24 AD

"What are you?"

Helix was tired of not knowing what was happening around him. It had been almost thirteen years since he'd learned that gods were real and anything but kind. Six since chance had pulled him into Sal's path, forever changing the course of his life. Yet, after all that time Helix still felt like he barely had a clue what was happening around him. That was going to end. If he was to survive, he had to learn as much information as he possibly could, starting with what type of being Cinix was.

Cinix quirked his eyebrows slightly, "I am
an Aos si."

"What the fuck is an aos si? And how come you can shift like me?"

"Like you?" He laughed, "I don't turn into an animal. In fact, one might say I am currently in my more animalistic form."

Helix found that comment somewhat offensive. Since when was being human animalistic?

"Which god made you then? Or are you one of those creatures from this place you mentioned earlier?"

It seemed it was Cinix's turn to be offended. His face contorted into a derisive frown, "Neither, I am from another place entirely."

"Another place?"

"Yes." Bending forward Cinix drew in the dirt on the ground. "Here is your world, the mortal human world. Layered, around, on top of, and through your world, is the Specter." He drew two stacked circles one slightly bigger than the other. "Inside the Specter is the Underworld and Elysium. The only well-known ways to either are through the doors in the Fate." He placed two more circles next to each other on the outside of the Specter circle, then he began drawing more circles, these ones not touching the others. "But there are quite a few other worlds out there. Some connected, some not. I am from one such world, Sidhe."

Helix watched him point to a circle, fascinated. "How did you get here then?"

"That is a long story." He leaned back against the wispy wall. "One I will save for another time."

Slightly disappointed, Helix asked a different question, "Are you and Hades a thing?"

"A thing?" Cinix's warm laughter echoed in the space, "If lovers of connivence and casual lust are a thing, then yes." His bright eyes took on a playful glint, "But if you are asking to ascertain if I would be open to a relationship with you, then no, Hades and I are not something you should be concerned about."

Helix choked on air. Coughing, he tried to regain some composure. That explained the strange flirtatious behavior earlier.

"I'm not-"

A piercing shriek just outside the cave caused both males to jerk to their feet.

"Pretas," Cinix whispered. "Do not let them touch you. Their touch is unbelievable pain."

Helix nodded his understanding, "We should get out before we are trapped in here."

Cinix shook his head, "No time."

The blanket over the entrance billowed in a gentle breeze then stilled as if frozen. Between the wall and the blanket a bone-thin hand slipped. Faintly glowing white fingers bent into claws and gripped the blanket.

"Shit."

Another unearthly shriek split the night as the preta ripped away the blanket. Its face was a malformed sinuous mess. White bone with bits of oozing red meat here and there. The eyes only added to its horrific features, thin slits alight with blue flame casting everywhere it turned its head in a pale blue glow.

Helix instinctively grabbed for a sword that wasn't there. Nona had insisted that he leave his weapons, stating that blades were not allowed into the Fate. Growling under his breath he crouched low, waiting. The preta hissed and shrieked reaching toward him.

Cinix's body shifted into the preta's way, changing form with the motion. The blond's ears elongated coming to a slight point. His back flexed and two wings of white flame extended out from his sides. His face, Helix knew had changed as well to include glowing eyes and a mouth full of sharp teeth. Cinix growled an entirely inhuman sound that reverberated through Helix's very bones. His instincts warred with him to back away from Cinix. The preta seemed similarly affected and stepped, or rather floated back seeming to re-think its plan of attack.

Regardless of the dreadful creatures indecision, its hesitation only lasted a brief moment. Mouth open the preta launched forward. It caught Cinix by a wing and bit down hard. The Aos Si flailed then kicked the creature free. Snarling he leaped to attack but paused, flying just above the ground. Helix heard it too. More shrieks fast approaching.

"We have to go." Fire erupted from Cinix's open palm surrounding the preta.

Helix nodded, following Cinix past the whimpering, ablaze creature.

"Keep going toward the void. I'll catch up." The aos si extended his flaming wings, with a powerful beat he launched into the air.

Spotting the distant black mist against the strange skyline Helix ran for it. A few times he glanced up in time to see the bright form of Cinix casting fireballs into the trees behind him. A close shriek made him curse and run faster. Breaking from the trees Helix saw the void, and between him and his escape, three pretas.

Thinking quick he decided he'd be faster in his wolf form. He wanted to fight but, Cinix's warning about their touch hung in his mind. Gritting his teeth against the pain he forced the shift. His clothes ripped, falling away in bloody tatters as his body shattered and reformed. The excruciating agony, to his relief, lasted only briefly.

As he started running again, Helix noticed the pretas floating quickly toward him. Their horrifying eyes though were fixed past him. Darting to the side, Helix's eyes widened as the pretas converged on the bloody heap of clothes. Looking up he let loose a howl. Cinix must have understood because a moment later he streaked across the sky diving for the void. The wolf spun and leaped through the dark.

