Necrophobia by Devaney Mark

Author:Devaney, Mark [Devaney, Mark]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery, magic, zombie, vampire, necromancer
Publisher: Mark Devaney
Published: 2015-04-26T07:00:00+00:00

Clad in a makeshift Night Guard outfit Claire bristled as the ill-fitting long-coat chafed against her skin. The silver breastplate had been a difficult fit but the neckguard and pauldrons refused to strap into position. Hayley sighed in defeat as she removed some of the leather straps and returned the pauldrons to the shelf of the armoury.

“Close enough.” She fumbled with another set of straps before admiring her handy work.

“I’ve got to say this isn’t really me.” Claire held her arms out; feeling very much like a scarecrow. “I don’t know how you manage.”

With a dry smile Hayley tapped the ravaged neckguard; her fingers circling the nearest ring of punctures. “It’ll grow on you.”

Claire wasn’t so convinced given the comfort, protection and freedom of her hunting outfit but vampires were a whole different game. She fastened her quiver over the back of her armour and tightened the straps holding both a set of stakes to her thigh and her scabbard.

“Veronica seems to have taken a liking to you.” Hayley flexed her hands as she pulled her leather gloves over them one at a time. “I’m surprised you know her personally. She’s Lord Strigoi’s right hand at present.”

“We were friends once, for a brief time before she left.” The hunter pulled back her long hair and tied it into a low ponytail. “More acquaintances if I’m honest.”

“She’s come a long way since I knew her. How long have you worked for her?”

“A few months.” Hayley busied herself with checking her crossbow’s mechanism. “I’ve known Isobel for longer.”

Satisfied with her crossbow she opened a drawer and fumbled around inside it with a clinking of glassware. “You’ll need these.” She continued handing Claire a handful of small liquid-filled vials.

“Water?”

“Holy water.” She smiled. “I’m assuming you can’t do this.” She raised her right hand and it began to shimmer as a transparent dome of swirling water levitated across her open palm. She closed her eyes in focus as the dome of water expanded encompassing most of her forearm before regressing into a compact sphere. Her arm and clothing remained dry despite their submersion. She dismissed the sphere with a snap of her fingers; the water vanishing into nothingness.

“Thought we were just capturing a noble?” She fastened the holy water vials into one of her pouches. “Doesn’t hurt to be prepared.”

The armoury door opened and a tall Night Guard officer stepped in.

“Rosenfeld.” He gave a curt nod towards Hayley and surveyed Claire with suspicion. “One of the new recruits?”

Claire locked eyes with him, he was tall and powerfully built. The light reflected off his smooth head; his skin a deep taupe with cold undertones. With his square jaw and lifeless expression he resembled nothing so much as a stone bust.

“That’s right. Isobel brought her in.”

“Right.” He held out a hand and she shook it. “Inspector Niklaus Thorn.”

“Claire Acestes.”

Inspector Thorn glowered towards Hayley. “We leave soon. No more screw ups this time.”

Without another word the Inspector removed a spare crossbow off the wall-mounted rack and left.

Hayley watched him leave.

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