Chapter 4
Cyrus eyed his surroundings as he pulled Killian’s seat out for him, before taking his own at the table set in a small alcove. The three walls around the table gave the illusion of looking out into a grassy field at night with fireflies lighting up in the distance.
Overall, Hidden Places had hardwood floors, doorways that were framed in wood, and it looked like vines were growing from the framing onto the deep-teal walls.
And while Cyrus hadn’t gotten a chance to really look around, from what he had seen the first time he’d been here, and walking through just now, there seemed to be many turns and small hidden spots, which he supposed went with the name.
Large wooden lanterns casting yellow light hung from the ceiling, and smaller lanterns floated above each round table, which were simply decorated with white tablecloths. The chairs they were in, on the other hand, looked like they’d grown into their formation rather than having been carved.
They remained silent as the ma?tre d' noted that their server would be over to them soon with the menus, before walking off. But only seconds passed before a delicate-looking Water Nymph, who couldn’t have been more than five feet, approached their table.
With long braided cyan hair hanging over his shoulder, and wisps around his face, the Nymph’s large silver-flecked golden eyes seemed to sparkle as he smiled at them.
“Hello, welcome to Hidden Places. I’m Bellamy Malone, the owner, and I believe we have mutual friends.”
“You would be correct.” Killian smiled and nodded in greeting. “Killian Neftlem.”
“Cyrus Grimm,” he drawled, shaking the Nymph’s hand briefly when offered.
“Well, while I’d love to join you and chat, I have plans that I am already late for.
I just wanted to introduce myself. Though, based on how you two are dressed, I’m sure even if I wasn't busy, I’d have been a third wheel anyway.
Have fun on your date, you two!” With that said, Bellamy spun away, disappearing as fast as he had arrived.
Cyrus snorted. “Based on how the two described him, the Nymph seems more energetic than I assumed he’d be.”
Killian chuckled. “Well, we would have known sooner if we hadn’t showed up so late to Skya’s birthday party.”
He didn’t bother suppressing his groan. “Ugh, by the threads, don’t remind me. It’s been seven months and Severo is still pouting about it.”
Cyrus couldn’t say he regretted losing track of time while having sex with Killian, because he didn’t.
In no timeline would he ever want to find himself surrounded by small children for hours.
But, even arriving late, while they may have missed meeting Bellamy, due the man having to run out, they had still been there for two very long hours.
Seriously, what kid needs a six-hour long birthday party? !
“He isn’t as easy to bribe into forgiveness as Skya is,” the Siren said, clearly amused.
“Yeah, cookies don’t cut it.”
Their conversation paused as the server came over with their menus and introduced themselves, taking their drinks order before leaving.
“I will say, having now seen Hidden Places as it’s meant to be, Seri wasn’t lying, it is rather pretty,” Killian mused after the man had left, before giggling. “Not that he would, but it’s shockingly different from what it looked like back in January for Skya’s party.”
Cyrus glanced around again. The theme of Skya’s party had been animals, and while the structure was still the same, the lighting had been completely different, the fixtures swapped out, and the furniture replaced by brightly colored pieces, often in the shape of animals, or less detailed plants. It had been a lot.
“I’d say Bellamy did a great job of hiding what was here and replacing whatever he could with bright, colorful, cutesy decorations.”
“Mhmm,” Killian hummed in agreement, as he started to tap through the digital menu. Cyrus did the same, silence forming as they read. Soon enough, their server returned and took their order.
Alone again, Killian asked, “Did you see the latest announcement of who is coming to The R-Kive?”
The R-Kive happened to be Killian’s favorite local art gallery, mainly as they tended to invite artists that were to the Siren’s taste.
“I haven’t. Who is it?” he mused with interest. Not that he was that interested in art, but whatever made his Baby happy, he couldn’t help but want to know about it.
“It’s Aurri Case!” Killian said, his voice rising slightly in pitch with his excitement, the sound sending tingles down Cyrus’ spine.
Even when he wasn’t trying, the Siren’s voice was music to whoever was listening. The man’s mood, of course, determined if there was any danger or manipulation coming with it.
“That multi-media painter you love? You recently managed to get your hands on a couple of his paintings, didn’t you?”
Cyrus could picture both pieces in his head.
They were both collages of many textures, looking like bizarre, desolate underwater landscapes, filled with structures that made no sense.
He could also picture many of the Cryptid’s other works, remembering the details clearly.
Not because they were his style, but because Killian would show them to him, and then often describe every detail with even less contained excitement than he was showing now.
When it came to emotions, the Siren tended to be more muted and controlled. So Cyrus couldn’t help but try to hold tight in his mind anything that pushed the slightly emotionally muted man to loosen his restraints.
“Yes, through a few of Severo’s, or rather his mother, Bella’s, contacts.” Killian wrinkled his nose. “It was a giant pain in the ass, even with her help.”
“I do remember a few of your complaints.” He smirked. “It does make me wonder why he is coming here. I thought both Aurri and his artwork rarely left Mars?”
“Haven’t discovered the reason yet, but I will,” the Siren swore, his smile turning devious for just a second before going back to normal, making him fully aware that Killian wouldn’t be finding out through legal means and gossip.
“What I do know is that he is in fact coming, and that there will be a private grand opening, with a chance to meet the artist, before the gallery finally opens the show for public viewing.”
