Helios Black: The Confined Son in K. Ancrum's Icarus
Overview: The Gilded Prisoner
Helios Black is the teenage son of the wealthy and volatile Stuart Black. When readers first meet him, he is living under effective house arrest inside his father's mansion—the same mansion that cat burglar Icarus Gallagher is robbing. Helios appears unexpectedly in chapter 26, catching Icarus mid-heist, and from that moment becomes both a threat and an unlikely ally. Over the course of the novel, Helios transforms from an isolated, resigned figure into a young man willing to risk everything for connection and escape. His arc is one of learning trust, reclaiming autonomy, and choosing vulnerability over self-protection.
Plot Role: The Catcher and the Caught
Helios's initial function is to disrupt Icarus's carefully controlled operation. In chapter 27, he pins Icarus, removes his balaclava, and mistakenly calls him "Angus" before realizing he is the son. This moment establishes Helios's knowledge of Icarus's father and his own mysterious entrapment. Rather than report the intruder, Helios proposes a deal in chapter 42: he will stay silent if Icarus returns for occasional conversation. This agreement forms the fragile spine of their relationship.
As the plot progresses, Helios becomes Icarus's primary motivation for continuing to enter the mansion. He provides emotional grounding, a reason to resist his father's commands, and ultimately a partner in escape. In the climax (chapters 190-192), Helios is physically injured by his own father, yet chooses to jump from a roof with Icarus, trusting the makeshift harness and the fall into the unknown.
Motivations and Traits Through Actions
Helios's defining trait is his quiet endurance. Trapped for a year (chapter 42), he has adapted by staying still, observing, and waiting. When he first confronts Icarus, he is calm and unarmed—resigned but curious. He asks not "Who are you?" but "How long have you been doing this?" (chapter 31), showing he prioritizes understanding over threat assessment.
His proposal to talk in exchange for silence reveals a deep loneliness. He admits he hasn't spoken to anyone in weeks (chapter 41), indicating that his need for human contact outweighs any sense of self-preservation. Yet Helios is not naive. He knows his father is dangerous. When Mr. Black strikes him in chapter 54, Helios turns away in shame, but Icarus observes that Helios's hand is clasped over his ear—a gesture that suggests prior physical abuse.
Helios's bravery emerges in small acts. In chapter 125, he asks Icarus to tell him about the painting in his room, recognizing that honesty is a risk. Later, when Icarus is pinned by Mr. Black, Helios yells back at his father (chapter 191), a defiance that signals his emotional growth. He chooses to be seen, to be vulnerable, and ultimately to flee.
Chronological Arc: From Capture to Freedom
Helios's arc can be mapped in three phases:
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Isolation and First Contact (chapters 26-42): He appears as a ghost in blue pajamas, a boy who has not been outside in a year. His clothes are too small, suggesting he arrived unexpectedly and has not been allowed to retrieve belongings (chapter 31). He initiates the deal with Icarus, calling him "Nothing" because Icarus refuses to give his name.
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Growing Intimacy (chapters 86-125): As Icarus continues to visit, Helios reveals small vulnerabilities. He cooks pancakes (chapter 123), asks about paintings (chapter 125), and allows Icarus to touch his sleeve. The morning scene in chapter 120, where Helios wakes up in sunlight and whispers "Here you are," marks a turning point: Helios begins to see Icarus not as an escape route but as a person.
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The Escape (chapters 187-192): Confronted by his father, Helios is physically hurt—his ribs broken (chapter 191). Yet he waits in the laundry room, window open, ready. He obeys Icarus's command to buckle into a harness, screams during the fall, and together they plummet into the unknown. The final chapter (192) leaves Helios's fate open, but the act of jumping is the culmination of his arc: he chooses trust over safety.
Relationships: Helios and Icarus, Helios and Mr. Black
Helios and Icarus: Their bond is built on mutual loneliness and reciprocal rescue. Icarus provides conversation, touch, and the promise of escape; Helios gives Icarus a reason to resist his father's commands. In chapter 54, when Mr. Black strikes Helios, Icarus promises "I won't leave you here alone in this situation." This vow deepens into physical intimacy when Helios asks permission to touch Icarus's face (chapter 120). Their relationship is marked by careful negotiation of boundaries—a stark contrast to the control exerted by both of their fathers.
