I stood at the entrance of the private lounge, my eyes scanning the room with mild interest. The soft lighting, the sleek furnishings, and the subtle aura of wealth that permeated the space contrasted sharply with the tension I felt in my gut.
This wasn't some bar or casual gathering. This was something entirely different, something I'd been expecting, but the reality of it was still unnerving.
I don't know much about this club, to be honest. It's not like I memorized all the comics. There was Sebastian Shaw, the mastermind behind it all. But then there were also the other members of the Hellfire Club:
Selene, the formidable mutant with the ability to manipulate shadows and bend them to her will. Her powers alone made her a dangerous ally or a deadly adversary.
She'd been quietly observing the situation outside from Nova Roma, but she's not present here always. Not sure how to deal with her, but I can deal with her.
Azazel, a teleporting menace with a twisted grin and an even more twisted sense of humor. His ability to move in the blink of an eye made him unpredictable, and I knew he wasn't someone I'd want to face in combat without superpowers .
Emma Frost, who had spoken to me with cold, cutting precision. Her mind-reading abilities and diamond form made her a near-unstoppable force. She hadn't shown me all her cards yet, but I knew she was someone not to be messed with, well, maybe for ordinary people .
Riptide, the guy who could create tornadoes with his hands, I think. He was pretty powerful for a mutant. An alpha level. What a waste of potential.
Emma stood just inside, her arms crossed, watching me with an unreadable expression and a hint of interest.
"Welcome, Mr. Faust," Shaw said smoothly from his position. "Please, take a seat."
I hesitated for a moment, my posture casual and relaxed. Not like they could harm me, but I don't want to destroy this planet accidentally.
I stepped inside, choosing one of the plush leather chairs, leaning back slightly but still maintaining a watchful eye on her and Shaw.
Shaw was lounging comfortably, that smug expression plastered across his face. Azazel stood nearby, a wry grin on his face as he studied me. Riptide was sipping whiskey, relaxed and almost amused, while Emma Frost's cold gaze was locked on me, as if she were measuring every aspect of my being.
I was the object of their curiosity, and I wasn't about to let them think they had the upper hand.
I didn't respond immediately, instead surveying the room, taking in every little detail. With deliberate calm, I chose a plush leather chair, leaning back with an air of casual confidence, my eyes flicking over to Emma.
I didn't trust her, not by a long shot, but I was more than prepared to deal with her. Shaw was the one I needed to watch. Not sure if he could absorb the energy of stars.
"So," I said, breaking the silence with my usual dry tone. "What exactly is this all about? You two don't strike me as the 'meet and greet' type."
Shaw's lips twitched into a small smile. "No, Mr. Faust. This isn't a social call. We've been talking about you just now, and I have to admit, I'm curious. You've made quite an impression already, and I think we both feel there's more to you than you've let on."
I flicked my gaze to Emma, who stood there with her arms crossed, her eyes locked on me like she was eyeing a prize. The woman never stopped calculating. "What are you really after?" I asked, my voice sharp, my patience already thinning.
Emma stepped forward, her gaze cold but not unkind. "Power. We understand power, Mr. Faust. And we can see that you have a great deal of it. The question is, what will you do with it?"
I chuckled, shaking my head slightly. "And here I thought you were going to try and tempt me with some fancy offer or speech. Maybe even a honey trap." I couldn't help but laugh, low and dark.
"You think I need you to unlock my potential?" I shook my head. "No, you're just trying to control me. This isn't about power—it's about control. And you've underestimated me if you think I'm going to fall for your games."
Shaw's eyes gleamed with amusement, but there was hunger behind them, a desire to control, to make me bow to them. "You're not wrong. But we don't just make people do things. We offer them a choice. An opportunity to rise above the rest. To reach their full potential. And that's exactly what we can do for you."
I leaned forward, my eyes narrowing, my voice becoming icy. "And if I refuse?"
For a moment, the room fell silent. The air thickened, and I could see the subtle flickers of their powers—Riptide cracking his knuckles, Azazel's eyes gleaming with mischief, Emma's cold telepathic probing—but none of it touched me.
I felt the hum of power rising inside me, raw and untamed, and I let it flare just enough to make them feel it.
Emma's eyes narrowed slightly, and Shaw's smile faded just a touch, the amusement now replaced by something colder. "You might want to reconsider that choice," Shaw said, his voice dropping to a dangerous tone.
