to fuel the spell.”

“What if Blair dematerializes and can’t come back?”

“Hmmm?” The lich is pulling books out of thin air and flipping through the pages before allowing them to float to the ground at his feet. I’m pretty sure he’s not listening to me at all.

“Nacelles?” I raise my voice.

“Huh? Oh.” The lich focuses his non-eyes on me and I kind of wish I hadn’t said anything. “Blair will be fine,” he replies. “I won’t take much from her.”

“And you’re okay with that?” I turn my head and ask Blair, but the ghost just shrugs her reply. It does make me wonder if she can speak at all. It’s obvious she’s sentient, since she obeyed Ink’s command to come here.

“She’s done it before,” the lich snaps.

“You’ve stopped decomposition before?” I ask. “What? How? Why?”

“You forgot to ask who’s on first,” Nacelles says.

Even under the circumstances, I laugh. Who knew the undead could be so alive? Blair rests her hands on my shoulders. Pins and needles race down my arms and into my fingertips. I flinch. Ink reaches over, taking my hands in hers.

“Nacelles knows what he’s doing,” the vampire says. “Just close your eyes and empty your mind. It’ll be over soon.”

I try to do what she wants, but I keep hearing Nacelles fidgeting around and at one point some sort of liquid is sprinkled over me. It’s not congealing, so I assume it’s not blood, but I crack open my eyes a sliver just to make sure.

The lich stands in front of me, his skeletal hands stretching out like he’s attempting to bless me, Pope style. He’s muttering to himself, and from the snatches I hear, it ain’t pretty.

“It’s not working… it should be. I don’t understand why…” His voice is quiet, but audible.

Ink whispers. “What’s wrong, Nacelles?”

“I’m pouring Blair’s energy into her, but it keeps seeping out again.”

Awesome. I’m a sieve. Lucky me.

“Ink, I want to try something,” Nacelles says. “Blair, you can go.”

The tingling in my arms vanishes. I open my eyes and pull my hands away from Ink’s. “What’s going on? Did the spell work?”

The lich shakes his head. “Not exactly.” I must look confused, because he continues without my asking. “The spell itself worked; exactly the way it’s supposed to. It just didn’t work on you.”

I want to cry, but I have no tears. “So I’m unfixable.”

“You’re more of a challenge than I first thought,” he says. “But I wouldn’t say you’re unfixable. I want to try the spell again, but this time using Ink’s energy.”

“Do I have to close my eyes again, or can I watch what you’re doing?”

Nacelles shrugs. “I don’t suppose it matters. If the spell will work, it’ll work regardless.”

“What was the point in shutting my eyes anyway?” I roll my neck and hear joints pop in release. Or protest.

“Not everyone I’ve come in contact with is comfortable with magic, and humans less so than others. I thought you’d appreciate not knowing what was happening.”

“Look,” I say, “I didn’t even know magic was real until recently, but I’ve read about it my whole life. I definitely want to know what’s going on.”

“All right, I’ll be sure to keep you informed.” He raises one stiff eyebrow. I almost expect the dry skin to crack, but it doesn’t. “Would you like a play-by-play, or just a summary of what I’m doing?”

Ink laughs. “Leave her alone, Nacelles. Let’s get this over with. I’m getting hungry.”

Ewww.

“Ink, take her hands again, and be sure to relax, please.” His voice is particularly insistent. I wonder if that’s because she’s a vampire. Aren’t they supposed to be super-fast as well as strong?

“What do I have to do?” My voice squeaks.

“Not a thing,” the lich reassures me. “Just be still and try to keep your mind empty. It’ll make my job easier if I don’t have to sift through your thoughts while casting.”

“Wait, you’re going to probe my brain?” This isn’t sounding like such a hot idea, after all. I know nothing like that happened when Blair was helping, but maybe things work differently with Ink, since she’s not a ghost.

It’s Nacelles’ turn to laugh. “Nothing so melodramatic,” he says. “Now, let’s begin.”

Ink nods and I take her hands in mine, watching the lich in front of us.

