"Master?"
Ace's whisper sounded like a shout in the tense silence that had fallen over the occupants of the small garden, followed by an almost synchronized turning of heads in the direction of the door, which would have been hilarious if the situation had been anything different.
As it was, whoever had thought the situation funny, had to swallow back their laugh when their eyes focused on the figure standing stone still in the middle of the archway: eyes black and slightly narrowed as to value each and every one of his family's convictions, long hair lightly moving in the wind generated by the quiet storm of his Cosmo, stiff upright posture, emanating a subdued anger, belied only by the gentle curve of his arms, protectively cradling his young host, whose pale face had her own brothers in a state on anxiety.
"YOU IDIOTS! YOU MORONIC IMBECILES! YOU…YOU ASSHOLES! I OUGHT TO KILL YOU ALL HERE AND NOW!"
Helena didn't need her eyes open to know that the Master's outburst had shocked all the Cloths, their emotions thick like syrup in her mouth.
"But…"
"SHUT UP, BROTHER!"
Bringer wasn't sure if he was more shocked because his usually calm and collected brother had started to yell with no apparent reason, or if said man had referred to him, voluntarily, as his brother, something the Cancer Cloth knew that the Snake Master had not done since long before their deaths.
"HOW IN THE NAME OF ATHENA COULD YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT? AND TO LOVER TOO?"
Knowing he was risking his head, but not really understanding what had his brother in such a frenzy, Bringer dared to speak up again.
"What have we done exactly?"
The glare that the Master sent in the direction of his younger brother should have turned him to ashes, given the heat he had managed to infuse in it.
"What. Have. You. DONE? You are seriously asking what you have done? You killed yourself! You voluntarily gave up your life, you morons! You condemned yourself to an eternity stuck as scraps of metal and on top of that you left Athena unprotected! How could you have been this stupid?"
The Master sudden outburst gave everybody pause: in their haste to save the healer from eternal damnation and to apologize properly to him they had all forgotten that, by dying without having chosen their successors, they were basically leaving their beloved Goddess unprotected. As for the Master's other accusations…well…
"We apologize for leaving Athena without her Gold Saints. While she wasn't completely unprotected, given that there were other Saints to guard her…"
At that Helena couldn't help but quietly snort to herself. The Gold Saints had no one but themselves to blame if the Pegasus Saint had developed such a close bond with their Goddess. Somebody had had to step up and protect her air-headed divinity, and in those dark times the only one who had managed to do that had been the first Pegasus, since she, as Elpida, had categorically refused to be anywhere within a hundred meters from Athena.
Unaware of her hidden musings, Bringer kept talking to his brother, trying to explain the situation without the need of further incidents.
"…I'll admit that that was a very careless and stupid mistake on our part. As for our choice of dying to be able to stay with you…if it makes you feel so embarrassed to think that we did it for your sake, shall I remind you that it was our punishment for having strayed from the path of true justice? It was also the ultimate proof of our devotion for Athena. After all, with this decision, we have been able to stay with her throughout the centuries, and we have also managed to choose our bearers so that they could properly protect Athena."
Not exactly true, since she had done the selection the first time and from then on the Cloths had almost always chosen the reincarnations of those first warriors, but Helena could let that slide for the moment.
"As for the other accusation you moved us…I think I, we, were old enough to decide for our own life, didn't we? And I, for one, do not believe that I have squandered my life needlessly. You see, when you first joined Athena in her quest, I knew that you had done it for me and Lover, and I vowed to myself that, one day, I was going to repay your kindness and love. But time passed and I started to forget my promise. I thought that you enjoyed the life we had, forgetting that your call had never been to take lives, but to save them. When everything went to Hell I was suddenly reminded of that, of the sacrifices you made for us. After all you had sacrificed your life so that I could be happy, and still with my family; so I thought it was a good bargain for me, to sacrifice my life so that you could still be with your family. It was the least I could do. After all I had just condemned you to the exact same life you had been trying to get away from. The least I could do, was keeping you company."
