24 AD

Dinner was an unusual affair. Cinix's continued, somewhat vindictive, flirtatiousness drove Helix to distraction as much as Eslein did. To counteract his lack of focus Helix tried his hardest to keep the conversation limited to what had happened in the Specter.

"If you will both excuse me. I am going turn in for the night." Taking the last bite of his food, Helix rose. He was exhausted and the mental acrobatics required to stay sitting at the table were not appealing.

Eslein's face was a mask of concern. Flashing her a small, tired smile, Helix went upstairs, relieved as the door clicked behind him. Tonight he would rest. Tomorrow was soon enough to sort through what he had learned. Soon enough to digest Cinix and his oddities. Soon enough to figure out what to do about Eslein. Blowing out the lamp, he climbed under the threadbare blanket, not caring about the squeak of the old bed. 

A few moments later he tensed as the halls dim light flashed across his face. The door opened allowing Eslein to slip in. Recognizing her, Helix relaxed. She crossed to the bed. For a moment she stood silently in the darkness as if contemplating what she should do.

"It is alright." Helix murmured. "I will stay to my side."

Eslein kicked off her shoes, sliding in next to him. "I cannot promise I will."

Her gentle tone made him smile in the darkness. "As long as you are comfortable." Although the room was nearly pitch black, the only light coming from a crack under the door, Helix's enhanced wolf vision made everything clear as day.

She smiled, her eyes looking into his as she scooted closer. "How do you do that?"

"What?"

"Your eyes are glowing."

Helix blinked, a flush spreading along his face and neck, "I didn't know."

"I like it."

Warmth spread through him at her compliment. Moving carefully so as not to jostle her, he slid his arms around her. Eslein curled into him seemingly content. A few moments later both were sound asleep.

*~*~*~*~*~*

The next morning Helix sat on a rock in front of the inn. The sun was rising, painting the sky in gold and red. Storm colors. Helix knew the sky would likely darken by midday, his days as a sailor giving him a decent affinity for predicting the weather. Letting his thoughts chase each other he closed his eyes.

With everything he had learned in the Specter, he now knew he could kill Zeus or at the very least send him to the underworld, for surely a killer of innocents, god or no would not make it into Elysium? Helix was not sure and had not asked how a souls fate was decided. Perhaps Cinix could answer that. If Zeus did go to the underworld, Hades would no doubt keep him there. Even among mortals, the brother's rivalry was legendary. But if he went to Elysium? Surely there had to be a way to destroy Zeus so he could never again walk in the world? 

Then there was Eslein. What would happen to her if he brought her along in his hunt for vengeance? She was a witch, yes, but she was also mortal. Helix did not want to think about what her death would mean to him. Even though he was not sure where they stood together, he was growing attached.

"Nice morning." Cinix's somewhat unwelcome voice broke into Helix's musing.

"Storm is coming."

The blonde glanced at the mostly clear sky but did not question his words. "What is our plan then?"

Helix opened his eyes, head tilting to study the other male. "Our?"

For the first time since they had met Cinix looked unsure, "I would like to help you with Zeus and Decuma."

"Why?"

The aos si stiffened, looking at the sliver of rising sun. Biting his lip the creature narrowed his eyes. "Old scores."

"That is not an answer." Helix's tone surprised even himself. It was commanding and sharp. "I appreciate your help so far. But, I still am not certain I want to become whatever it is you are after."

Cinix glanced at him then, "Oh, believe me, I know you do not share my interest. But does that mean we cannot be friends or at least partners in a collective cause? I want Decuma gone, and I have no love for Zeus. Let me help you kill them. You might be powerful enough to kill a god and maybe even the seer, but they will have others you have to get through first. Zeus has his own army. Decuma controls the majority of witches. Can you get through armies and an unknown number of witches alone?"

"Just because I do not trust you, does not make me alone."

His answering snort was vicious, "Eslein Rey? She is amazing, to be sure, but she can't stop Zeus's army or the rest of her kindred either."

Helix looked away, watching as citizens began to steadily filter out into the streets. Of course, Cinix was right. He already knew or thought he knew most of Eslein's limits. Still, accepting Cinix's help bothered him. The creature was powerful, smart, and still sent his instincts into a tizzy. Every time he was near Cinix his body told him to flee or cower before a power stronger than himself. Helix hated that feeling. All that aside, he had a point. If he had any hope of defeating Zeus and Sal, he needed allies. A lot of allies. Slowly a plan started to form.

"If you answer me one question, truthfully, I will tell you the start of my idea?"

Cinix considered his eyes narrowed, "Remember that you need me. Not the reverse."

It was Helix's turn to snort, "If you do not need my help then by all means, go back to whatever it is you were doing before I arrived. Even I know killing a god is not easy, and something tells me, if you could do it alone you already would have."

"Fair enough." Cinix straightened his shirt collar.  "What is the question?"

A sensation flickered in the air. It only lasted a heartbeat, but Helix knew that however bargains with immortals worked, he had just made one. "What do you stand to gain if I succeed in killing both Zeus and Decuma?"

