Dark Clouds

By Natalie-Nicole Bates

Fallen spirit guide Lily-Rose has cocooned herself into an isolating, lonely life on earth. After a series of devastating incidents, she now prefers solitude to contact with others.

Her quiet existence is shattered when one night outside her home, Lily-Rose awakens to the sound of a horrible accident and finds a man near death. She offers comfort to the dying man before returning home.

Soon after, a knock at the door brings a surprise.

The dead man has somehow managed to follow her home!

Reed Thayer is dead and doesn't know it.

As Lily-Rose struggles with how to tell Reed about his new existence, her feelings for him continue to grow, and a relationship blooms. She knows nothing will ever be the same for them when he finally learns the truth, and that their newfound love may die when all is revealed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paperlate Press
• Release date: Sep 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223991632

Natalie-Nicole Bates

Natalie-Nicole Bates is a book reviewer and author. Her passions in life include books and hockey along with Victorian and Edwardian era photography and antique poison bottles. Natalie contributes her uncharacteristic love of hockey to being born in Russia. She currently resides in the UK where she is working on her next book and adding to her collection of 19th century post-mortem photos.    

Book preview

Natalie-Nicole Bates

Dark Clouds

Misty Lyric Series

First published by Paperlate Press 2023

Copyright © 2023 by Natalie-Nicole Bates

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

Natalie-Nicole Bates asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

Natalie-Nicole Bates has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.

First edition

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Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

About the Author

Also by Natalie-Nicole Bates

Chapter 1

Chapter Separator

Lily-Rose’s peaceful sleep was shattered by the sound of crunching metal and images of black smoke.

If she were conscious, the decision would be easy. She would shut out the world and stay in her comfortable bed.

It wasn’t her job anymore to worry about the welfare of people in trouble. As it was now, she still went above and beyond what was expected of her.

But often in sleep, the unconscious overrides common sense, and the emotions of the spirit were harder to keep in check.

Lily-Rose rose out of her body with the grace of a butterfly. With her feet hovering several inches from the oak floor, she floated from the bedroom, down the staircase, and through the front door as if it wasn’t there.

Her instincts carried her through her front garden, beyond the gate, and onto the road—the place she never ventured to in her human form. Her self-imposed exile wasn’t because she was cold or cruel, she simply couldn’t face any more heartbreaking loss. To stay inside her own piece of heaven was to keep her heart safe. Besides, there were strict rules when it came to spirits and the living.

Something looked different.

Even though she never left the sanctuary of her home, she knew how the road beyond looked, and the layout of the houses.

This place was different.

This was another dimension.

She died a long time earlier and could pass through dimensions with ease. Occasionally, she couldn’t control it—like tonight. It happened before. Still, no matter where she traveled, she still managed to find her way home.

Now, there was a matter at hand.

An acrid smoke filled the air, a sure sign an accident occurred on the unfamiliar road. This was confirmed by the sight of twisted metal. Bittersweet emotion filled Lily-Rose. While it was true that a human life was most likely lost, a soul would move on to a new plane of existence, where peace and love might be waiting.

A plane Lily-Rose never rose to.

She drifted to the car, one time a fancy little red import, and passed through the window. and into the passenger seat. By the look of the interior, the car’s airbag failed to deploy and lurched its driver forward against the restraints.

Her eyes focused on the driver, by his uneven breathing, he was still alive, just barely.

Blood bubbled from his nose, and his eyes fixed on the ceiling. She leaned over and smoothed back his long dark hair from his face. Laying a gentle hand against his forehead, she tried to instill healing into the man, but her instinct told her clearly her healing would not be enough to save him. Instead, she hoped her touch would bring him comfort.

His head turned only enough to connect his eyes to hers.

Shock rocked her.

Could he actually see her?

There was fear and disbelief in his eyes for sure, but he was focused on her eyes, as well. Even at the brink of death, no one ever detected her before.

Now she thought, he’s very, very special.

He would go on to do amazing things in his next existence, and that brought Lily-Rose great joy.

Just let go, she encouraged.

I don’t want to die, he whispered, his voice thick and raspy.

It will be better, Reed, I promise.

You know my name. You must be some kind of angel.

She smiled. Not exactly. I’m just here to help you transition into your new life.

Tears poured from his eyes. Please don’t leave me.

"I’m not going anywhere, she said, and sent as much comfort and love through her hand and into his body as she could muster, without completely draining herself.

Sirens blared off in the distance, and Reed’s breath became ragged. As he took his final breath, she lifted her hand from his forehead and pressed a kiss against his cool skin.

When she saw the flashing red and blue lights of police and ambulance vehicles, she decided to make her exit from the scene. There was nothing more she could do now but return home to her own dimension, to her body and her bed.

To her beautiful prison.

***

The sound of banging on her front door startled Lily-Rose out of her deep sleep. The room was still dark, without even a trace of sunlight peeking in from beneath the window blinds.

She was once again safely within her own walls.

She sat up in bed, and her vision swerved. She exhausted a great deal of energy trying to comfort the dying man in the car. Any mild discomfort she felt now was worth it if it brought him any peace at all. In a short time, it would pass, and she would feel her normal self once again.

At the edge of the bed, she held her eyes closed momentarily. When she opened her eyes, her vision cleared. She slipped her feet into slippers and reached for her terry cloth robe slung over the back of a wing chair.

The rhythmic pounding on her front door continued. Someone sure was anxious to speak with her. Occasionally, the courier would arrive before seven to drop off and pick up. Today must be one of those days.

Holding the banister, she hurried down the stairs to the landing and flipped on a light switch that illuminated the foyer leading to the front door.

Unlocking the deadbolt, she turned the doorknob and flung open the door.

Lily-Rose stood in mute shock and stared at the man who stood in her doorway with a suitcase in his hand.

It was the man with the dark hair, who died in the car accident just a short time ago. The man who she watched take his final breath.

Yet, here was on her doorstep, a bit disheveled, but looking very much alive as she was.

Only he wasn’t really wasn’t alive.

Then again, neither was she.

Not really, anyway.

Not like she was right before she died in 1929, at age eighteen.

She understood her predicament on this earth, but somewhere the Fates messed up big time with this guy.

Or perhaps, she thought, I did something to cause this mishap.

Her vision swerved again, this time from a jolt of anxiety, and she grasped the doorjamb for support.

"Can…can I help