Helios

Chapter 2

Weeks had slipped by in a blur, but the image of him lingered—Helios. His face was a persistent specter, haunting me with its unsettling intensity. Those green eyes, piercing and enigmatic, seemed to follow me wherever I went. His neatly styled hair, so precise and almost too perfect, was an affront to the chaos I felt inside. No matter how hard I tried to push him from my thoughts, his presence remained stubbornly vivid, gnawing at my sanity.

It was like trying to grasp a fleeting dream. Every time I closed my eyes, flashes of him surged to the forefront of my mind—his face, his eyes, the smell of rain-soaked earth lingering in the background. It was maddening, this disconcerting blend of attraction and danger that clung to me. I should have been able to dismiss it, to ignore it as I did with other unsettling thoughts. But his image persisted, wrapping around my thoughts like an unyielding vine.

Focusing on my duties had become a monumental struggle. The council had been on high alert, their anxiety palpable. Helios's name had been a constant topic of discussion, their fear of potential attacks turning their usual efficiency into frantic activity. It was as if Helios had vanished from the face of the earth, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions and growing dread. Every report that came in, every tip and rumor, ended in frustration. He seemed to have slipped through their fingers once again, disappearing without a trace.

As I stepped onto the balcony of my quarters, the cool night air did little to clear the fog in my mind. I absently twirled the ring on my finger, a nervous habit that had become a constant companion. Helios's name whispered through my thoughts like a haunting refrain.

I closed my eyes, desperate to banish the intrusive memories. But they clung to me with a maddening tenacity. His presence felt warm, intoxicating, yet disturbingly unfamiliar. I couldn't grasp why his memory had such a potent hold over me.

Reluctantly, I moved back inside, knowing I had a meeting with the council. Their patience was thin, and I needed to maintain my composure. The thought of their disapproval quickened my pace, but the name Helios was an incessant murmur in the back of my mind. It wasn't just fear that kept him there; there was an undeniable pull, an inexplicable connection that made no sense.

As I walked down the hallway, my mind drifted back to him. It wasn't the first time I'd woken up in the dead of night, heart racing as if I had just escaped from something—or someone. Who was he? Why was his name so familiar, yet so alien?

I reached the council chambers and pushed open the door, stepping into the usual mix of political tension and secrecy. Herald was already there, his eyes narrowing as he saw me.

"You're late," he observed, though his tone lacked malice.

I waved it off with a half-hearted shrug. "Traffic."

Herald's gaze lingered on me, his perceptiveness unsettling. He always seemed to sense when something was wrong, which unnerved me more than I cared to admit.

The council began their briefing, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Helios. I clenched my fists under the table, frustration boiling beneath the surface. I struggled to focus, but every time I closed my eyes, his dark green eyes seemed to stare back at me, filling me with a disquieting sense of unease.

"Naomi," Herald's voice cut through my reverie. I blinked, realizing that the council was watching me expectantly.

"Yes, sorry. What was that?" I asked quickly, trying to mask my distraction.

"Are you all right?" Herald's concern was evident. "You've been distracted lately."

I forced a smile, though it felt tight and unconvincing. "I'm fine. Just...tired."