Penelope had shown up in their room at the crack of dawn and had unceremoniously dragged both Helios and Dante out of bed. Normally, Dante was an early riser, but since they were on vacation, he had allowed himself a bit of rest and wasn't taking his training quite as seriously as usual.
That didn't mean he wasn't going to train—just that he'd do it later.
"Heli! Come on, get up! I thought you wanted to leave today so you'd have more time for your 'oh-so-secret' mission!" Penelope shouted, loud enough to wake the dead.
All she got in return was a grumpy groan.
Dante sat up in bed, stretched, and let out a long yawn. The soft mattress was a welcome change from the camp bed he was currently using at the Vale residence. For the first time in weeks, he actually felt rested.
He blinked and looked over at Penelope standing beside the bed—only she didn't quite look like herself. Or rather, she looked too much like someone else. Dante rubbed his eyes and stared at the beautiful woman who had transformed herself into a rather handsome man. A taller version of Helios, given that Penelope was a few centimeters taller than him.
Dante stared, blinked again. "What the…?" He shook his head. "Penelope?"
She grinned triumphantly. "Impressed, huh?"
"How the hell did you hide your figure like that?" he asked, shaking his head in disbelief. "And the wig... the eyes... that's ridiculously convincing."
"Thanks." She winked. "Took a little time, but honestly—not much of a challenge. The real challenge will be turning Helios into a believable version of me."
If you looked closely, the only real difference between the two were the eyes. Penelope wore green contacts that were similar in shade to Helios', but they lacked that special gleam, that emerald glow his naturally had.
"Wow, you did a damn good job," Dante said admiringly.
"…Shut up… you're too loud…," Helios mumbled from under the covers.
Penelope rolled her eyes and yanked his blanket away without mercy. "Who was it yesterday that begged me to wake him early? Don't think I'm going to go easy on you!"
"Hey!" Helios grumbled, grabbing Dante's blanket instead and curling himself up like a grumpy burrito. He shot her a sleepy glare. "It's seven in the morning! How can you be this annoying already?!"
Penelope laughed. "You're really not a morning person, my little sunshine."
Helios huffed. "Maybe I'd get up easier if every part of me didn't ache from that damn shopping trip yesterday!"
"Oh come on! That was in the morning! And afterward we relaxed here!"
"If by 'relaxed' you mean the part where you started ranting about those irrelevant side characters from high society again—then no, that didn't count."
"You were reading!"
"Yeah, because I hoped you'd shut up for five minutes after I hauled your crap around."
Penelope snorted. "Most of it was carried by Dante and Leo."
Helios rolled his eyes and grabbed his glasses from the nightstand, finally sitting up on the edge of the bed. It was honestly a surreal sight—two Helios arguing with each other. Since Penelope's voice was naturally deeper than the average woman's, they didn't sound identical, but pretty close. Or maybe Dante just wasn't fully awake yet.
"I feel bad for Leo if he has to put up with this all the time," Helios yawned.
"Leo deserves a medal," he added under his breath. "If he deals with you regularly."
"Leo is the best bodyguard I've ever had."
"Yeah, because the guy would do anything for you."
"Why are you so grumpy today?"
"Are you even listening to me?"
"Come on, Heli. We actually had a nice day together!"
Helios gave her an amused look. "If that's your idea of fun, then I'm glad we won't see each other again until I'm back from the trip."
"You're impossible, Heli! Now come on, get up before your coffee gets cold," said Penelope as she offered him her hand. Helios took it and let his childhood friend pull him to his feet.
"You brought coffee?"
"Of course." Her expression softened. "I'm your best friend, after all. I know exactly what a grumpy morning mess like you needs to function."
"That's the least you could do after barging into my room at the crack of dawn. Ever heard of privacy?" Helios wrapped his arms around himself in mock horror. "What will people say when they hear a woman just stormed into my room unannounced? My reputation will be in ruins!"
"Your reputation as the untouchable bachelor who's never let anyone get close?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
"You mispronounced 'aloof.'"
"How could I possibly forget?" Penelope laughed. "Maybe I should be more worried that my fiancé might find out about your little visit here at my home."
