Page 132 of Villainous Rise

Helios had been giving interviews and taking press photos all morning. The photographer was currently adjusting lighting while Helios chatted easily with the journalist from Super Quarterly. I didn’t need to hover or manage the conversation, unlike with Valor, who needed constant supervision in case he said something horrifically narcissistic.

That would actually be fine if he were a League member. Actually, he’d be very easy to manage as a League member. But he’s not, so here we are.

“And what about your charity work?” the journalist asked, leaning forward eagerly.

“Oh, it’s nothing special,” Helios said, rubbing the back of his neck. “Just trying to give back where I can.”

I smiled despite myself. Helios’s “nothing special” was single-handedly funding three disaster relief organizations and volunteering weekly at a children’s hospital. And he never, ever mentioned it unless directly asked.

This was what made being a Keeper worthwhile. Supporting Heroes who actually deserved the title. Helios didn’t need Valor’s powers to make people love him, he did it by being genuinely kind.

Helios laughed at something the journalist said. His smile reached his eyes, crinkling the corners in that way that made everyone instantly trust him. But beneath that warmth, I caught the momentary flicker of exhaustion.

I’d been watching for these moments ever since I’d seen the report. All of the dead Alliance members were connected to Helios’s training group.

And Helios could be next.

They were my designs.

Cipher’s words echoed in my mind. I’d given Havoc the sanitized version of Cipher’s report this morning, watching his face grow grim as he read through the technical details. Details that conveniently omitted their creator.

The weight of that omission pressed against my conscience. I was protecting Cipher’s identity at the expense of full disclosure on an investigation.

What did that make me? A bad Keeper? A bad daughter?

“Just one more shot, Helios!” The photographer adjusted his lens. “Give me that signature sunshine smile!”

Helios obliged, but I noticed his hand trembling slightly at his side. Was he tired? Or was something wrong?

The victims had all seemed fine until they weren’t. No warning signs. Just sudden, catastrophic failure.

I checked my watch. We’d already gone thirty minutes over schedule. Havoc would be waiting for my report on the interview, and I still needed to coordinate with security about tomorrow’s public appearance.

“I think that’s all we have time for today,” I announced, stepping forward with my most professional smile. “Helios has a full schedule.”

The journalist looked disappointed but nodded. Helios shot me a grateful look.

“Thank you for your time,” Helios said, shaking hands with both the journalist and photographer.

As we were wrapping up, the journalist suddenly turned to me with a bright smile. “Oh, and congratulations to you, Ms. Bishop!”

I blinked.

“Thank you?” I managed, my voice lifting at the end like a question because what exactly was I being congratulated for? The Nemesis match, probably. Havoc and Cipher’s fight had broken viewership records, and as Havoc’s Keeper, I’d technically had a hand in its success.

The journalist leaned forward eagerly. “Would you like to make a comment?”

Wait, what? Since when did journalists ask Keepers for comments? We were the invisible machinery that kept the Super world running, not the shiny parts people actually cared about.

“No comment,” I said smoothly. “Thank you for your interest.”

The reporter’s smile softened into something almost... tender? “Of course. You must be a very private person. I respect that.”

Private person? What was happening right now?

“I’m just behind-the-scenes support,” I said with a shrug. “That’s all.”

The woman actually put her hand over her heart, her expression melting into something that looked disturbingly like adoration. “That’s so sweet. So modest.”