You rose, just to fall again.

[Kalif Styx]

The sun was shining upon the grass and chairs dressed with black, there was nothing to be happy about for the family this afternoon. Summer was approaching, and though the Zhefarovich Manor behind them rose and stood tall in the darkness it held, there was a contrasting graveyard with green grass behind them, with tombs of every Zhefarovich that had ever resided in the Manor. There was a special crypt for those that had titles, but alas, the one they were burying today had no title other than the son of the current Head of the Zhefarovich family. The tombstone already set in place, as was the grave. The one being buried today was the second child that Kalif had ever lost that was born into this world. Both of his children that passed had managed to die in accidents.

Silent as the grave, Kalif approached the closed casket, and he opened the top with one hand. There were no flowers, nothing. Kalif chose this, and only family would be invited here this afternoon. He wanted nothing more but a quiet funeral, and he did not want strangers to come in and see. His eyes ran across his son's face, and he let out a soft yet silent sigh. It was true, this father had yet to even shed a tear. He was trained never to. Kalif turned his back on the casket and went to sit down in the chair on the front bench. Younger children were not allowed to be here, as they would not understand it. Kalif crossed his arms over his chest and he said nothing more, ignoring the world. It was one of the only ways he could deal with death, and that was by not talking to anyone. Today was the day to assure everyone that Jaken Larmyne Styx was actually dead.

Out of Character:

All members of the family are technically here, but if you do not wish to post, then it is fine.

 

[Nicolette Styx]

Nicolette never handled funerals well. She once had to attend one that was meant for over one hundred and fifty people that had died, all the Hensel's that were murdered so long ago. Now she was meant to attend another one that was meant for her step-son. Jaken Styx was pretty much like a son of her own even if he didn't agree to it. Ever since Chavdar had told Nicolette and Kalif the news she had been finding herself bursting into tears with pretty much every chance she got. How Kalif was able to keep stone cold and not shed a tear almost seemed impossible to her. Then she remembered how he and the others were trained not to show such emotion and understood exactly. As much as she wanted to wrap her arms around Kalif and apologize until she couldn't anymore she knew what he was like when things like this bothered him. It was best to just keep silent and leave him alone until he was ready to speak and such. Losing two children was not easy. Her heart broke as she thought about how much she would miss seeing Jaken, miss teasing him because of his cane, and even now her youngest children would grow up not knowing their older brother. This was just so heartbreaking. Nicolette was going to miss Jaken so much.

As her golden eyes peered at Jaken from a short distance from the casket she sighed and turned before she sat herself down next to Kalif. Looking at him for too long just brought back memories that she wished were still alive today. A hand went up to brush her forming tears away as she tried not to cry. She wanted to appear strong like Kalif but it was just so hard when it was one of 'children' that she was never going to see again dying. All she had to get through with was this and then she could go to her bedroom and cry a little before she busied herself with things to keep Jaken off of her mind. A hand went down to gentle rub her pregnant stomach, her poor baby girl would never get to meet Jaken down. She would never get to meet her brother.

 

[Avory Brandt]

Avory, dressed in respectable all black for the occasion, sat on one of the seats that had been laid out for the members of the Zhefarovich family. With her finally receiving her mark of the Zhefarovich family she felt more deserving to be here than she would have at any other time. With her children safely in the Zhefarovich Manor behind her with the rest of the young children she kept her eyes forward. Today was a sad day indeed; with a member of the family being buried it was hard not to call it a sad day. Avory never knew the boy being buried today, Jaken Styx, but she didn’t let this stop her from feeling some remorse for the young man that lost his life. Avorys eyes were looked on Kalif Styx, the Head of the Family and the father of the dead man, she watched his movements carefully. He noticed how his eyes didn’t look red or poufy like those of other people that must have been close to the man. Avory didn’t know if she should admire the fact that he had yet to actually cry at the death of his own child or feel sorrier for the man than she already did. Being the Head of the Family she knew that he was trained for this type of thing and to not show any emotion but to not be able to cry at the funeral of your own child, it was a sad thing. Avory was never one for showing much emotion but she couldn’t bear to think what it would be like to lose any of her children, be it her step children or her own children, it would be a hard thing for any parent. When the man sat down Avory waited for the funeral to commence.

 

[Estrella Drage]

The wife of the deceased was not attending the funeral. Another witch stood in her place, a sliver of a woman that once was. She did not address anyone in the room, with neither a glance nor a murmur. None of them deserved acknowledgment. She despised every one of them, hated the earth they walked on and the air they breathed. They were all to blame, every one of them, from the oldest codger to the youngest snot-nosed child.

A veil covered her painted face. Her body was draped in black, hiding her from the sun. She wouldn't need that damned thing that mocked her from the heavens in a world where she walked in shadow. The funeral would end and her husband would be planted in the ground, joining his sister and the worms and those stupid plants that he was always so fond of.