*~*~*~*~*~*

The eerie glow of the town between the void wall and the dining room of Brews-A-Plenty greeted Helix. The wolf took a deep breath savoring the strange empty and blissfully quiet air. A moment later a warm musky scent enveloped him, as Cinix seemingly floated from the black wall to land gracefully on his feet beside Helix. His wings, teeth, and ears lacked their otherworldly attributes. Though his eyes were still bright. Straightening his shirt the blond grinned at the wolf.

"Nice move with that distraction."

"It was accidental."

Cinix shrugged, "No matter." His head tilted with a slight smile, "Seems she really likes you."

Turning his head, Helix saw Eslein running toward them. She was smiling, albeit with concern in her eyes. Dropping to a crouch she hugged him, wolf hair and all.

"What happened did you find Zeus? Are you okay?" Eslein's eyes darted between them.

"We're okay." Helix rumbled, "But I for one am hungry. Can we tell you about it over dinner? That is if Cinix is willing?"

Cinix chuckled, the sound light and amused. "Yes you are welcome to stay for dinner," he paused, eyes going to Helix's, "And for as long as you wish."

Helix dipped his head in acknowledgment. Noticing Eslein's suspicious look he shook out his coat and started walking toward the dining room. Right before they stepped through the open arching door, Helix paused, "I find myself in need of clothes. Seeing as mine served another purpose. Don't suppose you could help with that Cinix?"

He raised an eyebrow, expression mischievous, "But of course. If you will give us just a bit, Eslein sweetheart, we will return refreshed and more humanistic."

She looked inclined to argue so Helix quickly interjected before she could. "Thank you. I'm still not comfortable with the stares being a talking wolf earns me."

Eslein sighed and nodded, "Alright, I'll wait for you then." Her tone was boarding on sad.

The small party stepped into Brews-A-Plenty and immediately separated. Helix followed Cinix, while Eslein found a table in the dining room. There were a few glances their way, a few 'good evenings' from patrons who clearly knew Cinix quite well. The inn's owner nodded his acknowledgment as he continued through a door at the side of the room. After a short hall, they entered a room with a simple door. A quick glance around revealed that it wasn't just one room but was, in fact, an entire suit.

"If you stay a few days I will have my tailor come and make you something better fitting." Cinix continued on through a bedroom door to the left. When Helix did not follow he poked his head around the door frame, "The clothes are in here. Although, I do not have any shoes in your size."

Somewhat reluctant Helix walked forward. He was not sure where the Aos Si and he stood. The creature was weird, and entirely too comfortable in his own skin. "A tailor is not necessary. I can go get what I need in the morning."

The problem of clothes Helix realized was going to become an issue. They only had so much money left from emptying the dead soldier's pockets. He couldn't keep destroying his clothes or they would soon be destitute.

"Nonsense." Cinix pulled out a simple white roman tunic, black belt, and a dyed gold cape. "If you are going to be spending time in Eslein's company you should put some effort into your appearance. Besides, a king should avoid dressing below his station."

Helix tensed, "Is that why you are being so... accommodating."

"Decidedly not." Chuckling Cinix tossed the clothes on the bed, "I could care less what petty mortal titles you have. Or immortal ones for that matter."

"Then why?"

"Eslein likes you." He smirked, "And I like you. You are nice on the eyes."

Shifting his weight uncomfortably, Helix glanced at the clothes, "Thank you."

Cinix nodded then returned to his walk-in closet. His back to Helix he started stripping. Looking away Helix realized he had a problem. The shift inevitably left blood. He was still pondering the issue when Cinix stepped from the closet.

"Clothes not work?"

"They do." Helix explained the problem.

Grabbing the clothes Cinix opened another door, revealing an immaculate bath chamber. One that was decidedly not roman in design. After setting the clothes on the counter next to a wash bowl, Cinix grinned, "Its easy enough to clean up in here. One of my servants will see to that when you are done. I'll go find Eslein."

Once alone, Helix forced the shift, trying to keep as still as possible to limit the mess. To his relief, it seemed to help. Only a small circle of fine blood drops coated the floor around where he stood. Grabbing a clean cloth from next to the wash bowl he wiped the blood from his skin before donning the clothes. Satisfied that he was decent Helix made his way back to the dining room.

The witch and aos si were sitting at a table on the far side of the room, Eslein's eyes flickered in surprise when she spotted him, leaning toward Cinix she whispered something that made him chuckle and shrug. She looked mildly irritated but her expression brightened as Helix reached them. Sliding into a chair he grinned at her. Then, deciding to make a point, he leaned forward and kissed Eslein. Her breath caught in surprise before wholeheartedly returned the kiss.

The moment stretched until Cinix cleared his throat. "Not that I mind if you two want to eat each other, but Alto cannot set our food down with you blocking the table.

Eslein drew back, blushing as she noticed the waiter holding a platter trying hard not to look at her or Helix. The other patrons were also strangely quiet, finding their plates or tables of utmost intrigue.

"Sorry," she muttered.

Helix leaned back in his chair glancing at Cinix. The blonde's expression was amused. Noticing his look, Cinix quirked an eyebrow.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Authors Note: Please do not forget to vote if you enjoyed this chapter!

Dedicated to @Elosky4groove ;)