Nine

NOTE: THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN REVISED!

Disclaimer: I wonder how much I could buy them for...

I turned my head to soon be face to face with a large midnight black wolf, huffing feet from me. I could see my refection in Derek's eyes. His snout had thin wiry wisps of silver fur, along with his ears that were pointy and sat bent back. Each paw was silver and under his belly was too.

Derek backed up a few steps; his eyes locking with mine. He shook his head back and forth – then sprang.

I covered my eyes with both of my arms and braced myself for a lot of pain.

"Derek!" I screamed after he leaped over me and landed in front of the other werewolves.

As he landed, he stood firm. The other werewolf's sat at the same time and turned their ears forward; intently listening to his command – from as far as I could see. The way they acted was strange.

Obedient.

That – that was incredible.

I looked over at Tori, and her eyes were bulging out of her head – wide open in shock. I could only imagine what was going through her mind.

I glanced down to the floor by her feet, and there it was.

The note.

I looked behind me slowly to see if they were paying any attention but Derek was pacing back and forth keeping his eyes locked on the other wolves. I slowly sank out of my chair, crawled on the floor and grabbed the note.

Taking one last peek at the wolves, and glancing at Tori one last time, I ripped it open.

We have Ethan.

If you want him back –

Surrender.

If I wasn't strong enough, I would have fainted. My heart started racing. My head was already spinning. Everything started looking like it was a dream. I remember standing up and walking to the front door. I couldn't understand where I was going, but everything just seemed to go together.

I didn't even notice Tori pulling at my wrist. Tugging me – yelling at me to not leave her with Derek's' pack. But I couldn't stay. I knew what I had to do now.

I had to save Ethan.

Derek was right about me having a great power. I did. Ever since I left, I've studied every night for hours about what being a necromancer was all about. I have researched all the way back to 1604 on every legend and myth.

In the Middle Ages it is said, that necromancy was widely practiced by magicians, sorcerers, and witches. Necromancy is the seeking the spirits of the dead, and back then every one wanted to be a part of it.

Many consider it a dangerous and repugnant practice. Dangerous because it is so-called that when some spirits take control of the medium they are reluctant to release their control for some time.

But it is also said that the most classic case of necromancy is the Witch of Endor; described in the bible, who summoned the spirit of Samuel in the presence of Saul.

There are only two noted kinds of necromancy really – the raising of the corpse itself, and the conjuring or summoning of the spirit of the corpse (it's the most common) – but, in which case, I have both.

Both of them describe forms of forbidden knowledge, but I can't agree with that.

I have read that the origins of necromancy date back to the First War when Gul'dan's (the most powerful warlock to roam the land) necrolytes developed the ability to raise corpses to serve as skeleton warriors in the Horde (like an army).

But necromancers have been around since the beginning of the Nathrezim (black magic users) race, who was the first to raise the Night Elven corpses. This came before the Witch of Endor.

So, basically I was going to have to build a Horde.

And wasn't that exactly what Derek was telling me I had to do?

Great.

Just Great.

But I knew exactly what I had to do. I had to go to the Painted Cave on Santa Cruz Island. I had to re-awaken the Night Elven. She had to help me build the army. My army. The Night Elven was going to be a mentor to me, for my Army.

And the worst part about Painted Cave is it's said to be one of the few entrances to hell. That Indian carvings are scattered down the long walls of it. Carvings supposedly said to be stories of necromancers and demons. Spirit warriors. And the down fall of the world as we know it.

"Tori let me go!" I shouted.

No.

Did I just hear Derek's voice in my head?

As soon as I heard it, my hand automatically reached for my neck. A white-hot tingling burn seared through me - from my neck down into my feet.

You will stay here.

I remember now, that Derek had bit me last night.

You will not risk your life when you have me beside you.

Again, the voice rang through my head, leaving a trail of echoes down my spine. I turned around to look down to the far side of the room. Derek had his head inclined my way, but his body faced his pack. His teeth were bared a little and his nose was in the air. But his eyes were locked on mine, and in almost every seconds that followed, they switched to my hand on the door knob.

