Chapter 55 - Helios (Part 4)

*WAVE*

He waved, a disarming smile on his face. Roxana, clad in a flowing white nightgown, moved towards the balcony with measured steps. As she unlocked the door, Helios slipped inside, immediately making himself at home in a nearby chair.

"Thanks!" he exclaimed, his casual demeanor a stark contrast to the tension in the room.

Roxana shut the window but left it unlocked, her silence speaking volumes.

"C'mon Roro!" Helios sprang up, his energy infectious. He cupped Roxana's face, playfully manipulating her features into a smile. "There yah go!" he declared, his own grin childlike and mischievous.

But Roxana's response was unexpected. She grasped Helios' hands, bringing them close to her face. With deliberate slowness, she inhaled deeply, her nose pressed against the soft flesh of his palm.

"I like this smell of blood." Her voice was clinical, detached, yet laden with an undercurrent of something deeper. Her eyes met his, challenging, knowing.

Helios felt cold sweat trace invisible patterns down his spine. His mind raced - had she discovered everything? Was this a trap? His carefully constructed facade threatened to crumble.

"Haah." Roxana's hand touched her forehead, a gesture both dismissive and weary. "Yes. I know you killed someone just a few moments ago and decided to come here because Hades is waiting in your room to ask you some bullshit."

The tension shattered.

*PFFFT*

Helios' controlled laugh erupted, growing louder, more genuine. "DAMNN MAN. So this is what its like to be Kiorian."

Roxana's slight smile was a mirror of his own - dangerous, knowing.

"Don't go around using bad words like that." His fingers flicked her forehead, a gesture both familiar and protective.

Shadows danced as Roxana walked away, her question hanging like a delicate, poisoned thread. "So...You're getting married this year, huh?"

Oh? She's sad? Helios' thought and then, without hesitation, Helios closed the distance.

*HUG*

Helios' embrace from behind was both protective and desperate. "Say the word, and I won't do it," he murmured, his voice muffled against Roxana's shoulder.

Roxana glanced back, catching a glimpse of a vulnerability Helios rarely showed. "What if I said...I like Hades?" she ventured, uncertainty coloring her tone.

"Then, I'll become Hades for you," Helios replied, his voice still low and sullen.

Suddenly, Helios' demeanor shifted dramatically. He sprang up, a broad smile replacing his melancholy. "The Night festival! I heard they're selling a special sort of skewer. Wanna go out and try it?"

Roxana blinked, momentarily bewildered by his abrupt change. "Yeah? Sure," she managed.

*SHWHHAHAHHHAHAHHSHSHSHHSHH*

In an instant, they materialized in a bustling corridor of the Night Festival, their regal attire replaced by simple brown and white garments of commoners.

Helios, eyes alight with mischief, grabbed Roxana's arm and pulled her into the throng. The festival pulsed around them, a living entity of laughter, music, and revelry. Torches cast dancing shadows across makeshift stalls selling everything from exotic delicacies to mystical trinkets.

As they wove through the crowd, the weight of their earlier conversation seemed to evaporate in the festival's intoxicating atmosphere. 

-Night Festival in Domino-

The festival's heartbeat pulsed around them. Helios guided Roxana to a small stall where an elderly vendor was grilling skewers over blazing coals. Steam and spices danced in the air - cumin, cardamom, and something deeper, almost smoky.

"Two special skewer," Helios called out.

The vendor, his hands weathered like ancient parchment, carefully selected a stick. The meat glistened - deep burgundy marinated in what looked like a blend of dark wine and herbs. With practiced movements, he turned it over the flames, the edges caramelizing into a perfect golden-brown.

Roxana watched, fascinated. When he handed it to them, Helios offered it to Roxana. 

The first bite was revelation. Tender meat that melted, spices that exploded - sweet, then sharp, then a lingering warmth that spread from tongue to chest. Roxana's eyes widened involuntarily.

"Good?" Helios asked, already knowing the answer from her expression.

Helios pulled Roxana through a corridor of hanging lanterns, each one hand-painted with intricate designs. Silk and paper glowed in shades of crimson, emerald, and deep sapphire blue.

The narrow alley was a kaleidoscope of light and shadow. Hundreds of lanterns swayed gently overhead, creating a mesmerizing dance of colors on the cobblestones beneath their feet. Helios' hand was warm in Roxana's as he guided her through the crowd, his eyes darting from one intricate design to another.

