I try to give them as much dignity as the process affords but it’s always jarring to look down on an old body unmoving and cold. Especially when candles burn at the crown of the head and blood marks a long dead language on chest and hands.

“How long do I have?” Her voice came from a place like the bottom of the ocean and her body was a shadows echo.

“His natural life. The contract allows you limited spectral apparition and matter manipulation. Audio manifestations are simpler, of course, but even they will wear you out for days at a time. Pace yourself, it doesn’t need to be Blitzkrieg.”

“What if he kills himself?”

“You won’t meet again, if that’s what you want to know- even with the necromancy charge your both going to different places.”

The state of her clothes, the bruises under her eyes, the violence done to her in life was like a ghost light.

“Thank you, Mr. D.”

I couldn’t smile, it seemed obscene with her corpse still under my nose.

“Your welcome.”