"That would just play right into your hands," Helios replied dryly. He took a sip of coffee and pulled off his sleep shirt. The morning sun touched his pale skin, bathing him in a warm, reddish glow that made his green eyes shine even brighter. The raised ridges of his scar were clearly visible. "Let's get this over with."
"Take a seat, Lady Sinclair. Time for another glorious day of beauty," Penelope said with a smirk.
Helios obediently sat down— legs crossed - probably just glad to rest again for a moment.
"Sometimes you say really creepy things," Helios muttered.
Penelope didn't respond. Instead, she focused on her task. She clipped the last few stubborn strands of hair out of his face, secured them with small hairpins, and gently removed his glasses. Her eyes scanned his features critically before she began applying makeup. Every contour had to be just right.
Dante, who had been watching the scene in silence, shook his head to himself and took the opportunity to begin his workout. He still couldn't believe that Helios had actually agreed to let Penelope dress him up as a woman. He understood the logic behind it—Penelope impersonating Helios to sneak around and gather intel on the laboratory, research facility, or whatever that hidden place was supposed to be.
But why would he agree to dress like a woman?
Dante began with squats.
"By the way," he said casually, "you once asked me to keep an ear out for what Wallace and his merry men are up to."
Helios raised an eyebrow with interest. "I'm listening. It's been a while since I've heard anything about them."
"Hold still, or I'll mess this up," Penelope scolded, brushing delicately over his cheek. "Anyway, it looks like they're starting to make moves."
"Which means?"
"Good question. I'm no detective, so I've no idea what exactly they're planning," she sighed. "But I heard they're preparing something that's meant to seriously hurt your father."
Helios chuckled.
"Stop moving!" Penelope snapped.
"There's not much they can do to really upset him," Helios said, still smiling. "He recently closed a major deal. Maybe they want to sabotage it. Or they're trying to build a rival empire and split the market—but I doubt they'll succeed. Aside from that, only personal attacks remain, and honestly, there's not much my father truly cares about."
"That's true. Who knows what they're really up to," Penelope muttered. "Do you think he's behind the attacks on you?"
Helios shook his head firmly. "No. There's been no sign pointing to him or his men. I had him investigated after the last incident—once I was well enough."
"Then who was it?"
"Good question. Whoever it is—they're damn good at staying hidden."
"Be careful, Heli. You've only got Dante with you."
Helios waved her off. "That guy's worth ten bodyguards. We'll be fine."
Dante's pace slowed for just a moment when he heard that. A warm feeling spread through his chest. Praise from Helios—especially in front of others—was rare and deeply meaningful. Without missing a beat, he transitioned from squats to sit-ups.
The likelihood of another attack on Helios was high. Dante had to be on constant alert during this trip. He was the only line of defense—and if enemies came at them in numbers, it would be far too easy for them to strike.
He could probably handle two or three attackers at once. More than that would be difficult. Extremely difficult.
He had to stay vigilant. If things got too dangerous, fleeing would be the only option. Helios couldn't fight—not physically. All he had were his chemical compounds and probably an entire arsenal of poison-filled syringes. But whether he could actually use them in a direct confrontation without the element of surprise was doubtful.
As Dante silently continued his exercises, he listened to the familiar bickering between Helios and Penelope. At some point, he couldn't help but smile. It was refreshing to see Helios like this.
After Davis' death, he had withdrawn into himself. Even though he tried to act normal, Dante had seen how guarded and distant he had become. Only Penelope seemed to be able to make him laugh again—really laugh. And despite all his complaining, Dante knew Helios had enjoyed the last two days.
They'd even had a quiet conversation the night before. Though Helios had been visibly tired, he had mentioned how good it felt to see Penelope again.
Dante finished his workout and headed for the bathroom to shower. He figured the two of them deserved a bit more time to talk alone. After all, there wouldn't be many more chances like this.
So he took his time.
___
When Dante came out of the bathroom, he was met with a sight that made him stop in his tracks: Penelope was in the middle of helping Helios into the dress she had picked out for him the day before.
