Chapter 411 - Four Hundred And Eleven: It Was A Promise
The third point of view:
"From dust, we came and from dust, we would return, no one can question your authority, " The priest began to say his prayer and readings as the rest of the family members stood at the graveside.
Everyone had gathered for this graveside service and were dressed in somber black and dark expression. Even the twins didn't dare to play pranks with the melancholic mood wrapping the environment.
Everyone wore different countenance; few were weeping bitterly like Kim who was being pacified by a friend; most had a stiff and unreadable expression like Sakuzi, but the sadness in his eyes was obvious; others were just there to fulfill their responsibility like Emily and Judy, who composed themselves simply as a sign of respect for the dead; others like Isabella came for the sake of Reina, she knew clearly how that woman had maltreated her -Reina- then; the rest of them were numb like Reina who wanted the event to end - so she could get vengeance.
Her blood was boiling with so much rage and anticipating bloodshed; it was a life for a life. Guess being around her real family had influenced her because the previous Maya couldn't even hurt a fly, not to talk of taking a life.
The priest went on, "Lord of all, we praise you for all who have entered into their rest and reached the promised land where you are seen face to face. We thank you for Angela's life, and all the years we shared with her. We lift her to you today, in honor of the good we saw in her and the love we felt from her. Please give us the strength to leave her in your care, in the knowledge of eternal life through Jesus Christ, "
Although they could have had a funeral officiant, Kim had claimed it had been Angela's last wish to be buried by a priest, so no one complained and granted her request. They had to honor the dead anyway.
After the priest was done, Reina read the eulogy, only because Kim was so emotional she couldn't produce a single syllable.
You know life was kind of fucked up. All this while, she had silently waited for a moment like this; a day where she could reveal Angela's evil nature; a day where Angela would be unable to defend herself while she brings up her wrongdoings to the open. But right now, Reina found herself vomiting words and words of virtues Angela never possessed nor showed - at least until her last moment on earth.
Reina had never planned to identify herself as Angela's relative nor to talk of a daughter, but here she was. She couldn't help but wonder if Angela knew wherever she was that the once rejected daughter was the one reading the eulogy at her grave. Ah right, Angela would have been the one reading this eulogy at her own grave if she hadn't died in her place.
The emotion almost choked Reina, but she pushed back the tears. She would bury the anger and unleash it once she catches that son of a bitch. He would wish he rather died than in her hands, Reina silently promised Angela. She would deal with that man who took away her only chance of knowing what it felt to be loved by one's biological mother; she would destroy that asshole who deprived her kids of the privilege of communicating with their biological grandmother. It was a promise.
Although Reina had not read out the eulogy with many feelings, most people were left in tears. She might not have cried, but the words were spoken straight from her heart.
The instant the eulogy was over, the body was lowered into the ground and it was time to shovel dirt into the grave. The first person to observe the rite was Kimberly and she would have fallen into the grave if not for the men who came to her rescue. With no choice left, they had to send the emotional woman away before she tried anything stupid. again.
Reina was the next to participate in the activity with her husband standing next in line with their kids - they had to say goodbye too. Angela and the kids might not have met when she was alive, but the kids had to bid her a safe journey to paradise then. After them, Sakuzi and Nadia followed till every last one of them paid their respects. The priest then made a short prayer and gestured to the funeral home to fill up the grave.
Watching that action, Reina's chest constricted painfully. Does this mean she would never see Angela again? She would not see the woman give her that hateful gaze; hate her for being an illegitimate daughter; criticize her for the choices she made? That genuine smile Angela had given her that day at the hospital, was that the last? Was that day the last time she would ever receive the warm hug? Her mother was gone? Like gone forever.
"We should go," She was startled out of her thoughts by Niklaus who placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
Her husband put on his signature poker face he rarely wore unless he didn't want anybody seeing through him.
"Yes, we should," Reina took the hand he offered her, but she stole a glance over her shoulder one last time - It was goodbye - and moved on.
"Are you okay?"
Reina gave him a long look, he has been asking her that a lot lately and she replied as usual with, "I'm fine,"
"It's a good thing you did out there," Niklaus said to her just as the kids called dibs on the front seat of the car, running away before he could stop them. They didn't even seem as affected as the other mourners here.
"What?" Reina had no clue what he was talking about.
"For a moment there," His face was lit with amusement, "I thought you were going to thrash her or something"
Reina's expression changed, "I would have done so," She added, "Until?she died for me,"
Niklaus suddenly stopped, realizing how insensitive his words might have seemed. He didn't mean to insinuate she was that heartless, he just wanted Reina to laugh and relax - she was uptight these days. So he faced her and apologized, "I'm sorry,"
"Why are you sorry? You didn't kill Angela - that's who should be sorry," She said to Niklaus, walking around him but Niklaus drew her back gently.
He sighed, "Can we for a moment forget the murderer and focus on you, please?"
"There's nothing about me to focus on. We should leave," She dismissed him.
"You hardly sleep these days, Reina!" he hissed under his breath.
Reina retorted, "I can't sleep because each time I close my eyes, all I see is her death, I relive that moment again and again. Niklaus, I can't sleep because the murderer is still on the loose and until he's brought to justice, let's not have this discussion, again" she made her point known to him and strode away.
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