–from Necromancy and Wolves: The Veiled Darkness Walter knelt in the recently disturbed, wet soil before the two heaping mounds where his parents lay. Atop each mound was an honor wreath, fashioned from pink roses to protect the dead from malevolent forces in the afterlife. He stared at the roses. Thin rivulets slid from the corners of his eyes. Lillian and Baylan stood behind him on either side with their arms behind their backs, paying their respect to the fallen. “I should have come earlier, what’s wrong with me? Did I really think sleeping was more important than paying my final respects to my parents?” Walter said aloud. You’ve gone soft, need to stop being so selfish. This should have been the first thing I did. The cool wind was welcome in the heat of the morning sun. It blew Walter’s long hair to his shoulder, exposing his neck. Lillian’s breath caught when she saw the back of Walter’s neck. The skin on the right side had changed, becoming marbled with undulating ashen lines.
