On Saturday morning, Helios slept far past noon. The night before had completely drained him. He had been busy for a long time with the next condemned man. This time, he had tested a new dose, deliberately watering it down so much that it was much weaker than the first one he had used. The result had been, in some ways, satisfying. Helios had had plenty of time to observe the entire poisoning process, and that gave him a certain sense of satisfaction. However, the condemned man's death was anything but quick or easy. It had been a slow and incredibly painful poisoning – the man had died in agony.
But no one had intervened. No cries had arisen urging to let the man die in peace. On the contrary, Helios had felt that Edward had been particularly interested in watching the prisoner suffer through his slow death. If he remembered correctly, the condemned man had abused and murdered children – a crime almost too horrific to comprehend. Regardless of the exact reason behind his punishment, Helios was glad to be able to observe the scene with such intensity, as he had hoped – without interruptions, without interference.
Helios was accustomed to quick deaths, particularly those caused by massive blood loss. Many of his guards had died from gunshot wounds, some from knives or other sharp blades. In all these cases, the death had been faster, usually from bleeding out. But the slow torture of the condemned man was something else entirely. It had taken six hours for the man to take his final breath, and during that time, Helios had remained attentive and almost fascinated. It was a rare opportunity to witness such a slow, agonizing process from the front row.
After the man had finally passed away, Helios had documented everything in great detail. The meticulous recording of his observations gave him a sense of control and clarity. He didn't make it to bed until around 7 a.m., exhausted but also satisfied with what he had experienced. It had taken a long time, but that was fine. Helios had more than gotten his fill – the entire affair had been more enjoyable than he had initially expected.
However, the long, tiring day and the sleepless hours had taken their toll. As he lay down in bed, his body was marked by fatigue, and his gunshot wound still hurt. Although it had healed well on the outside, he still felt as if the bullet had torn him apart from the inside.
The past week had been nonstop for him, with hardly any time for rest. Any short breaks had only been taken out of necessity, and the healing of his wound had drained an immense amount of energy. Even though his scar had healed well by now, he still felt the pulling inside his body.
He had no desire to force himself back into his usual routine. The thought of getting up was unbearable. So, he sent Thomas away with a grumpy glance, even though he had expected him to wake him up anyway. To his surprise, Thomas explained that he welcomed the fact that Helios was finally taking the rest he needed to continue recovering. Silently, he left the room, and Helios had fallen back asleep before the door had even closed.
___
The sun had long since disappeared, making way for the night. The twilight gently settled over the city, and as the sky slowly transitioned into dark shades of blue, it would have been truly beautiful to see the stars. But, as always, the clear night sky remained hidden from view. The steam that hovered over the city obscured everything beyond it. The air was heavy and murky, as if the city itself had wrapped its secrets in an impenetrable shell.
Yet despite the absent stars, there were other lights that illuminated the evening. Lanterns were hung all over the streets, casting their warm, soft glow and lighting up the winding alleys. The yellow shimmer of the flames contrasted with the darkness of the night, immersing the surroundings in an almost fairy-tale-like atmosphere.
The people on the streets seemed to sparkle with joy. Their voices were loud and cheerful, their laughter breaking through the night air. They ate, drank, danced together, and held each other in their arms as they shared stories that grew livelier with every word. Children ran joyfully around, their squeaky voices filling the air as they made their way through the crowds. The atmosphere was charged with a nearly palpable energy, transforming the entire cityscape into a state of exuberant joy.
But at the same time, the air was thick with the smells of oil, roasted meat, and countless other meals. It reeked of spices and burning wood, the dirty exhaust fumes from the steam engines, and the sweat of the dancing crowd. The scent was omnipresent, overpowering everything else—the steam from the machines, the sweat of the people, and the pungent aromas of the many dishes coming from the stalls.
It was overwhelming, almost suffocating.
Helios hated crowds. They pressed in around him, the bodies far too close for his liking. In no time, he had smelled more of them than he could bear. Their sweat, their perfumes, their breath—some had even vomited, despite the evening still being young. Helios grimaced in disgust. He wished he had worn his lab mask, which would have filtered out at least some of these smells. But, unfortunately, he was only wearing a simple mask that covered his eyes and the bridge of his nose. It was enough to preserve his anonymity.
