The Funeral

It was near midnight when I finally took my brothers body back to my home… when I entered the wolves home turf I was met by little resistance, they may have had orders to keep me from bringing Travis here, but they knew not to cross paths with a Jackson. I knew more awaited me at my home, but once I arrived, I was surprised to be confronted by John and a few of his trusted witches. I had expected him to confront me about the situation, for me to turn around and bring Travis somewhere else. Never in my life did I think John would do this, I had believed I would be bringing Travis home and handing him over to the witch council to deal with his remains as of protical. But John was allowing a wolf Burial for Travis.

J: He was born into the wolf family, he will move to his next life in our ways.

  Even after what he did… John would allow a proper funeral for Travis, for that I was grateful. I placed Travis down in the guest room and had the witches worde the body, keeping it from decaying, after they had finished I left the room and headed towards the kitchen for some hard liquor.

J: Slade… I don't think you should-

  I slammed the bottle of liquor on the counter startling John.

Trust me John, I think I should…

J: Ok… listen Slade, I'm always here for you ok? Don't kick me out of life now…

  I took a swig.

When will the preparations be ready for Travis.

  He didn't push any further, he knew he wouldn't get anything out of me.

J: let's say tomorrow night… down at lake on the northside, sound good?

Good for me.

  He walked to the door ready to leave before I called to him.

John… Thank you, this means a lot.

  He looked towards me and gave me a nod.

J: Sure thing Slade, you know I got your back.

  He turned to leave once more but then remembered something.

J: you'd be happy to know that Keith and Kerry have made a full recovery, Keith's back at the compound but Jack came and grabbed Kerry… it wasn't a pretty site, Jack made it clear if you came anywhere close to her… he would kill you.

Well he can come at me all he wants, I've lost my family, I ain't losing her… How's Lena?

J: doing better, granted she won't be able to use her right arm for awhile but she'll push through, though Lucas hasn't left her side sense we got her back home.

   The mention of Lucas pissed me off, that bastard said all this was my fault, I gave him a chance, not anymore…. If he fucks up once, I will kill him.

J: Anyways Slade… you should get some rest, I'll have some wolves come by for Travis, again… I'm sorry Slade, you don't deserve to go through any of this.

  I didn't truly believe that but I thanked him and let him go on his way leaving me alone with my thoughts once more, they brought me back to one of the last things my mother had said to me

'M: Don't kill him Slade, he's your family, he needs you.'

  I failed her last wishes, the memory brought back my anger and I crushed the bottle in my hand sending glass everywhere and cutting up my hand, but I didn't care, in fact… I reached for a new bottle and popped the top off taking a swig.

I failed you mother, Travis is gone, he left me no choice.

  I made my way back to the room my brother was in and stood there looking at him. Another memory popped into my head at this given time

'T: Choose me… And they will die.'

  I grit my teeth and flung the bottle at the wall smashing it.

YOU GAVE ME NO CHOICE BROTHER!

  But he did, three friends over my own flesh and blood… And I chose them, I've lost my family, I was the last Jackson of the offsprings of Eleanor, and I couldn't handle it. I destroyed the room, Not one thing was safe from my anger besides the bed my brother was on.

YOU BROUGHT THIS ON YOURSELF BROTHER, YOU DWELLED INTO THE ARTS OF WITCHCRAFT! THIS IS ON YOU!

  But was it, If I hadn't had left my mother alone after my father's death, maybe I could've kept her from teaching Travis witchcraft, maybe I would've been the one who broke under the pressure of witchery. I slumped against the wall of the bedroom and sat down on the floor looking towards my brother.

I sorry brother, family isn't to betray each other… I killed you believing you were at the wrong. But I was, I was for many years know. This was my doing.

  For the rest of the night I sat there, looking at him as if waiting for him to awake, he didn't. I lost track of time and fell asleep there, When I awoke… my brother was gone, in his place was a note from John.

'J: I brought your brother back to the compound like I said, The preparations are underway and shall be down and ready by midnight, If there's anything you need… come talk to me- John'

  I crumpled the note and tossed in front of me… Tonight I will saying goodbye to my brother… for the last time.

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11. P.M. (Time for the Ceremony)

  Torches light the grounds next to the lake, a boat mourned to the side of the dock ready to drift out into the lake, the pack members with offering lined the path that would be taken by the paul barriers, those chosen by me, I awaited at the end of the line with a torch in hand, the torch I would use to set forth the sending of the body. Among the pack members stood Lucas and Kerry, I could do without Lucas but Kerry, I was happy she was here. A gong rung out in the distance setting forth the funeral, All wolves stood with their heads bowed awaiting to gift my brother. The first sign of movement were the leading Barriers, John and the second in command, behind them came Lena and Keith. The four carried my brother on a stretcher woven by the elders of the pack, there gift to Travis, Lena showed some pain but she was using her left arm, I told her she didn't need to, but she insisted. While walking forward, the pack members step forward placing there offerings beside Travis's arms, this continued all the way to the end.

  I hadn't expected it but Lucas stepped forward and placed a fox pendent in Travis's hands, The pendent I recognized as the symbol of the Witches back in California, why it was an offer I didn't know, but I didn't do anything about it, it was an offering, and it would bring on a dark wrath if I were to mess with any of the offerings. Once they reached me I looked at the offerings, many consist of golden coins, a common and generous offer, there were also a few daggers, anything that could've fit in a pocket. It was my time to give an offering, and I had chosen two things, A ruby and a hematite, they had the etch of a "J" in both… symbolizing he was a Jackson. They then brought his body towards the boat while I followed with the torch, once he was placed into the boat they gave their offerings, Lena offered a golden ring, the second in command offered some gold coins. John… he offered my brother one of his golden daggers, etched in the side was the Tennessee packs seal a wolf head with ruby eyes, this weapon was one of three crafted among the alphas, a very generous gift.

  The last gift came from Keith, He looked tired after all the stress he had been through, but he still spoke a spell and an orb of light came from the palm of his hand, He placed the orb on top of Travis's forehead where it dissolved into his skin. What it left was stunning, etched into his skin were symbols of peace swirling among the symbol of love, It went along his body and left its marks, a true gift from a witch, this last gift ended the offerings and it was now time to send him on his way.

J: We are all here to recognize a friend who had been sent away to early, Travis followed the road of darkness yes… but he was family, to me, to lena… To Slade. Travis, we bid you farewell and hope our offerings bring you good fortune to the next world.

  John and the second in command untied the boat and pushed it towards the center of the lake, The pack broke line and watched the boat cross the water, it was turn to say a few things before I through the torch to light the boat up in flames.

Brother, I send you to the next world in hopes you will come to peace, you will be in my heart forever Trav… So long.

  I tossed the torch, it landed at the base of the boat and set forth the flames that would consume my brother, a burial worthy of a wolf. Kerry wove through the pack members making her way to me and stood by my side.

K<3: I never got to see the side of Travis that you did, that you loved. I'm sorry Slade.

  I put my arm around her and kept my eyes on the boat, we stood there watching the boat until it floated to the bottom of the lake, ending the funeral.