His smirk widened. “I’ll get us an invite.”
Killian beamed and reached across the table, slowly sliding his hand over one of Cyrus’. “Ah, to be with a man who can figure out what I want without me having to ask.”
Cyrus chuckled. “You make it easy for me, Baby, with all of the context clues you graciously provide for me to follow. When is it?”
“The dates haven’t been released to the public yet, but the grand opening, based on what I found—”
“Illegally found?” he cut in.
“I was making sure they weren’t embezzling,” Killian lied, his smile serene.
He chuckled. “I’m sure you were. So, the grand opening is…?”
“October 20th.”
“Sooner than I assumed. Did you find anything else out about the show while hacking?”
The Siren’s smile widened, as the glow of his blue-jean-colored eyes brightened.
“Only that the gallery will be filled with a series of work that Aurri has never mentioned or shown before! The title of the show is Breaking Even. And based on his previous work, we really can only speculate as to what that means about the mix-media paintings.” The man paused with a happy hum before adding, “Oh, also, he will be running sales in an auction-like manner during the grand opening, even if the work will remain up until the last day of the exhibition. Apparently, most of the proceeds will be going to a number of charities.”
“Should I be prepared to make a count of how many people you talk out of buying things, so you can get your lovely hands on them?”
Killian shrugged, looking unbothered, yet undeniably pleased with the reality of his future manipulations. “Considering how much you let me indulge in my interests, I’d assumed I was well known enough in the fine art circles for people to know it’s best to stay out of my way.”
“One would assume so, but some people are severely lacking in critical thinking skills. Though, if it’s an auction, between your voice and my wealth, I feel we won’t be having any issues, unless Severo’s parents show up, that is.”
The Siren’s expression didn’t change, clearly unbothered by the possibility. “Aurri Case’s work really isn’t to Bella’s taste, and her husband is wholly uninterested in art. If anything, she’d likely be showing up to buy for me, since she knows how much I enjoy his work.”
“Fair enough,” Cyrus agreed with a smile, which widened as the man started to speculate on what the series could be about.
Cyrus could honestly listen to Killian talk for hours.
And it wasn’t just because of his voice.
He loved watching Killian’s eyes glow brighter with excitement, just feeling the change in temperature as the man’s shifting mood caused it to raise or drop.
Cyrus just loved hearing about the man’s interests, about what made him happy, so he could be part of that.
The Siren’s very presence made him feel alive.
It sometimes felt like he needed Killian just to breathe.
He loved him… With all of his being, he loved him.
And he knew he shouldn’t be hiding what he had done, what he had seen, but Cyrus just couldn’t find the will, or…
Sometimes it felt like he couldn’t tell him, like something was stopping him.
He knew he wasn’t the only one hiding something.
Cyrus had figured out pretty easily that Killian was holding something back.
But, the man had a right to privacy. He didn’t need to share everything with him, even if they were dating.
He was, however, worried, well…more fearful, that whatever the Siren was hiding, it had everything to do with Killian’s no longer impending death.
Staring into the man’s glowing blue eyes, while listening and holding on to each word the Siren spoke, Cyrus couldn’t understand how anyone could have expected him to let him go…
How could he have been expected to just let himself lose the very person who gave him breath each day, without doing all he could to stop it?
Quill Kepler sat there in the grass drying Princess, a Rhode Island red hen, while trying to convey with his eyes to the newbie recruit to shut the fuck up.
Because he really would like the man to stop talking, to end the potentially dangerous thoughts he was stupidly voicing aloud in front of Ender.
Thomas was barely dabbing the chicken in his hold with the towel. The brown hen, Josaphine, clucked angrily up at the Chupacabra, looking ready to attack. Not that Thomas seemed to notice, as he continued spewing his idiocy.
“My grandfather always went on about chickens, you know. Lamenting the ban in some places, and limits in others, when it comes to owning them. Can’t really say I see what he found so interesting about the birds, even now.”
Quill winced when Ender’s eyes narrowed further, his pupils more clearly elongating into a snake-like slit.
The Gorgon may have not been looking at the offending Cryptid, but he was hearing him well enough.
Thomas was not going to survive long here if this was how unobservant he was of other people’s moods.
Especially if the ‘people’ he was ignoring happened to be Ender, and the emotion was ‘pissed the fuck off’.
An emotion the Chupacabra had managed to rile up in the Gorgon the moment he had started talking.
Quill had just set Princess aside when Thomas asked, “So, do you eat them when they get old or stop laying eggs?”
His eyes widened in horror at the man as Ender’s hand froze on Charlie, and he slowly looked over at Thomas, his eyes fully snake now.
“Oh shit!” Quill gasped. Without hesitating, he scooped up the new recruit and leaped to his feet, taking off running as the Cryptid squealed in shock.
Dread filled his stomach when he looked back and spotted Ender on his feet. His hair now white snakes that were moving up around his head, scales were rapidly forming around the Gorgon’s face as rage burned in every single eye that turned their way.
“ATTACK, CHICKENS, ATTACK!” the Gorgon bellowed, pointing.
“OH, COME ON, ENDER!? HE DIDN’T KNOW!?” Quill yelped in fear, running faster when Ender’s entire flock started chasing after them.