Crossing Paths with the White Wolf

Chapter 2 - Helios

Helios P o V

It took me five days to find a pattern. Going through about 6 years’ worth of financial records had my brain melting out the side of my ears. Even with the dates Gonzalo had sent me, it had been difficult. The dates, at first, appeared to be random. I had to go through the financial records very carefully to try to find the same combination of transactions that indicated to me that additional goods were being brought in. It was always the same.

There was a two-month gap and then a 3-month gap, followed by a 3-week gap. Every time. It was always when we had containers from Bra’Shun Textiles and the containers were underweight. Always on the same ship. It was the only time that containers were underweight. Every other time, there were payment receipts for the fines for being over the limit.

Gonzalo came back in after I finished my review. “What are you thinking?”

“If they keep their schedule, we can’t do anything for another 6 weeks. We’ll continue with the merger as scheduled. Don’t tell anyone but the four of us about it. We don’t want to tip them off and we don’t know who's involved.”

“Do you want us to start following?” He asked.

“No, Gonzalo. You guys are no longer my warriors. You are my friends and business partners. Besides, it makes no sense to tail everyone. Let’s wait for the next import and see if we can identify any of the players.”

“The boys are getting bored, Helios. We aren’t used to not serving you. Throw them a bone soon so they can get their jollies off on a hunt,” he said.

I laughed, “I’m sure we’ll have our hands full soon enough. Besides, we still have a lot of work to do with this merger. If they need more excitement than that,” He laughed and rolled his eyes, “We can go hunt the Nahual(naˈɡwal) that we heard had become obsessed with Markus’ fear. We are supposed to get information on its current whereabouts soon.”

“It will likely be near Arizona. Are you ready for that?” I hated the concern I could hear in his voice. No, I wasn’t ready, but I wouldn’t be able to avoid it forever.

“I’ll be fine. If we have to go see them, we go see them,” I told him, lying through my teeth. I hadn’t told anyone of the nightmares I’d been having or how I’ve been deflecting Celeste’s invitations to see them. I wasn’t ready to face everyone’s judgement. Judgement I definitely deserved.

“I’ve been with you for as long as you’ve been alive, Helios. You know I can tell when you’re lying?” He told me but then ran a hand through his hair before standing. “It’s Friday. We’ve got poker night at Theo’s at 6. Don’t forget,” he said as he left the office.

I leaned back in my chair when he left. Gonzalo thought that I was scared of Markus after what I did to Celeste and, in a small way, I was. But if I was truthful to myself, I was scared of f*****g up and getting shut out of the small progress I had made. Having nothing in my own life, I’d begun attaching myself to the people Celeste talked about in her emails and texts. The videos and pictures she sent me. From afar, I felt myself a part of their lives. If I went there and got shut out of their lives…I didn’t think I could handle that loneliness yet. I needed more time to be something other than Huitzilopochtli, the monster god of sun and war that had killed so many of his siblings and tried to kill their Luna.

“f**k I’m pathetic,” I said out loud with disgust. I shut down my work. I went home and worked out in the gym. There were full window walls at one end. Looking at the sun dipping under the ocean while I worked out my own insecurities always helped. I showered and went over to Theo’s house. I wasn’t really one for playing poker, but I knew it was their way to include me in their circle and break down the walls that had been raised through thousands of years’ worth of servitude. I needed them to see me as their friend, as they were the only ones I had.

“Si-Helios,” Sebastian opened the door to his and Theo’s penthouse apartment. He was the one that had the most trouble letting me in and I wasn’t sure why. I don’t remember ever having treated him wrong.

“Hey, you guys start?” I asked as I handed him the 24 case of beer I’d brought with me.

“No. Theo’s running behind. The contractors had a bunch of questions about the top floor designs for our offices,” he said. We walked to the fridge to put the beer in. Theo was in charge of setting up the new building. Sebastian was in charge of setting up security. He was also in charge of arranging outside contracts for security and was the one with all the underground contacts. Gonzalo had always been my right-hand man in just about everything and he always helped me get the new acquisitions ready for merging. We were old hands at this. We still occasionally struggle with the change in roles. They still feel the need to ask for permission to make a final decision despite me telling them they don't need to ask for approval from me. We were all a group in progress.