At his right Lover was frantically nodding in time with her husband's explanation, hoping to convey her feelings on the matter. She had treated her brother-in-law like the lowest of the servants, taking his presence and kind heart for granted. She had felt so guilty that when Bringer had explained to her his idea, she had immediately agreed with him, knowing in her heart that it was their turn to sacrifice something for the Master.
"Oh c'mon you old geezer! Loosen up a bit! You always wanted to stay with them forever! Look at the bright side! You got your wish!"
And leave it to Ace, to transform a serious family moment into a drunken carnival of some kind. Completely unimpressed with the display, the Master only raised one eyebrow towards the other's very blasé attitude.
"And, pray tell, why am I forced to spend my eternity with you as well?"
"Oh! You wound me!"
Clenching his hands near his heart, Ace made a grand show of being hit by the Master's cold words, going as far as collapsing to the ground, mockingly taking what, Helena supposed, were his last breaths.
The swift and lethal kick that his beloved aimed at his unprotected private parts, left him truly gasping.
"Stop that pathetic display now, you disgusting cheater! Why in the name of sanity did I decide to offer you a place as a Saint for Athena, will always be unclear for me!"
"Oh sugary popsicle of my heart! You wound me! You know you cannot live without me.."
Completely ignoring the pitiful whining coming from the Scorpio Cloth, and in the meantime totally crushing the fingers in his left hand, Ice moved closer to the Ophiucus Cloth, who still hadn't moved from the archway.
"It was our choice Master, regardless of the motives behind it. You never asked us to do it, so now you do not have to bear the responsibility for our actions. What we chose that day, we chose freely, and in full possession of our mental faculties – the one who had them of course! – so you are not to blame. Actually, to be completely honest, I didn't choose to link myself to my Cloth because of you; I asked Zeus to link you to your Cloth for your sake, but as for my decision, well your role in it, was truly minimal. I felt I had betrayed the ideals that had prompted me to join Athena's ranks, and I was willing to do anything to atone for my sins. So kindly stop thinking the world revolves around you, and accept the fact you are well and truly stuck with us for eternity!"
If Helena had still had any energy left to move, she would have kissed Ice for what she had said. Granted, it had almost looked like she hadn't been interested at all in what the Master had experienced at their hands, but Helena had learned to know her very well and had understood that what she had said had been her way to show the Master that, in the end, they had taken their decision on their own free will, and that there was nothing the Master should feel guilty for.
Apparently appeased by her words the Master casted a glance at the other Cloths in the garden and what he saw on their faces – the same resolve that was still etched on Ice chiselled features – was enough to tear down every last wall in his heart.
With a small sob his lips stretched in a watery smile, one that Lover took as an invitation for a hug, that quickly became a messy group affair that resembled more a dog pile than anything else.
Helena, who had been in the very middle of it, would have been seriously ecstatic if only she had been able to properly draw breath.
Alerted by the slight wheezing sounds coming from the girl in his arms the Snake Master gently disengaged himself and his light cargo from his family's orgy, moving slightly closer to the girl's Guardians, who looked like they were about to have a heart attack.
"Don't think I have forgotten about you, young one! After all this time, you still came after me? Even knowing what I had done to you, you chose to be my host? We need to talk, Helena…"
Nodding slightly, Helena managed to smile weakly at her Cloth.
"I'd love to, Master. But can we take a rain check for now?"
Frowning at the pained tone she had used, the Master took a look at his young charge, and what he saw tore a whimper out of his throat.
Because his keen and expert eyes of a healer had seen something his mind was still trying to refute.
Helena was dying.
Quickly depositing the young girl on the ground, the Master called upon his trusted power in order to heal whatever ailment was threatening his beloved young one.
But when nothing changed, when the golden light of his power brought no relief to Helena, he was left floundering, betrayed even by his own power.
When he felt one cold hand on his own, he lift his head and his sad eyes met the pained lilac ones of Helena who, through a small smile, shook her head.
