First movement : entrechats
The evening was in full swing. Her palace had been turned into a magnificent and luxurious place of reception. The banquet had been ongoing for hours now, but most of the guests had left the trays of food for the pleasure of fresh air. Everyone was doing what they loved best : be it conversing, drinking, scheming, plotting, seducing, spying, intimidating, or doing questionable things in the discreet and dark corners of her estate. As far as Elena could tell, the event was a success - one that was due to the diligence and discipline of the Werserian family. Many grand-children of Abelard were right now scouting the area, scanning the party for any stray vase of flowers, bored guests in need of conversation, or sight of any form of hostility.
She had discreetly escaped after the 16-meal-dinner to prowl around the gardens, in search of some privacy. There, she spent some time with Yrliet. The Outcast was lurking in the shadows of the evening, keeping to herself. The various exhibitions of xenotech, even Drukhari captives, were not to her liking. The presence of the Lord Inquisitor of the Ordo Xenos neither. Yrliet had made herself invisible.
It was a relief to be able to hide away for a few minutes with someone who didn't ask her anything. Whoever Yrliet had been stalking, the Aeldari seemed glad to put a pause to her chase and to spend some time in silence with the elantach. The sight of the two eerily tall women doing some people-watching together would certainly have given a heart attack to most of her respectable guests, but Elena was careful not to be seen.
She stayed for a while with Yrliet, both standing in silence as they observed the ongoing party below. Her absence had sent quite a wave of confusion over the various groups - it was like looking at a hive of bees desperately looking for its queen. It amused Elena to see how the relationships between those groups of people changed when she was not present.
Some scholar she had read about had said that the mere fact of observation could change the state of what is observed. This was related to a story of a gyrinx in a box : you could not know whether it was dead or alive before opening the box. Theoretically, the gyrinx was in both states at once, at least on a metaphysical level. That was until you opened up the box - and there your observation anchored what was observed in one state or another. The analogy was useful to understand more about the workings of some inexplicable warp phenomenon, where contradictory states could happen at the same time and at the same place.
Apparently, nobles shared the same feature as warp phenomena. They, too, could co-exist in a contradictory state without breaking a sweat. Elena watched as the intrigues of the night lured in her plotting servants.
Well, that was fun, but she could not spend her night with Yrliet stalking people. Wordlessly, she left the Aeldari to her hiding spots and pretended to take a walk through the orangerie.
Second movement : chassé
She found Heinrix doing pretty much the same thing in one of the alleyways. She smiled pleasantly at him - but he didn't react. His expression was inscrutable, tense.
" Rogue Trader ", he saluted, in a tone that was colder than usual.
Elena said nothing, growing close to him. The lights adorned in the skull wreaths above their head flickered. She spotted the Lord Inquisitor faraway, on the other side of the garden. He was talking with Lady Gaprak - and, considering the expression of the poor woman, the conversation was not going well for her.
Both of Calcazar's acolytes - the Priest of Mars and the assassin - had vanished somewhere in the party.
So that was why Heinrix was so tense.
One could think that he was a spy, an ever-vigilant watcher - and it was all true. But surely someone's eyes were lingering over him as well. If you watched, you were being watched back. Such was the rule of the game.
Elena read into the situation quickly, understanding that they were not to disclose anything that could tip at their…closeness…for now.
" How is your evening going, Master van Calox ?" she asked politely, in a formal voice.
" It has been most agreeable. There are many interesting conversations going on. "
" You never stop working, do you ? "
" They call it the "unsleeping eye" of the Inquisition for a reason. "
To anyone's ears, that would have sounded like any other stiff and formal conversations, between people that could be said to share a sense of familiarity, but not much more.
However, secured by the dark, Heinrix had been patiently signing up with his fingers - Imperial Guard signs, such as the very one she had addressed to him when they first met in her chamber in secret.
She read into the quick signals efficiently. It was a series of numbers, broken down in a logical algebra suite. Elena refrained a smile. That was so much like Heinrix to code his own hand signals with a mathematician's formula.
Fortunately, she cracked down the enigma and deciphered its meaning : he was simply signaling her coordinates. She wished him a pleasant evening and went on her way, pretending to move along the groups while she was headed for the position indicated by Heinrix.
