Page 25 of Wicked Magik

Now he is a restless spirit that drifts through my laboratory, knocking over beakers and rustling papers with each spectral pass. His presence is a constant, unsettling breeze that chills my neck with the coldness of his spirit. It made it nearly impossible to focus on my work.

“What do you think is wrong with Oryx, my Lord? He has been rather jumpy.” Benedict hovered over my shoulder.

No one else could see spirits, it was only me and it was damn near frustrating. I would look like a fool talking to them when the living was in the room so I have to ignore them completely.

I couldn’t even speak to the spirits within my own home when Oryx was here. Oryx’s brain isn’t fully functional and trying to explain a spirit to him was more work than it was worth.

“That human blood must have been tainted with drugs. Humans inject and ingest the most harmful things into their bodies. Who knows how long he will act that way. I’m getting bloody frustrated. I can’t see into his mind.”

I pulled on the thread once more. The body I curated from a recent grave robbing, along with other parts of either animals or preserved tissues, would suit Benedict well. His soul was old, but he was vibrant and trustworthy. I’ve wanted to bring his body back for years and after much studying and understanding anatomy, I’ve found myself on the brink of success.

Was it wrong to steal from graves? Perhaps.

But it wasn’t like anyone was using that vessel. I’m putting it to use.

“I thank you so much for this, my Lord. I will be so happy to return the estate to its former glory.”

I waved my hand in dismissal. “I don’t care for such things. I do care about food being provided so I can concentrate on mywork, clean clothes and somewhat livable conditions. You do what you will in your spare time.”

Benedict’s spirit floated above me to observe the body. It was mostly of a young man that had been torn to pieces by a savage animal. I needed a fresh heart, part of their intestines and a good scalp of hair. It was gruesome but well worth the effort.

Once the body was buried nearby the town I was able to take the pieces that were left and put them with his own body that was in a grave that I had buried myself.

It took me years to learn how to revive what had been dried and near decayed but with pieces of the departed I was able to put together for Benedict’s new vessel.

Fortunately he didn’t care about his looks, however it would be hard to accept him as what he will now be. Still, it would not be as difficult as seeing…

“Is it done? My Lord, you are just staring?”

I chuckled deeply. “Always inquisitive, aren’t you? Of course, your vessel is finished. I’m just admiring my work.”

“You can admire me from afar when I can prepare a decent meal. I’m sure you are sick of steak, potatoes and whatever vegetable that Oryx can find.”

I hummed. While I did tire of the same food, Oryx did it out of the kindness of his soul. He was haunted by the longing to create something deeper, something tender and intimate, beyond the simple roles of creator and master. Hell, I did too.

If he only knew what a monster I was.

What was I to tell him? If I succumbed to a relationship closer than he wanted it might nearly break me? I only needed to know he was safe, and until I finished my hardest project to date, I will not dwell on the insignificance of the relationship now.

“Right, hover just over your new body. Make sure there isn’t anything you would like to change, because once I reanimate with you in it, there will be no going back.”

Benedict hummed softly, and I could almost imagine that if he had fingers, he would thoughtfully stroke the chin he didn't possess. As a spirit, Benedict was formless, an ethereal presence without a corporeal body. He was like a gentle breeze that occasionally swept past me, carrying with it a faint, enigmatic whisper that tickled my ear.

Of course that sounded absurd to those who don’t know.

“Yes, it will do. I’ll have to go to the spa in town. Will anyone notice?” He chuckled and I felt the cold air rush by me.

“I wouldn't advise it. Not until I figure out how to hide the stitches better.”.

Bringing the dead back to life was simple once a spirit had vacated its body. Constructing new bodies, however, was a more labor-intensive and time-consuming task. My skills in stitching and reassembling were not yet polished, but Benedict had become a persistent nuisance. His spirit constantly chilled the lab, and now that he had a body, he could also monitor Oryx.

I rolled the table to the center of the room and gazed up at the skylight. The daylight was sufficient to illuminate the body below.

I cracked my neck from side to side and gathered my notes from the table. I muttered under my breath, the crackles within my fingers flicked on and off. Again, I muttered the spell I had practiced in my sleep, my eyes focused on the pages as I twisted and twirled my fingers.

Clouds formed within the room, cracks of blue lightning skipped from one cloud to another. Wind intensified, spare papers in the room fluttered in the cyclone.

Again, my spell was louder, my hair fell from the tie that usually stayed on top of my head.