Ashlin left Hell in the darkness of an awaiting dawn, she flew up to an unoccupied part of heaven which out looked everything. Her eyes scanned the various Angels as they carried on unknowingly. As the run rise colouring the surrounding she couldn't help but feel disgusted by their smiles, how could they live as though their kingdom wasn't surviving on past blood? Her eyes glowed unnaturally as her mind replayed the events of an unnecessary war. Ashlin turned swiftly as God appeared behind her, he didn't wear his usual smile instead he stood on guard, seeing this she laughed humorously before turning back to the sight before her.
"Why have you returned?" He asked with a calm tone.
"I was raised here, taught to believe I was like every other so I bit my tongue and turned my head without questions but now, I need the answer keep from me, the power stolen from me and my existence validated." he left out a disapproving hum.
"Those answers will only bring you misery, your existence is one of Chaos, why should the world validate a being of destruction?" Aurthur, God's most trust angel emerged from the forest near by.
"My existence is a result of your reckless ways" she chuckled darkly as though the many years of frustration and sadness had grew into it's own "You want me to feel ashamed of my existence? As though many of you brothers have slaughtered innocent lives in the name of Good. You all are always afraid of darkness as though it's a plague. You don't deserve to be, what you are. With time I guess even the mighty becomes blind, but you may be right, it is best if I don't have my power or know anything of my own existence because if I did....I would correct the mistake I made at my birth", Elemental wings suddenly appeared behind her as she glared at Aurthr.
"Child, you should participate calmness and tranquility" he turned to leave, "it's best for your unborn child" with his he disappeared leaving the two in shock.
Ashlin made her way back to Hell knowing she was not going to get any answers from them. She immediately searched for Cleus, by the time she had found him, Ashlin wad having a panic attack. Though her words were broken Cleus understood as he sat frozen beside her. Ashlin called his name many times but he did not respond causing her to grow panicked once more. Lucan entered Cleus office, witnessing the panicked female he chuckled.
"What did you do to Cleus?" Lucan asked with a smile.
"I only told him a secret" chuckling he walk over, sitting beside me.
"Must have been a shocking secret, I've rarely seen him like this" his eyes lit up as red flames raged in those iris.
Lucan seem to focus for a moment before sparks appeared. It was as though invisible lighters were sparking around us yet it seemed to work as Cleus began blinking then swallowed hard.
"I don't think, I heard you quite clearly. Can you repeat that one more time?" his eyes were serious as I leant into his ear.
"I'm pregnant" it was barely audible to my own ear.
"Who said that?" he tried to comprehend my statement.
"God" Cleus blinked a few more times, before turning stiffly.
"Does he know?" His finger pointed to a puzzled Lucan to which I shook my head, "Why?" he asked as though my decision was the dumbest thing in the world.
"I don't know how he'll react and that's why I can to you first" is lips twisted into a mischievous yet joyous smile.
"You don't know how he'll react? Good point" Cleus looked at Lucan, "Pregnant".
My eyes widen in shock as he pointed to my stomach. Lucan was confused for a moment then he seemed to place it all together. Turning his attention to me, his hand gently caressed my face as he smile.
"We're having a baby?" I nodded.
Lucan embrace me tightly displaying his joy and excitement. He left to tell Layton the news while Cleus celebrated with food.
"Cleus?" he hummed in response, "Were you part of the Holy War?" he stopped looking at the papers in his hands.
"Why do you ask?" his electric green orbs were pinned on me.
"I saw it........ all the bloodshed and dead bodies. All the innocent lives taken in the name of hypocrisy. I need to understand what worthy reason could make all those wasted blood, stolen lives, destruction and pain a necessity." his eyes pooled with tears.
"Lilith and Lucifer's death. I was on the battlefield when a Chaos child was born and I never knew such beauty exist. She was gentle and caring allowing the rulers of our armies, a choice. The heavens, they sealed away their watchers and giants but, in the Netherworld, Lilith loved her children too much to allow their deaths. The king and queen decided they would be the ones to die along with many of Cerberus ancestors. It may seem meaningless to others but they weren't as tales told. Lucifer once cast out of Heaven and no way to regain all his power, he agree to be God's punisher in return for forgiveness. There were demons besides him who desire God's perish more than him, they were contributors yet in the end, we can only blame ourselves for getting caught in the web spun for us" he accepted blame for the destruction and pain his soul knew he caused.
"In the end, was it worth it? Was it worth the sacrifice, loss and shame?"
Cleus shook his head indicating he didn't believe the loss of his loved ones was worth, a life without them. I knew the blame wasn't mine to cast after all if it weren't for their actions my birth won't have occurred yet a world without me seemed better in my eyes. I was a default in creation meant to rid the world of all and allowing everything to occur without interruption; we can't cast aside the other universes and dimensions which exists parallel to Earth.
"I have thought of everything and replayed the memories yet I can't understand where the twist occurred to result in this circumstance" he sighed.
"Sorry, having you relive those memories. I saw part of the world and it's stained battlefield and I can't fathom how you lived through it"
Cleus smile sadly, simply stating "I just.... survived........... there was no other option"
In that moment I saw how broken Death was, and to me.......his true, shattered form looked simply breathtaking. Cleus as thought reading my thoughts, smiled brightly extending a hand to which I accepted.
"I knew from the moment I met you even the Heavens couldn't craft something so, uniquely weird"
"I'll choose to take that as a compliment" we broke into laughter.