"Look at that one," Helios whispered, his breath tickling Roxana's ear as he leaned in close. He pointed to a lantern that seemed to capture the essence of a moonlit forest. Silver threads glimmered like starlight on delicate branches, while tiny wolf silhouettes prowled among shadowy leaves.

Roxana felt drawn to it, her fingers reaching out almost of their own accord to trace the lantern's edge. The craftsman, an elderly man with kind eyes and gnarled hands, noticed their interest and smiled warmly.

"It's a scene from the old tales," he explained, his voice gravelly but gentle. "The night the moon fell in love with the forest."

Helios glanced at Roxana, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Shall we take a piece of that magic home with us?" He was already reaching for his coin purse.

Roxana's lips curved into a soft smile. "Yeah. It's so perfect," she murmured, her eyes never leaving the lantern.

As the craftsman carefully wrapped their purchase, Helios leaned in close to Roxana again. "Maybe we can hang it in your room," he suggested, his tone light but with an undercurrent of something deeper. "A little piece of tonight to keep with you always."

The music hit them like a wave as they emerged from the lantern alley. A haunting melody wove through the air, carried by flutes and strings, while drums pounded out a rhythm that seemed to sync perfectly with their heartbeats.

In the center of the square, traditional dancers whirled in a synchronized spectacle. Their costumes, deep burgundy fabric embroidered with intricate gold patterns, caught the light of surrounding torches and seemed to come alive with each movement.

Helios turned to Roxana, extending his hand with a flourish. "Dance?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with challenge and invitation.

Roxana hesitated for a moment, her eyes darting between Helios' outstretched hand and the graceful dancers. Then, almost defiantly, she placed her hand in his.

They moved together, not with the practiced perfection of the performers, but with a rhythm all their own. Helios spun Roxana, her hair catching the firelight as she twirled. When she came back to him, he pulled her close, their bodies moving as one.

"You're full of surprises, Princess," Helios murmured, his lips close to her ear.

Roxana's laugh was breathless. "As are you, my Prince."

As they danced, the world seemed to fade away. The music, the crowd, the very night itself became a blur of sensation and emotion, leaving only the two of them in their own private universe.

The aroma of a dozen different cuisines mingled in the air as Helios and Roxana made their way through the food stalls. Each vendor called out, promising delicacies beyond compare.

"Let's try everything," Helios declared, his eyes wide with childlike excitement.

Their culinary journey began with honey-glazed pastries. The delicate confections shattered like spun sugar between their teeth, releasing a flood of sweetness that made Roxana close her eyes in bliss.

Next came spiced meat rolls, the warm bread cradling tender, aromatic filling. Helios took a big bite, then laughed as sauce dribbled down his chin. Without thinking, Roxana reached up to wipe it away, her fingers lingering for just a moment too long.

They shared sweet rice cakes dusted with crushed nuts, the subtle flavors a perfect counterpoint to the earlier richness. Helios insisted on feeding a piece to Roxana, his fingers brushing her lips as she took the offered morsel.

Finally, they sampled fruit preserves so vibrant they seemed to glow in the lamplight. Each spoonful was an explosion of concentrated flavor – tart berries, sun-ripened peaches, exotic fruits neither could name.

As they walked, sampling and savoring, Helios and Roxana found themselves drawing closer, shoulders brushing, hands finding excuses to touch. The night air was electric with possibility, and neither wanted the evening to end.

"What next?" Roxana asked, her eyes bright with an excitement she rarely allowed herself to show.

Helios grinned, taking her hand once more. "The night is young, Princess. And I have so much more to show you."

The Fortune Teller's Tent

As they wandered through the winding alleys of the festival, a mysterious tent caught their eye. Deep purple fabric adorned with silver stars billowed in the gentle night breeze.

"Step right up, young lovers!" called an elderly woman with eyes like polished obsidian. "Discover what fate has in store for you!"

Helios and Roxana exchanged glances, a mixture of amusement and curiosity in their eyes.

"Shall we tempt fate?" Helios asked with a roguish grin.

Roxana hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Why not? It's just for fun, right?"

They ducked into the tent, the air heavy with incense. The fortune teller gestured for them to sit on plush cushions across from her.

"Your hands, please," she commanded.

As the fortune teller's gnarled fingers traced the intricate lines of their palms, her expression transformed. Darkness clouded her eyes, and her voice dropped to a haunting whisper.

