Ashes to Ashes - A Short Story

(Author Note: This was a story created from a random writing prompt to practice writing a story in less than 2000 words. I enjoyed it so much and learned a lot so decided to include it here. Original prompt: A necromancer's failed experiment leads to a plague of undead that only they can stop.)

Ashes to Ashes

“Hmm…” I trailed my finger down the faded page. “The last recipe I added three bay leaves and two teaspoons of lemon balm. Maybe this time I’ll add one more and handful of barley.”

I jotted down the additions in my journal. It was already over three-fourths full of trials and still no success. I couldn’t stop the sigh that escaped me.

“Hannah!” I called. “Bring kindling for the cauldron.”

A young woman with light colored curls and freckled cheeks popped her head through an open window.

“Did you say something milady?”

“What are you doing out there? I need kindling and gather the chicken eggs while you’re at it.”

“Right away mistress.” Hannah’s head disappeared again.

I shook my head. That girl’s head was always in the clouds. If I didn’t need an assistant so badly, I would have dismissed her ages ago. As it is, she remains at least mildly useful.

“Shall I build the wood pile and pour the salt circle mistress?” Hannah asked as she walked through the door with a bundle of sticks and a basket of eggs.

“You may stack the pile. I will draw the circle when the moon reaches its peak.”

“Of course, milady.” Hannah hurried out, the bundle in her arms.

A loud knock on the door drew my attention moments later.

“Anybody home?” A tall young man stood in my doorway; arms crossed over his chest.

“That depends, Peter.” I stated, recognizing the voice almost instantly. “Do you have what I need?”

“Wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. It’s in the cart out front.”

As I followed him down the stone path to my garden gate, the gray sky threatened rain. My herbs and flowers could use it, but I silently pleaded for the goddess to delay. I needed clear skies tonight.

“Here we are then.” Peter said as he pulled back the cloth covering the wooden cart.

Under the cloth was a girl of no more than nine or ten years. She could’ve been sleeping if not for the blue color surrounding her lips and the cloudy veil spread over her open eyes.

“A child?” It was not my preference to raise children, dead or alive.

“It was all that was fresh. The fates have been relatively kind of late.” Peter seemed unbothered by the girl’s stiff cold body, but he was the Cryptkeeper after all.

“Fine. Probably will amount to nothing anyways.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out three coins. “Your fee.”

“Hey now,” He balked. “This is half our agreed upon price.”

“And you’ve brought me half a woman. You can’t think I would pay full rate.”

Peter shifted uncomfortably, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. He looked as though he wanted to protest but knew better than to argue with a necromancer. “Aye… I’ll refrain from bringing children in future.”

“Much obliged. Now, move her to table around back, would you? See that she’s covered.”

Just as he sat atop the cart to guide his horse toward the back, Hannah rounded the corner. “Oi Peter!” She called, waving frantically.

I rolled my eyes at the smile it coaxed from him. Hannah never moved faster than when Peter was dropping off supplies.

“Afternoon Miss Hannah.” He took his hat off, inclining his head.

“Afternoon to you. You look well, staying busy and safe I hope?” Hannah batted her lashes at him, pushing her chest up so high on the stone fence, his eyes had no other recourse but to stare.

“Oh, I, uh, y-yes. Staying busy,” He fumbled to find his words and tear his eyes away from her ample bosom. “Safe. Y-you look well also.” His cheeks had turned a bright shade of scarlet.

Hannah may be aloof when it comes to magical workings, but she had no qualms about luring men into her bed. She had been working on Peter since he took up his position with the Gravewarden.

“You’re too kind.” She said with exaggerated sweetness. “I have to work this evening, but I will be free at the end of the week. Perhaps we’ll run into one another.”

“S-sure.”

“Hannah, assist Peter to get the girl on the altar table.” My patience for her stalling was waning fast.

Hannah nodded and began walking toward the back of the cottage, Peter following with his horse-drawn cart.

I retreated inside and gathered all my needed ingredients.

• Bay Leaf
• Barley
• Lemon Balm
• Chicken Egg
• Caper
• Calamus
• Elder
• Acmella Oleracea
• Fern
• Live rabbit

As I strode around the cottage, I nearly collided with Peter.

“Sorry, I meant to give you this.” He held out a hand, something small clasped in it. “I figured, if anyone would know of such things it would be you.”

He dropped a small piece of bone into my hand. The bone was as long as my palm and thin. It had three carved sigils down it’s length. I recognized two of them but the third looked like a combination of several others. If I was interpreting them correctly, they stood for ‘Transformation’, ‘Life’, ‘Death’, and ‘Vitality’. I could feel the magic pulsing from the talisman.

“Did you see who left it?” I asked. Stumbling upon a magical item of strength was exceedingly rare. I couldn’t imagine someone leaving it accidentally.

“It must have been left overnight. I found it hanging from the obelisk at the center of the graveyard when I came in this morning. Mr. Poul said he saw no one during the midnight shift.”

“Thank you, Peter. I’ll investigate this when I have time.” I placed the bone in my skirt pocket and continued my preparations.

