Cleus locked large oak doors behind him leaving the 'comfort' of his home. A war began brewing within him; torn on whether he should keep Ashlin's whereabouts a secret from his bestfriends. Day by day each twin is driven closer to the edge of their anxiety as worry and fear devour them, alive. They became zombies of the worst kind.... those whose hearts had been plucked out on the climax of their rhythm. Empty shells, breathing yet they are not alive; their existence is a contracting, tragic joke. King of demons and holder of the devil's beast, persons of power, root of fear.... ironic this is the result of an archangel entering Hell.
Cleus entered their joint office; Lucan eyes were tired with dark circles enclosing them, hus skin lost it's lively glow resembling a lifeless toy. Layton was slumped over in his chair, void etes gaze down at stacjs of paper covering his large wooden desk. He seem disconnected from work, society... he was disconnected from everything and everyone. They barely spoke, smile or laugh; there was a constant loneliness in their heart and worry on their minds. Cleus wirnessed their destruction from crumbling foundations to large falling debree of their stature but he also witnessed the intelligence and bravery of it's successor. He knew they were falling apart..... mere creatures shattered by the weight of loss but in the absence of their sight something was being built; it's foundation will never truly crumble, it's stature though, may change with time it will forever remain. Cleus gave then one final look before leaving, he made the journey to Ashlin's home. Once, out of the Amazonian forest he heard the sound of laughter and celebration. Smiling he quickly approached, the village center was filled with tribe members drinking, laughing, eating and dancing. Ashlin spotted him from amongst the crown, hurring to his side she grabbed his hand navigating through the crowd effortlessly.
"Why all the excitement?" He laugh following her.
"A friend of the cheif has returned, he visits once every year so when he do, there's a large celebration and feast" she smiled at him.
"You also seemed fond of him" he allowed her to drag him along.
"Yeah, he always brings delicious food" Cleus broke into a fit of laugher hearing her response, "Don't laugh at me" she gave him a playful glare slowing her pace, "We're here"
"Clewas!!!" Black curls bounce as Lycra run to the older man.
"Hey buddy, have you been good" the toddler nodded with a big grin as Cleus reached into him jacket pocket, retrieving a small gift.
Lycra grabbed it with a shout of gratitude he ran off causing his mother to apologize.
"He doesn't like others to know what gifts he's given. He doesn't want to make the other children jealous" she apologized once more to Cleus.
"He's very considerate" she nodded with a smile, happy for his understanding.
Cleus couldn't be prepared for what awaited him ahead; once neae his body froze, those electric eyes and arua was one he couldn't forget. Those eyes looked at him with utter amusement as though it was all a game to him. Rage and fear englufed Cleus as he looked at Ashlin who smiled, talking to the brown haired male. The man whose actions led to Ashlin's absence from their daily lives. 'What does he want now?' Cleus thought to himself slowly approaching.
"Neil" He acknowledged the male much to Ashlin's surprise.
"You know each other?" She asked both of them.
"Yes, we are well acquainted" Neil smirked.
"You're the reason I lost my little sister, my best friends loss the only person who made them feel alive and free. We aren't well acquainted, you're the villian in this story"
"Are you saying only I'm at fault for your friends continued suffering? I only took action once yet you allow grief to eat those you care about because you don't want to be at fault for hurting anyone" Cleus was left speechless by Neil's words.
It held a lot of truth he couldn't deny mo matter how hard he tried. Cleus didn't say anything leaving, Neil was right; Cleus allowed his friends to sink inti an abyss of sadness and anxiety when he could've freed them but he didn't want to risk Ashlin remembering that fateful night. The night when their fears took form and hunted them throughout the underworld..... the night everything fell apart. After Ashlin had been washed away by te river of fogotten lives, the giants became dormant and not long after Seraphims and Cerubims entered the Underworld sealing them away, again.
Cleus wondered the forest until night fall before returning to the Underworld. His mind was made up as he agreed to visit the twins after a good night's rest. He stood outside the closed doors of their joint office though it was very early in the morning, he knew they'll be there. Cleus stood outside for a few minutes playing out their conversation. He knocked and entered once deciding what he'll say. They weren't looking much better than yesterday causing him to sigh.
"So.... I've been thinking" Cleus stated caughting their attention, "It's been three years since we've been searching, four years since she's been gone" they sighed almost in sync.
"What do you want, Cleus?" Layton asked monotone.
"Let's celebrate" he smiled in response to Lucan's frown.
"What is there to celebrate? Her absence? The fact we are too incompetent to find her no matter how hard we try? Tell me, Cleus!" Layton shouted, "Do we celebrate years with the only light, purity we condemn kind has ever known? Do we rejoice months without the warmth of unwavering, unconditional love?" His voice trembled with sadness while eyes overflowed with unshed tears.
"There's a lot to celebrate" in an instant Layton stood mere inches from Cleus, grabbing his shirt, "It's been years since we've celebrated her birthday she always loved it. We can celebrate his birthday" Lucan's eyes widened for a moment, "We can celebrate the fact that she'll raise a strong child. We can celebrate the fact she's alive" Cleus maintained eye contact with Layton.
"Fine" Lucan stood from his seat on the sofa, "Let's celebrate, she'll be angry if she saw how depressed we are without her" Lucan released a dry laugh, "She'll be more angry if she knew we didn't celebrate her birthday"
"Okay, at my home" Cleus smiled crearing a portal, "This way" he ushered the pair before passing through.