52 Jev

'I don't understand why she won't listen. It doesn't matter if 'Lera' is that powerful. Lera is an emotionally unstable girl. They are going to get killed by her or because of her.' He might have better luck with Ayanni. He should look for him tomorrow.

---

"I was going to look for you Ayanni. We need to talk."

"I agree, but come with me back to my house."

"Why? We can talk here."

"It's better if you come with me. Grab everything you have."

"How about you tell me now."

"Please can you do this for me. It's best if this happens in order."

"Fine, I'll come with."

---

Getting in Ayanni's house, Jev had mixed feelings. Everything around him, the furniture, rugs were bought by 'Lera'. He really wished he could go back and somehow prevent Lera from gaining her current personality. It was much easier taking care of a child that did what it was told, instead of someone that could destroy the world if she was angry.

"What did you have me drag all my stuff over here for?"

"I'm going with Lera and Paroppe. We are going to different worlds, planets and universes Jev. So I want to help you and Paroppe makeup so we can all go together."

The door opened up and Paroppe walked in.

"What is he doing here?"

'What is going on?'

"You both are going to talk out your issues and I will be the neutral party. If you both make up, then we can leave."

"No!"

"What do you mean 'no'?"

"See Ayanni, Jev won't come with us. Because Lera is 'manipulating' us."

"What?"

"I talked with my brother yesterday already. You should have told me this was your plan Ayanni, it was never going to work.

That was one thing he could agree on. This was never going to work.

"I'm telling you that staying with her is going to get you killed."

"Don't worry Jev, that won't happen. I'm sure Paroppe neglected to tell you that she is powerful enough to prevent that. It will be fine."

"Ayanni, she told me that already. So I will stay back here. When you both die, I will be the one who gets to tell our parents how you died and whose fault it is. I will hunt her down and make sure that she suffers for killing you. Unless of course you both want to stay."

"Jev, what are you doing? This isn't you and you're talking like we're already dead."

"I can't trust someone with that much power."

"So you trust us, because we aren't as powerful as you?"

Paroppe was in Jev's face. He didn't want to hurt his sister, but she needed to get out of his face. He gently pushed her away from him.

"I'm not saying that. How many different 'Lera's' have we seen? Do you think she is in any right state of mind to hold that much power?"

"She went through a…"

"Yes, something horrible happened to her. Let me guess, it was her fault in the first place. I heard enough from her to know that she blames herself, so she knows full well that it was her fault. Now she wants to involve you in her madness? Of course I don't want you both to go with her."

"He won't listen, Ayanni, this was never going to work."

Jev was about to leave when Ayanni grabbed his arm.

"Please just wait Jev. Let me explain."

There was nothing that Jev needed explained to him. He shook Ayanni's hand off his arm, grabbed his stuff to leave. He heard Paroppe talk once more behind him.

"At least go see mom and dad. They're worried about you."

He slammed the door behind him. He didn't want to go back there. It wasn't like he hated his parents, but he felt like he would have to admit defeat for not taking care of his sister. That pain hurt him. He didn't want to tell his parents that Paroppe was dead, let alone tell them that she was going to die. He was lost, but he knew that if he didn't go back home now, that he might regret it.

---

"I'm home." He announced, almost monotonous.

"Jev, welcome back!"

"Dad!" He put his best on in front of his father.

"There's my Prince."

"Mother, your Prince is back."

He had to bend his knees to hug his mother. He needed to put up a front, hiding behind a mask that had a smile on it. It was necessary, so they wouldn't worry.

"Come and sit. Tell us how you've been."

"Of course."

He told them a lie of how everything was fine. Simpler times and he mentioned when he, his best friend and his sister shared a hot pot recently. He noticed the look his parents shared was of worry, so he made sure to alleviate their worries, by reassuring them everything was fine.

"Son, you tell us everything is fine, but why are you crying?"

It was too much for him to hold in. Everything he said was a lie and he hated doing that to his parents. There was no way he could tell them about Lera, or how their daughter was going to…

His parents went in to hug him together.

"Let it out my prince. Your mom is going to make it all better."

He let it out, the pain and future beliefs out. A while later he fell asleep. His parents were still next to him when he woke up, and he noticed Paroppe was talking to them before she went upstairs to her room.

"It's okay son, just rest. We can talk tomorrow."

---

The next morning, he was sitting at the table with his mom, dad, and sister.

