The Devil's Crown

LVII Sinful.

The days have lost their common sense. Even to the creature of the forest, there was no way to locate himself on Earth while being locked up in this metallic…monstrous room. He could feel the strength abandoning him with every drop going into his flesh from the IV that was connected to both his arms.

Helios. It was the name that was given to him by others like him on the day that he was born. He found it shocking that he still remembers it despite all the time that has passed. No one here in this hell bothered to know his name, he figured that they dared not even utter his kins name ‘Elves’. They merely referred to him as ‘it’ or ‘that’.  They feared him, that much he was able to read.

If it hadn’t been for this…thing that they are injecting him with he would have made his way out of here a long time ago. The yellowish liquid that found its way into his veins was stripping him of any power or will to live. He has long ago forgotten what it meant to fight for his own life, he has given in. Helios reached the point where he even started praying to the Gods to let them find what they sought.

That was the only that they would let him go. What they wanted was power. It was what they always wanted. Since the beginning of time, humans have always thought that they are the kin that tops the food chain. That was all until they discovered the existence of others along with them, Elves. They were so thankful to the Gods for the existence of others on this world with them. They tried to live in harmony with the humans, having to feel responsible for the weaker they did their utmost best to keep them from harm's way.

It was before long that the Elves figured that they were different. Greed, they never knew the meaning of that word until it was too late. That was when Elves decided to disappear from their world, go back to living in their forests, seas, and faraway lands to escape that flame triggered by a sinful sensation.

Helios found it pathetic how he was curious about the humans after living in isolation with the rest of his kind. He wanted to know how they adapted to the change. What they did when they got the whole world as their playground.

Oh, how much he wished he never sought the answer. Destruction. That was what happened to the beautiful Earth he remembers. He was going to return never going back. He was wrong…he never got back.

Here he was. Trapped like a wild animal. He felt weak and vulnerable. He just wanted this all to end, even if it meant leaving this world forever. This beautiful world…he wanted to see it once again for one more time before he goes. Feel the sun on his skin, the breeze tickle through his hair, the cold water on his feet.

For a moment, he felt the tears threatening to fall on his now hollow cheeks. His pride was all that he had, he will not let them strip him of the last thing that he owns. However, he might let himself loose during the night, he knew that by the last checkup…it was soon. Maybe then he would have time to mourn over everything that he has lost.

Helios realized how he was wishful thinking when he felt the metal tiled floor beneath his feet tremble before the sealed doors at the other end of the metallic room. His violet eyes darkened as the doors slid open, revealing Helios worse nightmare…Shaw Gotham.

He has been paying him such frequent visits these days, he thought. But it was shoved aside as he saw the glass capsule behind Shaw. Still, that human was locked inside since his last visit. ‘Poor him’ he thought.

He still had that sympathy towards humans, the fact shocked him. The chains on his neck were heavier than usual, his head was struggling to keep up from both drowsiness and the tension in the chains. He was barely able to maintain eye contact with the dark eyes that were glaring at him with such amusement.

“I guess that now you have no energy to keep roaring like a beast, eh?” Shaw chuckled darkly as he got closer to Helios.

Helios hatted to admit it but he was right. His arms have now gone weak to the point that he can’t even resist the chains on his wrist. It felt stronger on his body even though they haven’t been changed. Helios hissed as he bared his sharp teeth.

“A stubborn beast…” Shaw added as he got closer to the elf. His eyes were still staring at the bright violet of his eyes. The treatment has stripped him of his shimmer and glaze as an elf, but it was never able to reach those eyes. The same eyes that once charmed the human world…he couldn’t help but remember the stranger from the bathroom in the ball. He had those same eyes.

Shaw placed a hand on Helios’s head. He felt the chills run down his body in disgust. He felt that he was going to through up. Every time he touches him Helios wanted nothing more than a swift death, anything to get him away from this.

“How is Jake doing?” Shaw asked the men in white coats behind him. “It has been a week since you told me that everything is doing fine.”

“W-We didn’t anticipate that his body would start rejecting the treatment again, My Lord,” one of the doctors stated, slowly and carefully.

Clearly, Shaw wasn’t satisfied with the answer. Helios felt his grip tighten on a handful of his hair in anger, he groaned from the grip. His body was sensitive to the point of ache at the touch, protesting would only make him lose the energy that he needs to keep his eyes open.

“You are going to force it to accept it…” Shaw mumbled under his breath, his voice echoed in the metallic room. The researchers behind him flinched.

“Y-Yes, My Lord,” said one.

“But that would mean we will damage the healthy cells?” Another doctor protested despite his shaking body, his fellow researchers were trying to beat some sense into him. “If we force it we can lose the subject, My Lord.”

Shaw glanced around towards the brave doctor, he let go of Helios’s head. His head dangled back down by the force on his neck, he felt his arms ripping apart from the shoulder.

“Oh, you think so,” Shaw simply said, turning around to give his back to Helios. “Then what do you suggest we do, Doctor?”

Helios hated the way he was giving him his back then facing him eye to eye. At least looking him in the eye meant that he acknowledges his presence. But, giving him his back meant he doesn’t even see him as a threat. Oh, how much he wanted to yank those needles from his arm and leep at this old man.

“W-We…we take the treatment slowly over the course of a week….and see the results…it’s the safest way to ensure a healthy host,” he stuttered.

“I see,” Shaw replied instantly, he didn’t seem bothered by the answer but rather convinced. “Having a complete treatment but a dead subject is nothing to be happy with.”

The researcher exhaled in relief to the point that he felt his legs giving in. Shaw turned back to glare at Helios. His presence here was still a mystery for all. Did he like to see the humiliating state of a mystical being?! Helios had no idea. He had no idea how the hell the humans can all be so different from one another. The poor human in that glass capsule probably never asked to be in that state either.

For once, Helios felt that he wasn’t alone.

“MY LORD!”

Shaw turned to face the door. A man dressed all in black rushing over with a tablet in his hand. “My Lord, you have got to see this!”

Shaw raised an eyebrow in question but took the tablet from him anyway. The screen displayed the life shotting from the Casablanca hotel. Shaw remembered that there was some sort of event there going on today…from the looks of it, it has gone drastically wrong.

The sound of the gunshots resonated in the metallic room. Shaw focused as the camera zoomed in to a terrace and a man standing alone atop it. The bullets halting inches from him from every side…impossible.

Helios was following Shaw’s gaze, and he saw it…not what was on screen. He saw the c***k in the invincible armor that coated Shaw from head to toe. It was then that he had his curiosity poked to see what caused this man to c***k, and then he saw it too. Bullets forming a metallic-like fence in front of a man.

Golden eyes shone so brightly even from the screen.