It was Apollo, not Eros, the man in the limo! What the hell?!

The hectic drum solo playing in my heart felt like a pledge of future nightmares. I felt dizzy. He was sitting right in front of me, with a mischievous grin plastered on his face. I turned pale.

His impressive dark grey suit, with shiny cuff links at the end of his sleeves, and his deep red silk tie couldn't conceal how dark and deviant his soul was. A DNA-shaped brooch made of white gold and diamonds rested on the right lapel of his blazer. I assumed those were the right materials because the brooch looked expensive as hell.

The door of the limo was closed and locked before I could even think of getting out. Then, the two bodyguards got into the limo with us, but they sat a row closer to the driver and gave us their backs.

Apollo pressed a button on a small control panel, and a matte glass window automatically went up, giving us some privacy.

"Tonight's gonna be a great night, my love," he said then while combing his wavy blond hair backwards as if he was boasting of being so handsome and powerful. I was getting tired of his trademark gesture and his pride.

"Where is Eros? What have you done with him?" I dared to ask as if my own life was on the line when I felt the limo's engine turning on and leaving the parking spot.

"You don't need to worry, my pet. He's fine. He will be attending his mother's event shortly after us, I hope – when he's done doing all the extra work I've ordered him to do."

That behaviour was as despicable as his tone of voice. He had given Eros extra work as a last-minute thing before the benefit just because he didn't want him to escort me. Apollo was jealous of him.

"You look dashing in that dress, my dear Daphne." His eyes were examining me up and down with lust. "I'm sad I wasn't the one to choose it for you."

"I assume you've been busy trying to find the rebels." I tried to cloak my defiance with coldness and assumptions.

"Indeed, I have," he replied with a broad smile while checking whether his cuff links looked spectacular. He wanted me to notice them. "Among other urgent projects, like fixing the androids."

"And designing a killer bike for me – in the sense that it wanted to crush me to death," I added, briefly losing control over my tone of voice. I sounded meaner than intended.

"Oh, I'm sorry for that," he apologised. "It was meant to kill your boyfriend and steal you away. But... you were together... really close to one another, weren't you?"

He wanted to strangle me with his eyes. I did stop breathing for a few seconds due to fear.

"The bike's brain was a standard servitor from the GSNS, so its decision to harm both of you was... a mistake I wouldn't have made if..." I noticed he hated the word 'mistake'. He was having trouble saying it. But his subsequent sly grin iced the blood in my veins. "A mistake that would've never taken place if you had accepted to come and live with me from the start."

His piercing stare shook my soul.

"Are you trying to blame me for it?"

"No, I would never suggest such a thing, my love! I was just... saying... that... I will be obeyed. Last night's 'accident' doesn't need to be repeated, does it?" His tone sounded like a veiled threat.

"No, it doesn't need to be repeated. I broke up with Sigi," I answered coolly.

"Good. I already knew that, of course. But I want you to know that, if you're still harbouring feelings for each other, I will know."

"And you'll get him killed," I whispered with dread.

"Correct," he said with a broad smile. "You see, I have never been so in love as I am with you right now, my pet. I would chase you until the end of the world if that was necessary."

"That won't be necessary." I was trying hard to hold my hysteria at bay.

"Because you've come to terms with the fact that you're mine now, haven't you? I always get what I want." His high level of satisfaction made me feel like puking.

I wanted to slap him, but I knew I had to keep it cool and act like the stupid, compliant girl I was supposed to be. At the end of the day, it was only a façade.

"Yours, you say? 'Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves'," I whispered with determination as if my voice wasn't mine. It really wasn't, it was Martin Luther King's. I had learnt a lot from him as of late.

"What did you just say?" he asked, arching an eyebrow with suspicion at me.

"I said that you don't deserve to be free, Apollo," I replied. "You don't think you are, actually."

"What are you saying? Are you mad?!" he exclaimed with worry. His body language denoted how tense he suddenly was.

No, I wasn't mad. He was.

Or rather than mad, an extremely ill man. Ill people can get cured, and I was hoping he could get cured someday. I didn't believe in violence or murder, hence my will to see him rehabilitated at some point in the future. He needed to atone for all his crimes against humanity, but never with the death penalty.

