The Lounge
The silence in the lounge stretched thin, broken only by the crackle of the fireplace and the turning of a page.
After a long moment, the White Queen, Emma Frost, finally regained her composure.
She looked at him with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism.
"I find it hard to believe," Emma said softly, swirling her drink.
"Could it be that your abilities stagnated in the past simply because you were... intellectually lazy? You are a powerful teleporter, Azazel. Why persist in this tedious study of physics? You are already lethal."
Azazel didn't look up from his book immediately. When he did, his yellow eyes were serious.
"My abilities have advanced significantly, yes. But that is thanks to Dr. Ernst's assistance, not just my own muscles. I didn't reach this level solely by relying on instinct."
He paused, closing the book on his lap.
" regarding my persistence... it is simple fear, Miss Frost."
"Fear?" Emma raised an eyebrow.
"My strength is inadequate," Azazel admitted bluntly.
"I follow Dr. Ernst to ensure his safety. That is the job description: Bodyguard."
He sighed, his tail flicking nervously against the chair leg.
"But I realized a while back that as a bodyguard, I am failing. Dr. Ernst's strength surpasses mine. In times of peril, it is usually I who must turn to him for protection. I am becoming a liability."
Azazel gestured vaguely to the air.
"The only silver lining was my space ability. It aided in escapes or expediting our movements. But even that is becoming obsolete. Dr. Ernst has acquired magical skills. He can teleport through magic. He can bend reality. If I do not evolve, I am on the verge of unemployment."
He picked the book back up.
"So, despite minimal optimism, I still wish to learn. I need to bring something to the table other than just being a taxi service."
The White Queen fell silent. She had severely underestimated Ernst.
She knew he was a genius scientist, but hearing that his research into mutant abilities had rendered a veteran like Azazel insecure was... unsettling.
A slight apprehension took root in her heart.
It wasn't fear of physical harm, she was confident in her diamond form, but a natural fear of academic and mystical superiority.
Ernst had bridged the gap between science and magic, a realm she couldn't touch.
Nearby, Sebastian Shaw swirled his whiskey, looking into the fire.
He felt a complex mix of emotions. Having a son as gifted as Ernst made him proud; it validated his genes.
Yet, it also delivered a blow to his ego. He was supposed to be the King, the protector.
But every day, it felt more like Ernst was the one holding the leash, stripping Shaw of the dignity of fatherhood.
The Bedroom
In a room upstairs, warm and lit by the soft glow of luxury lamps, the atmosphere was thick with a different kind of tension.
Two figures were intertwined under the silk covers.
Selene, the Black Queen, was confident. She had lived for thousands of years.
She possessed physical strength and endurance derived from absorbing the vitality of countless victims.
She expected to break the young man, to leave him gasping and drained.
She was wrong.
Their intense bout had lasted for four hours. They explored every position, tested every limit.
But while Selene was beginning to falter, Ernst maintained an unwavering physical stamina.
He acted like a machine, a pile driver without pause or fatigue.
Selene felt a severe ache in her muscles. Her body, usually so resilient, felt soft, sore, and swollen.
She raised her neck in distress, her hair matted with sweat.
Her initial initiative, to seduce and control him, had dissolved into pure instinct just to keep up. But the scalding heat of his body brought her back from her daze.
She realized she was in trouble.
"I can't wait any longer," she thought, panic rising in her chest.
"I have to act now, or I'll run out of energy and die right here on this bed."
Summoning her last bit of reason, the Black Queen wrapped her hand around Ernst's back.
She activated her mutant ability, the psychic vampirism that had kept her young for millennia.
She pulled.
A surge of vitality entered her, warm and intoxicating. It provided a brief respite, a shot of adrenaline.
Regrettably, this relief was short-lived.
Ernst lifted his head. He looked her in the eyes, and a strange, knowing smile played on his lips.
The Black Queen sensed trouble.
She tried to push him away, to break the connection now that she had her fill, but she failed.
He grabbed her wrists. His grip was like steel.
He pressed her back onto the bed and intensified his pace.
"No," she gasped.
She tried to drain him again, but she hit a wall.
Ernst had activated the mental techniques he had learned in China.
He visualized the flow of his own Qi, locking it down.
Despite her humiliation, the Black Queen struggled.
She pulled and clawed with her mind, but she was unable to absorb a single drop of Ernst's vitality. He was a fortress.
In her fear, she could only endure. She hoped for a swift end. But Ernst was relentless.
When another wave of pleasure hit, she twitched involuntarily, her mind fragmenting.
She was desperately waiting for it to be over, but he wouldn't let her go.
Selene felt like she was losing her sanity. She silently cursed him as a pervert, a beast, a monster.
Finally, the Black Queen reached her limit. Her eyes rolled back, her body went limp, and she fainted from sheer physical and sensory overload.
