Ashriel glanced at the small child sleeping comfortably under the baby’s incubator. He was so small and so lovely and so… fragile.
She clenched Amber’s locket and another tear escaped her eyes. She just lost her twin. She held her tummy while looking at Jasper.
“I promise… all of you will live comfortably and safely. I promise…” She whispered and bit her lower lip. She sighed deeply.
On the other hand, Donovan found Oriana in the airbase, giving orders to her troops. His eyes dimmed.
“Attack the base.” With his cue, hundreds of his men attacked the air base.
Oriana was alarmed with the sudden attack.
“How the hell did they entered?!” She grinned her teeth and took her gun. She turned back and was about to command her men to attack when she felt something warm covered her. She completely knew who it was.
“Don’t worry about that fool and focus on your part.” Leon whispered, tightening his hug to her shoulders. Oriana flushed but then shook her head. It’s not the right time and place to blush since they were in the middle of the war.
“C-Colonel?”
“You have a lot to explain to me after this.” He kissed her cheeks before letting her go. “My men are fighting him so-”
Leon stopped when the system warned and the red light flickered. An eerie noise filled the whole base. Oriana’s eyes widened and checked what happened but suddenly, one military helicopter flew away. It was Donovan.
“BASTARD!” Oriana shouted angrily, causing Leon to take a step back.
Sensing his upcoming death, Donovan flew faster than the wind despite knowing the risk. He hovered above Austere like a madman. His whole body trembled and he was drooling like a crazy dog.
“Die, die, die!” He shouted angrily, releasing anti-tank missiles. Oriana quickly contacted Xieaniel as she tapped and tapped something to destroy the helicopter.
“How about releasing missiles?” Leon suggested.
“Do you want our troops in the land to die?!” She hissed as her fingers tapped and tapped something.
“Find the button for the self-destruct.” Xieaniel commanded, informing their land troops.
“It’ll be a huge destruction, Sir!”
“Follow my count. 3,2…”
Natsuki and Nathan looked up and saw what Xieaniel meant. They quickly withdrew and ran to the underground tunnel but Donovan, seeing them run, released another missile, aiming at Natsuki and Nathan.
“1.” With Xieaniel’s cue, Oriana clicked the self-destructing button but before that, Donovan successfully released the missile.
BOOGGSHH!
“Generals!”
Xieaniel’s monitor lost its connection with the sudden explosion. Ashriel, Mix, Spencer, Emmette, and everyone in the main base saw what happened through the monitor. Xieaniel quickly stood up and contacted John who positioned was nearby.
“NO!” Ashriel attempted to run outside but everyone stopped her. Mix fell on the floor.
“Boss, you mustn't! Please, compose yourself!” Olive shouted, pulling her back. Ashriel’s strength tripled.
“Release me!” Ashriel shouted angrily.
“If you get caught up in an explosion of this scale, you could die! Think about your baby!” Venice shouted causing Ashriel to stop. Her lips quivered and she held her hair, pulling it.
“Please.. Calm down…” Venice whispered, her tears flowing again like a river.
Ashriel’s tears streamed down her cheeks without any sobs. She just lost her twin and now…
“Second General is alive!” Xieaniel shouted, causing Mix to stand from the floor. Ashriel turned back and met Xieaniel’s eyes, asking for Nathan but to her sorrow, Xieaniel bit his lower lip, shaking his head slowly.
“Haa… ha…” Ashriel silently sobbed, holding the baby on her tummy.
Leon’s troop successfully eradicated Donovan’s men and cleared the airbase. But hearing First General’s demise, Leon fumed.
“Your anger can’t bring him back to life.” Oriana said, wiping her tears.
“Her Highness successfully set the time bombs.” Xieaniel said through their earpiece. “The helicopters will fly and will self distract after releasing the bombs so get out of their now.”
“Let’s go.” Leon grabbed Oriana and the rest of their troops went out of the base, leaving through the tunnel.
Kauis and Tethoris’ helicopters also started to move. Some took their troops and some were carrying the time bombs.
Ashriel cued Xieaniel and he pressed the button, then loud horns sounded throughout the whole Aparctias, sending signals to Aparctias forces to take their collegue’s bodies and run to the tunnels. John quickly took Natsuki but Nathan’s body was so damaged it couldn't be collected.
Venice and Spencer quickly treated Natsuki. Since the helicopters containing the time bombs were hovering above them, they couldn’t transport him to Thrascias. Tory and the other doctors also treated other patients.
Natsuki groaned weakly. His body felt so painful that it became numb.
“M-Mix…” He whispered. Hearing him and seeing him regain his consciousness, Mix and Ashriel ran towards him. Mix quickly took his un-injured hand and squeezed it gently, rubbing her cheeks to it.
“I’m here, my dear…” She said, tears streaming down her face.
Natsuki rubbed his thumb to her cheeks and slowly got up. “Let me sit down. I don’t want to appear so weak.” He chuckled and so Emmette and Leon assisted him.
“My queen, are you alright?”
Mix frowned and her lips shook. “Can’t you see that you’re in the worst shape here?” Tears streamed down her cheeks again. “I told you to be safe.” She added.