"I've never been more lucid," I replied as calmly as I could. "You're not free because you've filled your life with your hate towards traditional humans, and towards the rebels as of late. Your life is full of darkness. 'Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that'," I added, quoting Martin Luther King again. "I hate darkness."

That conversation was getting dangerous for my well-being, to be honest. He could choose to get me executed due to my defiance, but I was hoping that he still wanted me, either because he was head over heels in love with me or because he needed more samples of my DNA. The Neon Sea might have corrupted my original genotype. Would it compromise any examination or potential cloning from it?

I reminded myself that I needed to be strong. If Apollo loved me dearly as he had just vowed to me, maybe I'd be able to change his mind. I decided to make that premise known:

"If you love me greatly as you say you do," I added, "I'm sure you will try to appeal to me with those things that I love, like light, and not fill our world with those that I hate..."

"Leave the ruling of the world to me, my pet," he said politely after a sigh. He disapproved of my comments, naturally.

Apollo was and would always be ruthless. Agape, Cian, Sven, and Taro might get killed next Monday night. They would fall prey to his darkness. I couldn't delude myself.

"Don't take it the wrong way, pet," he added in a pathetically sweet whisper.

When I rolled my eyes, he simply laughed at me as if I were dumb.

"Oh dear, you're so naive! You've always been." He sighed, dismissing my ideals with that n-word I hated so much. "I need to clean those thoughts from your mind as soon as possible, I see."

"'Clean my thoughts', you say?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, there is no logic nor pragmatism behind these useless, utopic thoughts of yours," he explained. "Don't worry, my pet. With my brand-new, glitch-free 3D printers, I can get you a brand-new brain... without those nasty thoughts, of course. I'll transfer your memories as my predecessor did with mine. I will only cleanse them from the ugly stuff that weighs you down, like remembering your father and Sigi, for example."

My mouth was left open while my heart was aching for a heart attack at the thought of a fate like that. I'd rather die!

"Don't worry, my pet. It's a completely harmless procedure," he went on sweetly. "After the benefit, I'm gonna show you our home first, but I've scheduled the transplant of your brain for later tonight. I've already got one ready for you. Everything will be perfect!"

The DNA sample that Momo had stolen from me wasn't meant to enable Apollo to clone me. It was to get me a new brain he could customise to his every whim!

I felt all my blood drain from my face. A cold pang struck my heart. Maybe I wasn't going to come back from the benefit safe and sound as I had expected. Or better said, I wouldn't be coming back at all.

The limo driver had taken his time to get to the botanical garden of the faculty of Medicine and Biology, where Mrs Nevermore's benefit was to take place. The sun was setting already.

More bodyguards were waiting for us at the entrance. I counted a dozen of them as Apollo led me out of the limo by grabbing my hand and guiding me up the stairs, towards the entrance. His grip was firm as if he thought I would flee any second.

The limo left the premises after riding around the stylish roundabout in front of the building. The entrance to the botanical garden was a large, medieval archway with ivies on both sides. Apollo guided me towards the central arch, where some assistants were waiting for the guests.

K8 was one of those assistants. She had managed to get changed and get there before us. Her formal greeting didn't attract any attention to herself, which was good. She simply asked us whether she needed to store any items for us in the improvised cloakroom behind her.

Apollo's bodyguards shielded us from her and made way for us. It was then that I noticed they were heavily armed beneath those huge, black blazers.

Apollo ignored her and walked on, dragging me with him. A beautiful, winding, stone pathway was beneath the soles of our shoes. We passed by plenty of exotic bushes and trees from all over the world.

There were a series of mesmerising, golden, round lights above our heads all along the way. Soon, a wide range of exotic flowers was in sight on either side of the pathway. The explosion of bright colours caught my attention.

"You are second no none of these flowers in beauty, my pet," Apollo whispered to me with a flirty attitude. I rolled my eyes when he wasn't looking at me.

Soon, a clearing opened before us. There were large round tables and a long stage with two separate areas laid out on the far left-hand side. Several guests were already there, chatting among themselves – until they saw us.

"The Great Apollo is here!" one of the guests exclaimed with joy.

