Kelly Hashway - Stalked by Death

Most people didnt spend every waking minute thinking about death, but when most of your day consisted of raising corpses, what else could you really focus on? The guy in front of me was vicious. His skin hung off his bones, and he looked like he was ready to tear me to pieces. Sure, Id raised him from the depths of Hell, but I wouldve thought the guy would welcome a break from eternal torture.

See, the second you raise them, theyll come right at you. I stared the guy down, not taking my focus off him for a second. The last thing I wanted was to lose control of the soul and have it attack meor worse, poor Leticia, who still wasnt used to her necromancer powers. She cowered behind Randy, peeking one eye out at the corpse.

Have a command ready, because if you give the soul time to turn on you, it will. The guy reached for me, but I was already mixing my blood in my veins, letting my Gorgon blood do its magic. I locked eyes with the corpse. Dont move. He froze, his bony fingers extended toward my neck. His eyes showed nothing but hatred for me.

How come they listen to you? Leticia broke me out of my trance. I mean, I raised the guy. My blood brought him here, so why is he only listening to you?

Being able to command any soul, whether Id summoned it or not, was one of my special powers, an added perk that came with being a direct descendent of Medusa. Usually Ophi were able to do it once they became adults, but Id been able to do it from the start. He will listen to you, Leticia. You just have to show him you are in charge. You are the one with the power.

I dont feel like Im in charge. She stepped out from behind Randy and moved closer to the corpse. He came right at me and tried to bite me.

That wouldve been the end of him if he did bite you. Alex moved to my side. Your blood wouldve sent him straight back to Hell.

Leticias eyes widened in horror. Great, so I have to get bit every time I raise a soul?

No. I elbowed Alex for teasing Leticia. She was a sweet girl, and even though Alex wasnt trying to freak her out, hed managed to. Alex just means that the corpses really cant hurt us. Theyd end up hurting themselves. Okay, now that wasnt entirely true. The corpses could hurt us plenty, as long as we didnt bleed on them in the process, but Leticia was very sensitive right now, so I needed to raise her spirits.

Come on. I walked over to her and positioned her two feet in front of the frozen corpse. Leticia was by no means intimidating. She was only five foot four, like me, but she had a tendency to cower behind her long blonde hair, making her look even smaller. Try releasing his soul. Send him back to where he came from.

Alex laughed. Yeah, Leticia, tell him to go to Hell.

I turned around and gave him a look, but he knew I wasnt really mad. I couldnt get mad at him. Hed chosen me over his family, even after Id sentenced them to servitude in the underworld. Well, that and he was gorgeous. Like all Ophi, he had green eyes. His dirty blond hair was a little unruly in an I-just-got-out-of-bed kind of way. Not true bed head, just sexy. He winked at me, and before I knew it I was smiling.

Jodi? Leticia had apparently been talking to me, asking for instructions.

Right. Okay, tell the soul that you are releasing him and that he should go back to where he was before you summoned him. Be firm. Make him listen to you.

Leticia nodded, but her bottom lip quivered. The April air still had a chill, but I knew that wasnt the problem. She was scared. Unsure of herself. And that was going to get her hurt. She needed confidence to control the dead.

Okay, I think we need a break. I put my hand on Leticias shoulder. Why dont you and Randy go inside and help set up for dinner?

No. Leticia shrugged my hand away. Im tired of being the weak link here. I have to figure out how to do this. Unfreeze him, Jodi.

Leticia, I was

Just do it!

Id never seen Leticia this angry. I didnt know what Id said to make her get so upset. Still, I hesitated. I didnt want her getting hurt because she was determined to prove a point. Truthfully, I wasnt sure she was ready to control this soul.

Forget it! She broke into sobs. You dont even believe in me. Some teacher you are, Jodi. She turned and ran for the mansion that we used as a school. Randy shook his head and followed her.

Leticia! I yelled after her, but she ignored me.

Alex wrapped his arms around me. Shell get over it. Shes been overly sensitive lately. Itll pass.

I nuzzled my head against Alexs neck, breathing in his scent. Id had to give up everything to come heremy home, my friends, my mom. I was completely cut off from my old life. Alex was home to me now.

Hey, none of that. He pulled me back and looked into my eyes.

I hadnt even realized I was crying. Sorry. I wiped the tears from my cheeks.

Can I help? Not waiting for a response, he leaned down and kissed me.

I lost myself in him. No thoughts of corpses, Hades, or Ophi. Just Alex. The kiss went on foreverat least it could have if Tony hadnt interrupted.

Ahem. He cleared his throat. I pulled away from Alex to see Tony looking out past the mausoleum. Sorry to interrupt. I thought you were training Leticia and Randy.

I gave them a break. Leticia needed it.

Tony nodded. She has been very sensitive lately.

It was understandable. Two months ago, Victoria had raised Leticias parents, and they came back horribly wrong. Nothing more than zombies. That was a lot to ask Leticia to put behind her. I had no doubt she saw her parents faces every time she raised a corpse. I knew what that was like.

Shes been distant in class, Tony continued. I might be the one teaching about the actual raising of the dead, but Tony taught us all about our race, our powers, and where we came from. I couldnt run this school without him.

She needs more time, I said.

I know, but the reason I came to get you is that you have a call from Mason.

My eyes widened, and I smiled. Great! Ive been waiting for his call. Mason ran Serpentarius, an Ophi club back in my hometown. I was trying to convince him to bring his group to the school. Id promised Hades I would teach all the remaining Ophi to use their powers in a way that wouldnt disrupt the underworld too much. I was trying to end a war, but so far, just about every Ophi Id talked to wasnt listening. No one was worried about Hades coming after them anymore. Because Hades wasnt coming after them. He was coming after me. Or at least he would be if anyone got out of line.

Lets go, I said to Alex.

What about him? Tony pointed to the corpse standing behind us.

Id completely forgotten about him. Right. I faced the body, allowing my blood to bubble under my skin, combining the powers of both sides of my bodythe right side with the power to restore life, and the left side with the power to kill. The sensation was still a rush, even though Id done it so many times now. The only bad part was that using too much power gave me headaches and left me drained of energy. But releasing souls was easy. They didnt fight you because they wanted to be released.

Go back to where you were before Leticia called you. Go now. My tone was serious, commanding. The corpses eyes flickered slightly, and I felt his soul release. A second later, the body slumped to the ground.

Back when Victoria and Troy ran the school, there were servants to clean up after messes like this. But the servants had all been raised souls, and Id promised Hades we wouldnt use his dead for our own purposes anymore. That meant Id be digging up a grave this evening.

Ill take care of the body after my call with Mason, I said.