In Dargonus's gardens stood an observatory tower. That's where she ended up. It was empty - people had no use for decrepit telescopes. She closed the door behind her, and wasn't surprised to find Heinrix had been waiting for her there. His tension seemed to simmer down when he saw her - the faint hint of a smile tugged at his lips for a second before fading away.
" Elena ", he greeted her. His fingers twitched at his sides as he looked at her, then sideways.
His anguish was so evident that Elena frowned.
" The return of your mentor truly has set you on edge", she commented.
Heinrix sighed and pinched his nose. " It has " he admitted, not bothering to try to cover up his emotions. He had long since learned that Elena's perceptive eye always picked up on them. He straightened. " It also made me realize I should have never spoken to you about it. I have crossed a line I shouldn't have. I - I have trouble admitting to it, but I have made a mistake. "
He stared at her.
She stared back, as the double meaning began to dawn on her.
Was he only referring to his confession, or to their relationship ?
" Meeting with my mentor again has…reminded me of my duties, Elena. Of prohibitions and vows that are far more important than you and I. There are lines that I cannot cross. And yet, I did warn you about his arrival. I wanted to give you a fair warning - if you can call it like that. Let them charge me with whatever they want later - I had to make you aware that there is no genuine threat on your life. Because…" his voice trailed off and he flinched, his hesitation at what to say taking the best of him.
Elena's eyes deepened. She knew he would not be able to complete his phrase.
Wordlessly, slowly, she moved in and cusped his face in her hands. Heinrix froze for a second - it didn't matter if it wasn't the first time they had touched each other, the first time they had kissed. With him, it was always new. Because it could always be the last time.
She understood it clearly now, as she plunged into his mismatched eyes sadly. He didn't even have to say the words. She didn't have to be a telepath to read his mind. Every hand kiss, every embrace, every moment between them - it was always possibly the last. Heinrix had no vision of his future wherein she was featured as anything else but a lingering, haunting, burning absence. In his mind, he was already leaving - again, and again, agonizing over it.
Then, slowly, he turned his head inward to kiss the inside of her palms gently, his hand gripping tightly over hers. The way he clinged at her hand was almost most sensual than any previous moments of intimacy they may have had. It made her heart capsized inside her chest - and she could not stop herself from surging forward, her lips meeting his.
It was not their first time, but it could always be their last time. Heinrix's hand slides over her bare back and neck, dragging her against him tightly. He was gripping her desperately, giving her no chance to escape. She sunk her fingernails over the back of his shoulders, trying to press him even further against her. His response to her kiss was almost feverish, as if she was a hallucination or a dream that would evaporate in a second.
After an unknown amount of time, Heinrix shivered and pulled back. He was still holding her close - she could feel his breath over her lips. He let out a shaky breath.
" This isn't right." He took a step backward, his hands gripping her shoulders. " I'm sorry. I shouldn't have - "
Elena felt something heavy weigh in her stomach. Almost unwillingly, she extended her hand, gripping back at his uniform. " Don't. "
He looked at her, widening his eyes, but took a decisive step back.
" We'll talk about it later. You'll see. You'll change your mind. I…you…you should get back there. People are going to notice your absence. "
And by 'people', she thought, you mean your mentor and his acolytes.
Heinrix inhaled, his face falling back into his mask of collection and composure. He looked at her one last time, as the light in his eyes already dimmed out, and exited the room swiftly.
Elena leant back over the cold wall as she absent-mindedly put back her stray lock of hair in place.
One day, maybe not today, but one day, they would kiss for the last time.
She had no idea how bitter that thought would make her feel.
Third movement : the quadrille -
It was the heart of the night, and dessert had just been served. It consisted of hundreds of trays of pastries and delicacies, from the sugary specialties of Dargonus to the exotic fruits of Janus sliced together in cups filled with sparkling armasec.
They all cheered and toasted to the glory of Elena von Valancius, her name echoing through the walls, repeated by a thousand voices.
Clementia found her as she was busy picking up some strawberry macarons out of the tray, accompanied by a curious Argenta who was hesitating between vanilla and lime flavor.