"Your powers won't work on this, Master…it's not a wound you can cure. It's a curse, one that was made to target my very soul. I have been lucky to last for as long as I did. There was a reason why the legend stated that the story could only be told when all the reincarnations of the first bearers of the Golden Cloths had been born all together. It's simple enough: Elpida had a soul bond with all of them, as much as I do. And it is exactly that soul bond that enabled me to last as long as I have."
Nodding slightly to show his understanding, the Master bit his lip to prevent desperation from entering his next words.
"But if being connected to them had made you last this long against the curse, why doesn't it save you completely from it?"
"Because, while they are all very dear to me, none of their souls is the perfect match for mine. Not one of them could provide that protection my soul needs to overcome the curse…"
Shaking her slightly in rage, the Master yelled at his host.
"You haven't even tried it! You are entirely dismissing the possibility that one of them is your soul mate without even asking them!"
"Master! Enough!"
Though weakened, the burst of her Cosmo had been enough to jolt the Healer out of his funk.
"What does he mean, Helena? Is it true that one of us could be your soul mate? You just have to say the word, sweetheart!"
Oh, stupid, heroic, kind-hearted, idiotic Aioros! Always, always thinking about the others and never about himself. Leave it to him to propose that of all things.
Although, Helena couldn't help but be surprised to notice it, it wasn't the only one who had thought that a good idea!
"Stupid, self-sacrificing idiots!"
She could see that her brothers hadn't expected her to insult them!
"I love you all very much, soft-hearted cretins! I think that some of you know that I could never be their soul mate, don't you Ros?"
She could see that he had understood her meaning quite well, but she could also see the quiet, sneaky glance, he had thrown in Saga's direction and the just as sneaky glance Saga had given him in return. Apparently those two idiots were willing to sacrifice their bond if it meant she could live! And if she had seen correctly, even her Guardians were truly thinking about it.
"Guys! GUYS! Stop it! Please! No amount of denial on your part will ever make me your soul mate, so please stop it!"
"What are we supposed to do then, Helena? Leave you to die? Because let me tell you, I will not accept it!"
"Camus…"
"NO! You will not die! If it's necessary I will scour the earth for the one who is supposed to be your soul mate! I don't care where or when he is! I will find him and bring him here, to you!"
"Oh Milo…"
Helena could see the desperation in those sea-blue eyes and her heart broke for him.
"There is no need for you to scour the earth to find my soul mate, Milo darling. I already know who he is…"
The sudden appearance of eerie blue lights told Helena that Death Mask meant business.
"Tell me where I can find him, dear sister, and I will bring him here, whether he wants it or not!"
"Mask, MASK! Don't! Please! I don't really think he wants me like that, at least he had never given me and indication of the contrary. And I will not bind him to someone he does not want to be bound to! Am I clear?"
"Are you sure about that, Helena?"
That voice! No, it couldn't be…
Standing in all his glory in the run down entry archway of the garden was the man Helena had never thought would utter those words towards her once more.
"Minos?"
Helena hated how weak and unsure her voice had sounded, and not just because she was running out of energy fast. Minos had always had that effect on her, he had always made her knees go weak and her heart beat twice as fast.
"What are you doing here?"
Completely ignoring her question the Infernal Judge strode into the cramped space and, brushing off every attempt made by the Saints to stop him, he advanced towards the girl on the floor, stopping mere inches from her.
Fixing her with a heated glare he looked down to her, still standing to have a better intimidating effect, and spoke a few words that completely blew whatever sanity the people in the garden had managed to retain.
"Why is it, that I had to know from Pandora of all people, that my wife was on the verge of death?"
"Wife?!"
"Yes, wife, you retarded arthropod! Have you got any problems with that?"
Before Milo could answer him, Helena suddenly found her voice again.
"You remember?"
"Yes…of course I remember! No thanks to you, though…"
"Since when do you remember? Why didn't you tell anything sooner?"
"Why didn't I tell you anything? Why didn't you? If you have always known, you could have at least had the decency to tell me!"
"I couldn't you big lump! And you know very well why!"
"Well it doesn't look like you were very scared of death, does it? After all for your precious family you did take the risk! But telling me, no…that wasn't on your list of priorities!"
