Helios was tired.
When was the last time he had been so tired that all he wanted was to sleep? He couldn't remember. Time seemed to stretch, its contours blurred. How long had he been in this state? It didn't matter. All he felt was an overwhelming heaviness. His body was numb. Slow.
He tried to move a finger. Had he moved it? He wasn't sure. Everything felt so heavy, as if he were stuck in a thick, viscous substance that made every movement harder. Even the tiniest attempt to move exhausted him completely. He didn't want to move anymore. He didn't want to do anything. Couldn't he just fall asleep again? Why did his body have to wake up at all?
What had even happened? Why was he in this state? It felt like everything was distant, unclear, and somehow nonsensical.
He sighed quietly. His thoughts seemed to be lost in a slow stream of thick honey. He gave up; it was too exhausting to think.
Was it even important to find out what had happened?
"…!"
Had someone just said something? It was a sound that reached his ear, but it was muffled, as if he were underwater. A multitude of voices echoed through to him, but they were faint, distant, as if coming from another place. The words were incomprehensible, as if from another world.
It irritated him.
Silence…, he thought. But all that left his lips was a sad excuse for what he had intended to say.
His voice didn't seem to belong to him; it was weak, raspy, and barely audible even to his own ears. Had he said anything at all? Or had he just managed to move his lips?
Damn, even that was exhausting.
Suddenly, he felt a gentle warmth on his cheek, a tender touch that broke through the haze of his awareness. Something brushed over his head. It felt as though he was beginning to perceive more and more. The voices, which had been muffled before, now sounded closer. Was someone calling his name repeatedly?
"Helios…!"
He recognized that deep voice.
"…vis…," he whispered tonelessly, the words coming out slow and unclear.
"Yes! Exactly! It's me! Can you open your eyes?" His voice was full of hope, almost euphoric.
He was awake now anyway, right?
He tried. Slowly, reluctantly. But he tried.
His eyelids felt incredibly heavy, as if they were weighed down by an invisible burden, just like the rest of his body. It felt as though fine sand had settled between his eyelid and eye, making it even harder to open his eyes. But despite the overwhelming fatigue, he forced himself to open them. At least he should be able to manage that, right? He wanted to see Davis. It felt as though he hadn't seen him in far too long.
Slowly, with every bit of strength he could muster, he opened his eyes. Everything blurred in front of him. Nothing seemed to have clear outlines. It was bright, far too bright for his tired eyes. He squeezed them shut again and let out a soft groan, the pain in his eyes sharp. But then he heard Davis' gentle laugh, which brought him a little comfort. A tender hand brushed his cheek, soothing, like a gentle hug from afar.
"Try again. I haven't seen your beautiful green eyes properly yet," Davis said softly. Helios could hear the smile in his voice.
He forced himself to try again. Blinking, gradually opening his eyes more, he finally began to see the contours sharpen. The ceiling above him, the familiar pattern of his room, everything came into focus. Davis' face moved into his line of sight.
Davis gently rested his forehead against Helios'. The contact was warm and so familiar, as if it was breaking through the last barrier of darkness. A relieved sigh escaped him.
"I'm so glad you're finally awake," Davis whispered, his voice trembling.
Helios tried to speak, but his voice sounded rough and weak. "…What happened…?" It was barely more than a whisper.
"Don't you remember what happened?" Davis asked, sounding concerned, and Helios could clearly hear the worry in his voice.
With a weak shake of his head, Helios tried to remember. He wanted to touch Davis, reassure him that everything was fine, but even that seemed too much for him. Keeping his eyes open required all of his energy.
"You were shot. Are you in pain?" Davis asked cautiously.
Shot? When had that happened? The thought seemed to stir something inside him, a memory he couldn't quite grasp. But as Davis spoke those words, the memory broke through, like a switch had been flipped inside him.
Suddenly, the pain became real, unstoppable. It was as if the pain had always been there, but he hadn't noticed it. Now, it surged through his body with every movement. His stomach ached terribly, the pain pulsing in waves, so intense that he felt like he couldn't breathe. Did he have pain? Yes, he had excruciating pain!
Why couldn't everything become wonderfully numb again like before? The numbness he had so desperately missed now seemed like an invaluable treasure that had been taken from him.
A tear rolled down his cheek, as heavy as the pain inside him. Davis wiped the tear away with a gentle press of his thumb. It was a small gesture, but it felt like a soothing kiss to his soul.
