Of Demons and Reapers

Chapter 5:Skeletons in the Coffin

A few months had gone by since the two had taken up residence at the undertaker's shop. The first day was interesting to say the least. After they had walked in they were greeted by Adrian dancing around with a skeleton. Needless to say they both thought of high tailing it back to the forest at that point. When he saw them though he busted out laughing and doubled over he was laughing so hard. So obviously this guy had a thing for practical jokes and seeing peoples' reactions. He led them upstairs where he lived and let them both take a bath to clean up. "You work for me now" he had said " And I can't have you looking bad when I have people come in now can I?" He went and got them some clothes he had laying around for his other "guests". They both had asked to have some pants and shirts instead of dresses. He agreed but told them when they helped at the churches they would need to wear the dresses. "I don't honestly care if you want to dress like a man. However, when we are away from the shop it's a dress for you both. Most women in this country aren't as daring as you seem to be in the states." Adrian said with a grin on his face. "Now clean up and come back down when you're done."

They had done as he asked and changed into their new clothes. They even had new boots that looked nice and not worn out and dirty. After having washed up in a tub for a change, they felt much more refreshed. Their hair was clean and their skin seemed to glow now that they could get all the dirt off since they had soap. After going downstairs they called out to Adrian. He told them he would be out in a minute and to wait in the main room. They looked around the saw all the dust and dirt in the shop. He did have windows in the shop, but he kept them covered up. No doubt to add to the creepy effect and scare people. After looking around, Ariel's eyes landed on the coffins. She ran her fingers along the cover of a deep cherry wood coffin. The side was engraved with beautiful carvings and stained a lighter shade of white for contrast. Opening the coffin, she hoped there was no one already occupying it. To her great fortune, there wasn't. She looked inside and saw the inside was covered in a beautiful lilac purple silk and a white pillow.

A smile graced her face as she said, "Ok Lizzie, I've got to hand it to him. He may be crazy as all hell, but he makes a damn good coffin." "Why thank you little one. I must say that one there is one of my favorites." Spinning around rather quickly, she found Adrian behind her with that damn grin of his plastered on his face. "So I take it you have found your new bed then? I must say it is a rather good choice. It even seems to suite you in a way." He said coming closer and closing the lid over it. "Yes I suppose I have found my new bed." She said blushing slightly as she avoided looking at him. He really did have the worst habit of making her do that. She could hear Lizzie giggling and looked over at her glaring slightly. It only made her giggle harder. She wasn't laughing on the outside though, she was using their link. "I'm glad you find this so amusing my dear Liz. Now shut it before you accidentally end up in a coffin that's already occupied." The laughing stopped immediately and she turned back around to look for her new bed. She did however keep the smile on her face.

After that fun little episode, Adrian showed them where the flower room was so they could make the arrangements. Unfortunately the cleaning supplies were in the autopsy room, but they were close to the door so it wasn't bad if they just kept their heads down. As the days went on they grew into a rhythm with each other. They had moved their coffins into their own rooms since the upstairs had enough space for a small family to live in. The friends would be the first ones up and Lizzie would clean up the table in the kitchen while Ariel cooked breakfast. Just as the food would be done, Adrian would walk in and eat before heading down to start his work. They would clean up then head down to start their own work. Ariel would start cleaning and dusting the main room. She had opened up the windows as well to let more light in. Adrian hadn't been happy about it at first since he lost his fun when people first walked in, Ariel basically told him to suck it up though since they couldn't work without light. Lizzie would start arranging the flowers as the family had asked, or if they didn't what she thought would be nice. She would then join Ariel with the cleaning in the main room. One thing they had been told when they had first come was that when a client was here they were to help with the arranging of the funeral and that when clients were around they were to call him Mr. Crow. "Only a small handful of people know my first name, and that is how I'd like it to stay. If you ever meet anyone who knows my real name, come and get me immediately; and then go upstairs and wait until I say it is safe to come back down." He had told them. "What do you mean wait upstairs until it is safe? Why wouldn't it be safe?" Ariel had asked him. He looked at her with the most serious face she had ever seen on him. He began to reach out and touch her cheek as he said "Just come get me and then go upstairsc6, I know it seems weird but just trust me on this."