PUER MORTIS (Child of Death)

23: Reboot & Call

It’s around 9am the next, when the sun is high up in the sky, when Leilyn awakes from her dreamless slumber.

For the first time in weeks, she isn’t woken up by the desperate need to run to the toilet to spill her guts. She slowly drops her feet on the floor; her eyes slowly clearing of any remaining sleep. She’s still clothed from yesterday, even her shoes are still on her feet. She feels heavy and tied, utterly weak to the bones.

What the f**k did she do last night? Cry her entire soul out?

Leilyn takes a look at the analog clock on her bed stand, blinking blearily.

With a sigh, she slowly gets up from her bed and walks over to the full length mirror. She stares blankly at her reflection, eyes taking in her appearance.

She heaves a sigh before she walks over to her ‘make-up’ table. She carefully removes the necklace from her neck and gently drops it on the table, beside the two jewels she removed from the dress the day before.

With another sigh, and with her arms folded under her bosom, she slowly walks over to Chibi’s spot.

Or what used to be theirs.

Leilyn slowly squats down and grabs the blanket and pillow. She slowly stands up, holding the items close to her chest. Her face takes a pain filled expression, her eyes glistering with tears. She closes her eyes and shakes her head, suppressing her raging emotions. She pucks her lips and inhales deeply before exhaling coolly.

With the items in hand, she walks over to her closet. The doors slide open, and she slowly enter. She drops the pillow and scarf on top of her b*a drawer and she proceeds in removing the dress. At first, she doesn’t know how to do so, but a zipper materializes behind the dress. She blinks as she gets a feel of it.

Even dead, Chibi’s magik is still active.

With a sad smile, she unzips the dress and carefully removes it from her body. She drops it on the drawer and walks over to the edge of the closet, a lace panties with a jewel in the front as her only article of clothing, and with the diamond sandals still on her feet. She opens a door and walks in. She grabs an empty box, walks out and heads over to the b*a drawer.

She drops the box on the floor, opens it and places the lid on the floor. She gets up and grabs the pillow, placing it first into the box, before grabbing the dress next and then the scarf, folding them perfectly into the box. Lastly, she removes the sandals on her feet – carefully sitting on her butt to do so. She hugs the pristine shoes to her chest and gives them a tight squeeze for some seconds, before placing them in the box.

Leilyn grabs the lid from the floor, gives the items in the box one last look, before covering it. She places her right palm on the lid and it scans her, and it locks with an electric whirl.

With a sigh, Leilyn grabs the box and hurls herself up with a grunt. With the box in hand, she walks to the storage compartment, the door sliding open. Inside the room are huge suitcases and boxes in all different shapes and sizes. She gently sets the box down by the corner, arranging it well. She gives the box one last pat before walking out of the tiny room.

Before she leaves her walk in closet, she grabs a lace underwear, booty shorts and a lose tank top.

Leilyn proceeds into the bathroom, removing the emerald colored underwear and dropping it into the hamper on the way. She tells Zoranne to prepare a bath for her while she takes a shower.

Six minutes later, she steps out of the large shower stall and walks over to the steaming bath tub – more like a miniature swimming pool–, clean and dripping wet from head to toe. She grabs the bottle of clear vanilla and rosemary bath-essences, filled with skin regeneration and smoothening compounds – made by her mother due to her type of skin – into the tub of water, disturbing the water with a hand to distribute the essences well. She dips herself into the tub, sighing as the water loosen up the kinks in her joints, and the tension in her body the more. 

Leilyn spends twenty minutes in the tub, head relaxing on the marble surface, her face up and staring at the sky through the now transparent roof. Zoranne keeps the temperature of the water the way it is, also playing a soothing music for her. With a sigh, she submerges herself in the tub for some seconds, before swimming over to the exit.

Once she’s out – taking a towel from the towel hanger –, Zoranne drains the tub, commanding the bathroom bots to start doing their job. As Leilyn walks out of the bathroom, two small bots follow behind, cleaning up the water falling from her.

