Steal that boyo.

Chapter 37: The heist Pt1:

“Wait, you know that guy?” Iris asked, frowning in confusion as she noticed the way both Ikaro and I tensed.

“Well… ‘know’ is a strong word,” Ikaro muttered, scratching the back of his neck as he avoided eye contact. “It’s more like... how do I put this?”

I sighed, stepping in to help him finish the thought. “Back in Helos, we may or may not have... stolen something valuable from him.” I paused, watching the others' eyes widen slightly. “And by ‘valuable,’ I mean extremely valuable. He probably wants to gut us the moment he sees our faces.”

There was a beat of silence before Aerys let out a low whistle, arms crossed, an amused smile curling on her lips.

“Wow. You guys really do have a talent for making enemies everywhere you go, huh?” she teased, glancing at the rest of the group with a half-laugh.
“It’s almost impressive at this point.”

“The perks of fame, darling,” Noor said with a smug smile, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear with deliberate flair. “The world hates a legend in the making.”

Kleon, who had been leaning back quietly in his seat, finally straightened up and eyed us with an expression of curiosity, or maybe it was intrigue. “Alright,” he said, his voice calm but sharp, “but what exactly are you planning to do about it?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Do about what?”

He gestured toward the group and the city beyond the window with a casual flick of his wrist. “You said you want that shield, the one Vassos is flaunting in tomorrow’s auction. But as I see it, you’ve got yourselves a dilemma.”

We all looked at him now, fully tuned in. He waited a heartbeat before continuing, letting the weight of his words hang in the air.

“You’ve got a highly sought-after artifact locked away in the hands of one of the richest, most powerful men in all of Greece,” he said, voice calm and deliberate. “A man who also happens to despise at least two of you... and it’s protected by an entire unit of royal guards at a private, invitation-only event.”

Aerys narrowed her eyes slightly, the corner of her mouth lifting in a knowing smirk. “Are you suggesting we do something about it?”

Kleon gave her a lazy grin. “Aren’t you already thinking it?”

Noor chuckled softly, folding her arms. “Are you seriously implying we should steal it?”

“As an officer of the law of this fine city,” Kleon said, suddenly affecting a mock-serious tone, “I could never condone criminal activity.” A pause. Then a shrug. “But… hypothetically...”

I leaned forward, eyes locked on his. “And yet here you are, pitching us a felony like it’s a friendly favor.”

Kleon laughed under his breath, no trace of guilt in his eyes. “Guess I am.”

Noor’s smile faded slightly, replaced by a more calculating expression. “What do you gain from all this?” she asked, her voice cool and measured.

He met her gaze without flinching. “Honestly? Nothing tangible. Just the satisfaction.” He leaned back again, fingers tapping the wooden arm of the chair. “Men like Vassos represent everything that’s rotting in this country. Greed, power, corruption. If someone were to... humble him a bit?” He smiled.
“I’d sleep better at night.”

“And the pay raise you mentioned?” I asked, smirking slightly.

“Let’s just say... nobles don’t tip well,” he replied, half-laughing.

I stood up slowly, stretching my arms as I looked around at the others. “What do you say, people?” I asked, grin widening. “Up for a little heist?”

Iris rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the spark of excitement in her tone. “Sounds like fun. I’m in.”

“Oh, this is going to be so entertaining,” Noor said, turning toward Aerys with a devilish glint in her eye. “Watch closely, red. I might even teach you a thing or two.”

Aerys groaned. “Gods, someone shut her up.”
Ikaro laughed, folding his arms behind his head.
“Can’t wait to see the look on Vassos’ fat face when we walk out with his prized shield. Poetic, really.”
Entinos gave a firm nod beside him, silent but fully committed.

I looked back at Kleon. “Alright then. You have our attention. What’s the plan?”

Kleon didn’t waste a second. He reached beneath the bench and pulled out a folded parchment, laying it flat across the table. A map, worn at the edges but detailed, depicting the layout of the auction house also known as the city hall.

“This,” he said, tapping a finger on the entrance marked in red ink, “is what we’re going to do…”
____

“This is undoubtedly the worst plan we’ve ever come up with,” Iris muttered under her breath, balancing a silver tray of goblets with barely concealed annoyance.

“You’re telling me,” Aerys replied, standing shoulder to shoulder with her. Her tone was flat, eyes scanning the room while keeping her fake smile plastered for the guests. “I look like a damn serving girl from a Dionysian brothel.”

The two of them stood near the center of the marble-floored atrium, dressed in barely-there garments that passed for servant attire...an illusion Kleon had secured by calling in a few risky favors. Technically, they were posing as auction slaves… a title none of us liked, least of all Iris.

“These wraps don’t even try to cover the essentials,” Iris hissed, adjusting the sheer fabric tugging against her chest. “Pretty sure that creep in the corner is mentally undressing me.”

“If he stares any harder, he’s gonna burst into flames,” Aerys muttered, shooting a glare across the room. “And to think she got the best draw.” Her voice dropped lower as she spotted the next act in our deception enter the auction.