Thomas had gotten him a simple yet elegant outfit in which Helios actually felt comfortable. He wore a half-face mask reminiscent of an owl. Beneath it, a gray shirt, black trousers with suspenders. The whole look was completed by a blood-red cloak, its hood covering his hair and casting his face in shadow.
He carried a small shoulder bag. He hadn't been able to bring his suitcase, but he still needed to have something with him for emergencies. Even if one of his "emergency medications" was a syringe filled with his latest poison, which he had developed himself. If he got separated from Davis and Dante in the crowd, at least he would be able to defend himself.
Most of the people who passed by didn't pay attention to the details, which suited him just fine.
The people gathered that evening wore colorful, eye-catching costumes. Masks and outfits in all shapes and colors that hid their faces or at least altered them were everywhere. Some had chosen elaborate animal masks, others went for simple yet elegant masks that covered the entire face. There were costumes made of shiny metal, magnificent feathers, revealing designs, and above all, an incredible variety of styles. Some had intricately painted their faces, making it nearly impossible to recognize who was behind them. The Carnaval seemed to be a festival without rules, a celebration of freedom and creative expression.
Perhaps that was exactly what made the people so carefree. The freedom to conceal their identity and play a new, different role.
Helios had never seen so many different costumes, so many colors, and so much creative energy in the streets. It was almost overwhelming, but at the same time fascinating. Amidst all these masks and disguises, he could spot the guards from his family, skillfully blending in with the crowd. They moved in opaque paths, their eyes always vigilant. It would be damn difficult to meet with his contact without being noticed.
Difficult, but not impossible.
As well as he knew the bastard, he would have him out of sight of his guards faster than they would realize. Even when it came to Davis and Dante. The colorful, noisy flow of revelers provided the perfect opportunity to move unnoticed. If he was clever enough, he could manage to disappear for half an hour without his guards noticing. Maybe he could distract them with food. Or alcohol. Perhaps he would just wait for the parade.
The parade would come later, and if he played his cards right, he could use it as a distraction. He would need to make sure Davis and Dante were sufficiently distracted by the crowd.
They continued walking through the streets, stopping at various stalls. Helios was quite impressed when he noticed that there were not only food stalls but also those selling jewelry, clothing, and exotic spices. It was a colorful variety that opened his eyes and almost surpassed his imagination. The Carnaval traveled from city to city, bringing new, foreign goods with it. Much of it was uninteresting to Helios, but a few stalls caught his attention.
Spices, teas, and plants. Things that piqued his interest. He engaged with the vendors, asking about the composition of the teas and their possible healing properties. It was fascinating how many different herbs and mixtures they used to achieve certain effects. Helios stored everything in his memory and eventually bought a few of the teas, not only out of interest but also to test them for himself. Who knew what surprising insights he might gain from these experimental blends?
When he finally managed to pull away and took the bag containing the teas, reality crashed back in on him. The sounds and smells returned, the bag was taken from him. Helios followed its path, only to meet Davis' gaze, his mouth curved into a smile.
He was wearing a mask that covered the upper half of his face. It was black, adorned with a few black feathers, his hair slightly styled, and he wore a simple combat suit that hugged his body. Over it, he had an emerald green cloak that nearly concealed his figure and the weapons subtly hidden beneath.
"Nice to see you're having fun," he said with a mischievous smile.
Helios glanced at his watch. He had been talking to the vendor for over an hour. He hadn't planned on that. He wanted to distract the guards, not get caught up in conversations himself.
"You should have stopped me from staying here so long," Helios said, snorting in frustration.
"Not a chance," Davis replied. "You were having so much fun talking to the man, we couldn't just interrupt."
"Still," Helios pouted. "The evening is supposed to be for you. What's the point if I spend all my time talking to others and you just stand there silently?"
Davis' grin widened. "You're really cute when you pout."
"You...!" Helios began, then quickly looked around in alarm.
"Dante is getting some food, he got hungry," Davis reassured him.
