Chapter 1

A few weeks prior...

"It's not unlike a Queen to consider an alliance with us, Helena."

Ivory is leaning against her desk, with her arms crossed in front of her chest. She's dressed in her usual attire – a simple leather bodysuit, and a thin, light blue skirt, partially tattered. This skirt was the only thing she's kept from her brief time among her people, as a Queen in the making.
The torn fabric around her hips somehow makes her look fragile.

Helena is well aware that Ivory is anything but fragile.
She shifts her weight a little, then moves toward her, to sit down by her desk. Responding with a soft purr, Ivory sinks down on Helena's lap, resting her hands on her shoulders.

"You mentioned that. Still," Helena responds, "I find it a bit odd that she calls every Vampire base ship to herself. Isn't that a little ambitious?"
Ivory tilts her head to the side.
"Of course. She is ambitious, simply by choosing her name, you see. Queen Death is a legend, and I believe she aspires to be just that. It remains to be seen where she's headed with this, but I am eager to see this unfold." She pauses briefly, to plant a chaste kiss on Helena's forehead. "You should attend."

"I was going to. Simply to support my kin, in case something goes awfully wrong." she responds. "Doesn't mean that I trust Queen Death. Or that I'm looking forward to meeting her."

"Oh, by all means, do not trust her. At least not yet." Ivory's feeding hand toys with the buttons of the dress shirt Helena's wearing. "This may very well be a … set up, but I doesn't hurt to..."
Her sentence is left unfinished and Helena smirks.

"You seem distracted, love, is anything the matter?" Her tone is playful now, eager to forget her worries, and if Ivory is going to give her an opportunity to, she will take it.

"Mh," Ivory hums, and her palm comes to rest on Helena's chest.

–

Helena would never get used to the bizarre interior of a Hive. The organic features and their patterns keep drawing her attention, and she catches herself tracing them with her gaze, as she follows the three Wraith escorting her.

They pass by a cell, full of shivering humans. Most of them seem unresponsive, weeping in fear, or trying to block out their environment, but a few press against the cell doors, staring.
The Wraith pay no heed to them, but Helena bats her eyes.
How odd this must be for those prisoners.

Helena, and by extension, all Vampires, look human, at least when seen from a distance. Up close, their skin has a few cold undertones too many, a few too vivid colors in their eyes to pass entirely, but these prisoners couldn't see that.
To them, Helena was another human, moving freely and unrestrained through a Hive.

But, Helena muses, they probably won't live long enough to come to any conclusions about that.

"We have arrived." the Wraith leading her announces, stopping by a large, winged door. "You have arrived late. Making Queen Death wait any longer would be very unwise."
Helena bares her fangs.
"I'm not afraid of her." she counters, and the Wraith mimics her, snarling a little.
"You should be." he warns her, and opens the doors.

The room is full of... Vampires.
A good dozen Captains, lined up neatly before a coral throne, all of them turning around to watch Helena stride in, and take her spot.

"You're late." the one beside her hisses. Helena recognizes her, Captain Myah, a close ally of hers. She would even consider her a friend.
"I'm aware, thanks." she replies, and turns her attention to the front of the room.

And there she was, half lounging in her throne, twirling a strand of her dark hair between her fingers.
Queen Death's entire demeanor raditates carelessness, and unchallenged dominance over this room. Her, leaning back, comfortable, and the high leaders of Vampire-kind, standing straight up, not moving a muscle.
Helena surpresses the urge to hiss at her.

Queen Death lets out a drawn out sigh, and slowly lifts herself up. Her gaze lingers on Helena for a moment, but she eventually adresses the whole room.

"Welcome to my Hive, friends." she begins, hinting that she's remained silent and ignorant of her guests this entire time. "I am pleased that you could all attend this meeting, as it is the historical beginning of our alliance. Our reign over this galaxy."

Her voice almost has a mocking tone to it, and she paces in front of the Captains.

"Our people have hardly ever interacted," Death continues, "and long have we tolerated your intrusions on our feeding grounds,..."
Helena's fists clench into balls. The Wraith have never tolerated her. Often enough had they battled over food, and emerged victorious.
"...but now, with me in charge of my kind, times will change. This galaxy is mine." Queen Death smiles. "And so are you."

A shift goes through her audience, heated whispers are exchanged. Myah shoots Helena a glance.

"But be not afraid, my treasured friends." Death picks back up. "I am merciful. You may join my ranks as my subordinates, in exchange for your lives and your freedom. I will allow you to take part in my glory."

"You expect us to bow to you?" Helena can't hold it back anymore. "You called us here to negotiate an alliance, and this is what you present us with?"
"Helena!" Myah nudges her, urging her to back down.
"Yes. I present you with this opportunity, as opposed to punishment for your trespassing on Wraith territory." Death's attention is now entirely on her.

"Our 'trespassing'? Your territories apply to your kin only. You have never negotiated anything with us. You're trespassing on our territory as much as we are on yours." She takes a step forward, teeth bared again. Death stands tall, not even batting an eye.

"You think on the assumption that we are on the same level." she counters. "We are gods. I am a god. You are nothing. I could wipe you out without even making it much of an effort. You'd do well to submit."

A muscle twitches on Helena's jaw, and she has to remind herself of her promise not to snap at Death. Instead, she shoots her a searing glance, and turns around to address the other Captains.

At least, that is her plan.
She falters when she sees the crowd again, and pauses, disarmed for a second.

They've all went to their knees, heads bowed in submission to Queen Death, weapons surrendered in front of them.

Noticing Helena's perplexed expression, Myah raises her head.
"Her fleet is massive, Helena. We have nothing to counter her."
"But do we not have our pride?" Helena barks. "When did we start bowing to anyone?"

Her body physically cringes when Queen death puts her arm around her shoulders.
"Times are changing. You'd do best to adapt." she almost sings into her ear.
Helena tenses again, feeling an attempted intrusion on her mind. Her eyes meet Death's, who is smiling innocently at her.
Realization strikes.

She's trying to make Helena kneel.

Hissing sharply, she shakes off the influence, and withdraws herself from Death's touch.
"Go die," she snarls. "All of you."

Then, she presses the small button on her left sleeve, and feels her body dematerialize.

–

Helena has her partner by the throat, when Ivory's voice draws her attentions.
"This should be enough, do you not agree?".

With a groan, she drops the girl, who falls to her knees and begins coughing violently.

"Do you really think that this is a good way to deal with your anger, love?" Ivory asks her, and Helena scoffs.
"I'm just training my crew." she claims, and helps the girl up.
"You are not training this one. You are bruising her." Ivory says, a light chuckle in her tone.

"Pain is the best teacher." Helena argues, and gives her trainee a pat on the back. "Be in better shape tomorrow. A real enemy won't give you any respite."

Nodding, saluting, and muttering an apology, the girl hurries past Ivory, and out of the room.

"Love," Ivory's voice is underlined by a soft purr. "You should not blame yourself for this."
"We are supposed to stick together, Ivory. Untamed, unbowed and free. Forces of nature, that's what we are. We aren't supposed to kneel, not before her, not before anyone." Helena is talking herself into a rage again, and Ivory notices that.

She reaches out, touching her mind, a much gentler gesture than Death's intrusion. There's no resistance from Helena, instead, she lets her lover's presence soothe her wrath.

"I know, my love." Ivory speaks. "And I am deeply sorry. I know that this hurts you."
"It doesn't hurt me, it makes me want to punch things." Helena's tone contrasts her words, she reaches for Ivory's wrists, and pulls her into an embrace.

"No, love. It hurts you. You already mourn your sisters' loss."

Helena buries her face in the nape of her neck and growls incoherently.