Melin and I patiently waited for the others to arrange the funeral, while I held Shirley’s corpse. We occasionally shared a glance. She broke the silence, “You are not going to become angry at me when you reach your full potential, I hope.”
“No, it was nothing personal, how about you?”
She shrugged, “Self defense.”
I had to chuckle, “You call that, self defense?”
Melin nodded. I looked around, “And, why is the scary dude not coming this time? I mean, you are dabbling in mortal affairs.”
Melin smirked, “Because we look like two gods conversing while somebody is about to get buried.”
I looked up, “What if he listens in?”
Melin looked at me, “Then he knows you are a faker.”
“Melin?”
“Yes?”
“Do you know where the people I’ve lost are?”
She came closer and whispered in my ear. I had a huge smile on my face, “Thank you so much for that, you have no idea what those words mean to me.”
Melin backed off, “Never say, I did not do anything for you.”
Lory came over, she looked at Melin, “What is she doing here? And why are you smiling Steve?”
“Oh, sorry, I asked her for a favor.”
Lory came closer, “You asked the woman who tried to murder us, for a favor?”
“Yes, for Haley.”
Melin smiled at Lory, “Sorry for, impersonating you and trying to seduce your man. Well, woman.”
I looked at her, “Seducing is not the right word here.”
Melin sighed, “Fine, tortured, I only wanted to kill the devil inside of you.”
“That is better.”
Lory looked at me, “What was the favor?”
“Melin took Shirley’s soul and brought it to an immortal paradise, and reunited her with her parents.”
Lory gasped, “What, for real?”
She nodded while clasping her hands together, “I am actually a nice person, if you are not trying to kill me, I am just, an outcast god, but a very important one. I am working outside my boundaries, don’t let my dad know, or I am fucked. Khione is a bitch. She is just angry at me, and she doesn’t mind throwing people into the fire, which is quite fun for a snow god.”
Lory let out a sigh, “And what was up with that smile.”
“Well, Melin told me where we can find the others, once we have stopped the void.”
Lory walked over and hugged Melin, which neither of us saw coming. Funk walked over, and just stood next to me and clasped his hands together, completing ignoring Melin and Lory who were just hugging a second ago. Lory bumped Funk aside and took my hand. I looked at Funk, “You are not going to ask?”
Funk looked at me, “To be honest Steve, there is not much that will surprise me anymore. You can just be friends with people that tried to murder you.”
I nodded, “You are right, I believe, you are one of them.”
Melin laughed, “That is a good one!”
Funk looked at her, “Just stay in your own brain Melin.”
She raised her hands, “I am not doing anything,” she clasped her hands together again.
I looked around, “Am I underdressed for this event?”
Lory looked at me, “Yes, you are looking as if you are going to the supermarket.”
I grunted, “I don’t want to look like this when I talk about Shirley. And things are already getting along fast. Lory? Can you please hold Shirley? I think Haley would not mind.”
Lory nodded and gently took her over from me. “I think the coffin will come soon, then you can lay her down in there.”
Funk looked at me, “There is a clothing shop, Talia is there.”
I nodded, “Thanks Funk.”
I started walking at a fast pace towards the clothing shop. Quickly, I barged inside, “Talia?”
She looked at me, “Hello Steve.”
“I am looking for a dress. What kind of dress do you wear to a funeral?”
She walked over towards me, “You are seriously going in a dress?”
“Yes, is that a bad thing?”
“No, just, because you are man?”
“Do I look like a man?”
“No.”
“Exactly.”
“There is a god at the funeral, I can’t change my form, or I might piss off other gods and I don’t mind dressing like a woman. To be fair, I feel like neither, I just, want to be me, and right now, this is me. I just don't understand being a woman.”
Talia sighed, “of course. You can wear a black dress, do you have a bra?”
“No?”
Talia seemed to be thinking, “What is your bra size then I can get one for you.”
“I hope the right answer is, I don’t know.”
Talia grabbed some clothes and measurement tape. “Well, let’s measure up your size and get you ready.” She walked into one of the fitting rooms. With a deep sigh, I followed her, the things I do, amaze even me.
After a while, I had a dress on, and a bra. Damn that thing is uncomfortable. I looked into a mirror. The dress covers my shoulders almost fully and flows down into a stylish keyhole neckline. It’s a slim fit which gives the dress a classy and polished look. My arms have been covered only halfway down. The sleeves broaden towards the bottom and playfully accentuate my skin. The dress’s waist is wide. A large belt helps to accentuate my waist in a stylish manner. Below the waist the dress fits snug around me and has a sarong style. The dress reaches all the way down to my feet, and it is longer in the back. I am wearing open toes with no heels, that just did not work for me. I think no other shoe would’ve matched this dress better.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
Who knew I could be glad I read a lot of books on dresses. Talia smiled at me, “And how do you feel Steve?”
