Chapter 16

KHLOE GILES

“Who was she?” Scotty’s eyes focused on the black pavement ahead of us with unusual determination, his pale lips pressed into a thin, questioning line. Old Mertha chugged down the road, leading us to the lake for the funeral.

“Who was who?” My voice was thick and choppy, still recovering from the shock of the Burning.

Scotty glanced at me for the first time sense we left. His brows narrowed and furrowed together, the look on his face said he knew I know what he was talking about.

“The blonde woman in the toga.” He turned his eyes back to the road, dodging a pit hole, cussing as the truck bounced around its edges.

I shook my head. “No idea.”

“Well, obviously you know something. She thinks you do,” Scotty accused, giving me a sideways glance again.

“I don’t know Scotty. I really don’t know. I’m learning most of this as I go. All of this is new to me to okay? I don’t what war we’re supposed to fight. I don’t know where Lil is or what’ll happen if more people burn. Honestly? I don’t think I want to know. I’m not some white queen. I’m not some leader. I’m a fighter. I’m a soldier. All I want is to kill demons and live in peace.” I ended my rant, sucking in a breath of air. Scotty was silent, blue eyes distant as we turned the final curve to the lake.

The drive down the half mile road stretched out. The silence between us stretched out even more. The seconds it took to pull into the paved parking lot and find a space felt like an eternity. Scotty let the truck idle, still lost in thought. “You really don’t want to know if innocent people are being killed?””

I didn’t answer right away, the woman’s sultry voice replayed in my head. “I already know that they are. And that woman wasn’t exactly innocent.”

Scotty stared at me, his brows furrowed, and lips pursed in bewilderment. “Then what was she?”

“A demon,” I answered, staring out the window, watching as the sun’s rays began to dip below the tall trees that surrounded the lakeside park.

“Demons?” Scotty repeated, “As in Satan demons?”

“I have no idea what Satan is, but sure. We’ll go with it.” I shrugged. Scotty fell silent, his mouth opened, his confusion unspoken.

“So, let me get this straight. There are humans, demons, and witches?”

“Yes.” I nodded. “But I just found out about the demons.”

“And you know this how?”

“Because I’m—” The word stuck, and I couldn’t say it. Despite how much I had come to trust Scotty in a short amount of time, I couldn’t say the words. It wasn’t safe to tell anyone. Scotty understood though.

“You’re a witch?” He asked, cutting the truck off and toying the keys.

“Basically.” I stared out the window, afraid to look at him.

“And you’re supposed to stop this great evil thingy?” Scotty sat back in the seat.

“Something like that.” I nodded.

“Do we even know what this great evil is?”

“Not exactly.” I shook my head. “I just learned it even existed. Hell, I just learned demons existed today.”

“So you’re supposed to be this bad ass witch, fight this thing you don’t even know and save a bunch of people?”

“Yup, that’s pretty much it.”

“Y’know, if all of this is even half real and not some crazed dream, we’re-“

“Screwed? Yeah. I know.” I laid back in the seat, closing my eyes against the still pounding headache. A knock on the window jarred both of us from our quiet contemplations and I jumped awake to see Sara standing at my window. Taking a breath, I grabbed the old-time leaver and roll the window down, listening at the creaking sound it makes.

“You guys going to the funeral, or are you going to sit and flirt?” She gave me her trade mark grin and I rolled my eyes.

“We’ll be right there.” I told her.

“Don’t wait too long, people might get ideas.” She wiggled her brows suggestively and blew me a kiss before sauntering off. I shook my head.

“Your sisters are weird.” Scotty smirked in amusement.

“Trust me, I know.”

“Let’s go before people get ideas.” He laughed, air-quoting ‘ideas’’.

“Like you’d mind.” I teased, snorting.

“Doubt you would either,” He mused as we both climb out, “we’ll finish our talk later.”

I nodded in agreement, meeting him in front of the truck. Together Scotty and I made our way to the edge of the lake where a crowd had gathered. We were both handed sky candles and note cards on our way to the water front. Sara had just placed her card on the longship sitting in the water. She stood, wiping tears from her eyes and joined a quiet and blank-faced Abbey standing nearby.