"I see a child," she murmured, her tone weighted with an inexplicable gravity.

"A child?" Roxana's voice was barely a breath, a mixture of confusion and something deeper - a hint of anticipation.

The woman's demeanor shifted violently. Her eyes blazed with an ancient, wild intensity. "You will torment her," she hissed, "just as profoundly as you've been tormented yourselves!"

Suddenly, her hands became weapons, shoving them towards the tent's entrance. "NOW SHU SHU! GO AWAY!" she screamed, her voice a blend of prophecy and madness.

Helios and Roxana stumbled out, the night air cool against their heated skin, the fortune teller's words echoing like a curse in their minds.

As the night deepened, a hush fell over the crowd. Suddenly, the sky erupted in a dazzling display of color and light. Fireworks painted the heavens in gold, crimson, and emerald.

Helios led Roxana to a secluded spot on a small hill overlooking the festival. They sat close, shoulders touching, as they watched the spectacle unfold.

"It's beautiful," Roxana breathed, her face illuminated by the shifting lights.

Helios turned to look at her, his expression soft. "Yes, it is."

For a moment, the air between them crackled with unspoken tension. Then, a particularly loud boom made Roxana jump, breaking the spell. They both laughed, the sound mingling with the echoes of the fireworks.

As the festival began to wind down, Helios guided Roxana away from the crowds to a hidden garden. Moonflowers bloomed in the silvery light, their fragrance sweet and intoxicating.

They walked in comfortable silence, fingers intertwined. At a small pond, they paused to watch koi fish glide beneath lily pads.

"Thank you," Roxana said softly, "for tonight. For... everything."

Helios squeezed her hand gently. "Always."

The festive atmosphere of the Night Festival faded into the background, the once vibrant colors and joyous sounds now muted and distant. Helios and Roxana stood apart from the revelry, caught in a moment of profound intimacy and devastating honesty.

Roxana's whispered words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken fears. "That child, the woman mentioned..." She trailed off, her eyes searching Helios' face for understanding, for absolution.

Helios met her gaze, concern etched in every line of his face. "What about it?" he prompted gently, sensing the weight of her unspoken thoughts.

Roxana's steps faltered, and she turned to face him fully. Her eyes, wide and vulnerable, held a mixture of fear and resignation that made Helios' heart clench. "I think...I think...." She pursed her lips, turning away, unable to voice the terrible truth that threatened to overwhelm her.

Helios, reading the pain in her silence, stepped closer. His voice was low, intense, filled with a fierce protectiveness that surprised even him. "Whatever it may be. If that child she mentioned is ours, then I'm willing to take responsibility for it, regardless. I'll nurture the child with such care and delicate warmth that they will never feel the absence of anything, be it even you."

Roxana's eyes widened, shock replacing fear for a moment. "So you.......knew?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Helios' response was immediate, his tone stripped of its usual lightness. "If I hadn't, would I be walking the same path as you?" The worry on his face was palpable, his usual mask of cheerfulness swept away by the night breeze.

Roxana struggled to find words, tears beginning to roll down her cheeks. "What....what if......my....my my..." She couldn't continue, overwhelmed by the enormity of what she was trying to confess.

Helios reached out, grasping her shoulders gently but firmly. His words came out in a rush, fierce and determined. "Hey, listen to me. Even if you're an Azone, and that child is also an Azone and risks messing with timelines and people's minds and souls, I'll still love and protect them. I don't give a fucking shit about anything, as long as there's something you desire, I want to fulfill it."

Roxana's next words were a dagger, sharp and precise. "Even if it means we'll end up torturing that child in search of our long-lost salvation?"

Helios let go of her shoulders, turning aside. The moonlight caught his blonde hair, turning it to liquid silver, obscuring his face from view.

Roxana wiped her tears, her voice steadying as she made a decision. "If you're willing to save this child, then I'll do my best too. If destruction is my end, survival yours, and salvation theirs, whatever gender this child will be, then swear on it, Helios. Swear on your name that you'll be there on the other side of this world waiting for me, for me to finally complete this family and to live happily."

Helios' eyes widened, shocked by her bravery. A soft smile crept onto his face, tinged with sadness and admiration. "Then, I'll proudly wed you off to brother," he said, reaching out to pat her head gently.

To be Continued...