Helios Serpentine

Aeneas Serpentine (uncle)

Flora Serpentine (aunt, deceased)

Hades Serpentine (cousin, deceased)

## History

Helios’ mother would tell him for years to come, that the day of his birth had been a sunny one.

Golden rays and a warm breeze, Jade Serpentine lauded it the most beautiful day of the summer, if not of any summer she had ever witnessed. Not a cloud in sight, the sunlight filtering through the hospital windows unobstructedly. It had only made sense, to name her pride and joy after the sun.

Both father and mother doted on their son, Jade, in a more gentle manner than Carat, but it was to be expected of a family consisting almost entirely of government officials. He was enrolled in Academy classes as soon as he was old enough, being taught the usage of every possible weapon under the sun, but he was constantly reminded by his mother that kind words, charming words sometimes went further than exerting power. He was supported at every turn he took, but not every person in his family had that same privilege.

His father’s brother, Aeneas Serpentine had a son as well, conceived and born around the same time as Helios. Though, while Hades’ mother doted on her son just as much, his father was a different story entirely. Never satisfied with his only child, he prodded and pushed him, trying to shape him into the person he so desperately needed him to be. An heir, a worthy successor. Despite Hades’ obvious talent with the weapons and the sword in particular, he remained soft, too malleable for any shaping that his father did to stick. When Hades’ mother, Flora, died, the already strained relationship deteriorated even further.

Helios and Hades got along well, though Helios didn’t ever not feel sorry for the gentle boy, growing up in such a hostile environment.

They both trained in separate groups in the Academy, dwelled amongst different friend groups. It didn’t change the fact, however, that the Serpentine boys were exceptional fighters, Helios embracing it more so than Hades ever did.

So, it came as a surprise when Hades volunteered for the 124th Hunger Games. An accident, Helios would find out later. Hades had merely tried to talk a younger boy out of volunteering, and had let out a loud shout that was easily misunderstood. No one could back out of volunteering in whatever manner, and so into the Arena Hades went. Undoubtedly not ready for what was ahead of him. Everything went off without a hitch at first, as Hades took out tributes in the bloodbath and beyond. One the fourth day, however, disaster struck. He was locked into a room inside a giant maze together with Link Cache, instructed to solve a puzzle that would allow them to emerge from the room. In the end, only one of them would. Helios watched that tomb’s door close on his cousin, the entirety of his struggle broadcast for the nation to see. Cut off from gifts, oxygen was being steadily sucked out of the airtight room. It was hours before his cannon sounded.

The loss impacted Aeneas far more deeply than Helios would have thought. From the funeral onwards, he would only see his uncle on special occasions after the man had shuttered himself off in his manor, largely doing work from home.

Helios’ parents grieved for Hades as well, but that did not mean their own son was no longer meant to train for the opportunity to be able to volunteer himself. Just, prepared for what was to come.

All the efforts paid off in the end. At twenty-four, Helios was one of the best the Academy had to offer. Skilled, charming and slightly too cocky at times. His mother had tears in her eyes and a smile on her lips when Helios told her of the Academy’s decision to have him volunteer.

The very first consequence of his cockiness wouldn’t be revealed until the day of the event itself. After he already found himself on stage, another hand shot up to call out. How should he have known that constant teasing and daring would lead to Callisto Meadowforge volunteering?

There was an uncomfortable feeling in his stomach as he shook Calli’s hand on stage.

This wasn’t going to end well, no matter the outcome.

Hades had carried a necklace with his mother’s ring on it in the Arena. After his body had been brought back to one, Helios had begged his uncle for the piece of memorabilia.