Leilyn dries herself, dumping the towel in the hamper, before walking into her room. She dresses up in no time, wincing a little when the tank top rubs against her sensitive n*****s. It takes a second or two for her to once again get used to a material rubbing her n*****s, before she walks over to her ‘make-up’ table. She grabs her roll on body deodorant and rubs a usual amount under her armpits. She carefully wears Chibi’s necklace on her neck, giving the feather a small kiss, before going to grab the hamper and going downstairs.

Leilyn separates the clothes, putting all of them in three different washing machines, and leaves them for Zoranne to handle. She goes to the kitchen and starts preparing breakfast for herself. It takes about fifteen minutes for her to prepare a huge plate of pancakes, mixed with a large amount of sliced blue and black berries, along with a healthy – more like the whole vial – dose of pure vanilla essence. There are twenty huge stacks of pancakes covered with strawberry and vanilla syrup, and to top it all off, she fries a whole pack of bacon – containing thirty stripes –, cuts some of the reheated roasted chicken. She grabs some of the cinnamon buns from the fridge, along with the remaining bowl of mixed fruits of yesterday. She drops them in a large hover-tray, dropping two bottles of vanilla-orange juice and a bottle of water.

Leilyn spends the rest of the morning and a little bit of the afternoon in the living room, watching movies and trying to drive away her pain with food. Around 2pm, she gets up and heads over the kitchen with the tray containing dirty plates and empty bottles. She throws the bottles into the recycling bin and then washes the dishes, placing them in the rack to dry. She goes to relieve herself in the bathroom downstairs, washing her face along the way. She sighs as she looks at her worn out reflection. With another sigh, she walks out of the bathroom.

Leilyn walks to the kitchen once again, grabs a small hover tray before walking to the fridge and grabbing the remaining bun and one of the huge ice creams in her fridge, this one vanilla in flavor with bits of nuts – almond, cashew and walnuts – in it, along with a bottle of vanilla-apple juice. With the tray hovering in front of her, she walks out of the house, down the en and over to the genetically improved apple tree swing. She stayed there from 1pm to 3pm, nibbling on her treats and staring into the woods.

The caramel skinned woman spends the rest of the day lazing around. She washes the dishes, takes her clean and dry clothes from the washing machine and goes upstairs, enters her closet. She places the clothes into the ironing chamber and once they’re pressed and folded, arranges them in their rightful drawers, or hangers. She takes her bath again and dresses in a thin, silk knee length dress.

To summarize her day, Leilyn just lazed off, eating unhealthy foods. By 9pm, she goes to her room and slept off, entering into a dreamless sleep once again.

The next day finds her back to her normal and usual self. A whole day mopping and brooding is quite enough.

She wakes up at her usual time – which is 7am – and she’s pleased to note that her morning sickness is gone. Whatever abracadabra s**t Chibi did has made her to stop pucking her guts first thing in the Cosmos be damned morning. She goes down on her bedroom floor and proceeds in stretching and doing some jumping jacks. Due to her current… miraculous condition, it’s advisable for her to drop her hard training routine. Until this baby is out, no more lifting heavy weights for her.

Leilyn looks at her toned – for now – biceps, and she couldn’t help but pout at the thought of losing their majestic form. She’s already losing her well defined abs already! Her abs are going by the day! There are basically becoming outlines, no longer strong as before!

What sort of t*****e is this?!

The rich caramel skin woman weeps internally at the thought of losing more toned body mass and becoming heavier as the months go by. All those years of being under Asherai’s tough regime just to get a slight replica of Asherai’s body – wasted! Now, after giving birth to her child, she has to wait for like MONTHS before she starts training again!

Oh! The horror!

Leilyn’s sadness and despair suddenly turns into rage, and her eyes turns into glowing slits – not that she's aware – and she begins to glare a hole in the walls. She curses whosoever did this s**t to her, and loudly proclaims a vow of slow disembowelment and death if they cross paths again.

Far away, in another Universe, an entity feels an unsettling shiver go down their spine. They halt in their steps for a moment, getting a confused stare from others, before continuing their journey.

Leilyn cleans up and goes down stairs. Today, she chooses to wear a free flowing, black spaghetti strap tank top – deciding to forgo a b*a today also –, along with a dark blue, high waisted, free denim shorts, and black, mesh stirrup stockings. She wears her jeweled feather necklace; the cool metal leaving a soothing feeling on her skin. She finishes her dressing with a pair of grey, lace up traditional Chinese shoes, and gold bangles with diamond stones on them, two each on her wrists.