"Please pass me the butter."

Jev looked back at his mom and carefully handed her the butter.

"Here you go mom."

"Thank you!"

She smiled at him. It hurt, but he went back to silently eating. He didn't want to talk to Paroppe and get into an argument in front of his parents.

"What are you going to do today Princess?"

"I plan on staying with you guys until I have to leave."

As she ended her sentence she looked at Jev. He wasn't going to say anything. He couldn't, otherwise he might show his parents his bad side.

"What about you my Prince?" His mother asked him.

"I'm going to stay here too…" His eyes shifted back towards Paroppe, then quickly back down to his food."

---

*Knock Knock*

Jev opens up the door to his room. His mom is there with a container in her hand. He moves out of her way as she sits on his bed.

"Come and sit down next to your mother."

"You're Prince is happy to oblige you mother!"

The both share a small chuckle and Jev closes the door behind him.

"I brought you a sandwich. Give it a try."

"You didn't have to make me a sandwich. But I cannot refuse my mother when she asks something of me."

He looks at the smile his mother shows him. He takes the container and opens it. He takes out the sandwich and takes a bite. It was interesting. The first thing that came to mind was a tree.

"This is good!"

"Paroppe's friend Lera made it."

He choked on the bit of food he had left in his mouth. He spit out whatever he could. His mother was hitting his back to help him.

"You're gonna clean that up right?"

"Yes mother."

"Good. I don't know what you and Paroppe have been arguing about exactly, but you need to make up with your sister. She is leaving soon and you might not see her for a while."

"*cough* I will talk to her."

"Now make sure you finish your food, so it doesn't go to waste."

"Yes…"

---

He had just had dinner with his family and now he was in front of Paroppe's room. He didn't want to have this talk, but he had to. He needed to make it work.

"Who is it?"

"Me."

"'Me' who?"

"We need to talk."

"Seriously… I'll be right there."

In the next moment Paroppe opened her door. Jev walked inside as he took the chair next to Paroppe's desk as she sat on her bed.

"Before you say anything, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything I said and how I acted when talking about… Lera."

"Are you going to come with us?"

"No. I'm going to stay here and watch over our parents while you are gone. Just be safe. That is all I'm asking."

"Seriously Jev… I'll be fine. I promise."

"I want to hear that promise from Lera, not you."

"Jev!"

"It's the only thing I want from her. Before you leave, I want to talk to her."

"I will get her, but she doesn't need to promise you anything. It's my decision to do what I want and if I get hurt, that is on me."

"I just cannot forgive her, if you or Ayanni get hurt."

"Seriously!"

"I'm heading to bed then."

---

He, his parents and Paroppe enjoyed some time together. Regardless of how he felt, he made sure to be a son and a brother first. He wanted to make them happy and in return be happy himself. For the most part, that was all that happened. Until the last day, when he met Ayanni at his house with Paroppe. They already said goodbye to their parents, so he was the last one to say his goodbye.

"Take care of Paroppe for me."

"I will, always."

"Paroppe, please stay safe. Don't let Ayanni get into too much trouble."

He was the only one with tears in his eyes. They hugged each other, before Ayanni pressed a button on his tech pad. Jev noticed this and realized he was letting Lera know they were ready.

She appeared before all of them, but Jev made sure to speak up.

"I want you to promise that they will be safe."

"Seriously Jev!"

He ignored his sister.

"I will make sure that they avoid harm. I won't let that happen. I will control myself."

There was an understanding between Jev and Lera. She knew what he meant and he was happy with that.

"Good bye and be back for the Light Festival."

"You're not coming with?"

"No, I'm going to stay back with our parents." Jev looked at Paroppe.

"Do you want a tech pad to keep in touch with us?"

"Yes."

He would need it to let his parents know how Paroppe was faring away from them. He watched as a tech pad appeared in Lera's hand and she passed it to him. He took it and wore it on his wrist like the others.

"I put an instructional text document to tell you all the functions on there. In the messaging app, all our names are there if you ever need to message us."

"Okay."

Ayanni walked up to Jev one last time.

"Since we are leaving, you can stay here."

"No, I'm going to move in with my parents. I plan on staying there for the time being."

"Oh alright. Stay safe Jev and take care."

Jev just smiled as everyone said their last good bye to him. They all disappeared in an instant leaving him there alone.