Epilogue
Sera
The scent of garbage and decay wafts from the heavy-breathing mouth that’s hovering inches from my face. Sleep clears from my limbs enough for me to raise my hand up to cover my nose. Good lord . The weight on my chest tells me something has entered the bed. An impatient growl is accompanied by the not-so-gentle scratching from a small round paw. It’s followed by a yip of irritation. Sleep still weighs so heavy on my subconscious. As the minutes pass, I drift further back into contentment. The pressure on my chest subsides.
“Ouch!” Kel shouts in alarm and my eyes burst wide. I sit up, adrenaline sweeping through me. “ Bones !”
My shoulders sink in relief. Kel sits up, staring grumpily down at the newest member of our family. Bones gnaws away at Kel’s ribs, completely unfazed by the violet flames flaring up around his snout. “How many times do I have to tell you, my skeleton is not for chewing on.”
We discovered Bones during our search of the Syratren’s property. He was out behind the rubble of the house, chewing on a pile of discarded body parts. The poor thing was in bad shape. He’s a dog, I think. At least some part of him is. He may be more of a multi-animal mashup.
He measures roughly two feet in length, with a squatty body and undersized legs. His snout is pushed back, giving him a flat face. An underbite of dulled teeth protrudes out beneath his square nose. Big brown eyes sit a little too far apart, causing him to appear to always be looking in separate directions. One ear is triangular and floppy, the other is short and round. His chest, back, and hind legs are covered in scraggly brown fur. The rest of him is hairless and the shade of green you would see when admiring a creature from the haunted lagoon.
Kel says it’s extremely rare to find animals in the Mid Hallows. Animals are inherently innocent and pure. That’s why they usually end up in the Higher Hallows. We can only assume Bones is a long-forgotten experiment of the mad doctor.
Loneliness and fear had filled his puppy-like gaze. I couldn’t leave him behind. It took a lot of coaxing to get him to come to me, but once he did, I scooped him up in my arms and took him home. We discovered, to Kel’s great annoyance, that he is completely obsessed with bones. He’ll spend hours and hours fetching bits of femur and clavicle. Occasionally he just can’t help himself and goes for Kel’s skeleton. Hence, the name Bones.
Kel rises from our bed with Bones still dangling from his side. I cover my mouth, stifling a laugh. Kel turns his violet gaze on me, narrowing his eyes. “He needs to be trained.”
“I’m working on it,” I assure him.
“Really?” Kel’s tone is dubious. “What tricks has he learned so far?”
“Oh Booneesss.” I raise my voice in pitch. Bones releases Kel’s rib and drops to the ground. “Alright, Bones. Play dead.” Bones stares back at me, his googly eyes switching from side to side. “Good boy!” I clap my hands.
Kel shakes his head. “He was dead to begin with.”
“True.” I pick Bones up, holding him up so we’re cheek to cheek. “But look how cute he is!”
Kel cocks his head. “One of the ugliest creatures in the Mid Hallows.”
I gasp, covering Bones’ ears. “How dare you. Don’t you listen. Daddy didn’t mean that.”
Kel plucks Bones from my arms and sets him on the floor. “You know, when you call me Daddy…” He inches me back toward the wall. “…I’d rather it be while you’re on your knees.”
“Oh?” I lower to the ground in front of him. “Like this, Bone Daddy?” And he groans. Arousal awakens low in my belly as his bones peel away and twist together to create one of my favorite parts of him. His cock juts forward, filling with its familiar violet fire.
“ Exactly like that.”
Kel
Sera glides her hand up the base of my shaft, making me twitch. There’s devious desire in her blue and green eyes. Her small fingers lift to the corners of her lips. Slowly, she begins to loosen the stitches around her mouth. It’s a trick she learned to accommodate my size. I can’t deny how sexy she looks, parting her widened mouth to suck me in. Undeniably sexy. Her lips roll over the tip, drawing it deep inside. The fire within my pulsing cock causes a glowing purple light to illuminate her pale skin. She bobs down and the illumination spreads, showing just how deeply she’s taking me into her throat.
The slick sensation of her tongue swirling along my length sends pins and needles tickling up my spine. Her hands grip the ridges of my hip bones, pulling me forward. A gasp of unbridled pleasure leaves my jaw as she kisses my pelvis.
Her hair is soft as I bury my bony fingers in it. Once I have a good hold on her, my body rocks forward, chasing the friction of her mouth as it moves faster. The gurgling, choking sounds she makes as I piston down into her throat have me so wound up I can barely contain myself. Pleasure builds and builds.
