Heart of Ashes

The Necromancer

Evelyn boarded the plane at a quarter to two in the morning, with Ragnar and Anthony. They'd decided to leave Donovan behind to protect Morwenna if anything happened. That and Anthony had demanded to see Caine. He still hadn't told anybody why he was so hellbent on talking to Caine but, because he was so determined, they took him instead of Donovan.

They took their seats. Evelyn sat by the window, Ragnar took the aisle seat and Anthony sat in front of Ragnar in the next row. The plane wasn't large but the seats were relatively comfortable and Evelyn decided it would be as good a place as any to sleep, seeing as she was so tired. The magic had drained all her energy and, had she not felt so incredible while using it, she would've been fine swearing it off for good. She fastened her seatbelt and chuckled as Ragnar fought with his.

A short while later the pilot introduced himself and a video pertaining to safety and emergency exits was played. Evelyn couldn't be bothered by any of it, she just wanted to sleep. She felt the familiar dizzy sensation as the plane slipped of the runway and felt Ragnar tense next to her.

"What's wrong?" she mumbled.

"If people were meant to fly, we would've been born with wings," he said, "I don't like this."

"You're not a person," Evelyn said, you're a vampire and, last I checked, vampires do fly so there."

"I'm a Maragi," Ragnar muttered, "not a bloody Nosferatu."

Evelyn tuned him and the chatter of the other people on the plane out and put her head back. She closed her eyes and quickly fell asleep. It wasn't a deep sleep as she began to dream. Strange things flashed in front of her mind's eye. Weird images of dark figures and shadows. Ravens flying around. Then the images stopped flashing and she was in a forest.

It wasn't normal, it was cold and quiet. She couldn't see much, it was as if the trees were made of pure shadow. She turned around looking for light or a way out, nothing. She heard something behind her and she whirled around. There was nothing there. She didn't want to linger where she was so she began walking. She walked until she came to a cliff overhang. She went to the edge and looked down. She couldn't estimate how far down it was because the whole valley below was shrouded in a thick blanket of white mist. She turned back round to go back but she was startled by something flying into her face. The raven squawked and veered upwards. Evelyn lost her balance and she felt herself falling backwards.

She was enveloped in the mist, the air was freezing against her bare arms and face as it rushed around her rapidly falling form. Her jacket was gone, so was her scarf. She smacked against the ground and lay there for a minute as she established she was still alive. She'd heard that in dreams where one as falling to their death, they'd wake just before they hit the ground and, if they didn't, they'd die in their sleep.

As she sat up, she looked around and couldn't help but wonder if that's what had happened. Was she dead? Was she in some warped afterlife? Strange blurry figures approached in the distance. The figures looked humanoid but they were completely white and somewhat transparent. They actually reminded her of wax statues that had melted as they seemed to wearing shredded rags that hung off them in places. They walked like people, putting one foot - if you could say that - in front of the other, but with no purpose. Like they didn't know where they were walking or why. Soon, she was surrounded by the figures. Some tall, some small, some wide, some thin, all strange.

She could hear something; the sound of faint moaning as they passed. Children crying and a woman wailing. It sounded like what she imagined a banshee's wail would. It was awful. It was as if Death were there, with her, in all his glory. The figures began to fade and the valley was plunged into darkness. She couldn't see a thing and the silence was overwhelming. Then through the silence came a soft sighing. The wind? She heard a name.

Samuel

Then there was a change in scenery and when was wrapped in tendrils of darkness. She felt like Alice upon falling down the rabbit hole. She saw something moving towards her. A man. He, too, was wrapped in darkness and all she could see of his features were two glowing orbs where his eyes should have been. He knelt before her and said one word that sent a shiver down her spine.

He said, "Sister."

She jolted awake to find she was still safe and sound in the plane. Ragnar raised an eyebrow at her.

"Bad dream?" he asked.

Evelyn nodded, "I hope so."

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Hmm, I've updated quite a few chapters this week. I'm getting quite excited to see the end of 3.

I hope you've enjoyed the chapters, please leave a comment (good or bad, I could always do with a bit of constructive criticism) or a vote.

Thank you so much for reading.

Sincerly,
Raine Chandler