“Like a woman. Does my blue hair fit the black dress?”
Talia nodded, “Your hair looks fine, removing your white wings at the moment was a good idea. Haley is going to be glad you are putting in this much effort for her. We should get going, the funeral will start soon.”
“Talia?”
“Yes?”
“Thanks, for your help, and please tell no one I have small breasts.”
She giggled, “I won’t Steve.”
We walked towards the place where Shirley is getting buried. I saw everyone wearing black dresses and black suits. I walked over to Lory, Shirley now lay in the coffin, dressed up and all. Lory looked at me, “I expected you to come in a suit, and as a man.” She came very close and looked in my eyes. “Steve?”
“Yes?”
“Haley will be arriving soon, are you ready for this?”
“I am, I even put on a bra, it was a struggle to put it on”
Lory grinned, “I know I said I would not do this but, we are kind of married.” She gave me an awkward peck. “Now, get ready.”
I took place next to Lory, Abby is standing on the other side of the coffin. She seemed to be looking at me as if I were eye candy. I mouthed, “Not the time Abby.” Sad music started to play.
Haley came over, she also wore a black dress. I am very awkward at funerals, I have no clue what the plan is, or what to do, how am I even supposed to act? We fixed this up in several hours, the whole town worked together. The music stopped and Haley stepped on a small stage that people had made, it even had a microphone, where did they get that?
Haley cleared her throat, “Hello everyone, thank you for coming. Today we are saying goodbye to a dear friend of mine.” It is clear to me, she has a lump in her throat. Haley continued to speak. “A person whom I wanted to spend more time with.” She started shedding tears. “I know people don’t know her as well as I do, but it means a lot to me that you have all gathered here to pay your respect. My dad, would like to say some words.”
Lory gave me a gentle push, I walked over to the stage and hugged Haley. I started sweating profoundly. “Hello everyone, before I do my speech, I want to ask someone else to take the stage, here is, Melin, god of death.”
Melin walked over and nodded towards me, “Hello people, this is not something I do for everyone. Yes, my day-to-day job is to guide people to their final destination, and I came to an agreement with Steve. Shirley’s soul has been taken to the Immortal dimension, where she can live in peace forever, safe from any harm, and she is reunited with her parents. I am sorry for your loss, and I wish the people who are associated with Shirley, the best.” She stepped back and gave Haley a clean tissue.
I cleared my throat, “I never met Shirley, but I have heard great tales of the orphan that stood up against their evil king. Haley found herself in grave danger, death was imminent, until, her spark of hope appeared. Shirley, she took Haley in and tended to her wounds. This created a strong bond between them. She hid Haley, while I, and my party raced to the capital, through grave dangers, we tussled with extinct species, we even tussled with gods. In the end, the capital was too far away, and we were not in time to save Shirley. But, one of her last acts on this earth was to buy us enough time for us to save Haley, for that, we are eternally grateful.”
“Haley had beaten the king but, he had an ace up his sleeve. The artifact we went to gather got destroyed accidentally in the final battle to save Haley.” I saw Lory, Abby, Funk, and Bella stare at me, they knew I lied about the artifact. I regained my composure, “Shirley was a great woman, and as sad as it is, she is now with her parents, and at peace, as Haley wished. Without Shirley, we would have failed, and death would have taken us. So, I want all of you, to be grateful for the brave little orphan, the princess from Boluga.”
As I stepped back, Haley took the stage. “Thank you dad, for those who are wondering, I see the questionable stares at my dad, he is a shapeshifter.” Suddenly, numerous people in the crowd started nodding. Haley glanced at me, then she let out a wry smile. She spoke up, “Anyone who wants to say something to Shirley, can do so at this moment. If you wish to say nothing but silently thank her for her brave deeds, then that is allowed as well.”
Haley got off the stage and grabbed a rose, she walked over to Shirley, and kissed her on her forehead and put down the rose. She whispered something in her ear. I just, awkwardly stood here while some of the people got in a line to say their final goodbye’s or leave a rose for Shirley. Melin looked at me, “That was a beautiful speech Steve, it must be your womanly side.”
“I just wish, Haley did not have to feel this pain.”
Melin nodded, “sadly, death is a part of life Steve. We all will have to deal with, and eventually face it, even I have to.”
As the funeral went on, Melin whispered in my ears, “The devil inside of you, if it ever wakes up, terminate yourself before he takes you over. Captain is programmed to help stop it. The reason Harper stopped me, was because some fear that gravely injuring you, will wake him up. The devil, he is strong enough to kill all of us gods, and destroy the hyperverse. Keep yourself in check, we don't know what you are capable of, and we would rather not find out. She focused back on the funeral.”
I just stared around me, while I know she was trying to warn me, that felt more like a threat. Who is this, devil, inside of me, why is Captain programmed to stop him? How can he kill gods? Will he, kill me? How could injuring me, wake him up?