Page 78 of Resurrection
There was more chatter from the crowd, but vampires moved in to section the dead off and begin questioning them. Seiran was a little shocked at the size of the group, both the vampires, and the dead who stood around like little more than extras from the set of a zombie movie.
“Zombies are real,” he muttered, his gaze falling on Gabe who sat in a chair nearby, looking really tired. Sei handed the tablet back to Kelly. He had some catching up to do. But maybe after a real nap? He had to get out of these bloody clothes. “Yesterday?”
“The trip through the veil took a bit,” Kaine said. “Couldn’t move too fast, or I would have lost you.”
“You’re still holding them together?” Seiran asked Gabe. Maybe that’s why he looked so tired.
“No. At least I don’t think so. Maybe I shoved too much into them when I raised them? We had solidified our bond, and your power was still coursing through me. Perhaps that is part of it? I hadn’t used that power in so long that it felt…”
Seiran could understand. Sometimes if he went too long without really stretching his power things went a bit sideways. “Necromancer?”
Gabe nodded. “Not a skill well received in this world.”
Seiran was briefly annoyed that he’d never been told, but there was too much else to worry about right this second. “Page?”
His assistant was huddled in the corner of the room, like he didn’t want anyone to realize he was there.
“I’m so sorry,” Page said again.
Seiran sighed. “Yeah, I get it. But sorry isn’t fixing anything, right? How about we work on that?”
Page’s eyes got really wide. “How?”
“We’ll start with the golem. See if you can unravel it maybe?” Sei looked around. “Where is the golem?”
“I think Sam has it,” Jamie said.
“I’ll call him,” Seiran shoved himself off the counter, but when he tried to stand, he found himself wobbly. The kids and Jamie caught him before he could hit the floor. “Maybe I should eat something.”
“Someone shouldn’t have taken blood from you when you were already bleeding,” Jamie complained.
Seiran waved a hand. “Whatever. He helped contain the Goddess. She wanted everything dead. I think the better option is me woozy instead of total world destruction.”
“I’ll get you some food,” Kelly offered. “Jamie made an egg bake that just needs a little warming.”
“Can I shower? I smell like blood and death,” Seiran asked.
“Cake and strawberries,” Gabe mumbled.
Seiran stared at him. “Are you hungry?”
“No,” he said, “tired. Used a lot of energy.”
That was an understatement. He’d raised an army of the dead after helping Seiran shove the earth back into a box.
“Sam brought grave dirt. The box beneath the bed downstairs is refilled,” Kelly said. “Maybe you can rest while Sei cleans up and eats?”
Gabe looked hesitant. Was the revenant still on the surface?
“Is it safe?” Gabe asked. “Will the Dominion come here?”
“Doesn’t matter,” Jamie said. “We are surrounded by a wall of earth magic. Years of built-up wards, and a fae army stalking the edges of the property. They could try to bomb us into oblivion, I guess.” Jamie shrugged. “But we’ve been prepared for this for a while.”
“Prepared for the Dominion to turn on you?” Gabe seemed dumbfounded.
“Yes,” Seiran agreed. “Sam’s not the only cynical bastard in our group.” Seiran had protested the measures when Sam first mentioned them a decade ago. But he hadn’t lasted long in opposition. He knew someday they would come for him. Just as they’d come for his father and his grandfather before him. “Do you need to keep me close?” Seiran asked Gabe. Was he still fighting the revenant? Would the grave dirt under his bed be enough, or would he have to return to slumbering in the ground?
“Need, no. But I’d like to stay close. I rest better with you nearby. If you think we have time for rest.”