Shadow Wagner The Slayer - Do I Belong? (Book 1)

>Chapter Nineteen<

~Chapter Nineteen - Their Grief~

Aaren's POV

I stand, almost frozen in time. Lord Sylvie walks slower than she ever has towards the dead Lord. She jumps when Danny rockets by her and slides on his knees down to her side. Tears stream from his eyes, "Shadow, SHADOW, SHADOW! Don't leave me! You cant leave them, us, me!" He shouts, hoping it will bring her back. Travis, Loyd, Scott and a few others run to us. "What?! What happened..." Scotts voice trails into nothingness after taking one glance at Shadow. "S-Shes dead... I... I can't believe it..." Sylv mumbles inaudibly. I stand speechless. "She cant be dead..." I mumble, tears threatening to spill from my eyes. I look to Danny, his forehead sits on the stomach of our old friend. Xander, Gabriel, and Victor come sprinting. Victor freezes behind Xander and Gabriel, who had tensed up. "Please, m-move..." Victor stutters, tears already coming from his eyes. Danny scoots over a bit and Victor plops down next to him. 

"I never got to apologize... Mom, you cant let her give up like that..." He sobs, shoving his head into his hands to avert his eyes from his sister. 

Victor's POV

I avert my eyes my glaring into my hand. I feel a heat glowing from my eyes, green clouding the vision on my left eye. My eyes fall closed and then open again, the green disappearing. A voice enters my head, "Im sorry, my son..." Mom. "Mom... I never apologized to her for what I did. Now she's dead...?" My sobs become silent as I stand up, bringing my sister with me. "She was too young..." I mumble aloud. Aaren drags his feet to my side and puts a hand on my shoulder. 

10 MINUTES LATER

Xander's POV

We all stand in front of a stone with our heads down, tears falling from our eyes, silent sobs can be heard faintly. "Would anyone... Would anyone wish to speak?" Lord Phoenix asks. Victor steps up;

"Shadow Gillian Wagner, my younger sister, daughter of good and evil, lord, friend, and family. I hope you can hear me, but I apologize for everything I ever did to you. And you of all people should know I love you. Today marks the day you had slipped from my grasp, leaving all of us, me more than most, broken in pieces. You were good, even though you did things that labeled you bad. Deep down, you knew you were good. Your old village had driven you to show people how you felt. Deep down, you knew it was wrong. I will visit another time, others wish to speak. I love you, sissy, please forgive me..."

His voice cracked in many places during his speech, choking back sobs and fighting off tears. "Xander, Gabriel, Danny, Sylvie?" Victor croaks out recommendations. Gabriel steps up;

"Shadow Gillian Wagner, my dear leader, friend, and foe, lord, and family. You had to be the best person I ever met. You had similar relations to us, in the fact that the three of us were monsters of a sort. We knew we weren't monsters, but with what we had accomplished, we sure felt like it. Grudges being held against us for what we were, what magicks we held, the murders we committed, the things we stole, all to show others what we felt. Im so sorry about the way we treated you after you dad had possed you to destroy Acorntop. I realize now it was stupid of me, us, to act the way we did; childish it was. I love you and don't forget it..."

Gabe drops a blue rose onto the grave. I watch as it floats down and lands on the ground.

After many speeches, we all leave for our villages. "Please protect this village in her place," Aaren's voice cracks, asking Danny. "I will, nothing will top her though..." Danny sobs. We all nod in agreement. We set off for the docks, after saying our goodbyes to the other lords and the guards they had left. We board our boat. "Acorntop, Jack..." Lord Sylvie sobs. He looks at her worriedly and sympathetically, "Yes, my lord." 

5 DAYS LATER

I run to the guard tower with a note in hand, wiping tears as I run. The door gets broken off its hinges from the force I hit it at. Heads jerk up. "Xander?! Are you ok?!" Loyd stands up, wiping his own tears. Scott walks over to me and hauls me up. I look at Sylv, "A note. Pre-written." I hold the note up. "Read it aloud, please." She sniffs a few times before blowing into a tissue. I nod and clear my throat, then read;

"Acorntop,

If you are reading this, I have died. During our day of the war, I had left to my study to write this. I ordered Raven brought this note to you two days after my death. I don't care how I died, but you mustn't blame yourselves. A few words of inspiration; The past doesn't define today, who you are, or who you shall become. Keep your head up. Be wary of who your friends with, for they may defect and leave you, hurt you, or break you in ways you don't know. I love you all, so please, don't blame yourselves. I died for a good reason; defending my village. I hope if you all are hearing this, you are alive, and if not, I hope to see you.

Xander, Gabe, I love you both like brothers. I know what we did in the past was wrong, stealing, killing, so-on, because of anger, because we wanted others to feel the pain of losing someone close, losing all they had. 

Victor, you are the best brother anyone could ever ask for, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. 

Acorntop, I love you all, please, stay strong. I don't need to lose more than I already lost.

I hope you guys are all reading this.

                    I love you,

                                                                 ~Shadow Gillian Wagner."

After reading, we are all have returned to tears. "She was a good person, I knew it..." Travis croaks in a tired, raspy voice. We all haven't slept for five days since we left Cherrymore. "My poor sister, she was too young..." Victor sobs loudly, earning a few back rubs from Scott and Xander. Heads hang low as I trudge to Sylvie. "Keep this," She nods and lightly grabs it from my hands. The silver-haired lord stands up and jogs back to her house. "Come on, guys. We all need sleep. We haven't slept for five days, it's not healthy. After the sleep, I'll make us all something to eat, for we haven't eaten for the time span either." Sighs erupt from the boys as the climb the ladder to their rooms, me bringing up the rear. 

Third-Person POV

The boys all settle into their comfortable beds, eyes dropping sleepily, forcing them to sleep. In the beautiful house nearby, the Acorntop Lord lies in her bed after putting the note on her wall next to the bed. They fall into sleep, their minds drift into the nothingness of space, dreams not sparking. Shapes of all kinds cloud their heads, all kinds of colors, shapes, and sizes. Their grief has led them to sleepless nights and hungry days. They always lie awake, blame coming back to hit them like a sword to the heart, but after reading out Lord Shadow's note, their minds were put to rest, knowing they still remained in their hearts; knowing they have been forgiven for all they have done. Slight thoughts of guilt still lingering, though, not as much as it had clouded them before. 

The next day, they awaken, dark circles and bags stay under their dulling eyes. The boys feel rested after a much-needed sleep. Aaren had gotten up earlier, so he makes breakfast for his group. Lord Sylvie jogs to their guard tower, walking through the still broken doorframe. Aaren hands his lord some breakfast. Simple eggs and pork. The thought of food brings a smile to Lord Sylvie's face. The smell floats up into the air, filling the noses of the others upstairs. They all stand up from where they lie on their beds and walk downstairs. The fox male puts plates to the table, a serving for each guard. They smile at each other and say perfectly in sync;

"She did belong..."