I thrust roughly, burying myself completely. When Sera’s mouth hits my pelvis again, she bites down. Pain sears through the pleasure, causing an eruption of overwhelming sensation to rocket through me. I come, roaring to the ceiling before whimpering with relief. A storm of light and shadows dance across my vision as the climax overtakes every part of me. So good, it feels so fucking good . Liquid heat surges down her throat and into her stomach, making her glow from the inside out.
Sera loosens her lips, drawing back one last time. She smiles up at me from her knees, quickly tightening and retying the sutures surrounding her mouth. I unwind my fingers from her blonde locks and stroke her from scalp to tip.
I’d be embarrassed by how quickly she can make me come if I weren’t so wrapped up in heady delight. Still, I know how to take command when she’s on her back beneath me and stretch the hours out until she’s barely pieced together enough to function.
“You are my filthiest dream come true, monster bait.” She giggles, taking my outstretched hand and standing. “What in the Hallows did I do to deserve you?”
“Absolutely nothing. You’re a complete scoundrel.” She winks at me.
Growling, I grip her waist and draw her flush to my body. “Well then, let me mend my ways and return the favor you just bestowed upon me. That’s what a gentleman would do.”
“Are you sure we have time? Don’t you have All Hallows’ Eve work to do?”
My movements halt. It’s All Hallows’ Eve . How could I forget? Excitement and anticipation bubble together inside me. Sera’s right about having work to do. This is the busiest day of the year for me. But I have something planned that takes priority over reaping souls. We should have risen earlier. I want to make sure there’s plenty of time to enjoy what I have planned before I have to ascend to the mortal world.
“I have a surprise for you.” I rush to her wardrobe, selecting a piece of clothing. She stares at me in confusion as I shove one of the hand-woven spider web dresses over her head. My eight-legged housemates have thrived under Sera’s influence. Not only did they spin her at least a year’s worth of gowns, but they also whipped up matching curtains for all around the manor, a plush comforter for our bed, and a flamboyant three-piece suit that they consistently try to sneak atop my skeletal form while I’m sleeping. The fuzzy little arachnids follow her everywhere, riding on her shoulders and spinning bows for her hair. It seems Sera has given purpose to more than just myself. The second she’s decent, I grab her by the hand, spiriting her through the manor.
Our descent leads us straight past the throne room. One day the foyer led to a few small hallways and a kitchen, the next day it had created a royal room complete with two ivory thrones. It’s fitting, now that I, the Skeleton King, have found my Mid Hallows queen.
The throne room is bustling as we peek inside. All eighteen of the rescued victims are present, along with a plethora of other creatures. They flash us wide smiles in greeting.
The ladies make up Sera’s court now. Each was mended by her hand. They’ve settled into their new lives nicely. I was able to give closure to those who had no memory, like I did with Sera. Some even discovered their own companions down here.
Lydia found love with a two-headed ghoul. The nightmarish, green creature uses his four arms to carve tokens of affection in the form of small animals. Apparently, Lydia ran an animal rescue in the mortal world. Her new mate has slowly been replicating one of every animal she had up above. The smile that graces her stitched-up face heals some of the guilt I still carry.
“There’s Mia and Elvynia,” Sera gushes. Mia had her heart stolen by a swamp siren. The two spend their days lounging on the swamp shore, moon bathing and skinny dipping. Sera and I have even joined them for a nightly dip from time to time. They’re currently sitting on a purple and black couch, with Mia tucked into Evynia’s side. Their faces reflect pure contentment. Another fleck of guilt chips away from my conscience.
All around the room, mended ladies lounge. Their lives are happy and carefree now. I’ve made sure they’ll never want for anything again. All worries of the past are gone. While I can’t make their nightmares disappear, I can ensure all their experiences now are fuel to new, sweet dreams.
“Our queen!” one of the women shouts. The others rush toward us, circling Sera.
She mingles in with the group with such grace, chatting with each one, making sure they all feel seen and heard.
“I hate to break this up, ladies, but I need to steal your queen away for a special occasion.” I wink at them which earns me a round of giggles. Sera says her goodbyes, then takes my hand and allows me to lead her outside.
