CHAPTER 45: THE NECROMANCER ARRIVES
POV: Alen
Full moon cast silver light across cemetery adjacent to Salvatore School, ancient headstones marking graves that had remained peaceful for decades until supernatural wrongness made enhanced senses scream warnings. The earth stirred with unnatural movement while protective wards pulsed frantically, magical defenses detecting intrusion that transcended normal monster attack.
"Death magic. Necromantic energy so concentrated it makes reality feel fragile, dimensional barriers thinning under assault from forces that belong in cosmic mythology rather than local supernatural incidents."
Alen rushed toward disturbance with enhanced speed while consciousness catalogued threat patterns that suggested intelligence rather than random monster generation. Malivore's creatures operated according to cosmic hunger, but this felt different—purposeful, theatrical, designed for specific audience rather than general destruction.
The Necromancer rose from grave dirt with dramatic flair that would have seemed comical if not for genuine power radiating from ancient figure, death incarnate given human form through magic that predated civilization. Corpses emerged around him like loyal soldiers answering eternal commander's call.
"Ryan Clarke. The Necromancer. Canonical major villain whose theatrical personality masks genuine cosmic threat. He knows about resurrection magic, understands soul extraction better than anyone except Entity itself."
"Ah, the famous Salvatore School," the Necromancer announced with voice that carried authority earned through centuries of commanding death itself. "Where young supernaturals learn to constrain their gifts rather than embrace their potential. How wonderfully... limiting."
Enhanced perception catalogued undead army surrounding cemetery—dozens of corpses in various states of decomposition, all animated by necromantic will that treated death as suggestion rather than absolute boundary. Professional assessment suggested overwhelming numerical advantage despite individual weakness.
"What do you want?" Alen demanded while golden veins began pulsing with defensive energy, enhanced abilities preparing for confrontation that seemed increasingly inevitable.
The Necromancer smiled with expression mixing theatrical charm and genuine malice, ancient consciousness studying Alen with recognition that transcended casual observation. "To meet the coin maker, of course. The boy who harvests villain souls for resurrection currency. Such remarkable innovation."
"He knows. About harvest methodology, soul extraction process, resurrection coins that were supposed to remain absolutely secret. Corporate surveillance has expanded into supernatural communities I thought were isolated."
"Your magic animates the dead temporarily," Alen observed with voice carrying authority that cosmic responsibility provided. "Mine creates true resurrection. We're not the same."
"Precisely why I want to study your coins," the Necromancer replied with academic enthusiasm that made threat feel like research proposal. "One coin for knowledge exchange and my departure. Refuse, and this becomes messy."
"Extortion wrapped in academic curiosity. He wants resurrection coin for analysis, understanding methodology that could replicate or corrupt Entity's gift. Trading cosmic currency for temporary peace feels like cosmic betrayal."
POV: Alen
Refusal brought immediate retaliation as undead army swarmed toward school with supernatural coordination that spoke of military training applied to necromantic command. Alen's enhanced abilities flowed through crisis management while consciousness divided attention between tactical assessment and protective instincts.
Hope arrived with tribrid nature blazing, vampire fangs extended while werewolf strength prepared for physical assault that would complement magical support. She tore through corpses with devastating efficiency, supernatural anatomy reducing undead soldiers to component parts that couldn't reassemble under necromantic will.
Lily appeared with hybrid speed and siphoning capability, draining necromantic energy from individual corpses while vampire strength provided combat effectiveness. Each drained corpse collapsed as animating force dissipated, systematic elimination of magical support structure.
Josie and Lizzie coordinated fire barriers that contained undead advance while providing tactical advantage through environmental control. Phoenix fire from Landon proved devastatingly effective against necromantic animation, spiritual essence burning away magical compulsion that transformed corpses into weapons.
"Combined assault working effectively against numerical disadvantage, but Necromancer himself remains untouched while directing battle through necromantic authority that exceeds normal magical classification."
Alen coordinated defense while crafting systematic counterspells that disrupted necromantic magic from source rather than addressing individual manifestations. Enhanced siphoning drew death energy from cemetery atmosphere, weakening Necromancer's connection to animated servants.
"RELEASE!"
The Word of Command detonated through cemetery with cosmic authority that made reality bend around absolute imperative. Dozens of corpses collapsed simultaneously as necromantic compulsion shattered, death magic disrupted by enhanced abilities that operated beyond normal supernatural classification.
"Magnificent," the Necromancer observed with genuine admiration that transcended simple tactical assessment. "You'd make an excellent apprentice. Such power deserves proper guidance."
"SILENCE!"
