HER WORLD WAS BASKING in sunlight when she went outside. It was a foreign feeling to her, but a pleasant one, a skip in her step as she and Nathan walked to the car. The whole way to the city she couldn't help but smile, summer songs playing and the windows down. Pure, unfiltered joy had made it's home in her heart and she could feel it course through her veins. Whatever Nathan had given her, it sure was strong. Her mind felt like it was bedazzled with stars, thoughts glowing silver like the moon.

"I'm happy," she said, surprising herself with the statement.

"So am I," he smiled," I have you by my side, after all."

She took note of her surroundings, but the rows after rows of trees she saw didn't give her any idea of where she was. Of course it wouldn't, he would've blindfolded her otherwise. Or perhaps not, perhaps he wouldn't have cared at all. At first she had thought Nathan to be perfectly thorough in every plan he executed, but more and more she was starting to see his reckless side. Sometimes he did everything to manipulate the consequences to his will, other times he didn't care at all. Why was he taking her outside? What was the real reason?

It was hard to keep overthinking when she was overflowing with so much warmth though, all her suspicion fading away into euphoria. There were no bad things in the world right now, just the wisps of clouds in the air and the bass of the song synchronizing with her heart. For the first time, the screaming voices in her head were silent.

She closed her eyes the rest of the way, only opening them when Nathan opened the door for her. The people around them didn't mind them at all, Nathan pulling her cap down more as they walked amidst the crowd. He didn't mind that his own face was barely concealed by his cap, but no one seemed to notice the serial killer walking in their midst. Perhaps it was the huge smile on his face or perhaps the fact that he was so confidently strolling down the street, his hand interlaced with hers, but either way, they didn't get arrested as soon as they stepped foot in the city.

The place was foreign to her, no identifying landmarks anywhere nearby to tell her where she was. They walked through the busy shopping streets, Nathan laughing with her as her worries floated away, tangling themselves in the wisps of clouds above. Nathan stopped her by a cafe close to the water, the both of them sitting down as he asked for a menu. It was quieter here, only five other people sitting outside on the terrace.

"You like sweet things, right?" Nathan said, though it was clear he knew the answer to his question.

"I do," she said," how did you know?"

"I know everything," he smiled, closing his eyes to linger in the artificial bliss buzzing through them," it's part of being the absolute worst. I have to know everything to remain terrible. People often fear their secrets being exposed more than a knife at their throat."

"How about you?" she said.

He opened his eyes, watching her curiously. "I don't know. I haven't found something which truly scares me yet."

"Do you want to?" she asked.

She knew it was a strange question, because no one actually wanted to be filled with fear. At least, no one but Nathan. He was chasing the thrill of feeling something more than anyone else she had ever met, to the point that he wouldn't mind dying simply to know his heart had been beating once. When their gazes locked, his smile widened, the shadows cast upon him by the cap dancing on his face.

"Of course," he said," what else makes life worth living except being scared? Nothing matters if you have no fear."

Before she could reply, their server arrived, flashing them a wide smile. He was a gangly boy with red curls and a cluster of freckles on his nose, spreading out towards his cheeks. It was genuine warmth which he radiated, an innocence which came with youth still making the world gentle to him. All she needed to know was what his relationship with his parents was like and then she could unravel everything about him. The first time cynicism tainted a heart often started at home and that, more than happiness, was telling of what a person's character would be like.

No, she had to stop overanalyzing people. That wasn't her job anymore. What was her job though? Did she even still have one? If she didn't contribute something to the world at all times, she wouldn't have any use anymore. Before she could derail her thoughts into the shadows again, she allowed herself to lean in more in the buzz of happiness, making everything fade away again.

"Hello," the server said," how was your day? I came to take your order."

"As lovely as my lady here," Nathan said, before continuing," I'd like a black coffee. What do you want, darling? You'd like something cherry-flavored, right?"

