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“It was no trouble.” Elvira sounded like it had been more pleasure than hardship.

A cat dashed through Elvira’s ghostly form, jumping up on the couch and pouncing on Tabitha’s head. “Little Fang!” sounded through the room right before Navarre appeared in a nearby doorway. The troubled necromancer stopped cold.

“Is that a—” Gray asked.

“It is,” I interrupted, knowing what he was going to say.

“Haven’t seen many,” Gray whispered.

“Few have,” I answered just as softly.

Navarre hesitantly stepped into the room. Jet-black hair covered his eyes as he kept his head bent. Despite not being able to see his eyes, I got the feeling Navarre was staring at us, or perhaps trying not to stare at Gray and myself and failing miserably.

“Sorry, Tabby,” Navarre said, voice barely audible.

“It’s no trouble.” Tabitha reached up and pulled the cat off her head, settling it in her lap.

Navarre took a couple more hesitant steps into the room. His voice was only slightly louder when he asked, “Are they alive?”

Gray jerked into my side, and I wrapped an arm around him. “Did he just ask if⁠—”

“He did.”

Tabitha gave Gray a sympathetic look. “They are very alive. Navarre, I would like for you to meet Grayson Delarue. You’ve met Martin before.”

A hesitant nod and a nearly silent “okay” was Navarre’s only response before he ignored us completely, heading for Little Fang. “Come on, you. Tabby’s got visitors.”

The cat leaped from Tabitha onto Navarre’s shoulder. The necromancer chuckled, the sound harsh as if his vocal cords weren’t used to it. I watched his narrow back walk out of the room and back through the doorway he’d appeared from, the small click of a door shutting locking Navarre back into his own world.

“He looks better,” I said once Navarre was out of earshot. My comment earned me a curious glance from Gray. I shrugged. “You didn’t see him when he first arrived. Navarre was little more than skin and bones. I think this is the first time he actually asked if I was alive instead of assuming I was a new spirit haunting him.”

Tabitha nodded gamely. “That’s true. Navarre is improving. I’ve managed to move sixteen of his tagalongs beyond the veil.”

“Sixteen?” Gray sounded as shocked as I felt. “Just how many are there?”

“Originally?” Tabitha asked. When Gray nodded, she hummed and answered, “Fifty-three.”

Gray’s mouth dropped open. His lips moved but little more than puffs of wheezed air escaped. Finally, he managed a stuttered, “F-fifty-th-three? Are you kidding me?”

“I wish I were,” Tabitha sadly answered, her gaze drifting to the door Navarre was hiding behind. “It will be a lengthy process, like peeling an onion. Some layers hold on more tenaciously than others. I believe I’ve relieved Navarre of the most damaging, or perhaps, insistent ones.”

Gray shook his head. “No wonder most necromancers are batshit crazy.”

“It speaks to their species’ resilience that any make it at all.” Tabitha sounded exceedingly sad. “Some are more fortunate than others. Thankfully, with Nikodemus Holland now sitting at the head of the Warlock Council, hopefully more can be done for their wayward necromancer children.”

Gray visibly flinched. “I don’t think I ever gave it any thought. I mean…”

“It’s okay.” Was it? I wasn’t sure. What I did know was that Gray hadn’t ignored necromancer plight out of any meanness on his part. It simply wasn’t a matter he’d considered. Necromancers weren’t well liked or even tolerated by most. The fact Gray had so much compassion regarding Navarre spoke to his considerate nature.

Finishing her coffee, Tabitha scooted forward, hands crossed and lying flat on her lap. “Now then, as to the rest of these nasty buzzweeds, what do you think, Grayson? Can you truly find them all?”

Gray rubbed the back of his neck, shoulders drooping. “I can find them, but it will take time.” I hated the heavy weight his piece of magic became. “Their song isn’t…pleasant.” Gray cringed. “Chances are I found that one due to proximity. With the louder, more persistent songs dealt with, I could finally parse out and focus on this one. The others should be similar. I can’t guarantee we’ll find all of them next. Like I said, part of it is a proximity thing. If I happen to be closer to something that’s singing at the same volume…” Gray shrugged. “It’s kind of a crapshoot at this point.”

Tabitha’s lips pinched. Without looking up, she asked, “Elvira, what are your thoughts? Could you help in the search?”

“Doubtful. I was unaware of such things until this very day. If I have not found them before, then I cannot have any confidence I will be able to do so now.”

“Unfortunate but understandable,” Tabitha answered. With a heavy sigh, Tabitha stared at her hands and said, “Then I suppose the weight of this falls on your shoulders once more, Grayson. I am truly sorry. I would like to help, but⁠—”