"Good thing I had a spare corset," she said as she tightened the laces. The soft creaking of the fabric echoed through the room.
"Why the hell do you women willingly squeeze yourselves into these torture devices?" Helios gasped, bracing himself against the dresser. "Can't I just skip this thing? Why all the damn effort?"
"Be glad you're allowed to keep your underwear on," Penelope replied calmly. "The corset's necessary. If you're going to impersonate me, do it properly. The height difference is noticeable enough—we at least need to make the cut convincing."
"Then don't lace it so tight," he wheezed. "I can barely breathe."
"Alright, alright, I'll loosen it a bit," she said, showing a little mercy. "How are the contacts? Can you see alright?"
Helios blinked a few times at his reflection in the mirror. "They're fine. Not quite my prescription, but good enough not to walk into a wall."
"Then wear your glasses if you need to. I'll allow it," she smirked. "Better that than you throwing up in public."
"This might actually be the worst thing you've ever made me do."
"You didn't mind when we were kids," Penelope said, amused.
"That's because we had a similar body type back then," Helios muttered.
"Endure it like a man," she teased. "You're making me dress as you for an entire week."
"Pretty sure dressing up as me is the easier task."
"Says the one who doesn't have to bind his chest."
Penelope zipped up the floor-length, dark green dress and placed a long black wig on Helios' head. With practiced fingers, she secured it tightly so it wouldn't slip, no matter the wind or movement.
"Can I at least wear a coat?" Helios asked, clinging to the last shred of his dignity.
"I'll lend you one of mine," Penelope replied generously.
"At least there's that."
She took a step back, gave him a critical once-over—and cursed.
"You little bastard... Why do you look so good in that?!"
Helios shrugged. "Because I'm good-looking? There's a reason I get so many marriage proposals."
"All the more strange you've never even considered fooling around with any of those ladies."
Helios snorted. "You mean those giggling perfume-drenched airheads? You know exactly what I think of them."
Penelope rolled her eyes. "God, you're so dominant, Heli. Maybe a sweet, handsome gentleman would suit you better…"
Helios raised a hand to stop her. "Okay, that's enough."
"It's about time you started thinking about settling down. You know the clock won't stop ticking."
"I'm well aware. But coming from you, I really don't want to hear it, Penny," Helios replied as he slipped on the shoes that went with the dress. He stood up—only to stumble immediately. "Nope. Not happening. Get me some flats."
Penelope sighed and handed him a pair of flat shoes. "Shame. We would've been almost the same height. But I can't risk rumors spreading about me because of you."
Dante had seen enough. Helios still had his back turned to him, but even from that angle, he could've passed as a woman. Dante pulled his shirt over his head, tied his shoes, and discreetly tucked a few hidden blades into place. Then he gathered up Helios' clothes and tossed everything they didn't need onto the bed.
"I'm sorry, Heli. Don't be mad," Penelope said softly. "I just worry about you. I think you need someone by your side—someone who can cook, and who actually cares about your health."
"I have Thomas. And my guards."
"Thomas won't be around forever," she said quietly.
"Thomas promised me recently that he'll only leave once my father and I are dead. So he still has a few years left in him."
Penelope sighed and shook her head. "Whatever. You're ready now. I'll grab you a coat and then we can leave. At least let's have breakfast together in the city before you two head off?"
"Fine by me."
A soft smile crept onto Penelope's face. "You look really pretty, Heli. That was actually fun." She gently brushed a lock of the wig hair behind his ear. "It's a real shame we're not siblings by blood. We would've had a beautiful childhood together."
Helios took her hand. "What we have is more than most families ever manage, Penny. The years we've shared have always been good. I cherish every single moment," he said sincerely. Then he sighed. "Even if you are forcing me into this."
"You're a masterpiece," she said, smiling fondly. Then she turned to Dante. "So? What do you think of his disguise?"
Dante had been quietly packing and listening to their conversation. Where else was he supposed to go? Back to the bathroom? Wander the Sinclair estate alone? He had to stay by Helios' side—whether he liked it or not. At this point, there weren't many options for separating from him. Besides, he got uneasy when Helios wasn't nearby.