How wondrous how easily he gave her the illusion of having a choice, while simultaneously pushing her in the direction he wanted to. She didn't mind though. Nothing could disturb her mood today. When she nodded, the server beamed at them.

"I have the perfect drink for you then!" he said, leaning in as if to tell them a secret," cherry is the best flavor, really, so you chose right."

Then he was off, humming to himself as he made his way to the cafe.

"Do you think he's endearing?"

Helene's gaze snapped back towards Nathan, but he still looked too happy for it to have been a threat. She smiled back at him, reaching out to take his hands in hers.

"I think you're endearing," she said.

"My clever Helene," he said warmly," you're dodging conflict even now."

"I'm not," she said," I just don't see the point in talking about him when you're the only one that matters." She took the menu in her hands, glancing at him. "Can I get a dessert?"

"Anything for you," he said.

"A red velvet cake then," she said," we can share."

The lines of the world started dancing, but she wasn't sure whether it was an added hallucinogenic kicking in or her mind playing tricks on her. She didn't linger on it, instead trying to focus back on Nathan.

"Tell me more about you," she said," all the time I've spend in that room I could only think about how little I actually know. What were you doing while I was waiting for you to return?"

"Dreadfully boring chores," he sighed," you can't understand how much I wanted to see you, but while you had to take your time to realize what was truly important, I kept myself busy."

"With what?" Helene asked.

"Creating a throne of bones," he said," it's easy to get to the top of the underworld if you're clad in blood and death. I don't care much for the duties, but the power is always useful. While I was in prison, I let a few people take over for me momentarily. When I got back, it was a hassle to get everything back again how I wanted it. It was even more of a hassle to have them all killed."

"Did they stab you in the back?"

"No," Nathan said," they actually were very loyal. I don't think they would've even dared to think of going against me, but power corrupts people's hearts. I had to act preventively, before it spread."

"Will you be busy now?" she said.

"Never too busy for you," he promised," you have nothing to worry about." He looked at the server, who helped an elderly woman out of her chair with a smile. "I, however, do worry."

His gaze flicked to their intertwined hands then and he softly raised hers to his lips, keeping eye contact.

"I want to be the only one with the privilege of touching you," he said," only if you grant me that favor will I be able to rest easy."

Normally she would've thought of a way to dance around the question, but it was hard to think much at all right now. She nodded before she could stop herself, but when Nathan's face lit up so brightly, she couldn't help but smile wider as well.

"I may be a monster, Helene," he said," but not to you, never to you. I won't be cruel like everyone else has been. I truly love you. If I hadn't, I would've kept you locked up, not taken you outside with me."

"Here are your drinks," the server said," can I get you something to eat as well?"

"Yes, the red velvet for her," Nathan said.

"Anything else, ma'am?" the boy said, looking straight at her for an answer instead of Nathan.

"Did you not hear me speak?" Nathan said.

The server hesitated, seeming unsure about what to do for a moment. He made his decision quickly though, taking a step towards Helene as he placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Is everything alright?" he whispered.

"Yes, of course," she said, words coming out in a rush as soon as he touched her.

He was in danger. Him trying to help her had been enough to put his life at risk. It was a terrible thought, so she let it fade away, so as to not let it haunt her.

"She is," Nathan smiled, pulling something from his waist," I'm not."

He pulled the trigger and the boy dissolved into a mass of monarch butterflies, who flew away in the wind with his smile. She stared at the fragile wings as they fluttered, watching them until they disappeared. People around them started screaming, but she didn't understand why. The world became a blur, only Nathan sharp against the gray background.

"What else was in the pill?" she asked.

"Enough for us to lose ourselves," he replied, standing up as he took her hand," now let's go, before we drown."

He started running and she followed, his laugh tumbling down his lips euphorically. Without knowing why, she started laughing as well.

"Is this a dream?" she said, laugh almost turning hysterical.

"Only if you want it to be," he said.

When they took another step, they dissolved into roses.