Nacelles bows his almost skeletal head and holds his hands out as before. A deep green mist, almost forest in color, begins to appear. From where, I have no idea. It’s like it’s just seeping up from the flooring. It takes all my will power not to curl my feet underneath me, away from the tendrils reaching out for my ankles.

“Stay calm, Isis,” Nacelles whispers. “It won’t hurt you.”

“What is it?” My voice is low, even to me.

“Shhh,” Ink reminds me I’m not supposed to move at all and I subside. I don’t know what the lich is doing, or why I trust him, but I hope he can stop me from decomposing. I’m tired of losing body parts.

“Thrice curl, thrice entwine, thrice be still and once be mine,” he says. I watch as the mist does what he directs. It curls three times around my ankles and then tightens. Finally, it lies still against my flesh, releasing me to twine around him.

“Gather life and bring it forth,” the lich continues, “from a distant, darkened source. Creaking, groaning, howling moans, deliver up the secrets of thy bones.”

Ink screams. And screams again when the mist begins to wrap itself around her.

I try to pull my hands away from the vampire, but she refuses to let me go. Her face twists in agony and I realize she can’t cry any more than I can, though I’m sure she wants to.

When the mist finally releases her, she slumps further down into the couch. I stare at the green cloud-like stuff. I’m pretty positive I don’t want it touching me again.

“It’s okay, Isis,” Ink gasps. “It won’t hurt.”

“Y’know, I keep hearing that, but your screams told me a whole different story.”

Her smile does nothing to reassure me. Still, Nacelles gestures and the weird mist oozes itself toward me. I close my eyes and brace myself, but nothing happens except I feel like I’m being enveloped in a damp cloud.

“There,” Nacelles says. “Go ahead and open your eyes, Isis. It’s over.”

“How do I know if it works?” I ask. I don’t feel different, but then again, would I?

“If you keep losing bits and pieces, you can assume it didn’t work.” The lich replies. “But it did.”

Ink nods. “You have some of my physical energy. I felt it leave my body and watched it enter yours. It worked.”

Nineteen:

Paying the Piper.

“I owe you something, don’t I?” I say.

“My services don’t usually come so cheap, but I have something specific in mind for you,” Nacelles says. “But first I must attend to Ink.”

The vampire on the couch shakes her head. “I’m fine.”

I glance at her. She looks pretty much like she did before, so I guess that means she’s not lying. High school never covered ‘Vampire physiology’, go figure.

“So…what do you want from me?” I ask Nacelles.

“I need you to walk Maxx outdoors for eight weeks, rain or shine. Teach him about the world upstairs. He’s spent his entire existence working, so navigating the world isn’t something he’s used to.” The lich peers at Ink. “Does that seem a fair price for some of your un-life?”

I’m not sure what shocks me more; the idea of walking a hell hound through the streets of downtown Atlanta, or the knowledge that I carry some of Ink’s actual life in me. I thought it was just energy. “Does that mean you’re less immortal than you were?”

The vampire shakes her head. “No, it doesn’t work that way. I transferred some of my life to you, but it didn’t affect my existence. It’s hard to explain, and now’s not the time. And Nacelles? Don’t involve me in your payments.” She stands up. “I didn’t do it for you, nor do I need Isis to pay me. This is your game, not mine.”

“You are the one diminished by what I did.”

“And it’s your hell hound you’re telling her to walk. Down Main Street, U.S.A., no less.”

The two of them seem to have forgotten about me, which suits me down to my toes.

“Maxx wants to roam,” the lich replies. “I can’t walk him. And neither can you. Not without bursting into flames.”

“What about your ghouls?”

Watching them is like watching a game of tennis.

“My ghouls have better things to do than walk my companion. Besides, even I’m not callous enough to release them where their appetites can be fulfilled.”

Nasty. “You mean eating people, don’t you?”

“Not just people, Isis,” Nacelles says. “Flesh of all kinds; living
and
dead.”

In that case… “You
do
mean just Maxx, right? I don’t have to walk the whole…the whole herd, do I?”

“A group of canines is a ‘pack’, not a herd, but yes. It’ll be just Maxx. The others have shown no interest in the surface, though that may change after Maxx tells them about his ventures.”