"What?"
Now he had done it! Helena had always prided herself in being a very patient and understanding person – being a healer came very much in handy in those cases – but Minos' attitude had passed the limit.
Not caring that she wasn't supposed to get up, that her body was more dead than alive, she extricated from the Master's slack grip and let her fist connect to her husband's nose.
"You idiot! You complete and utter stupid man! The punishment wasn't my death! It was your life as one of the Infernal Judges on the line! Don't you remember what Hades had told you? The deal we struck with Persephone? Think about them, Minos, and then tell if I really should have told you!"
Looking at the spluttering expression the Infernal Judge was making, Helena thought to herself that she really should decide to write a book on how-to-shock-a-man in ten steps or less. Either she was really good at this business, or the men she was surrounded by were real idiots. It could go either way.
Just as she was about to tell the idiot what she had meant, she saw the proverbial lamp switch on and Minos finally caught the meaning behind her words.
"Oh…"
"Yes…oh…"
"Not that the entertainment isn't appreciated, but care to elaborate further than oh? You know, for those of us, poor idiots, who haven't got a clue about what you are talking about?"
It was a good thing, Helena mused, that Manigoldo had already experienced talking with the Twin Gods of Death, Hypnos and Thanatos, because at least that had given him the edge when it came to prodding the armies of Hell. Otherwise she was sure that the scalding look Minos had directed towards him, would have melted him on the spot.
"Not your business, crab! So, that's why you didn't tell me? Because you were waiting to see if I really loved you?"
When he said it like that, Helena knew she had been childish and petty. The deal they had struck with Persephone hadn't exactly been binding: the Goddess of the Underworld had simply stated that if he truly loved her, he would have no problem remembering her, even after his memories had been sealed by Hades. If he could do so, then they could have lived happily ever after, without anyone saying anything. That didn't exactly mean that, if she told him, they couldn't be together. It would have simply been more complicated, and maybe Minos would have had to resign his post as an Infernal Judge, but there wouldn't have been more consequences than that.
"Ok…I may have been a bit pissed at you, and I wanted confirmation…after all, well…you hadn't been exactly…how do I put it…faithful?"
Once again Enlightenment struck Minos.
"You were jealous! Of him? Oh my stars! This is precious!"
If she could have, Helena would have buried herself somewhere far, far away. Not only Minos had gotten the real reason behind her actions, but he was about to give that away to everybody!
"Sweetheart, there's no need to hide now!"
How she hated him in that moment!
"There is no way that he could ever compete with you! He was simply a pretty face, just to pass the time!"
At these words Aphrodite, who had finally caught on the fact that they were talking about him, didn't know if to feel insulted at being addressed as "just a pretty face", or relieved that Minos hadn't taken more than a passing fancy in him. As good as it had been to have the most handsome Infernal Judge hot on his tail, the Pisces Saint knew that, if Minos was really Helena's soul mate, he wouldn't want to stand in between his sister's happiness.
Thinking the situation settled Dite was a bit taken aback when Helena refused to meet his eyes; could she be angry at him?
-No, Dite…not angry…just embarrassed…-
-Embarrassed? About what? –
It really looked like her dear brother just wanted her to die of shame.
- I was jealous of you, Aphrodite…-
-Oh…that's…stupid!-
-How so? I have seen how you looked at him, Dite! Please don't lie to me! I am perfectly aware of the fact that he is devilishly handsome!-
-I won't deny that I may have thought him handsome…but darling if I still haven't left that vulgar idiot, don't you think that maybe, and I say maybe, I might be in love with him? –
She couldn't believe her ears! Aphrodite, who in all the years she had known him, had always categorically denied any feeling towards Death Mask, had just admitted to loving him, at least enough not to consider Minos as a potential partner. She could almost weep for joy!
-You tell him anything, dear sister, and I will make any punishment he has ever dished out, look tame in comparison! Are we clear? –
Giggling slightly to herself, Helena simply nodded her acceptance, not even bothered by the threat she knew he would never see through.