Helios and Mr. Black: Their relationship is one of ownership and abuse. Mr. Black calls Helios "mine to take care of" (chapter 191), cuts his hair (chapter 125), and keeps him imprisoned. Helios's response—yelling "You're really bad at it!"—shows that he has begun to reject his father's narrative. The climax reveals that Mr. Black was in legal conflict with Angus Gallagher, and Helios was a pawn in a larger power struggle.
Key Decisions and Consequences
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Decision to not report Icarus (chapter 42): This act of mercy creates the entire relationship. It also places Helios in greater danger, as any discovery by Mr. Black could escalate the abuse.
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Decision to ask about the painting (chapter 125): Helios risks the fragile trust between them by pressing for the truth. Icarus agrees to share the story, which deepens their intimacy and makes future honesty possible.
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Decision to jump from the roof (chapter 191-192): This is Helios's ultimate act of agency. He chooses Icarus over the certainty of imprisonment. The consequence is a harrowing fall—the rope snaps—but the novel ends before revealing their landing. The author's note (chapter 197) suggests that small acts of love matter, implying that the leap itself is a victory.
Theme and Symbol Connections
Touch and Intimacy: Helios's physical presence disrupts Icarus's isolation. The first touch in chapter 27—Icarus being pinned—is violent, but later touches become consensual. Chapter 120's bedside scene, where Helios grazes Icarus's cheek after asking permission, directly reverses the earlier aggression. This progression mirrors the novel's theme that gentle contact can heal.
Parental Control and Abuse: Helios is a living symbol of Mr. Black's power. His house arrest, the haircut, the broken ribs—all show how parental authority can become tyranny. His escape represents a rejection of that control.
Escape and Freedom: Helios's journey is a literal and emotional escape. He moves from the locked storeroom (chapter 41) to the open window (chapter 191). The stolen paintings symbolize the possibility of a life not owned by his father.
Art and Forgery: Helios knows the paintings in his house are forgeries, yet he seeks the true story behind the art (chapter 125). This parallels his own situation: he is a "forged" son, forced to perform a role. His interest in authenticity reflects his desire for a genuine relationship.
Friendship and Trust: Helios's bond with Icarus is built on a foundation of mutual need, but it must evolve into informed trust. The leap from the roof is the ultimate test: Helios trusts Icarus's plan even though it nearly fails.
Five Questions and Answers
1. Why does Helios decide not to report Icarus to the police? He is profoundly isolated—he hasn't spoken to anyone in weeks (chapter 41). Trading silence for conversation satisfies his desperate need for human connection. Helios also likely sees a reflection of his own entrapment in Icarus's stealth.
2. What does Helios mean when he calls Icarus "Nothing"? In chapter 42, Icarus refuses to give his name. Helios chooses "Nothing" as a placeholder, but it also underscores Icarus's attempt to remain anonymous and unburdened. The nickname later becomes a term of endearment, stripped of its dehumanizing edge.
3. How does Helios's physical description reveal his backstory? In chapter 31, Icarus notes that Helios's pajamas are too small—suggesting he arrived unexpectedly, without luggage. The callus on one hand and soft skin on the other indicate he has recently been prevented from his usual activities. His brown eyes (unlike his father's sharp features) are his mother's, hinting at a lost family life.
4. Why does Helios ask Icarus about the painting in his room? He is trying to understand who Icarus is beyond the thief. Knowing the story behind the art is a way of glimpsing Icarus's inner life. Helios recognizes the bravery required to tell the truth (chapter 125) and reciprocates by offering his own vulnerabilities.
5. What does Helios's jump from the roof symbolize? It is a rejection of his father's ownership and an embrace of risk for the sake of love. The jump mirrors the myth of Icarus—a flight toward freedom rather than destruction. Although the rope snaps, Helios chooses to fall with someone who cares for him, transforming the myth's tragedy into a leap of faith.