What Helena was about to do was something stupid, reckless and dangerous. Her first life would be way too scared, and her second life would scoff at the foolish decision. Even her brain thought it was dumb.
Yup, Helena was going to the drug den, Sirius. Alone.
Helena knew it was risky, but her sole purpose in her third life was to find the reason for her regress. She learnt the cult summoned the demon, and it returned her back for her soul. However, who made the contract with the demon? Why?
Helena told everyone that she was tired from all of socializing and went to bed early. No one held any suspicion toward her behaviour. Helena used to sleep a whole day if she was exhausted. Yet, instead of sleeping, she pulled out hidden make-up and a dress under her bed.
Helena wore a disguise: a brown wig, blue dress and bright make-up. Her dress was bright instead of dark and had many ribbons and laces. Helena even frowned at her reflection in the mirror. She looked odd and weird. It must be because of the long curly brown hair.
Even her own family would not recognize her.
Helena went down using the tree next to her window after the route was clear. She felt guilty using the skill of sneaking out. Her maids would be disappointed if they knew about it.
Helena went to the street and found a carriage to carry her to the drug den. Sirius looked like a big simple building. Helena almost thought she visited the wrong place until she noticed the guards. The guards allowed her to pass the gate by looking at her dress. She knocked on the wooden door and was surprised when pair of eyes appeared in the eye slot. The person across another side spoke in a gruff voice.
"The password?"
Helena swallowed her saliva. She hoped it was correct. "The snakes will devour the star when it appears on a dark night."
The door finally opened for her. The moment she stepped in, a disgusting sweet smell stabbed her nose. The mix of smoke, perfume and drug made her dizzy. Before she looked around, a man stopped her from looking around. He wore a black-white servant outfit and glared at her with suspicion in his eyes.
"Is this your first time here?"
Helena had prepared for this scenario. There was no way she walked into the enemy territory without a plan. Thankfully, she was a great actress in her second life. Helena could perform acting very well to achieve her goals. Right now, she took the role of a spoiled noble lady.
"My, that's true! I heard about this place from my friend! She said you have something that makes people fly and feel good!"
He was taken aback by her personality. "Well, it certainly can make you feel good, but it cannot make you fly. Do you-"
"Have money? No problem!" She pulled out a pouch of gold coins and gave it away. "Daddy loves me, so he will give me a lot of gold!"
That person was stunned by her wealth. He changed his attitude toward Helena. "I understand. It will be better to stay in a private room since this is your first time here. Follow me."
Helena was smiling, but she was bleeding inside. The pouch was her allowance for a month. She would not be able to buy anything for several weeks. It was a price she must pay for her action... literally.
She entered the building further. Helena passed some rooms with the open door. She saw people chatting while high on drugs, staring at empty spaces while sitting or just in a hallucination state lying on the couch or floor. She was surprised to find that most of them were commoners. No wonder the country prohibited drugs.
The servant opened the door on the second floor. "This is your room. Please, wait for a moment."
He came back with a vial on a black tray. Inside the vial was a clear crystal liquid. It was similar to the drug she saw at the Marquis's party. This must be the item called "Fantasy". She took the vial from the tray and stared at it with curiosity. Helena pretended to be excited about the drug. "Wow, look at that colour. It is so pretty!"
"Please drink it slowly to prevent an unwanted reaction."
The man still stood in front of her. He waited for Helena to drink the drug. His sharp eyes still watched her with a glint of doubt. Helena had no choice. She opened the vial and gulped the drug. "Hmm, taste weird like medicine. Oooh..."
The drug kicked into her body. She swayed and fell to the couch. Her eyes got heavy, and her mind went dull. Helena clapped her hand and giggled. "I feel like I am in a cloud!"
That man smiled when she was under the drug's influence. "I see. Enjoy your time then."
That man closed the door. Helena paid attention to his steps. After he was far enough, Helena ran to the window and threw up the liquid inside her mouth.
"Urgh, this is the worst. I almost swallow it."
She observed her surroundings. It was a simple room decorated with a couch, sofa, coffee table, lamp and paintings on the wall. There was nothing strange. If anything, Helena was getting bored staying still in one room.
She slipped into the hall without alarming anyone. The other room was full of junkies high on drugs. Only one door on the first floor caught her attention. It was akin to an office more than a room to enjoy drugs. Helena was no longer surprised to see the symbol of the Paradise Star hanging on the wall. She ignored it and rummaged through a file about customers. It was full of drug transactions. Before she finished reading the papers, Helena heard a scream from outside. She slowly peeked out the window and was shocked to see Matthew Brown surrounded by three men.
