Log in
When You Give a Man Power
Chapter 33
We waited outside with everyone else including Selene whom the police and House Hecaton wanted to have restrained. If the intruders who were being given medical attention were any indication of her and the rest of the house's reaction to them just breaking into it.
I don’t know enough about their society, whether they would need a warrant or not to enter. Hard to say since each house that presided over one of the Six Sisters was the one who made the rules.
Being a tyrant amongst many others who would have every reason to take it from you and then make your life miserable once you were no longer in charge was a bad idea.
So if anything it made me think that House Atrix was not happy they were not finding me. Either someone tipped them off or they just connected the dots and had the First Sister search the mansion just to try and find me.
Must have called in a big favor to have them come in the way they did. It told me they were either getting desperate or frustrated.
Looking over Selene and Serleena who looked a little roughed up their clothes looked ruffled with some tears were standing closer to Selene's guards. The same guards I remembered from the past month of training were now injured with scrapes and bruises.
But it looked like they gave far more than what they got from how the First Sisters and law enforcement appeared. Some of them had broken bones with their arms in slings or cradling their ribs. Others were just unconscious.
Some of them look like they wished to do more than just let Selene and the others walk around but the glares and their looking ready to continue had shown why that would be a bad idea when you just have to look at the others who decided to fight them.
The ones who seemed mostly fine were the First Sisters. Like Selene and Serleena, the state of their clothes was the only sign of a physical altercation.
So it is duly noted by me not to mess with the First Sisters since they were not weak which I did not think for a moment that they were. But it’s good to have confirmation and to see it with my own eyes.
“Remain where you are and this will be over with soon.” A woman said with a decorated outfit that stood out amongst the others as she walked up stiffly like a soldier.
“You have violated several of your laws pulling this stunt. You do realize what will happen after this is over don’t you?” Selene chimed in, her voice coming off as friendly at the beginning before descending to a quiet yet cold tone that showed just how she felt about this.
“We are the enforcers of the law on Eshan. We do as we must. What happens after will be nothing. Now you will all hold still as we scan each of you.”
Several of her forces stepped forward with silver scanners not too dissimilar to those scanners at self-checkouts in a grocery store.
“You will do no such thing!” Selene yelled angrily. All of us were ready to fight here and now. Those surrounding us had both blasters and swords raised in turn.
“We must do this to be thorough.”
“You insult my household and workers. You broke into our house without any proof that the criminal you seek was inside my house without a warrant. You never even bothered to explain what the criminal did and don’t get me started on insulting both our ability to handle such a criminal or the fact that we would harbor one. You have overstepped your boundaries severely.”
A long tense moment fell over us all. Everyone looked around and it became deathly quiet. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife.
Time went on and it looked like it was bound to end in violence. Thankfully it came to an end much to my relief.
“Put the scanners away.” The men and women around her did as ordered and the tension faded away if only slightly.
“We will search the mansion and grounds for the culprit.”
With that, they all scurried into the mansion. Those of us left outside on both sides checked over the injured. I did my best to blend in with the group but so far I haven’t drawn any attention to myself.
Feeling relieved at Selene stopping them from using those scanners even if they shouldn’t have been able to work. My illusions can affect machines just as well as they do people. Of course, that doesn’t mean the machine couldn’t be made to see if the illusion was real by doing what the Echani have accomplished.
Courtesy of their ability to read others’ bodies they would see irregularities in my body language since the illusion wasn’t exactly made with that in mind so if they could do it then a machine could be programmed to do the same thing.
I don't know if for example a machine that could simply scan over your body and glimpse at your DNA if the illusion would be thorough enough to ensure it all looked normal and not be something that would make someone look twice.
Thankfully most systems I had encountered don’t seem to be capable of doing that. If there were, there would be some way to exploit the flaws in the system.
Fond moments of waiting and watching a mark that was about to lose something valuable or a target that had the misfortune to enter my crosshairs come to mind with me using weak points in their defenses or systems of laws to my advantage.
Besides the odd occasion of being given viable information, I usually worked with what I had but as time went on I learned to watch and observe anything that could be of use and got creative. Had to suppress a chuckle at the usage of a gargoyle statue at Vittoria Vici's wedding.
Won’t lie I was sorely tempted to wait until after when they would be in their wedding room and when they were about to do the deed-- bam!
Fury hits her and she kills her husband. By the time someone found them no one would know I was responsible since the weak fury spell would have worn off by then.
Always loved setting people up in Skyrim. Holding off from smiling and chuckling like a creep since the authorities were still near us. I’d rather not stand out in any way to get their attention. Time passed and the injured were taken care of and before long the ones searching the mansion returned.
The woman in charge walked up to Selene calmly who was currently checking over her daughters around me while I stood back along with the other servants. Selene looked up, not bothering to hide her displeasure at what had occurred.
