Lessons.

Aletheia;

(The first three P.O.V of Ali, will be before Minette met G'neration.)

She's at it again, with her never-ending rumbles about going back to Earth. With her never-ending quest to find the solution to her almost perfect formula.

I silently watch her crouched back as she scribbles over and over in the white surface she had managed to create. I sigh, “Leah, you will hurt yourself.” I uttered, giving her a fair warning on her position. She looked up, gave me an exhausted smile, fixed her posture before her scribblings continued once again.

“I know we're almost there, just a little bit more,” she mumbles, and for all, I know she was talking to me indirectly but I didn't answer. Instead, I went over to where she is, hug her tight from behind before giving her a peck on her crown, “You're not thinking about using yourself again, right?” I ask, weary of the outcome her decisive mind was formulating.

She stopped, let out a small sigh before turning her seat to face me, “I hate lying to .you, I'm sorry, but I do.” she replied, and as if I was showered with a sudden bucket of cold water, I realized I've loved someone who never stops until she earned a lesson from all the hard work she had to exert. That was a big hard slap, a large amount of lump that is hard to swallow. “I know that eyes well, listen to me first.” she continues, adding another heavy boulder on my already limp shoulders. “This time will be different, it won't be just me.” Silence, that's all I can give her, “I will be using myself as a back route instead of being in the front row.” another boulder. Her plan of using herself as a back route means someone else will be involved, and that means another her.

“Please, Ali. Trust me on this one, it'll work. I know that it will.” same overused words of assurance, words that were once trusted.

She had said it before, but it did not. I almost fucking lose her. Ali, I swear it'll work. Just believe in me, I'll bring us back to Earth. She did, she bring back the pain of losing her. She had brought back the fear of her being taken from me, the fear of being alone once again. Pain that I've learned as a lesson while being alive on Earth.

“Ali...”

“You know my answers, Leah,” I said before I gave her a peck on her forehead, “ And Leah, I want you to know that I love you, always.” I then went ahead, leave her alone to give her the space to think of another plan. The plan that doesn't involve anyone, a plan that doesn't make her the sheep of sacrifice.

--

“Lady Aletheia, you need to wake up!!”

What?

My eyes fly open, revealing Asha in her gowns. What was the reason for her rushing that she didn't have enough time to change?

And did I just heard her footsteps coming from the lab...when she's not allowed to be there, supposedly.

Leah better not be doing things behind--stop overthinking Aletheia just asks her the why and your answers will be clear.

“What's with the rush, Asha?” I ask, squinting my eyes as a sign of threat.

Please, better be not the answers I'm expecting...

“Lady Erös...she's bleeding. I've tried my best to stop it but it won't and her blood--” she stifles her tears, confused and scared of what's happening.

“It's blue. I know, bring me to her.” I cut off, expressionless.

Blue, that's what it is. A call for justice.

Asha guided me with all her remaining might. Not uttering another word but instead trying her best to chase upon time as she muffles her tears “Asha...” I call out, not even sure what to say. How can I assure her that everything is fine...how when the truth is far from everything.

She looks at me, sniffing, “Yes, your Lady?” she questions. From the very short time of her silent tears, she's already a mess. Bloodshot eyes, sore nose, she might've been really worried.

“Don't worry too much, the coast is clear.”

--

“What did you do?” I ask the breathless Leah on the floor. It may look like I'm calm but she should know that not at all. I'm just keeping it low, not letting any unnecessary eruption out of me. “Leah, answer me,” I panned out.

“I did nothing...” she answer, panting hard. As she tries her best to mirror my brown orbs. A way to prove to me that she's not lying, that she didn't try to do that stunt again.

Instead of saying another word, I check on her open wounds. It was gushing blood nonstop, despite the size being little. What the hell is this? “Does it hurt?” I ask, checking every inch of her for any other possible wounds.

“It doesn't, but the nonstop shedding of blood is making it hard for me to even lift a finger.”

“Fuck!” Asha cried out from behind, I checked on her to see what came about for her to swear that loud. And to my surprise, she was also bleeding but not as much as Leah's gushing...what the fuck?

