Epilogue
Scout and Iago
"Where's your brother?" Iago asked.
"In the boat already." Scout responded. "I just wanted to say goodbye." It was a week after the death of Beowulf and Grendel and the start of a new age. Jack's body had been taken back by his tribe so it could receive a proper burial.
The island of Spauldingopolis had given Grendel a funeral pyre. Everyone showed up. The following day Iago was crowned the new King.
Scout looked older than before. She had seen things a girl her age should have never seen. "Are you sure about this?" Iago asked.
"Yes." Scout nodded. "I want to see Calpurnia again. She's the closest thing I have to a parent now. Besides…this place has too many bad memories."
Iago nodded. "Understandable."
She hugged him. "Goodbye, Iago. I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too."
She turned around and ran onto her boat. She waved goodbye until the boat was out of view.
Iago turned around and walked back. He thought about his old life, full of anger and jealousy and hate. The green-eyed monster staring back from the mirror…and Gene. The boy who Iago could have been if the circumstances were right.
Maybe after what he had done, Iago was a monster. But Grendel was a monster, and Grendel was the finest man that Iago had ever known.
Iago hadn't fully forgiven himself for the sins of the past. But he was on the right track at least. Whistling under his breath, Iago walked back towards the village. The sun had begun to set, and it was beginning to grow dark.