“We found no sign of the criminal. Apologies Matriarch Selene.” Her voice was prim yet cold before she moved to walk away but Selene looked like she had other things in mind.
“And where do you think you are going?”
The woman came to a stop. She looked at Selene who was calmly walking forward but her subtle facial expressions and her body showed that she was far from calm.
To be more precise she was calm but more like the type of calm when one was so angry that they had somehow circled back to a cold fury that could only be controlled when they knew they could exact retribution.
Only ever seen it a handful of times but it was always a sight to behold when it happened.
“Our search turned up nothing. We will leave the premises. No charges will be pressed against you and your family for injuring law enforcement and members of the First Sister-”
What happened took me a moment to realize what had happened. One moment the woman in charge was explaining things while giving bullshit excuses and how they wouldn’t press charges despite them being the ones in the wrong. The next she was on the ground looking confused not understanding what had happened to her with blood and spittle coming from her mouth.
Selene had moved so fast that even I was not able to see her movements. Has she and her family been holding back on me I pondered.
Selene stood there as still as a statue giving the woman an impassive look yet it reminded me of Balalaika from Black Lagoon. Despite the calmness, it was eerie and unnatural. It promised lots of violence and pain to come.
The woman’s compatriots got up as did the rest of us. Despite them outnumbering us I liked our odds if the signs of dread they tried to hide were any indication.
“Y-you just assaulted me!” She said quietly, wiping her mouth and looking at the blood on her hand.
“Oh, that is the least of the things I am going to do. Especially since there is far more you should be worried about.” Selene towered over her. The woman was bathed in her shadow eyes looking up in fear.
The woman tried to hide it like the others but she, like them, couldn't keep it hidden. Even her heart was calm before but now it hammered like a bongo drum in her chest. The first time I had heard an Echanis’ heart beat that fast in my time here.
“I am a daughter of Matriarch- hurghk…”
She got out before in a flash Selene's stilettoed boot rested on her throat, the point of the heel drawing a bead of blood with the other portion pressed down on her. If she put any more pressure on it the woman was finished. The look of terror on her face told everyone that she was well aware of this herself.
Even without the stiletto a crushed throat wasn’t exactly something anyone ever wanted to go through. Sure with prompt medical care they could save her but I doubt Selene would let that happen.
“Listen well you worthless sack of Bantha poodoo, you are a lesser daughter. You are expendable, and that is exactly why your superiors have sent you here. Do you actually believe your family much less your mother will start a conflict with me over your worthless life? Don’t even make me laugh.” She chuckled darkly while giving the woman a pitying look.
One that she doesn’t seem to like when she grit her teeth but didn’t make any sudden movements. Have to admit, Selene is a complete badass right now.
Despite the many people with blasters aimed at her, she didn’t care in the slightest. Or more like she was fully confident that she could avoid getting shot and that the rest of us would deal with them.
After all, when they first broke in they were the ones who had far more injured than we did.
The woman not liking what Selene said gritted her teeth, her muscles bulged and fought against her attempts to remain in control of herself. Selene looked down in amusement at her failed attempt to not let her words nor her powerlessness show.
“So what is going to happen is this. Sometime in the future once I am done dealing with some personal things that take priority I will handle you at a later time. Then deal with your family thinking they can walk all over a family as old as mine who has been in control of various Sisters throughout our people’s history. For whatever reason your Matriarch had sent a pitiful force in a surprise attack on my home, a force that she should have known would not be enough to bring me and my family to kneel, which I presume is to lend aid to House Atrix.”
The others who do not attempt to step in nor stop Selene only look on helplessly. The woman beneath Selene listened despite her growing anger and frustration.
“Now I am going to let you up, when I do you will remain silent and give no more lies to placate me. You will return to your superiors and explain to them that I will not tolerate this. Ever. If they wish to do so again they will have a revolt if not a rebellion far worse than what was seen with the Thyrsians. Do you understand?”
After removing her foot she quickly scrambled to get up brushing herself off to look presentable despite losing her dignity and respect in this moment before quickly stepping away without a word which was not a good idea with how Selene is right now.
“Do. You. Understand?” She said slowly, emphasizing each word. It appeared almost like she was going to further harm the woman.
“Ye-”
A finger is placed over her lips, a shushing gesture as Selene gently silences her having appeared right in front of her, her face only a few inches from hers.
“What did I say? Don’t say a thing. Just shake your head yes.” She whispered but everyone could hear her with how deathly quiet it had become. You could hear a pin drop with how silent it was.
The woman despite her anger at having been both made to look like a weak fool and Selene's words that bit deep striking many nerves knew better than to tempt fate by trying to fight Selene and did as told her head bobbed up and down.
“Now you and the rest get the hell off of my property and never show your faces here again.” Selene didn’t bother to look at them any further before turning away. “Everyone back inside and treat the injured. Also, check over everything to make sure no one decided to try and steal something.”
