EIGHT
1183 Words
LILY:
The car slows to a stop at the temple, where the funeral is taking place.
There are a lot of cars parked, so I can tell the building is full.
Fear lodges in my throat as fingers twitch around the straps of my heavy, gold-plate purse.
Olsen steps out first and opens my door like a gentleman. He extends a hand.
I take it, stepping out.
We head towards the temple doors.
The first gasp is sudden. Then more follow, spreading through the crowd like a gas leak.
We’ve arrived too late for subtlety — the last mourners are filing past the casket for their final viewing. The media is behind the ropes, but the moment they catch sight of us, all hell breaks loose.
“Luna Lily, why did you arrive without Alpha Vergil?”
“Did you arrive with Alpha Olsen?”
“Are you two—”
“Has the marriage ended already?”
“Luna Lily! Look this way!”
My heart kicks against my ribs, but the feeling of being called Luna is great. This lessens the tension in my chest.
All eyes are on me, but I search for a particular one, and soon our eyes lock.
There he is, in front of the temple, beside the open casket in his dark funeral robes.
His eyes narrow with a locked jaw. I can tell he’s furious, which causes my stomach to curl itself in cold panic.
“Enough!” the priest’s voice booms through the temple.
“This is a sacred place! Control yourselves or leave!”
Sharply, I look away, smiling at the cameras. I loop my arm tighter around Olsen’s and lean toward the microphones.
“Please let’s keep our questions respectful. This is a funeral.”
Olsen gently releases my arm, giving me a nod of support before stepping aside, and I walk through the aisle of seats, keeping my head high.
“Would the future Luna kindly come forward for the viewing?” the priest announces, and I feel a swell of pride in me. “Everyone else, clear the aisle.”
People shuffle backward while I walk forward. I do not notice Elena until I get there to see she is blocking my path a bit, clearly angry I am getting attention.
I ignore her, trying not to start any drama, but then I hear her loud enough.
“Whore.”
I stop walking as her words cut deep into me. My fingers grip my purse tighter, and I forget how to think.
I swing the purse.
With a loud thud, my purse connects with her jaw, just beneath her cheekbone.
Elena’s head jerks, and she gasps, stumbling back.
“Ouch!” I yelp, grabbing my ankle, and turning to face her.
All eyes fall on the both of us, and then she shrieks.
“She hit me on purpose!” Elena yells, and my face morphs into horror as I turn to look at her with pitiful eyes.
“Oh, Elena, I’m so sorry.” I rush to her side. “I didn’t even see you there. Are you alright? I must have slipped.”
She clutches her face, which is slowly swelling.
“She’s lying! She hit me! She—!”
The guards start approaching on the signal of an elder.
“Please escort her out. She’s disturbing the ceremony,” the priest commands.
In no time, arms are around her, and I try so hard to keep the smile threatening to surface.
“No! She…wait, you can’t—!”
Elena’s voice trails off as the guards take her by the elbows, guiding her toward the exit. Her sobs echo through the temple, and I hate the fact I cannot rub it in her face until later. So, I place a hand on my chest, feigning concern.
“Please carry on,” the priest says, drawing me back to the present, and I turn around, walking to the casket for the viewing.
I notice Vergil’s gaze is still on me, but I do not care. I force tears out of my eyes, wiping them with a tissue as I am escorted to a seat by a guard.
I do not sit close to Vergil because I do not want to hear what he has to say. When no one is looking, I glance at him with a smile so he knows not to play with me next time.
One by one, they will learn, including him.
**
The rest of the funeral comes to an end in the twinkle of an eye, and Alpha Sebastian is laid to rest. At the reception, I keep to myself, sipping a drink I barely taste, smiling politely at the Elders who pass by. Olsen’s off speaking with some Pack leaders, and I am not in the mood to scheme as Vergil is nowhere to be found to witness them.
My father wasn’t present at the funeral, and a part of me is relieved because he wouldn’t be proud of me, witnessing what just happened. I owe him for putting me through school even though he had to borrow sometimes, but I hated some things he did. He was hard on me.
“Things do not come easily for people like us. You gotta dream, but you have to dream according to your capacity.” His words echo in my head.
“I wish you success, but know that if it doesn’t come as planned, then it is the will of the goddess. You do not need to go low and dirty like the rich. Remember, everyone will account to the goddess when they die, and you cannot leave this world with riches.”
He is wrong! I cannot leave with riches, but neither can I leave with poverty! I must survive.
Gulping down the content left in the glass, I decide to leave the room to get some air away from the drama. I barely step into the hallway when hands wrap around my wrist, yanking me into the dark.
Before I can speak, I’m shoved firmly against the wall. My back presses cold against the polished surface, and Vergil stares down at me with bloodshot eyes.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he asks coldly as his hands cage me. “Are you trying to humiliate me?”
I stare him down, unblinking.
“Funny. I was about to ask you the same thing.”
His jaw ticks.
“You walked in here like you own the f*****g Pack.”
“Isn’t that what a Luna’s supposed to do?” I cut him off, not minding his fury.
“And who the hell made you Luna?” he retorts, earning a scoff from me.
He inches closer, and the space between us becomes nonexistent.
“Behave, Lily. Or I’ll—”
I cut him off, lifting my chin defiantly.
“Or you’ll what? Moan my name again in your sleep?”
A wave of shock runs through my body as Vergil freezes with eyes wide…
- Writer