She hated him. Jaken had robbed her of a husband and his daughters of a father. The man had robbed his unborn children of a chance to meet him, just once. He'd stolen something precious from all in attendance and many more. Worst of all, the witch couldn't even follow him to make sure he payed his dues.

I love you.

 

[Danielle Zhefarovich]

Death was an inevitable force. This was one thing that Danielle always kept in mind whenever Death somehow found it's away into her life, it was a fact and rule of life that should be minded by all. Death would come no matter how much you ran or pleaded with the gods above to spare you some time. It was also unpredictable to most. You would never know when your time came until it came. Jaken wasn't able to see his young life ended and thats what Danielle to find as such a pity. He live a good life and although he made a bunch of stupid decisions that really irked a lot of his family off he was still a member of the family that Danielle was now a part of. She had yet to shed a tear over it though. Danielle had rarely ever cried in her lifetime so she tried to make a habit of it and not do it as much as she possibly could. Entering with her husband Her angelic blue eyes were fixed on the Coffin as she made her way over to where she would be sitting for now, she glanced up as Asparuh not knowing if he was going to be doing anything special for this or not before she walked over and set herself down gracefully. The black she wore made her ghostly pale skin stick out of even more possible. Her thoughts were on Jaken and how he must have had suffered so much, poor boy. A pale hand went to massage her pregnant stomach before she returned her gaze to the front. There were plenty of woman here right now with child. Odd, as a life fades a set of new lives begin.

 

[Axel Zhefarovich]

Axel entered in with his wife, wearing black robes out of respect. His head was held high and he kept his thoughts of Kalif's oldest son in his mind. He was not particularly close to his siblings, but they were still family. He had not known Jaken Styx, but he did know that the boy was once an Auror before his brother put an end to that. Axel did not cry either, but he did actually feel something close to sorrow. He felt more anger than anything actually. He knew that someone had killed Jaken and the fact that no one knew who did it thus could not avenge him was the problem. Axel's feet trend upon the grass, and he went to the front where the casket lay, and stared at the young man's face just to see how young he was. Axel shook his head slightly, and his silver eyes turned to Kalif to see him just as cold as ever. This was his second child buried. Axel thought, Just like any other future Patriarch or current Head. Axel did not know what he would do if he lost a child of his. Probably murder someone and their family. Axel turned and he went to sit by his love. He put his hand upon her thigh and he waited for just who exactly was going to conduct the funeral. His father, he knew, but there were two other speakers. He did not know who they were.

 

[Nataliia Snow]

Nataliia's usually happy eyes were filled with dread and sorrow. Silver was surrounded with red and puffiness. Nataliia might not be close to someone in the family, but she was also someone to cry and mourn over her nephew. She was a mother of many, and not pregnant right now thankfully, and she did not know what she would do if she lost any of her babies. All of them were in the Zhefarovich Manor with the younger children being watched by servants and ghosts alike. Nataliia wore black as well, and her eyes gazed over to see the wife of the beloved Jaken and her heart broke. That girl was in love and he had to be killed off in such a violent way. Nataliia swallowed hard and could not bring herself look at her nephew. She took a seat with her family members as silent tears raced down her cheeks. A sad day it was for all of them. She could not bring herself to imagine the amount of pain those others that were closer to him imagine.

 

[Chavdar Zhefarovich]

Chavdar was probably one of the only males that had cried until they could no longer anymore. Chavdar was once close to Jaken and now, Jaken was dead. The look in Jaken's eyes when he died in his arms. The way he was in so much pain, and then everything was gone. He felt worse for Estrella though. She lost the father to her children, and the children lost their father. Chavdar walked down the aisle with his beloved wife almost supporting him as they walked. Once they took a seat, he noticed that they were in the front seat with Nicolette and Kalif. They had spoken very little about what had happened and it was still sad enough. Somehow, this had brought the two brothers together, and Chavdar was still remorseful over what had happened to Jaken. Why did it have to be him? He could still remembered everyone in the cafe, and it still came as a blur if someone in there would do such a thing.

 

[Rosaline Mckay]

Rosaline was saddened for Chavdar, knowing how close he was to Jaken. She herself was not closed with Jaken but she still knew the pain of how it felt to lose someone you loved. She had her arm wrapped through Chavdar's and her hand upon his upper arm. Her red hair was covered by a veil and her sapphire orbs reflected the loss and mourn that her dear husband felt. Rosaline wore a black dress, same as the others, and she averted her eyes from the body. Though her eyes stared at Kalif for a moment, as she passed him. Granted he had training, but how in the world could he stand to be here without crying? It was something she had never seen before in her life. She glanced down and she shook her head as she took a seat next to her husband. She buried her head into his shoulder for support and to show that she was there for him. She let out a soft sigh and thought that this would be one long day. She had no time to think of herself, her mind was solely on her husband.