Bones races out the door behind us. Technically he’s not supposed to go where we’re headed. There are too many ways for him to get into trouble there. But I don’t have the heart or time to stop him today. He waits just outside the doorway, staring up. Peck caws a greeting before flying down and knocking his beak against Bones’ malformed head. Bones drops down, rolling belly up and licking Peck’s face. The two unusual animals became fast friends. Their friendship brings me great joy and also great aggravation. That pair can get into trouble like you couldn’t imagine.
“Where are we going?” Sera stumbles as I pull her behind me. “Kel, your legs are at least twice as long as mine. I can’t keep up like this.”
“Good point.”
She squeals as I scoop her up. With her in my arms I can cover the distance twice as fast.
The trees bow as we race through the forest. I’m bursting to reach our destination. Bones speeds ahead, somehow already knowing where we’re going. I swear that deformed little pooch is psychic. He disappears beneath a thick wall of brush that runs along the forest’s edge, taking a shortcut that my oversized form prevents me from utilizing. We’re almost there.
Two towering petrified oaks twist apart, opening a pathway for us. We step out into the moonlight and my chest rattles with anticipation. The moon’s smile reflects my own, as if he’s just as excited for the surprise.
“Date night in the cemetery?” Sera smirks in my arms.
My stride lengthens as I make my way to the spot I’ve been secretly visiting for weeks. It sits atop the tallest hill in the graveyard. I hike up, joy spilling through me as it comes into view. I hope she likes it.
The statue rises from the earth like a heavenly beacon. I could swear the moon is shining directly onto it, illuminating the carefully carved face. I’ll have to remember to thank him for his assistance.
“Wow. An angel!” Sera remarks as I set her in front of the newly modeled grave. “I’ve never seen this one before.”
Pride swells in my being as she runs her fingertips along the delicate feathers that have been etched into the towering stone. “Do you like it?”
“It’s stunning.” She places her small palm against the sculpted hand of the statue. I silently watch, not wanting to rush this.
Her gaze drops to the name carved into the stone base. “This must be the biggest, most beautiful grave in the cemetery. April’s a lucky girl.”
“She is.” I swallow, choking back my nerves. “She’s you .”
Sera’s eyes snap up. “What?”
I take both of her hands in mine. “I found out who you are.”
It wasn’t easy. I scoured memories of the dead for a year, hoping against all odds to find someone who had any sort of connection to Sera. Then three weeks ago, I found what I was searching for. David Halston was a police officer who died of a heart attack while working a late shift at his small-town precinct. I was watching the final moments of his death, and when he slumped over his desk, I saw it. I saw her .
The missing persons file was on the top of a stack of papers and folders. The photo was of Sera at a college graduation. Her smile was as bright as the sun. April Marie Higgins .
“April?” Sera whispers. She kneels down, tracing each of the letters.
They haven’t solved her murder. And after what we witnessed her killers doing to her remains, they likely never will. Which means there probably won’t ever be a headstone for her in the mortal world. She deserves closure. I may not be able to change the past, or give her her old life back, but I can make sure her life here is so full of love that she won’t miss the way things were before.
“I wanted to give you a proper resting place. Something you could visit. To remember and be remembered.”
“You made me an angel?” She turns to me with tears in her eyes.
“You’re my angel. My seraphim. My Sera. Mine .”
Sera rises on her tiptoes, and I bend low to meet her. She kisses me so deeply that it would have stolen the breath from my lungs, if I had lungs to steal from.
“Thank you,” she murmurs against my mouth. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Her hands glide up my ribs, one by one, and settle on my collarbone. She pulls me down, gripping me.
The kiss takes a turn when I taste myself on her lips. Images of Sera sucking my cock come flooding to the forefront of my mind. I growl into her mouth, snaking my tongues inside before immediately pulling back. This is a tender moment. Don’t fuck it up by being horny .
“Why did you pull away?” Sera rasps against my lips.
“I’m trying not to ruin this moment but...”
“But?” Sera nuzzles against me.
“But all I can think about is you on your knees earlier.” I swipe one of my tongues across her lower lip. “And how badly I want to return the favor.”
“How did you think that could possibly ruin the moment? That makes everything better,” she purrs, taking my hand and sliding it beneath her hem.
“But I’m trying to be sweet, sentimental, and supportive. This is an important moment for you.”
“And you can be sweet, sentimental, and supportive on your knees.” Sera flutters her eyelashes up at me, feigning innocence.
I shake my head, hunger clawing its way up my spine. “Maybe the statue was a mistake. You’re no angel, are you, monster bait?”
