Huddled up in the shadows of a room with no walls floating in an endless voice, Adelita buried her face between her knees. Though she often ignored what her sister did while in control of their shared body, this time Kyra's emotions had been too intense to avoid.

  Pcing a shaky hand on her chest, Adelita felt Kyra's love as if it was her own. It terrified her. She felt as if she was losing herself. Kyra was moving on with her life, but could Adelita say the same about herself?

  Maybe it would be better if I just vanished, Adelita sighed. Kyra had always wanted a life beyond the confines of their mother's home. She wanted to go out and experience all the world had to offer. Adelita hated that she'd held her sister back. Because of Adelita's fear of strangers, Kyra had been trapped for decades.

  As regret swirled within Adelita's chest, Kyra's emotions continued to seep into her consciousness. Kyra was in love for the first time. The raw feeling of it was beyond anything Adelita had ever experienced. She'd died never knowing a lovers touch, and had abstained from romance after their resurrection. After all, who would willingly love an undead?

  Kyra had no memories of life as a living human. She could adapt and grow without the shackles of self-hatred. Adelita envied that part of her. Even though she feared death and had readily agreed to be Otrea's puppet, she knew life as a zombie meant a life of solitude. Or at least, that was how it was supposed to be.

  Tears fell onto Adelita's knees. She couldn't help but think about all the years she'd allowed to pass without ever trying to improve herself. She'd hidden herself away, content in isotion. Even when she knew Kyra longed for more, she simply shut her heart and allowed her sister to suffer. As long as Adelita existed, Kyra was shackled in pce.

  It wasn't as if Adelita didn't want to accept herself. Nor did she wish to abstain from the act of love. But she couldn't imagine a living person loving her. Even Lyre who showed them both affection as a maid, had been specifically instructed by Otrea—their creator and mother—to flirt with Kyra. If she ever felt true affection, it was tainted by the truth of how their retionship began.

  How then had Kyra captivated Bernice so completely? When Adelita crossed the bunny-eared girl in the bath, she'd been shocked by how beautiful she found her to be. Bernice was a bit shorter than Adelita, with supple skin and gentle enticing curves. Not to mention her rge ears looked to be so fluffy and soft Adelita wanted nothing more than to reach out and brush her fingers along them.

  But Adelita had abstained. If she, an undead abomination, approached Bernice, she was certain the other girl would scream in terror. Before anyone could run to Adelita's aid, she'd be beled and monster and if the girl had any power at all, sin on the spot. That was how it was supposed to work. Undead were puppets, and they were only tolerated if they kept to themselves.

  Intelligent undead, capable of thinking and feeling, simply weren't a thing. Otrea had tried to tell the world, but many simply refused to accept the truth, even from the mouth of a sage. Undead couldn't become sentient. They simply couldn't. To believe otherwise upended so many deeply held beliefs on inevitability of death.

  That Kyra, who shared Adelita's body and all of the stigma that came with it, had somehow made Bernice fall in love with her. It completely vexed Adelita. She didn't know what to believe. How could a girl so beautiful be so desperate. Was there not a single warm-blooded body she could cling to? Did she really not care that Kyra was an undead?

  As Adelita's tears continued to fall, she became aware of the presence of another. Though the floating space was always dimly lit, she hardly had to look to know who was there. After all, only one other person could enter this space.

  "Go away," Adelita cried, waving her hand as if to force Kyra out of the room. "Our body is all yours. Go be with your girlfriend and leave me here."

  Kyra paused, lingering. Adelita could sense her sister's hesitation, and for a moment, she thought Kyra would leave as requested. But then, a soft whisper filled the air.

  "I can feel you... you know? I know how sad and hopeless you are. What kind of sister would I be if I just left you to your loneliness."

  Adelita's head jerked up, "Stop it! I don't need your sympathy. Just go! I don't need to come out anymore. You can forget about me. Just let me...just let me—" Adelita's breath hitched, unable to finish. —die.

  "I know you like her too," Kyra said, her words dripping with conviction. "You want to talk to her. You want her to hold you. But you keep holding yourself back, why?"

  "How can you say that?" Adelita asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "She's already in love with you. There's no pce for me in her heart."

  Kyra stepped forward, her presence becoming more defined as she moved closer. Adelita could sense the warmth of her sister's breath, and it made her recoil.

  "Because you're afraid," Kyra said softly. "You're afraid of being rejected, but you don't have to be. I'm certain Bernice has room in her heart for both of us. All you have to do is give her the chance to love you."

  Adelita's mind reeled at the suggestion. She couldn't bear to think that Bernice could possibly love her, too. "No," Adelita whispered, trying to push the thought away. "That's not possible."

  "I believe it is," Kyra sat down beside her sister and wrapped her arms around her. "All you have to do is try."

  Adelita's eyes began to sting as tears welled up once more. Kyra's words struck a chord deep within her, and for the first time in decades, she felt a glimmer of hope.

  "What if I'm wrong?" Adelita asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "What if she doesn't love me at all?"

  Kyra's grip on Adelita tightened, and she spoke softly into the darkness of the space. "I don't see how anyone couldn't love you. You're adorable, intelligent, and far more caring than I could ever be. Everyone's always surprised to learn you're the older sister, because you're honestly too cute for the position."

  A warmth spread through Adelita as her face turned bright red. Kyra had always been kind to her, but she rarely praised her so openly. For a moment she sat their, leaning into Kyra's embrace. Closing her eyes she silently wished a day would come when they could hold each other like this in the real world. As sisters with bodies of their own, not a single shared vessel.

  "What do I do?" Adelita asked, her voice shaking with uncertainty.

  Kyra leaned in close. "You start by being brave. You take a chance and talk to Bernice. And then, you see where things go from there."

  Adelita's heart skipped a beat as she considered Kyra's words. It was a daunting prospect, but with her sister's encouragement, she felt a spark of determination.

  "Okay," Adelita said, taking a deep breath. "I'll do it."

  "I'll be rooting for you, no matter what happens." Kyra said giving Adelita a gentle squeeze.

  "Thanks," Adelita smiled, wiping the tears from her eyes. "You're the best sister I could've ever asked for."

  "I didn't know you'd asked for one," Kyra smiled and the two sisters broke into a fit of ughter.

  As they ughed, Adelita felt a weight lift off her shoulders. For the first time in as long as she could remember, she felt a sense of hope. With Kyra's support she could start to move forward, one step at a time.

  Cossimeri