REBORN AS A NECROMANCER : BUILDING THE ULTIMATE UNDEAD ARMY

Kaine stepped into the hallway, the taste of Rebecca still warm on his lips. Her apartment door clicked shut behind him with a soft finality that somehow felt heavier than it should. He stood there for a moment, running his hand through his hair, trying to shake off the way her fingers had felt tangled in his shirt, the way she'd looked at him like he was something worth keeping.

'Focus. You've got work to do.'

He crossed the narrow hallway to his own door, fishing for his keys with hands that were steadier than they had any right to be. The lock turned with a soft click, and he stepped into his apartment expecting the usual shadows and silence.

Instead, he found Marcus standing in the center of the living room like a pale statue, those unsettling eyes fixed directly on the door. The ghoul's head tilted slightly—not quite curiosity, not quite judgment, but something uncomfortably close to both.

"Don't," Kaine said flatly, shrugging out of his dinner jacket. "Whatever you're thinking, just don't."

Marcus remained perfectly still, but something in his posture suggested amusement. Which was disturbing, considering ghouls weren't supposed to have a sense of humor.

Kaine hung his jacket on the back of a chair and moved toward his bedroom. "We've got work tonight. Real work, not the kind that involves—" He gestured vaguely toward Rebecca's door. "That."

The ghoul followed him with those pale eyes, silent as always but somehow managing to convey volumes with a simple tilt of his head.

"It's complicated," Kaine muttered, pulling his long black coat from the closet. He strapped Soulrend across his back. The familiar weight of it settled across his shoulder. "Everything's complicated."

"Listen," Kaine said, turning to face Marcus. "We've got a client. Some worried mother thinks her son's girlfriend might be a bloodsucker. Standard paranoia check, probably nothing. But we're not going there first."

Marcus tilted his head again, this time with unmistakable curiosity.

"First, we're going back to that restaurant." Kaine pulled on his gloves, flexing his fingers. Marcus had followed them just not into the restaurant but he'd been there the whole time. "That waiter who couldn't keep his eyes off Rebecca? He wasn't human."

The admission hung in the air between them. Kaine had known the moment he'd looked at the man—his Death Sight had kicked in automatically, showing him the telltale energy signature of something that had once been alive but no longer was. But he hadn't wanted to spoil the evening, hadn't wanted to drag Rebecca into the darkness that followed him everywhere.

'Should have acted then. Should have made an excuse and handled it immediately.'

But he'd wanted one normal evening. One night where he could pretend to be just a man having dinner with a beautiful woman. The waiter could have killed someone by now, and that blood would be on his hands.

"Draugr," he said, adjusting his coat. "At least, that's what the system flagged him as. Flesh-eating undead, stronger and smarter than your average zombie. They can pass for human if they're careful about it."

Marcus stepped closer, and Kaine caught a whiff of that particular scent the ghoul carried—old earth and something metallic. It wasn't unpleasant, exactly, but it was a constant reminder of what his companion really was.

"The thing is," Kaine continued, "draugr don't just happen. Someone made him. Someone with serious blood magic powers because as we know, only bloodsuckers can create these monsters with the exception of me. Which means we might be dealing with more than just one rogue undead."

He moved to the window, peering out at the city lights. Somewhere out there, in the maze of streets and alleys, Chad was probably hunting. The X&O killer was carving up couples. And now there was at least one draugr working as a waiter in an upscale restaurant.

'The city's turning into a supernatural clusterfuck.'

"Come on," he said, heading for the fire escape. "Let's go remind our friend why the dead should stay buried."

---

The restaurant looked different at night. The warm glow from the windows seemed more amber, more seductive, casting shadows across the cobblestone street. A few late diners lingered at window tables, their laughter and conversation drifting out into the cool air.

Kaine and Marcus crouched on the rooftop across the street, watching the entrance. The vantage point gave them a clear view of the dining room and most of the staff.

"There," Kaine said, pointing to a figure moving between tables. "Third waiter from the left. Same one from dinner."

Even from this distance, his Death Sight picked up the familiar wrongness of the creature's energy signature. Where living humans showed up as warm, pulsing auras, the draugr was a cold void.

[DEATH SIGHT ACTIVE]

[TARGET CONFIRMED: DRAUGR]

[WARNING: INTELLIGENCE RETAINED]

[WARNING: CREATURE SHOWS SIGNS OF RECENT FEEDING]

[CLASSIFICATION: FLESH-EATING UNDEAD ENTITY]

[DESCRIPTION: DRAUGR RETAIN HUMAN INTELLIGENCE AND PHYSICAL CAPABILITIES]

[ENHANCED STRENGTH, SPEED, AND DURABILITY]

[FEEDING REQUIREMENT: FRESH HUMAN FLESH - PREFERABLY LIVING VICTIMS]

[DANGER LEVEL: HIGH - CAN BLEND INTO HUMAN SOCIETY]

'Recent feeding. Fuck.'