The accused thieves didn’t take kindly to how Selene acted towards them. You lose that right when you pull a stunt like this as far as I was concerned. Everyone moved back into the manor denying aid from the paramedics that had shown up and instead opting to care for their own.
Something I was surprised about was learning how as far as I knew everyone in Selene's household knew basic first aid if not far more than that. No need to mention the medic droids they had. Made sense if you are sparring as much as they do accidents are bound to happen and a family as important and powerful as they are would need medical personnel and facilities to heal their injured.
Remaining with Celeste and the others since it would be rather suspicious to anyone who has observed Selene and spied on the family for a random male servant to come up to her and ask or speak of important topics like the ones I intended to ask her about. That was if she was willing to answer them.
She was not necessarily obligated to but it would help to know if the First Sister had a vested interest in ensuring that House Solorok doesn’t retake the Second Sister from House Atrix. If they were stepping into this coming conflict with House Atrix then it just made things more complicated.
Hopefully not enough for me to change my approach to fix this problem yet a small part of me hoped it did. I am tired of training nonstop. Getting beat every day and despite showing impressive progress I still have a long way to go.
Selene just showed that. If I am to challenge whoever House Atrix had as their champion then I am nowhere close to being ready. Even thinking that it would be another month filled me with dread.
Gauging how good their family was by looking back at the daughters I had clashed with was not accurately showing their capabilities.
The first battle against House Atrix’s forces had me utilizing my environment despite being outclassed by them in a head-on fight which helped me catch them by surprise with magic.
The second time the jungle was used to make it harder to find me. Almost reminiscent of the jungle hunter picking off Dutch’s team in Predator.
That and being more accustomed to my capabilities while having the knowledge of each life sink in. They would have had the advantage were it not for the environment favoring me more than it did them.
Yet despite having such an advantage they nearly killed me. No doubt that despite their skill they still were not the best House Atrix could bring to bear on me. They managed to dethrone Selene's family from the Second Sister.
Either they were skilled enough in the Echani martial arts or they had help from the First Sister or someone else powerful enough to help give them a winning edge.
How they would go about doing that is beyond me since I don’t know enough about their culture and the rules surrounding the changing of hands of the Six Sisters. The door to the manor was busted in laying on the floor the wood splintered and cracked.
Doors were open and the ramrod straight postures of the servants was enough for me to know they were not happy and they had messed with everything.
Some things were left alone such as the display pieces from previous generations of Selene's family like the armor and weapons from fallen Mandalorians.
But others like closets and cupboards alongside paintings had knocked off the walls scattered all over the place.
“Search around the house. Make note of anything that is missing and notify me. Also, check for anything they had left in this house. I will not have it contaminated by vermin like them.” Selene spoke calmly, watching everything with an even gaze before walking off.
Hours go by with me assisting the others to ensure nothing was taken. Which nothing was. Guess even some enterprising individuals would have enough sense to not anger the same woman who moved faster than they could see or react to.
We did end up finding some listening devices they had left behind which Selene and Serleena were not happy about. Serleena herself had been with Selene, possibly discussing what they intended to do about this act committed against their House and family. Knocking politely on the door to Selene's private office got me a quiet permission.
Stepping in continuing to keep my disguise of a male servant up out of paranoia that they hadn’t gotten all of the devices. Selene sat at a table with Serleena seated on a comfortable couch, both of whom had half-filled glasses.
“Matriarch Selene, Steward Serleena. So far nothing has been discovered to have been stolen or vandalized. We are still searching the house for anything else they had decided to leave as a parting gift.” I said in a smooth voice devoid of any emotion.
“Good, continue to search the house.” She gestured that it was clear in the room to speak with one another. “I figured you would want to discuss what happened. Voice your concerns.”
“Selene, do I need to be concerned if the First Sister is stepping into this conflict we have with House Atrix?” The urgency in my tone couldn’t be hidden simply because of how worried I am about what just happened.
She and Serleena remained silent, taking sips of their drinks before responding, “Not currently. House Hecaton if anything was used by House Atrix in an attempt to see if they could find you. They must be growing desperate since they have pulled their daughters and forces back to our home system and not aiding the Republic and Trade Federation since you came to Eshan. Knowing House Atrix they had called in favors owed to them.”
“So we don’t need to worry about House Hekaton bringing the hammer down on us all for you striking one of the Matriarchs' daughters?”
My question got a bark of laughter out of the two. Selene smiled, forced to put her drink down because of how much she laughed at my question. The worst part about it was I don’t know if I should feel insulted or take that as a good sign.
“As I had said out there when I put that daughter of Aileens in her place. She is one of the youngest of her daughters and has no value to her. She was used as a sacrificial pawn, just as House Hekaton had put in the bare minimum to either uphold their favor. Much like with Dib back on Nar Shaddaa so too did they do the same with how much effort they had used. Now if it was a far greater favor that had been used then that would be another story entirely of what happened outside.”
