Chapter Two

Hallis

Lilah stands tall—belying her short stature—and doesn't hide how openly resigned she is to her fate as hostess to the recent and not-so-recently deceased that make their way into The Ferryman. She never looks at anyone too long as we pour into the bar, yet when her eyes fall on me they hold and my skin tightens in longing at her attention.

Every night she's here, waiting on those of us who are ready to move on, but are thirsty for one final moment on this plane, alongside the many that just aren't ready—or cannot pay the fee—for what comes next? .

He makes us feel like we've got a choice, but in the end, he ushers every one of us over, eventually. In some instances, his brother appears to coerce those of us who have overstayed the grace period given.

I was ready. One last drink and then I'd be on my way to whatever came next, until my eyes landed on her. In that moment, it felt as though a tether formed and I could no longer move past the icy grey eyes and down-turned, full lips that beg to be… worshiped.

I no longer cared about what came next , all I wanted was Lilah. I worry that I'll leave without ever confronting this unexplainable draw I have towards her.

"Are you going to talk to her or just haunt her for the rest of your afterlife?" Alouette asks as she slides into the booth next to me. I tap her glass with mine and take a drink, purposely avoiding her question.

"He's watching you again." I respond instead. She scoffs and throws back the entirety of her drink, slamming the glass on the table, then sitting back and crossing her arms across her chest.

"He can look all he wants, but he knows I won't give him a shred of my attention until he tells me why he refuses to let me through," she grumbles.

Alouette has been coming to The Ferryman far longer than most, and no matter how many times she has tried to walk through that which allows any and all of us to cross over into the next , she cannot. She has even begged Boss's brother, who ignored her with one look from Boss. It's as if she's barred from leaving. The only one who would know for certain or even have that kind of power is the one attempting to pin her down with a stare that would cause anyone else to crumble under debilitating fear.

Lilah appears at our table, taking Alouette's empty glass and replacing it with one filled to the brim. Alouette raises the glass, some of the amber liquid sloshing over the rim, in a toast towards Lilah before downing the entire thing. They have a silent connection, the closest thing to a friendship I've seen for either one of them in a place that is essentially a revolving door between the living and the not.

Lilah turns towards me and I get lost in the cool fog of her eyes. Resting my elbows on the table, that invisible tether pulling me subconsciously forward. My unbeating heart jolts when I see a twitch at the corner of her mouth. I crave her rare smiles.

"Hallis, can I get you anything?"

You.

Lilah's brows raise and beside me Alouette snorts, "‘Bout time, Hal." Belatedly, I realize I said it out loud. I mumble an apology at the same time Alouette speaks up, "We may be dead, but we aren't dead ," and winks at Lilah.

I see the corner of Lilah's mouth twitch again, causing something warm to rush through me. An uncomfortable feeling for one who no longer has a pulse, and if I did I am certain my chest would explode with what she makes me feel.

"Well, I'm out," Alouette proclaims. "Hallis, try to rein in those heart eyes, yeah?" She slides back out of the booth, resting a hand briefly on Lilah's shoulder while placing a quick kiss to her cheek. She then walks out, flipping Boss off as she goes.