" Your Ladyship. The orchestra is ready to begin the dancing concertos. Your presence is required to officially begin this next phase of the night. "
Argenta threw Clementia a confused look. " Mistress Werserian, please reassure me : no other members of the Lord Captain's retinue are required ? I fear I am a very poor dancer. "
Clementia patiently answered : " No, Sister Argenta, you are under no obligation to partake in the quadrille, though you are more than welcome to join if you wish so. "
Argenta found a sudden, profound interest for the nearby cups of recaff, for once abandoning the Lord Captain to her fate.
Elena straightened, and nodded. She had been taught some basis of dance before - it should not prove too difficult a task. " I shall do that immediately, Clementia. Was there anything else ?"
" Yes. The protocol demands that the first dance with the Rogue Trader is given to the most high-ranked individual present in the ballroom. " Clementia cleared her throat, looking embarrassed. " That would make the Lord Inquisitor your partner for opening the ball. He is aware of this tradition. In fact, the Lord Inquisitor had been the partner of Lady Theodora before on similar events. I daresay he is a good dancer."
Elena stared at Clementia with a straight face for a few more seconds than necessary. That was…that was unexpected.
" Great. Fantastic " she answered politely, in a clear and monotonous voice that suggested that she was seriously considering jumping out of the window to avoid that.
If Clementia picked up on her nervosity, she had the grace to pretend not to see it.
" I shall announce that the ball is open to the orchestra, then." Clementia bowed and disappeared.
Elena nonchalantly pulled another set of macarons into her mouth, the sugary texture dissolving pleasantly on her tongue and wiped her fingers over the napkin. Well, there was no use delaying the inevitable. She might as well go through with it.
She made her way to the center of the room. The golden lights had been dimmed and expensive vases filled with red exotic flowers and lush plants delimited a spacious dancing area. Golden veils adorned the ceiling and decomposed the floor, not as thick as to prevent movements or trespass, but delicate enough to suggest even the slightest hint of something to hide behind. Cherubins were flying above the scene and the orchestra, gliding along with a stupid expression of unintelligent happiness over their faces. By the Throne, Elena hated those things.
Multiple nobles had agglomerated on the periphery of the scene. Her appearance had sent a signal. They began flowing over the scene, on the edges and the sides, catching a partner's hand with a smile. It was like watching a hive swarm come to life. She caught sight of Evayne Winterscale approaching Cassia timidly.
Miraculously, and quite almost out of thin air, the Lord Inquisitor appeared at the exact second she was beginning to wonder if he was going to show up. She was surprised - usually, people could not sneak on her. Her diviner senses just subconsciously warned her all the time. Maybe, with all the music and the capharnaum around her, she'd been too distracted to pick upon that. Or maybe Heinrix had found a way around her prescience and had taught his mentor how to surprise her.
Xavier Calcazar, Lord Inquisitor of the Expanse, was by all means a tall and sturdy man. His intimidating posture contrasted with his very ordinary face. Without the inquisitorial rosette, no one would have thought twice about Xavier Calcazar. He just had this kind of all-around amiable, but forgettable face. His hair was slowly fading to grey - which didn't help in estimating his age, considering his large ressources. He wore a set of impressive power armor, which probably used to be a bright, shiny gold, but had turned bronze over time.
Xavier and Elena did not know that, but they both shared a common passion for maintaining their set of armor in a deplorable state. Xavier's one was daunted with traces of multiple attacks - it made the man standing inside of the carapace even more frightening.
His expression was pleasant, as was his voice, calm and collected. Yet, he exuded a sense of silent threat, like that of a hunter. His patience was not one born out of kindness - it was the feature of a keen mind waiting for the right moment to snatch its prey.
A category which, Elena understood intuitively, she could rapidly fall under should she fail to find worth in his eyes.
" Your Ladyship. We meet again. " For some reason, Elena could swear there was the barest hint of sarcasm in his voice. It was barely audible - only a very perceptive ear would have paid attention. At least that was one of her qualities : she was supernaturally perceptive.