"With a dashing young lady as a partner! Is she the lucky girl he's in love with?" I heard another say as we dived into the crowd of guests.

"She is!" another guest said, thrilled.

"Welcome, Great Apollo!" Mrs Nevermore greeted us with open arms and a broad smile. "Glad to see you here as well, my dear Daphne."

Mrs Lenore Nevermore wore a pearly grey suit, with a miniskirt and a blazer that seemed soft like the clouds. She was a middle-aged woman with stunning legs, especially in those light grey stilettoes.

"Thank you for inviting us, Mrs Nevermore," Apollo swiftly replied. "I hope your son will be joining us soon."

"He will, Great Apollo," she replied with her usual cheerful attitude. "He's devoted to his work, but you know that, don't you? Anyway, you will be seated at the VIP table with me, the new President, and the new Secretary of State. Close to the stage and the dance floor. I hope you enjoy the party, and I hope my speech later will inspire you to make a generous donation, Great Apollo."

"Indeed. You may count on it, Mrs Nevermore."

"I thank you in advance, Great Apollo. May I be excused for a moment? More guests are coming, and I need to greet them."

"You may."

"Thank you, Great Apollo. Feel free to ask for anything you fancy from our waiters. All drinks are free of charge. The poker games will start soon. Enjoy the party!"

Then, she bowed before him and went to greet other guests.

I couldn't leave Apollo's side. He had glued his right arm to my left one. We were soon surrounded by arse-licking, clone douche-bags.

The benefit was a busy hive full of clones, with their insanely expensive dresses and suits, the women's horrid make-up style, the astringent perfumes, the blinding jewellery, and their stupid and superficial topics of conversation.

I suddenly saw a couple of chocolate-coloured eyes looking my way between the guests.

Those were my two favourite lighthouses in that dark world. They kept shining their light on me despite being far away from me, while I felt as if I was drowning in a sea of useless commodities and whimsical people. I wished Sigi would simply whisk me away from that awful company and place regardless of what Apollo would say or do.

Sigi watched the scene and knew how trapped I was feeling. His glare targeted Apollo while the latter was too busy talking to the new President and the new Secretary of State, both two brand-new puppets under his command, of course.

"My dear pet," Apollo whispered with lust right into my left ear all of a sudden, "I'm so sorry but I need to leave you. I will only be gone for a few minutes. I have got an urgent issue that requires my immediate attention."

I didn't reply. I couldn't. I was far too engaged in controlling my desire to throw up.

Apollo soon left with the President and the Secretary of State to the poker canopy at the far back of the botanical garden.

As I watched the three of them walk away from me, I could tell it was something of vital importance. Their faces were suddenly a lot sterner. I wondered what the matter was.

Agape's gift suddenly came to mind, but I honestly expected her to be loud and/or flashy about it. It could be another issue that wasn't security-related, of course.

I had to flee. I couldn't let Apollo take me to his home and get me a brain transplant against my will.

I turned to the pathway that led to the entrance, hoping to leave the premises and determined to go to Amanita on foot, but Apollo's bodyguards denied me the exit. There were no other doors to flee from the premises that I could see. I felt frustrated.

When I noticed that Sigi was serving drinks while getting closer to me, I sighed. I ached to tell him about Apollo's plans for me. I needed a plan to escape from Apollo's grasp.

That stark black and white waiter look fitted Sigi like a glove, but I wasn't referring to the clothes size. The suit enhanced his muscles and his height flawlessly. The seriousness and the formality of that style matched his usual attitude towards life.

I even saw a few clone women checking him out with looks of approval on their faces. He did look appealing, but I wasn't jealous at all. I knew he wouldn't go to bed with a clone woman, ever.

His broad smile welcomed my anxious soul while he was coming to me, walking among the guests with his tray full of glasses of champagne. He was running out of those since many clones were eager to get drunk and fast.

I decided to make it easier for him and come closer to him. I would pretend to wish for a glass of that bubbly, liquid gold. However, a piglet-faced clone man stole the last glass of champagne on Sigi's silver tray right when I was about to reach for it.

