The Undead's Personal Mortician

Lily's footsteps echoed in the cavernous lobby, the click of her heels on marble seeming oddly loud in the hushed space. She had never been to this part of the city before, and she couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. The building was tall and imposing, with glass walls that reflected the sunlight and made her feel exposed. She approached the sleek desk, steeling herself before addressing the receptionist. "Can I help you?" the receptionist asked, looking up from her computer. "I'm here to see Mr. Stone." The receptionist raised an eyebrow. "Do you have an appointment?" Lily shook her head. "No, but he made a request for me to prepare a body for a private viewing." The receptionist looked at her skeptically, but then her well-manicured fingers clacked over the keyboard. After a pause, she nodded toward the elevator bank. "20th floor. End of the hall." She nodded her thanks and made her way to the elevator. She pressed the button for the 20th floor. She suppressed a shiver as she waited for the elevator. Everything about this encounter already felt off, sending her instincts into high alert. The doors slid open and she stepped in, punching the button for the 20th floor. As the elevator ascended, she couldn't help but wonder who this Mr. Lucian Stone was and why he had requested her specifically. She was a mortician, after all - it wasn't often that she got requests for private viewings. The ride up was interminable, the mirrored walls reflecting her uneasy expression back at herself. Lily straightened, willing an impassive mask into place. Whatever awaited upstairs, she couldn't reveal her trepidation. The doors opened with a soft chime and Lily stepped out, her low heels sinking into plush carpet. The hallway was hushed, lined with imposing wooden doors spaced well apart. Reaching the end, she gave three sharp raps. "Come in." The voice was smooth, with an undertone of command that raised the hairs on Lily's neck. Lily took a deep breath and turned the knob and the heavy door swung inward, revealing an office that stole her breath. The walls were made of polished marble, and the floor was covered in a plush white carpet. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a staggering view of the city's skyline. Everything about the space screamed old-world luxury, from the ornate mahogany furnishings to the original oil paintings gracing the walls. The large wooden desk in the center of the room was cluttered with papers and files, but there was a certain method to the madness. On one side of the room, there was a small seating area with a comfortable-looking sofa and armchair. Lily couldn't help but notice that there were no personal photos or decorations anywhere in the room. It was as if the occupant was a machine, focused solely on his work and nothing else. Despite the luxurious surroundings, there was something cold and sterile about the room. It was as if no one had ever really stayed in it, as if it was just a facade designed to impress visitors. Lily couldn't help but wonder what kind of person Mr. Stone was to have such an impersonal space as his workplace. Behind the massive desk sat a man who could only be Lucian Stone. The view was breathtaking, but it was clear that the office owner was more interested in his work than the scenery outside. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with jet-black hair that was slicked back. He stood, buttoning his suit jacket with languid precision. Lily judged him to be in his 30s, with classically handsome features and piercing blue-green eyes that tracked her every movement. "Ms. Greenwater, I presume?" His voice was like velvet wrapped around a blade. Lily had to suppress a shiver. "Yes. You requested my...professional services?" She cursed internally as her voice wavered. Lucian's mouth curved into a knowing smile. Lily felt a shiver run down her spine as he approached her. There was something about him that was both captivating and unsettling. "I'm Lucian Stone," he said, holding out his hand. Lily hesitated for a moment, but then took his hand. His grip was strong, but his touch was cold. "It's nice to meet you," she said, trying to ignore the chill that ran down her arm. "I'm afraid I have a rather unusual request," Lucian said. Lily frowned. "What kind of request?" "I want you to prepare the body for private viewing. Now," Lucian said, his eyes fixed on hers. With a slight inclination of his head, he gestured to the shrouded figure tucked discreetly in the office's corner. A narrow bed was pushed against the wall, and a white sheet was draped over something that looked like a body. Her heart raced as she realized what he had just said. She moved toward it on leaden feet, adrenaline spiking. This was highly irregular, but morbid curiosity compelled her forward. Her eyes darted at Lucian's broad back. She tried to compose herself. "I wasn't informed about it being done in an office. With an audience. " "Yes, I know, but I need it prepared for private viewing now". Lily's eyes flickered toward the shrouded body again, and she couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine. She had dealt with dead bodies before, but never in such an unusual setting. She wondered what kind of person Lucian was to have a corpse in his office. She pulled back the sheet with trembling fingers, breath catching at the sight of a body drained and marked by peculiar punctures. Temporary shock rooted her in place as unease slithered up her spine. "What happened to him?" she asked, her heart racing. Mr. Stone's voice was suddenly close behind her. "He was attacked by an animal. We want to make sure he looks presentable for the viewing." Lily turned to find him studying her intently. Lucian looked at her with a calm expression. She had the uncanny sense that he was looking through her, measuring her worth. She swallowed hard. There was something about Lucian's demeanor that made her uneasy, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. "Of course," she managed. "Though this is...unconventional." Amusement flickered in Mr. Stone's eyes, though it didn't reach his mouth. "I have every confidence in your abilities, Ms. Greenwater." His tone brooked no argument. Lily steeled herself and reached