I rolled my eyes at her dramatics and stared down at my own note card. Taking my shoes and socks off, I placed them aside and wonder down the sandy shore, humming as the sand shifted beneath my feet. I joined Scotty at the long-ship and grabbed one of the pens that had been laid out on the edge of the ship and began to write my goodbye message.

Later old man. Take it easy.

I tossed the card onto the long-ship, eying Baulder’s body among the stacks of wood and flowers that had been laid around him. The ship and his body would burn quickly. I stepped back, forcing myself to look away and join Scotty and my sisters. Scotty’s arms fell around my waist, strong and comforting. From his arms, I watched the crowd pouring in and placing their cards on the ship until the last of the guests had left their note cards. Conversations and sometimes laughter or tears joined the gentle wind beneath a slowly setting sun. The funeral would start at sundown when the fire could be witnessed and the candles lit. I watched in the final seconds as the bright rays fell behind the tall trees.

Curfew would be extended two hours tonight to accommodate the funeral, after the ship burned and the candles were left to float, guests would flood open bars and drink in Baulder’s memory, while at the same time rejoicing in the death of a demon accused of witchcraft. I pushed the thought away before it turned my stomach again.

Baulder’s wife, Mary, with her long blonde hair hidden beneath a black veil of mourning, stepped forward and the conversation of the crowd silenced until the breeze was all that could be heard. When all was silent, save for the whispering wind and water lapping at the ship’s edge, she began to speak.

“Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glint on snow, I am the sunlight o ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you wake in morning hush, I am the swift, uplifting rush, Of quiet birds in circling flight.

I am the soft starlight at night.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.

I am not there, I do not sleep.

Do no stand at my grave and cry.

I am not there, I did not die.” *

The poem ended and Mary stepped back. The quiet hush of the lake was filled with sniffs and the occasional clearing of throats. Another silent pause filled the night as the ships guards, a young Inquisition officer, took a lit torch with which he had guarded the ship the previous night, and lit the long ship. The fire was immediate and brightened the darkening sky.

Two more officers joined in to push the ship out to ‘sea,’ where it would wallow in the middle of the lake until it sunk, or the flames died down. They pushed it out until the water came up to their waist and wondered back on shore as Mary began to speak again.

“Let us light our candles in the memory of our beloved soldier, friend, husband and father.” Her words held no sadness, no cracking for tears, but instead held exhaustion, aching. I imagined she has cried more than her fair share of tears since Baulder’s death. I also imagined she would cry more over the coming weeks when she was alone. I had a feeling we all would.

Around me was the sound of everyone shuffling about their sky lights. I hoisted mine up, eyeing the small candle inside. Lighters clicked and soft whooshing sounds announced the lighting of the candles.

“Here,” Scotty’s hand extended to me, and I stared down at the lighter he was holding before grasping it in my own. It was heavy and rough ridges dug into my palm as I gripped it. Scotty’s hand fell on my shoulder, firm as always.

After a few tries, my candle lit, just as Mary began to speak again. “Let the releasing of this flame symbolize the releasing of Officer Jonathon Baulder’s spirit. As we release our beloved to the afterlife, may we never forget the man that Jon was to all of us.” With a great leap, she tossed the sky candle into the air and hundreds more like the white candle basket joined hers. The sky was lit with fire light as the sky candles danced on the gentle breeze.

Silence followed Mary’s words and all that could be heard is the crackling of fire. Once again, Scotty took me into his arms and I rested my head on his chest, reveling in his warmth. We stood there, watching the candles, breathing until the crowd began to filter back to the parking lot.

“You okay?” He asked, hand gently caressing my shoulder. I shrugged at his question. Okay? What defined okay?

“I don’t feel anything,” I answered after a moment.

A frown lined his face and guilt filled my chest. Lips like those shouldn’t frown. Those same lips found their way to my forehead. They were warm, gentle.

“You will. Everything will be fine Giles,” He assured me. Sighing, I let myself relax in his embrace, burying my face into the crook of his neck.