He was too drunk to even notice my presence. He passed by both of us while giggling loudly to his escort, a woman who was way younger than him, also drunk and careless. They shared the glass. He brought it to her lips right after he had taken a sip from it. When she was about to drink from it, he pulled the glass away from her lips and poured the liquid on her breasts. She laughed and blushed. They proceeded to whisper lustful comments to each other.

"Don't pay attention to them, Daphne," Sigi whispered to me. "Come with me. Let's pretend I'm gonna get you a glass of champagne from the bar. We'll have more privacy there anyway."

"Is this... normal?" I asked while we were walking toward the bar.

"It is. It's the fourth couple to do that tonight already. They'll be gone soon enough. The restrooms are busy now with clones making out and getting a quickie before dinner is served."

"What?" I whispered with wide eyes. Fuck. What if Apollo wanted to do something like that to me?!

"Sigi, I'm in deep trouble," I whispered while he was pouring a glass of champagne for me.

"Why am I not surprised?" he asked, handing me the full glass.

"I mean it! Apollo's not gonna let me come back home tonight," I told him, speaking fast and nervously while he was getting another full tray from Cian. I was hoping he'd stay, but he rushed somewhere else. "He says he's got a new brain 3D-printed for me, with 'clean' thoughts, ready for a transplant tonight!"

The tray fell from his hands, making a loud clatter. He apologised as if he was pretending to be clumsy. He knelt and proceeded to collect all the pieces of glass. I decided to help him.

"He's gonna make sure I can't remember my father, my friends,... you," I added, staring deeply at him while we picked pieces of broken glass.

"What?!" His eyes were about to fall from their sockets.

"I don't think I should stay here any longer. I have to flee! Besides, I was hoping to use Eros as a third wheel or something so that Apollo wouldn't get many chances with me. In fact, Eros was supposed to bring me here in a limo, but he couldn't. Apollo is keeping him busy at the lab, so I can't ask him for help. If Apollo or anyone sees you helping me flee from here, he's gonna get you killed, I'm sure."

"Is that why he's not here? Fuck."

"I know you have a spying mission to perform while Agape's gift will make its appearance soon, but... help me get out of here unnoticed, please."

"Difficult. Practically impossible. Not because of how stunning you look, Daphne, but because you've been introduced as Apollo's partner. All the guests have got their eyes on you."

All the glass bits were back on the tray, so we stood up. We took a look around us. Many clones were eyeing me and whispering among themselves.

"I know. It's awkward," I whispered back at him.

Sigi went behind the bar to dispose of the broken glass.

"I'm sorry I'm so late, Daphne!" Eros called my attention, then. He was panting. He appeared out of nowhere right behind me. He was dressed in an eye-catching white suit.

"Eros! I'm so glad you're here!" I exclaimed while I hugged him. "I was even thinking you wouldn't make it! Apollo said..."

"Apollo's kept me busy... on purpose, I guess. I know,... I know he's escorted you in a limo. The one I had hired. I..." he said, finding it hard to speak due to his panting. "I'm so sorry! I-I hope... you're alright. And... You... look... ravishing, by the way." He smiled at me. He was charming, as usual. "Hello there, Sigi," he added politely when Sigi came back by my side.

Eros was one hell of a gorgeous young man dressed in a suit like that, to be honest. He stood out like a ray of sunlight in the darkness. He wore a dark grey shirt beneath the white blazer.

"Save your compliments for when she's safe, smarty-pants," Sigi replied with defiance.

"Sigi! Now it's not the time!" I chided him in an angry whisper. I turned to Eros with a nervous smile. "I'm not fine, Eros. Well, sort of. For the time being, anyway. I'm... concerned Apollo's gonna do something nasty to me tonight, Eros. I was just telling Sigi about it. I want to go home, like, right now. Can you help me?"

"And ditch Apollo? Are you insane?!" he exclaimed as if I should stay. "He's gonna get mad at you!"

"Obviously. But his plans for her tonight aren't nice," Sigi said with mild anger before I could reply. "He wants to give her a brain transplant right after the benefit... with customised memories."

"What?!" Eros exclaimed. His lovely smile disappeared.