Helena would have loved nothing more than to stay like this forever, but Fate was a cruel master and it suddenly reminded her of her precarious situation, via a vicious cough that left her breathless and with the distinct sensation of having lost a lung somewhere.
"Helena, there is no time…you need to decide now!"
She nodded slightly at Minos' words. She had already decided, but telling her brothers might not be easy.
"Athena…I…"
"I know, Helena! There is no need for you to tell me anything! I will not oppose this, not this time! Not only your soul is owned at the very least this much, but you, as Helena, are my best friend. If there was even the slightest chance at saving you, I would take it! It doesn't really matter if you are not a Saint anymore! Just the fact that you are alive, is enough for me! So, I, Athena, release you, Ophiucus no Heleiana, from your vow! There will not be another Ophiucus Saint in this generation, for the Cloth is tied to you, but he will stay by your side, whatever you decide to do, until you are no more for this earth. After that, the Snake Master will return to my side, to choose another host. As for you, dear sister, you are free to live your life as you wish it. You are a Saint no more!"
It was more than Helena had ever imagined. Athena had given her permission to go, and even let the Snake Master stay with her. Apparently the Master thought so as well, if his bewildered face was any indication. But he recovered quicker than her, and sent a thankful look towards his Goddess.
"What is happening, Helena?"
"I am sorry Milo…"
"Why are you sorry, Helena? Where are you going? What is going on? Why did Athena release you?"
Steeling herself, Helena took a deep breath, trying to stop her tears from falling, without much success.
"I don't think I will come back, Milo…what I am about to try, well I don't even know if it'll work, as nobody has ever tried it before. And even if I am very lucky, and I do keep on living after this, dear one, I will be married to a Spectre. And not just married as in "we have signed a piece of paper", I will be soul-bonded to him. I don't think it's compatible with being a Saint of Athena. That is why Athena is releasing me. So that I can live my life as a normal girl: marry the man I have been in love with all my lives, and live with him as any normal girl of twenty would."
"But we are going to see each other, right? Even if you aren't a Saint, anymore?"
She hated doing this to him, but she knew that, in the long run, it was better if she cut every bridge in that moment.
"No, Milo…I have served Athena for two lifetimes. I have sacrificed my freedom, my childhood, my happiness, my love on her altar. I have a chance to not sacrifice this life in her name. I am sorry, brother, but I will take it!"
She knew Milo wanted to say something else, something more, anything to have her change her mind, but Camus' hand on his shoulder and his subtle nod, stopped him in his tracks.
"Be happy, ma petite soeur! We will be fine!"
A look of understanding passed between Helena and Camus, and a quick group hug was her goodbye to her other brothers, all the while she tried to kept the tears at bay.
Ready to go she looked around the small garden and her eyes landed on the two figures she was going to miss the most, and she couldn't contain her tears.
"I will miss you, lillasister, but I am so very happy for you! Live the life you have always deserved! Live to the fullest and don't look back! I will always think of you, and if you feel lonely just look at the stars and think of me, of us, somewhere I will look at them too, and I will think of you! I love you, Helena! And it has been an honour and a pleasure being your Guardian, being your brother!"
In Aphrodite's arms Helena cried, sobbing so hard that no words came to her, but one look into her brother's sky eyes told her he had heard her heart loud and clear.
With a last hug Aphrodite stepped back and left Death Mask and Helena alone.
"Don't you dare die, brat! Have I made myself clear? Otherwise I will personally come to collect your sorry ass and deliver it to the coldest place in Cocytus, do you understand?"
A watery chuckle escaped Helena's lips and she soon found her way into Death Mask's waiting arms.
"I hear you loud and clear, fratello mio! Please, take care! Of you and of Aphrodite! You have been the best Guardians, the best brothers I could have ever wished for! I will miss you, Angelo! Ti voglio bene! Addio!"
She felt the strong hand of Minos at her back, and soon enough she was nestled in his arms.
With a final look at her family, who was valiantly trying to hold back the tears so she wouldn't worry about them, and a last smile at her two Guardians and Athena, Helena and Minos disappeared into Hell.