"The doctor should be here soon," Davis said in a comforting tone.
At that moment, loud footsteps echoed down the hallway. Helios' heart raced as he recognized the familiar sounds. But then, it was Davis' soft, almost tender voice that drew his attention back fully.
"I love you, Helios," he whispered quietly, and Helios felt the warmth of those words deep inside. Davis leaned forward and gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead. Then he quickly stood up, smoothed the blanket over him, and positioned himself at the side of the bed. Just as a guardian should.
The door opened suddenly, and in less than a second, his father was at his side. Helios immediately felt the room fill with the intense relief and joy of his father. Tears streamed down his father's face, and the look in his eyes spoke more than words ever could.
"Helios, my sweet little boy!" his father sobbed, taking his trembling hand. With a barely perceptible tremor in his voice, he rested his forehead on Helios' hand. "I'm so glad you're finally awake!"
Then he looked at him again. Helios stared, shocked, into his father's face, which was marked by unbearable exhaustion. His cheeks were sunken, and he looked as if he had aged years. The lines of his face bore the traces of countless sleepless nights, and in his eyes lay a deep fatigue that went far beyond physical signs. Helios could hardly imagine how long his father had been by his side, how many hours he had waited without rest.
At the edge of his awareness, he heard Davis talking to someone about Helios' pain. There was a soft clatter, and shortly after, he felt a slight burning in his arm, a flickering wave of sensation that flowed through his body. The pain that had been so overwhelming began to dissipate, as though an invisible hand had taken it away. The numbness returned, a familiar, soothing warmth that enveloped him and gave him the sensation of being wrapped in a cloud of cotton.
It was a strange, comforting feeling that slipped him into a state of calm. Everything became wide and soft again, the pain far away and insignificant. It felt as though he were in a safe space, protected from everything that had tormented him before.
That was enough for the moment. He couldn't take any more.
He let himself drift.
___
Helios jolted awake with a sharp, uncontrolled breath that escaped his lungs as he opened his eyes. The pain shot through him like a lightning bolt as he tried to move. His body felt as if it had been brutally crushed. The pain in his abdomen was unbearable. All he wanted was something to ease the pain—urgently, immediately.
He tried to sit up, but his body was far too exhausted for him to manage on his own. Weakness paralyzed him, his limbs feeling as heavy as lead. Without help, he couldn't take a single step.
It was dark. The room was dimly lit by the flickering light of a single candle nearby. The weak flame cast flickering shadows on the walls, moving like elusive shapes. Someone was sitting in the chair—the chair where he often sat when he read or thought. But who exactly it was, Helios couldn't make out at the moment.
"Hey…" he rasped, his voice rough and weak, as if it came from another world.
He had to cough, but the dry, scratchy throat sent sharp pains through his body. Each cough shot through his abdomen like a knife, and he pressed a trembling hand against the thick bandage covering his wound. It hurt so much.
Had he ever endured such pain before? It seemed unimaginable. Pain was all he knew.
Heavy footsteps approached, and a familiar voice sounded, concerned: "Are you in pain? Wait, I'll get you something."
Helios couldn't make out who was with him, his mind was too dazed. The cough continued to burn, but he tried with all his might to suppress it, knowing that each cough would only worsen the pain. He heard the person with him curse softly as something fell, before he felt his upper body gently being lifted. Helios squeezed his eyes shut in pain and gritted his teeth.
"Here, drink something," the voice said.
A glass was held to his lips, and with trembling hands, he began to drink carefully. The cool liquid eased his burning thirst and helped soothe the cough. After swallowing the last drop, the glass was taken from him and replaced with a small vial. Without hesitation, he swallowed the bitter medicine.
Helios hoped it was Davis who was taking care of him. Who else would be by his side in the middle of the night? In his dazed state, he clung his trembling hand to the fabric of the person helping him so carefully. Everything was blurry, the pain was overwhelming, and his consciousness was on the verge of slipping away again. But he found comfort in the familiar presence of this person.
"Are you okay?" the voice asked, concerned and gentle.
Helios weakly nodded. "Somehow... damn, it hurts so much..." he murmured in a hoarse, almost unintelligible voice.
"I'm glad you survived," the voice said softly. "I'm sorry you got hit. That shouldn't have happened."
Helios slowly looked up and tried to make out the blurry figure in front of him. "You sound like you were there..." he said weakly.
