Cyril sounded desperate, and Vale felt very much the same.His worst nightmare was something happening to Cyril and him being unable to do anything to help him.He supposed that was a bit like how Cyril felt when he had his nightmares.He didn’t care about the people he saw, but he’d always been more empathetic than Vale.
“You said that you saw Marcus and Diana’s deaths,” Iris said instead of answering Cyril’s question.“Tell me what you saw.”
“In the dream, I was them.Like I said, it wasn’t the first time that’s happened.I hate dreaming that I’m someone else because I know how it’s going to end.It’s also confusing because most of the time, I don’t know who I am.I have to find clues around me, but I’m limited to what the person’s seeing.I recognized Marcus because of a tattoo on his hand, and Diana, well, I’d read her email the night before.I looked at her website, and I saw a picture of her.”
“So you’re them.You die with them.”
“I wouldn’t say that, but yes, I’m them.I can’t do anything to change what’s happening.I don’t have any control.I don’t know if the killer was the same both times, but I suspect that he was.”
“He?”
“I can’t be sure with Marcus, but the man talked to Diana.He sounded young.”
“That’s good to know.What did he say?”
Cyril frowned.“Something about killing Diana to protect people and as an act of mercy.I don’t know if he truly believes that, but he sounded like he did.”
Iris briefly closed her eyes.That one gesture told Vale that she knew what was going on.Vale didn’t want to threaten an old lady, but he really hoped that Iris would tell them what she knew because otherwise, he would have to.Cyril would be horrified, but Vale didn’t care.Cyril was his priority.
Keeping Cyril alive was what mattered most to Vale.He didn’t want to lose his boyfriend, but he was willing to risk it if it meant making sure nothing happened to him.
* * * *
TALKING TO IRIS WASfrustrating.Cyril wanted her to tell him what was going on without having to guess or push her, but it was clear that she was keeping a lot of secrets.He wanted to outright ask her what she was talking about, but he suspected she wouldn’t answer until she was ready.It made Cyril want to scream, but he was pretty sure that Vale would freak out if he did, so he pressed his lips together and gave Iris whatever time she needed.He was here to get answers, and hewouldget them.He’d invite himself to stay for dinner if he had to.
“Do you know anything about the Threshold?”Iris asked.
Cyril blinked.He’d heard about it, but that was only because he was well read, especially when it came to his ability.Books had been his teachers, but sometimes, it was hard to find the information he was looking for.“I know it has to do with death, but that’s about it.”
Iris watched Cyril for a moment.Cyril wasn’t sure what to make of her.She looked like a nice lady, and she was, but she was also a powerful necromancer.He was in awe as much as he was frustrated.
“You didn’t have a teacher, did you?”Iris asked.
“Not when it comes to necromancy.A few people tried, but I was stronger than them.There was only so much they could do.”
“I see.It’s good that you at least know what we’re talking about, though.Yes, the Threshold has to do with death.It’s what stands between death and life.It’s what we defy every time we use our ability.Most of the time, it’s not a problem.There’s a delicate balance between death and necromancy.Most necromancers aren’t strong enough to permanently reanimate anyone.The few that are know better than to abuse that power, or at least, they usually do.But our abilities are always changing.It’s like a muscle.The more we use it, the stronger it becomes.”
Cyril swallowed.He’d been using his necromancy a lot.He’d definitely been using his necromancy more since he’d met Vale, although that had nothing to do with him.
“Your connection to death is deepening.That’s why you could manipulate an entire cemetery of dead bodies and why you see death as it’s happening now.That connection is strengthening, but I have to warn you that most people who approach the Threshold between life and death either die or go mad.It’s not something our human mind was designed to deal with.I’m sad that Marcus and Diana have been killed, but I suspect they would’ve died even if they hadn’t been.I’ve only met a few people who were able to withstand getting close to the Threshold, and I don’t think Marcus and Diana would’ve been able to.”
Cyril didn’t like where this was going.It sounded suspiciously like Iris was telling him that he was going to die, too.
He had no intentions of doing so.
“There have to be necromancers who have survived this,” he said.“I can’t believe that no one has.”He was ignoring the going mad part of Iris’s explanation.He didn’t want to know if he was going to go mad.For now, death was the most important part to avoid.
Iris pushed herself out of her armchair.She didn’t say anything, and Cyril watched her move towards the bookshelves on the wall.She reached for one without hesitation, sliding it out and bringing it back with her as she sat back into the armchair.She placed the book in her lap, and Cyril realized it wasn’t a book, but rather, something like a diary.He could see someone’s handwriting on the cover.
“This is one of my journals,” Iris said.“In it, there’s a list of the necromancers I for sure know have come close to the Threshold.I haven’t added Marcus and Diana to it because they weren’t that close yet, but I would have in time.”She tapped her fingers on the cover.“There are sixteen names on it, seventeen now that I’ll be adding yours.”
Cyril wasn’t sure he liked the thought of being added to the list.Something told him it wasn’t a happy list.
“Of those seventeen people, fourteen are dead,” Iris added, confirming Cyril’s suspicion.
It definitely wasn’t a happy list.
Cyril’s head spun.He had many questions, but he wasn’t quite sure where to start.“That means that three are alive,” he said.
