DEMON HUNT

Chapter 28: The funeral.

Three days after the Captains' council meeting, a few dozen hunters gather to see off Lisandro at an open field. They are all casually dressed, but Toro stands out because of his style of dressing, which entails covering his entire body. Captains Nicole, Toro, Omero, and Malcolm are in attendance, but there's no sign of Sinister. The captains stand close to Lisandro's body, which is covered with a big white piece of clothing, and placed on an elevated concrete structure,which is less than four foot tall,while the other hunters stand behind them. Also in attendance are Mari, Mario, Sung, Nick, and Renard. After minutes of mostly silent prayers, flowers are laid next to a framed picture of Lisandro, just by the structure. Hunter by hunter, they walk forward to lay their flowers. A process which ends shortly due to their relatively small number. As requested by Lisandro while he was still alive, his body is set to be cremated. His ashes will be gathered in a jar, which will be buried at an undisclosed location on Sunset beach. Malcolm moves away from the group, and gives Sinister a phone call. Sinister answers the phone.

Malcolm: (over the phone) Captain Sinister, where are you?

Sinister: (over the phone) Apparently, you can address me simply as "Sinister". You're a captain now. You even broke Toro's record. You became Captain in a matter of seconds.

Malcolm: (over the phone) We're seeing off Captain Lisandro,and less than fifty hunters are present. What's striking is that even you, a captain, is absent.

Sinister: (over the phone) I'm rather busy today. I'm really not interested in whatever you lot think you're doing there. I'm not going to attend the funeral of a man who didn't take my advice. If there's nothing else you'd like to say, then I think I can hangup now.

Malcolm: (over the phone) Don't...

Sinister hangs up. Malcolm exhales deeply and begins to make his way back to the group. He whispers to the other captains.

Malcolm: He's not coming.

Nicole: (softly) That's just sad.

Omero: It's beyond sad. It's unaccepta...

Omero's statement is interrupted by mutters from behind. The captains all turn to see what's happening. The group divides into two parts, creating room for a handsome young man to walk through. He is casually dressed, wearing a T-shirt and a pair of trousers, and carrying a wrap of beautiful flowers in his arms . He walks through the space created by the other hunters, and makes his way to Lisandro's covered body. He drops the flowers among the others,and folds the cloth just enough to allow him see Lisandro's face. After a few seconds, he covers the face, and walks back, as he takes his place among the other captains. He is Captain Charleston Stoltenberg. To end the process, Lisandro's body is cremated and his ashes are gathered afterwards. Toro walks away from the scene, and sits on the short green grass of the field. Charleston notices his absence and joins him.

Charleston: Not the welcome I was expecting.

Toro: It's a funeral.

Charleston: The numbers are impressive, considering the person being sent off.

Toro: I wonder how many people will show up at your funeral.

Charleston: Thousands of ladies for sure.

Charleston winks at Toro.

Toro: You haven't changed a bit since I last saw you. You're still childish, and you're still a flirt.

Charleston: I'm not childish.

Toro: Says the man who wears a cape as part of his uniform.

Charleston: You're still a turn off. How has council fared since I last attended.