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Chapter 26 - Chapter 25: Laid To Rest

The Winchester Gardens, Cemetery, Southport, New Jersey.....

   Heavy clouds filled to bursting swirled about the open sky as they loomed over citizens who stood puzzled over the senseless and brutal death that rocked their small community. Savannah put on a brave face as she stood amid the tombstones dressed rather appropriately in black as the onset of rain pelted against the lot of them foolish enough to stand in its path. Savannah's blue eyes stared down at the silver casket that was chosen for her father's service. She thought it was appropriate because her father was a Werewolf Hunter. It had the bonus of making the werewolves present at the funeral uncomfortable so there was that. Ron was surprisingly well dressed for the occasion wearing an expensive black suit and shiny dress shoes similar to the style his father had on this occasion as he stood beside Savannah playing the role of a supportive "long lost uncle" for the sake of the mortals present.

Savannah was treated to the barrage of outpouring pity and sympathy both of which annoyed her to no end, but she remained polite as her late father had taught her to be for much of her life. The friends that she had managed to make when coming to this place at the tender age of seven were present with their respective families as well including the friend whom she'd spent the night with when her father's murder occurred.

Skylar Runnels, a thin pale blonde-haired teen girl who had befriended Savannah ever since she's been seven years old and newly arrived in Southport, New Jersey. Skylar's mother, Valerie was also a thin pale blonde with vibrant blue eyes and a mother-like disposition, and her father Tim was a tall man with a fair complexion and deep brown eyes who wore glasses constantly due to his poor eyesight, the Runnels family were always a friendly means of support for The Harlowe family, especially when Victor had to go out of town for business.

Valerie was like a second mother to Savannah and likely saw her as her surrogate other daughter. They cared nothing for the minor issues concerning complexion nor blood status as the concerned woman approached Savannah after the eulogy and they commenced lowering the casket into the ground.

"I'm so sorry about your father, hone," said Valerie as tears continued to cascade down her face. "Victor was such a good man and he loved you very much...I hope you remember that."

Savannah nodded in agreement neglecting to mention how much her father "loved her" enough to leave her in the company of supernatural monsters.

Valerie took a few moments to come to the question that had been most at the forefront of her mind ever since she arrived at the service. The official reports had said he was killed due to a vicious animal attack and bled out on his living room floor after attempting to escape. There was no mention of a second body of course as the rising of the sun took care of that evidence long before it was discovered.

"Savannah, if you don't mind my asking...who is that man that accompanied you here today?" asked Valerie her mothering instincts kicking into full drive.

Savannah had been prepared for the questions and simply motioned for Ron to join in on the conversation.

"I am told Ron here is my uncle," she replied. "My father's long lost brother who happened to have a career in modeling and a lot of money in the bank."

"An uncle?" asked Valerie skeptical as she arched a brow while Ron made his way over toward them.

"Is there something you need Vannah?" he asked knowing his absurd nickname annoyed Savannah to no end.

"Mrs. Runnels wanted to meet you, Uncle Ron." she replied putting direct emphasis on the term "Uncle" knowing that he despised it almost as she despised his name for her.

"So you are Victor's younger brother?" asked Valerie watching him with no attempt to hide her suspicion.

"Ah yes Victor and I tended not to see eye to eye on a lot of things, but being the only family one another has left there were some concessions to be mad, " replied Ron. "I'm Ron Hemming by the way, Victor and I didn't share the same father and even less of the same views on the world...he had his life and I had mine, Nonetheless I was sorry to hear about his passing and the fact that it left my only niece in a precarious state as it were."

Valerie seemed to back down a bit considering the true intricate aspects of natural mortal families having similar issues.

"Well at least Savannah has a close relative to lean on," she said. "I'm Valerie by the way, Valerie Runnels and this is my husband Timothy and our daughter Skylar, she and Savannah have been friends since they were seven....back when Victor and Savannah first moved here."

Ron dutifully shook Timothy's hand as the man looked him over, clearly intimidated by his handsome looks and air of personal wealth. Skylar seemed to have a different opinion about Ron altogether as she was very familiar with the buzz about town about Ron's modeling career. She had an interest in modeling herself but never mentioned it to anyone let alone her parents or best friend due to that aspect being a private thing for her.

Ron turned his attention to Skylar and kissed her hand as his father often taught him to when greeting ladies in person. Timothy seemed annoyed by this as he cleared his throat in a bid to get his daughter to stop swooning over the older man as Savannah attempted to hold back a chuckle at the uncomfortable situation.

"I suppose Savannah is well in hand," said Timothy fixing his glasses as a means of conveying his annoyance. "What do you say we do this some other time when not in the middle of the rain."

Ron nodded in agreement.

"Will you be staying in town for long?" asked Valerie still wishing to probe for more information about this mysterious handsome man.

"Indeed," replied Ron casually. "I've got an apartment here in the Regalway Towers."

Timothy's mouth was agape for a bit after Ron revealed this and went back to adjusting his glasses.

"That's quite an expensive place to liv," he said unsure why this man had bothered him so much.

"I can afford it, the perks of a lucrative career in modeling and a background in chemistry," replied Ron impressing the mortals with his superior talents.

Valerie smiled unsure of what to make of Savannah's handsome and decidedly wealthy new uncle.

"See you at school," said Skylar hugging her best friend before making the first move to get her parents away from Ron Hemming. "Come on Mom, Dad it's getting wet out here."

Timothy bid Ron farewell and Valerie followed after hugging Savannah herself and shaking Ron's hand before leaving.

Ron seemed to have handled being in the line of fire quite well and even enjoyed needling the mortal Timothy a bit. He turned his attention to the less-than-amused Savannah as she stared at the mound where her father's casket used to be. He could feel the overwhelming sense of sadness that was radiating off the teenage girl and suspected she took advantage of the guise the rain provided and let the tears flow freely down her lovely young face.

For whatever it was worth, they had finally laid "Victor" veteran wolf hunter, Malcolm Rhys Lowell III to rest and Ron himself had paid for the arranged service due to the behest of his daughter Savannah.

Try as he might Ron would never understand why Victor entrusted him with his only child, but he was determined to keep her out of the clutches of the Vampirians.