' We meet again ' : Xavier could well be referring to their little chat with Drivestem prior to that, but it would be a strange way to phrase that. No, there was a hint of something else underneath…
" Though, I daresay, the circumstances of our meeting are quite different. You have changed a lot since the last time I saw you, Lady Elena. I am told you possess an exceptional memory. Surely you remember our first meeting ? "
Though his words sparked a flash of surprise and agitation in her mind, Xavier spoke very amicably, like some old acquaintance would do. He extended a hand towards her, inviting her for the dance - which was to start any second.
For a moment, she stared, bewildered, as the memory came back to her in a flash.
Yes, she had met that man before.
Decades ago from now.
– Past –
– Calixis Sector, Lady Maria's mansion -
Teenager -
Elena had been ordered by Mistress Maria to accompany her to meet one of her acquaintances. The young diviner did not know much about the content of the meeting to come, but it was surely important. Maria had also asked for Sister Mercy to be here. The Pariah was an irritating presence, scratching on Elena's nerves and mind. Worse of all, she could not quite pinpoint her in space. She kept forgetting where the Sister stood. Maria never imparted the Sister of Silence's presence on anyone unless she was faced with a risky confrontation….or wanted to get at someone's nerves.
Elena had been moved from the room she lived in, inside the cave of the mansion, to one of the reception areas. Statues of various Saints looked down at them, their marble eyes contemplating the fleeting life of the flesh with an air of judgment befitting a Lady Inquisitor of the Ordo Hereticus.
Maria had put on an exquisite dress laced with black, red and gold. She rarely bothered wearing armor and weapons. when she wasn't administering Black Ships or testing young psykers. Elena had never seen Maria in a position to have to fight. This just wasn't what she did. Though the extent of her function eluded her somewhat. Maria was a mysterious figure.
A man came in from the other side of the room. Tall, broad-shouldered, vested in holy robes, he looked quite unremarkable, if it wasn't for the spark of cunning in his grey eyes. He was alone.
" Xavier ! It is such a pleasure to see you have returned unscathed from your latest travel to the Blood Hive. " Maria cooed pleasantly, but everything in her body language screamed of rivalry and dominance.
The man smiled amicably at that. " Unscathed ? Hardly. " It was true that he was limping a little bit. " But I have returned once more, having rooted out the enemy of Mankind " He glanced at the Sister and Elena's presence. " Surely we don't need your pets to be present, Maria."
" But they are so well-mannered ! The Sister has sworn a holy oath of silence. You know she won't say a thing. The child over there is one of my experiments. She is very obedient. She can stay for the beginning. "
The man threw such a cold look at Elena that the young psyker shivered.
" Another "pup" of yours ", he commented. " These things bother me. Why do you let them loose ? You indulge yourself too much by sheltering those mutants. "
" Oh, Xavier, always the same. " Maria extended a hand and patted Elena's head. She had seen to it that her neural implants were removed. The hair had barely regrown over the gruesome scars. " This pup here is a very useful tool. No need to use violence, Xavier, when you can extract information even before the person knows what they are going to do. Have you heard about my little experiment ? Reporting the crimes of the heretics before they happened ? She is a key part in that. "
The man grimaced at the patting. " Just as the previous ones. You are growing old, Maria, if you are starting to hold some kind of leniency towards it. I have always done fine without these tools. I certainly hope your living "pict recorder" will be sent out quickly ? I have important things to tell you. "
" You know, Xavier, you should give "these tools" a try. It could bolster up your abilities ! Good pups, when molded right, make for good hounds. For instance, a biomancer could have prevented that stupid limp of yours. They may look distasteful, but one can get used to it after a while. "
" Maria ", snarled the man. " I thought you invited me here to talk about important things concerning the neighboring system, not to bury me with idle chatter about your wild experiments. " Something in his expression made Elena quivered. Sensing her movement, Maria frowned and relented.
Maria made a dismissal gesture, and Elena took the hint. Silently, she exited the room.
She knew Maria would ask for her presence back later. She would want to know what her visions told her about the man, about his future journeys. Maria was tense ever since the man had returned from whatever place he had been. It had changed something in the atmosphere of the mansion. There was a lot of talk between people of the Hive - about a prestigious nomination in the far-away system of the Koronus Expanse. Maria had taken a keen interest in that question. From what Elena had gathered, her mistress desired her rival to be sent to the faraway sector in order to get rid of him.
