[[Until We Become Lions]]

Chapter 30

A few minutes before.

"The Viviro has stopped working. Simple y llanamente ."

The words have the same impact as a brick hitting a passing pedestrian in the head from the highest point of Torre de Leone. Last night was supposed to be a lovely evening between himself and Dani Rojas. And it had been. Every ounce of her tasted like a breath of fresh air. Every word that passed through her lips was like a loving caress. One thing had been left unspoken though.

Antón twirled the ring he had placed in the pants of his pocket the night before between the fingers of his hand. It had once belonged to his mother. And he had planned on presenting it to Danijela prior to their little exercise. Before the truth of his illness came out for her to see. His hold over her was strong already, but he had hoped this would solidify it. That in love and death, he would hold sway over her through the love they had formed in the same way he used fear for all others. But now the curtains were falling all around him, and his secrets were on full display for all to see.

How does one respond to the news that your time is up? That the paradise you had worked so hard for, would-be undone because of an error in your bone marrow's DNA. Something so inconsequential, so microscopic would unravel an empire into ruin. Antón stared blankly ahead as Edgar continued to list off the possible treatments, most of which involved chemotherapy. Antón waved each and every one of them off. They had tried chemotherapy in the early stages of his diagnosis. It did little to slow the progression of the cancer. To suggest it again now was an insult to injury.

"We will produce more then; a stronger strain."

"Señor presidente, as your doctor and friend, I'm afraid we just don't have the manpower or subjects to conduct tests on." Edgar replied, "Not without diverting resources from the PG-240x productions."

"Then we will get more subjects." Antón replied with a hard click of the tongue.

" Papa ."

"What."   shouted as he snapped his head in the direction of the voice.

He met his son's eyes who looked unfazed by his outburst. Antón had completely forgotten the boy was here. He had been so quiet the entire time. Like a ghost of his younger self. He could not look at his son without noticing the scar he had left. A reminder of the monster that he tried to conceal from Danijela. The monster that he had hoped to tame to be a better father for his son. Because Antón knew at the very least, Diego would carry on the promise of paradise long after he was gone.

"I am sorry Diego." Antón said, sighing, "What is it?"

"You should tell Danijela and Evee." Diego said unabashedly, "They would want to know what is happening."

"That sort of stress is unnecessary-" Edgar began to say, but Antón raised his hand pausing him mid-sentence.

"Give me a moment with my son."

Edgar looks like he's chewing his tongue on the inside but resigns to waving to the other staff to follow him.

Antón looked to his son and waved him towards him. Diego approaches and Antón places a hand on his shoulder.

"We will tell them in time. When they are ready to hear the truth. There are still many things that must be addressed beforehand."

"Like Amaia?" Diego asked, "If the Viviro has stopped working for you it may have stopped working for her too."

His boldness matched the steel-cold mask he attempted to put on, but his eyes betrayed him, flickering very subtly away and back again over and over. His effort to be the man Antón expected of him was admirable - even if it stemmed from the fact it was in part to protect the youngest Casado sister. But this newest show of concern for the sister's mother was a surprise.

"Why does it matter to you whether or not Amaia's treatment is effective?" Antón asked.

Diego's Adam's apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed. Antón's lips tightened to form a thin line. It would appear that Evee was not the only person Diego was sneaking off to see.

"You cannot save them all." Said Antón, "It is one of the lessons you will learn when you become presidente."

"Why can't I?" Diego protested, "If I am presidente , I should have a say over who lives and dies, shouldn't I?"

"I will frame this in the same way that you framed it for me a very long time ago." Antón retorted, sitting up slightly in his bed, "Even if we could keep Amaia alive with the Viviro treatments, what will happen the day her existence here is discovered? Hmm?"

He gauged Diego's reaction. The young boy blinked and stammered to answer, but as always, Antón had the upper hand.

"The sisters will hate you, Diego. Everything you do, say, believe, from that moment forward will be wrong, and unforgivable. You will have lost that which you have loved the most." Antón paused, "We both will."

Diego stood steady, his chest puffed out with renewed determination. Antón swallowed the grin that threatened to form.

"I won't let that happen. I promise." Diego said, his eyes flickering down, "I want us all to be a family."

Antón simply nodded. The thought had occurred to him last night, during his dinner with Danijela. How beautiful she would look in the official presidential portrait, sitting side by side with him. Diego and Evee both flanking them, representing the future of Yara. Antón's threats towards Evee, he had never planned to intentionally act upon them. He simply needed his son to fall in line, to learn and understand that the ones he loved would always be in danger. It was his duty to make sure he did whatever it took to make sure that he protected what was rightfully his. The same way Diego would have to protect Yara long after Antón was gone.

"I will let you rest papá ." Diego said.

The boy was standing by Antón's bedside at this point. He looked hesitant. Antón watched him curiously until Diego leaned forward and kissed him on the forehead.   did not know what to do except remain silent as his son began to walk away. This was a strange moment in history. Not only was he faced with his own mortality once again, but he was faced with the sudden realization that perhaps the key to making his paradise a reality was the boy standing in front of him this entire time.

"Diego, before you go, one last lesson for today."

Diego turned to his father. Against Edgar's recommendations, Antón ripped the IV from his hand. Blood spewed for a moment over the bedspread as he stood up, shoving the ring back into his pocket, soaking the outerlayer of his clothes in blood, much to his son's chagrin. Without contemplating, Antón placed his hand once more on his son's shoulder, miraculously without getting a speck of blood on him.

"Mijo, this country is very much like a family." Antón stated, "I am their father, and it is my duty to provide."

Antón made sure Diego kept eye contact with him before continuing, for all of these lessons were meant to be understood on the first incantation.

"A man provides for his family. This country will always be your priority, your responsibility. The same applies to the sisters when I am long gone."

The thought of leaving Danijela behind terrified him, which made finding a strong strain of Viviro of the utmost urgency - it also meant these lessons would not come in ten-fold in the coming months. With a tight grip, Antón encouragingly shook his son's shoulder.

Always one more lesson.

"A man provides even when he's not appreciated or respected or even loved, he simply bears up and he does it." The president reiterated, "And he does it even when he's not appreciated, or respected, or even loved. He simply bears it and he does it. Because he's a man."

Diego looked up with his large brown eyes and nodded quietly.

"Remember that the next time you think about going down to see Amaia." Antón said, "We do what we do because it is demanded of us. Never forget that."

" Si papa ."

"Oh, y por favor una cosa más hijo ."

Diego perked up automatically.

"Please tell Danijela to see me in my office later." Antón smiled, "I have something I would like to give her."