A War Against Volto - Sequel to While You Sleep (Complete)

Epilogue

Smoothing down the front of my dress, I took one more look in the mirror. Black usually looked good on me but considering the reason behind the day's ensemble, I could help but wish to be in any other colour.

"Trouble! Are you nearly ready?" Gabe's voice was muffled by the door but I could tell by the tone that if I didn't get a move on we would be late.

"Coming!" I sighed, turning slowly to pick up the paper bag that had been sitting on the bed since Axel had called with details of the funeral. It was something that I had felt compelled to purchase but I hadn't wanted to touch it until I had to.

My need to stay close to the boys had proven to be a blessing on that score - my night's had been spent in Dr Green's bed with at least two of them bunking in with me.

Gabriel raised an eyebrow when he saw the unmarked bag but didn't comment, his arm wrapping tightly around my waist as we walked steadily towards the front door where the others were waiting solemnly in their black suits.

It had been just over a week since Karen had been arrested and although everything felt slightly abnormal, the Blackbourne team was slowly healing. Even their families were getting back to life which made my heart rejoice - they were all due a little normality.

I stepped into Victor's BMW, clutching my precious cargo as the scenery whizzed by and I tried to settled the heaving of my stomach. The Toma team had requested that they be given time alone to grieve which everyone had respected but Corey had called me the night before to warn us that the casket would be open and although the people at the funeral home had apparently done a wonderful job, it might still be a shock.

Victor took one hand off of the wheel and covered my own, his fingers cold, saying more than anything about the state of his own thoughts.

"Are you ok?" I asked in a quiet voice, not wanting to interrupt Luke and Gabriel's conversation in the backseat.

"Yeah, I've just had enough of funerals."

Of course. The ceremony for the Morgans had been a little rushed but once Karen had been arrested Victor had wanted to put them to rest as soon as possible.

"Me too," I agreed, turning back to the window as we pulled up to the church where I noticed an abundance of Academy members gathering around to offer their support to the six young men standing a distance away, their pain obvious.

As much as I didn't want to be here, I wouldn't be anywhere else.

By the time we had all exited the cars, the crowd thinning out as they started to make their way into the church. I barely nodded at anyone who offered a greeting, the bag passing over into Owen's hands just I stepped into Raven's waiting arms.

"Little bird," He murmured into my hair. "Thank you for coming."

"Of course," I answered, trying to comfort him in any way that I could. He was my best friend, my brother and I was hurting for him, my heart bleeding for his loss.

I heard my boys offering their condolences and speaking quietly to the Toma team as I just let Raven hold on.

"It's time," A stranger intruded quietly, his voice solemn.

Raven sniffed, pulling away and waving us into the church just as I noticed that the courtyard was now completely empty.

I wanted to stay with them but Sean grabbed my hand as Owen respectively placed the bag back in my spare hand.

After what we'd already been through, I should have been prepared for the sight of Kayli in the casket but the lack of life in her face tore my heart apart and I had to rip my hand away from Sean in order to cover my mouth. She had still been so young, and so in love no matter all their problems.

A table had been set up for people to place flowers and candles on but I carefully reached into the bag and pulled out the gorgeous brown bear that I had purchased for this very moment. Since the cause of death was well known, Dr Roberts had pulled a number of strings and spared Kayli an autopsy but it also meant that the possibility of her pregnancy was still unknown, and in some strange way I think that Kayli would have preferred it that way. She loved her boys and I don't think that she would have wanted them to be left grieving for a child they would never be able to hold.

But I knew, and no matter whether it had been true or not, the idea was alive and I would always remember.

I placed the teddy carefully beside Kayli, silently promising to keep her secret as she had begged me to. I also made the vow that I would take care of her family in any way that I could - including Wil, who had been released without charge, and who would always carry the guilt of sister's murder around with him. Punishment enough I believed.

Karen was awaiting trial and steps had been taken to ensure that everything she had done would never reach fruition. The Academy was safe and I had been blessed with the safety of my family.

There was nothing that I would ask for. Nothing more that I needed.

The only thing left to do was live my life and try to make sure that everyone around me was able to live theirs too.