The hivemind is conquering for me?

Entering the establishment, Zeona quickly forgot about the embarrassment outside as she admired the interior. Her spy reports did not do this place justice, It truly was a beautiful location.

Zeona thought that this establishment put many northern establishments to shame. The only real downside was the present company. Gang leaders and cartel boss’ who could not appreciate the luxury of the place as it was not lathered in a concoction of drugs and blood.

Those were not all that were present though, Zeona saw a myriad of Spartari nobles of varying standings. They seemed to have corned off the booths, not wanting to deal with the crassness the southerners were known for.

As she scanned around, she noticed a rather influential redhead. ’Lady Kathrine Hyllus? Hmm, Sofia’s business liaison job must have been profitable for her to attend this event. Though if my reports are correct, she is also close to that Apollo person whose honour this party is in.’

As she continued to scan, she noticed another red headed woman nearby to Kathrine Hyllus and her usually composed demeanour shattered and ran to hide behind a nearby pillar. Delilah noticed the odd phenomenon as she was stood right next to Zeona and looked curiously in the direction she had before she freaked out.

Through the under-link, she received information on Valerica Hyllus and paced over to Zeona. Patting her friend on the shoulder, she did not expect her to jump at her touch. ”Woah babes, what has gotten you so jumpy? Who is the redhead?”

Zeona looked at her friend and gulped before speaking in a low tone. ”That is Selene Hyllus. I thought she was dead. What the fuck is a woman like that doing here? I need to leave, I owe that psychotic bitch too much money. And with the four hundred year interest...”

Zeona shuddered at the thought. There were not many people alive these days that left her feeling vulnerable, but Selene was not to be messed with. ”Woah, woah, woah babes, take a breather with me. In and out, in and out. Good girl. Look closer over there, I don’t think that is this Selene you have suddenly brought up and never told me about, we will discuss that later by the way. It must be one of her descendants like Kathrine Hyllus. Maybe it is Kathrine’s mother or something?”

Zeona’s lost composure suddenly found its way home as she dared to look over in the direction of the scary woman once more. After scanning the woman closely, despite almost looking the spitting image, she noticed the woman she was now observing was a little bit taller and appeared to be much weaker.

The four hundred year ghost of Selene unclasped from Zeona’s back and she felt a hundred times lighter in an instant. ”Oh thank you universe. My synthetic heart could not take the stress of her still being alive.”

Still, the fact that the woman was the splitting image of Selene made her skin crawl, Zeona made it a point to stay as far away as possible from the Hyllus’ for the rest of the night. ’Ugh, I feel like I have aged a millennia, I could use a drink.’

As she turned to walk towards the bar, she accidentally stumbled into someone. Looking down at the woman she stumbled into, she was about to excuse herself before the tiny woman spoke. ”Oh wow, you are a looker huh? Tonight is a pretty dangerous night, you sure you know how to take care of yourself?

Zeona flashed a cocky smile as she placed her hand on her hip. ”I can take care of myself just fine, pipsqueak. If anything, you should be the one worried. Keyla.” She said after reading the woman’s name tag.

Keyla looked the woman up and down before nodding in approval. ”A quick mouth. Good, that should keep most of the ass talkers away from you.” She then took a quick look around. ”And I am fine, everyone here loves me.”

As though proving her point, a group of thuggish men walked past and yelled. ”Keyla!” ”Hey short stuff!” ”Look at that smile! Lights up the room!” Three men said in passing, giving a high five each to the woman as they passed.

Keyla seemed pumped up by the high fives as she turned back to the woman in front of her. ”See, bro’s just need a stern telling off when they go too far, followed by some cheeriness and boom! They forget they are bloodthirsty killers. Easy peasy, squeeze a lemon.”

Keyla then noticed Delilah drifting slightly behind Zeona, not sure how to initiate conversation. ’Her strong suit has always been making friends for espionage, she doesn’t know how to actually work a field.’ She thought to herself before taking action.

”Well, well, well. Who is this hot piece of tail? Your date?” She said looking towards Zeona rhetorically. ”Pfft, she wishes, I am Delilah, a pleasure to meet you, um Keyla.” Delilah said with a professional handshake. Keyla smiled at Delilah before continuing. ”Well, This place is a sausage fest tonight and I could do with some girlies to jabber with, how about we go to the bar and I make us up some nice drinks?”

Zeona had to admit, this girl was good. Her small stature and cheery personality could lul anyone into a false sense of security, she would bet good money that even veteran nobles would fall for her act.

Zeona however, could tell that the woman was full of it and clearly was one of Sophia’s top dogs. ”Thank you, but-” Zeona started, but was cut off by Delilah. ”Oh, I could use a good drink, I have not been to a shady bar in years. Oooh, what do you recommend for someone who has no idea what cheap alcohol tastes like?”

Keyla then quickly ferried Delilah to the bar, causing Zeona to groan. Perhaps she made a mistake inviting her friend, this place was dangerous tonight and Delilah was relatively vulnerable in a place like this, she would have to keep an eye on her.

…

Meanwhile, White Death entered the building with Fume still holding onto his arm and Jinx trailing behind holding a credit chip in her hand as she smacked it against her other in glee. Discover hidden content at empire

Fume looked around and smiled. ”Oh, I like this place sir, it looks all fancy and what not. What do you think?” White death glanced out at the ocean of faces. Some people he recognised as threats, some he recognised as enemies and those he did not recognise simply meant they were inconsequential.

”Too clean. Alas, I am a guest in another’s house this day, I will not soil this place with my selfish desires. That goes for you as well Jinx, no fighting. Understood?” Jinx rolled her eyes at white death.

”Come on boss, have a little faith. I enjoy a good fight as much as the next girl, doesn’t mean I have to cause one wherever I go- HEY WATCH IT!” She screamed at a man who attempted to barge past her, only for him to wind up on the floor winded.

”Ugh, some people. So rude. Anyways, don’t worry boss, I am just going to try and find that noble I kidnapped the other week. He is so dreamy.” Jinx’s eye began to flutter as she thought of Apollo, causing Fume’s mouth to open wide with shock at the sight and billowed out a small cloud of smoke as a result.

Even White Death was taken aback by Jinx’s sudden change in demeanour. ’So, she has a thing for Northern pansies? That explains why my attempts have been running cold.’ White Death smiled under his mask at this before saying.

”Very well Jinx, have your fun. But no kidnapping this time, he is our host’s fiancé after all. Don’t push your welcome.” Jinx was not even listening at this point and began to walk off in hoping she could get one last snog with Apollo before he leaves.

She knew she would not be able to get a shag in, Samantha has been letting her thoughts drift through the under-link ever since she had gotten in range about her fantasies for tonight.

Jinx knew there was some seniority at play and she was fine with that. She knew it would be hundreds of years before the outer family came and ate her form, so there was plenty of time for Apollo to come back here and then and she could have her fill then.

As she dove into the link to find Apollo’s whereabouts, she suddenly found out about Apollo’s injury, freaking her out. He had been right in front of her and she even kissed him and she did not realise at the time!

”Oh no!” She yelled before beelining for the restroom where Ronnie was currently having a chat with Apollo. The little fucker was supressing his link heavily so she could not hear nor understand what Apollo was saying, but that did not prevent her from finding her boyfriend.

As she kicked open the private restroom door, Ronnie jumped in front of Apollo despite being frightened while Apollo simply looked over to the door and smiled so cutely that Jinx forgot how to think. That factor was made even stronger when Apollo greeted her by saying.

”Hey Jinx, wow you look pretty tonight, Is everything ok?”