"Because I was there," the person replied with a slight tone of surprise. "I was there when you were shot."
Helios stared at him. "That can't be... only Evangeline and Dante were on the balcony..." he whispered, as it slowly dawned on him. It couldn't be.
But as he looked closer, he realized—he wasn't looking at Davis' face, but Dante's. How could that be? Helios had seen him take the bullet, a fatal wound. It couldn't be that Dante was standing here.
His pain-fogged brain must be playing tricks on him.
"Dante...?" Helios asked slowly, his voice uncertain.
Dante nodded calmly.
This wasn't real. Or he had hallucinated when he was shot. With a trembling hand, he reached for Dante's chest, which felt completely smooth under the shirt. He pulled hard on the collar of his shirt, but all he saw was flawless skin.
Images of red blood on white skin flashed before his inner eye. Or had it been his own blood?
"How is this possible? You were shot in the heart..." Helios murmured in disbelief.
The painkillers began to take effect. His mind became dull, soft. Dante took his hand, still clenched around his shirt collar, and gently laid Helios back down.
"I wasn't shot," Dante said calmly. "Only you were hit, along with some others. Thomas told me you were awake for several days before you were shot. Maybe your brilliant mind played a trick on you."
It made sense. If Dante had really been hit, he wouldn't be here. He would be dead, like...
"Did I imagine the thing with Evangeline too?" Helios asked cautiously.
"No. She's dead," Dante said calmly.
So, he wasn't going crazy after all. Yet something about the memory remained unclear, like a fog that couldn't quite be dispelled. Had he really just imagined it?
Apparently, hallucinations occur after 48 hours of wakefulness, but he had never experienced them. Not the first time when his own medicine had kept him awake, nor the last time. Something told him he hadn't imagined it.
But the fog of the painkillers dulled everything. He was too tired to think further.
He closed his eyes. The pain slowly eased, and with every breath, he felt more distant from reality. The last thing he felt was Dante pulling the blanket over him.
___
Boredom.
After exhaustion, it was boredom that crept in – a feeling he hardly knew. After all, Helios had never been bored. There was always something to do, always a task that demanded his full attention. When he finished one project, a new one was already waiting on his desk. And even if that wasn't the case, he always had at least five ideas for new projects in his head, just waiting to be carried out.
His world had now shrunk to just the bed, where he ate and slept. He was forbidden from getting up, just as any form of movement beyond the absolute minimum was restricted. The doctor had made it very clear that any excessive movement could cause his wounds to reopen or, worse, lead to an infection.
As if he could do anything about his pain.
He just wanted something to do. Something meaningful, like his current project. The secret mechanism in his bookshelf was also tempting. However, there was always someone with him, or Thomas would check on him regularly. He doubted he could even walk up the narrow stairs to his private lab at the moment.
By now, he had memorized every inch of his ceiling. He had seen every single bird that flew past his window and had come to know exactly the angle at which the sunlight hit his room at each hour of the day. He had studied the patrol routes of the guards outside the compound and knew when they crossed paths. And if the window was open even just a crack, he could at least overhear a little of the conversations they had. They felt undisturbed and unnoticed, which only made their topics more interesting, even though none of the conversations truly captivated him. It was just a small comfort, hearing something from the world outside, the world he so painfully missed.
It had already been three days since he had regained consciousness. Three days that felt like an eternity.
A soft knock at the door pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Come in," Helios called to his visitor.
The door opened, and Thomas entered. In his hands, he held a tray with a steaming cup of coffee and a small snack. Helios tried to eat his meals, but he couldn't manage anything substantial.
"Oh, young master, you're awake!" Thomas said, and there was a noticeable relief in his voice. "How are you feeling?"
"I can't sleep anymore. Or lie down," Helios answered wearily. "I'd rather get up."
"The doctor wants you to get up today and move around a little."
"Really?"
He was so tired of just lying in bed. He wanted to move again, to get his circulation going. He wanted to get out of bed so he could eventually return to the lab and do what he loved the most.
Thomas placed the tray on the small table by the window, the soft clink of porcelain echoing in the quiet room. Then he came closer, took Helios' temperature, and seemed relieved when he found a normal body temperature.
"No fever," he said, satisfied, and set the thermometer aside.
"Who will help me get up? You?"
Thomas shook his head. "Davis will be here soon. He wanted to check on you after his training."