Natsuki chuckled softly and wiped her tears, and kissed her dearly. “I’m sorry for worrying my queen.”
Mix shook her head. “It’s okay. As long as you’re alive, I’m okay.” She said and kissed Natsuki again before smiling.
Natsuki kissed her forehead and squeezed her hand before looking at her sister.
“Let me talk with my baby sister.” He whispered and Mix nodded, giving space for Ashriel to sit beside him.
Ashriel was biting her lower lip and crumpling her hands. Tears were forming at the corner of her eyes as well so Natsuki pulled her for a hug, despite the bandages covering his whole body.
“B-Bro.. Brother…” She broke to tears. “Brother…”
Hearing his sister’s brokenness, Natsuki felt his heart torn to pieces as she patted her back.
“Shhh… I know, baby girl. I know…” A tear escaped his eyes.
“Brother…” Ashriel sobbed again. “C-Carsillion…”
Natsuki nodded his head. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry Big Brother wasn’t able to save hi-”
“No.” Ashriel cut him and broke the hug. “I-It’s not your fault.” She hiccups, shaking her head.
Natsuki cupped his sister’s cheeks and wiped her endless tears. “ Everything will be alright.” He said and Ashriel nodded her head.
“I thought I lost you too. I… I don’t know what to do if I lose my other wing, brother. Thank God you’re alive.” She bit her lower lip and took Natsuki’s hand from her cheeks and placed it on her tummy.
“You’re going to be an uncle again.”
Natsuki’s eyes widened and his vision started to become blurry.
“Hey, Big Bro, don’t shed tears, the baby will feel it.” Ashriel laughed, trying to lift the mood.
“Is it a boy or a girl?”
“We still don’t know.” Venice bumped in, wiping her tears. “Two weeks.”
“I’m happy for you.” Natsuki said, leaning closer to Ashriel’s tummy. “Hi, baby. I’m your most handsome uncle.” He chuckled.
“Give me a name.” Ashriel said. “For a boy and for a girl.”
Natsuki’s smile widened. “Cherubim and Seraphim.”
Ashriel stopped for a moment. “The two strongest angels?”
He nodded. “Why?” She asked.
“So that you’ll be reminded that you always have wings.” Natsuki smiled but suddenly, at the corner of his eyes, he saw a cockroach.
“DIE!”
Ashriel turned around and saw Edom. For a moment, she froze but then she took her gun but,
“NOOO!”
“Natsuki!”
An ear-shattering scream filled the whole underground tunnel. Natsuki covered Ashriel and his body took all the bullets. Ashriel came back to her senses when red fluid splashed through her face.
When sadness washes away, rage took over her. Holding Natsuki’s body, she clicked the trigger angrily, followed by Emmette, Spencer, and the other High members.
“Argh!”
Edom groaned painfully as his body was being filled with holes. His destroyed body fell on the cold ground followed by the explosion of the time bombs and helicopters above them.
“Brother!” Ashriel shouted, shaking Natsuki’s body. “No, no, no, please.. Please.. Mix and Gil are waiting for you. Don’t… “ She sobbed and heard Natsuki take his final breath. “Don’t leave us…”
***
Ashriel’s tears kept on falling as she looked at Austere City that was slowly turning to ashes. After Edom died and the war was over, she and her Cadre went to the cliff where she usually rests, looking at the overview of Austere City.
She closed her eyes, remembering her conversation with her husband before the Last War.
“Are you sure you want to burn Austere?” Nathan asked curiously.
Ashriel nodded. “That city was filled with greed, pride, jealousy, and revenge. I don’t want our children and the following generation to live in a city like that.” Tears escaped her eyes as she smiled sadly. “After this, a new Austere will rise.”
The dawn was starting and the fire that slowly consumed Austere was clearly visible.
“Everything will flow peacefully now… right?” Ashrel whispered in the air. “Right.” She answered herself and looked at the moon. “I know you’re somewhere out there.”
She suddenly felt something warm covering her. She looked back and saw Mix smiling at her with sad eyes.
“It’s cold, Your Highness. Cherubim or Seraphim will be cold too, you know that?” She chuckled and another tear escaped her eyes.
Ashriel smiled and embraced her. “I will be strong.” Mix said. “That’s what Natsuki wants. I will be happy.” Her voice broke.
Ashriel nodded and patted her back before breaking the hug. She looked at her Cadre and smiled. Everyone’s eyes were swollen. Everyone was hurt. Everyone. She’s not alone.
“Thank you… for being alive.” She said and the warm breeze blew around them.
They took a deep breath. “I’m starting to be sleepy.” Kate said, wiping her tears and Raith hugged her from behind.
“Don’t sleep yet.” Ashriel said and looked at the horizon. “When the sun comes out, everything will be different. A new day will rise.”
They all looked at the horizon, waiting for the sun to rise. New day, new hope, new life.
Olive looked at Xieaniel. “How about you, Ethan? Why are you crying?”
He sniffed. “Because I know I’ll be the one assigned to rebuild the city, especially the security system. Thinking of the loaded jobs makes me want to die in the battle.”
They burst to laughter, unknowingly tearing up. Finally, everyone’s luggage has been unloaded. Finally…the war was over. They won.