Elsie gasps, stumbling back from the door into Neve as I turn. She shakes her head, squeezing her eyes shut as she shuffles away from the queen. “I—I forgot he was watching us when he died.”
There’s a tremble in her jaw, the wall around the emotions she tries to hide breaking. Neve reaches out, gentlypatting her shoulder, and gestures to the stairs. “Maybe we should handle this for you.”
She grits her teeth, turning to me. “I know it’s sudden, but… You three are going to leave again soon, aren’t you?”
Wincing, I ignore the look Neve gives me. “Technically, yes. Lucius’s curse won’t allow him to stray from Thornton for long. Your brother is on the run right now, and he needs help to break whatever’s taken hold of him. And having the three of us here is dangerous for all of you.”
Elsie sniffs, shaking off Neve’s hand. “I figured. None of you ever stays long. But this time is different.” She meets my gaze, the tears escaping. “You have to bury him. I can show you where. Mum took us to Pa’s grave not long ago, after the tavern burned down. He should be there.” She sighs, exhaling her heartbreak. “With family.”
At the stairs, a figure appears. Tom watches us from the shadows, his expression torn. “Of course we’ll help all we can, Elsie–”
“You have to do it!” she cries, balling up her hands. “If you leave and Ray is still gone, there’s no one else to do this. Without Thomas, it would be Genny o-or me and… moving the body and… Ican’t–”
“Elsie,” I say sternly, cutting her off by taking her hands in mine. She’s dangerously close to a breakdown. “We will take care of it. I think you should go downstairs now and be with your mother, your family.”
She hesitates, glancing between us. Her eyes look into the room once more before she jerks her head away, gripping the banister, and rushes downstairs.
When I blow out a breath, I eye Tom. His spirit stays silent, only watching. I’ve seen spirits argue about Death, as though there’s a way to barter their way back to life. Tom is resigned, but with Neve here, I’m not sure what I want to say.
“Here,” Neve says, interrupting before I have to find the words. “I can do this for you.” After sweeping into the room, she gently closes Tom’s eyes. One is burned at the edges, giving her a little trouble but she works at it until both his eyes are forever closed. I linger behind her by Tom’s feet, simply staring into the room.
Neve’s become so accustomed to Death, it doesn’t even bother her. She screamed her heart out in the mountains for her father to listen, but now, she seems resigned. When she looks up, her eyes are completely frozen, so blue they nearly glow. She stands and squares her shoulders before speaking. “There. Now he can rest. I assume he’s with you?”
I glance toward Tom, wondering if Neve reallycansee more than she realizes. “He is.”
Nodding, she freezes a layer of ice over her hands before letting it slide off, shaking her hands once it’s free. Kind of like washing her hands, a trick I’ve used a time or two. “Well, Elsie was right. He should be buried. He’s big, Ban. It would be hard for anyone without magic to move him from this floor.”
I grimace, still avoiding Tom. “I already thought about that. If Elsie can point us in the right direction, we can move him to the gravesite pretty easily. Within the next ten minutes if she likes.”
“That fast?” she asks, startled. “Didn’t he just… die?”
Sighing, I look toward Tom. He hesitates, then nods, like he’s adjusting to me being the only one who can see where he is.
“Yes,” I reply, answering Neve’s question. “About an hour or so ago. Zarev and Lucius will likely be up soon. We’ll have to discuss what to do about Ray, and who’s going to look for him.” An idea hits me, something from years ago when there was last a tragedy in Ray’s home. “Actually, go tell Lucius to have everyone talk with Lymara. Her fire magic is enchanting enough that it will distract the younger ones for a time. I’m sure Zarevor Lucius can provide any answers about why the family should stay away if asked.”
“Because you’re going to move him,” Neve clarifies.
I nod. “If they want to say goodbye, they can. But that’s partially what the grave is for. So the living can have a place to visit the dead.”
“And… why will the family care about Lymara instead of Tom?”
“Lymara used to come here occasionally,” I say with a chuckle. “She does tricks with her fire magic, nothing terribly powerful, but enough to be entertaining. Ray’s siblings love it. And if everyone goes outside, the children will pay a little less attention when we move Tom.”
“Shouldn’t you ask Dahlia about this?” Neve asks seriously. “Instead of the troubled sister who just lost her big brother?”
Looking away, I focus on Thomas’ body again. Even though he’s still now, those burns make it clear he didn’t die peacefully. “No. If Ray were here, Dahlia would defer to her son for something like this. And Ray would want his brother to find peace.”
Neve sighs, and if she has more protests, she stifles them for now. “Fine. But I don’t think anyone likes me down there. I might not be the right person for redirection.”
“Elsie is stubborn,” I admit. “She’s always been one to take charge, even if she isn’t the oldest. It was her suggestion. She’ll follow if you lead.”
Seeming uncertain, it takes another moment before Neve turns toward me. She wraps her arms around me, burying her head into my shoulder, and I sweep my fingertips down her back. The chill of the frost beneath her skin grounds me to the present, and I kiss the top of her head.
“Let me know when you need me,” she says finally, pulling back. “I’ll kick the other two Reapers up here if they don’t move fast enough.”
As she leaves, I give Tom my full attention. He’s standing near the wall, looking resigned. His gaze flickers between his body, me, and back again. “Thank you for burying me.”
“It’s what Ray would want, and I know it’s what you need too. We’ll take care of it.”