Second Word of Command targeted speech center directly, cosmic authority overwhelming necromantic resistance through enhanced precision. The Necromancer's voice died mid-sentence, theatrical presentation reduced to mimed gestures while magical communication remained blocked.
"Tactical victory but strategic problem remains. Necromancer escaped with knowledge about resurrection coins, understanding of harvest methodology that could be replicated or corrupted through continued research."
POV: Alen
Battle's conclusion brought message written in bone fragments arranged across cemetery ground, necromantic communication that bypassed vocal restrictions through environmental manipulation. Enhanced perception translated symbolic arrangement into threatening promise.
"I'll return. The coins will be mine. Or you'll beg me to take them."
Recognition crystallized around terrible understanding—the Necromancer represented perfect harvest target whose elimination would serve multiple purposes simultaneously. Ancient villain whose documented atrocities qualified him for soul extraction, supernatural threat whose continued existence endangered family protection, security liability who possessed knowledge that could compromise cosmic responsibility.
"Centuries of systematic murder, enslavement of death itself, necromantic terrorism that treats mortal life as entertainment. Unambiguously evil by any measure, powerful enough to yield significant resurrection coin, dangerous enough to justify immediate elimination."
"You're thinking about hunting him," Lily observed with hybrid perception that detected predatory assessment despite enhanced concealment attempts.
"He qualifies," Alen confirmed with voice carrying weight of cosmic judgment. "Ancient villain whose evil transcends moral complexity, supernatural threat whose elimination serves cosmic purpose. And he knows about the coins."
"Which makes him liability," Hope added with tribrid understanding that prioritized practical concerns over ethical complexity. "Security breach that could compromise everything we've built. We end this."
"Hunt decision made through logical assessment rather than emotional reaction, tactical necessity rather than personal vendetta. Necromancer's knowledge about resurrection methodology makes him existential threat that transcends normal harvest parameters."
"But also incredibly powerful opponent whose defeat would require enhanced abilities pushed beyond established limitations, cosmic confrontation that could prove fatal if underestimated or inadequately prepared."
POV: Alen
Research session that evening revealed disturbing historical pattern as enhanced investigation uncovered references to previous coin-makers throughout supernatural history, resurrection magic that predated Entity's cosmic intervention by centuries rather than representing unprecedented innovation.
"'Soul-Forged Aureus'—golden coins created through villainous harvest, granting true resurrection to worthy dead. Art lost to time, practitioners hunted to extinction by those fearing death's disruption."
"I'm not the first. Entity restored lost art rather than creating new magic, cosmic conduit for forgotten methodology that threatens supernatural order through resurrection capability. No wonder Necromancer recognizes coin-making—he's encountered it before."
Hunt list expanded to include priority target whose elimination served cosmic purpose while providing strategic advantage, necromantic villain whose ancient evil qualified him for immediate harvest. But power assessment suggested preparation beyond normal parameters, enhanced abilities tested against opponent whose capabilities rivaled cosmic authority.
"Fourth resurrection coin within reach through harvest that serves justice and security simultaneously. Necromancer's elimination removes supernatural threat while providing resurrection currency for future family emergencies."
"But also potentially fatal confrontation against opponent who understands soul magic better than anyone except Entity itself. This harvest could yield powerful coin—or kill me trying."
That night brought tactical planning for assault against necromantic fortress, enhanced abilities preparing for confrontation that would determine whether cosmic responsibility could overcome ancient evil through systematic magical destruction.
The hunt for the Necromancer had begun, and failure would mean more than simple tactical defeat—it would mean cosmic purpose compromised by enemy who understood resurrection magic well enough to corrupt or replicate Entity's gift.
Tomorrow would bring reconnaissance, preparation, coordination with support team whose capabilities would be essential for victory against opponent whose power rivaled cosmic authority.
The fourth coin awaited harvest, but price of failure had never been higher.
Author's Note / Promotion:
Your Reviews and Power Stones are the best way to show support. They help me know what you're enjoying and bring in new readers!
Can't wait for the next chapter of [The Originals/Legacies Im A Saltzman]?
You don't have to. Get instant access to more content by supporting me on Patreon. I have three options so you can pick how far ahead you want to be:
🪙 Silver Tier ($6): Read 10 chapters ahead of the public site.
👑 Gold Tier ($9): Get 15-20 chapters ahead of the public site.
💎 Platinum Tier ($15): The ultimate experience. Get new chapters the second I finish them (20+ chapters ahead!). No waiting for weekly drops, just pure, instant access.
Your support helps me write more .
👉 Find it all at patreon.com/fanficwriter1