The Seven Seraphim

Epilogue

Sarah ran to Sam, put her arms around her friend and pleaded. "Please, fight it. Please. Sam, you need to hold on. Think of Jake. Think of what he stood for. Please, consider what he did. What he would want you to do. Please." Luke pulled her away and she turned her eyes away. 

"Sarah, look." Luke said. She slowly looked at her friend, and the black faded, leaving a sobbing Sam crying on the floor. Jim picked her up, and gave her a hug. EJ and LJ stepped in and put their huge arms around the two. Then Luke and Sarah stepped in, comforting their new sister, and encouraging her. 

Charde was pleased with the outcome. She knew Jake had had a rough time after Jak had died. But everything would be better now. Everything was right. 

A WEEK LATER

The small group of eight sat silently through the funeral, holding back tears. The news story was that Jake was found, like his brother, in an alley. The verdict was that he was killed as a gang initiation. His biological mother, who Charde had contacted, was sobbing at the loss of her other son. Sam showed sympathy for her, but her pain was deeper. It was one thing to lose a family member, it was another to lose your true love. Or, the closet thing. 

As asked, the funeral directors let the eight people stay until after closing. Then, each of them stood up, and payed their tribute to their fallen comrade.

Sarah and Charde did nothing to hide their tears. They cried over the body, said some nice, touching words, then sat down. Sarah cried on Charde's shoulder. Jake was like her older brother, and she knew he loved her like a sister. Nothing was fair, but it was how it was. Nothing could change it. 

EJ and LJ made some joke, then grew serious and apologized for not jumping in sooner. Sam heard their story. they were the last ones, besides Jak and Jake, and weren't really close to Jake. They hung out with Jak, and respected Jake for his honor and leadership. 

Jim held back his tears as long as he could, but broke down, and Sarah pulled away. Jim kept saying that he should have engaged her first. "I should have-could have sacrificed myself. Maybe then-then he'd still be-"

"Jim," Sarah said. "It's not your fault. You couldn't have known."

"None of us did." Luke said, as he stood and stared at his brother-in-arms. Everybody's attention went to him. "He was courageous, and valiant. And too dang stubborn. You idiot!" He yelled at the coffin. "You just left me! You chivalrous, stuck-up, cocky, jerk." Tears streamed down his face and Sam tried to comfort him. "I just want him back." He said as he pushed her away and sat down.

Sam looked at the body of Jake and shed a single tear. She had done her crying in the lab underground. "We'll continue your legacy, Love. I promise." She  turned around and spoke to her comrades. 

"Well? Aren't we? What do we do now? Are we going to just sit by and let this go? What will we do to carry on Jake's legacy? I'll tell you what we will do. Mom, you said that the Seraphim spread the power. We keep the peace, and that is exactly what Jake would want! So, which of you will stand with me against the darkness of the world? Who will help me carry on our friend's legacy?" 

The crowd of seven went crazy, and Sam kissed Jake good-bye for good, and sealed the coffin.