“We hear anything on the Nahual?” I asked him.

“No, I can’t get in touch with Sparks while he’s underground. We will just have to wait for his scheduled check in.” I nodded as I grabbed one of the beers and went to join Gonzalo in the living room. Their sofa was probably my favorite feature in the place. It was a giant white Italian Mario Bellini Bambole Sofa. It was like a white cloud I could, and have, fall asleep on.

“I thought you had dinner tonight?” I asked Gonzalo.

“Theo said he’d pick something up on the way home or he’d come home to empty containers,” He smirked.

I made a face. “He better not bring Pizza again.”

“There’s nothing wrong with Pizza Helios,” I heard Theo behind me. I was relieved to see that he had containers of food and not a pizza box.

“It’s nothing but bread and cheese. I would rather eat quesadillas,” I teased, but frowned when I saw his face fall for an instance.

He looked away quickly before he looked back at me and laughed. “Maybe you just haven’t given it a chance,” he said awkwardly.

“What did you bring for food?” I changed the subject. Maybe I could ask Gonzalo what that was about tomorrow. I did not want to make things tense.

“Indian. I was in the mood for some Vindaloo,” he said as he started opening the fragrant containers and my stomach growled as the smell of the food reached me. “Clearly your stomach approves of my choice,” he laughed.

We were a couple of hours into poker when Sebastian spoke up about work, “So what’s the plan for the illegal imports?” He said casually.

“Wait, watch, dismantle. Like usual?” I answered.

“Hmm” he said as he called Theo’s bet.

I folded. I had s**t cards. “What’s going through your head?” I said.

“I think we should be more prepared than we were in Arizona. We got really close to losing Clara because we weren’t prepared.” I winced remembering how we had to follow the buyer and grab her by force because we didn’t know about the online auctions at the time.

“What would you propose?” I asked him.

“We’ve got that genius from Crescent Moon coming to finish the security measures tomorrow. After he leaves, I won’t have as much to take care of. His portfolio is pretty impressive. I doubt he will need supervision. I was thinking we find the black market in the area early on. Stablish an in.”

I leaned back on the chair and finished the beer in my hand, “That would certainly be safer than winging it.”

“So can I run with it?” He said as he lost the hand with a groan.

“Of course. If you think that’s a good idea. We’re partners now, Sebastian.” He seemed to brighten up at that a lot.

“You know you guys can do stuff without my permission, right? Even stuff that doesn’t include me. If you want to take on side projects-”

“Baby steps Helios. This is a change for all of us. Give us a couple of decades to get used to having a vote.” Theo said, and everyone laughed.

I rolled my eyes. “Like you three weren’t always the vocal ones.”

“You did send us all to business school. Multiple times, I might add. Would have been a waste of money if we didn’t use it,” Gonzalo said.

“Yes, used it loads. Where were your skills when you tried to negotiate with that Anansi we came across in Ghana that ‘Give me a hand’ was not the deal you were paying for and we had to pay twice to get across to Guinea AND dispose of the random human hand he brought out of his bag?” Everyone roared with laughter and Gonzalo turned a deep red.

“It-It wasn’t my fault it took my phrase literally!” he said indignantly.

I got up and grabbed some more beers. “This is an adjustment for all of us, but I’m glad you all stayed,” I said, “Life would be boring without you.” I tilted my beer up at them.

Gonzalo and I crashed on their couches for the night, being too drunk to drive to our respective places. I had nightmares as usual, though Gonzalo’s snoring made for weird snarls from the shadows as I heard a ghostly Celeste accuse me of killing her and her pups. I lay on the couch as I looked out the penthouse window.

“Go back. They’ll be awake soon.” I heard Theo say.