I stepped into the chamber with Noor on my arm, both of us clad in ornate ceremonial robes and gilded masks reserved for the elite. Entinos followed a step behind, broad-shouldered and silent, playing the role of our personal bodyguard.

Aerys groaned. “Look at her. Goddess of seduction strutting in like she owns the place.”

Iris chuckled at her comment. "Yeah that's Noor alright."

“Are you… enjoying this?” I asked, eyes narrowed in both amazement and mild irritation.

Noor grinned wickedly behind her painted mask. “Aren’t you?” she whispered back with a twinkle in her eyes. “Did you see their faces when I won the draw? Absolutely priceless.”

I chuckled quietly. “You do realize we’re deep in enemy territory and the man in charge wants me dead, right?”

“That’s what makes it exciting,” she purred.
“Besides, the company’s better than expected.” She shot Entinos a teasing smile, then gave my arm a playful squeeze that lingered a little longer than necessary.

I raised a brow, amused. “My, my… have I stolen the heart of the infamous Persian sorceress? And here I thought you were above such mortal whims.”

She laughed softly, but then, just for a moment ,her smile faltered. Her gaze flickered over my face, as if something fragile slipped through her mask of confidence. “Careful,” she said in a low voice, not quite as playful now. “You keep saying things like that and I might start believing them.”

“Is that such a bad thing?”

Noor looked away, cheeks slightly pink. “Shut up, you fool,” she mumbled, barely audible.

“As you wish, babe,” I replied with a grin.

She jabbed me lightly in the ribs, but there was no heat behind it.

“If you two are going to keep flirting like a married couple, we’re going to die tonight,” Entinos deadpanned from behind us.

“Oh please,” Noor snapped back, regaining her composure instantly. “Like you know anything about love.”

“I do,” he said with a rare smirk. “Need I remind you I’m the only one in this group who’s actually been married?”

“Don’t remind us,” she muttered, though she couldn’t quite hide the grin tugging at her lips.

I scanned the crowd. “Anyone seen the girls?”

“Grape, sir?” came Iris’s sarcastic voice from beside us. She was holding a plate toward us, her expression a tight mixture of **** civility and subtle fury.

“Oh, why yes! Thank you,” Noor said sweetly, plucking a grape and popping it in her mouth like royalty.

“I hope your stomach turns from it,” Iris muttered under her breath.

“Where’s Aerys?” I asked, lowering my voice.

“Back there, by the wine table. She’s pretending to enjoy being groped by drunken aristocrats.”

“What about Ikaro and Kleon?”

“Up on the balcony post,” she said. “Watching the whole thing.”

I nodded. “Good. Everyone’s in place.”

Just then, a man in a crimson robe stepped onto the stage at the far end of the room and raised his hand for silence.

“Talk later,” Noor whispered, giving my arm a final squeeze before drifting off with graceful ease to mingle with a cluster of noblewomen near the fountain.

The auctioneer cleared his throat dramatically.
“Ten minutes, esteemed guests! The auction will begin shortly. Enjoy your refreshments.”

I exhaled slowly and adjusted my mask, trying to play the part. Before I could move, a pair of overdressed noblemen swaggered toward us, their gazes locked on Entinos with hungry curiosity.

“My gods, what a specimen!” one of them said.
“Tell me, is he yours?”

“What?” I blinked, unsure if I heard correctly.

“Is he your property?” the man clarified with an oily smile. “He looks quite valuable.”

Entinos stiffened, but said nothing. His glare, however, was sharp enough to skin the man alive.

“He belongs to no one,” I said, voice tightening. “He works for me of his own will.”

The two men looked at each other, then burst out laughing. “Oh, how quaint! You’re quite the performer, aren’t you? Come on, how much?”

My fists clenched.

“I said, he’s not for sale.”

“Please. He’s a beast. The least he deserves are chains.”

I took a step forward, anger bubbling, ready to snap

“Gentlemen,” came a silken voice, low and dangerous.

Vassos.

He emerged from the crowd like a viper from tall grass, his smile charming, his eyes anything but.

“There’s no need for ****. Not in my house,” he said calmly but with a threatening and commanding voice.

“I-I’m sorry, Vassos,” the noble stammered, backing off immediately under the man’s icy stare.

Vassos turned to me slowly. “Forgive them. I’ll deal with their lack of manners personally.”

He narrowed his eyes, examining my mask… my posture…

“You know,” he said, tilting his head, “there’s something… familiar about you. Can’t quite place it…”

Before he could get closer, Noor returned fast. “Honey! There you are!” she exclaimed with exaggerated concern. She grabbed my face and pulled me into a long, passionate kiss, blocking Vassos’s view entirely.

When she finally pulled back, Vassos was already walking away, shaking his head with a smirk.

“Thanks,” I muttered, a little dazed. “But… he’s gone now.”

“I know,” Noor said, voice dropping to a whisper as she leaned in close again. “I just like the taste of you.”

I blinked. “Oh.”

We leaned in again, but before our lips met
“Ladies and gentlemen!” the auctioneer boomed, reappearing onstage. “We now begin tonight’s event. Let the bidding... commence!”