[Music: Familiar By Agnes Obel]
My heels and Jade’s clicked sharply against the floor as we made our way down the hall.
"I never imagined this place would be so big..." Jade said, her eyes sweeping everywhere in astonishment. "I know the Salveros’ are sorta a big deal, but this is just..."
"Well, this house has been under them for generations or so," I replied.
"That explains it, but it does look haunted though."
I giggled. "My thoughts when I first came here. But the place eventually grew on me."
"Not me, that’s for sure." She shivered.
I couldn’t help it as the memories flooded in—the sight of this manor for the first time and how I thought ghosts roamed every corner.
Well... I still thought ghosts roamed, but in this case I think we’d be friends.
I smiled, recalling how touchy Zade was, as though every chance was to feel my skin and taunt me. I thought then he was just being creepy and annoying, but now I realized he must’ve missed me so much.
I couldn’t begin to even imagine how it must have felt to have me constantly seething and using my dagger against him at every chance.
However, now that I looked at those times from another perspective, he must’ve enjoyed every moment. He was practically entertained.
That depraved reptile.
"I’m really glad you came, Jade," I said.
"Of course, girl." She nudged her arm against mine. "I’m with you."
I really wished she didn’t come, though. She had no idea what kind of world I live in. I just hoped she wasn’t in for a jump scare and this funeral went as smoothly as possible.
The sound of Candy Crush made me pull my attention to Luca, deeply engrossed in his phone. I hope he doesn’t intend to do that at the funeral. I’m already dealing with the fact that I wasn’t depressed enough.
I can’t deal with my brother-in-law playing games while my father is laid to rest. At this point, anything was gonna happen. I just hoped it wasn’t anything bad.
When we got close to the foyer, I saw Dante and Elliot speaking, both looking sharp. I couldn’t help but wonder if we were attending a funeral or a fashion show.
Zade was leaning by the doorway, smoking, and the moment I set my eyes on him, I couldn’t look away. Suddenly my destination was where he was.
But I halted my steps when Caleb wheeled close to me.
"Hey," he said, giving me a soft smile.
"H-Hey..." I stuttered.
He was all dressed up and ready to go. Is he by chance attending?
"I’m sorry we haven’t quite seen each other. I didn’t think it would be a good time and all. How are you?"
"Better."
His lips stretched. "Not entirely convinced."
I chuckled briefly. "I guess I don’t look more convincing, huh..."
"Yeah, you don’t."
"Are you, um, attending?"
"Yes." He adjusted the collar of his coat.
"Oh... that’s um..."
"Should I not?"
"No, no. Sorry, I just thought you wouldn’t."
"I may be quite reserved, but I do leave the house when I want to."
"O-Of course. It’s just I didn’t expect you would."
His expression softened. "You need all the support, Anastasia, and I hope my presence brings that. Besides, we’re family, aren’t we?"
Family.
I’ve forgotten what that felt like because of how absent Father was, my entire life. The only true family I ever had was Annabeth, however fleeting it may have been.
"Thanks," I forced a smile in return before moving my eyes to Zade, flicking his finished cigar.
"Just so you know, if you need anyone to talk to, the library’s open," Caleb said.
I only replied with a nod as I walked closer to Zade. He saw me coming and leaned away from the door, holding up the umbrella.
"Ready?" he asked.
"No."
"Honesty. Smart move."
"That’s all I want from us from now on."
There was a flicker in his eyes, but he said nothing as he led me out.
~☆~
The funeral was held at the Morri’s estate, at the private burial ground.
There wasn’t much of a crowd, just a few people who knew my father, business partners or so, and the Salvero brothers.
The priest’s voice carried weight across the ground, nearly swallowed by the beating of rain on umbrellas.
"We therefore commit his body to the earth. Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust."
I stared at the casket, barely hearing anything else. There was a tightness in my chest I couldn’t quite explain, and the more it played out, the more I could understand it.
I felt something cold trail down my cheek. When I swiped a finger over it, I realized it wasn’t the rain. I was sheltered beneath the umbrella Zade held over us.
Am I crying?
"May he rest in eternal peace."
"Amen," everyone murmured.
Except me. I couldn’t get the word past my throat as the tightness created more pressure.
The priest stepped back, signaling the end of the prayer, and the casket slowly began to descend into the ground.
One by one, everyone approached the casket, dropping flowers before moving away.
It was my turn, and for a while I didn’t move. That action drew attention toward me, the very thing I was trying to avoid.
Slowly, I looked to Zade, who had been watching me ever since, and judging by his stillness, I knew he was waiting for me to make a move.
It was as though any decision I made, he’d follow me through the end.
I swallowed as I moved and he followed suit. I took the flower from the bouquet and neared the grave. I lingered for a long moment, watching.
I didn’t weep tragically like a daughter who had lost her father. I stood emotionless, and I cared less what anyone thought.
This was me, and this was my feelings.
"Goodbye," I said before laying my flower and walking back to my spot.
Zade’s hand snaked to my waist as he pulled me close, and then we all watched as the first shovelful of earth was thrown into the grave.
The guests began making their way back to the manor, but I didn’t move, nor did Zade.
"I thought I wouldn’t feel anything," I said with a tightened throat.
"Do you?"
"Yes," I replied with a sigh, a sad smile on my lips. "It hurts a little."
It does because I had no parents or a direct family anymore.
"Not for long."
"H-How did you do it?"
"Do what?"
I turned so that I could look at him. "How did you push the pain away?"
I was certain he knew I meant his parents, and realizing what I had done, I grew anxious.
"S-Sorry, I shouldn’t have brought that up. This certainly isn’t the time for that and—"
"It’s a blur."
I froze. Gently, he used his thumb to wipe my cheek.
"Which is why I said not for long. The pain will pass. It’ll dull with time, and it won’t be as sharp as it feels today. But that doesn’t mean you’ll ever forget."
I couldn’t resist asking. "What were your parents like?"
A smile stretched his lips. "Words can’t describe them."
"I’m sure I’ll understand."
I got distracted when my eyes caught sight of a Range Rover pulling up near the burial ground.
The passenger door opened, and a woman in a smart suit and heels stepped out. She raised an umbrella before opening the back door.
A tall man emerged, adjusting his coat. His dark hair had traces of silver, and his complexion was so pale he could’ve passed for a sick man, though nothing else about him suggested he was one.
He was fit and broad, almost as huge as Zade.
He passed a slow look around, and then his eyes met mine, and a tension gripped me instantly.
He moved, and the woman beside him followed, making sure the umbrella shielded them from the rain.
"Why do I get the feeling that’s the uncle?" Zade said, keeping his eyes trained on him as though trying to see through his soul.
"It looks like him," I said. "But he was younger from the pictures. Do you think he’s sick?"
"Then that will save us a lot of problems, won’t it?"
"Zade!" I hissed, and finally he pulled his attention to me.
"We can’t be too careful."
"For all we know, he could just be here to say goodbye to his brother," I said.
Zade ticked his tongue.
"What?"
He said nothing because my uncle got close. He halted, eyeing the grave that was still being covered.
He stood so still, hands crammed in front, and I wondered if he was ever gonna move; then he did.
The moment his eyes met mine, I froze. They were a dark shade of brown that appeared black, and they lingered for far too long before he shifted them to Zade.
"The Serpent..." he said coolly. "The circumstances surrounding our meeting are rather unfortunate. Either way, I couldn’t have asked for a more intriguing introduction." He extended his hand. "I’m Julius Morri."