Helios nodded, even though he knew it would still be a while before Davis would actually arrive. "It will probably take some time before Davis is here. Did you get the documents from Theo?" he asked.
Thomas sighed as he reached for the documents hidden in his jacket. He pulled out an envelope and handed it to Helios with a thoughtful glance. "He said the animal experiments aren't completely finished. After the first trial, some animals died, so he adjusted the dosage. The details are written here. Also, the reports from the Crescent family's doctor are included," Thomas explained.
Helios took the envelope. "Thank you for handling this, Thomas," he said with a grateful smile.
"Will you help me sit up?" Helios asked then.
"Of course," Thomas said.
He helped Helios into a sitting position and propped him up with a few pillows so that he could sit a bit more upright. It hurt like hell; every movement seemed to shoot directly into the scar where he had taken the gunshot wound.
Helios still wondered how he had survived that.
"Has there been any more information about the attack?" Helios asked, even though he knew the answer would likely be the same as before.
"Not more than before, unfortunately," Thomas replied with a heavy sigh. "There are still too many unanswered questions."
Helios knew that he hadn't been the direct target of the attack. The dead didn't seem to have anything in common, other than being wealthy. There were no obvious connections between the victims—no shared projects, no recent deals. Someone had apparently shot into the crowd at random, taking those who had happened to be in his line of sight.
What was known, however, was the number of dead.
Ten had fallen to the sniper, and another sixteen had been killed inside the building. All had been lured away from the crowd, out of sight from the guards who should have protected them. However, no evidence had been left behind.
The chaos had played into the attackers' hands. The whole thing had been really well planned. Even though Helios couldn't fully understand how they had been able to kill so many. After all, there had been a hell of a lot of guards there. The party had the highest security standards.
Penelope had told him that Dante had shot one of the attackers, but his body had never been found. Luckily, nothing had happened to her. Helios certainly wouldn't have been able to bear her loss.
Maybe it was time to take matters into his own hands and do some investigating. His curiosity about what exactly had happened was too strong. His condition still wasn't the best, but he felt a bit better, and the time had given him enough distance to think more clearly.
Thomas handed Helios a steaming cup of coffee and a plate with a sandwich. Helios took both gratefully and began reading through the doctor's reports while biting into the sandwich. It was a comforting feeling to at least do something normal.
It seemed Violet's condition hadn't worsened, which was a relief. That was definitely good news, especially since he had now lost a full ten days trying to develop the medication. Unfortunately, there were far too few records on the disease he was trying to treat. Of course, there were some reports, but no one had felt the need to write a comprehensive case study so far.
There was another knock at the door, and Thomas let Davis and Dante in.
Helios' gaze lingered on Dante. Thomas had told him the day before that he had taken a knife to the shoulder. Yet, he seemed surprisingly relaxed. He showed no signs of struggling with his arm, while Davis still had some lingering pain in his thigh and occasionally couldn't put full weight on his leg.
When Helios had seen Dante for the first time since the incident the day before, he had been confused. As he remembered it, Dante had been shot. He had seen the bullet hit him in the heart; he had had Dante's blood on his face. He could damn well taste it.
But no one had mentioned that he had been shot, contrary to what Helios remembered.
His mind still couldn't quite grasp what had happened, or what part of it wasn't imagined. He had looked at Dante's skin, but what he had seen was flawless.
It was strange. Dante's behavior was more than suspicious.
Helios was desperate to understand why Dante was acting as though he hadn't been injured at all. He behaved as if he had never been hurt. He needed to see Dante's wounds again, with his own eyes, this time with a clear mind.
But something told him that he couldn't just ask Dante to take off his shirt for him. He would have to come up with something else to catch him in the act. Ideally, something Dante wouldn't expect, and where no one else would see.
Helios looked at Davis. He didn't want to tear anyone else's clothes off in front of his lover, even though he had no sexual motives behind it. Explaining the whole thing afterward would be more than annoying. So, no one else could be there. He had to catch Dante alone.
But since Davis was on the road to recovery, it would be difficult.
His lover gave him a warm smile. Helios was genuinely happy to see that Davis was feeling better. He hated seeing him hurt, limping with clear pain on his face.
"As I can see, the training is doing you good, Sergeant," Helios greeted him with a smile.
"It's nice to be able to move again," Davis replied with a content smile. "I don't think I'm really restricted anymore."