“What happened?” I ask, continuing my tries to stop Leah's wound from bleeding.

“I tried to pick up that book, I thought it might be important for it to be ruined by Lady Erós blo-blood,” she replies, pointing at the book she was talking about. I check to see what it was, and she was indeed right, that's a very important one. But why? Why is Leah using it...what is she up to?

“Asha, can you do me a huge favor?” I soullessly ask, still staring at the book she had pointed into. If she's getting into it, then, maybe I should do what I should've done a long time ago.

“Yes, my lady?” Asha replies, and even though she tries to hide the trembling in her voice, it was still visible. Leah, when you're back to your usual state she'll be your another baggage.

“I want you to find the Ava whose name was indicated in that book,” I uttered, giving her my cues to pick up the book for her to start what I just ask her into. She nods, carefully went ahead to fetch the book she had tried to get before-- that even reasoned out on her current bleeding.

“One more thing, do not let your blood get mixed into--oh shit.” I was about to warn her about the possible outcome if she let her blood get mixed with Leah's and for the sake of Abaddon, it already happened.

“What is that?” Asha asks, as her knees weakened on what she was seeing. “How is that...” she trails, wondering whether her mind was tricking her.

“Possible?” continues, leaving Leah alone for a moment as her bleeding had finally stopped to went ahead and fetch what's making Asha tremble. “Breathe in and out, Asha. It won't hurt you.” I advise, giving her the living creature she just created after making the mistake of letting her go ahead without giving her any fair warnings.

“What is it?” she asks once again, cradling the life I've given her. It was funny and cute at the same time, to look at the innocence Abaddon had given due to the lack of life it accustomed. “A kitten, that what it is,” I answer her, giving her the information she might ask about the life she was cradling safely in her arms.

Lucky, it was just a kitten.

“Do I have to give it a name?” she asks for the last time, I smile, give her a nod. “Soulaine, that's what I will call it,” she utters, gently caressing its head.

--

“How is that even possible? Just fucking tell me the truth, stop making up lies.” I shouted as I stare at Leah with all the anger building in my heart, she was pregnant, for Pete's sake when the both of us knew it was impossible.“You know what, I'm out of here. If you're just going to keep on pressing that that's mine then fuck it. Because Leah, we both knew, even if I wanted us to have something as precious as that on our own, it'll be impossible.” I mumble, surrendering my everything to Leah.

“But if I prove to you that it's ours, will you take it with no hesitation anymore?”Leah questions, giving me the choice of doubt I never ask her. I look at her, deep in her orbs, as if I was saying, “If you can, then I'll not hesitate to surrender."

“And you did, you fucking did.” I groan in frustration, remembering how much of a fool I was for not believing in her the very moment she told me about it. “If only I listen to you sooner, then maybe, you wouldn't hide her from me,” I mumble, thinking about the years I've spent alone after letting my emotions takes into me.

“Are you truly leaving me? Now, fucking, Aletheia? What had happened to the promise you've given ‘through ups and down’, then why? Why are you doing this bullshit?” Leah screams in frustration as I pack all the things I've gotten after living in Abaddon for years. It might be out of impulse, but I was determined, determined to not take the responsibility of having a child I wasn't even sure about the genetics it had. It could be someone else for Pete's sake.

“She's been building great bondage with the ally of a Don for some time now, it could be his for all I know.” my mind reasoned out, “But what if it was indeed ours? Leaving her will only prove that my trust in her was shaky, that I'm not worthy of her love.” my heart retorts back. But even before I knew what I was doing, it was already too late.

“Lady Aletheia...” Asha calls out, as she politely greets me. I've been in my chambers for the whole night, thinking about all the memories I could've forgotten but I didn't. I look at her, she's still carrying the kitten who had pique her innocence.

What happened between hers and Leah's blood is one of the lessons, Leah had been trying to seek for years now. It's not something that can be explained with just surface knowledge, that's why with all her might she's seeking for it-- causing her health to deteriorate even more.