No wonder he's suddenly saying such things in public, Helios thought as he looked around, feeling stressed. But the guards who were quietly trailing them were further away, and Dante wasn't even close, so no one had heard Davis. Helios exhaled in relief.
"I wish we didn't have to hide and could just enjoy the festival together," Davis said, his voice almost wistful.
Helios linked his pinky with Davis'. "I know exactly what you mean," he said softly. "It would be nice if we didn't have to hide from my father and could just be with each other the way we want."
"Or at least spend a whole night together and wake up the next morning side by side," Davis added, his voice carrying a hint of sadness. "But I'm grateful for every minute we have together. Please don't get me wrong."
Helios looked deep into his eyes, squeezed his hand, and let the words sink in. "We could leave. Just the two of us. Maybe I can disguise it as a business trip or a material acquisition, and you could be the only one to accompany me."
Davis squeezed Helios' hand tightly, their fingers intertwining. "That would be nice," he said quietly, a touch of longing in his voice.
Helios gazed into his eyes, and for a moment, the world around them seemed to stand still. He felt the urge to get closer to Davis, to kiss him, and to tell him everything that weighed on his heart. He wanted to tell him that he no longer wanted to live in secret, that he was ready to confront his father with their relationship. Because he couldn't imagine anyone else by his side but Davis. But the words stuck in his throat, the reality of their situation still too heavy to ignore.
Davis, as if he had read Helios' thoughts, gave him a warm smile. He squeezed Helios' hand and gently ran his thumb over the back of his hand. A sign that he shared his feelings, but also knew that they weren't yet ready to speak the truth aloud.
Helios smiled back and finally pulled his hand from Davis' to look around for Dante. He spotted him at a stand where grilling was obviously taking place.
"Shall we see what he's up to? I have a feeling he's buying up the entire stock," Helios said with a crooked grin.
"He seemed hungry. So we should hurry," Davis chuckled.
When they reached Dante, Helios' suspicion was confirmed. Dante had indeed placed quite a large order for grilled meat. He and Davis eagerly dug in, while Helios stuck to just one portion. It wasn't bad, but Helios still didn't eat huge portions—even though he was now eating significantly more than he had before the assassination attempt.
He made an effort not to get caught up in another conversation with one of the vendors. Instead, he focused on keeping his two guards satisfied. Since Helios had promised them to enjoy the evening as if they had the night off, Davis and Dante even treated themselves to a beer.
However, it remained just that one beer. If it had been up to Helios, they could have indulged a little more, but the guards were far too vigilant of their surroundings.
So, he tried to keep the mood light. He teased them with his sarcastic remarks, making them laugh, hoping they would neglect their guard duties for a while. Whenever he had the chance, he briefly touched Davis' hand to show him how much he meant to him.
Despite the lighthearted conversations they were having, Helios felt uneasy. As soon as Davis realized he was missing, he would likely panic and turn the place upside down in search of him. The thought of his guards running through the crowd, looking for him, made Helios feel uncomfortable. The chaos that would ensue if he didn't return in time was unimaginable.
They moved through various stalls. While Davis and Dante managed to grab a little portion of just about everything, Helios always let Davis give him something. At least to try what was being offered. There were surprisingly many delicious dishes at the festival.
As the evening wore on, the two guards seemed to relax more. While they still kept an eye on the surroundings, they seemed less concerned about someone recognizing Helios, thanks to their masks.
Apart from the local townspeople and Davis and Dante themselves, no one else came too close to him anyway.
Helios couldn't remember the last time he had so much fun. Of course, he enjoyed his work—he loved his lab and everything that came with it. He was free in every minute spent with Davis, and his new assignment satisfied his needs in ways he hadn't anticipated.
Though he hated large crowds, Helios felt comfortable at the festival with Davis and Dante, a place he would never have attended under normal circumstances. While he still had no desire to interact with the other visitors and found the warmth of the lights and the closeness of all the bodies overwhelming, he caught himself thinking that perhaps someday he would want to attend such an event again with them.
He cast a discreet glance at Davis, who was much more relaxed than usual when they left the estate. His cheeks were flushed from laughter, perhaps also from the alcohol he had shared with Dante earlier, though both of them had really held back when it came to drinking.
