nextgenerationmarvel | 6 Months Later: The Hellfire Club

The fall of Sebastian Shaw did not change much of the societal face of the Hellfire Club; it was still where the people who mattered gathered, just with one less cranky meglomaniac. But the effect on the Inner Circle and the plans Shaw had for them quickly disintegrated. His loss of power left a vacuum that nature only allowed for a moment.

Selene had waited for years, if not decades, for the opportunity. She had a lifespan long enough that while her whims could seem mercurial, the patience for her machinations to unfold seemed boundless. Once Shaw was arrested for his unfortunate assault on an international businessman, the poisoned whispers she had been planting since he slaughtered her followers took hold. Shaw's name was worth nothing, and someone of prominence needed to take control. Selene did it with smooth efficiency.

All of Shaw's promises were quickly discarded.

She was named Lady Paramount with her promises of righting what Shaw had taken so wrong. She embodied the hedonistic past of the Inner Circle but her alliances showed how she could rehabilitate the Inner Circle from the path it had been set on. Her dark yet silken touch seemed a balm after the iron grip.

All other chapters of the Hellfire Club around the world were still subordinate to the power of the New York chapter. However, Selene reversed much of what Shaw ordered. All other chapters would reform their ranking to her wishes. Once the more classically game rankings were applied, they formally acknowledged the New York chapter was in charge. Then it was in the other Clubs' hands to impress her and reap rewards from doing so. Selene's proper feudalistic system was more palatable than what had been put in place previously.

For the young, rich blood of New York, invitations were sent out for some functions held at the Club. After a couple, Selene had more secret invitations to those of Hellfire lineage, like Worthingtons, Wyngardes, Braddocks, and Frosts, as well as to those newer to society that showed promise Selene was looking for.

Selene kept tabs on the recipients of those special invitations and what they had done in the time after her ascension. When she had all of the international business settled, invitations to the young blood of New York City went out. They would be allowed, one by one, into one of the inner sanctum parlors where the Lady Paramount and Black Queen of New York City sat casually on the lone chair in the room.

One of her slender fingers idly tapped the rim of the wine glass with a very deep red liquid in it. The gatekeeper to the Inner Circle was ready.

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Ahura had ensured that his visit was presaged by gifts- exquisite Attilanese crystal goblets, an elegant hardwood box, trimmed with gold, which contained a wide variety of useful compounds for magical spells and a ceremonial scepter made out of crystals black as obsidian and stronger than carbon steel, studded with blood-red rubies. They had come at considerable expense to him, but he was well enough aware of feudal etiquette- it was only traditional to give one's patron and liege lord rich gifts upon their moment of accession.

The moment also called for a new wardrobe- a new suit made by the best tailors in Milan, shirt and tie provided by top Parisian clothiers and immaculately shined shoes that came from Harrod's in London. He knew that his parents were slightly loath to extend him the finds needed, though he'd been able to argue that a prince of the Inhumans needed to be seen to live a certain lifestyle. He'd also seen fit to begin to establish some incomes of his own.

He imagined that there could potentially be quite a market for goods made in Attilan and, as he effectively controlled the supply, he could charge whatever the market could bear. Commerce was, of course, something of a tawdry thing, but Ahura knew he needed incomes separate from the generosity of his parents. It also gave him the chance to make more contacts, to become more widely known. The actual details of the business could be left to underlings.

When Ahura was ushered into Selene's chamber, he bowed deeply and respectfully.

"My Lady Paramount, I thank you for the honour of this audience."

Curious as he was regarding the precise reasons he summoned him- he had an idea but did not wish to be overly presumptuous, he left any inquiries out for the time being. He had far too much dignity himself, and too much respect for her lordly dignity, to ruin the moment thusly.

Only a faint flicker of something crossed Selene's face when the doors opened to admit the young Inhuman prince. She nodded at the respect she was due. She set the glass in her hand aside.

"Young Master Boltagon, it's a pleasure to see you accepted my invitation. Your gifts were much appreciated." She tilted her head slightly as she glanced him over. They could exchange pleasantries and verbally take stock of one another again, but she had other people to see and the sooner she had a court, the happier she would be.

"How much do you know of the Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club?"

"I know that it is the secret elite who controls the Club- the chosen few who are favored by the Lady Paramount. That it is a signal honour to be among its ranks." That Ahura wanted very much to be among that chosen elite was something he did not explicitly say, though there was a glimmer of interest in his eye that Selene no doubt noticed. It would be difficult to say much more about it, Ahura thought, until it was known where he stood in it and what precisely Selene wished it to be.

Ahura was happy enough to get to business- Selene was a busy woman, especially at this time. Pleasantries could be exchanged at any time, but this was something more important than that.

Ahura had made it quite plain to her through his actions that he was interested and he believed that he was sufficient to the honour. He maintained his native dignity, however. He was a prince of the Inhumans and it was beyond unseemly for a prince to beg or scrape at even the most exalted lord's feet.

"Oh, not just the Club, my dear prince. The Inner Circle are the elite of the world. And New York is at the very center of it. Though in recent years that has fallen off due to mismanagement. I intend to raise the Inner Circle back to its lofty status, and I need the right members to do so."

She ran a fingertip across the upholstered arm.

"From what I have gathered you wish to be among us. Is that true?"

The world. That particular turn of phrase couldn't help but get an ever-so-slight smile from the Inhuman prince. He liked the notion of having power on a wider stage very much indeed. That power and influence would make it much easier for him to make the changes that he knew his people needed to make, were they to continue to live on in this new millennium.

"It is, Lady Paramount." Ahura met her gaze evenly, though he couldn't help but feel a tiny shiver looking at her. She really did resemble some sort of beautiful dark goddess. He could see how people would worship her. "Were you to bestow such an honour, I would gratefully accept. And serve well."

"Then I may have an offer for you. Provided you answer one simple question. Are you familiar with the Terran game of chess?" She was, admittedly, not up on Inhuman culture. Outside of things from down on Earth being called Terran.

"I am, yes. Reed Richards taught my mother and father to play. I'm also aware that the Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club ranks itself after chess pieces- black and white." Ahura had become pretty good at chess in truth, though he still struggled to beat his father. Karnak, of course, had become practically unbeatable when he'd learned the basic rules of the game.

He listened attentivey for her response.

Selene set aside her glass. It held its position in midair as she smoothly rose from her seat.

"Then serve your Black Queen well, my Black Rook."

She offered her hand forward, palm down. On one of her fingers was a ring with a stylized chess piece cameo: the Black Queen on a field of red.

"I accept gratefully and will serve well, Lady Selene."

This called for a bit of a flourish, and Ahura actually went on one knee to take the hand with a ring on it and kiss it ever so lightly. When he rose, he smiled ever so slightly. A Rook is the nearest thing to a King she's likely to appoint today. This is a great honour and a fine first step.

"I look forward to rebuilding the Hellfire Club in your image." Unsaid but clearly implied was that it badly needed such. Sebastian Shaw had allowed things to decay to a shocking extent as far as he could notice- despite the image of an iron fist, it was clear that his rulership had not been a firm one.

Besides, Selene was much more to his taste.

6 Months Later: The Hellfire Club

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