World After Worlds

Lena came from the front door, it was already eight in the evening and she just finished checking student files and her reports on the academy. On the usual days, she would be home by six or seven, however, she had to be home later. After learning of Yanarym's relationship with the transfer student, Kraig. There was no way Matteo would not know this news regarding Yanarym. Lena knew instantly he and her daughter needed time to talk. As a result, she voluntarily gave them their time.

Stepping into the living room, she saw Matteo opening the door from Yanarym's bedroom. They met each other's eyes and she respectfully bowed her head to give him a greeting. Matteo stared at her longer than he commonly did. That made Lena perplexed, he would not pay any attention to anyone unless… Did something happen to her daughter? Did their discussion end up badly? Why was Matteo looking at her with a hint of annoyance? She had been living with him for two decades but until now, she was not used to his celestial presence. He is very perilous if Yanarym is not beside him. That girl is the only person who could make a stone-cold man Matteo smile.

"Is Rym not home yet?" Lena asked, "I did not see her at the academy when the afternoon class was over," although she was terrified of Matteo, she had gotten the bravery to speak with him; accumulated with him somehow. After all, she must live with him as long as Yanarym was alive. Her daughter's safety comes first before anything. "You heard that she is fooling with someone, right? Did you know it was the kid from before?" Lena said.

Matteo's eyes whetted, he emitted more sinister air, and the surroundings became heavy. "I know, before and now, they do nothing but pester my wife's life." Lena could see condemned in Matteo's countenance as he peered at her with disdain, he did not like her. Lena was aware of that, Matteo did not think of anyone as equal as him. He did not treat anyone with consideration. He was apathetic and merciless with humans. That maybe had something to do with the history of the tragedy of his sister but he had one exemption, her daughter, Yanarym. Lena was the sole witness of how compassionate, forgiving, tending, and gentle he was with that girl.

"...is she home? Is she in her room?"

"She's sleeping," Matteo replied coldly, his void expression was apparent. It seemed that he was not in the mood to talk with her which was nothing new. However, Lena could feel that he was thinking of something. He had something to ask or to say.

"... I see, do you have a question? Or do you want me to do something with the kid lingering with Rym?" She went straight to the point, it was getting hard to breathe as Matteo exuded his aura. Her human body won't be able to handle that, she might die just standing here receiving his denunciation.

"Did you tell her anything unnecessary, Lena?" His voice was deep, threatening but calm, which gave it the peril essence.

"... unnecessary?" Lena muttered with a nonplused expression plastered to her face. Matteo clicked his tongue and narrowed his eyes.

"About the past, did you tell her something you should have not mentioned?" About the past? Lena thinks she knew what he was talking about at the same time not. One thing for certain though. She would never reveal a secret Matteo kept from Yanarym.

"I would not do that, Matteo," Lena answered hastily with sincerity. "I know that I'll die in your hands if I do that," she added.

He sighed in irritation but the heavy ambiance lessened. He veered his eyes to Yanarym's bedroom door and shifted his eyes to Lena. Matteo examined Lena's visage and believed her. If it was not Lena then Yanarym dreamt about it with no hints about the past. How is that even possible? "I'm glad you are aware." He did not look 'glad' at all.

I won't do that, Lena thought. In addition, she was not able to talk with her daughter for the past few days. Yanarym was distant from her after their discussion. Lena could understand that her daughter was looking for something to blame for the misery. Yanarym's ill-fate was commencing its third wave, Lena was cognizant that the sequences of events in her daughter's life were bringing her agony, pain, and fear. Matteo could not interfere either, Yanarym must be so alone. She had no way to relieve the pain but to blame her mother who was a fraud for everything. Lena would gladly accept it. Because that was the least she could do for her suffering daughter.

"Did something happen to her?" Lena asked as she realized why Matteo's mood was so bitter. It must be related to her daughter. "Is she alright? Is she in her room? Can I see her?"

"No, she's alright." He turned his back and walked towards the kitchen to do what he aimed to do out here. Lena was useless as always, at least she was not as annoying as anybody in this world.

Lena stepped her feet forward to follow Matteo, "Can I see her?" Matteo stopped walking which caused Lena to halt. He looked at her with a blank face.

"She's asleep," he did not even bother to contemplate. By saying that he meant, no, Lena could not see her. She blinked her eyes and shifted her eyes to the floor.

It was true that she was Yanarym's adoptive mother but in reality, the one who had custody for Yanarym's welfare was not her, it was Matteo. In a nutshell, Matteo owned Yanarym's body, soul—and everything. Lena was astonished the first time Matteo told her that Yanarym was his wife because she never heard it before. A god married to a mortal…

None of the other gods married even to celestial entities in heaven. Even the father of all gods did not have a wife. Azkin, Matteo's sister who was affectionate with the male human, did not marry the man. That was why, upon hearing Matteo's claim of Yanarym, did not only surprise Lena. Also, made her skeptical, did a god need love? It was never stated in any of the ancient books. It was clear that even in the dark books a powerful entity like Matteo did not need or have a want for a counterpart. Nevertheless, as she witnessed the years where Matteo attended Yanarym's whims. Lena concluded Matteo might be in love, despite the fact it was an unthinkable thing to happen. It was transpiring right before her very eyes. A god is in love with a mortal, and he would do anything to make her his divine companion.

"Alright, tell me if I could help you regarding Rym and I would do my best to—"

"There's no need," Matteo cut her off, "shut up and leave. I need to cook a meal for her." Lena was not offended, in fact, she noticed that Matteo was a bit more gentle than he was. On normal days, he would just jostle her out of his sight instead of cutting her off.

"I understand, I'll be in my room," Lena nodded. He went to the kitchen and Lena could only look at the door of Yanarym's bedroom before she headed to her office.

Lena was aware Matteo knew what he was doing, he's a god. And for a fact, she knew that Matteo knew Yanarym better than her. He had always been there for Yanarym. Inside and out, he recognized that child. Yanarym may do so too if Matteo did not wipe out Yanarym's memory. Which was a necessary thing to do…

"I wish we could fix that misunderstanding," she muttered to herself thinking of her daughter. They were not blood-related nor far-far relatives but Yanarym would always be her daughter.

Although she gave all of the rights to Matteo, Lena deeply cared for Yanarym. She first saw that child in the orphanage, she felt that they had a bond as if Yanarym came from her. Because of their appearance, they were often shunned by people, mostly other females.

If you are beautiful, orphan and powerless, and penniless, you would be deemed a catastrophe. It would be better if they were a witch, but they were not. They are nothing but powerless beauties, they are just humans with cursed faces. Although the odds were after them, during their time together, nothing could equate to how lovely and sweet her daughter was. She took care of Yanarym for years until Matteo came. When he told her that her daughter's life was not as any human life would develop, she let him have her protected. It had been fifteen years since. Lena knew Yanarym's time was lessening each day. She wished that before Yanarym left with Matteo, she would finally acknowledge her as her family.