Playing with Fire

Playing with Fire- Chapter Nineteen

"It's depressing," Lee whispered, leaning his elbows on his knees. "How many people come out to see the graves. I'd stay away if I could. I can barely handle this." I glanced his way, seeing the pained expression on his young face.

"But don't you want to give your respects to the dead? Don't you want to say goodbye to your friends?" Hayden sputtered, then clutched at his side with a tiny wince. "Dammit that hurts."

Lee closed his eyes. "I would pay my respects. I would say goodbye. But not at a funeral. Funerals aren't people. Funerals are ceremonies, and I don't want to go to a ceremony after... After my best friend has died." A lone tear spilled down his cheek.

I could have said I was sorry. It wouldn't have done any good. Instead I just gazed at the crowd, watching them as they surrounded the graves in a ring; the final service was about to begin.

A hush fell over the crowd as the Zànglǐ zhǔ emerged, thick black robes billowing around his feet with each slow step he took to the haunting organ music. I allowed my senses to drift, and the music merged with that of the Dragons, creating a beautiful tune that portrayed loss perfectly.

"Nǚshìmen, xiānshēngmen," Ladies and gentlemen, "Wǒmen huānyíng nín jīntiān zài zhèlǐ āidào értóng de sǔnshī," We welcome you here today to mourn the loss of children.

He reverted back into everyday language. "These children did not deserve to die. They were taken from a place where they should have been able to feel safe. The monster who took them from us, the monster that shall never be named, deserved to die a horrible death. We were not given this peace of mind, but we can rest knowing that he has paid for his crimes." The Zànglǐ zhǔ spoke with a lilting voice, despite what his age indicated. His eyes were filled with sorrow.

"Today, let us mourn them, let us mourn for the options that were taken away. Today, we stand as one, mourning the dead and uniting against the evil being who did this. Today, their lives are remembered." As soon as the last words left his dry lips he turned away. When he once again faced the graves, he held in his hands two large pearls that shimmered in the sunlight.

Once the pearls were positioned inside the mouths of the Dragons that watched over the garves, everybody took it as a cue. They tossed roses and daisies, diamonds and coins. I dropped two painted roses, one blue and one yellow, over the side of our tower. They drifted down in sync.

The Dragon songs reached a peak, their voices high and piercing until, with one last drawn-out note, they simply stopped. It was then that the crying started, heart-wrenching sobs that could only have come from a Dragon.

So, the other Dragons were restored? Yes, once George died the dark magic keeping them tied to his Běnzhí dissapated and they were able to return to the Other World. How long, d'you think, until there'll be another Blue or Yellow Dragon Master? Quite a while, I'm sure. Neither of them are ready for another bond just yet. Most Dragons get at least forty years with their Master to strengthen the bond and prepare themselves to let go. These Dragons did not have that luxury. I'm sorry, Yín sè. For what, little one? For making you worry. For scaring you and for putting my life in danger. Do not fret over it, Reiara. I am glad that you were willing to go to such lengths for the only purpose of making the world right again. You make me proud.

Tears pricked at my eyes when the silvery voice in my mind praised me. Despite the situation, I grinned a blazing grin, hugging my knees against my chest. Hayden stared at me with a small smile on his face.

"You are weird," he decided. I gave a watery laugh at that, leaning against him as much as our majestic chairs allowed. "Hmm. I don't think laughing at a funeral is really the appropriate social convention. People are giving you looks."