 

[Arnost Zhefarovich]

It seemed just like yesterday that the last funeral Arnost had attended was his baby sister, Raisa's. It was rather painful to him because at the time, he had remembered that Raisa had done so much for him and Thorine before her own death. Now this was young Jaken in the mix of the graves. He strolled down the aisle, and he smirked lightly, if even noticeably at Danielle. She was getting rather big, wasn't she? Arnost did not say this out loud but his eyes ventured to his twin brother standing up front near the casket, before Arnost took his own place so that he could assist in helping lower it. He retrieved a single wand, and he held it at his side. Arnost glanced over everyone, and he shrugged lightly to himself. Jaken Styx, he was family and killed, but Arnost did not really know him so well. Arnost continued to wait in silence, as the funeral would soon begin.

 

[Prodan Zhefarovich]

Prodan never had the honor of teaching Jaken in his classes of Muggle Studies, but he still loved the young man. Prodan had shed tears when he figured out that the boy had lost his life, but now, he was calm and his throat felt like someone clinched it with an iron grip. Prodan felt a little uneasy, and just seeing the young man there in the coffin made him really sick at the stomach. What if that had been Austin or Elisaveta? Sure, Aleyha was not his daughter, but he still loved her like one. Prodan took his seat and he wondered just what kind of man or something would want Jaken dead? It made no sense to him. Prodan wore black robes like everyone else here, and it felt strange for him actually. He was so used to muggle clothing. Alas, the man waited for the funeral service to start.

 

[Demitris Zhefarovich]

Ever since Demitris heard the news about Jaken's death, he had been nothing more but a train wreck. Losing a best friend and a cousin was not what he wanted in his mind. Demitris had hoped that when he was the godfather of Olivia, that nothing would dare happen to him, and alas, there he was, dead in the coffin. Demitris wore black robes as it was traditional for the family, he guessed. The emerald-eyed man had red whites in his eyes from actually breaking down moments ago. He could not remain too strong as Jaken had always been there for him. They had many things in common after all. Both of them fell in love with a Ravenclaw prefect who became head girl. Both of them had changed for the good as they grew older. Jaken had managed to become an Auror and then ended up getting attacked and his memories erased. That was something Demitris could never accomplish. His life was rather normal. Demitris went and sat down behind Estrella, and he bowed his head to not look at his best friend. Demitris breathed in and he hoped to get this over with. It was hard enough being here to begin with.

 

[Asparuh Zhefarovich III]

Asparuh had entered the grounds of the graveyard with his wife, before she took a seat. Asparuh however was directing this funeral and he was the main speaker. Only two others were permitted to speak and the other members of the family would remain sitting. Arnost and the final speaker would lower the casket into the hole pre-dug already and they would return to their lives without the departed. Asparuh approached the front, and he waved his hand over the casket, and the lid closed and clicked shut for all eternity. Asparuh had nothing he would be reading, as he had done this for Raisa before this one, and he knew what to say. His onyx eyes gazed over everyone, his posture straight and his expression too emotionless, too cold for a funeral. Because no one knew who had done this to Jaken, he could not be avenged, and that was a law of their family. It was the small print that many did know about, but Asparuh was not about to waste him time avenging someone that was not even pure-blood and caused more trouble in the family than it was worth.

The ancient Death Eater started to speak at last, his voice not needing to be amplified as this was a silent place to begin with, "As a strong family, we come together once again to see away Jaken Larmyne Styx into the land of the departed. We all remember him as the man that secretly married Estrella Styx right after he graduated, as well as a kind soul that honestly did not fit in with the most of us." Asparuh pictured kind as an insult, but it could be a compliment as well, though with his tone of voice, no one could be very sure. With that same cold voice, Asparuh continued, "Son of our Head and future Patriarch, Kalif Styx and the departed Namina Styx, Jaken is also siblings to Hades Lutrov, the departed Alessine, Patricia, Kaleb, Kailie, Damianos, Nicolas and the newest of their additions that has yet to be born. He leaves behind his wife, Estrella Styx, and his two daughters, Olivia and Lydia, as well as those twins that have yet to be born. He also left behind several nieces and nephews, as well as other members of the family." This was when Asparuh showed very little irritation, thinking that this family was too large for its own good. For that much, he blamed his mother that was actually speaking after Asparuh was finished.

