Part 7
James tightened his tie as he stared at his dishevelled reflection. The bags under his eyes were darker than usual. There was even a shadow on his chin. He rubbed the bristles on his face and let out a sigh. As he closed his eyes, a heavy, warm ‘hand’ gripped his shoulder. He jumped and turned around on guard against the tall person. He relaxed once he realised it was just fluffy Ed. James rubbed the back of his neck and averted his gaze.
“You shouldn’t sneak up on me like that.” He grumbled.
“I’m a huge dog person and you’re stood in front of a mirror. I hardly think I was sneaking up on you.” Ed playfully growled but she could see James wasn’t in the mood. “You should have really ironed your suit before today.” Ed murmured as she tried to straighten out the black lapels of James’ attire.
James stood there and let her sort him out. “Yeah, well, I’m just running on coffee right now.”
“You’re always running on coffee, Sunshine.” Ed’s fangs poked out behind her smile.
For a moment, a smirk tugged at James’ lips. “You haven’t called me ‘Sunshine’ for a long time.”
Ed’s smile faltered. “Well, that’s because I’ve been sort of annoyed with you. You’re like getting blood out of a stone when I want confidential information that you’ve got. You’re more of an Olympus dog than I am. The name still fits though, you still smell like sunshine.”
James scoffed. “And it’s still creepy that you say that.” He ran a hand through his dirt-blonde hair and Ed immediately used her claws to comb it back into position. “I’m sorry. I guess I’ve been too good at my job. If I had let you in on what was happening with Rora, then maybe-“ His words caught in his throat and he stared at the floor.
“Past is past. We all make mistakes.” Ed hesitated for a moment but then pulled James into a hug.
His nose and mouth was filled with black fur and after a moment of being polite he started to push himself away from her. “Okay there, Doggo. I’m good.” He looked down at his white shirt and started to brush the dog hair off. “You moan at me for not ironing, but you could have at least given yourself a good groom.”
Ed looked both embarrassed and offended but her expression soon softened as she picked up her hat from the side and sat it on her head. “Shut it, Globox. Come on, the others are already outside waiting.”
James sighed. “Do you really think I should go? It’s because of me that-“
“It’s not because of you. It was a series of unfortunate events that led to this. Aurora would be so annoyed with you if you didn’t attend.” Ed commented as she held the door open and gestured for James to leave.
The Olympus admin looked back at his mirror image. “Yeah, she would.” He frowned. James felt as though Aurora had died believing that he only used her for the serum. That her friendship meant nothing to him. That wasn’t the case. James and Aurora had got along for many years, and while it was true that their friendship was forced on instruction of Olympus, they quickly became good friends. Yet James had led her to her death. A wave of guilt flooded him as he exited the building.
Chris was leant against a black car as Lucio fiddled with his belt. “This is so uncomfortable.” He fidgeted.
Chris was staring into the grey sky. It looked like it would rain. She hoped it would hold off. “Have you thought of anything to say to her husband?” Chris asked, not thinking about Lucio’s belt.
Lucio stopped his squirming and blinked at Chris. A sheepish grin came to his face. “I was just going to pat him on the back and maybe give him a shot of good memories. Though, I’m not sure if that’s the right thing to do.”
Chris’ eyes dropped from the clouds and flickered to Lucio. She gave him a small smile. “Maybe at the end of the day. Before everyone leaves him, yeah?”
Lucio nodded his head. “That’s what I was thinking. So he’s not alone with too many sad thoughts.”
The small smile turned to a bit of a smirk on Chris. “You have a way of mending broken hearts, don’t you?”
Lucio’s face changed to one of confusion. “Excuse me? I think I misunderstood that?”
A short chuckle left Chris’ lips. “Doesn’t matter. Come on, I can see James and Ed.” She opened the car door and shuffled into the back of it. Lucio was dumbstruck for a moment but shrugged his shoulders and climbed in the back next to her.
{In the forest}Herbert picked up his phone. He had let it die while he trained with Nathan for the past week. He channelled his father’s power effortlessly and within a couple of seconds, his phone booted up. Nathan peeked over Herbert’s shoulder. “That’s pretty handy.” He nodded at the mobile and its full battery.
“Yeah.” Herbert chuckled as he held the device up to search for a good signal. “One of the first things I taught myself for everyday use.”
Nathan stroked his grotty beard. “I should have invited you out here to be my personal battery-pack. All this time without films… It’s made me a bitter man, kid.” Nathan sorrowfully put his hand on Herbert’s shoulder.
“Well, while you’ve been out here living your hobo dream, I’ve actually been doing good in the world.” Herbert spoke a little more seriously than he had meant to.
“Just like it’s always been.” Nathan gave Herb a heavy pat on the back. “I’m too old for that junk now. It’s your turn to soak up the glory.”
Herbert looked a little angry. “I’m not in it for glory.”
“Nah, just for revenge.”
“I’m not!” Herbert snapped. “Yes, my dad was killed by the Redeemer, but this isn’t a mad rage-fuelled rampage-“ A flood of text messages and missed calls interrupted Herbert. The screen flashed with updates of people that had tried to get in contact with him. “Oh no…” Herbert’s voice had dropped to a whisper. He rubbed his forehead as his grey eyes quickly scanned over the messages.
“Wazz-up?” The can in Nathan’s hand hissed as he opened the beer.
There was silence for a moment. Herbert closed his eyes and tightened his free hand into a fist. “Aurora is dead.”
Nathan raised an eyebrow as he glugged down the alcohol. Some of it dribbled down his facial hair as he took a breath. “Pity. Such a waste.” He continued to drink.