"He's been hunting," Kaine said grimly. "Question is, how recently and how many."

Marcus shifted beside him, pale eyes fixed on their target. The ghoul's fingers twitched—not quite reaching for a weapon, but clearly anticipating violence.

They watched for another twenty minutes, cataloging the restaurant's routine. The draugr moved around taking orders, serving food, cleaning tables. To any casual observer, he was just another service worker earning his pay. But Kaine noticed the way he lingered near certain customers, the way his nostrils flared slightly when attractive young women passed by.

'He's shopping for his next meal.'

The restaurant began to empty as the evening wound down. By eleven-thirty, only a handful of customers remained, and most of the staff was beginning their closing routine. The draugr disappeared into what looked like a staff area, probably changing out of his uniform.

"Time to move," Kaine said.

They made their way down to street level, approaching the restaurant from the alley behind. The back entrance was propped open with a milk crate—probably to let out kitchen heat.

Perfect.

Kaine slipped inside first, Marcus following like a shadow. The narrow hallway smelled of grease and industrial cleaner, punctuated by the sharp scent of something that might have been bleach. Or might have been something else entirely.

They moved through the service areas, avoiding the kitchen where a few cooks were still cleaning up. Voices echoed from the main dining room—staff finishing their closing duties, counting tips, planning after-work drinks.

The draugr's scent trail led to a storage room near the back of the building. Kaine paused outside the door, listening. No voices, but he could hear movement inside—the soft rustle of clothing, the scrape of something against concrete.

He tried the handle. Locked.

Marcus stepped forward, gripping the handle with both hands. The metal twisted with a soft grinding sound, and the lock mechanism gave way with barely a whisper.

"On three," Kaine whispered. Signalling One...two...

Marcus pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The storage room was cramped, lined with shelves of supplies and restaurant equipment. But what caught his attention was the figure hunched over a large garbage bag in the corner. The draugr had changed out of his waiter's uniform and into street clothes, but his back was to them, shoulders moving in a rhythmic motion that suggested feeding.

The smell hit them then—copper and meat and something rotten underneath.

'Too late for someone.'

"Enjoying your dinner?" Kaine said conversationally.

The draugr spun around, and Kaine got his first clear look at the creature's true face. The careful makeup was gone, revealing skin that was gray-white and slightly desiccated. His eyes were filmed over with a milky sheen, and his mouth was stained dark with blood.

"Shit," the draugr said, his voice carrying a slight European accent. "This is not what it looks like."

"Really? Because it looks like you're eating someone in a storage closet."

The creature straightened, wiping blood from his chin with the back of his hand. "I can explain. This person, she was already dead when I—"

"Cut the bullshit." Kaine drew Soulrend in one smooth motion, the cursed blade singing as it cleared its sheath. "I know what you are. Question is, who made you?"

The draugr's eyes fixed on the scythe, and something like fear flickered across his features. "You are... you are a hunter, yes? But that weapon, it is..."

"It's what's going to send you back to whatever grave you crawled out of if you don't start talking."

For a moment, the creature seemed to consider his options. Then his posture shifted, becoming more predatory. His fingernails extended into claws, and when he smiled, his teeth were sharp and far too numerous.

"I think not, little hunter. You smell of death yourself, but you are still flesh and bone. I have fed recently—I am strong."

The draugr launched itself forward with inhuman speed, claws aimed at Kaine's throat.

Kaine was faster.

He sidestepped the attack in one fluid motion, bringing the cursed scythe around in a horizontal arc. The blade caught the creature across the chest, opening a deep gash that would have been fatal to anything living. Dark blood splashed across the shelves, but the draugr barely slowed.

It spun and backhanded Kaine with enough force to send him crashing into a rack of cleaning supplies. Bottles shattered around him, filling the air with the sharp scent of ammonia and bleach.

'System was right. This thing is strong.'

The draugr followed up its attack, claws raking across Kaine's ribs. His coat absorbed most of the impact, but he felt the sharp burn of torn flesh underneath. He rolled away from the creature's next swipe and came up swinging.

Soulrend caught the draugr in the shoulder, the cursed blade biting deep. This time, the creature screamed—a sound like metal scraping against bone.

But the creature was learning. It grabbed a heavy shelf and hurled it at Kaine, using the distraction to dart toward the door. Kaine had to dive aside to avoid being crushed, and by the time he recovered, the draugr was already in the hallway.

"Marcus!" Kaine shouted. "Don't let it reach the dining room!" Love this story? Show support at MV2LEMPYR.

Marcus nodded, giving chase.

The ghoul moved with silence intercepting the draugr just as it reached the main service area. Marcus grabbed the creature by the throat and slammed it against the wall hard enough to crack the plaster.

The draugr clawed at Marcus's face, its talons opening deep gashes across the ghoul's pale cheek. Marcus didn't even flinch. He simply tightened his grip and lifted the creature off its feet.