She doesn’t speak, just presses my fingers against her seam. Slick arousal coats my hand. I consider dipping them inside, but it’s not my fingers she wants.
“Drop your dress.” My command is quickly obeyed. Sera slips both straps over her shoulders and the dress glides down her body. She steps out and into the luminous glow of the All Hallows’ moon. It gleams down, highlighting every stitch, scar, and patch of mismatched skin. Her golden hair shines like moonlight itself. In this moment, she’s never looked more beautiful. My Sera. The need to ravish her is one I can no longer fight.
I snatch up the dress from where it lays. Deconstructing the spider web fabric, I unravel it until the once-lavish gown is nothing more than a pile of shimmering, white strands. My fingers work with quick precision as I weave the webbing into a rope. It’s solid and doesn’t break when I use my considerable strength to pull hard enough to test it. Perfect .
“Wrists,” I command. Sera grins, stretching her arms in front of her and pressing both wrists together. The rope is soft on her skin but the knot I tighten makes her gasp. “That hurt?”
“Yes,” she breathes.
“Good. You deserve to be punished for stealing my self-control.” I run my teeth up the column of her throat. “You’ve made me rabid, turned me into a slave to your sweet, wet cunt. Hands above your head.” Sera’s slim arms raise up high. My monstrous claws wrap around her waist, lifting her high in the air. I loop her wrists over the statue, carefully threading the statue’s head through her arms, settling her so her head rests on the angel’s chest.
My hands slide down from her waist, landing on her hips. “A year of having you as my own and still I crave your taste every second of every day.” The cemetery ground is soft against my kneecaps as I drop down. I dip below Sera, coming up beneath her so her legs hook over my shoulders.
The moonlight surrounding us brightens. “He’s watching, you know.”
Sera’s gaze rises to the sky. “The moon?”
“The moon.” I nod. “Think we can give him a show?”
Sera bites her bottom lip and nods eagerly. It turns her on to know someone is watching. I know from the amount of cum that’s dripping down her thighs. I enjoy an audience, too.
My tongues snake out, extending toward her face. I swipe across her lips, then work my way lower. One tongue slides across her throat while the other caresses her breast. She parts her lips, panting. I take my time, working my way lower and showing lavish attention to every stitched-up seam I come across. It’s my job to remind her every single day that she is perfect. Every piece, seam, stitch, scar. All of it is perfect .
By the time I dip between her thighs, Sera’s body is shaking with need. I drag both tongues down along the sides of her warm pussy, making her whine as I studiously avoid the place I know she needs me most.
“Kel, please .”
“Yes, monster bait?” I withdraw my tongues and offer her a devious grin.
“Stop teasing. I need this.” Her voice is simpering as she squirms before me. I enjoy the sight of her, writhing in the air, working to square her hips with my mouth.
“If you can take it by force—”
Sera’s thighs lock around my skull. She drags me forward, my face slamming into her pussy so hard I leave teeth marks. “Please. Please .”
I’ve got to admit I didn’t see that move coming. The sound of her begging makes me unbelievably hard. “As you wish, monster bait.” I draw both tongues together, pressing them on either side of her clit and swiping them in tandem, making slow, repetitive oval motions.
Her hips thrash, pressing against my face. When I slide the tip of one tongue directly across the sensitive flesh, she moans. The sound bounces around my skull, feeding my depravity and fueling my desire to be inside her.
While one tongue massages her clit, I lower the second. The surprised cry as I slip the second tongue inside her is oh so satisfying. I fuck her with my tongue, driving inside, lapping up her sweet arousal. The other tongue continues to work her clit. It only takes a few quick strokes and she’s coming undone. Muscles spasm around my tongue, contracting in succession as wave after wave of pleasure ripples through her. More arousal floods my mouth, and I drink it down, allowing it to fill me with ecstasy. My top tongue continues stroking, relishing the way her legs shake as I wring orgasm after orgasm out of her.
By the time I pull my mouth away from the sopping mess between her thighs, her legs have fallen limp over my shoulders.
“I take it back. You must be an angel, because your cunt is absolutely heavenly.” I give her one final lick straight up the center. She twitches and cries out.
Her juices drip down onto the dirt ground. She’ll need all that extra lubrication to allow my monster of a cock to fit inside.
I don’t have much time. My skills will be needed up above. Tonight is the busiest night of the year. Souls will be pouring into the Hallows. Not to mention all the creatures who will be making their way into the mortal world, taking advantage of the thinning of the veil. A few idiotic summonings will land demons in places they’re not meant to be, too.
