Police Station,
Salem

THE SUN HAD SET, leaving the outside world to be illuminated by streetlights and the lights from the buildings that were still open. And here I was, still seated at the desk, hunched over, trying to think of my next move. The necromancer was a tricky foe to catch. The censuses has revealed little about a potential identity. I should've thought clearer in that regard, no one was going to list their identity as Warlock on it.

A moment of lapse, I wouldn't repeat it.

My fingers lightly traced the vial under my shirt. In it was his magic. The truth to his existence. I sighed as I flattened my palm over it, only to feel the rough ridges under my shirt. My mind clouded. Evelyn has felt it.

I'd allowed her to get far too close. Why did I allow her to touch me? The feeling of her hands flew back into my head. She was soft, careful, hesitant. Even though she was hastily brushing dust off my clothes, it was gentle and kind. She had slowed down towards the end, till it almost felt like something other than her just trying to help me.

When I was younger sex was a taboo topic, especially in my Puritan era. However, as the years went on I lost the inhibitions I held. When I tell people that the Revolutionary War was a very...hormonal time for many, I mean it. War and violence went hand in hand with intimacy, both platonic and romantic. Because of the experiences of war, I lost all fear of laying with someone. Not to mention living through the eighties meant I was perfectly fine with pretty much anything.

I was no stranger to intimacy, but I'd done my best for the best few decades to calm myself from those urges. I hardly had a one-night stand, at most twice a year. Naturally I shied away from it, the possibility of growing a bond with someone because of that act would mean their death. It had been a long time since I had slept with someone. I was starting to stray towards a witch's touch. Terrible images began to plague my mind. Tangled up sheets and her soft hands against my bare chest. I shook my head, focusing instead on the necklace around my neck.

The mist swirled around the vial, the strange symbol taunting me. That swirl, wrapping around itself again and again. They duplicated, mixing with the mist over and over again. It felt like the necromancer was laughing at me, seeing me struggling with his true identity. I sighed before I dropped it, letting it hit my chest.

It hit the pendant.

I scowled as the memories of Evelyn flooded back as my mind was once again aware of the pendant. My fingers unconsciously brushed it under my shirt, finding the ridges. They barely peaked above my flesh. You had to touch my chest in order to notice it. A simply glance would only make you notice the scar left behind from the wound she caused me.

She.

My throat tightened as I thought of her. Unlike most of the relationships formed in my past, she was the only one I missed truly. Even though her nature and mine clashed continuously. We never agreed on anything. And yet, we found a sense of trust and admiration. I found myself loving her. And that's what killed her.

Abitha, the only witch I ever cared for.

I frowned, pushing away those dark memories. There's no need to think that far back into my memories. I put the vial back down inside my shirt, running  a hand down my face as I did so. My mind raced as I thought of ways to figure out what the symbol could possibly be used for, what it meant. Most likely it was the coven he belonged to, however until I knew what coven I wouldn't be able to figure out any of his origin, much less a potential of who he would want to get revenge on.

As I was thinking on the image, I felt someone grab my shoulder. I jumped and swung back, putting my hands up in a defensive position. However, all I saw was that annoying warlock, Noah. He immediately threw his hands in the air, his breathy laugh sparking annoyance within me. "Whoa, tiger! Calm yourself. We don't want you to pop a blood vessel!"

"You startled me." I simply answered, turning back around to look at my empty desk.

Noah chuckled again before he went silent. I hoped he left. Instead, I heard the sound of a chair scraping across the floor. I looked over and watched as he put a chair next to my desk. He faced it backwards and straddled the seat, propping his arm up on the back of it. Noah grinned up at me, his dark eyes twinkling. "So...what are you doing here so late? Aren't you scared of what goes bump in the night?"

I rolled my eyes. "The existence of the supernatural is a flawed concept created by people who need an explanation for things they can't explain."

The warlock quirked an eyebrow. "You seem quite well-versed in the non-belief. You don't even believe somethings are based on true stories?"

"The Greeks used the myths as a basis to explain the way the world worked. It's not hard to apply that to other societies who used bizarre humanoid creatures to explain why some people have 'magic', aka witches. Besides, even though this town itself is famous for having witches, there's been studies to see that the people were just consuming moldy bread that caused LSD type symptoms. The supernatural is nothing more than stories people tell to make sense of an ever confusing world."

Noah sighed, leaning back. Something sparked in his eyes. He adjusted his jacket slightly before staring me dead in the eyes. "You're right. Salem is nothing more than a sham. Take it from someone who has lived here for years." He chuckled, tapping his chin. "Seriously, the amount of money this town makes off those who are absolutely crazy and believe in the supernatural is insane. My family owns a coffee shop, and it gets a ton of business because we named it after witches!"

I frowned. "Is that the place Evelyn loves?"

He smirked, a glint of mischief shooting through his face. "Yeah, why do you ask? You wanna invite her out to a coffee date?"

"No, I don't."

"Liar. You like her, it's hard not to see that. You practically ogle her all day! Stop screwing her in your mind and instead screw her in real life!" Noah said, lightly pushing me.

My eyes widened. "I met her yesterday! I don't think of her like that."

Noah rolled his eyes. "You must be a virgin if you don't believe in lust at first sight. Some people sleep with another the day they meet them, there's no need to believe that you can't be attracted to someone."

If only he knew. I probably slept with more people than him. To be fair, I had a couple centuries of experiences, and he was probably only in his mid-twenties. "Your assumptions of that are wholly unfounded. You know nothing about my sex-life."

He chuckled. "Why not tell me then?"

"I hardly know you, why would I give away such intimate information to someone I met yesterday?"