"This club has a way of making sure that the people who belong here end up staying. One way or another."
My expression didn't change, but beneath the surface, something stirred. I could feel it—the power, that dark well of energy inside me. Raw, untamed, and ready to burst out. The power they were sensing. I had to rein it in. For now.
I met his gaze, unwavering, feeling the simmering heat of the power beneath my skin. It burned through me, wild and untamed. "I don't scare easily," I said, my voice unnervingly calm. "And if you think you can intimidate me into submission, you're gravely mistaken."
Shaw's smile returned, but this time, it was colder, sharper. "The Hellfire Club doesn't ask people to join, David. We invite them. The consequences of refusing an invitation... can be unpleasant."
" And the consequences of forcing me will be much more unpleasant; you can be sure of that, Shaw."
The temperature in the room dropped. The lights flickered as if the very air had become dense with my energy. The pressure in the room grew, crushing them under the weight of my presence.
They could feel it now, the oppressive aura that rippled off me—unstoppable, unyielding.
They were no longer in control.
Emma's eyes widened, a flicker of fear and desire crossing her face, but she quickly masked it. Shaw leaned back, clearly caught off guard, but I could see the intrigue in his eyes.
Before either Shaw or Emma could react, I flicked my gaze to them. My eyes felt like ice, calculating and cold, but underneath the surface, the energy crackled. For a moment, it felt like the very walls of the lounge were pressing in on them.
Emma's eyes widened slightly, and Shaw leaned back in his chair, his expression flickering with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. "So," he said, voice betraying just the faintest hint of admiration, "you weren't exaggerating."
I couldn't help but smile, a wry curve of my lips. "I never exaggerate."
Riptide, unable to contain his frustration, lunged at me with a punch. I didn't move—he was too slow.
As his fist reached me, I simply reached out and caught his arm mid-strike, twisting it with enough force to snap it like a twig. The sickening crack echoed in the room as Riptide let out a guttural scream, collapsing to his knees in agony.
The others froze, the realization dawning on them that they were dealing with something far beyond their abilities. Riptide clutched his broken arm, his face contorted in pain, but I didn't even spare him a second glance.
Emma's posture stiffened, and Azazel's grin faded, his eyes narrowing in cautious assessment. Shaw, however, seemed to recover more quickly, his calculated smirk returning—though I could see the flicker of unease in his eyes.
"You—" Shaw began, but I cut him off, my voice sharp, cutting through the tension like a knife.
"You think you can threaten me, manipulate me, control me?" I said, my voice a low growl. "I'm not here to join your little club. I was gonna leave after a having a little fun. But now you are going to pay for your arrogance."
I raised a single finger from my balled fists, and an overwhelming aura filled the room, pushing each one of them to floor.
The entire building was shaking as if about to crumble. Shaw tried to raise his head defiantly and absorb my powers. I smirk as he fails to absord the huge amount of power released by me. I saw his eyes widen as he was being overloaded by my energy.
Shaw, despite it all, managed to whisper, "It's..too....much" Shaw's face went pale, and for the first time, I saw the man who prided himself on being untouchable look vulnerable and afraid of dying. "Please," he begged, his voice tight with desperation. "We.... didn't....mean to—"
"I'm not interested in your apologies," I interrupted. "I'm here for something far more valuable. I want half of your assets, Shaw. Not all of them, I'm a generous guy after all. And don't even think about trying to run. The second I walk out of this room, you'll be left with nothing."
Shaw's eyes widened, and for a moment, I could see the cold calculation giving way to fear. He swallowed, clearly struggling with the idea of losing everything. "You can't—"
I stepped forward, closing the distance, and let the weight of my aura press down on him. "I can, and I will," I said, my tone low and final. "You'll give me what I want, or I'll make sure you regret ever crossing me."
Shaw looked to Emma, his mind racing for some solution, but she remained silent, her face unreadable. She wasn't used to this kind of pressure. She wasn't used to being dominated.
And I could see it in her eyes—the slow, reluctant realization that I wasn't just another pawn to be manipulated.
I turned my gaze to her, my lips curling into a slight smirk. "Oh, and one more thing," I said, letting the words hang in the air, making sure they felt the weight of my demand. "Emma... you're coming with me. I want you to serve as my maid for a month. Now that I'm rich, I'll need a maid to take care of my place. Think of it as punishment for being naughty."