Chapter 67: Melissa's Brother

"Oh no…" Ashe knelt in front of her in that bright room. She looked around and saw little toys, wax crayons and papers strewn around the floor. So this was her play room. How lonely must it have been for her to play all by herself…

Ashe had resented Darren all her life, but only in the way all siblings do. Without him, she didn't know how she would have survive all the boredom. He was always there to make her laugh or cry. Thinking of Darren now, tugged at her heart. 'I wonder if he is okay…'

She looked around and swung the main cupboard open and luckily, found a first aid kit and brought it back to the girl.

She was still sobbing and Ashe looked up and smiled, wiping her tears with her thumb, "It's okay, don't cry, big sis is here."

Big sis.

Ashe's eyes widened. Rumi. How could she have forgotten?! She bit her lip. She needed to visit her too. And apologize to Fiyona.

The girl sniffed and wailed a little bit as Ashe lifted her knee and examined her heel. She caught a thin nail half lodged inside. Ashe sighed in relief because it was the heel, a slightly insensitive part of the foot. If it was the wrist or the arms, the situation would have been worse.

Gently, Ashe pulled the nail out and threw it into the dustbin nearby. The girl winced.

"Melissa, right?" Ashe asked sweetly, wiping the heel with a swab. The girl nodded, "Yes, but you can call me Lisa."

Ashe looked up at her and smiled, "Okay, Lisa. You play alone?"

She nodded, looking over at her drawings, "Dad doesn't allow anyone to come over because of the war. So I draw in here after my classes. Dad's going to get mad at me for being so careless," the girl's voice started breaking again as if she was going to cry.

Ashe shook her head and held her chin, "No no, don't cry. Your dad will be worried that his darling daughter got hurt. So stay still and let me fix this for you. We can play together after."

Melissa suddenly stopped crying and looked at Ashe in surprise, "You'll play with me?"

Ashe smiled in response.

"B-but I barely know you. Mom told me not to play with strangers."

"Oh she is right, Lisa," Ashe shrugged, now reaching for the bandage and unpeeling it slowly, "Though, I know how to draw a good robot. I could teach you." Ashe winked, eyeing her drawings on the floor. All of them were of superheroes or robots which were halfway drawn and crumpled up when she gave up on it. Melissa took in a breath, "You do?" Her voice was filled with hope.

She giggled and jumped down from the stool and limped her way over to get some papers and crayons and lay it in front of them, "Teach me! I want to learn!"

Ashe chose a grey pencil and started drawing simple strokes. She felt good, connecting with her true love after a long time and teaching an innocent girl like Melissa felt even better.

"Ashe," Melissa drawled after she had finished drawing the body of the robot, "Do you have siblings?"

Ashe nodded, still focused on her drawing. Melissa watched her strokes carefully and tried to copy them. "I have one brother," Ashe mumbled.

"What is he like?"

Ashe didn't look up and tried to continue drawing, "He is the most annoying brother on the planet. But he was always there for me when I needed him, even though he put me in the worst of situations. He always made sure I was safe."

'Unlike me, who just let him plummet to death,' Ashe cursed herself. She felt like her only purpose on Earth was to build robots and control them, something so inhumane. Would she ever be capable of something that was human? Scratch that, was she even human? After she found out what she could do with the Golden Card, conjure up things just by her thoughts, she had been thinking that over and over again.

"Wow…he must be a nice brother. Can I borrow him one day? My brother is no good. He comes and says hi but then leaves soon after," Melissa pouted, drawing a sad face on the robot.

Ashe chuckled, "They can be busy sometimes you know." Ashe frowned and whipped her head up to Melissa, "Wait what, you have a brother?"

Melissa looked up and pursed her lips in surprise. Her crayons dropped on to the floor and covered her mouth, "Oops. Please don't tell anyone! Oh dear, dad's really going to kill me for real this time!"

Ashe shook her head slowly, "Okay I won't tell but…why does no one know about this?"

Melissa dipped her head and whispered conspiratorially, with a hand cupping her mouth, "He doesn't like the cameras and press in his face."

"Really? So where does he live now?" Ashe's interest was highly piqued now. A secret son of the President? How exciting!

Melissa shook her head, "I'm afraid I've shared too much. He just doesn't like his picture to be taken."

"Oh," Ashe leaned back, finished off her robot. And started to instruct Melissa on how to correct hers, "This wire goes here…and the leg is attached a slightly to the right…"

A lot of time passed and Melissa enjoyed it all. Everything was fine before Melissa popped her next question, "Hey Ashe…do you have a boyfriend?"

Ashe did a double take, "Why is a young girl like you asking that?"

"Heyyy…." Melissa sat up straight, "I'm 13! Not so young at all. You're kind, and sweet, you must have a boyfriend. All the kind girls in my class do."

Ashe's jaw dropped. 13 year olds dating already?

"Well. I don't know yet, my little Lisa. Though you could say that I have a…suitor."

Lisa cooed, leaning forward, "Are you guys shy?"

Ashe's face flushed red as she looked at this girl in front of her. Did she read minds or something? "No, it's just that…we are very different from each other. And I'm not sure if we being together would be safe for both of us."

Melissa cocked her head, "Why so?"

Ashe's lips titled up a bit, "Would you believe me if I told you if he wasn't human?"

Melissa gasped, "Then what is he?"

Ashe smiled thinly, "A vampire."

Melissa broke out laughing, tilting backward, "Now I know who you're in love with!"

Ashe cocked her head in confusion, "You do?"

"Edward Cullen of course! Who doesn't love him? I do!" Melissa swooned, giggling, "You're funny, Ashe. I like you."

Ashe smiled and nodded, "I like you too, Lisa."

Then Melissa frowned and looked to the left, "Say, if Edward Cullen is your suitor, then who is that?" She extended her hand and pointed toward the door. Ashe turned her head back and looked at him leaning by the doorframe, looking at the two with a stern gaze.

Ashe gasped lightly and stood up, dusting her jeans off, "Adrien. How long have you been standing there?"

His tone is clipped. Angry. "Long enough to make me think that we need to talk."

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