"Jaken was born September thirteenth on 2004, lived twenty-one years before passing on April twenty-sixth of this year. The young man's life was short-lived in the end, and Death has claimed him. Toĭ ne e nishto poveche." Asparuh finished his own part and now to let the other two take over from here. He had the simplest part. He did not have to care for the young man to say what he needed to, and now his onyx eyes gazed over at a ghostly figure that made her way down the aisle wearing white. Granted, ghosts could not change clothing or wear physical clothes, it seemed like she was at a wedding more so a funeral. His eyes went to Arnost, and he would give him the cue of when to start lowering the casket where it would become food to the critters below. Asparuh went and he stood to the side to allow that ghost of a mother of his to speak. He almost regretted having a mother because at times, she was a blessing and other times, she was a royal pain. He doubted that Jaken knew that naming his daughter after her was truly a good idea seeing that Lydia, the first one, was insane.

 

[Lydia Nozhetvakas]

Another funeral. Lady Lydia wondered if she even had one, considering her body had been moved from her old bed chambers to the tomb. She had seen her body and now knew what she looked like if she were to rise from the grave at this very moment. She slowly floated down the aisle, her white dress flowing behind her majestically. She was the oldest here, technically. She turned and stopped as she saw just how large had gotten over the years she had been absent. And these were just the adults, not counting the children. Though she could not see her other son, Vladislav. Oh yes, he was exiled. Pity. Lady Lydia saw the one that looked almost dead, absent, and knew that this was the wife of the departed. Asparuh's part of the funeral was basic, and Lady Lydia thought it was almost obvious, but it was just apart of the ritual. She raised her ghostly white arms and she announced loudly to get their attention with her musical voice, "We gather here today to honor someone of the Zhefarovich blood as he had passed on!"

Lady Lydia assumed that some would be rather perturbed about her almost excited voice and the smile upon her lips that used to shine with a ruby red hue of roses. The ghost continued, "Just to clear something up, for those that don't know who I am, I am Lady Lydia Nozhetvakas-Zhefarovich. I am Asparuh's mother, and wife of the passed Jaken Zhefarovich, whom this young man was named after." She had got information from her son that this Jaken was warmer and on the side of good. She was almost appalled that he was named after her dead husband. Lady Lydia could not say anything bad about this boy though. She did not know him. "A sad and painful way to go, Jaken Styx had gone. Alas, his impression upon his family will not be forgotten and I assure you all that we will remember him in our hearts and mind. Everything that boy has gone through - that I know - it will come back against the soul that wanted him dead." Lady Lydia folded her arms across her chest, and her eyes landed on the now widowed woman. She had lost her Jaken due to unfortunate events, and she had killed her own by accident. Amazing how they had something in common.

 

[Hades Styx]

Hades was the last one speaking and while he was standing on the other side of the casket, the opposite of Arnost, he saw the cue to start lowering it. Hades waved his wand as did Arnost and the casket began to lower into the ground. That would be the last time Jaken Styx would ever be above ground. His onyx eyes flared with intense wrath that would need to be released soon enough. Hades had injured Jaken to the point of never being able to walk correctly again, and only a certain few knew of it as well. Hades listened to what Lady Lydia had said, her being in a ghostly form was still rather unnerving even to the bravest. She was close to a legend in the family, and here she was today.

After she was finished speaking, Hades was the final man speaking. The casket was lowered and Hades turned to the others. Hades stated, his anger boiling beneath his veins. Whoever killed that man was going to pay, and Hades would figure it out eventually. Hades started to speak as the dirt started to fill the whole and cover Jaken’s body, “We all know exactly how Jaken died, and that it is no accident to be poisoned. I assure you all, things will come back against that person.” That was all Hades had to say. He went to Chavdar and he bent down and inquired harshly, his anger seeping into his voice, “I want you to give me details of everyone that was in that café with you when you and Jaken went out. Do not leave out any details.” There had to be someone that Hades would recognize.

 

[Chavdar Zhefarovich]

Chavdar was a little more than shocked to see Lady Lydia, his own grandmother that he had not ever seen in his life enter the funeral grounds. Though her words were inspiring actually. Chavdar managed to controlled his sadness and mourning, but what was really hitting him was seeing Jaken’s casket go into the ground. Chavdar clinched his eyes closed and he put his hands over his face, and leaned on his knees. How he hated funerals. Though the last speaker did not talk much at all. This was peculiar, and he saw that it was Hades. Then, the creeper came and asked him a question. In return, Chavdar described everyone, even an older man with golden eyes and all. Chavdar finished and he shook his head. Nothing more can be said about anyone else.

 

[Hades Styx]

Hades took in Chavdar’s words into his mind. Everyone’s descriptions into his brain and he narrowed his eyes. He thought and he nodded as Chavdar muttered, “Mmmm.” He stood up to his full height, and he took one glance toward Nicolette with her golden eyes. Someone else had them as well. However, he would have a lot of research to do. Hades walked down the aisle and he smirked evilly. Someone would be dying and this time Hades had a plan, an ultimate plan depending just on who it was. Hades left the funeral with some eyes on him, as he apparated off to Anastasia’s to see her as well as plan and research. Hades would be busy for quite some time.

---

Fin​