Order of the Golden Dawn (Neophyte Series 2)

CHAPTER 34 : ASHES TO ASHES

    The sensation of being sucked through a pipe preceded the atmospheric change as a cooler and crisper air hit my lungs upon our arrival before a vaguely familiar set of wrought iron gates.

    'Where are we now?' I asked.

    'The Sanctuary. You've been here before, you just never got a chance to see its true exterior.' Beyond the gates a magnificent castle loomed over a sprawling courtyard. As we stepped onto the property, my stomach suddenly turned, and a searing pain shot through me.

    'You mustn't enter the Sanctuary grounds in your demonic form, Meric. You must bury it as deep as your condition allows you to do.' Checking my claws, I noticed they were no longer gray, but black. My anger somehow controled my form, without my notice. As soon as I returned to my human form, the pain immediately subsided, at least to a tolerable level. 

    Michael helping me to my feet, I was pleased to see he was relatively okay, assuming the blood he was splashed with was not his own.

    Edward joined us as we made our way to the front entrance of the Sanctuary. The high spirits that were so alive during battle had been noticeably subdued. A heavy shroud fell on the Neophytes as they felt the bitter defeat of the battle, and mourned for those who had perished at the hands of their enemies.

    Instead of entering the front doors as I expected, we ventured around the side of the castle, through the perfectly hedged garden, and over a small stone bridge.

    Many bodies were laid out on the ground as numerous people surrounded them, weeping and mourning the loss of their fallen comrades. It was dreadful sight to endure.

    Graves had already been prepared, and torches burned on all four corners of the plots as many gathered to show their respect. Edward and I simply stood back and watched as each of the deceased were delicately wrapped in white linens and telekinetically lowered into the ground.

    I quietly joined the group that crowded the lifeless, drained corpse of the man that had fought off the Impaler. The scruffy looking man who had delivered me from the horde of Living-Demonics by the alter was knelt before him, wailing in personal torment and utter loss. Samael stood by my side, taking in the sorrow of his fallen Neophyte.

    'Tyler. One of our chief teleporters—'

    'He wasn't just a goddamn teleporter, Samael!' The scruffy looking man turned in anger. 'He was my brother! The only family I had in this miserable existence.' As Tyler's body was lowered into the earth, Urielle attempted to comfort him.

    'Don't touch me! Leave me the fuck alone, all of you!'

    Without another word, he flashed out of existence, leaving the rest of the Neophytes to grieve in his absence.

    'Do not take this burden upon yourself, Samael. Jonathan will come around. He just needs time.' Urielle comforted him.

    Samael was clearly a broken man. A blank expression revealed a floodgate of sorrow, held by a thread as the rest of the bodies were lowered into the ground.

    Noticing an array of rosebushes that lined part of the property, I made for them immediately looking to place a rose on Tyler's grave, to show my respect for the man who had saved my life.

    Reaching for the fullest bloom on the largest bush, the petals slightly wilted. Little thorns poked my human skin, smearing blood onto the stem as I pulled. Tears of mourning and exhausted confusion dripped from my cheeks as the rose shriveled and died within seconds. I angrily tossed it aside and tried again, only to yield the same result.