Page 77 of Locked Souls

“Why is this so hard?” I mumble, and she quietly laughs.

“It's a funeral, babe, it's supposed to be hard. But you need to tape up your tits, pull up those sexy granny panties, and just get through it.”

Letting me go, she slaps my ass, then rushes over to Otto as I huff.

“I do not wear granny panties,” I scoff. Someone laughs behind me and grabs my ass.

“No, you don't, baby girl,” Bast whispers into my ear, pulling my back to his chest. “You wear sexy little thongs or nothing at all, and it drives us all wild.”

“I should not be turned on at a funeral, Bast,” I complain, and I am woman enough to admit I may even whimper.

“No, but later tonight, you’re all mine.”

“Fine, but for right now, you need to behave, please. Snake meant something to me.”

Sighing, he stops grinding his cock against my ass and lets me go.

Levi walks over and takes my hand, leading me to the burial plot. Charles Draxton was an orphan, and didn't have any family except me and mine, but he was loved, and I will make sure my children grow up knowing who their grandpa was.

The photos of me and Snake, and him with the babies, have been enlarged and placed near his headstone.

We don't bother with chairs as there aren't many people attending today, so we stand around his casket, waiting for my grandmother to start.

We didn't go the normal priest route, and chose a nun to officiate instead.

“Charlie was an exceptional man, who rose to his challenges, and worked hard to overcome them. He was a father—though he didn't know that until recently—a grandfather, and one of the loves of my daughter's life.”

She pauses as two teenagers join us. I don't recognize them, so I don't think they are from the Academy, or in the Society.

The girl is wearing all black with big shades covering half of her face. The boy is tall and reminds me of someone that I can’t quite place right now in my grief.

My grandmother clears her throat and continues, while Jacob pulls out his phone and begins texting someone.

“He was kind, even if his exterior didn't show it. He was gentle, as he loved his grandbabies, and he was honorable. He gave his life to protect others, and he will always be remembered in that light.

“Charlie, we know you're at peace now, and we thank you for your sacrifice.”

My throat clogs and sobs escape my lips. Levi pulls me closer and holds me as I shatter once again.

My grandmother places a black rose on my dad's casket, then walks over to me and presses a kiss to my forehead.

I watch her dab her eyes with a tissue, then straighten her shoulders as she heads to the car.

Everyone else stands there with me until I calm down enough to say my final goodbyes and lay my own flowers on his casket.

Black lilies, because though he's gone, I'm hoping he will one day be reborn. The world deserves a man like him, and it’s at a loss now that he's gone.

Jacob moves over to us and whispers, “Those kids that haven't moved are Charles’ children, though according to David, he didn't know about them.”

My heart races and my palms become sweaty. I have more siblings?

“Seems to be a common occurrence for him,” Levi mutters. If I wasn't haven't an internal freak out, I'd smack him in the side.

“We should go and speak to them, right?” I ask Jacob, and he nods.

Taking my hand, he leads me closer. We stop a few paces away, so we don't startle them.

I know how shocking it is to find out that you have a family you didn't know about.