Too or Two Undead?

Lily's heart was pounding as she looked up at Lucian. For a moment, she was lost in his eyes, feeling a pull toward him that she couldn't resist. She leaned in and pressed her lips to his this time, feeling a jolt of electricity shoot through her body.

Lucian responded with a hunger that surprised her, his hands sliding down to her waist and pulling her closer. Lily's hands tangled in his hair, deepening the kiss as they lost themselves in the moment.

But Lucian suddenly pulled away, leaving Lily feeling confused and hurt. She looked up at him, searching for answers in his eyes.

Lily saw the look in his eyes change. His expression turned cold, and his body language became guarded. It was like he had put up a wall between them, cutting off any emotional connection they had shared.

"What's wrong?" she asked, disappointment mixed with confusion etched on her face.

Lucian took a step back, his eyes dark and unreadable. "This can't happen again," he said in a low voice. "We can't cross that line, Lily."

Lily's heart ached as she heard the coldness in his voice. "Why not?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Lucian's eyes darkened, and for a moment, Lily saw something flicker in them. Something that made her feel both scared and excited.

"I can't explain it right now," he said, his voice distant. "But I need you to stay away from me, Lily. It's for your own safety."

"I don't understand," she said, her voice shaking. "What's so dangerous about us being together?"

Lucian didn't respond and kept his silence.

Lily felt a wave of disappointment wash over her. She had felt such a strong connection with Lucian, such a magnetic pull that she couldn't explain. And now, it seemed that he was pushing her away for reasons that she couldn't understand.

Had she done something wrong? Was Lucian playing with her emotions?

She decided to focus on her work, trying to keep her mind off of the kiss and the way Lucian had acted afterward. Some time while she was working, Lucian had left the room and she wasn't sure whether he would come back. As she worked, memories of her life before becoming a mortician flooded her mind.

She had always been interested in death and the afterlife, and had studied mortuary science in college. After graduation, she started her own funeral business, hoping to offer a unique and personalized approach to end-of-life services.

But despite her best efforts, the business failed. The overhead costs were too high, and there just wasn't enough demand for the kind of services she wanted to offer.

Lily's relationship with her family also suffered because of her career choice. They didn't understand her fascination with death, and often pressured her to choose a more traditional profession.

But Lily didn't let their disapproval hold her back. She loved her work, and found solace in helping families find closure after a loved one had passed away.

As she was working, she heard footsteps approaching the door. She felt a sudden relief. Assuming it was Lucian, she looked up, only to be met with a stranger's piercing gaze.

It wasn't Lucian. Instead, it was a tall, light-haired stranger.

He was a striking figure, with a commanding presence that filled the room. He had sharp, chiseled features and piercing bright blue eyes that seemed to see right through you. His hair was silver blond and styled neatly, giving him an air of both sophistication and danger.

He was dressed in a sleek black suit that hugged his muscular frame, and his movements were smooth and precise, like a predator stalking its prey.

"Who are you?" Lily asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

The man's lips curled into a small smile. "My name is Nikolai," he said, his voice low and smooth. "I'm a friend of Lucian's."

Lily's heart skipped a beat. She had never heard of Nikolai before, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about him.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, eyeing him warily.

Nikolai shrugged nonchalantly. "Just passing through," he said. "I have some business with Lucian."

Just then, the door opened and Lucian walked in. 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. His eyes narrowed, and Lily could see the tension in his body.

"Nikolai," Lucian said, his voice cold and hard.

Nikolai's eyes scanned the room, taking in the sight of the mutilated bodies. His expression turned stern when he looked at Lucian and he spoke in a low, almost menacing voice.

"I heard rumors of a rampage in this area," he said, his tone laced with warning. "I came to see for myself."

Lucian's demeanor changed at once, his body tense as he realized the gravity of the situation. "It's true," he said, his voice heavy. "There's been an attack."

Nikolai's gaze flickered to Lily, who felt a shiver run down her spine. She sensed that there was something different about him, something that set him apart from Lucian.

Nikolai turned his attention back to Lucian. "I assume you have taken the necessary precautions to protect the....residents in this area," he said, his voice calm but firm.

Lucian nodded. "Of course."

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 sinister.

Nikolai's gaze shifted back to Lily, and she felt a jolt of fear run through her. His eyes seemed to penetrate her very soul, as if he could see all her secrets and hidden desires.