So…I guess I can add that to my non-existent resume… “Hell Hound Walker.” That sounds totally legit. I sigh. “Okay, when do I start?”

“Tomorrow,” he replies. “I will inform Maxx tonight and he’ll meet you at your apartment.”

“Ummm…I’m pretty sure people will notice him walking down the street,” I say.

“All I need is your address. I will ensure his discreet arrival.”

“1465 Peachtree Street, Apt. # 218, Marietta. Do I need to buy dog food or something?”

He shakes his head. “I’ll make sure he eats before he arrives. I doubt he’ll be staying the night, so food isn’t necessary.”

Well, that’s a relief. I’m not sure how I could fit a dog the size of a bull into my apartment. Might be problematic. Plus, the little old ladies would notice. And that’s not even considering my
mom’s
reaction to the whole thing.

“I believe that takes care of our business,” Nacelles says. “Ink, it’s always a pleasure seeing you.” It’s a clear dismissal and I take it as such, rising from the couch, which vanishes as soon as my feet hit the floor.

“Thanks for stopping the decomposition,” I say. That can definitely go on my list of never before spoken sentences. My mom would be so proud that I remember to say thank you. “Will I see you again?”

“I doubt it,” he says. “Unless you need another spell, of course.”

I hope that’s never the case. Magic is weird and not my favorite thing to experience at all.

“What do you think of us?” Ink asks as we walk back the way we came. I’m just grateful there aren’t any hell hounds hanging around in the hall.

“What us are you talking about?”

“The undead, of course.”

“It’s interesting,” I say. “The only thing that really freaks me out, other than the ghouls, is the banshee.”

Ink laughs. “Lorii’s fascinating. You should talk to her sometime.” She throws me a glance. “Y’know, after you find the answers you’re looking for.”

“You don’t think I’ll get healed, do you?”

The vampire shrugs. “It’s never happened before. Once turned, you tend to stay turned. It’s the way of the world.”

“But I’m not ‘turned,’” I protest. “Not really.”

“You aren’t human and you’ve decomposed enough that you can’t ever
be
human again.” She stops walking at the hidden door and turns to face me. “What are you hoping for, Isis? Some cure you can pass on to the rest of the half creatures? I hate to tell you, but there isn’t one.”

My human pride rises up at that idea. “Just because you don’t know about it, that doesn’t mean it’s not out there, waiting.”

“How old do you think I am?” She straightens and her voice begins to slide into that liquid velvet I last heard coming from Andrew and Daniel, though I’m not sure he counts, since it was weak and didn’t really affect me.

I just shrug. It’s really none of my business.

Her eyes widen.

“What?” I don’t like the way she’s staring at me. Not like I’m lunch, but like I’m something she’s never seen before.

“You should have answered that,” she says.

“I don’t care how old you are.” I don’t understand what the big deal is.

She shakes her head. “That’s not the point. You shouldn’t have had a choice.”

I still don’t get it. “So?”

Ink puts hands on her hips. “Do you know nothing about vampires, Isis?” She sounds exasperated.

“Just what I’ve read.”

“What abilities do vampires have?”

I think back to the last book I read that had vampires in it. “Unnatural speed, turning into a bat, mesmerizing…” I trail off as my brain catches up to the rest of the conversation.

Well, hot damn, I’m immune to mesmerizing. That could come in handy… and I wonder if that’s why when Andrew tried it, it didn’t work out. Maybe I have a natural immunity…

Twenty:

Hot Dogs and Chicken.

Still thinking about what Ink told me, I walk in the door of my apartment, peel myself out my jeans and tank top, pull on my comfy zombie P.J.’s and bless the idea of nice cool sheets. Can I bring a hell hound to church or does that violate some obscure churchy rule I don’t know about? I should’ve asked Nacelles, but it didn’t occur to me at the time. As a result, the question keeps niggling at me until I fall asleep.

I’d love to say my sleep is totally dreamless, but it’s not. It starts out normally enough, I guess. Andrew and I are on the pier, holding hands and laughing. He asks me to walk in the sand with him, down by the water. I nod and the next second we’re so close to the waves they’re lapping over my toes.