“Nathan!” This time, Herbert was genuinely mad for a moment. He let out an exasperated sigh to calm himself down. “It looks like it was Olem and The Redeemer’s doing…” He gritted his teeth. “What is it going to take to kick Olympus into gear?!” Electricity fizzled lightly around him.
“Calm down, Kiddo. When did she die? Maybe they’ve already mobilised.” Nathan finished his drink.
Herbert checked the rest of his messages. “Last week.” His eyes suddenly widened. “Damn! Her funeral is today!”
“Shit.” Nathan grabbed his fisherman’s hat, plopped it on his head and tried to wipe his beard on his sleeves. “Where at?”
Herbert went to gather his things and raised an eyebrow at Nathan. “Why do you care?”
“Funerals mean free food.” Nathan stated bluntly and took the phone out of Herbert’s hand to look for the address. “Hmm, yeah I know that church. If we fly, we should make it there in time.”
Herbert snatched his phone back and sent a quick text to the others. “Just try to be respectful, okay?”
“No promises, but if I want to get to the after party, I’ll be a saint.” Nathan said with a flat expression. He could tell Herbert didn’t want to joke, but that had never stopped Nathan before and it would not now. Together, the teacher and student shot up into the air. One with a gust of wind, the other with a sonic boom.
{The Graveyard}Clyde’s vision was swallowed by tears. His and Aurora’s daughter clung to his shirt, unaware of what was going on. On the other side of the hole in the ground, James didn’t know where to look. Chris grabbed his hand and squeezed it tightly. Her greyish blue eyes looked at him; she tried to reassure him but it didn’t seem to work. Her eyes followed the path he tried to avoid and Chris watched the toddler play with Clyde’s tie.
“I didn’t know she had a kid.” Chris whispered.
James nodded his head. “Her name is Abigail. The name held quite a lot of meaning to Rora.” James grimaced for a moment. “Aurora.” He corrected. He felt as though he didn’t deserve to call her ‘Rora’ anymore.
Chris picked up on the guilt but left it. She didn’t know what to say or do to make James feel any better. James tugged his hand away from Chris’. She didn’t notice as her attention was caught by two late arrivals. She rolled her eyes as Nathan and Herbert tried to subtly get closer to the grave, Nathan pushing past people and Herbert apologising on Nathan’s behalf.
Clyde had given the two a funny look and Chris had spotted that. She carefully met the duo in the middle of the crowd and grabbed hold of Nathan’s collar. “What are you idiots doing?” She growled quietly.
Nathan put his hand on Chris’ and tried to pry her off. “We’ve come to pay our respects.”
“By disrupting the funeral?” Chris could almost feel her aura spark up, but she could fully control it with ease.
Herbert shoved himself closer and freed Nathan. “Sorry. We’re late. We’ll be quiet now.” Herbert spoke sincerely.
“Yeah. You will.” Chris stated as she turned back to watch the service.
Almost immediately after she said that, Herbert looked around awkwardly and noticed a silhouette on a distant hill. Curiosity automatically got Herb to access his zoom-like vision; something he had picked up from his uncle, and focused on a man in a long coat that seemed to be over-watching the scene. With a scowl and a crackle of lightning, Herbert jumped forward only to be pulled right back by both Chris and Nathan.
Chris gave him a wide-eyed glare. “What now?!” She roughly whispered.
Herbert nodded to the hill. “It’s Olem.”
Chris looked at the hill and then back at Herbert. “Not now.” She gestured to Clyde and Abigail. “They don’t need a fight at their wife and mother’s funeral.”
“He’s the reason she’s in that box!” Herbert gasped desperately.
Chris shushed him. “Not. Now. If you really want to get him, I have a feeling that an opportunity will arise very soon.” She batted away a few stray tendrils of electricity.
Herbert reluctantly relaxed his stance as he looked at the toddler getting restless. He remained silent but his eyes did not leave the shadow on the hill.
{Later that night}The graveyard was lit up by the eerie glow of the crescent moon. A chill swept through the trees and the rustling leaves were accompanied by the haunting ‘hoos’ of an owl. In front of a fresh grave stood a tall and broad figure. His long coat billowed in the wind. Emerald eyes stared down at the headstone.
‘Here rests Aurora Meridian Beige.
Caring Daughter
Loving Wife
Dedicated Mother
Loyal Friend.’The stone was in the shape of a scroll with a cherub resting upon it; its wings spread out. As Olem read the words in his head, he felt his anger boil inside of him, especially at 'loyal friend'. “So you had a family in the end?” He almost spat out the low words. He dipped his hand into his pocket and retrieved his little black book and pen. He flicked to the last couple of pages intending to document some more horrific symptoms he had just thought of.
As he did, he stopped in his tracks. Olem’s eyes were drawn to the pink hair in two photos he hadn’t seen in a very long time. They were held to the page with a hairgrip. He snapped the book closed and shut his eyes. Unable to contain his frustration, the night’s air grew heavy. A black and green mist descended and began to roll between the headstones. The lilies on Aurora’s grave began to wilt. The wreaths started to lose their petals and the leaves began to brown.
Olem opened his eyes. The grass around him and the grave started to dry-up and turn a sickly yellow. “Fuck…” he uttered as he watched the memorial pink flowers that spelt out ‘Mummy’ die; the life being crushed out of their delicate stems. He took a step back but his destruction only supplemented his rage further, speeding up his toxic energies.
“Wasn’t killing her enough? Now you’ve got to kill her tributes too?” Herbert’s tone was dangerous as he stood behind Olem.