The Undead's Personal Mortician

Too or Two Undead?

Lily felt a wave of disappointment wash over her after Lucian's abrupt departure. She had felt such a strong connection with him, an unexplained magnetic pull. And now he seemed to be pushing her away for mysterious reasons.

Trying not to obsess over the confusing kiss and interaction, Lily focused on tending to the bodies, remembering how she had gotten into this work...

As she finished her duties some time later, Lily heard footsteps and assumed Lucian had returned. She looked up eagerly, only to be met by the icy blue eyes of a tall, handsome stranger with neat silver blond hair - definitely not Lucian.

The man was strikingly attractive, with sharp, chiseled features and a lean yet muscular physique beneath an expensively tailored black coat. He carried himself with predatory grace as he slowly circled the room, keen eyes studying everything.

"Who are you?" Lily asked anxiously, trying to hide the trembling in her voice.

The stranger graced her with a charming yet somewhat icy smile. "We haven't been properly introduced, have we? I'm Nikolai, a.... ...friend of Lucian's," he said, his voice flowing smoothly and carrying a captivating, exotic accent. She couldn't help but notice the momentary pause that accompanied his claim of friendship with Lucian.

Nikolai drew closer and Lily felt her pulse involuntarily quicken under his intense scrutiny. His penetrating blue gaze seemed to peel back her surface layers to peruse the secrets within. Faint lines around his eyes were the only clues that he was older than his youthful appearance suggested.

Up this near, Lily noticed with uneasy fascination that Nikolai's flawless skin seemed to almost glow with an inner radiance reminiscent of fine alabaster or pearl. The breathtaking effect was only amplified by his neatly coiffed silver blond hair, which shone as if wove through with gossamer moonbeam strands.

An intoxicating scent enveloped her as well - crisp and cool like a pine forest at winter twilight, yet underscoring that was a warm, heady aroma reminiscent of cloved smoke or aged brandy. Lily felt hypnotized, pinned in place by Nikolai's paralyzing aura of otherworldly beauty and intensity...

Nikolai's sharp gaze swept over the bodies clinically. "I see you have your hands full. My condolences for this tragic incident." His tone betrayed no sincerity.

Lily shuddered under his scrutiny. "What are you doing here?"

"I had business to discuss with Lucian. But I believe I've found what I was seeking." His intense stare seemed fixed on her now. Lily's pulse quickened uneasily.

Just then Lucian entered, his eyes narrowing when he saw Nikolai. Lily let out a small sigh of relief, grateful to have his familiar presence in the room.

But Lucian's expression changed as soon as he saw Nikolai. Lily could see the tension in his body. "What do you want, Nikolai?" he bit out harshly.

Nikolai calmly glanced over the corpses, then pierced Lucian with a hard look. "There have been attacks, as I presumed. Have you safeguarded the surrounding area properly?"

Lucian bristled at his demanding tone. "I have done as needed. The situation is handled."

Lily listened, eyes darting between them confusedly. Were they speaking in code about the deaths? And why the hostility simmering below the surface?

Nikolai's eyes narrowed. "You know the consequences of a breach in The Veil. The High Court will not tolerate such carelessness."

Lily listened intently, trying to make sense of the cryptic conversation. The mention of the Veil and the High Court made her realize that Nikolai was not an ordinary man, but something much more powerful.

Nikolai turned his penetrating gaze back on her then. She sensed that there was something different about him, something that set him apart from Lucian. His eyes seemed to penetrate her very soul as if he could see all her secrets and hidden desires.

"She is a fascinating creature." He smirked slightly. "I imagine you have all manner of questions brewing, my dear. In time, I may provide answers."

Lucian stepped in front of her, shielding her from Nikolai's gaze. "She's just a mortician," he said, his voice firm.

Nikolai's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Are you sure about that?" he asked, his eyes gleaming like shards of polished obsidian.

Lily, caught in the enigmatic web of his words, felt a wave of confusion wash over her. What did Nikolai mean? Was there something about her that she didn't know?

Before she could ask, the atmosphere crackled with tension as Lucian turned to Nikolai, a fierce expression etched on his features. "Is there anything else, Nikolai?" Lucian's voice cut through the charged air, sharp and commanding.

Nikolai's smile disappeared, his attention pivoting back to Lucian. "No, that's all. For now," he replied, his voice a well-guarded fortress betraying nothing.

Lily, caught in the silent exchange between the two, watched as Nikolai turned to leave. But just when it seemed his presence would fade into the shadows, he paused, a gust of uncertainty lingering in the air. He turned back to face them, his eyes piercing as he directed his words squarely at Lily. "And as for you," he said, his voice carrying a weight of caution, "be careful who you trust. Not everyone is what they seem."

His parting words hung in the air like an ominous melody, a warning echoing in the dimly lit space. "I will be seeing you again," he added, his figure disappearing into the encroaching darkness, his black coat billowing behind him like a cloak of mystery. Lily couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that Nikolai's visit transcended casual curiosity; there was an undercurrent of purpose that lingered, an unspoken agenda that left her on the edge of intrigue and apprehension.

A chill went through Lily as Nikolai's ominous words hung in the air. Who exactly was he warning her about? And how did he seem to know so much about her? Glancing at Lucian, she saw his jaw was tight, his body tense.

"What was that about?" she asked nervously. "Who is he?"