"She's different," Nikolai said, his voice low. "I can sense it."

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

Nikolai's lips curved into a sinister smile. "Are you sure about that?" he asked, his eyes gleaming.

Lily felt a wave of confusion wash over her. What did Nikolai mean? Was there something special about her that she didn't know?

Before she could ask, Lucian turned to Nikolai with a fierce expression. "Is there anything else, Nikolai?" he asked, his voice sharp.

Nikolai's smile disappeared as he turned his attention back to Lucian. "No, that's all. For now," he said, his voice betraying nothing.

Lily watched as Nikolai turned to leave, but then paused and turned back to face them. "And as for you," he said, looking directly at Lily, "be careful who you trust. Not everyone is what they seem. " His tone was laced with warning.

"I will be seeing you again", he said before disappearing into the darkness, his black coat billowing behind him. She couldn't shake the feeling that he had come for more than just a casual visit.

Lily felt a shiver run down her spine as Nikolai's words sunk in. Who was he warning her about? And why did he seem to know so much about the situation?

She turned to Lucian, her mind reeling from the encounter. "What was that all about?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"You should go home," he said, his voice quiet. "It's not safe for you to be here."

"Who was that really?" she persisted.

Lucian's expression was tight-lipped. "Just an acquaintance," he said evasively.

But Lily could tell there was more to the story. She had sensed a deep animosity between Lucian and Nikolai, and she was determined to uncover the truth.

"Let me walk you home," he offered, his voice soft.

Lily looked up at him, grateful for the offer. "Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll just finish up before we go".

He nodded quietly and stayed in the room with her like a guard.

After covering the corpses, they headed out.

As they made their way out of the alley, Lily couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered within her. She had always known that there was something strange about the world she lived in, but now she realized that there was much more to it than she had ever imagined.

Lucian remained silent, his eyes scanning their surroundings for any sign of danger as they walked through the dark and deserted streets. Lily couldn't help but feel safe in his presence, as if nothing could harm her as long as he was there.

As they approached her apartment, Lucian stopped and turned to face her. "Be careful, Lily," he said, his voice serious. "I know you're curious, but sometimes it's better not to know too much."

Lily looked up at him, a sudden determination in her eyes. "I need to know," she said firmly. "Whatever is going on, I want to be a part of it."

Lily could tell that Lucian was hesitant to reveal more information about Nikolai and the dangerous world they seemed to be a part of. She felt a mixture of curiosity and fear, unsure if she really wanted to know more.

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

Lily bit her lip, feeling a surge of frustration. She had always felt like an outsider in the world, never quite fitting in with the mundane and ordinary. Now, she felt like she had stumbled upon something mysterious and thrilling, and she couldn't just walk away from it.

"I can't just ignore this," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "I need to know more about what's going on."

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

Lily nodded, feeling a mix of gratitude and frustration. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story, that Lucian was keeping something from her. But for now, she had to trust him and focus on being safe.

As they reached the entrance to her apartment building, Lucian turned to face her. "Be careful, Lily," he said again, his voice grave. "And if you ever feel like you're in danger, call me. I'll come for you."

Lily nodded, feeling a sense of comfort in his words. She watched as he turned and walked away, disappearing into the darkness of the night. As she entered her apartment, she couldn't help but wonder what secrets Lucian was keeping from her, and what kind of danger she had stumbled into.

Lily cautiously entered her apartment. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She slowly made her way to the living room and flicked on the lights, and to her surprise, she found her best friend, Samantha, sitting on her couch.

"Sam? What are you doing here?" Lily exclaimed, a mixture of shock and confusion on her face.

She stood up and gave her a big hug. "Surprise! I just got back from my trip and wanted to surprise you."

Lily couldn't believe it. "Wow, I can't believe you're here! How long are you staying?"

"Just a few days, unfortunately. I have to head back to work soon," Sam replied, a hint of sadness in her voice.

As they caught up on each other's lives, Lily couldn't help but notice that there was something different about her best friend. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but there was something in her eyes that seemed... unusual. However, the excitement of seeing her best friend after so long quickly pushed the thought to the back of her mind, and they continued to chat late into the night.

***You can read the next chapters in the Dreame platform through this link:

https://www.dreame.com/story/1445353728-the-undead-s-personal-mortician***