Elena went back to her little room in the cave, laid down on the wooden plank. Shivering, she let the cold guide her into transience, as she sent her mind away from her body, trailing down to the reception room to listen to the conversation she'd been excluded from.
Maria would want to know anything she could scry off the conversation.
The Lord Inquisitor had been studying her expression. Coming back to her senses, Elena wordlessly grabbed his hand and they started to dance. Something must have betrayed her confusion, because Xavier pleasantly smiled :
" I see you remember. I, too, possess an excellent memory. I daresay I am a very good physiognomist. I never forget a face ", he said conversely.
It was a very cold, distant dance, with no life in it. The steps were rapid, intricate. All the dancers stood in dozens of lines, alternating between jetés and entrechats between bursts of laughters and coos of seduction. They all took great care to leave the centerpiece to Elena and her most honorable guest - both of them performing with cold efficiency.
That such a big man in such heavy armor could even keep the pace on the rhythm of the quadrille was surprising. He was more graceful and dexterous than one would think.
Elena pivoted, their arms forming an elegant arch under which waltzed a nearby couple. The conversation resumed when they were once again at arm's length and away from prying ears.
" It has been a long time since I have been in contact with Lady Maria, but I am sure that, was she present, she would send you her greetings ", answered Elena with fake politeness.
They both knew Maria would only greet him through gritted teeth and with a venomous tongue. They had been rivals and should they meet again, they would still be.
" It is regrettable that her duties had kept her away from the Koronus Expanse for so long. Surely the presence of another member of our Holy institution would help out in stabilizing the area " replied Xavier in a tone that suggested that it was, in fact, not regrettable at all. Also a clever way to remind her that he ruled supreme over the sector and could do pretty much what he wanted.
Elena remembered how territorial Maria used to be. She dared not fathom the idea of having two respectable, senior Inquisitors in the same system. Probably it would collapse from all the refrained rivalry and intense scheming.
They continued on a series of skimming, swift steps, circling around each other. She smacked her lips, which had gone dry.
" Very regrettable indeed ", she agreed.
Xavier smiled at that. " I daresay this. If there is one thing Maria had never lacked, it is information and flair. Your presence at her side continuously during those years makes more sense when put in the light of your illustrious bloodline and connection to the von Valancius dynasty. She was a clever woman indeed. "
Elena fell silent as the implications unraveled in her mind, tantalizing.
What the Lord Inquisitor said did make sense - but she had never before thought about it. Maria had given her privileges on the Black Ship, choosing not to execute her even after someone in her aisle had ceded to possession. Not only that, but she had pulled strings to avoid for her the fate of an Astropath - wanting to keep her close. She had educated her even after her sanctioning, testing her, molding her to her needs and desires, using her as part of her secretive experiment.
One that ultimately got the interest of powerful figures, who thought it would be a good idea to send the diviner away from Maria - in a place where, with chance, she would die. Maybe her sending off to the Imperial Guard wasn't so random after all. Maybe there'd been a hand behind it - someone ready to knock down Maria's assets. Someone like Xavier.
Most importantly, Maria had kept Elena alive and in good condition - something that could not be said from the vast majority of her psykana brethren. Why would Maria have done all that ? Certainly, a diviner was useful - but Elena wasn't the only diviner on this Black Ship.
But if Maria had somehow known about her bloodline…It was something else differently. Having an heiress of a Rogue Trader's empire, even somewhere as far away and as rustic as the Expanse, could ever prove useful.
Maria would just have to stroll in here and order her around like she used to do to get what she wanted. With a Rogue Trader at the other hand of the leash, one could achieve almost anything.
The understanding dawned on her heavily, but she did not let it shatter her focus and she gracefully saw the dance through. Her composure and sense of collection in the eye of this huge reveal about her past seemed to impress Xavier positively - if she was to believe the very discreet twitch of disappointment in his eyes at her lack of reaction.
" There are few minds as keen as hers. She never wasted anything that could prove useful in the future " said Elena.