“You're here.” I utter, giving her the acknowledgment. Without any warning, she hugs me almost suffocating Soul in the process if only I didn't warn her. “What's the idea?” I gently ask, trying to squirm a bit out of her hug.

“I apologize for being a hindrance. I saw it-- your eyes, it changed when you saw the blood Lady Erós was gushing. And the moment you saw Soul, it was different, it was as if it reminded you of something, and I apologize for that.”

“Asha, you're not a hindrance. I'm used to seeing blood, and I'm also used to all the possibilities that may happen when things aren't planned out carefully.” I reply, assuring her that it is fine. “And it might've indeed reminded me of something but...” Should I? “I want you to look at me,” I ordered, making Asha stare straight into my orbs.

“I want you to not remember today because of me. Remember what happened today as it is but without anything that accumulate in my eyes. It's only a lesson given to you by Leah, and how that lesson gives you Soul.” I utter, my gaze not leaving her frozen body. It was as if I was casting a spell but I wasn't, I might alter how she sees today but that's not a curse.

--

“Are you sure?” I asked Leah who was getting ready to step into the portal she had created. It took her years of planning and hiding in the eyes of Lumos, us. And now, seeing how the unsolidified blue force swirls nonstop in front of us, it scared me. “Leah, I don't think...” with a kiss she shushed me.

“You promised to trust me on this one. I'm sure about it, don't worry,” she uttered before she went ahead walkthrough the portal holding my hand, “Fuck!” I heard her screamed, which causes me to hastily pull her back out of the portal with no second-guessing.

And due to the force, the portal had given when it suck her in, the moment I pull her out it explodes causing it to close and both of us to fly a distance from one another.

“Fuck.” I utter, seeing nothing but blurriness. I shook my head, trying to fight back the feeling of drowsiness that I might've gotten the moment I hit my head through the corner when the force exploded. I stay there helpless for a moment before my sight became clear again making me realize that I wasn't alone, Leah was with me. “Where are you!?” I screamed, trying to look for her with all the debris given by the explosion.

“Urgh...” Leah groans, giving a sign that she was nearby and alive. And I was right because the moment another loud groan by her was made, I saw her, lying there with her head gushing blood and her body...it was helpless, half of it was unidentifiable.

I gasps, rushed to her, “Leah!” I called out. Carefully checking on her body condition. Fucking shit, Aletheia you're a nurse, do something...

“Ali...” Leah lowly voiced out and hearing her call my name in such a condition causes my body to be vulnerable, I was unstable.

“And after that day I promised to never hold another medical equipment...well, that was a big joke on me.” I chuckle, remembering how that promise only last for a short period as the night when Umnia happened came. “I just got back in their arms that day...her and So--”

“Mother,” Umnia called out, cutting my low mumblings. I turn around, and there she stood, looking like a mess. “Did you risk your life again?” I ask, mortified by the amount of blood on her clothing. She nods before she went ahead to take a sit in her usual place every time she'll ask me to treat her wounds.

“What about your Mother?” I question, taking the incidents from two days ago, Leah is still weak. “No. She said you'll get-- what was it...the thing when you're all firey and stuff?” she replies, giving me a reason to let out a small laugh, “Mad, my child.” I chuckle.

“Right, she said you'll get mad if she goes on. Plus, she says she's still guilty for making you worry the other day,” she tells, relying Leah's words to me. “And oh she tells me to not say it out loud when you're near, but I already did.” she giggles showing who she favors more.

The thing about Umnia that she fails to show the others, is that she's someone outgoing and not the reserve facade they always knew.

“You should show them that side of you more, my love.” I mindlessly commented, breaking her acts of giggles.

She shook her head, “No, I don't want to be like Sovanna.” she uttered, her eyes now showing nothing but dimness. And that caught me, my actions were stopped mid-air by her words.

Right, that was it. Why do I always forget that Umnia other than being an outgoing child, was also reasonable.

“You completely adore her, don't you?” I sigh, she nods. “She's my older sister after all,” she mumbles before she closest her eyes as if letting the silence just take over us.

G'neration;