6 Months Later: The Hellfire Club

[ngm_hellfire]

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.

Comments

[ngm_hellfire]

"You have stronger familial ties to the Club than most." Her eyes momentarily narrowed in thought. Then a smile of realization twisted her lips.

"Your parents don't know you're here, do they?" Emma's ignorance was perfectly fine to Selene. Though the young lady's father brought an interesting twist if Tina did not know his identity. Oh, Donald, this would be so rich.

[notmadeofglass]

"I don't make it a habit to advise my mother of my plans or goings on, no. I also don't have a father in the functional sense of the term. I assume, because science, that I have one but he has never been in my life."

Tina felt something cold at the bottom of her stomach.

"Something tells me that you know who he is."

[ngm_hellfire]

"I may," she replied smoothly. Selene knew without a doubt, and that knowledge made her posture relax more in her chair.

"But that is a conversation for another time. What has Emma told you about the Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club?"

[notmadeofglass]

"Nothing," Tina said simply. "She had this not-so-subtle concern that I'd try to overthrow her someday. That and she and I don't really see eye to eye or speak much these days."

Tina's posture and expression remained even, neutral even. Tina was incredibly skilled at controlling herself, but she knew Selene knew and she also knew that conversation would be a long time in coming. But Selene had given herself away a bit in mentioning Tina's stronger ties...

"She'd be very...displeased at me being here and I think I rather like that."

[ngm_hellfire]

Selene had given away exactly what she wanted to. If the girl's interest was not piqued by who her father was, then other bait would have been used.

"I find her displeasure at that tantalizing as well." Selene took a sip of her beverage before going into an explanation.

"The Inner Circle are the secret elite who controls the Hellfire Club in the smallest sense and events in the world in the largest sense. We effect the changes those among us want. Business dealings, societal changes, whatever we want we work for. In recent years, most of the old guard has managed to tarnish the reputation, but I have looked for the young and influential to help us rise up in stature."

She had to be honest about the cackling villainy that had happened recently. The girl could easily find it by doing research Selene was sure.

"Does any of that interest you?"

[notmadeofglass]

"You mean repairing damage done by Sebastian Shaw? Yes, that interests me. His disaster spread much father than the Hellfire Club's reputation and it requires a position of power to be able to right the ship."

[ngm_hellfire]

Selene nodded and hummed slightly as she considered Tina's answer. "Very true. And you were something of a hidden power behind your mother's corporation before becoming a... reality star."

It was an unfamiliar phrase to come out of Selene's mouth. This age certainly had some weird quirks.

"We can help provide that power, but I am curious. How much do you know of the game of chess?"

[notmadeofglass]

"Chess?"

Tina smiled broadly.

"I'm incredibly well-versed in chess. I've been playing since I was two."

[ngm_hellfire]

"Excellent," Selene said with actual satisfaction. The less she had to explain chess today, the faster these meetings would go.

"Then do you pledge your service alongside the other members of the Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club?"

It was one last very small concession to Emma, the option for her daughter to walk away.

[notmadeofglass]

This might be her only shot to find out who her father was, to get answers. The idea was tantalizing and Tina was a sharp young woman. She understood opportunity when it was set in front of her.

"I do."

[ngm_hellfire]

Selene set her glass aside. It sat in mid-air like she had placed it on a table. The Black Queen rose smoothly from her throne.

"Then welcome to the Inner Circle, White Rook."

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

[notmadeofglass]

Tina stepped forward and shook Selene's hand. Tina had a surprisingly firm handshake.