∞

The Flower Moon had risen and thankfully, the clouds had cleared. The fire under my cauldron was ablaze, bringing the herbs to boil. I had drawn the black-salt circle, invoking the Mother of all creation to once again grant life to the lifeless. The small girl, I named her Eve, was lying upon the altar within the circle. Taking the rabbit in hand, I whispered the sacrifice incantation and plunged the Athame into its neck.

“In the name of the Mother I bless this child.” I drew the knife across the rabbit’s throat. “We honor Death.” I wrote the symbol for death on the girl’s forehead in rabbit’s blood. “We honor Life.” The next symbol on her chest. “We honor Transformation and Rebirth.” The last on her lower belly.

I took the herb water and poured it around the table saving a small bit. After taking a bitter gulp, I lifted the girl’s head and forced the fluid past her lips.

Hannah beat the skin drum and shook the rain stick while I began to chant. My skin rose in chilled bumps as the air around us froze.

“I ask the Lord of Death to release this child back to the Mother. Allow her to ascend unbroken. Complete.”

I felt the smallest vibration at first just under my feet, before the earth around the altar began to shake. Worms and all crawling creatures surfaced from the dirt, fleeing the trembling. With a loud crack, a strong pulse of energy blew out from the table in all directions, splitting the table in two. The girl’s body fell to the ground.

I was stunned at first by the forceful pulse from the altar but dismissed it as I ran to the body. She was already stirring by the time I arrived and shot up with a pained gasp. She wrapped her arms around herself and scanned the surroundings. Her eyes were wide and hands trembling.

“Hello Eve.” I made my voice as soothing as possible. “My name is Lilith. How do you feel?”

“Mmmhh mhhmm.” She attempted to speak.

“Hannah, get something warm for Eve to drink.” I threw a blanket over her shoulders. “I know this all must seem strange right now, but we’ll get you sorted out.”

Eve reached out, pressing fingers gently to my face. Her touch was like ice. She curled into my chest and pulled the blanket closer.

“Come along. Let’s get you warmed up.” I started to lead her toward the cottage, but her legs faltered and she tripped, nearly falling. “You’ll get your bearings soon, no need to fear.” I put my arm around her, supporting her the rest of the way.

∞

After getting Eve inside last night Hannah made up a bed for her by the hearth and I helped her drink some tea. She slept most of the night, occasionally waking startled but I was there to comfort her.

When she woke this morning, she spoke her first word. ‘Hungry’. A laugh spilled from me, surprising us both. She ate like she had never seen a meal. Her body appeared to be working in all capacities. I’d done it. Finally, a true resurrection.

In the garden now, she watched as grasshoppers jumped from one flower to the next, a gentle smile on her lips.

“Lady Lilith!” Peter’s panicked voice crashed through the calm of the morning. “Lady Lilith!”

I see Eve look in the direction of the sound. Her brows stitch together and she scrambles over to me, hiding herself partially behind my skirt.

“Peter, what is it for pity’s sake?”

“It’s the gra—” He spots Eve and freezes. “Her too? Sh-she’s alive!” Peter’s eyes go wide as saucers, and he rings his hat in his hands.

“Calm down Peter. Tell me why you’re here?”

Peter took a shaky breath, dragging his eyes from Eve to look at me. “It’s the graveyard milady. People are coming to life. Digging their way out of their graves! They’re headed this way!”

My breath caught. At my strongest I’d never risen more than two at a time, but an entire graveyard? It made no sense. Before I had more time to contemplate, I heard distant moans and snarls.

I pushed Peter aside, looking down the road. It was true. A mob of people in tattered clothes, if any, at all stages of decomposition, coming toward the cottage. To the everyday person this would be terrifying so I could sympathize with Peter’s distress. Not for a necromancer.

“Hannah!” I called. “Take Peter and Eve in the house. Bring me my staff and the jar of dirt on the table.”

She did as I asked and I stood in the road as the hoard descended. These ghouls had not returned intact as Eve had. Something I would certainly ponder later but now, the matter at hand.

I smeared the dirt over my staff and whispered, “Dicio Regere Imperius.” then lifted it into the air and silently commanded the ghouls to stop. They halted feet from me.

“You know, we really don’t appreciate this.” The voice of the decomposing man in front of me was scratchy and course, as though it had not been used for a long time.

“I’m sorry?” I asked, confused by him speaking at all.

“Aye, you should be. None of us asked to be raised. We’d honestly prefer to be in the ground.” The rotting woman beside him agreed. “I mean look at Henry. He’s not but bones!”

I looked over the skeleton behind them. The skull angled itself toward me as if meeting my gaze.

“Why did you bring us here?”

“It… wasn’t intentional. You all feel this way?” Murmurs of agreement rang through the crowd. “Okay.” I resigned. “Let me prepare. I’ll send you back.”

I reached for my handkerchief to wipe the dirt from my hands and found the bone talisman in my pocket, sigils glowing. I looked between the talisman and the hoard of ghouls and knew exactly what I must do.

Saying a quick thanks to the gods, I snapped the bone in two. As soon as I did, the ghouls dropped to the ground, once again lifeless.

As I turned, I saw Peter in my doorway, Eve’s limp body in his arms.

“Back to the start I suppose.”