" That is true…and this is something we had in common. Well, it has been a pleasant dance, Your Ladyship. But I am growing old, and I am more at ease at the periphery of the ballroom than in the center of it. I shall not detain you. "
The music came to an end and the Lord Inquisitor did not bow or tilt his head - that would be unfitting of him. He made a polite hand gesture to signify his goodbyes - and went away in the crowd surrounding the room.
Fourth movement : the mazurka -
Her reverie was interrupted by the heavy steps of Winterscale. The other Rogue Trader had made his way up to her with a dazzling smile. His expression was still half-crazed, reeling of barely refrained impulses. He smelled of lho and expensive obscura. He inclined his head towards her in a good-mannered way.
" Hey, new blood ", he said, not at all ceremonious. " Care to share a dance ? I saw you get bored with the Lord Inquisitor over there and I thought you needed to have someone who actually knows how to dance. Give it a swing, I always say. " He smiled broadly, but there was no warmth in his eyes - only the fluttering sparkle of unhinged curiosity.
Somewhere, Incendia Chorda was gritting her teeth so hard at them that she could almost hear it in her mind.
Which was a sufficient nudge to go for it. Elena extended her hand. " Fine. "
Calligos grabbed her hand firmly and pulled her out to him as if he had done this millions of times before. His lack of ceremony kept bothering Elena, who clenched her jaw grimly. " Let us see if you can keep up pace then."
They started to dance. If the Lord Inquisitor had been formal, distant and cold, Calligos was all the opposite. Dancing, for him, was a pleasure - one he indulged with his usual extraversion and lack of limits. Soon Elena found herself pressed up by Calligos's rapid change of stances. He was trying to unbalance her on purpose.
This was not a gentle dance. It was a test, another one. A display of competence, a test of boundaries. The intricate dance Calligos was mercilessly leading involved a lively tempo, grandes jetées, split-leg climatic postures. It wasn't a dance for the debutantes nor the faint of heart ; it was a physical prowess in itself.
The people that had grown close to her, hoping for her next dance, took a step back in awe as the Rogue Traders gauged each other up through multiple arabesques.
At this game, Calligos was better than her. He was in his comfort zone. He led the steps. He had better strength and endurance than her. In a few minutes, the voidborn would tire of pirouetting around, defying gravity, while the hive-born man would thrive in it. This would lead to some uncomfort, as people would witness their Rogue Trader be outmatched by a rival.
Oh, yes, a dance was never just a dance. It was also a display of the soul. It was love, and war, and didn't they say that all was fair in love and war ?
Elena resorted to cheating. She had an asset Calligos could not even start to comprehend : her psychic senses, so attuned to space and time. She was always so sure of where she was located in space, of where everybody stood around her. Should you ever take a good look around you, you would notice that most people are always slightly lost in space. Elena never was.
She focused on her sense of localization, and used her insight to read into Calligos's intentions. As wild as he looked, he was following a pattern - there was a logic beneath the ever changing steps and postures.
She started matching and mirroring his steps a micro-second before he even began them. After a while, the uncanniness of it got on the man's nerves and he started relenting from his rapid stances. She smiled, smugly.
" You're a better dancer than I thought " he murmured, his compliment genuine. He would just have loved to get the ascendant over her publicly by twirling her around like a lost little girl - but he did seem to enjoy her resilience.
" You are as erratic as I would have thought ", she replied back, with a saccharine smile.
She felt Calligos's hands tightened over her bare back as they broke into another arabesque. His nails scratched at her skin, hurting her. That would leave a trace.
The cheek of the Rogue Trader nearly sent her into a fit. That he would dare to touch her like that - that was unacceptable. But she could not make a show off it - else everyone would notice the incident. There was a knowing, amused look in Calligos's eyes. He hadn't managed to ridicule her around in his rapid dance - but at least he had gotten on her nerves with this little display of strength.
She clenched her jaw. " Lord Winterscale, if you are not able to dance with a lady without scratching her back, might I suggest you find yourself some more accommodating ladies to spend the night with. "
" Don't fret about me, new blood. I already have. Neither you or Chorda are any fun on this matter. Which is too bad ! Theodora certainly was. I remember an intense sparring contest with her in that dark corner over there….oh, the things she could do. She certainly could dance. "
Elena opened her mouth, appalled by the utter lack of manners of Calligos and his implications, but found she had no clever comeback to this. Was it even true ? She wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer.