"No one of consequence," Lucian said dismissively, though his eyes remained hard. "Forget his theatrics."

Lily shook her head. "I can't just ignore how he looked at me, like he knew things about me?"

"You should go home, it's not safe here," was all Lucian said quietly, his eyes scanning their surroundings warily.

"Who was that, really?" Lily persisted. "There's some history between you two, isn't there?"

Lucian's expression was tight-lipped.

But Lily could tell there was more to the story. She had sensed a deep animosity churning beneath the surface during the tense exchange. And she was determined to uncover the truth about what was really going on.

"Let me walk you home," Lucian offered gently, breaking the uneasy silence hanging between them.

Lily nodded, relieved to accept his offer of security after the unnerving encounter. But she couldn't shake a growing feeling that Lucian was hiding things about himself and Nikolai had secrets about her. What were they not telling her?

After the grim work was done, Lucian walked her home through the darkened streets. Lily couldn’t shake the prickle on the back of her neck, like unseen eyes were following them. Lucian seemed alert too, discreetly scanning their surroundings.

He moved in silence, his eyes scanning the dim, deserted streets for any potential threat. As they walked through the shadows, Lily found solace in his presence, a sense of security that made her believe nothing could harm her as long as he was by her side.

Approaching her apartment, Lucian halted, turning to face her. "Be careful, Lily," he cautioned, his voice carrying a weight of seriousness. "I know you're curious, but sometimes it's better not to know too much."

Meeting his gaze, Lily felt a sudden surge of determination. "I need to know," she asserted firmly. "Whatever's going on, I want to be a part of it."

Lucian hesitated, a conflict evident in his eyes as he considered revealing more about Nikolai and the mysterious world they inhabited. Lily grappled with a mix of curiosity and fear, unsure if she truly wanted to uncover the hidden truths.

"I understand your curiosity, Lily," Lucian said, his tone measured. "But trust me, it's not safe for you to be involved. There are things that are better left unknown."

Frustration welled up within Lily. Always feeling like an outsider in the mundane world, stumbling upon something mysterious and thrilling was an opportunity she couldn't walk away from.

"I can't just ignore this," she admitted, her voice tinged with determination. "I need to know more about what's going on."

Lucian's expression remained stoic. "I can't tell you everything," he confessed. "But I promise to do everything in my power to keep you safe."

Nodding, Lily felt a blend of gratitude and frustration. The sense that Lucian harbored undisclosed information gnawed at her, but, for the moment, she chose to trust him and focus on her safety.

As they reached the entrance to her apartment building, Lucian faced her once more. "Be careful, Lily," he reiterated, his voice grave. "And if you ever feel in danger, call me. I'll come for you."

Lily nodded, finding reassurance in his words. She watched him disappear into the night, entering her apartment with a lingering curiosity about the secrets Lucian kept and the danger she had unwittingly stumbled into.

Safely back in her apartment, Lily sighed, emotionally drained. Why all this secrecy around Nikolai? What had he and Lucian meant about her being ‘different’? And what was the ‘Veil’ they had mentioned? Her tired mind struggled to make sense of it all.

Pouring a glass of wine to unwind, Lily nearly jumped from her skin when a floorboard creaked behind her. Whirling around, she found her best friend Sam standing there grinning.

“Sam! You nearly gave me a heart attack!” Lily exclaimed, hugging her tightly. “What are you doing here?”

Laughing, Sam explained she had just gotten back from a trip and wanted to surprise Lily with an impromptu visit. As they excitedly caught up, Lily noticed that there was something unusual lurking behind her friend’s eyes.

Sam had always been free-spirited and a bit bohemian compared to Lily’s more serious disposition. But the subtle oddness Lily sensed reminded her oddly of how Nikolai had stared at her back in the morgue. As if they could see right through her façade.

Brushing aside the unnerving sensation, Lily suggested opening another bottle of wine. It was wonderful to reconnect with her dear friend again. The mysteries of the day could wait. Tonight was for reminiscing and celebrating Sam’s return.

Over the next days, Lily became increasingly troubled by odd things surrounding Sam's visit. Her friend mysteriously seemed to know things she shouldn't, and made strange offhand remarks that raised the hairs on Lily's neck...

“I heard you’ve made an interesting new acquaintance,” Sam commented coyly when Lily returned from a quick grocery run. “Tell me about this Lucian...”

Lily nearly dropped her bag in shock. How could Sam know about Lucian? She tried to act casual, changing the subject to Sam’s travel stories, but her friend seemed to have insider knowledge of things no ordinary person could.

That night, Lily tossed and turned, wondering if she was losing her mind. Sam had been her closest confidante for years. Surely this was all in her head? But Lily’s intuition remained on high alert, convinced something wasn’t right.

The next morning, she decided to probe gently and find out what Sam was hiding. But when she emerged from her room, her friend was already bustling around the kitchen making pancakes.

“I have a little treat for us today!” Sam said brightly. “Chocolate chip pancakes with that strawberry syrup you love!”

Lily hesitated, taken aback by her cheeriness after days of subtly odd behavior. The aroma did smell incredible... Suddenly, all her suspicions seemed embarrassingly absurd. This was just Sam being her usual affectionate self.

Lily smiled back, pushing aside her misgivings. She was relieved when Sam didn’t mention anything further about Lucian over breakfast. By the time they had finished giggling themselves silly, Lily felt much more at ease.