After Hazel left , Caleb went back in ,continued the arrangement while the Valley was oddly silent after what just happened .
By sunset, all arrangements were done , everyone went to change ,all claded in black , the roses bloomed with grief and sorrow. By dark , the celebration started , the Firefly Lights which were only brought out during Orchid celebration was brought out again but in a darker form . The glow had left it , Orchid was gone , there was no one else to hold it, it represented the mood of the valley .
Orchid was carried into the Dandelions Field Tower, the place all past leaders memorials and memories were cemented . In Flower Valley, when all past leaders exit the world , they don't disappear nor turn to ashes rather they turn to stone .
At the Field Tower , Caleb waved his hand , then knelt by his mother's side while everyone else stood behind him
" Mother….. how fast the cold hands of death grasped you, strangled you, tore you out and left us with unspoken words, unshared smiles, unresolved arguments, a final touch rather it gave us paced goodbye, i haven't learned how to live without you yet and now I am at odds of what to do because you are no longer here to scold me , to teach me , to love me , to listen" his voice cracked as a teardrop fell .
"So why did you leave to go somewhere only you know? By now, his tears were streaming as he hugged her body tight , it was cold , lifeless and it hurts so much !
Caleb stretched his hand for them to hand over the Firefly light but it was suddenly nowhere to be found. While eyes searched around, a glow covered the entire realm, it was bright and neon green. The light was binding and as all eyes turned to where it came from , someone walked in with the light.
Cladded in all white, her aura was distinct and divine , her demon stripes glowed as her hair fell without restraints, in her hand was the Firefly light, shaped like millions of fireflies, so minimal yet so powerfully made .
She walked calmly yet majestically and knelt before Orchid .
In the midst of darkness and all the blacks , she stood out like Orchid always did .
"Mother , no words can express the pain , grief that we all feel , you've only completely your journey but sadly it was one that broke us all. I brought your lights, you have always wanted it to shine and I made sure it did . With all the love , ache, pain , memories in my heart , I say ...GOODBYE MOTHER".
Hazel raised the lights up and smiled brokenhearted and with tears clouding her vision, she watched as Orchid body raised and placed itself at the tower and it slowly began to come whole , the parts that were removed formed back , her body became whole and for some odd reason it looked like she smiled down at them before her body became stone yet Hazel smiled in her heart " Rest well Mother"
All the fireflies bowed as a loud sound covered the entire Valley.
She bowed respectfully and turned to walk out . Caleb was still kneeling, trying to come to terms with the fact that she is gone .
"Until we meet again ORCHID"
.........…..
After Orchid departure , the celebration was laid out. A celebratory feast was always held so as to give the deceased a peaceful life after death . During this celebration, everyone was to put aside all grief and put on a smile, and joy in their hearts . Music blared in the valley, there was happiness in the air as a divine aura covered the valley . Caleb moved around , tried to smile but the pain was still there and he just wanted to cool off so he headed to the Flower Garden ( Orchid favourite place) . Walking in ,he met Hazel , sitting, legs crossed, watching the stars . The aura she gave off was different, it was dominating and the smell of vengeance filled the air then he realised, the smell of vengeance was from him. He never truly let it go . He sat beside her silently.
" I did what was right by killing him , if you chose to blame the demon in me for that , I won't blame you but ….. if the realm eventually goes to war with the demons be you get a chance to eradicate them all , you will have to go through me first and believe I won't make it easy" . Hazel said and stood to leave .
" So you are with them now ? Those...demons? Caleb put to her
" Isn't that what you labelled me as ? A demon.
" You are picking a side in this fight? And not the right one.
" What did they do ? Just because they are demons? You forget there's good in evil and evil in good. You claim it's the demons that should be blamed but how do you justify Emperor Akeem acts to your Mother's death?
Before we blame others, look at the Man in the Mirror".
" Where do you belong now ?
"It's time to go back to where I came from".
" Will they accept you ?
"Who said I was looking for acceptance?
" Then what ?
" Answers. Lots of it .
" Then what ?
Hazel looked him directly in the eye " Then ….. I know my stand and who to point my sword at"
" The war is going to come,sooner or later"
" When it does, I know who to stab and by then I'll have answers"
" What now?
She smiled, "Now ? I leave".
She grinned and made her way out . Caleb watched her silently yet his heart wailed loudly.
" Mother… what now ?
He asked himself. And the silence was deafening.