The Dark Ones

Chapter Twenty: United

Georgia stood with her head down as she stared at the coffin in front of her while the Priest addressed the mourners. A single tear rolled down her cheek. So many of her childhood memories of Abbi came flitting back to her mind now. She felt guilty about how tainted they used to seem. Between her parents, extended family, and the doctors always telling her that Abbi was crazy, she used to look back on their time together with a level of discomfort.

It always felt like her Abbi was lost and nothing she had ever said to her was worth remembering. She knew that Abbi loved and favored her more than her cousins. That part was always obvious. She could still picture the huge smile that would spread on her face whenever Angela took her to visit Abbi as a child.

"ven aquí mi niña," she would say, holding out her arms widely to embrace her.

"Come here my little girl," it meant.

The words rang through her mind now and made her tears fall faster. Hayden was beside her and put his arm around her shoulder. It felt comforting to have it there—to have him there. They were all in black. Hayden's black collared shirt and tie, and his black overcoat fit him like a glove. He looked so distinguished and handsome, even with the somber expression on his face. As she thought back on all her childhood interactions with Abbi now, she struggled to remember any trace of them.

She remembered there were many tales about wolves and monsters and "the dark ones".

Her mom used to get angry whenever she heard Abbi speaking about this.

"Stop scaring the child, mama," she would scold her.

Now Georgia realized that all she was trying to do was warn her and prepare her. She was a Luna now, as strong and graceful as Abbi could have ever dreamed. The priest droned on. Her mother sat beside her, sobbing as her father held her. It was another gray and gloomy day. It seemed to fit everyone's mood.

Finally, she heard the Priest say, "And now I'd like to call up one of Abbi's grandchildren, Georgia Luna Pearce."

Hayden stood and held her hand. Earlier that day when he'd seen the printed funeral program and learned Georgia's full name for the first time, they'd shared a private chuckle.

"I'm guessing Abbi gave you your middle name?" he said.

Georgia had smiled and replied, "Mom said she insisted on it. I guess she could sense it inside me from the day I was born."

As Hayden walked her up to the makeshift pulpit that had been set up near the gravesite, her heart was heavy. She wobbled slightly in the black stilettos she wore; the heels digging into the soft earth below her feet with every step. She wished she could have had more time with Abbi now that she understood the full extent of their true bond as grandmother and granddaughter. Once she was behind the pulpit and seemed steady enough, Hayden left her there and took his seat again.

She took a deep breath and looked around. The special chain and pendant she wore glinted a little as it dangled around her neck. The silver color of it contrasted against the black dress coat she wore over a simple black, knee-length dress, as much as the gray sky above contrasted with her golden hair. There was a sea of familiar faces and black clothing, only Father Gonzales contrasted them all in his beautiful white and gold robes as he stood to the side now. Some of her aunts and cousins were sobbing while the other family members watched on with sad expressions on their faces.

She couldn't help but also notice that two of her cousins, Jemma and Paulina, wore slightly icy expressions as they watched her up there. They were sisters and had always envied the fact that Abbi favored Georgia over them. She ignored them and steadied her breath. A chilly breeze swept past. She looked out at the crowd again. Benny and Lisa sat in the front row near Hayden. They both gave her sad looks but she was grateful to have them there.