The next morning, the sun filtered through the heavy curtains.
Ernst awoke first. He felt refreshed, his energy reserves fully replenished by his own metabolism.
He turned to see Selene. She was still drowsy, half-awake.
Tears of exhaustion had dried in the corners of her eyes. In the morning light, stripped of her dark magic and arrogance, she looked beautiful. Vulnerable.
Ernst, feeling mischievous, reached out and teased her.
Despite being exhausted and having fainted the night before, the Black Queen retained the basic alertness of a predator.
She startled awake instantly.
"Don't!"
She clutched the quilt to her chin and scrambled backward to the edge of the bed. Her eyes were wide with genuine fear.
But Ernst wasn't about to let her go easily. Ignoring her resistance, he pulled her close. He kissed her passionately, savoring the taste of her fear.
Selene was breathless after he finally pulled away. She looked at him, trying to regain some semblance of her dignity.
"Did you enjoy last night?" Ernst asked, his voice low and suggestive.
"Want to go again?"
He pressed his body against hers.
Feeling the heated sensation against her hips, the Black Queen hesitated.
Her body reacted, betraying her, but her mind screamed no.
"Please," she pleaded, her voice trembling.
"Please don't... not now."
"Ah, what a shame," Ernst responded casually, releasing her.
"Well, since you're not interested, maybe another time."
He got up, dressed quickly in a fresh suit, and walked out of the room, leaving the Black Queen alone on the bed, staring at the ceiling and wondering what kind of monster she had let into her bed.
The Dining Hall
As was customary, when Ernst exited the room, the Red Devil was waiting in the corridor.
"Good morning, Azazel," Ernst said, adjusting his cuffs.
"Morning, boss."
"Take me to get something to eat," Ernst requested.
"I used up a lot of energy last night; I need to replenish."
"Right this way."
Ernst spent most of his time in the laboratory, engrossed in his experiments, so he was unfamiliar with the layout of the Hellfire Club's main house.
He relied on Azazel, who knew every corner.
Red Devil promptly cleared the way, leading him to a grand dining hall where a spread of exquisite dishes awaited.
Roast meats, eggs, fruits, it was a feast.
Without hesitation, Ernst sat down and began eating voraciously.
Not long after, the double doors opened. Sebastian Shaw entered, accompanied by Mastermind and a sullen-looking White Queen.
They joined Ernst at the table.
"So?" Shaw asked, leaning in.
"How did it go?"
"Last night was quite remarkable!" Ernst remarked casually between bites of a sausage.
"That woman is truly captivating! We'll have more opportunities in the future."
Ignoring Ernst's nonchalant review of his sex life, Shaw pressed on, his patience thinning.
"I didn't ask about that," Shaw snapped.
"Did the Black Queen agree to support my plan? Did you even bother to ask? What if she goes back on her word?"
Ernst dismissed the concern with a wave of his fork.
"Oh, that's what you said. I didn't ask. We were... busy. If you want to know, ask her yourself."
This left Shaw visibly frustrated. The two were clearly not on the same page regarding priorities.
Just then, the heavy doors opened again.
The Black Queen entered.
She was adorned in a stunning, low-cut black dress, radiating her usual dark charm. Her makeup was flawless.
However, those who looked closely noticed the cracks. Her face appeared pale beneath the powder. Her movements seemed unsteady.
As she walked to the table, her legs shook slightly, and she had to grip the back of a chair to lower herself down.
Seeing her, Shaw stood up and approached her immediately.
"Selene," he questioned, looming over her.
"Does your promise to me mean nothing? Is it not worth anything?"
Selene looked at Shaw, then her eyes flicked to Ernst, who was buttering a roll and ignoring her. She shuddered slightly.
"Don't worry," Selene said, her voice raspy.
"I'll uphold my promise. I will support your plan. I'll help you withstand the pressure from the other Hellfire members."
She took a sip of water, her hand trembling.
"However," she added, "I am not adept at confrontation right now. I will provide the resources, but do not ask me to fight on the front lines for a few days."
Though her promise was given, there was a hint of deep resentment in her voice.
She felt she had suffered unjustly at the hands of Ernst, but she also knew she couldn't beat him. Not like this.
Shaw didn't care about her resentment. He only heard the "yes."
"Good!" Shaw declared confidently, clapping his hands.
"With the three of us, the Black Queen, the Black King, and the White Queen, we have three of the four giants. The Inner Circle is secured.
The other prominent members won't dare object. I can handle the rest on my own."
He looked at Ernst with a grin. The war was coming, and his family was ready.
-------------
Author's Note:
Do you want to read 25+ Chapters ahead right now?
Stop waiting. Come over to the dark side. We have cookies, advanced chapters, and very, very detailed 'plot.'
patreon.com/
Dark_sym