This needs to be quick. I have work to do. Sera’s eyes are dazed as she peers up at me.
As if she can read my thoughts, she whispers, “The king is needed up above?”
“He is. Can you handle it hard and fast, monster bait?”
She bites her lip, giving me a sheepish nod. “Whatever you say, Bone Daddy.”
I groan. “That is the worst nickname.”
“Is it?” She runs her tongue along my jaw line and whispers, “Break my stitches, Bone Daddy.”
Fuck . “You know, it’s growing on me,” I tease.
“Is that the only thing growing?” She flicks her gaze down to where my bones twist into their fiery cage. They’ve been steadily lengthening throughout this encounter. In fact, my cock looks even more absurdly large than usual. It must be feeding off the energy of All Hallows’ Eve.
My eyes bounce from my cock to Sera. “It’s—”
“I can take it.” Her gaze is hungry and lustful. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m pretty hard to break.”
That’s true. Despite my best efforts . A shadow passes over the moon, darkening the sky. The night has officially descended. If we’re going to do this, it needs to happen now .
Sera’s pupils blow wide as I lower her legs from my shoulders to my waist. Staring down at our bodies together, I’m reminded of just how obscene our size difference is. My royal form would obliterate a normal human, but Sera’s unique body fits my needs perfectly.
The violet fire burning inside the cage of bones that makes up my shaft swirls with desire. Sera’s pussy parts as I press my wide flat tip the first few inches inside. It’s an impossible fit, but that doesn’t stop me from driving the rest of my cock deep inside.
Her eyes roll back in her head as I thrust forward.
I never tire of the sounds of her lower stitches popping to accommodate my size. My sewing expertise has improved tremendously in the last year. Anything I destroy, I can easily fix. Even on days when my magic is running low. Which is good, because I make it my mission to ruin Sera as often and in as many ways as I can. The fact that she not only allows it but begs for more has me thanking the grave that our paths crossed when they did.
The sight of my thick length buried inside her pale, tight body makes my spine tingle with need. Sera presses her hips up, matching my urgency.
“Lock your feet behind me.”
She does.
Movement catches in my peripherals. Shadows rise from the dark corners of the cemetery. They slink nearer, running themselves along our bodies, savoring the darkness Sera and I radiate as we partake in this seductive dance.
I slide my hips back, drawing out to the tip and then slamming to the hilt. The stoic face of the angel stares back at me as I take Sera’s body with primal ferocity.
Avert your eyes, angel. These are the acts of the damned.
Sera
My back slams against the hard stone of the seraphim with each powerful snap of Kel’s hips. More than a few stitches tear from the force and girth of Kel. I savor each snap. The pain makes the pleasure that much sweeter. I love it when he tears me apart and I love it when he puts me back together. The heat from the fire dancing between his bones warms my insides.
Shadows join us in the darkened debauchery. I can feel their touch, gliding along my skin; can hear their whispers in my ears. The more ruthlessly Kel pistons into me, the more frantic the shadows become. My gaze turns upwards. Ramsyk’s face is split into a grin as he soaks up the sight of us fucking. I moan, watching a shudder ripple across the lunar surface.
The bony knobs that run along the top of Kel’s shaft caress the sensitive swells of my inner walls. He tilts his pelvis, switching to quick shorter thrusts. The repetitive motion has a climax crawling its way to the surface of my skin in mere moments. Pleasure builds within me until I am certain it will incinerate me, burn me alive from the inside out. Kel’s tongues rear backward like twin cobras, then snap forward, making contact with my nipples and wrenching a scream from my throat. I come, muscles tightening, stitches tearing, body trembling, barely able to process the massive volume of sheer pleasure spidering through my every seam and scar.
Kel lifts me up, raising my hands above the statue. My back hits the cemetery dirt as he ruts into me at a frightening pace.
“Come again.” His tongues enforce his demand when they stretch down to lave at my clit, sending me into a back-bending orgasm. My body twists, unraveling beneath him. His hips speed up, moving so quickly that he becomes a blur of white bones and purple flame.
A concussive roar fills the cemetery, shaking the ground around us. I know the moment Kel comes by the spike in my internal temperature. Flames pour into me, spilling their violet heat into my deepest parts. The unusual release melts into my muscles and sends me into a set of quick, repetitive climaxes that have my muscles burning and overexerted by the end.