The aos si did not hesitate, anger flashing in his hazel gaze, "When I first passed into this world, Decuma took a part of my power and gave it to another. I want it back. If she truly dies all of her machinations and agreements are broken. As for Zeus, he is simply an ass this world could do without. My dislike of him is mostly on Hades, and now your behalf."

"What power did she take?"

Cinix flashed his sharp-toothed grin, "Ah ah. One question. I answered you. Your turn. What are you planning?"

"Do you know where I could find a large group of individuals that hate Zeus and would be willing, or dumb enough to want to join us?"

"I can find you many that hate Zeus. None of them stupid enough to want to fight him. What does that-"

Helix interrupted, "If Zeus has an army then we need one too. You are right, I cannot fight an army alone. Nor do I think just the three of us will have much success with that."

"Even if we had the bodies, Zeus can wipe out legions at a time with his power, and we can't match that. Let alone the witches abilities against mortals. We need to assassinate them from the shadows. Bypass the armies entirely. It is the only way."

"Have you ever snuck up on a coiled serpent, Cinix?" Helix's tone was thoughtful.

"No?"

"Me either. I would go so far as to say it cannot be done."

"What is your point?"

"Whatever else she may be, Decuma is most certainly a snake. She won't be taken unawares again.  Especially after whatever Nona did to her in the Fate. And Zeus, even if we did manage to get close to him he to will be waiting for me. They know I am coming. They know you are with me. Whatever chance of surprise there might once have been, vanished when I forced the snakes to coil."

Cinix seemed to see his point, "Even so, there is no way to get enough soldiers to stand a chance against them in open war. Not to mention the horror that will unleash on this world. At least not without playing the long game. Which, I am willing to wait the years it would take if that is what you want?"

"It can't take years." Helix snapped, resolute, "I need five hundred people. Humans. Men or women doesn't matter. We can find the most desperate of the desperate if need be."

Now the other male truly did look bewildered. "Five hundred? You do not even know how many they have? More than five hundred to be sure."

Helix stood then, shoulders back, the posture of the warrior he had been trained to be. "Five hundred. Can you find me that many?"

"Yes, but how does that help?" Cinix's tone sharpened in anger and frustration.

Grinning in answer, Helix let his own glint of his own mischievousness show, "The deal was the start of my idea. I gave you that. I guess you will just have to trust me."

With that, he walked back into the inn. He felt Cinix's eyes on him until the door closed between them. Even at this time of day, Brews-A-Plenty was busy with patrons eating breakfast and the strange folks that lived in the rift town coming and going. Taking the stairs two at a time he went back to the small room Eslein and him shared. She was sitting up in bed, hair disheveled, but bright-eyed as he entered. She was gorgeous.

"Good morning." Helix bounced onto the bed, kneeling in the covers beside her. Taking her face gently in his hands he kissed her. Not the gentle, slow kind of kiss either. No, this kiss Helix owned. He took her mouth as if he were drowning and his only hope lay in kissing her. Eslein gasped against him, her body going tense then melting into him with a gratifying moan. She returned the kiss, opening her mouth to him as his tongue played with her lips. With no small degree of disappointment, Helix pulled away in need of air.

Eslein's breath came in quiet gasps as she stared at him, blue eyes dancing,  "Someone is feeling full of themselves this morning."

"Oh? Here I thought I was getting my fill of you?"

Her eyes widened at his horrible quip, then she laughed, "Who are you and what did you do with Helix?"

Smiling back at her he shrugged, "What would you think about a trip back to Aquileia?"

Eslein sobered immediately, "Why?"

"I have need of some of my friends there." Helix took her hand gently in his. "If you would rather not come I completely understand."

After thinking for a moment, Eslein shook her head, "I will come with you. I just, do not see what good will come of it. Surely they will think you a deserter and me... well you saw how well I did there before."

"Yes, well... I think we need to fix a few things on the way." Helix was well aware that he was still speaking Greek, and she was still speaking her language. Although he could understand her and her him, it was undoubtedly odd for anyone listening in. Cinix spoke both languages and often switched between them when speaking to either him or Eslein. He had not asked about the strange phenomena. Just as well, Helix intended to make a change.

"Fix? Fix what?"

"For starters, I want you to teach me your tongue while we travel and I will help you speak Greek." She made a face, but let him continue. "And we will both change our looks up so as not to be so easily recognized."

She raised an eyebrow, "Not sure how I feel about you fixing me."

"Never!" Helix smiled warmly at her, "You are perfect just the way you are. Of course, everyone noticed how amazing you were so unless you hide some of that perfection we will probably be caught and killed. Or worse."

She laughed at his light tone mixed with such grave words. "Fine, fine. I guess you have a point."

Helix slid off the bed, "I will go get us breakfast then we can make the arrangements."

"Okay. Helix?"

"Hmm?" He turned slightly, his hand on the door.

"Thank you for coming back."

Helix met her eyes, warmth spreading through him. "I made you a promise, and I always keep my word."

*~*~*~*~*~*

Authors Note: You know the drill. If you like it please vote!

Hope you are paying attention, those little details are stacking up for later... revelations.

This chapter is dedicated to the one and only, truly amazing Ol1vvy Get on over and check out her newest story Sugar and Spice!