CHAPTER 50: GAME PLAN

Hermes stared at Somner’s plush carpet, still littered with used tissues and half-melted chocolate truffles. The air smelled like perfume and heartbreak.

"I saw him." Hermes said, voice low. "In Haven City Jail."

Somner sniffled and wiped his red-rimmed eyes with the hem of his fluffy robe. "Who?"

"Eirwyn. He was interrogating Trivia." Hermes clenched his fists. "No, not interrogating. Torturing. He was... smiling while doing it."

Somner’s mouth fell open. "What the fuck?"

"He had her chained to a wall. Cut off her fingers. One by one. Then used Rewind to heal her. Over and over again." Hermes swallowed thickly. "Like it was a game."

The color drained from Somner’s face. He looked seconds away from retching into one of his crystal vases.

"But—wait. You’re saying he used Rewind?" Somner rubbed his chin as the gears turned in his head.

"I mean... Rewind’s powerful, sure, but it doesn’t erase memories, does it? I’ve never seen him use it that way. He just uses it to heal his team or fix broken buildings and objects."

Hermes shook his head. "I don’t know. That’s what I need to figure out. I have a gap. Nine days. And somehow, Eirwyn got Cryoshift during that time."

Somner froze. "He has Cryoshift?"

Hermes nodded.

There was a beat of silence.

Then Somner stood up so fast his robe slipped off one shoulder. "That bitch! That absolute fucking bitch. He took it from you?"

"I... I don’t know. I don’t remember giving it to him. But he has it. Which means..." Hermes felt bile rise in his throat. "He had my fluids."

Somner’s lip curled down as he grimaced. "He drank you? Without consent?!"

Hermes winced. "Maybe. But I have this sick feeling I was convinced. Like he made me offer it. He’s too smooth, too polished. People trust him instantly. He made me feel safe, Somner."

Somner looked at him, devastated. "Oh, Hermes..."

He placed his hand on Hermes’ shoulder. Hermes leaned in to his touch, realizing how much he needed it.

"That’s what makes him so dangerous." Hermes muttered. "It’s not just about hurting people. It’s how good he is at hiding it."

He paced in front of the velvet ottoman. "The only person who probably knows the truth is his secretary. The rest? They worship him. And if I say anything now, I’m just a bitter low-class nobody trying to ruin a beloved hero’s career."

Somner crossed his arms. "Well, then we ruin his career. Strategically."

Hermes stopped pacing.

"I’m serious," Somner continued. "I have reach, okay? Interviews, sponsorships, I’ve got public goodwill in spades. If I say he’s dangerous—"

"No." Hermes cut in. "If we go public now, we become targets. Eirwyn has influence too. And worse, he’s smart. He’ll scrub the truth clean before it reaches anyone. We need evidence."

"More than the footage?" Somner blinked.

Hermes gave him a look. "You think that footage will survive once it hits the internet? It’ll get flagged as ’fake’ before the hour ends. It has to come from within. We have to corner him."

Somner nodded slowly. "Okay... okay. So what our game plan?"

Hermes sat down. His hands were shaking a little, but his eyes were sharp. "We need to find out what he’s after. During the torture, he kept asking Trivia about some kind of ’core’."

"Core?"

Hermes nodded. "She wouldn’t talk. Which means it’s something serious. Maybe even classified."

Somner sat beside him, pulling the blanket over both their laps. "If only we could, I don’t know... read his mind or something."

Hermes blinked. His pulse stilled.

"Wait."

Somner turned to him. "What?"

"There is someone who can do that."

Somner raised an eyebrow.

"Aphrodite."

Somner blinked. "Aphrodite? Who’s that?"

Hermes reddened a little. "Uh... He’s my childhood friend. It’s a long story but the point is that I learned that he has an ability."

He added: "He has Mindbloom. He can read thoughts. Not just surface ones. Deep, buried ones. The kind Eirwyn won’t say out loud."

Somner narrowed his eyes. "That’s pretty OP."

"He’s scared of people. He had been raised as a shut-in by his parents due to a condition. But if I call him in for my RAM test..." Hermes allowed himself a smile. "Then he has a reason to be in Haven. No suspicion."

Somner looked thoughtful. "You’re using the test as a front?"

"I have to." Hermes checked the schedule that Ymir sent him in his email. "It’s tomorrow. If we plan this right, we might be able to catch Eirwyn off-guard."

Somner pulled the blanket tighter. "And... You’re sure this is going to work? You’re not going to get hurt even more?"

"I’m desperate."

There was a pause.

Then Somner reached over and held his hand. "I’m in. If anything happens, I can use Sirentone to command that motherfucker to rip out his own heart from his chest."

Hermes let himself relax a little. "Thank you."

"Don’t thank me yet," Somner said, standing up and grabbing his phone. "We have to prep for a perfect trap."

"First," Hermes said, opening his own phone. "Let’s message Aphrodite."

***

Later that night, Aphrodite’s voice trembled on the phone call.

"You want me to what?"

"I need your help." Hermes said gently. "It’s important. You’re the only one I trust with this."

"I-I... I haven’t used Mindbloom on someone like him before. What if I mess up?"

"You won’t," Hermes said. "You’re not just doing this for me. It’s about saving people. He’s hurting villains in that jail. Who knows what else he’s done?"

Aphrodite was quiet for a long time.

Then: "Okay. I’ll be there tomorrow. For your RAM test."

Hermes exhaled.

"Thank you. I owe you one."

"It’s fine...." Aphrodite mumbled. "You’re... You’re my only friend. I’ll do anything for you."

Hermes smiled. "You’re the best, Aphro. I believe in you. Somner and I will protect you and make sure nothing happens to you."

After they hung up, he stared at his phone for a long time. His heart was thudding.

This was it.

Tomorrow, the test would begin. Not just for his rank... But a test of camaraderie between him and his allies.

A/N: If you have enjoyed reading up to this point, please consider giving golden tickets, gifts, powerstones and a review! It would help this book a lot to gain more audience. Thank you!