“Why can’t we just tell them? I’m tired of pretending that I don’t love you baby,” Sebastian whispered-yelled at him.

I froze. Clearly, I was not supposed to hear any of this. Do I let them know I can hear? Do I let them keep their secrets to themselves?

“You know why,” Theo hissed, “Please, I don’t want to have to leave this place.” He said more softly. I frowned. No, I didn’t know why.

“You don’t know that he would be against us. You should give him more credit. I’ve never seen him say anything on the subject. I hate lying to him, Theo,” Sebastian said, and I decided I wouldn’t let them keep their secret.

I sat up on the couch and saw them freeze. I raised an eyebrow. Theo and Sebastian were both in their boxers, holding each other’s hands. Both looking pale and flustered.

I crossed my arms. “How long has this been going on?”

“H-helios – ehh” Theo started. I saw Gonzalo wake up and sit up. Theo had still been holding Sebastian’s hands and when they saw him get up, Theo dropped his hands like they were on fire.

“What’s going on?” Gonzalo asked.

“That’s what I’m trying to find out,” I said, “How long have you two been a thing?”

“Uhh” Theo looked like he was close to fainting.

“187 years,” Sebastian said.

I put my fingers on the bridge of my nose. 187 years and they kept it from everyone that long? I know public opinion on same-s*x relationships has only just begun to change in the last 50 years, but I had thought I treated my people well enough that they would not be afraid to be themselves. I looked back up at them. Sebastian had moved slightly in front of Theo as if attempting to shield him from me. I really must have failed as their leader for them to be afraid. This explained why they were never as open with me as Gonzalo was, even though I knew they were loyal to a fault.

“So you’re telling me…that I could have been sleeping in a comfortable bed this whole time and instead I’ve been sleeping with the snorelax for no reason?” I pointed to Gonzalo.

“Hey!” Gonzalo whined beside me. “We’re equals now. What makes you think you would have gotten the bedroom?”

“I’m a senior citizen. It’s your duty,” I told him seriously.

“Pfft, I’m technically older. You were born grown, I did my years like a normal person,” he argued back. I heard Sebastian half chuckle and turned back to them.

Sebastian looked more relaxed, but Theo was just flabbergasted. His mouth was opening and closing.

“Is it really that hard to believe that I would be OK with this? Am I that much of a monster in your eyes?” I asked Sebastian. I couldn’t help the pain that came with my words.

“N-No. It’s just. We have been hiding what we are for centuries. It took a long time for Theo to accept who he was, longer still to give me a chance. We have seen the persecution of people like us for centuries…He thought-”

“I thought it would be hard for you and Gonzalo to get over the aversion we’ve seen through the centuries. I – I’m sorry,” Theo said.

I scoffed, “I’ve seen enough in 1 lifetime to know that love is love and anyone lucky enough to find it should hold on to it and never let it go.”

“I’m glad you think so, Helios, because I have something to say,” Gonzalo was smirking at me. I waited patiently through his dramatic pause, “I’m starving and I have a hangover. Can we stop with the heavy s**t so early in the morning? Congratulations to you two. I will forgive you for lying to us if you make me pancakes.”

Theo laughed and headed for the kitchen. “Wait, so does this mean I can put all my s**t in our room now?” Sebastian asked as he followed him.

“No, there’s no closet space for your s**t in there,” I heard Theo say.

“Oh come on, you can make room. You don’t need 40 black suits,” Sebastian whined.

I turned to look at Gonzalo. “Did you know?” He shook his head and I breathed out in relief. “At least it’s not just me they were afraid of. I’ve been wondering what the f**k I did to make them think I would be pissed.”

“We’ve lived a long time, Helios. Through the rise and fall of empires and civilizations. Same-s*x relationships have only been legal in most places for 50 years, and are still illegal in many others, including Mexico. I understand their fear. Come, let’s help with breakfast,” he pushed me off the couch and towards the kitchen, where Theo and Sebastian were already mixing pancake batter.