Today, she cooks a healthy Japanese breakfast consisting of Gohan (Steamed Rice) with a little helping of Natto; omelet served with Furikake; grilled fish; miso soup; fresh vegetable salad with some cuts of roasted chicken; and a medium bowl of fruits with a spread of caramel; along with a cup of honey tea and lemon water.

Seven minutes later, she’s done eating, and heaves a contended sigh. She caresses her bulge, apologizing for yesterday’s atrocities. If Sensei were to find out about the abominations she committed yesterday, the man will definitely have a heart attack. Oh, see can just see the exercise (cough t*****e cough) the man will set her on as punishment for total disregard of her health. The images she internally conjures has her hissing with a grimace.

After a breakfast, she washes the dishes, cleans the kitchen – more –, before going into her study room. Thankfully, Ro decided to be a dear and clean up the house; the entire house. She sure as hell didn’t hear the cleaning bot coming in. Damn, looks like she was f*****g exhausted yesterday.

Leilyn enters her study room and walks over of a shelf. She picks up an unwrapped box from the shelf and peels it open to see a small box. She reads in Lex’s curvy handwriting that inside are five books – three are part of a series while the remaining two are stand alones – that he really wants her to read. With a shrug, she opens it. Her eyes widen when she realizes that they are paper backs.

Due to the war, paper used in making books are now hard to come by. Paperbacks are f*****g expensive. And also, due to the outstanding technology the human race are in now, most of the population don’t use book or ink pens. They’re only used in important things such as wills and contracts. Only does who want to feel the weight in their hands and the unique smell of paper go for books. Leilyn is one of them.

When it comes to novels, she’s all for paperbacks; nothing more, nothing less. And as the sneaky b***h she is, she uses that opportunity to donate to paper making factories, so as not to make them feel like a charity case. Many companies have pride after all.

Leilyn choose the first book on top – which turns out to be the first part of the series Lex wrote to her about – and places it under her armpit. She closes the box and walks out of the room, heading to the kitchen. She reaches into the fridge to grab a bottle of chilled vanilla-orange juice, which turns out to be the last one. She tells Zoranne to order another ten crate, along with more nut and fruit filled ice creams, as well as more fruits; fresh and dried. Her cravings are out of this world – and she’s just three months pregnant!

She pops five grapes into her mouth before she closes the fridge and heads out back. She heads for the gazebo, taking a seat on the swing bench. She melts into the comfortable seat, letting the book drop from her armpit onto the seat. She opens her drink, grabs the book and enters into a tranquil reading.

It’s around 10am – she’s been reading from 8:25 and she’s almost done (the book has about 800k+ pages) – that she’s broken from her peaceful state by Zoranne.

“Miss Leilyn, who have an incoming call from Mr. Tenoshira.”

Leilyn blinks, raising her head up. She opens her mouth her mouth to reply, but Zoranne continues.

“A holographic call. I’m patching him through.”

Leilyn’s eyes go wide at that and she throws her book half hazardly on the seat, hurriedly carrying a pillow. She places the pillow upright on her laps and presses it to her stomach. And on time to, seeing as a full holographic form of Sensei flickers on – from Zoranne’s outlets on the ceiling – before her. From his position, it looks like he’s sitting down.

Humanity has evolved more than ever before. Years ago, when the continents were new, if one was to make a holographic call, one had to wear Neuron Seed Connectors on both sides of their temples. Although the NSCs are still in use – mostly by the older generations and few others –, JT Hologram Communicators are the hot babes in town. Joaeruren Technologies brought the continents into the holographic age. The holographic callers can only be seen by those the caller wants to be seen by. One can call either with a Holo-Watch or through A.I connectors. Honestly, if she were to enter into this discussion, it will take hours for her to finish. 

“Tou-sama!” Leilyn smiles shakenly at it, a bead of sweat forming on her brow. She shifts nervously, holding the pillow tighter. Sensei arches a brow at her skittish behavior. “It’s- erm… it’s been a while.” She closes her eyes and chuckles nervously.

