Determination

"So, what are you going to do now? About … that." Leo asked, chopping up the potatoes.

Aurora gave a frustrated sigh, while she continued to sauté the vegetables. "I don't know, Leo. It's a very complicated situation we are in. What are we going to do?"

"Sorry," Leo mumbled, handing the diced potatoes to her.

"No, Leo, don't be. This would have happened either way. It's a good thing this happened before she is revealed to the public. If the public knew about this, she's going to get targeted all over again. It's my fault for not seeing how much Kefi holding back."

"Holding back? Oh yeah, she did seem to be in pain when she tried so hard not to eat me. Is it really that painful?"

"You see, Leo, Spirits are creatures that succumb to desires very easily that's why it isn't hard for them to break bonds with humans once they get bored of them or the human loses their drive. But for her to not attack or consume anyone for this long is impressive, to say the least. She must have not been able to control herself anymore for her to turn into her snake form. It's a surprise she lasted this long though, it must have been very painful to bear."

"You said that when she wakes up, her hunger is going to increase. Why not just wake her up and then feed her?" Leo asked, watching Aurora skillfully flipped the vegetables in the pan.

"It's not that easy. She's been asleep for a week now. She was very hungry before I put her to sleep, so now she will need to consume fifty humans, at least, to feel full."

"F-fifty?"

"Yes and that's the least." Aurora paused, then looked at Leo. "I have this question, did the snake that attacked your village consume the people whole? Or did it use magic?"

"Wow. My whole village got attacked and you are asking me about how they died? You're so heartless." Leo buried his face in his hands and turned away from Aurora.

"Ah. I'm sorry, Leo. I just … forgot?" She turned the electric stove off, focusing her attention on him.

"You're so mean. How could you ask that?" Leo complained.

"Sorry. It's just, I may have been so used to deaths, and I may have become a little ... insensitive. Sorry."

"Naa it's ok. I am fine." Leo laughed at Aurora's concern. She looked like a dog that just scolded. "I made my peace with them already."

"When? You wanted to kill Miss only a week ago. You made your peace with them in that short amount of time?!"

"Well, a lot can happen in a week. Maybe I will tell you one day." Leo grinned.

"Leooo~" Aurora pulled him into an embrace.

"What are you doing?" Leo asked, struggling against her embrace.

"You're such a good boy. I just can't wait for you and Miss to get acquainted. You both will become friends, right? She's been alone all her life and it will do her good to hang out with people her age. Unlike Kefi and I. So? Will you try to be friendly to her?" Aurora asked, patting his head and looking into his emerald green eyes.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Leo pushed her off and ran out of the door.

"Where are you going?" Aurora called.

"Nowhere! I need to see if the house down the street needs help!" Leo answered, going out the door.

"This boy. Just be back in time for dinner! You have five minutes!"

"Sure!"

Aurora smiled looking at him run in the garden, from the window. "So full of energy."

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Ever since he came back, Aurora has been noticing the decline in her energy levels and the barrier, as well as illusion, may break if she leaves the house so she asked if she could send Leo to run errands for her. The boy was ecstatic and agreed immediately.

He is responsible for buying groceries and has already become acquainted with most of the shop owners. Aurora taught him a different route to get to the house without entering or exiting through the front gate.

He is a natural social butterfly, helping everyone he comes across. Leo is so beloved in their locality, she could hear the old ladies talk about him from outside the gate with so much adoration.

He will disappear after lunch and come just in time for dinner, bringing things like little snacks or vegetables and meat.

"The people gave this to say thank you," Leo said, covered in sweat and dirt. "I tried to refuse but they wouldn't allow me to leave without accepting them."

"Really? I'm impressed that they haven't invited you for lunch or dinner, yet." Once Aurora asked, helping to put the vegetables away.

"Oh, they did," Leo said, wiping his face with the hem of his shirt.

"And you refused? I thought you loved food." Aurora threw a towel at him, as she always did when he came back.

"Of course not. If I ate with them then there will be no one to eat with you. Doesn't food taste better when you eat with others?" Leo said, grinning. "Anyway, no one can compare to your cooking."

Aurora hugged him again, squeezing him tight.

"Hey, get off me. I'm sweaty." Leo protested, trying to push her off him.

"Leo is the best boy in the world!" Aurora declared, smiling at him.

"I know that already. Now get off me." Leo said, his hand over his face in embarrassment.

"Ok. Go bath now."

______________________

Aurora smiled at the memory but many things weighed heavy in her mind. Meraki is still asleep and she seems to be getting weaker, what will happen if she can't hold the cage up anymore?

Not now, we're not ready yet.

_________________________

"Why don't you just provide people for her to eat?" Leo asked at dinner one time.

"That makes it sound so simple, Leo. But it isn't, no matter how much you want it to be. Every human that was alive has lived and made their imprint on this world and its people. I don't want to kill unnecessarily, not anymore."

"You say that, but isn't the Miss seeking revenge? Doesn't that mean she'll kill someone as well? That is if her idea of revenge is anything like mine." Leo said stuffing his mouth again.

"Leo, don't talk with that much food in your mouth. How many times do I have to say this? And, yes. I know that the Miss may kill someone, hell, she may even kill this entire city but that is her choice to make, not mine." Aurora began playing with her food.

"You're contradicting yourself. If every person has the right to live then shouldn't you be protecting their life?"

"This kid," she clicked her tongue at him, "didn't you have education only until the sixth grade?"

"That doesn't have anything to do with what I'm saying. And, I like to read all kinds of books. So, sorry I'm not as dumb as I should be." Leo snarked.

"It's nothing like that. It's just, you make a fair point and I'm at a loss for words. To be honest, there is this part of me that wants to see Miss obliterate her enemies like those cool movie hero, she'll look absolutely glorious."

"You're thirsting over her like a creep," Leo said, taking a sip of water.

"I'm not thirsting over her like a creep. I just really admire Miss, that's all."

"Exactly what a creep would say, creep."

"You're so annoying."

"Same goes for you. Just do what you need to and regret later."

"I'm not taking advice from a sixteen-year-old."

"Well, you're behaving like a two-year-old." Leo retorted.

"What? What was that? I couldn't hear you." Aurora teased, covering her ears.

"Whatever." Leo rolled his eyes and then went back to eating.

______________________

I've gotten so much closer to Leo in the past couple of days. He's a handful but a really good kid who means well.

Though what he said is true.

I need to do what I have to. Whether I am comfortable doing them or not. Stalling isn't going to get me anywhere.

Aurora walked to the common room and looked at the pictures that hung on the fireplace. Meraki didn't care for them but she was always looking at each picture, every night before she slept remembering the old times.

Meraki smiling in each picture with her parents, they looked like the picture-perfect family and they were. But life is always cruel, no matter the person's virtue.

"I'll take care of this. I promise." Aurora said, looking at a picture of her and Meraki. "No matter what it takes."