Warrior (Book Three of The Silver Society)

Chapter Ten

CHAPTER TEN

Two days after Beth's fifteenth birthday, she was sitting in a church in a black dress as the funeral was held. It was one of the only churches in downtown Salem, and her parents had been part of their community for years. Beth felt ashamed to be sitting in a church mourning the parents she had helped kill. What right did she have to be there?

The turn-out was larger than Beth had expected. Several members of the supernatural community had shown up, as had her father's clients and secretaries, her mother's co-workers and patients, nearly half of the students from Bishop High School, several staff members from the school, neighbors, store owners, and just about anyone else from the community that the Ashfords had touched. Salem's poster family had just been torn in half, and everyone wanted to pay their respects.

Or maybe they're just here to gawk, Beth thought.

As the priest led the service, Beth struggled to focus. His words made no sense in her mind. Nothing made sense anymore. How could they be gathered to mourn the passing of two wonderful members of the community when those same people happened to be warlocks? How could she pretend to find comfort in the meaningless words of those who claimed to have known her parents?

No one knew them, she thought. Not a single one of us knew a damned thing about them.

"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust..." The priest said.

Flames to ashes. Ashes to dust. Nothing but ashes. Nothing but worthless, meaningless ashes... Nothing at all... Beth recited to herself.

"Nothing..." Beth whispered aloud.

"Beth?" Jade asked softly. "Are you okay?"

Even Jade and Aideen had shown up to pay their respects and be supportive of Beth and Kevin in their time of need despite how much they both hated churches, a fact Beth would have really appreciated if she wasn't so numb. Instead, she felt nothing, even as she knew she was actually feeling everything.

"No," Beth replied firmly. "No, I'm not okay." She stood up and fled from the church. Jade rushed after her as everyone stared at them.

When Beth couldn't breathe anymore, she stopped running. She was in the cemetery where her mother's memorial stone and her father's body were going to be placed. She nearly vomited at that thought, but Jade knelt beside her and grounded her.

"Deep breaths," Jade coached her gently. "It's going to be okay."

"No it's not! It's never going to be okay!" Beth screamed. "This can't be fixed! Even you can't save me from this, Jade!"

"You're right," Jade replied calmly. "But you can survive this, Beth. I know you're stronger than you think you are."

"I'm weak. I'm nothing."

"If you were weak, they wouldn't be trying so hard to kill you. You're strong, Beth, and clearly, there is something special about you. We just have to find out what it is."

"Before anyone else dies because of me, right?"

"You didn't ask for this, Beth. It's not your fault."

Beth started crying again. "I can't do this, Jade. I can't keep going."

"Yes you can, and you will."

"I'm scared," Beth admitted.

"I know you are. It's okay, Beth. It's natural to be afraid. Just don't give in to the fear. Keep fighting. I promise you'll get through this."