How was Matthew Brown even in here? He was an investigation officer, not even part of the knight! He did not involve in Paradise Star until Sinner Punishment began.
Helena's eyes were wide open when she learnt the reason. It was because of her.
The butterfly effect shifted the situation. Helena was the one who gave the password to Duchess Vermillion. Perhaps in the past, no one could discover the secret words. Thus he never visited this place.
Matthew glared at the men with eyes full of rage. The captors laughed at him.
"Heh. We caught another dog. What should we do?"
The other men stretched his neck. "You ask the obvious. The higher-up told us to kill them all."
They stabbed Matthew in the shoulder. He gritted his teeth to hold his pain. Helena closed her mouth to prevent herself from screaming. She must help the officer somehow before he wound up dead. How? If she went out now, she would reveal herself and put both of them in a problem.
Helena touched her head. Desperate time called for desperate measure.
"Hey, do you smell something burning?" asked one of the guards.
"Yeah, it comes from.... HOLY SHIT!"
The office behind them was on fire. Helena burnt the paper in the office with a candle, creating a fire. Never thought arson would be the answer to her problem. Their attention now shifted to the burning building. One of them stared at Matthew and the fire. "Just leave this man!"
"But-"
"He is injured anyway. No one will help him. The customers and the building are our priority!"
Those three men left Matthew alone. He was holding his injury, trying to stop the bleeding. Helena came to the rescue. There was no injury to vital organs, but he might lose many blood. Helena ripped her skirt and used it for the wound. She tried her best to stop the bleeding.
"Hey, stay with me. Don't die yet."
Matthew did not recognize her. "Who are you?"
"It's me. I am Helena Blackmoore. We just met yesterday."
Matthew Brown was stunned. "Wow, you look different. Is that a wig?"
"Yes. The wig is- Wait, that's not the point! You must escape! This place is not safe for you!"
"Urgh. I can't.... This is a mission."
"Are you dumb? If you die, your mission will be over!"
Her word smacked some sense in him. Helena assisted him in fleeing from Sirius. Everyone was too focused on the fire. The guards were busy evacuating people. No one noticed them sneaking around. She and Matthew were out of the building. Helena's heart was beating fast. She just saved someone from the cult. Yet before they reached the main street, someone clapped their hands. The Sad Clown Mask Man had been waiting and stood ahead of them.
"Going somewhere?"
Helena pulled out her whip beneath her dress. She attacked her enemy without hesitation. The Clown Man dodged her strike like nothing. Her attack pattern was easy to guess. Helena took a mental note to put more variety to her move.
Matthew was shocked. He ran to help her, but his injury was deep. Matthew groaned in pain and slumped on the ground.
"Run and don't look back! Tell the Duchess about everything!"
"How about you?"
"I'll escape too. Just go first!"
Helena was right. His mission came first. Matthew gritted his teeth. He did not like it but dashed and left her alone. The Sad Clown Mask Man watched the whole thing and laughed. His cackle sent shivers down her spine.
"Ah, you are truly worthy of the title "Saint of Angles Street". What a touching sacrifice. Although the word saint is not really the correct term. A hero might be better."
Helena used her whip again, but the Sad Clown Mask Man caught it. He pulled the whip, causing Helena to fall to the ground. Their difference in strength was big. She was no match for her opponent.
"I am not here to fight you, Helena Blackmoore. I am giving you a present."
The Sad Clown Mask Man gave her a fancy letter from his pocket. It was an invitation to Paradise Star's Black Market. Helena was hesitant to accept it. The invitation might be a trap.
"Why did you give it to me?"
"I have my own reason. It's up to you to go to the Sabbath or not."
He walked away while waving his hand. Helena was perplexed by the sudden meeting and glared at the envelope in her hand. She saved the invitation inside her pocket and returned home. Her whole body was sore from the tense adventure. She overslept and woke up in the afternoon.
"My Lady, you must be exhausted. Please take a rest for today."
Violet brought her breakfast to bed. Helena was drinking her tea while thinking about yesterday. She had wiped her make-up yesterday and hid the ripped dress. Helena wondered if Matthew completed his mission. She pushed the negative thought and replied to Violet. "Hmm. You are right. I will take it easy today."
Scarlett and Azure opened the door and spoke at the same time. "Lady Helena! Your dress is here!"