Sebastian Shaw in: Reformation: Chapter 3: A look at things to come...

The Hellfire Club's New York Mansion:

I awoke from my bed in a daze. The last couple of days had seemed like a blur, a dream. Was I truly Black King again? Did I work with Selene to take out Sunspot and Sage from the circle? Was Courtney Ross really lying in my bed aside from me? I couldn't help but wonder what was going to happen next. It had been 3 days since we had reclaimed our titles and moved back in. Every member of the circle had plans of his or her own. Would it work this time? Or would history repeat itself like all the other times.

I got up from my bed, wearing only a pair of Boxer shorts from the night before. I needed to get back to my duties as Black King. The Hellfire Club was not only just a club but it was a business. We needed to run it like one. We had just recently opened a bar in the last couple of months, with excellent female entertainment. I needed to look through the monthly statement. Make sure it was making the kind of profit to continue the services.

I walked out of my bedroom. I had just taken a shower and gotten dressed. I made my way to my office. I opened the door and to my surprise there she was, sitting in my chair. Selene really did know exactly what buttons to push to get me very aggravated. "What do you think you're doing in my chair, Selene?" exclaimed I, as I entered the room, closing the door behind me.

"I have no use for sleep anymore, Shaw. Figured I would take a little stroll. Ended up coming here. Knew you would be getting up soon. Don't mind me but I made myself at home." She replied rather curiously. She had been making it very noticeable about her new powers and her new alliances. One might think that she was going on and on to make me believe she was powerful. The art of misdirection, make me concentrate on one thing, while something else entirely is going on. If I didn't know better I would say she was weaker than ever.

"What brings you to my office, Selene? Applying for a job? Is wicked witch of the east already taken? I am sure I can pull some strings to get you the west." Selene knew how to push buttons but so did I. It did bring up the question of why she was here. Selene already got back her title as Black Queen. Usually she goes out on her own and does her own thing. What was she hiding? What did she want?

"I need your help with something. I need you to use this machine. A computer is it? I need it to look up someone's information. I inquire some valuable information from someone. " She explained the reason she was here and it proved my theory true. She never needed to use technology to locate someone. She usually used her magic to do a location spell. How much weaker was she? "Very well, Selene. What is the name?" I asked walking up to my desk and pulling Selene out of my chair. I sat down and began typing on my keyboard. Opening up a server that linked me to the Government's file list. Every registered citizen of the United States was given to me on a platter.

"His name is Marcus Lyonheart. He is quite wealthy and is one of our financial supporters for the club. I know he was born in England but by the time he hit 20 he moved to the states. He might be our biggest supporter." I knew of Marcus Lyonheart. He was one of the club's secret supporters. How could she have found out his name? He is not mentioned in any of the hellfire club's files. He is a private man and doesn't like to be disturbed. I met him once while I was under Edward Buckman's tutelage. But why bring him up now? I put his name into the search engine and his file came up within seconds. His net worth, his birthday, his address, and his phone number were all at my disposal.

"That's all I needed dear. That will be sufficient information for my business. What would I do without you, Shaw?" She said bending over and kissing me on the check. She made her way to the middle of my office and as she walked, little by little her body melted into the shadows, until she was completely gone. She was always able to teleport but this shadow manipulation was new. While it was very powerful she hadn't displayed any of her other more formidable powers. Who could have given her these new powers?

I closed down the server to the Government's files and opened up a private server with every file the hellfire club had. Only a few come to my mind. Who would be able to give Selene her new powers? Amahl Farouk was the first at the top of my list. I entered his name into the computer and everything we knew about the Shadow King was brought up. He once possessed Jacob Riesz who was a member of the Hellfire Club. Was he the one who gave Selene her new powers? It would make sense, when Magneto was a part of the circle Shadow King was one of the reasons he left. Selene and Shadow King seem to have history together.