“How do you make it so believable?”

“What can I say? I’m gifted.” He chuckled quietly, the sound rumbled low in his chest and spread throughout my body, calming, comforting.

It made me laugh to. I pulled back to look up at him. “Egotistical much?”

“Yeah, but that’s what you love at me.” He winked.

“Whatever helps you sleep at night.” I gave him a thin, watery smile in return.

“Oh, I sleep just fine,” He paused before adding in a whisper, “Thinking about you.”

I whacked him before I could help myself. “Jerk.”

“Gorgeous.” He smirked, brown eyes twinkling. My cheeks warmed at his gaze, and I was fathoming a response when I saw Mary kneeling beside Jon JR over his shoulder. The black veil was lifted, and her hazel eyes are filled with tears.

“I should go talk to her.” The words killed the playful mood, and I remembered the reason we’re there.

“Want me to come?” His voice was serious.

I shook my head. “I should do it alone.”

“You’ll be fine.” He kissed my forehead again and let me go. I didn’t move at first, wishing I could stay in his arms. I gave him a wary look before making my way over to the woman.

“Mary?” I whisper, almost hoping she didn’t hear. She did and a brief moment of panic filled me. I sucked with words. I never knew what to say. Her head tilted up and she smiled when she saw me.

“Khloe! How are you dear?” She threw her arms around me in a tight hug that I returned.

“I’m okay. Been better. The service was beautiful.” I shifted awkwardly as we talked. We both stared at the ground, watching Jon Jr. play with a loose string from his mother’s sleeve, twisting it in his small hands.

Mary laughed. “Jon would’ve hated it.”

“All the mourning and weeping.” I agreed with a small smile.

“Just toss me in the pit and let me rot-“ She does her best impression of her husband and I laughed.

“-And toss a cold one back for me.” I finished for her with a fond smile. Her eyes were distant with memory for a moment before she spoke again.

“Have you gotten a new partner yet?” She asked.

“Scotty Wells.” I turned toward him. He’s mid conversation with Luis, but his eyes were trained steadily on me. I shivered under his gaze and turned back to Mary.

“Is that allowed?” Mary asked, looking over my shoulder and I could still feel his gaze following me.

“What?”

“Being in a relationship with your partner?” Mary turned back to me. I froze, thrown off guard by her question.

“I…huh? No! We aren’t-“ I stammered, blinking hard. My face scrunched up in confusion and heated with embarrassment.

“Really? Does he know that? You looked pretty cozy with him a minute ago and I’m not the only one who noticed.” She looked past me again and I followed her eyes, regretting it when I found Wes looking back at me. Our eyes met for a second and the hate that I saw there was almost as bright as the fire burning on Baulder’s ship. I turned away, shifting under his cold stare.

“Crap.”

“Khloe,” Mary’s voice drew me back to her, “Scotty is a good man. He’s been through a lot, but he’s strong. He’ll give you every piece of himself, but if you break his heart, he’ll fall just as hard. Same with Wes. They’ve both been through things no ordinary human should live through. Neither of them deserve heartbreak. Before you choose one, make sure he’s the right one.”

“How?” I turned to look back at Scotty again. He was mid-laugh, head tossed back, and eyes closed. He looked like an angel.

“That’s something only you can answer. Jon Jr. and I have to get going. Please stay in touch Khloe and take care of yourself.”

“I promise.” I hugged her tightly. It was when I began pulling away from her that I heard the noise. A gentle vibration that shook the ground, sweeping through me the same way Scotty’s laugh had, but this isn’t a laugh. It’s something natural. Or unnatural. Mary felt it to, her head tilted up and we both eyed the sky.

“An earthquake?” She asked. I started to reply, certain she was right, but stopped when I noticed the line of trees snapping back and forth in the surrounding woods and the cawing birds that took flight in their wake. Some of them crashed into the still floating sky candles, squawking in annoyance before flying off around them.

This wasn’t an earthquake. Whatever it was though, I had a feeling it wasn’t any better.