I can hear you? I thought.

Yes, and I can hear you. He murmured, almost approvingly.

I don't understand; how could this have happened?

You honestly don't know.

You bit me. I forgotten, but now that I think about it, am I – I?

I heard a deep rumble from him, more inside my own head, but I could faintly make it out across the room. No. You won't turn. I didn't inject my venom into you; it was just a … friendly bite I guess you could say.

But, how come I couldn't hear you earlier? Like this morning … or something. I shook my head.

It only more prominent when I am in wolf form; it's more of just a werewolf trait. Said Derek

How was I able to feel your emotions when you were in human form?

That I am still unable to understand. I have a few guesses though. He said.

And how do you know about this? I wondered.

But almost as soon as I asked, a wall came up and threw my head into a huge headache. I stumbled backward a few steps, when Tori caught me by my arm.

"What the hell girl? I have been trying to get your attention for a while now!" Tori yelled in my ear.

I looked at Derek and his back was taunt towards me. I shook my head, "Nothing. I have to go."

Derek was hiding something from me, and I knew for sure now. I turned around and shot out of the door.

When I slammed the door behind me and turned around, I smacked into someone and made her gasp. I stumbled over my feet and regained my footing.

I looked up at her. She was beautiful. Long, wavy, auburn hair and amber eyes. Petite, but a little taller than me. She had very fair skin, and freckles that ran over the bridge of her nose. Small glasses framed her face perfectly.

"Um, I'm really sorry," she said. Her voice was child like. Dreamy.

"No, don't be, it was my fault." I muttered.

She smiled sheepishly, and then glanced at the door. "Is Derek here by any chance?"

Something inside me grew. I couldn't tell if it was jealousy or just plain anger. When she said his name pin needles stabbed my whole body – but I don't think it was purposely. She looked young, too young to know Derek. Something inside my head kept telling me something was wrong but I ignored it and nodded.

"Yeah, he's inside. Need me to get him for you?" I didn't mean to have it come out as a sneer, but something about the way she held herself angered me.

"Oh, yes, please," she said innocently.

I eyed her, "My name's Chloe," I said as I held out my right hand.

Her hand met mine briefly, but burns lingered on my palm. "Mara belle. Mara belle Walters. Very nice to meet you."

I grumbled to myself as I turned around. I'm not normally like this toward people, but something about her makes my skin itch.

When I began to reach for the handle, I stopped and remembered exactly why I was running out. Derek and his pack were taking comfort in my living room.

"Mara belle, I'll be out in a moment," I almost sneered. The closer she came to me, the louder that voice in my head kept yelling at me. "Stay here."

"If it isn't rude, may I ask why?" She asked innocently.

"No reason," I replied, and slammed the door for a second time that day.

When I closed the door behind me Tori was screaming at Derek at the top of her lungs. I'd just seen a tail of the remaining werewolf climbed out of the already broken window.

"How dare you change without letting us know!" Tori yelled, "You could have lost control and we could have been shredded apart."

"I wouldn't have touched Chloe!" Derek replied, and stared for her. "But you – now I wish I would have shredded you to pieces!"

"You big headed swine!" Tori remarked, and I saw her hands go up and light sparked in her hands. "It could have happened all over again! Don't you ever think?"

Derek bowed down to his knees and I heard sharp intakes of breath.

"And to think, I actually agreed with you!" Tori ranted, and Derek convulsed on his knees.

"Tori…" I said.

Tori shot her head toward me, "Stay out of this Chloe. I should have done this a long time ago!"

Derek howled and fell to his side.

"Tori, save it for later," I said, "someone's come here looking for Derek."

Derek suddenly went still, and peered up at me in gratitude.

Thank you...He said in my head. Though it was as faint as if he was football fields away.

I thought you couldn't communicate with… I stopped that thought and my feelings changed to disgust. Whatever. "Get up." I said, and then I put a block up of my own.