"No, no, no!" the draugr choked out. "You do not understand! I am not the enemy here!"

"Then who is?" Kaine demanded, approaching with Soulrend ready.

"The one who made me! The one who commands all of us!" The creature's eyes were wide with desperation. "He is coming back! The signs are already beginning!"

Before Kaine could ask what signs, the sound of voices echoed from the dining room. Staff members calling out to each other, probably wondering about the noise from the back.

'Shit. Witnesses.'

"Marcus, we need to move this outside."

The ghoul nodded and began dragging the draugr toward the back exit. But the creature wasn't finished fighting. It managed to wrench one arm free and drove its claws into Marcus's side, tearing through fabric and flesh.

Marcus's grip loosened just enough for the draugr to break free. It bolted toward the dining room, moving with desperate speed.

Kaine cursed and gave chase, but he was too late. The creature burst through the swinging doors into the main restaurant, where three staff members were still cleaning up after the evening service.

The humans froze, taking in the blood-covered figure with the inhuman features and extended claws. One of them—a young woman with short blonde hair—let out a sharp scream.

"Nobody move!" the draugr snarled, grabbing the nearest person—a middle-aged man who'd been wiping down tables. The creature's claws pressed against the man's throat, drawing thin lines of blood. "I will kill him if you interfere!"

Kaine stepped into the dining room, Soulrend held ready but not threatening. Behind him, Marcus appeared like a pale shadow, dark blood staining his torn shirt.

"Let him go," Kaine said calmly. "This is between us."

"No! You do not understand what you are destroying!" The draugr's grip tightened on its hostage, who whimpered but didn't struggle. "I am part of something greater! The preparations have already begun!"

"What preparations?"

"The Game! The ancient Game returns, and my master will reclaim what was stolen from him!"

The words hit Kaine like a physical blow. The Game. Just like in the story Gwen had found, the ritual murders that were supposed to summon something ancient and terrible.

"The X and O killer," he said. "That's your master."

The draugr's eyes widened with something like religious fervor. "My master is so much more than that. He will return to cleanse this world of the unworthy!"

'Fuck. We're too late. It's already starting.'

The creature's moment of distraction was all Marcus needed. The ghoul moved with inhuman speed, crossing the dining room in three silent steps. His hand clamped down on the draugr's wrist, crushing bone with an audible crack.

The draugr released its hostage with a shriek of pain, but Marcus wasn't finished. The ghoul's other hand gripped the creature's throat and began to squeeze. This time, there was no escape.

"Wait," Kaine said, but it was too late.

Marcus's fingers tightened like a vise. The draugr's struggles became weaker, more desperate. Its claws raked futilely at the ghoul's arms, but Marcus felt no pain, showed no reaction to the wounds.

The creature's neck snapped with a wet cracking sound.

The draugr went limp in Marcus's grip, but even that wasn't enough to stop the ghoul. Marcus continued to squeeze until the creature's head separated from its shoulders with a sound like tearing meat.

Dark blood splattered across the restaurant floor as the body crumpled. The head rolled several feet before coming to rest near an overturned chair.

The silence that followed was deafening.

The three staff members stood frozen, their faces pale with shock. The man who'd been used as a hostage was pressed against the wall, one hand clutched to his throat, staring at Marcus with undisguised terror.

"Jesus Christ," the blonde woman whispered. "What... what was that thing?"

Kaine looked around the ruined dining room—blood on the walls, furniture overturned, the headless corpse of something that had been serving their customers for God knew how long. There was no way to cover this up, no way to pretend it hadn't happened.

"That," he said finally, "was something that shouldn't have been walking around in the first place."

He turned to face the staff members, all of whom were staring at him with a mixture of fear and confusion.

"You're going to want to call the Shadow Guard," he said, "Tell them you had a draugr infestation. They'll handle the cleanup."

"Shadow Guard?" the blonde woman asked, her voice shaky but curious. "Are you with them?"

"Freelance," Kaine replied. "But they'll want to know about this. That thing's been feeding on your customers for who knows how long."

He looked at Marcus, who was already moving toward the back exit. The ghoul's wounds were healing themselves, the torn flesh knitting back together with soft, wet sounds.

"We need to go," Kaine said. "Before the real authorities show up."

They slipped out through the back alley, leaving behind a scene that would keep the Shadow Guard busy for hours. Standard operating procedure for supernatural incidents—they'd interview the witnesses, file the paperwork, and probably shut the restaurant down for a few days while they made sure there weren't any other nasties hiding in the kitchen.

But as they disappeared into the maze of streets and shadows, Kaine couldn't shake the draugr's words.

*The Game returns.* *The preparations have already begun.*

Somewhere out there, an ancient evil was stirring. And they were running out of time to stop it.

'We need to find Gwen. We need to find her now.'

The hunt was far from over. In fact, it had barely begun..