He was always afraid that something might happen to the man who promised healing.
Dante placed the shirt he'd been holding into the travel bag and turned toward the other two. Penelope was grinning at Helios and made an encouraging gesture.
"Come on! Turn around!"
Helios snorted and finally turned to face Dante. Dante gave him a critical once-over. There was no denying it—he looked good. It was strange, though, seeing him with storm-gray eyes instead of his usual emerald green. Other than that, he looked like a shrunken version of Penelope—just not quite as well-endowed in certain areas.
After all, Helios had a very slim, narrow frame. Penelope, on the other hand, had a sinfully feminine figure—one Dante had admired more than once. That aside...
"What?" Helios asked irritably.
"Nothing. You look cute," Dante said honestly. "Though honestly, you look more like Penelope's little sister than Penelope herself."
Penelope burst into loud laughter. "Don't worry, the coat will hide most of it."
"What? Just cute?" Helios asked in mock shock.
He suddenly struck a different expression—one he would never normally make—and for a brief moment, Dante's heart skipped a beat. That look, that flutter of his eyelashes… had he ever looked at Davis like that? Either way, it was so unexpectedly sensual that Dante had to look away.
This wasn't right. His cheeks burned.
Dante cleared his throat. "Better—but if you don't want to get picked up by strangers, maybe don't look at people like that."
"He just admitted I'm sexy, didn't he?" Helios asked.
"He did," Penelope confirmed, beaming. "Ha! I've still got it! Wait here—I'm getting the coat!"
With that, she left the room—leaving the two men alone.
Helios walked over to his suitcase, opened a side compartment, and began carefully inspecting small vials and containers. He mixed two substances, drew the liquid into a syringe, and set it aside. Dante watched him from the corner of his eye while folding the rest of their clothes.
"Poison?" he asked casually.
"We can't afford to move forward unprepared," Helios said as he filled another syringe. "And I feel better knowing I've got something on hand to defend myself. Who knows what's coming our way? I'm not even sure I packed enough of everything. Basic supplies I can restock easily, but poison… that's trickier."
He sighed, then looked over at Dante.
"Once we're out of the city, help me out of this damn corset. My organs already feel like they're trying to climb out through my throat."
"Penelope never does anything halfway."
"Never. That's one of the reasons I love her. Though right now—I could strangle her."
Dante chuckled. "Didn't think you'd actually go through with it."
"I don't joke about things like this. She agreed to dress up as me, after all. Still, women's clothing really isn't my thing. Seriously, Dante—there's no way I'm getting out of this crap without help," he said, a touch of desperation in his voice.
Dante couldn't help but smile at him. "Don't worry, I'll help you out of it later. Just say the word if it gets too much."
"I will," Helios replied. Then a grin crept across his face—one that could only be described as devilish. "Until then, I'm going to play my role perfectly."
Together, they finished packing the bags.
"I've got the coat!" Penelope announced as she reentered the room. She held something else up, too—a camera. "And look what I found!"
Helios raised an eyebrow. "You think that old thing still works?"
"Sure does! It's got fresh film in it. Let's just give it a try!" she said excitedly.
Helios gave her a reluctant smile. "You better not use those photos to blackmail me later."
"Never! They're just for us," she replied sweetly. "Come on! Get over here! You too, Dante!"
"She's definitely going to use those photos one day to make me do something I don't want to," Helios muttered to Dante.
Dante watched as Helios walked over to his best friend and let her take a photo of the two of them together. He pretended to be annoyed—but he hadn't looked that happy in days.
___
By afternoon, they were on their way to the next town. They had rented a car, which Dante was driving. Originally, they had planned to travel by public transport, but since Helios was still dressed as a woman, they had attracted far too many stares.
Helios had fully embraced his role as Penelope, but Dante had more than once noticed his hand slipping into the coat pocket where he kept the poison syringes. So, before Helios did something they would both regret, Dante had suggested they rent a car.
Traveling with Helios in women's clothing was... strange. On one hand, he looked like a completely different person in disguise, and Dante wasn't too worried about anyone recognizing or targeting them. On the other hand, seeing Helios like this was disconcerting.
