Devils Roses 05 - Death

and breaks into a run. His face is drawn and pale. He skids on the ground to her. He shakes and hugs her. His screams are louder than Marcus's.
    I'm numb again. It's too much death. Too much for one heart and one day.

Chapter Twenty-One

    "I give them back to you spirit. I give their souls to you and offer you their love. Please accept them father and mother." Sam whispers to me. His face looks like mine. He is broken and can't cry anymore. He continues to translate the words spoken by Henry. "Heal them and take away the pain they’ve suffered for the cause. Replace the pain and suffering with joy and love and let them always have each other."
    Henry tosses ash into the wind. It makes a tornado and shoots up into the sky. Suddenly flowers start to fall slowly. They fall overtop of where we sit in the grass and plant roots. I watch as a daisy lands in front of me. Green vines crawl from the bottom of the stem and dig into the grass. The smell of the flowers is everywhere. It blows in the soft early summer breeze. The flowers become an instant meadow.
    Giselle is heaving and sobbing. Lydia and Annabelle were the only parents she ever really had. She is a mess. She shakes me violently just by touching me. Ben wraps himself around her and pulls her in. Ben and Luke are in rough shape. Ari's still missing and the deaths we have suffered.
    "What is Henry exactly?" I whisper to Sam.
    He leans in and speaks so softy, I almost don’t hear the words, "One of his parents was one of the first three children of Lillith. The other parent was of the Stag's people. The man Lillith was waiting for when Adam raped her. He is one of her witch children's children. He is a shaman. It's part animal part witch. Very strong. The magic combines and makes something almost unbeatable. Henry could take us all on. He can control nearly anything. If he murdered Marcus, even to get back his own heart, it would have made him a port for the darkness. The evil would have gotten to him. He would have become like his brother. Then Jonathan could have made him work for him."
    "Did you know all this already?"
    He shakes his head, "No. I never knew Jonathan had a plan for Henry. I thought he was mad because Marcus tricked Henry. I guess it was act. Pretty convincing."
    "What happens now?" I ask.
    He laughs, "We go live at Marcus's."
    I look around the meadow at the children. "They can't stay there. He is horrid."
    Sam grins, "Not anymore."
    "We have to deal with Shane, kill Jonathan and Lillith and Ophelia is a nightmare now. Plus we have to get back Ari." My stomach sinks. It's been so long since she was taken. I fear the worst. I try not to, but I can't help it.
    "I feel it too Aimes."
    I lean into him and glance up at Aleks, who is standing next to Henry.
    "He isn’t going to let us kill her."
    Sam shakes his head, "He isn't. We have to kill Jonathan. That is the main thing."
    "And get back Ari." I look at him.
    His eyes are hardened and scared. He gives a single nod. He does feel it too. The lonely pain that is freezing us all over. Making us numb.
    "I'm glad you remember me again." He whispers and squeezes my leg.
    "Me too." I'm not glad I remember everything else. Seeing it the other way was simpler. More confusing but simpler. Now every bad thing I've done or experienced, crawls around inside of me, threatening me with a nothingness that will eat my heart and soul.
    Aleks looks distraught. He doesn’t do worked up or emotional, but he looks like he might today. His fingers tremble. He clenches them to stop it but I see it. I see him fighting the emotions. His father is dead. Dorian is dead. Lydia and Annabelle. O and Oliver. There are so few of us left. I slip my hand into the top of my shirt and feel for the feather. The softness of it between my fingers saves my sanity some days.
    Giselle shakes and cries. Her and the little kids. Danny's little chubby face sobs. Memories of Lydia and Annabelle are attached to the kids. When I see them I remember so many things. Things I cling to desperately. I understand Marcus a little. He clung to Hanna for the little bit he could suck from her. I might do the same thing. I might cling to them and pray that I am able to feel. Even if it sucks and feels like I die a little bit everyday.
    I pick a flower and eat it. I don’t know why. I just need something. It's bitter and silky and I know it’s a piece of Lydia that’s going to stay inside of my forever.
    "I'm ready to go Aimee." Danny whispers.
    I