BENEATH THE SURFACE

Samantha's POV Helena's eyes met us, her keen focus sufficient to cause my pulse to skip a beat. The library appeared to shut in on us; its grandeur felt cramped as her presence occupied the area. She was only cool, calculated assurance, not afraid or hesitant. She had been anticipating us, and I started to question whether we were already at a disadvantage. Looking at Alex in quest of comfort, I saw his face set in a rigid line. Helena captured his whole attention, and I could see the tight control he used in his posture. Though he was prepared for whatever that lay ahead, he was unable to cover the anxiety hovering between us. Lila moved forward with a well regulated voice. You have to pay attention to us, Helena. We hardly have time. Helena opened her lips to a tiny smile, but it lacked warmth. Lila, I have all the time I could need. You should ask yourself whether you do. An icy shudder slid down my back. She seemed strange, something more than just her confident exterior. She seemed to know exactly how this would finish, as though she were engaged in a game we were not even aware of yet. "We're not here to play games," Alex remarked, his voice steady but fierce. We are familiar with your father. Royce is well known to us. Helena's smile wavered, just for a single second, but it was enough to let me know we had touched a nerve when her father's name came up. "You consider yourself to know Royce?" Helena's eyes narrowed and her voice was frigid. "You have no notion with whom you are dealing. Stepping forward, my voice firmer than I felt, "We know enough," I added. "We know he has been tugging the threads behind Marcus, behind everything. And we know that bringing him down depends on you. Helena arched an eyebrow, her face insensible. And what makes you believe I would ever turn on my father? The question loomed large and weighty, menacing. Her words weighed down on me and I could feel the strain between us deepening. She was trying to find out our knowledge level and degree of risk tolerance. "Because you're not blind to what he's done," I answered, trying to keep my voice cool even though my heart was racing. "You know the lives he has devastated and the devastation he has done. Unlike him you are not like. Helena's eyes strayed to me, and for a second I thought I saw a flutter of something—doubt, maybe, or pain—but it vanished as fast as it had first shown. You believe you know my father? She enquired, her voice gentle but tinged with steel. "You believe you know his capacity?" I choked hard, her query weight soaking in. Not actually, we knew Royce was not. We had only heard bits of who he was, bits of a more complete picture we hadn't yet assembled. However, we afford to wait any more; we were running out of time. Alex responded, his voice strained, "We know enough. We also know that only you can stop him. Helena turned her head to Alex, her eyes hardening. Just stop him. Do you hear yourselves at all? You never stop someone like Royce. He is not a man that a few deft moves can bring down. He exerts force. an empire. "We're not asking you to take him down alone," I answered, trying to keep my voice steady. We need you to assist us. To expose him for what he really is and thereby undermine him. Helena shook her head and gave out a grudging laugh. And why do you suppose I would risk it all for you? Regarding this? "You're already risking it," Lila whispered softly, her voice a strange blend of despair and will. "You are choosing by not rushing to him, Helena, by standing here. And that decision transcends your awareness. Helena's jaw tightened, and I saw something fracture in her for the first time since we had arrived. The cold, assured façade collapsed beneath something raw and fragile. Helena remarked, her voice almost above a whisper: "You don't know what you're asking of me." "You have no idea what crossing Royce costs." "We know it's dangerous," I replied gently, moving toward her. We are without another option, though. Should we fail to stop him, greater suffering will result. More people are likely to die. The room was still for a time, my words hanging between us like a delicate thread. I could sense the tension in the room, the unwritten anxiety we all carried. But under that anxiety, Helena also harbored hope—that she would see reason, that she would support us. "I know my father better than anyone," Helena remarked, her voice shaking just a little. "And you're mistaken if you momentarily believe he will let this go, allowing you to win." Alex added, his voice low and steady: "We're not asking for an easy victory." "We are seeking a possibility. And the only person able to provide that is you. Helena gazed at us for a long period, her eyes flickering with a range of emotions I could not quite interpret. She seemed to be conflicted—pulled between the need to escape the darkness her father had produced and her loyalty to him. I could too well relate this struggle. At last Helena let out a faltering breath, her shoulders slumping slightly. "Okay," she said in a whisper. "I'll support you." Though it was soon tempered by the reality of what lay ahead, relief flowed over me. This was just the start; our road ahead was long and perilous. But now Helena added, her voice strong as she locked eyes with me. "If you fail, Royce will wipe off all of us should he discover what we are intending. Second chances are not going to exist. We left the estate under cover of darkness, Helena's warning weighing heavily on my head. Though the night air was clear, it had little effect to quiet the storm building within me. Silent yet anxious, Alex strolled next to me; his jaw tightened as he fixed his straight ahead view. "Are you fine?" My voice just above a whisper, I asked. He didn't reply straight away; his eyes were riveted forward. At last he exhaled long, his shoulders just a fraction relaxing. "I'm not trusting her." I nodded, aware of his reluctance. Helena had promised to assist us, but her loyalties were obviously still conflicted given her uncertainty and voice of fear. She was running a great risk, and no one knew whether she would change her mind. "We have little options," I stated softly. "We need Royce if we are going to down her." Alex shook his head and laughed bitterly. I know. Still, that does not simplify this. I answered nothing as I lacked the knowledge. This was a mess overall, and we were walking a tightrope without a safety net. One mistake, one moment of doubt, and it would all come down. But right now we couldn't stop. I stopped when we arrived at the car, peering back at the estate, the tall, commanding building against the nighttime sky. Something about Helena bothered me; it made me question whether we had undervalued her. I whispered quietly, more to myself than to Alex: "She's hiding something." Alex turned to me and narrowed his eyes. "What do you imply?" I shook my head, not knowing how to put the sensation chewing at me under explanation. "I'm unsure. Simply said, she seems to have something. She is not sharing anything with us here. Alex considered my comments silently for a moment. "We will monitor her closely. Right now, though, we have to believe she is on our side. I nodded, but the uncertainty stayed in the rear of my consciousness. Helena had volunteered to assist us, but at what expense? She was genuinely after what? I couldn't get rid of the sensation that we were still lacking something vital as we got into the automobile. That much we knew, Royce was dangerous; however, Helena had shown us a glimpse of something worse, something deeper. Whatever it was, it was only going to arise in due course. My phone buzzed in my pocket as the automobile sped down the vacant road. I removed it and as I read the message my heart skipped a beat. I am aware of your intended activities. You are not going to win. Though I wouldn't have needed a name or signature, there was none. I could exactly identify the sender. Royce felt. And he was ahead one step already.