Lone Survivors

XVII (Funeral Derangements)

"Marcy..."

I flinched, after twenty-seven years the sound of my mother's name still hurt. Spencer, Johnny, and Chris stood alongside Elaine at the foot of the steps. They were all dressed nicely in dress shirts, slacks, and shoes. Spencer offered me his arm; I placed my hand on top of it squeezing it for dear life. It had been Chris who called me by my mother's name I'd seen his eyes flash black. He took another sip from my flask pain in his eyes. Elaine led the way back to the SUV tears falling silently down her face making me wonder once again if she and my aunt had been more. My phone vibrated in my pocket; I pulled it out reading Amias' message.

Whitlock got to Nadine and Milo. I used the last of the holy water to reduce our number of suspects. Ice Nine Kills, Black Veil Brides, and Lilith Czar are clean. Our parents' killer is in Motionless in White. I wish you luck in finding the bastard.

Oh! Head's up Whitlock vanished, the only thing I managed to get out of Toshi were the words, "Snitch is about to get what's coming to her". Watch your back, Cap.

"Everything okay Koala Bear?" Elaine asked.

"Amias texted me, he wanted to give me a status report." I slid my phone back into my pocket. "Can I ask you a personal question?"

"If you can ask me properly." She glanced at me.

"May I ask you a personal question, about you and my aunt. Were you two together?" I asked the one question I had had on my mind for years.

"We couldn't be as public as couples nowadays. She said I kept her human. For years I had no idea what that meant. What I do know is that she regretted everything she put you through." Elaine pulled into the parking lot of Saint Mary's. My parents were married here to appease my grandparents. Spencer's parents had done the same in the synagogue across the street. My heartbeat sped up in my chest, demons were not allowed on holy ground. One step and they would burn up like roman candles.

We'll be fine Kaitlynn, we are older than we look.

My eyes grew wide upon hearing Chris' voice in my head. He handed the flask over to Spencer and Johnny. The instructions were clear, a single sip would weaken the demon inside of them for the service. They would be able to enter the church without consequence. Elaine gave them all a disapproving look until Chris explained it was only water.

"Interesting choice." Elaine kept her eyes on Chris specifically. I stepped out looking up at the building I had only see in pictures. My parents were cremated, a small wake had been held at the house. Caroline brought me into the house kicking and screaming. The only thing that kept me grounded was Kurt.

Spencer's arm went around my waist, on the surface he looked calm. I saw the anger in his eyes. I tried to meet his gaze during the drive, he refused to even look at me. I felt a sting deep in my heart. I took his hand, squeezing it tightly, a silent plea for him to say something. The idea of my best friend, my boyfriend, being angry at me did not sit well on my conscience. I pulled him into the hallway opening the door revealing a quiet room, a room where mothers could take their fussy babies to avoid disrupting the service.

"Spencie, we need to talk." I began.

"He's the reason our parents are dead Koala and you're defending him!" His eyes were black the room growing colder with every breath I took.

"Chris Cerulli didn't do a goddamn thing to our mom and dad Spencer Charnas. The demon who took over his body did. If we kill him, we kill Chris and I am not about to have an innocent man's death on my conscience!" I exclaimed the lights overhead flickering.

"She is right Spencer."

Spencer's eyes flickered to normal his reflection crossing his arms over his chest. I sighed in relief glad I at least had someone in my corner.