Quick note: anytime there are words in italics on lines by themselves characters are using mind speak.

Ch. 9

I woke up with a huge sense of foreboding. Scott's funeral was today, in just a few short hours actually. I went through my morning routine slowly, trying to delay the inevitable as long as possible. I showered slowly, letting the hot water beat against my skin until it turned cold. I dressed mechanically, in the long sleeved black skater dress, black tights and ankle boots, which I had set out last night. Patch watched me, his face full of concern as he arranged the black tie on his neck.

He hadn't wanted to come with me today, didn't feel like he would be welcomed or that it was appropriate for him to attend the funeral of a Nephil. His protest had led to a small, tear filled outburst from me. I begged him to come, I needed his support and reminded him of the things Scott had done, not just for me, but him as well, in the last days of his life.

We arrived at the funeral home, with its meager, somber decorations. There was a guest book next to a framed picture of a smiling Scott leaning up against a Mustang. I made sure to sign both my name and Patch's name, thinking that if there was a way for Scott to see this book in the afterlife, I wanted him to know that Patch had been here too.

Vee must have walked in while I was signing the guest book, she was clinging to Patch as if he were her life force, and he just looked uncomfortable. I walked over to them and opened my arms to her, noting her appearance. Black was not a color I usually saw Vee wear, but even in mourning she managed to keep some of her signature style. She was wearing black, silk looking, cigarette pants and a sweater with a deep v with a red lace lined camisole. She had a multi-strand pearl necklace that had a knotted cubic zirconia embellished cluster just to the right of her throat, and of course she was wearing sky high, black platform stiletto heels.

She left Patch's arms and collapsed into mine. "Hey," I whispered to her, "it's okay. We're here for you, we'll get through this together." Patch had his hand place lightly on the small of my back. I looked around the foyer at the small gathering of people. My mom was holding Lynn in a similar way to how I held Vee, and there were a few younger guys that I recognized as Scott's Nephilim friends. We all made our way in to the chapel and just as the doors closed a man slipped into the back of the room. Based on Lynn's negative reaction to him and his resemblance to Scott, I figured he must be Scott's dad.

The funeral director started the ceremony by giving a brief synopsis of Scott's life. There was a slide show with pictures of him throughout his life. There were a few that had me in them, from when we were in kindergarten. There was also one of him and Vee at the end and it caused her to break into sobs. After the slideshow everyone was encouraged to come to the front and share memories and stories of Scott. Lynn went first and did a very good job of keeping herself together. My mom went second, and said some pretty nice things about Scott; not that they weren't true, but I know my mom did not have the greatest opinion of Scott, even after our talk yesterday.

I wanted to be able to tell these people truly how much Scott had done for me, and what him giving his life meant to everyone, humans and Nephilim alike. But there were people here who didn't know what any of us were and wouldn't understand, most especially, Lynn. I didn't want her to think any differently of Scott, because of fear of the unknown. Those who had been most directly affected by his sacrifice already knew the truth anyway. In the end I gave a short speech about being attacked by a biker gang and how grateful I was that Scott had saved. I was telling the truth when I mentioned how grateful I was that Scott had shown up when he did and how sorry I was that he lost his life to save mine. I cried as I apologized to his parents for taking away their only child. I wept upon arriving back at my seat and was enveloped by Vee and Patch. Vee had been too emotional to give her speech, which could have caused her to reveal too much of the truth of the situation. The funeral director once again took over, leading the small group of mourners in a few prayers, then inviting everyone back to the farmhouse for a small reception, where we could grieve together. There would be no graveside internment, since Scoot had died in the cemetery. No one wanted to mourn at the scene of the crime.

My mom had gotten some appetizers catered and delivered to the house and most of the people form the ceremony were eating and talking in hushed voices, Mr. Parnell chose not to come.

Nora

I heard the voice pressing into my brain and looked up. I looked around the room to find the Nephil responsible. Patch, who was on the couch next to me also looked around subtly.

Over here

the voice was to my left and I Tono, one of the Nephil's that first escorted me to the council after Hank's death, and a couple of other very tall boys making their way up the stairs. Patch and I quickly controlled the minds of those around us, so our presence wouldn't be missed and followed the others to my room.

"Nora," Tono started, "this is Bart and Rich, friends of mine, and we wanted to let you know that we still support you."

I knit my eyebrows together, not completely understanding them. Patch helped me,

They're talking about the army, Angel.

Realization dawned on me, "Oh, that's very nice of you, but I don't really feel like there is a point to having an army anymore. The fallen angels are gone." They all looked accusingly at Patch. "He's not a threat to you or any other Nephil anymore." I said in my most authoritative voice, if they still looked at me as their leader, then they needed to know that I was serious.

"I understand that you trust him, but what reason do we have to?"

"First of all, because I trust him is reason enough, but secondly Patch no longer has a need for a vassal. I let them fill in the reason for that on their own.

"But there will be others," Bart said, a look of concern on his face. That got me thinking, he was right, there would be more fallen angels. There would always be more. Pepper, we were almost sure, would be falling any day now. We could control him, but others, there was no way that I could ensure that all the Nephils would be safe in the future, and isn't that what I wanted when I went in to that battle? "You gentlemen make a good point. I will have to consider how I want to handle this situation." My voice and words sounded encouraging and commanding, but after the three men left nodding their approval at my statement, my inner turmoil surfaced. "What am I going to do," I asked Patch, "I want them to be free."