Yes, he really did resemble Penelope—a smaller, more androgynous version. But his voice was still unmistakably his own, and Dante couldn't help but picture the brilliant, bespectacled, messy-haired man behind it.
In any case, it was unusual.
Even more unusual was watching Helios flirt with strangers. Despite his complaints about the disguise, he seemed to enjoy not having to be Helios Vale for a day. To Dante's relief, it remained nothing more than playful winks and subtle gestures—like tucking a strand of hair behind his ear, casting down his eyes shyly, or adding a bit more sway to his walk.
He was clearly having fun with the act. Helios had even admitted he hoped his disguise would spark some nasty little rumor he could use to tease Penelope later.
Dante had cringed at every move.
It just didn't feel right. Necessary, maybe—but not right.
He followed the signs toward the next town. Fortunately, thanks to his past as a soldier and later as a mercenary, he was fairly familiar with the area. Some of the roads had changed, but for the most part, they didn't need to stop often to check their route.
Every so often, he glanced over at Helios, who was slumped slightly in his seat.
"You okay? I can pull over so you can loosen the corset," Dante offered with concern.
Helios shook his head. "It's not much farther, right? I can tough it out a few more minutes," he replied, clearly exhausted. "How do women wear this thing? It's ridiculous. Who thought it was a good idea to wear something that restricts your every movement?"
"They do it to look pretty," Dante guessed.
"Most of them don't even need this kind of thing," Helios grumbled. "Penny sure doesn't." He sighed as he sank deeper into the seat. "Still... these past two days were really nice. I'm looking forward to seeing her again."
"You two act more like siblings than most people who are actually related by blood," Dante remarked as they passed the city limits.
"It's not a lie when I say I'd do anything for Penny. No one matters more to me than she does. She's the only one left who really means something to me," Helios replied, and there was a faint sadness in his voice.
"We'll stop by again on the way back, right?"
Helios nodded. "Yeah. I want to see her one more time before we throw ourselves back into research. If we find anything in Soley, I'll be buried in work."
"Thanks for doing this. I'd be completely lost without you," Dante said quietly.
Helios waved him off. "Stop that. I want to do this. Don't get me wrong. It's just... it's been so long since I had a couple of quiet days with Penny. I missed joking around with her—without nosy ears listening in."
Dante knew exactly how driven Helios was to uncover the secret of his immortality. He had experimented and researched so intensely over the past week that Dante had lost track of everything he'd done.
"By the way," Helios said after a pause, "I want to buy a rat—or something like that—on the way to Soley."
"A rat?" Dante blinked.
"I haven't tested the prototype yet. Out here, we can experiment without people asking too many stupid questions. Well, except maybe why two travelers are taking a rat into their motel room."
"You want to test the serum on a rat?"
"Who else? I could test it on myself, but if you kill me afterward and the serum doesn't work... well, that's that."
"Fair enough. Where do you plan to get one?"
"There's gotta be a pet store somewhere in town. I'm not chasing after some street rat. Too much effort. We'll go after we've slept. We've still got a long journey ahead."
Dante pulled the car into a small motel parking lot. It wasn't quite what he had imagined when Helios said he'd handled the accommodations.
"Is this the right place?" he asked, doubtful. "Or did I take a wrong turn?"
Helios was already getting out. "No, this is it. Perfect for our undercover trip, don't you think?" he said cheerfully. "Grab the bags, I'll get the key."
With that, he headed off to the reception desk. Dante got out as well. His first instinct was to check the surroundings. Old habits died hard. Once he was sure nothing seemed out of place, he went to the trunk and retrieved their luggage—just one travel bag and Helios's medical case.
As he locked the car, Helios came back over, waving the key in one hand and nodding toward the stairs. He looked oddly excited. Maybe it really was his first real vacation.
Dante joined him, and they climbed the stairs together to reach their room. As soon as they were inside, Helios kicked off his shoes, closed all the windows, and pulled off the wig.
His messy hair was still pinned down with clips. While Dante took off his shoes, Helios began removing the pins one by one. Then he ran a hand through his hair and quickly wiped off his makeup with the remover Penelope had given him. Finally, he turned toward Dante.