"At least you're not really limping anymore," Helios agreed, watching as Davis comfortably settled into a chair without much difficulty.
Davis laughed and then glanced over at Dante. "If he keeps going like this, it's very possible I'll be limping again soon. The guy doesn't spare me at all."
Dante grinned mischievously. "You said I shouldn't go easy on you."
Helios looked at Dante, a little irritated. "Your injuries are still healing. Don't you think that by starting sparring too soon, you're doing more damage than good?"
Dante waved it off and smiled. "I'm fine, thanks for asking." Then his expression changed, and he looked at Helios with a hint of concern. "But how are you?"
Ah, so he's just changing the subject, thought Helios.
"Good enough to finally get up," he answered, putting on a confident smile.
Davis approached him, his face full of worry. "Have you taken anything for the pain?"
Helios nodded. "Yes, before Thomas arrived."
He threw the blanket off himself and took a deep breath, ready to push himself. Davis was immediately there, gently helping him sit on the edge of the bed. The pain in his wound was dull, but still present. Helios gripped Davis' muscular forearm with his hand and tried to breathe steadily. With his other hand, he pressed down on the painful spot.
"Are you okay?" Davis asked, his voice soft with concern.
Helios gave a slight nod. "Just a little dizzy."
Thomas handed him a glass of water, which he took gratefully and drank in one go.
"Okay, let's go," he said, determination evident on his face as he prepared to get moving again. Davis helped him to his feet, and Helios clung to him, his legs feeling like lead. The dizziness that had settled in his head refused to go away.
"Slowly, no rush," Davis murmured, continuing to support him as they took the first step. Helios pressed his hand back onto the wound. The pain wasn't as sharp as it had been right after the shot, but it was still there, a constant throbbing that reminded him that healing was far from complete. It had been over a week since he was shot, and yet it felt like he had just made it out of danger.
He was really glad he had been unconscious for a whole week. At least during that time, he hadn't felt the terrible pain.
Sweat beaded on his forehead. It was only a few steps to the chair, but it felt like he had run a damn marathon. The air seemed to be missing from his lungs, and every breath felt exhausting. But when he finally reached the chair and sank into it, the relief was even greater.
He leaned back and looked out the window. The view was a welcome change from the monotonous ceiling that had accompanied him for the past few days. Even though he still didn't feel completely balanced, sitting was a welcome change. His hand still rested on the wound, which continued to pulse under the pressure. It was going to be damn exhausting, but he knew he could make it.
"You really did well," Thomas praised him. "Do you think you can sit in the chair for a little while?"
Helios nodded silently, too exhausted to answer immediately. He was still too focused on just breathing to engage in any conversation.
Thomas draped a soft woolen blanket over his legs, which felt pleasant and warmed him a little. Then he began making the bed and changing the sheets.
"Can you give me the documents, Davis?" Helios asked.
Davis looked at him for a moment, as if making sure Helios really meant what he said. "You want to work now? Are you serious?"
Helios threw Davis a tired smile. "I get bored to death if I have nothing to do. Besides, I need to see what Theo has found out. Who knows when Violet's condition might worsen."
Davis looked at him with concern. "I'd rather you rest."
"Davis is right. You should focus all your energy on getting better quickly," Thomas added.
Helios sighed deeply and tilted his head slightly. "Once I get through this and Theo gets new instructions, I'll rest again. I promise," he said with a weak smile that didn't quite reflect his usual energy. He was too tired to stay awake much longer.
He threw Davis a challenging look. "You have the night shift, right? How about you bring that damned card game and let me finish you off?"
Davis laughed heartily and shook his head. "If I remember correctly, you've never beaten me at that game."
"Doesn't stop me from trying again and again," Helios grinned.
"What card game are you talking about?" Dante asked curiously, his brow furrowed slightly.
Davis shot him a look that told Helios he had more in mind than just explaining the game to him. Dante wouldn't be able to escape from Davis. "It's a pretty old-fashioned game, but quite addictive. You'll see," he said with a grin that radiated the same excitement Helios knew so well.
Davis threw Dante another look that told Helios that Davis wasn't just going to explain the game to Dante, but would get him to play it with him over and over again. Davis eagerly started describing the game, Dante listened attentively, and Thomas continued making the bed.
Helios grabbed the documents with a smile and began reading the findings from the animal experiments.