The Necromancer (Amber Lee Mysteries Book 3) by Katerina Martinez Read Free Book Online Page B

contain its aura and every use of my powers drains me further. I fear that before long, I will be dead—and my shadow will have what it wants.”
    I didn’t care to ask “ which is?” I had a feeling I knew where this was going.
    Collette dropped her head and brought her hands to her face. Her private school composure broke before my eyes, and the woman sobbed silently. I stood up and approached, knelt before her, and took one of her hands, but she covered her face with the other. Her fingers were pale and cold. Delicate.
    “I’m sorry this has happened to you,” I said. “And I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
    I still didn’t know how any of this had anything to do with me, but I figured she needed my help somehow. She had been dreaming about me and I had been dreaming about her. I couldn’t argue with the strange cosmic binding going on between us. And despite having problems of my own to deal with, I couldn’t just turn her away.
    Number one, if what she was saying was true, then it meant that there was some kind of Shadow creature out there planning to destroy my town—assuming the dream I had where everything died held true. Number two, she was dying—and that sucked. And number three, if I were to turn her down because I had other problems, I would go down in the history books as the biggest asshole on the planet.
    I had no choice.
    “Thank you,” said Collette. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
    I stood up, still with her hand in mine. Her palm was starting to warm. “Tell me what I can do, and I’ll do it.”
    Collette stood and crossed toward the side of the room, slipping away from my grasp. She had a wheelie suitcase there full of her things. I watched her open one of the side zips and pull out a ruled A4 notepad which she flipped to a page filled with writing. She also had, in her hand, a talisman. It was a palm-sized silver locket with a fleur-de-lis on the front.
    “There is a ritual,” she said, “That would draw the shadow out of its hiding place. I can then capture it and reintegrate it into my soul.”
    She handed me the amulet and I ran my fingers over the flower pattern on the front. The thing wouldn’t open, though. “What’s this?”
    “Zis is my special amulet. It will ‘elp me concentrate and focus my magick.”
    “Aren’t you worried the shadow would just… get out again?”
    Collette shook her head and wiped the space under her eyes with the back of her hands. “I have spent weeks preparing a spiritual bulwark against the shadow’s energy. Once it is inside, I can close ze gates and keep it contained forever.”
    “And… you’re sure?”
    “I understand your hesitation,” she said, returning to her old composed self, “But I cannot fail. If I do, everyone loses. Zat is why I am sure of myself.”
    I nodded. “Alright,” I said, “I’ll help you. I’ll get my coven and bring them out here in a few hours.”
    “Non,” she said, “No. I need time to prepare. Tomorrow.”
    “Tomorrow, then,” I said. I handed the locket back to her. “Only… before I go, could you do something about that bird of yours? I don’t want to see any more little creatures dying around here.”
    Collette nodded. “Of course. And as soon as I am myself again I will do my best to repair whatever damage my power has caused here.”
    “As witches, we’re blessed with the power of magick,” I said. “I learned the hard way that, in magick, there are some mistakes you just can’t fix and others that you’ll keep paying for the rest of your life.”
    “I am already paying for zis, Amber, I assure you.”
    I had no doubt of that, but something about her energy kept me on edge. I felt like a cat unsure whether to approach the stranger or keep my distance in case I needed to scatter. I didn’t think I was in any direct danger, but I didn’t know enough about Necromancers to decide with any certainty.
    I wondered what Frank had to say about