"Come on, help me out of this thing," he said.
So Dante did exactly that. He unzipped the long back seam of the dress while Helios slipped off the straps and let the padding for his nonexistent chest fall to the floor. Then Dante loosened the corset, which earned a relieved moan from Helios.
His skin was flushed red, and the corset had left pressure marks all over his torso. It looked painfully uncomfortable. Dante wondered if it hurt—especially around the area where Helios had taken a bullet.
God, he really was just less—less mass, less bulk—compared to Dante, at least physically. Dante liked the pale white of his skin, but he couldn't help wondering what Helios might look like with a sun-kissed tan.
Probably wouldn't suit him at all. Or he'd just burn instantly in the sun. Dante nearly smirked at the thought.
His shoulders were so narrow he looked almost fragile. He liked Helios's delicate frame. It was the complete opposite of his own—and it made Dante want to protect him. No matter how sharp his tongue was or how often he annoyed him.
It wasn't until Helios spoke that Dante realized he'd reached a hand toward him. He didn't even know why or what he had been thinking. He quickly pulled it back.
"Finally…" Helios breathed, rubbing his sore back. He rolled his neck, then glanced over his shoulder at Dante. His striking green eyes locked onto him—and for a split second, Dante felt like his heart skipped a beat.
What the hell is wrong with me? Why am I reacting like this… to Helios?
"If you don't mind, I'll shower first."
Dante cleared his throat and quickly looked away. All of a sudden, he felt like he'd done something inappropriate. Seeing Helios standing there in nothing but his underwear had stirred something in him he couldn't quite explain.
"Go ahead," he said finally, his voice a bit rough.
"Thanks."
Helios gathered up his clothes and disappeared into the bathroom, leaving the mess behind exactly as it had fallen.
Dante sighed. At the moment, he felt more like Helios's personal maid than his bodyguard. Before he knew it, he was already bending down to pick up the discarded items. At least this was a welcome distraction. The sound of running water echoed from the bathroom.
Once everything was neatly folded, Dante placed the wig on top of the outfit. Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to keep the disguise. It had made Helios look like a completely different person. If they ever got into trouble, he could always disguise himself as Penelope again.
It might make escaping—or avoiding conflict—easier. Whatever they ended up doing, one thing was clear: getting caught was not an option.
He changed clothes, grabbed the map they had picked up in town, and tried to retrace the locations where he had once been stationed, using the topography as reference. It didn't take long before he had marked the most important points he could still remember.
But all of those spots now lay in densely developed areas.
None of them were places you could hide a mass grave.
"What are you doing?" Helios asked as he came back into the room.
He was toweling off his hair and dressed once again in his usual clothes.
"I marked the key locations—at least the ones I can remember."
Helios climbed onto the bed next to him and took the map.
"It's a fairly recent map. A lot must've changed in the last ten years, right?"
"I think so. Some places have grown, and a few villages apparently weren't rebuilt."
Helios thoughtfully traced his finger along the marks Dante had made.
"There's a library in Soley," he said. "If we're lucky, they might have old maps we can compare with this area."
"That's actually a really good idea," Dante said, surprised.
Why didn't I think of that?
Helios folded the map, popped his usual sleeping pills, and turned on his side—facing away from Dante.
"What do you want to do with the disguise?"
"Nothing. We can just leave it here and throw it out."
"Should we at least take the wig with us? It could be useful as a quick disguise in an emergency," Dante said, finally voicing the thought he'd had earlier.
"Sure. It doesn't take up much space. The rest is just dead weight. Penny will understand," Helios mumbled with a yawn.
"Should I wake you up early tomorrow?" Dante asked as he put the map away.
"No. Sleeping in wouldn't be the worst thing. Who knows how the next few days will go," Helios replied. "We should rest whenever we can."
"Alright. Sleep well."
"Mhm."
Dante got up and got ready for bed himself. When he came out of the bathroom, Helios was already fast asleep. Quietly, he walked over to the bed and lay down.
By now, he knew those sleeping pills knocked Helios out like a light.