Quinn bared his teeth in a snarl. “They don’t deserve the honor of that name.”
“I realize that. However, we don’t know why they betrayed their own and…” I took in a long breath. This fact wasn’t easy to think about, let alone say out loud. “They’re some of the last of our kind alive. If they enter this room, they’ll attack me and Rowan. We may have to kill them. I simply can’t destroy so many without giving them a chance.”
“At what?” asked Quinn. “Delivering you into a quicker death?”
“I need you to possess them.”
Quinn lifted his chin. There was no mistaking the interest in his ghostly eyes. “I can wipe out their souls?”
“No, I’m asking for a partial possession only. I need you to stop them from doing anything to harm us or others. Once Rowan and I defeat the Vicomte, then we can see how many of them wish to return to the true Necromancer life.”
Quinn’s mouth thinned to an angry line. “Do you have any idea how much power that takes for us to do?”
“I’m aware.” My voice was pleading. It wasn’t the Necromancer way, but I couldn’t help it.
Quinn stepped closer. I’d forgotten how tall and lanky he was in real life. “Never!”
Here was where my Necromancer training could have kept me calm and organized. I should be able to control my emotions and convince Quinn to help. Instead, his response set my soul burning with white-hot rage. “How dare you!” I poked him in his transparent chest. “I was there when the Tsar took power. You betrayed everyone you knew in order to join his entourage. By the gods, you even betrayed me! You and Tristan left me to bear the brunt of a curse that should have been yours alone.”
Quinn looked away. His skin was too transparent to be sure, yet I thought I saw the twinge of color in his cheeks. Serves him right. “That was Tristan’s idea. I had a hard choice ahead of me.”
“Precisely. Now, who’s to say that the mages coming here didn’t have their own hard choices? When someone like the Tsar comes to power, it’s easy to make mistakes.” I scanned the faces of as many ghosts as I could. “We’re all still Necromancers, aren’t we? Controlling our emotions makes us who we are. I’m asking you to control your anger and resentment. I know possession is hard for you, but wouldn’t it be worth it if you could help save our way of life?”
Some of the ghosts shifted uneasily. I could tell I was wearing them down.
Quinn stared guiltily at the floor. “What do you want, precisely?”
“Six volunteers to partially possess these Fantomes. They can’t remember finding me on this property. They must have their memories erased and then return to their service to the Vicomte.”
“And then?” Quinn kicked at the floor with his ghostly boot.
“I need you to poke around in their minds. See which of them may be open to returning to our true Necromancer ways. Once I defeat the Vicomte, I’ll need to send those with a chance at redemption to visit the Zelle Cloister. The Sisters there will rehabilitate anyone, so long as they undergo a compulsion spell against causing others harm.”
Rowan stepped forward. “And if any are deemed unwilling to change, then I will take care of them.”
“Partial possession.” Quinn shook his head. “That’s a massive amount of effort.”
Rowan shot me a sideways look. He didn’t say a word. Even so, I knew what he was thinking. He agreed with Quinn.
“There are thousands of you. I only need six volunteers.”
Quinn sniffed. “Well, I won’t do it.” He turned to face the crowd. “Anyone else want more pain than they’ve ever felt before? And all just to spare the useless lives of these murderers?”
Frustration tightened up my neck and shoulders. Ghosts were hard enough to convince. But after a speech like Quinn’s? It wasn’t looking good. I slowly scanned the crowd of ghosts. None came forward.
Quinn swung around to face me. “Looks like you’ll have to kill them after all.” He looked down his scarred nose at me. “Our way of life is over. Accept this. The sooner you join us in the Eternal Lands of the Sire of Souls, the better. That’s the only place where true Necromancy will survive.” Turning on his heel, he strode off into the wall of ashes.
For a moment, the ghostly crowd kept up their steady stare. Rage was written into the lines of all their glowing faces. I sighed. Why did I think I could talk them into helping? A second later, all the ghosts disappeared. The room felt emptier than ever. My hope was gone as well.
The pounding at the door turned to an ear-shattering level. It wouldn’t be long now.
Rowan stepped up behind me. When he spoke, his voice was both deep and gentle. “They’re almost here. What’s your plan?” He didn’t need to say the words. I knew what he was asking.
Are we killing your fellow mages?
I pressed the tips of my fingers into my temples. If I could wipe this thought out of my mind, I would. But I’d done my best. There was nothing else for it.