As The Snow Falls

Anamnesis Records (Two)

Lilith hated funerals. It wasn't a trait specific to her, obviously. Everyone and their mother hated funerals.

But this, Lilith was sure she was the only person who hated this one. Everyone at her sisters had tear-filled heartfelt services. The halls were completely silent except for a sniffle and a sob, but this one, it was filled with whispers.

She was in the front. That was a horrible decision to make. Valya- Andromeda, had no family. She had the Queen and Lilith. Roisin hadn't bothered to make the trek from the coast. So Queen Pedaiah had granted Lilith a seat made for the family. Perhaps to make Andromeda feel less lonely in death.

And so she sat, the black dress and cloak drowning her entire form. She knew she looked awful. Her eyes were swollen and bloodshot, she could feel her nose running like a late spring rain, her hands and knees shook. The service hadn't even started. The place where the casket would go was still empty. She didn't know if she would be able to see the small wooden box standing at the front of the hall, its black surface supporting a small bouquet of white flowers.

"Are you alright, my dear?" She felt a hand on her back. She jumped, looking surprised. Queen Pedaiah's dusty blue eyes stared back at her, filled with concern.

"It's my best friend's funeral, Your Majesty. I don't think I have the honor to say that I am well." The response slipped from her lips before she could stop it. She was a far way from her family, who were still sitting in the back. The invitation had extended to them, but...

"I'm not sitting in the front of a witches' funeral!" Her father's words rang harshly in Lilith's ears, his tone still ringing like a boomerang in her mind.

"I'm truly sorry you are here alone." Queen Pedaiah's hand stayed still and steady, her hand reaching for tissues beside her. "If I knew that your family would be... more opposed to the offer, I wouldn't have made it. You know, Miss Phoca was never..." Queen Pedaiah seemed to be oddly at a loss for words.

"She wished she could be here with me today." Lilith picked up the broken pieces of Queen Pedaiah's apology.

"I'm sure she would've. That girl, she was so bright. I'm at the greatest disadvantage in losing her." The Queen offered more tissues, in which Lilith accepted gratefully. "I would never force her to return to the castle, but she is always welcome among my court. Even as a guest." Tears fell gradually, Queen Pedaiah's kind offers pressing too hard on Lilith's fragile heart.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Lilith answered, her voice wobbly. Her hand pressed over her mouth so as to not fill the hall with her ugly sobs. Queen Pedaiah placed a firm hand over Lilith's shoulders, resting her cheek against her hair.

A small part of her wished she never came to the funeral. Would Andromeda have wanted such a thing? A room full of people who didn't care about her, ones who rejoiced in her death? She would have wanted Lilith to be here. Lilith would have been of comfort to her. She had to be.

She stayed through the ten more excruciating minutes until the service started, when the little old man got up into the podium, blessing the ground that the small black casket would be laid on, the speeches made by Queen Pedaiah, Andromeda and Lilith's teachers. Originally, Lilith was given a slot for a speech, but everytime she tried to write it, her tears would smear the newly-laid ink.

Her heart all but stopped beating when the back doors opened. Her gaze was fixed to the white marble ground as the squeaking wheels of the casket moved along the ground. That's when she heard it. The sound of something wet hitting a wooden surface. Her head raised itself slowly to see a tall, burly man, his face the color or burgundy. His beard took up the majority of his chin, a black robe wrapped around himself in mourning. Mr. Cross, Vika's father. Lilith had seen him at the larger funeral for the rest of her classmates.