Helios was happy to see that Davis was enjoying the evening; he wanted to see him like that more often. Once again, a painful pang shot through his heart as he thought about how they usually stuck to their roles and interacted distantly with one another, especially when there was a chance someone could catch them.
His gaze wandered to Dante, the guard who had recently entered his life but already played an important role in it. There weren't many guards who, like him and Davis, had survived dangerous attacks and saved his life. Had it not been for Dante, Helios would have died just a few weeks ago. The shooter would have put a bullet through his head, or the assassins in the building would have slit him open like a Christmas goose.
It wasn't money they wanted; if it had been, they would have just captured the guests. The true motives behind the attack were still unclear, and Helios assumed it wouldn't be the last attack. But he didn't want to dwell on these thoughts any longer. There was no point in worrying unnecessarily. He would find out soon enough if another attack was imminent.
As they moved on, the crowd grew denser, and the music got louder. Suddenly, a loud roar echoed, and a massive, metallic lion began making its way down the street. More animals followed, all gigantic, majestic, and intimidating. The parade was a true spectacle – the animals steamed and smoked, illuminated by countless lights. Everything seemed like an illusion, as if they wanted to take the spectators into another, mystical world.
"Wow, I didn't expect the parade to look like this," Dante said, his eyes shining.
"Beautiful," Davis agreed, and he too was completely captivated by the parade.
They were both entirely focused on the parade. Helios tore his gaze away and excused himself wordlessly, giving Davis one last glance before he slowly walked backward. The crowd immediately surged forward, and soon, he could no longer see his guards.
But suddenly, he felt an arm wrap around his waist from behind, while another hand grabbed his chin, forcing his gaze forward.
"I thought I'd have to kidnap you by force," said a familiar, smoky voice directly in his ear. "By the way, that dark red suits you quite well."
"And I was wondering how long you were going to wait, Spider," Helios replied, unimpressed. "Better get me out of here before my guards find you and tear you apart."
Spider laughed softly. "You haven't changed after all this time."
Helios rolled his eyes in annoyance. "We last saw each other three months ago."
"It's way too long, if you ask me," Spider said in a deep voice, his hand drifting from Helios' chin to his throat, where it lingered for a moment. His hand was pressing it lightly before he took Helios' hand and pulled him along.
With a fluid motion, Spider led them through the still densely packed crowd until they finally reached one of the quieter alleys. The noise of the festival faded into the distance, and the constant rumbling sound that had accompanied the evening now turned into a dull murmur. Helios breathed a sigh of relief. It was as quiet as it hadn't been for hours, and this stillness felt like a true blessing to his overstimulated senses.
Spider eventually released his grip on Helios' wrist and looked around cautiously. He wore a striking, colorful costume that shimmered in vibrant hues. If Helios didn't know who Spider was, he would never have recognized him as the man he truly was—and Spider knew that all too well. His disguise hid his true identity, and in a moment like this, that worked to his advantage.
"This should be fine," Spider said, satisfied, as he took a step back and looked around again. "At least we're completely alone here."
"I need you to do something for me," Helios said abruptly. He knew he couldn't stay away from the others for too long.
Spider gave him an amused look. "Really? You want to talk about work right away? Even though we haven't seen each other for weeks?" His voice sounded almost mocking as he took a step toward Helios.
Helios slowly removed his mask and shot him an irritated look. "What else should we talk about?"
Spider also took off his mask and gave him the exact arrogant look that Helios couldn't stand. Spider was one of those people who were 200% convinced of themselves—and unfortunately, he was right. Spider fulfilled his work always perfectly.
"Well, for example, that you nearly died and didn't get in touch with me?" Spider let the words fall with a challenging gleam in his eyes as he studied Helios.
"I don't owe you any explanations, Spider," Helios shot back sharply, the words cutting like a blade. "I give you assignments, pay you, and you carry them out. That's all."
"Cold as always. Fine, I'll play along," Spider said, letting a threatening smile play on his lips, one that spoke more than any words could. "Who do you want me to kill this time?"