I sat there digesting all of what she had said, doing my best to try and see if it was just her lying to keep me with them. She doesn’t stop speaking however despite my inner thoughts going over each word and comparing it to my understanding of what little I do know.
“Mind you my household would ensure that any conflict of that scale with House Hekaton may see us destroyed but Aileen and her family would be gravely weakened after such a conflict and would not last long after it if they managed to destroy us. They wouldn’t have the luxury of expecting mercy from whoever decided to challenge them next since they had seen fit to destroy what would appear to others as a rival family coming back to reclaim what was taken dishonorably.”
Everything she said did make sense and fell in line with how their people had tried and succeeded in compromising their old ways with the newer ways of doing things.
But the thought that Selene and her family had enough power to make House Ignis, the current controller of the First Sister pay for any attempt at all-out war engaging the killswitch to eliminate them all made me question if they were truly capable of doing such a thing. Or was she bluffing?
The woman who was a daughter of this Matriarch Aileen didn’t attempt to pull any stunts when she was at Selene's mercy nor did anyone else attempt to stop her. So she seemed to be telling the truth.
It was hard to tell with them when they were capable of controlling their bodies to such a level that even after picking up some of their tricks I still couldn’t tell.
Instead of Selene speaking it was Serleena this time, “Doing so sends a message to others that they will not give mercy and will destroy any that are perceived as a threat. So they would be destroyed by returning to the old ways that we had tried and succeeded in moving away from. Depending on who has done what can and will be met with the same level of severity that the offending party had committed and they will have to deal with multiple Houses working together to ensure their demise.”
“So House Hekaton is not going to make this more difficult?”
“That depends on what you consider more difficult. To be fair to House Hekaton they are within their right to attempt to arrest a wanted criminal for crimes against the Trade Federation and for his business assets being used against them and the Republic. The problem is how they went about it. Having a long history dating far back to the Old Republic when the ancient Sith still roamed the galaxy despite this history and the resources this House at its disposal we are not going to be able to do much besides a slap on House Hekaton’s wrist since what they did here was mild regardless of how insulting it was.”
Serleenas last comment seemed more directed at Selene than it was at me. Giving further credence to this was the look Selene gave her. She looked like she had something she wanted to say about it but thought better of it taking another drink instead.
“I know it was a greater insult to you Selene but if we massacred those people as you had initially wished to do then this would have become a far worse situation.”
Selene stopped mid sip before placing it on the table. “Serleena, when someone barges unannounced into my house it is rather hard not to massacre them. My patience is great, but even it has limits and that is one of them.”
Serleena remained silent when Selene relented, “But you are right. It was the better choice to let them live.”
Serleena gave her a small smile before they both turned to look at me, “With you witnessing what you did and how fast I was, you now have a vague idea of how far you have to go Corvo.”
“How much longer?” My question seemed innocent enough, but in reality, it showed the dread building in me at the mere idea of having to train even more and attempt to match the absurd speed Selene was moving at. Just the idea of how long it was going to take made me want to run and hide somewhere for the rest of my life.
“With how quickly you have learned the foundations of our arts it should take at least half a year. Of course, that is less than satisfactory since it wouldn’t end well if you have less than the required training and end up having to fight the Matriarch of House Atrix.”
I stared long and hard at her after saying who I may have to fight. She matched my gaze and I realized she was telling the truth. I may have to fight a Matriarch. The same one who usurped their position as the controller of the Second Sister.
Not that that worried me as much. It does, but witnessing how old and powerful Selene's family is while having control of one of the more powerful corporations of her people gave me confidence that they are more than capable of getting me ready.
I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose, “Hopefully it’s not six months or more.”
“Oh and here I thought you enjoyed your time with us. Particularly me…” Selene said in a teasing tone.
“Oh, I did, just not when I am feeling like a punching bag.”
Selene chuckled at my deadpan response.
Serleena looked between the two of us with a small smile on her face. “Worry not Corvo. With how well you have grown it shouldn’t take much longer before this is over and you can head back to your masters with good news. You may leave since Selene needs to get some water now that she has had her fill of drinks for the day.”
Selene waved a hand at her, “Serleena I am perfectly fine and I have not had enough… would you like to join me? It will be fun…” A blush formed on her pale cheeks.
I simply stared at her, seeing her not as composed as she normally would be before Serleena cleared her throat at me.
“I appreciate the offer Selene but I must go.”
Quickly stepping out of the room Selene made her displeasure known to Serleena who was trying to not laugh at whatever was happening in there. As tempting as it would be to take her up on her offer and enjoy one another privately, it was a bad idea.
Shaking my head and simply wandering the manor before I get dragged off to continue my training.
