6
Sly’s funeral took place on one of the rainiest days of the season. Everyone gathered around the casket, huddling under an underbrella. Nikolas, Emily, and Elizabeth all huddled close with Lucky, want to give him moral support. Especially Nikolas. He knew what Sly had meant to Lucky and even felt bad that in a way, he had taken Sly’s place in Lucky’s life. That he was the reason the cousins had grown apart. The reason for this was that after Lucky and Nikolas had made peace, Sly and Lucky had a falling out and hadn’t spoken to each other since. He looked over at Luke, who own eyes shone with grief and guilt. Nikolas wondered why. Two men had stepped forward two days ago and took responsibility for the murder, saying that Lucky wasn’t a target, but they had to get to Bill Eckert’s son somehow. They were out for revenge against Sly’s late father.
Nikolas frowned remembering when Lucky had told him about the incident. It was obvious that his younger brother didn’t buy it and neither did he. Both came to the conclusion that Helena had something to do with this and the only reason she sent those two to take the fall was because Luke had threatened her somehow. They both doubted she’d try to get to Luke through Lucky again, even though Elizabeth was still a bit nervous. She couldn’t wait until fall when her and Lucky will pack up and disappear into the busy city life of Manhattan. Far away from Helena and her schemes.
"I can’t believe he’s gone," Emily sniffed, dabbing absently at her eyes. "We were the three musketeers. Why did this happen?"
Lucky bowed his head, the guilt just about overtaking him. But Nikolas’s warm hand on his shoulder pulled him back from that pool of guilt, and Elizabeth’s sweet perfume helped him keep his mind on the future and not obsess about the past. Lucky sighed, remembering how his brother and girlfriend were his anchors during this whole ordeal.
"Ashes to ashes. Dust to
dust," The priest threw dirt into the coffin. Jenny broke
down in heart breaking sobs as the coffin was lowered into the
grave. Luke walked up to try to lend words of comfort, but only
got a cold glare in return. "Damn you Spencers. Who else
will die because of your stupid enemies? Hmmm?"
"That is enough," Bobbie stepped out from behind Luke.
This had nothing to do with my brother but with yours. It was
Bill’s enemies that had Sly killed. So stop placing blame on
my brother."
"Barbara Jean, stay out of this. If Jenny needs to be angry at me, let her," Luke pulled his sister away.
"Jenny," Lucky approached the distraught woman against both Nikolas and Elizabeth’s objections. "I’d like to say I’m sorry for what happened to Sly. It shouldn’t have happened. He shouldn’t have died that way, but he did. I wish there was a way to bring him back…or that I could take his place…"
"Lucky don’t say that. Sly wouldn’t want to trade places with you. I know he wouldn’t. He missed you so much," Jenny pulled the young man into a comforting hug. "He was going to call you before you two graduated…he wanted to work things out."
Luke sighed in relief. He was so afraid that Jenny would take her grief out on Lucky also. He was glad that wasn’t the case. She only blamed one Spencer and that was him. At least he could take it. He didn’t think that Lucky would be able to.
"I wish we did keep in touch. I’m going to really miss him."
"We all will," Paul patted his back. "Now if you’ll excuse us, we really have to get going. Good-bye Lucky."
:"That went well,"
Luke watched the couple enter their car and drive away. "How
are you holding up Cowboy?"
:Lucky shrugged. "As well as can be expected. Dad…I
have to know…was this really Helena?"
"Now Lucky, that old bat is nothing for you to…"
"Dad please. Just tell me. I have to know. Did Helena have Sly killed?"
Luke sighed irritably. He
didn’t want to tell Lucky the truth. The truth would only
hurt him. And it was completely unnecessary since he had made
sure that Helena would never attempt to lay a hand on Lucky ever
again. But he had lost Lucky once because of lies, and he
wasn’t about to do it again. "…Yes. She was the
one that set up Sly’s murder and the fire in an attempt to
kidnap you. She of course wanted to get back at me. But I had a
long talk with the old witch and we came to an understanding. She
was to leave you alone."
"Or?"
Luke sighed. He knew Lucky wasn’t going to be too happy with
his threat towards Nikolas. But he had no other choice. He knew
that Nikolas was Helena’s weakness and was the only card he
had to play. "Or the prince would pay."
"Dad!"
"It was the only way to get her to leave you alone Lucky," Nikolas stepped in, understanding Luke’s dilemma. "Grandmother would do anything to keep the prince from being harmed. Even abandoning foolproof plans against her enemies. If using me against Helena to keep you safe is what Luke had to do, well I’m glad he did it. I’m just getting to know my little brother. I don’t want to lose him."
"Well I don’t want to lose you either. Especially not by the hands of my overly zealous father."
"Hey, don’t worry. As long as the bat keeps her end of the bargain, which is to stay away from you, Prince Nikky here is safe," Luke grinned. "I better get back to the club. Inventory is all screwed up."
"Now, see. That’s why I told you to use computers. But you refuse to listen," Lucky shook his head in amusement.
"I know I know. But you know me. Me in front of a computer is like Custard leading an army," Luke grinned before heading to the car. Lucky just watched him go, not knowing how to take his father at times
"Hey guys, let’s go to Eli’s. I can sure use some ribs," Emily nudged Nikolas’s arm, thinking that lunch at Lucky’s favorite rib joint would cheer Lucky up.
"And then we can go to my house where I have brownies waiting," Elizabeth’s eyes brightened up. "Plus some more soft pretzels. What do you say Lucky?"
"I say lead the way," Lucky smiled for the first time in days, following his friends out of the cemetery, sending out one last good-bye to Sly.