"Eros, I'm... I'm gonna have a panic attack," I said then. "I can't do this. The benefit. The partying. The drinks. The lustful glances from Apollo. The countdown over my head to get a brain that isn't mine. I won't remember my family or my friends. Or Sigi..." A hysterical sigh escaped from my lips. "The dodo's egg as a present for your mother... damn, I'm so sorry. I won't be able to help you with that."

"Just... don't worry about it," he replied apologetically. "Is that want Apollo wants? Damn, I knew there was something on his mind when I was trying to convince him to clone you instead of forcing you to love him like we said yesterday. He still wants you, and only you. I can see why now. He wants to get you a new brain for your relationship to work."

"Can you help me get home safely, please?" I begged him.

"You're gonna be the death of me, Daphne," Eros replied in a whisper full of regret and worry.

"Can you do it, or not?" Sigi pushed him as if he was expecting him to ditch me when I needed help.

"My nanochip... I..." Eros hesitated. "Why don't you stick with me all the time instead?"

"And after the benefit, what?" Sigi pushed him further.

"Sigi, he's trying to help!" I complained.

"Well, he isn't. He can't for obvious reasons. Daphne, if someone's gonna get you out of here safe and sound it's me –or one of our friends... because we broke up yesterday, I know that, but...– Not him!" Sigi's pride was kicking him hard from the inside.

"How do you expect to keep her safe when all our nanochips tell the truth about what we think and do all the time, Sigi?" Eros replied with assertiveness. "Be honest with me. She won't be safe. Ever. Regardless of whatever idea we might have to get her out of here. You're jealous, but I won't hold it against you. I would feel the same way. But be honest with me: admit there is no way out of this one. I have got no power over Apollo. Nobody does."

Sigi was tense all over. His knuckles were white.

"Eros..." I whispered. I knew he was right. One of the perks of having a hacked nanochip was precisely being free from that mental surveillance, but I couldn't tell him about that, of course.

But he was right about one thing. I was expected to have a normal chip. Therefore, I was in big trouble because I wouldn't be able to find an excuse to escape from the fate that Apollo had in store for me.

"I guess Daphne is asking for my help because I'm close to Him," he admitted. He wasn't wrong about it. The main reason for me was the mere fact that I considered him one of my friends and an extraordinary mind.

"Then, I hope your closeness to the Great Apollo can be put to good use," Sigi replied with too much anger.

"I'll keep you safe for as long as I can, Daphne," Eros said with tenderness, ignoring Sigi's rudeness for a moment. "I hope the excuse of my mother's gift is a good enough one to keep you by my side at all times. I'll talk to Apollo about this brain transplant. I swear I'll try to change His mind. Let's hope that the fact that I'm His intern at the lab, and that my mother is His favourite designer, can save you, Daphne. Where is He now, by the way?"

"Under the poker canopy, dealing with some urgent issue," I replied.

Then, before Eros could go and talk to Apollo, Sigi said with unleashed fierceness:

"If you want me to be fully honest with you, Eros, here you go: I dislike you. Not just who you are, but your fantasy about Daphne and you being friends. Admit it: clones and traditional humans cannot be friends. We might interact with more or less politeness, but we cannot be friends.

"I find your attachment to Daphne revolting, and worst of all – a pathetic lie. One that's gonna cost you nothing, but to her... it might cost her everything. Even her life. I know Apollo frowns on your so-called friendship. I do so too. I bet that that brain that Apollo's got ready for Daphne won't have a single thought about you either, Eros. Tell me, are you ready to admit the truth?"

"Sigi, please..."

"No, don't scold him. He's right," Eros said with sadness. "I agree, actually. But I wish to risk everything to make our friendship last and be genuine, Daphne," Eros replied with his eyes glowing with hope. "A rare gem nobody else has got the honour of having. I thank you for it, Daphne."

"Sigi!" his manager called his attention. "You're needed under the poker canopy. Move your arse!"

"Nice comeback," Sigi whispered back at Eros with defiance. "But this isn't over until you prove yourself worthy of her friendship."

And having said that, he was gone in a heartbeat.

Hello, my sugar cubes!

Sorry for the long chapter. How do you feel about Eros' and Daphne's friendship? Is it 'real' despite the bumps on the road?

XOXO

MS