If you are referring to the death spells taking life when someone has absorb on then yes it works like that. Absorb is a cushion to damage inflicted on your character, the spells in death bypass this by siphoning your life directly; so absorb doesn't come into play since there is no bodily damage. The only way to lessen the amount taken from death spells is via a death or tower shield or the resist you may have due to casting or personal gear.
