Page 29 of Sapphire Queen
Chapter 20
The sky was dreary as the precession of cars moved along the blacktop. Sarifena stood beneath the umbrella Heath held above her. Alex fit snug against her hip as she pressed against Heath for support.
The rain was her fault.
As much as she wished to bury her mother in the sun, it would not happen. The only person who could have altered the rain was still missing. Emersyn had created a beautiful flower garden around her mother's gravesite. It was the only thing aside from the two men holding her heart that made her smile.
Sarifena smiled at all the people gathered to bid her mother farewell. Rory stood beside her husband and wife, tears filling both women’s eyes. Rory was the only other person who could understand the pain she was feeling. Her father was running out of time. Soon his cancer would cause us all to be here again – burying a parent.
Emersyn, Drake, Onika, and Luca surrounded her and Heath. It was like her own personal fortress of love.
Although words were spoken by the priest, Sarifena wouldn’t remember them. Her mind was on the forgotten apology, the lost forgiveness she owed her mother. Alex wound his fingers through her hair, burying his head against her neck as she watched her mother’s casket lower into the ground.
Emersyn gripped Sarifena’s hand, “Are you ready?”
Blinking at her words, Sarifena didn’t understand what she was asking, “Ready for what?”
“I’m going to close the ground. I wanted to make sure you were ready.”
“Heath,” Sarifena turned, handing Alex to him, “hold him, please.”
She stepped out from under the umbrella, letting the rain wash over her face as she tilted her head towards the sky. Pressing her eyelids closed, Sarifena inhaled, taking the dewy air into her lungs. This was it. This was the last goodbye to her mom.
“All right,” she glanced back at Emersyn, “I’m ready.”
Sarifena watched in awe as her sister weaved her magic across the ground. The ground shook as the dirt knitted itself back together, the wooden box holding her mother’s remains closing off from the world above. Once the mound of dirt was returned to its original state, tiny blue flowers sprouted, covering the bare soil.
“Emersyn,” Sarifena stared wide-eyed, “That’s beautiful.”
“I wanted to do something special for you and her.”
Embracing her, “Thank you.”
“Whatever you need, Sari, I’m here for you.”
Onika stepped up to the two women, “Yes. Me too, Sarifena.”
“You’re not mad at me?”
“Mad at you? Sarifena,” Onika hugged her, “No, I’m not mad. And I have a confession. Amalee already knew. When Luca and I ran off, we were in the Amethyst Kingdom. She found me and demanded to know why I was hiding. She promised not to tell anyone.”
“Thank god, I worried I’d screwed up.”
“Everyone knows now. So, it’s water under the bridge.”
Rory stepped up beside the three of them, her belly round with child.
“Wow, Rory, you’re finally showing.”
Rory grinned, “I’m almost four months.”
“Christ… Dimitra’s been missing that long?”
The women grew somber, a silent understanding that one of their own was still out there.
“My men have scoured the deadlands. Still no sign of her.” Amalee glanced into the distance, “I wish I knew what that damn riddle meant.”
Sarifena knew the riddle she was referring to. When Anthony was found, he’d mentioned the man who helped him escape, gave him a clue. He’d said,‘The place where fire meets water and is covered in darkness. That is where he will take her.’