for her tools. As she worked, she felt the weight of Mr. Stone's gaze, prickling her skin. She had the sense of teetering on a knife's edge, though she could not yet grasp the danger. All she knew was that accepting this job might have been a grave mistake. She tried to focus on her task, but she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something strange about this man and the body she was preparing. Lily concentrated on preparing the body, trying to ignore Mr. Stone's intense blue-green eyes following her every move. She worked methodically, pushing down her unease. She wondered how a man like him could be involved in something so gruesome. His demeanor was cool and collected, almost as if he was used to dealing with death. His silence unnerved her even more, despite the fact that she was used to working on dead bodies alone in her private mortuary. She denied that his strong presence and attractiveness were affecting her so much. "Tell me about yourself, Ms. Greenwater," he said suddenly, breaking the tense silence. Lily glanced up briefly. "There's not much to tell," she replied evenly. Mr. Stone leaned against the wall casually, though his penetrating eyes never left her face. "Come now, a woman as intriguing as you must have dreams beyond this morbid profession." Lily hesitated, wary of revealing anything too personal. Yet she found herself saying, "I've always wanted to travel the world and experience new things." Mr. Stone nodded. "I can understand that desire. I've been alive a long time and have seen more of this world than most ever will. Yet there are still realms left unexplored." His words sparked Lily's curiosity, but she remained cautious. There was something about the way he said that he had been alive for a very long time. However, she didn't ask about it. As she worked, her eyes caught on an odd symbol etched into Mr. Stone's hand. When she stared too long, he quickly hid his hand from view. "A family crest," he explained smoothly. "Nothing significant." Lily simply nodded and continued her task, a dozen questions on her tongue. The body's unusual puncture marks and blood loss nagged at her, but she wouldn't dare voice her suspicions about Mr. Stone's motives. As Lily worked methodically on preparing the body, she felt Mr. Stone's piercing gaze following her every move. When she accidentally brushed his hand reaching for her tools, a jolt of electricity passed between them. "My apologies, Mr. Stone," Lily murmured, a flush rising to her cheeks. "Please, call me Lucian," he replied smoothly, his intense eyes sparked with amusement. Lily avoided his gaze, focusing on her task. She knew that she should stay away from Lucian. She didn't know him and he might be dangerous, but for some reason, she couldn't resist him. She remained hyperaware of Lucian's presence as he observed her work. She took in the details of his sleek, sterile office, wondering what kind of man could spend his days in such an impersonal space. Glancing occasionally at Lucian, she noted his imposing stature, jet-black hair, and sharp aristocratic features. He possessed an undeniable magnetism that seemed to draw her in, even as her instincts whispered words of caution. As the hour grew late, Lily put the finishing touches on preparing the body. Finally, Lucian stepped close, inspecting her work with a critical eye. Lily held her breath nervously as those piercing eyes scanned the corpse before finally rising to meet her own gaze. Being in such sudden close proximity made her pulse quicken despite herself. Lucian seemed to notice, a hint of a smile playing about his lips. "Excellent work, Ms. Greenwater," he praised, his voice a low rumble that sent a shiver down her spine. The praise sent an odd thrill through her. Their eyes caught and held for a long moment, an unspoken tension building in the air. Lily murmured her thanks, unsettled by her own reaction to his nearness. As they discussed potential future work together, she felt inexorably drawn to this dangerous, mysterious man - tempted by the darkness that lurked beneath his refined surface. "I could use someone with your unique talents, Lily," Lucian continued, gazing intently into her eyes. "Should you desire a more permanent position." "I'm in need of a personal mortician to take care of my...personal affairs. And I think you would be the perfect candidate." The use of her first name, so intimate, caught her off guard. Lily knew accepting his offer would be risky, yet she found herself unable to refuse this man who seemed to see into the very depths of her soul. She was taken aback by his offer. She had never heard of a personal mortician before. "What does the job entail?" she asked, curiosity getting the best of her. "It means taking care of my affairs. Like this," Lucian said, his eyes piercing hers as he gestured toward the dead body behind her. "And ensuring that their...condition remains concealed." Lily couldn't help but feel a sense of unease at his words. "What condition?" she asked, her curiosity turned to fear. Lucian hesitated for a moment, as if considering whether to tell her. "Unusual ones," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. Lily's eyes widened a little. "Unusual?" she repeated, her mind struggling to process the information. "Yes," Lucian said, taking a step closer to her. "And I need someone I can trust to take care of these unusual affairs." Lily could feel the magnetic attraction between them growing stronger by the second. Then, she tried to focus on his offer. She felt a little fear and hesitation but she thought about reviving her desperate situation. "Yes," she found herself saying, her fate sealed in that simple word. Lucian's eyes glinted with satisfaction as he grasped her hand in his elegant, long-fingered own. "Welcome to my world," he all but purred, raising her hand to brush a feather-light kiss over her knuckles. Lily suppressed a tremor at the contact, acutely aware of the precipice she now teetered upon. It was as if her world was spinning so fast and she couldn't slow it down like what was happening now. As she left the office, it felt too late to turn back now...the choice had been made. She had stepped willingly into Lucian's darkness. What that would mean for her future, she did not yet know.