Moonlight blinds me and the face temporarily vanishes from sight. Has he found his own form of release? When the light again dims to its normal glow, I sigh. My vision returns and the sight of Kel’s skeletal, fang-filled face comes back into view.
Relief washes over me as he stills. The shadows retreat. We lie together, soaking up the moment of pleasure and peace. I know he’s in a hurry, but I appreciate him giving me as much time as he can. He plants a kiss on my lips and then drops between my thighs. I’m aware of a tugging sensation as Kel sews up the parts of me that were ripped open in the thralls of our passion.
“You’ve gotten good at that,” I muse, as he finishes in record time.
“Lots of practice.” He winks, drawing me into his lap. I stare up at the angel statue, completely contented in this moment. My name stares back at me.
“Do you want to start going by April?” Kel’s voice is as soft as he can manage in his royal form.
I think about it, considering my options. “I’m grateful you found out who I am, but with you, I’ll always be Sera. It’s my name now. Sera and Kel.”
I’m the only one who calls him that, of course. When I asked him about it, he told me it was because he didn’t actually have a name, only a title. The Skeleton King. When he met me, he’d panicked and picked Kel, stating, “You can’t spell s‘kel’eton without Kel.”
“My Kel.” I snuggle into his ribs.
Our solitude is split open by a sudden screaming.
Sitting up straighter, Kel grins. “It has begun.”
He jumps to his feet, waving a hand over his body and donning his familiar black suit. With another flick of his wrist, he covers me in one of his long, leather jackets.
“Off to work?”
He bends down to give me a quick kiss. “You know they’re in need of my expertise tonight more than ever.”
“Knock ’em dead.”
He kisses me again. “Will you be alright to get back home alone?”
“I’m not alone.” I gesture to the far side of the cemetery. Bones is there. He’s dug up another grave and is dragging a whole spine our way. The jagged bone is several feet too large for a dog his size. He has to stop every few feet and readjust his hold on it. Peck circles above, cawing and cheering him on in his naughtiness.
“I need to apologize to the townsfolk again. We’ve done our best, but at this point I don’t think his graverobbing tendencies will ever go away. Remind me again why we allow him to act this way?” Kel rubs his fingers across his forehead.
“How can we say no to that face? Look how happy he is.”
Bones yips with his mouth full, running toward us and tripping over the spine once more. Graveyard dirt covers his face as he rises and shakes his head. Without a moment’s hesitation he grabs the spine again, seemingly undeterred by his struggles. A wide smile stretches the sutures in my cheeks as I watch our little pup.
Kel peers down at me with pure adoration on his skeletal features. “I don’t know who’s happier. Bones with his stolen treasures, or you watching him have the time of his little bone-thieving life.”
More screams fill the air. “That’s your cue.” I shove at his chest, sending him on his way.
He turns, hunching over. A nostalgic glimmer fills my rib cage as he dons his human skin. I’ll never forget the first time I saw him. Painted face, towering form, fierce dark eyes. I fell for his disguise and then dropped into the deepest oblivion of love the moment he showed me his truest self. My Skeleton King.
I cock an eyebrow at him. “The mortal world awaits. Do your worst!”
“You know I will.” He bends forward giving me one final kiss, then sprints away, vanishing from sight the second he reaches the gate.
Emotions tug at my heart as I stare back at the grave that Kel created for me. “April.” The name feels innately familiar and completely unfamiliar all at once. What kind of life did she have before it was stolen from her? From me.
I don’t think I’ll ever regain all my missing memories, and maybe that’s alright. The void originally created by the plethora of stolen moments has been filled with new ones. My meeting with Kel. The first time we kissed. The day he told me he loved me. I can think of hundreds of moments that fill me with so much joy and love that I can hardly believe they all fit inside my mind.
Bones drags the spine up to my feet and drops it.
“You ready to go home?” He looks from me to the bone and back again. “No sir, you know the rule. You can only bring back what you can carry.”
Bones once tried to bring the entire upper half of a body home. Torso, limbs, skull, and all. That one was still decaying and left brain matter all over the foyer floor as he dragged it inside.
His buggy eyes widen even more than normal. One furless paw taps at the bone. He gives me a pitiful whimper and shivers dramatically. “Fine,” I concede, snatching up the spine in one arm and Bones in the other.
When I step away from the grave, I’m fully Sera. The angel statue sits in revered silence, its compassionate eyes following me through the rows of headstones. I turn back, acknowledging April Marie Higgins one more time, and then leave her where she belongs. Resting in peace.