Sensei heaves a sigh, majestically crosses his legs, placing his hands on his laps and linking his fingers together. “Okay, I’ll bite. What have you done?” He asks, his voice still the deep, silky baritone she has always known.

Leilyn sputters. “What do you mean ‘What have I done?’?!”

Sensei c***s an unimpressed brow, giving her a droll look. “Leilyn Furaha Xander.” Leilyn cringes at that, giving a silent hiss. “I had a hand in raising you to become the woman you’re today. I know when you’re hiding something from me, daughter. It’s the same look you have when you overkill a target or listen to Shinji whims. So, what have you done?”

Leilyn chuckles nervously, a hand scratching the back of her head. “Nanimonai (Nothing), Sensei!” She give a nervously laugh, opening her eyes. She’s met with a deadpan stare from Sensei, who sure as hell isn’t convinced. “Shojikina tokoro, nani mo! (Honestly, nothing!)” She waves her hand. “I’ve just not been feeling great for days now. But I’m fine now!”

Sensei hums, giving her a once over. “Does it have to do anything with the illness that has you pucking your guts out?”

Leilyn heaves a groan like sigh, tilting her head back.

Trust Ying Ming-Mei to blabber her mouth.

“I take it Ming-Mei told you?” She sighs, looking at her teacher with an exasperated expression. When she sees his dull expression, she heaves another sigh and asks, “Is she still breathing?”

“Of course.” Sensei says in a tone that says ‘Who do you take me for?’ “But she’s under punishment right now. And so will you when I visit.”

Leilyn pouts at him. “I just didn’t want you to worry.”

Sensei arches a fine brow at her again. “You’re all my children. I’ll always be worried about all eight of you.”

Leilyn’s heart skips a beat at that. Her eyes becomes misty and she hurriedly squeezes her eyes shut to prevent herself from crying.

Fucking hormones.

She slowly opens her eyes after a few seconds of calming herself. She meets Sensei’s worried eyes – to anyone, they are still the impassive vivid purple they were, but after knowing the man for years now, she knows how to read him –, his brows furrowed a micro inch.

“I’m fine. Just tired, that’s all.”

Sensei hums, clearly not believing her.

“So, how’re the boys? Any development?”

Sensei leans back into his chair, his arms laying on the armrests. He props his right elbow on the rest and lays his chin on his fisted hand. Some of his hair spills to the side, his bangs fanning his face. His muscled bicep flex’s against his tight shirt and Leilyn couldn’t help but pout. Sensei looks great as ever, especially when he’s in a three piece suit, jacket or not.

“They are progressing.”

“But not to your taste.” Leilyn c***s a brow at him.

Sensei gives her a mirthless smile.

“They’ll get there. I know I did. The eight of us did.”

“But sadly, not everyone is you. You eight are not only resilient, but are powerful in your own ways.”

“And so are they.” She smiles. “Just be patient for a little bit longer. They’ll get there.”

Sensei heaves a sigh. “For you, daughter. I’ll do it for you.”

Leilyn grins toothily at him. “Oh!” She suddenly remembers something. “How did Shinji’s mission go?”

Sensei c***s a brow at her. “You’re not in touch with your siblings after you found out about one of their missions? That’s unlike you, daughter.”

Leilyn chuckles awkwardly, looking everywhere but him. “Well…” She starts scratching the back of her head, eyes closing. “I’ve been kinda sick and such, so…” She trails off, laughing nervously.

Sensei heaves a sigh. “Fine. Keep your secrets daughter. But if it kills you, just know it will be on you and not us.”

Leilyn opens her eyes, dropping down her hand. Her face slips into a serious expression, eyes narrowing. “I’ll be fine. I promise.”

“If you say so.” Sensei sits up straight, his eyes narrowing an inch. “Shinji’s mission went well. We discovered that a high ranking senator in Ameraetyr owns the ring. They just started. Two years ago, to be precise.”

“Two years ago?!” Leilyn brows furrow in anger, her back going rim rod. “Impossible! How did we miss that?!” How did I miss that?!

Sensei’s smile is cold and empty. “They had help from someone you know. Someone you worked for before.”

Leilyn tilts her head, confusion clear on her face.

“To some, she’s known as the Blue Raven, but you know her as Taesa Reinerzel.”