Chapter 64 - Eternal Rest Cont'd

We make our way into the mansion and my dad leads us to the main kitchen. My dad turns on the lights and the kitchen comes alive. "It's a good thing, your mother taught me how to cook, otherwise we might starve to death" my dad said wiggling his eyebrows at me again. I actually let out a loud laugh. My dad definitely caught me off guards. "Good one dad!" Dahlia says. The kitchen once again, rings with laughter. I offer to help my dad cook, it's the least I can do. He whips up the pancake batter, splashing the dry power all over the place, making me laugh more. The guards are busy, grabbing plates, cups and silverware, to set the table for us. I'm in charge of frying up; Bacon, Sausage and Potatoes. It's as if my mother's spirit was inside the kitchen cooking along side us, you could hear the tips she would once tell us. "Make sure to wait until you see bubbles come up from the pancake batter, this is when you know they will be super fluffy" "You can add, water or milk to scrambled eggs, to make them extra fluffy" "Make sure to add onion and spices to your potatoes. and to constantly stir them so they don't stick!". My mother always walked us through her steps on how she made things. As we are cooking, that once familiar smell of food haven starts to emerge. Aromas wafted through the air. The saying is true, good food brings people together. Once everything is cooked, My father and I, and my loyal guards place everything on the tables. "Oh I almost forgot!" Dahlia rushes to the fridge and pulls out, her mother's tray that has the normal arrangement of breakfast fruits on it and I also grab the fresh squeezed orange juice my mom always prepares for me. "Good call!" my dad says. Dahlia places the tray and jug of juice on the table as well. "Before we eat, I'd like to say something about Emma" my dad said. "Go ahead dad" Dahlia says. "Emma, was my guiding light. She was a light for so many. Her light could shine through, to even the darkest of souls. I will miss her but she gave me the best thing in life; a daughter. From here on out, let's be better. Let's lead by her example and show people the good in this messed up world" my dad said with a tear falling from his cheek. "Very well said dad" Dahlia said trying to comfort him. "Enough of that, let's eat" my dad says as he wipes his tears away. It's pure carnage as, everyone dives in for their meal. A sight, I now feel more appreciative about. The clock, in the kitchen now read 2pm. I didn't even realize time had flown by like that. "Dad it's already two o'clock" Dahlia said. My dad looks at the clock suprised. "You're right, we need to hurry up and clean up and then get ready for the ceremony" he replied. "Leave clean up to us" Jackson said. "Okay, we will see you for the ceremony" Dahlia replied. I made my way, to my room. This is already our second ceremony since arriving here. I can't help feel that death follows me. I reach my room and decide to take a quick shower. I got all sweaty helping out this morning and if we're telling the truth, I smell of bacon grease too. I get in the shower and start to quickly scrub down. It's a little painful, as I still have some severe bruising going on. The hit water does feel nice and it let's me relax a bit. Once I'm finished, I grab my towel and wrap my hair in a towel as well. When I'm done I walk out into the main area of my room. I go to the closet and look inside my closet. It quite a saddening sight. Nothing is good enough to see my mother into the afterlife with. 'Knock, 'knock' A knock at my door startles me as I was too busy being depressed over clothes. I open the door and Paige is standing there. "The laundry store had these cleaned up for you" Paige announced. I see her holding my birthday dress and flats. After the transformation and battle, I didn't even consider where my birthday clothes went. Being it was one of the last things my mother bought me. It almost seem destined to go this way. "Thank you Paige, you may go" Dahlia said. Paige bowed in compliance and left my room. I dry my hair and make way to my small dresser to get my undergarments out. After putting those on, I slip into the dress and put my flats on. I forgot I couldn't zip the back. "Jackson" Dahlia called. He came flying through the doors. "Take it easy. It's nothing serious" Dahlia said. "Help me zip this up" Dahlia said turning around. Jackson complied and zipped up the back of the dress. "You look great" Jackson said. "I'm not even finished yet" Dahlia said "either way doesn't change the fact you're beautiful" Jackson said. "Knock it off, you may go" Dahlia said chuckling. Jackson leave me room. I head over to my vanity and apply my normal basic eye makeup. Simple eyeliner and mascara. I brush out my wild shower hair and leave it down. The ends of my hair are naturally wavy. I decide this look will do and I make my way out of my room. Jackson is waiting. He starts to follow me when I realize I've forgotten something. "I have to go back to my room" I said. Rushing back to my room, I head straight to my closet and pull out a small box. I open it up and see the Tiara my mother had prepared for me. I toss the box on my bed and walk over to my vanity to make sure I place it on my head just right. The sides came out like vines, and the crown was covered in the familiar black and red jewels. "There, now I'm ready" Dahlia said. She once again makes her way out if the room and Jackson follows behind her. I reach the main kitchen and my dad is waiting for me. He's in a basic suit and tie. "You look beautiful" my dad says. "Thanks dad, who knew you could clean up so well" I say giving him a wink. Time must be flying by, the clock already reads 4:30pm. "It's time for us to get going" my dad replies. I nod my head in agreement. I follow him out to the giant Brass Doors of Ravenwood. When we open the doors, the pack is waiting. They're dressed to perfection. I can see where the funeral pyres are, but to the left outside the door there's a celebration area. Endless rows of tables and chairs are lined up, that are inside portable tents. They hung, lights at the tops. I can also see where the buffet area is set up. "Everything looks great" Dahlia said. "The pack worked hard. "For dinner, we will have the menu. your mother prepared last night, for your birthday" My dad said. "That would be amazing" Dahlia replied. I took a walk through the celebration area to inspect it all. The center pieces had candles that weren't lite yet. The flowers were white orchids and roses. "Dahlia, it's time" my dad said. We all made our way to where the pack priest was. When we arrived, we saw pack soilders bring out the deceased. They were wrapped and sowed up in clean linens. I watched as they gently placed our loved ones on their fire pyres. I saw the soilders carrying my mother, she was placed last. The priest started to speak but all I could do was relive our last moments over and over. "Amen" I heard the priest say. It snapped me back to reality. I watch as 12 soilders held a bow and arrow, my dad also held one. They walked over to the fire pits and lite their arrows on fire. Once the arrows were lite, they released the arrows onto the funeral pyres. You could hear the crackling of the wood, mixed with the combination of burning wood and skin. It was sickening. The flames consumed the entirety of what was once our pack members. I watched as ashes burned and lite the sky; like millions fire flies. I'm not sure what came over me but I felt compelled to shift. Watching my mom burn, stirred something inside me. The sun was almost set. I forced shifted and the rest of the pack and my dad followed suit. Watching in my wolf form, I let out a painfully sorrow of a howl and the rest joined me and we said goodbye as your loved ones lifted into the sky for their external rest.