"Sometimes when you meet someone you just feel this immediate connection. Perhaps they were a soul you knew in your past life? I believe stuff like that. Reincarnation and all that. What do you believe in, Lawrence?" Noah asked, turning to face me.

I shrugged. "Not much. I don't believe in a higher power and death is final."

"Ah, you're Atheist, I take it?"

"I don't like labels."

Noah sighed, shaking his head. "Has anyone ever told you that you're annoying?"

"I teach highschoolers, Noah."

He laughed, a good hearty one that filled the room. I frowned as I looked out the windows, seeing trails of people heading off to clubs and parties. They were donned in skimpy costumes. Others wore normal costumes that wouldn't potentially get them arrested for inappropriate conduct in public. "That explains it. What do you teach?"

I looked back at him. "AP US History."

Noah nodded. "So you know a lot about this country, huh?"

"Well, I would think so. I'm not a master of it, there's only so much information I can remember at a time without going over it again. I struggle to remember a lot of the French-Indian War era." That was a time when I spent most of my days locked in a cabin I built in Canada to avoid the war. I was a wild man out there.

"True, I know next to nothing about that, when did that happen?"

I frowned. "You- never mind. When did you graduate from high school?"

Noah shook his head. "Feels like eons ago, man."

"Well how old are you?"

He frowned. "Twenty-two."

I nodded, something felt off about that. No matter, I knew some witches and warlocks had longer lifespans. "Perhaps I'll have to give you a rundown of US history."

Noah grinned. "Look at that! You're warming up to me. Maybe soon I can invite you out for drinks. That'll be absolutely amazing. I can't wait to see drunk Lawrence."

"I don't get drunk." The last time I got drunk was back in the nineties. Everytime I got drunk I reverted to sometime in my life. Whether it be Salem-era Lawrence, Revolutionary-era Lawrence, or even World War II-era Lawrence, I've been every version of myself while drunk. Most people thought it was a funny gag, but there was one time where I spilled my past. The poor girl I was rambling to thought it was too detailed to be faked and I think I ruined her life.

"BOR-ing! God, you're one of those people? Gross. I mean, unless you don't drink for like a good reason, like you're a former addict or you don't want to be an alcoholic because you've seen it in your life, I don't know. You know what? Never mind. You can not drink. That's okay."

He rambled when he was nervous, I suppose. I nodded, looking at him. "I take it you like to drink?"

Noah nodded numbly. "A little. I mean, I enjoy a shot every so often. I also go clubbing sometimes."

I shrugged. "To each their own, Noah. I don't particularly love clubbing, but if you do then go on and enjoy yourself."

He smiled. "Yeah, I would go a lot more but it's hard to convince Evelyn to go with me. She's not one for that scene. You and her would be a perfect couple. Why not date her?"

"Why are you so insistent on us dating? We barely know each other."

"Well, you both are so similar and she has the biggest crush on you. She loves nerds. Teachers are nerds, right?" He asked, leaning closer to me, a smirk on his face.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm not going to date someone I barely know."

"Then get to know her!"

Even though she was a witch, no one deserved to die because of me. I only killed when necessary. She wasn't a necessary kill. She deserved to live. "I don't know. It's not like I will be here long."

Noah frowned. "Long distance? I mean, it works for some people."

I shrugged. "I'm not exactly in a position for romance right now. Maybe some other time, but for now, it's best I just be by myself."

He let out a breath. "Damn, I guess that's a good point. But if you ever think about wanting a girlfriend, my best friend is the girl for you. Unless you're more into guys. Are you?"

"I prefer female company." Sure I've experimented, but I didn't sleep with guys a lot. I mostly slept with girls.

Noah chuckled. "Dammit again, we could've had some fun."

I frowned. "Again, I hardly know you, Noah. But I'm flattered by the sentiment."

He nodded, standing up. "It's getting late. We need to get home. It's nine o'clock and all the night cops are gonna get here soon, and trust me when I tell you they will attack anyone with a slight tan and pulse." He laughed after saying that, but I knew he wasn't lying.

"Whatever you say." I muttered as I stood up.

Noah sighed, stretching his arms upward. I watched as a necklace that was hidden beneath his jacket moved into view. As I looked at it the blood drained from my face. his gaze met mine and he grinned, grabbing the charm. "You like it?"

I swallowed. "What is it?"

"It's a Wiccan symbol. I don't know, I went through a phase and I still love it. It's a Labyrinth. It represents a path to ones self, wholeness, a journey, etcetera. Lots of varying meanings, but I see it as a symbol of the path towards destiny. Why, you like it?"

The darker green mist swirled around it, thickening as he spoke about the symbol. "Yeah, it seems interesting. I guess I just recognized it from somewhere."

Noah frowned. "From where? I mean, some people might have tattoos of it. Lot's of people who like bizarre religious cultures here."

Or rather, people who belong to one coven. This was the symbol that was in the Necromancer's mist. The Necromancer belonged to Noah's coven. Or he did, when he was alive and killed for practicing Blood Magic. "I must've seen it on someone's shoulder."

He wiggled his eyebrows. "I'd love to find out why you were looking at someone's shoulder, Lawrence."

I rolled my eyes. "Later. You were right, we should head to our respective homes. Goodbye, Noah."

I hurried off, grabbing my things and exiting the station. It was time to do some more research. Now that I knew the symbols origin, I could research which coven or covens might use it. Most likely it would be one here, unless it was a strange new-age type coven where the witches and warlocks all lived in varying places. Most likely if a Necromancer actually sprouted from it then it was an older coven. I had ways of finding info on covens, supernaturals loved to use the internet to share information. Humans would overlook it, unless they knew of the dark world around them.

It's time to catch a killer.

•••

I have officially graduated from high school, it's time to begin my journey into college, woot woot! Aha, anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

-Paige