Chapter Text
They had been chasing the artifact for days now throughout Rome. As soon as they had been on the trail of John Falstaff’s favorite goblet, narrowly missing the artifact each time they had tracked it to a local tavern on wine garden.
Helena was nearly at her wits end, thinking that perhaps she should have taken more time off from the Warehouse after the tragic events of the prior year. She could see William’s concerned looks as she questioned witnesses to the goblet’s whereabouts.
It was mid January and the weather was unseasonably mild. HG had left Mr. Wolcott at the inn, needing a few quiet moments alone. Walking the streets, she couldn’t help but reflect on her current state of affairs. Christina gone, the men responsible still at large, the mysterious gap in Sophie’s memory and her use of Kempo.
Night had fallen when HG found herself in front of a crowded Teatro Costanzi. It seemed there was premiere tonight of a new opera by Puccini. Helena had seen La Boheme at Covent Garden a two seasons ago and enjoyed it immensely.
An usher was making his way through the crowd announcing the start of the second act. Helena slipped into the crowd and joined the mass in the standing room only section. Italian was one of the artificer’s strongest languages and she easily followed along with the story set some 100 years prior.
She didn’t realize she was crying until after she had made her way outside. One aria had shattered her well constructed walls.