"Who's here?" Tori asked with her arms crossed in anger.

I shrugged, "Mara belle Walters. How she knew he was here, don't ask, 'cause I didn't ask."

Tori's face changed from anger, to surprise. Her eyes bulged and she looked to Derek.

"You brought her here, to Chloe's house?" Tori raged. "Oh. I. Otta!"

I saw Tori's hands come up again and light start to flash, but I stopped her before she could do anything. She spat a few negative words at me about how stupid I am for letting him walk back into my life, and about how things are going to get a lot worse.

Derek rose to his feet and stepped toward me. He had his hands held out toward me. "Chloe–"

"Just go see what she wants, and get her out of here. She doesn't need to be bothered with our problems at the moment." I said as I dodged his touch.

I saw his head bow, but he soon regained his posture and I felt bitterness boiling off of him. I walked after Tori, wanting to hear more about what she had to say.

"You don't even know who she is, do you?" Tori's eyes were on the verge of tears.

"I didn't particularly ask her. I figured it was Derek's business and I didn't need to get involved." I said.

"Yeah, just like you." She spat.

"Don't turn your argument between you and Derek on me." I spat back.

"I'm not Chloe, but she will be the downfall of you and Derek."

I raised my eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

"She is Derek's ex."

"Ex-girlfriend?" I asked, but added, "What is she doing here?"

"Not ex-girlfriend. Ex-fiancé." Tori rolled her eyes. "And she's probably trying to suck him back into her world again."

Pain filled my chest. Breathtaking pain – and hollowness.

"Chloe, they'd been together for years before I left to come here." She tapped her nose with her first finger. "They were going to get married, and have children."

I shook my head, "I don't care. Derek and I are nothing – nothing like we were before I found out I was pregnant." I lied.

The pain that surrounded me was too much for me to let her know about it. I could have told her, but what good would it have done? I knew in my head, and in my heart, that he was everything to me.

Was and still is.

Water filled my eyes – I wanted to cry. Cry like I haven't done in fifteen years. It hurt me so much inside to know that she sought him out here, at my home and that he had no desire to fill me in about her; even if they were over and been separated long ago.

Now I can't believe anything from him. Was it true when he said he loved me? Pain stabbed me again, and a tear fell from my eye and hit the floor silently.

"Chloe," Tori said, "Mara belle and him were very close. I mean, very, very close."

I sat down on one of the stools under the covered-with-boxes bar. I put my head into my hands and sighed. "I don't care. I just want to get my son back. No more and no less. He can be on his way with her if that's how it has to be."

"You really don't get it..." Tori murmured. "There is so much you don't know about."

I shook my head, "No. And puh-lease don't fill me in."

Tori laughed, "But I think you really need to know."

I parted my fingers and looked up at her through them. I stared at her, waiting for the answer.

"Mara belle and Derek were together for a long time before I left." She said.

"I get that, what's the moral - they shall live happily every after?" I didn't mean to be rude towards Tori, but my heart hurt, as well as the throbbing ache in my head.

Tori looked at me harshly then slammed her fists against the bar in rage. Sparks flew from her hands as she said, "Derek bit her! He became enraged and changed and didn't know who he was and what he was doing and bit her! He changed her right in front of my eyes Chloe! And all I could think about, when it happened was how bad this was going to hurt you because they bonded in such a way that you will never, ever know! She is one of them – a werewolf by demand, not made! A werewolf because your wolf boy bit her –" Tori inhaled, "– Derek forced Mara to fight with us against the Edison Group last time! Derek made her a warrior like he is trying to turn you into! And then he dumped her the instant he couldn't stand her!"

"Oh..." I uttered.

Tori threw her hands up, "Oh... she says oh..."

A/N: Another one down, please review!

Preview for next chapter:

"You need to leave." Derek grunted.

"No." She said innocently.

"Fine." I heard Derek say before I felt him shift into werewolf form.