Another name that past by my head was Elias Bogan. This was a stretch though. I put his name into the computer but nothing came up. Like Marcus Lyonheart, Elias was a very private man. Any information we had on him was erased. As I last remember Elias gave Rachel Grey shadow powers when he possessed her. But here is when my theory gets botched. If Elias Bogan captured Rachel once before, why need Selene to do it again? Also if Elias Bogan wanted Rachel then why let Selene almost take over her entire body? Hmmm wait just a minute. Maybe I am looking at this all-wrong. Elias and Selene have both shown interest in Rachel. Both of them are centuries old. Both are extremely powerful. Elias has never been seen before and according to reports from the X-men; he had a mansion filled with stuff from Nova Roma. Can it be that Selene and Elias are one and the same? Selene knew about the hellfire club before she joined but how could she when she lived on a remote island? What am I saying? This can't be right.

I got to stop thinking like that. I am just stretching here. There are huge inconsistencies if she was Elias, And Now for my last attempt to figure this mystery out. I must bring up all information I know about the Crimson Dawn. According to this the Crimson Dawn magicks can be used when one is close to death. As I recall Selene was trapped in this mansion's catacombs. Without any life force to steal, she would have most certainly died out. These magicks can give someone the power to teleport through Shadows. Which is what Selene's powers are currently doing. But she lacks the famous red tattoo that all Crimson Dawn members must be obliged to wear.

All my theories have come up inconclusive. While I sat at my desk doing everything but what I was suppose to do. Courtney interrupted my search, walking into my office. Wearing to beautiful, attractive white queen outfit. A different one from which she wore the day before. "I was disappointed to wake up and not see you by my side, Sebastian. What was with the sudden absence?" I do not need this now. I thought to myself shutting down my computer. I rose up from my chair and walked over to Courtney. "You are as beautiful as the morning sky, my dear. But I must get down to the Club's business as well as be CEO of Shaw Industries. I have much work to do as you do as Head of Fraser's Bank. I have no time to procrastinate."

I told Courtney what she wanted to hear. Women are easy to handle. It's just Selene who is hard to control. I pressed my hand against Courtney's cheek. She lifted her left hand and grabbed on my hand, which was on her cheek. "You flatter me Shaw. But I must bring up the question of where is my rival? The Black Queen of the hellfire club is no where to be found."

"No need for concern. She has went on a trip to meet someone from the Hellfire Club." I explained putting my arm around Courtney's waist and pulling her towards me. "I don't want to overstep my bounderies here but who is she meeting?" She was very curious about Selene's business. Was she the same way when I was not in the mansion? "His name is Marcus Lyonheart. He is one of our biggest suppoters. I don't know why she wanted to meet with him but she did. "

"This doesn't concern you? I mean Selene wishes to be Lady Imperial of the entire club and she meets up with one of the Club's strongest supporters. Looks like she is pulling the old Trojan horse right under your nose, Sebastian." Courtney brought up an interesting point. Maybe this should be worrying me more then it did. But I couldn't help but believe that she was after Lyonheart not by her own free will. She knew I would be suspicious, why come to me for help? Unless she really couldn't find him on her own. She was desperate and I think it was because someone else was pulling the strings.

"No need to concern yourself, Ms. Ross. You know I am always on top of Selene if I think she will make a play for Lady Imperial. No this meeting was something completley different. I don't even think she knows why she is going." I explained to the platinum blonde who stood infront of me. I bent my head down and my lips brushed against hers in a strong, passionate, kiss. "Trust me. Selene is under control."

Courtney ran her hand through her hair and stated. "I do trust you, Shaw. I just do not want to see you overthrown. I have grown quite fond of your company. I must get to my work aswell. I will see you tonight, Sebastian." Courtney then left my side and opened the door exiting the room. Though I knew she wasn't wrong. I was uncompelled to stop Selene. Something tells me she will get what's coming to her.

I walked over to my chair and sat down. I dialed a number on my picture phone and watched as a dark shadow came upon my screen. "Does she suspect anything?" The voice on the other end asked. "No, Selene has no Idea what we have planned for her. But she will." I replied with a grin on my face.

The End?