" That is inappropriate talk about my esteemed predecessor ", she settled for. Even to her, that sounded meek and prude.
Calligos seemed to find her reply boring. He yawned. " No. I can do far better at being inappropriate. Besides, we both know you have no love in your voidborn heart for Theodora. It just shows. Don't play pretend with me. "
" I am not interested in your inappropriateness. I have standards. "
" Who told you you met mine ?" laughed Calligos.
" Touché. "
His laugh made Elena relaxed. She was still confused over what happened - was the Rogue Trader hitting on her and was he just passing time ? Maybe both ? At least, he didn't seem to find her company that appalling, considering how he chatted with her.
Somewhere in the crowd, she could spot Heinrix staring at the both of them, no expression on his face. His uniform was beautiful tonight, with vibrant hues of red. Flashes of their kiss played through her mind. As he caught sight of her, something passed through his eyes - envy, bitterness, perhaps.
Another arabesque, another swirl. Heinrix had moved through the crowd, but was still keeping an eye on her from afar. Someone Elena didn't know stopped him by, inviting him to join the ballroom. He took the delicate hand cautiously.
Elena wondered for an idle second if she could invite him to dance. She thought of his hands pressed over her back in a gentle way, of their bodies moving together in rhythm. It was a stupid thought. Heinrix had made it clear that he wanted to hide away the extent of their bond together to his mentor. He was a psyker and an agent of the Golden Throne. It would hardly be respectable.
They kept dancing for a while. Calligos was still regularly trying to throw her off and get under her skin, but she did not let him get to her. Once you knew what to expect from the guy, he wasn't that intimidating anymore. After a while, he settled down and the dance even became somewhat pleasant. Calligos was not afraid of her, fazed by her status or nature. Though there was competition between them, it wasn't quite the same power struggle as with Chorda or Xavier. He accepted things easily, moving on forward without a care. That was resting.
After that, Abelard Werserian offered her a dance as well, which prompted every major noble on Dargonus to ask for their turns.
Elena chose to give Abelard's the third dance and the Seneschal, clad in his strict uniform, proved himself a competent dancer. She daresay a spark of smugness flashed in his eyes as he paraded in front of the other noble Houses with the Rogue Trader in arms.
" Thank you for everything you've done to make this possible ", said Elena.
Abelard nodded imperceptibly. " No thanks are needed. I was just doing my job. "
" Still ", she insisted. " It is splendid. Your family has done everything right. "
" They better have ", commented Abelard. " They do not want me to be disappointed in them. "
After that, there were more dancings involved, with the planetary governor and all the heads of the noble houses living on Dargonus, until the night reached its natural conclusion in a bright dawn.
— Fifth movement : the Waltz –
The last movement of the night took place in her private study. She found out, without much surprise, that she had been expected. The Lord Inquisitor was waiting for her, his acolytes by his side, and he had lots of questions for her. They were mostly unpleasant. Why had she been so lenient with xenos on Janus ? Did she really think she'd been thorough enough with her purge on Kiava Gamma ? Why didn't she do the same for Rykad Minoris ? Was she in league with the drukharis who had ambushed her - and failed ? What was her reasoning ? How did she work ?
Her collected and reserved answers were studied almost clinically. Elena understood it for what it was - a display of power. All the time, the female acolyte behind the Inquisitor's back gave her a smug, sanguine smile, pretending to study her nails while displaying her expensive guns. Heinrix was at the beck and call of his master, his face not betraying any expression or thought. Xavier just went on and on, dominating the conversation and the space around her - while she could barely move without having the acolytes shake their head at her.
She wasn't safe anywhere. Daemons, drukharis had succeeded in entering her chamber before. The Lord Inquisitor could send his assassin after her in the blink of an eye if he wanted to. He knew all about her - Heinrix being his hound and spy.
Yes, the Lord Inquisitor wanted her to get a taste of the extent of his power - and the precarious nature of her own.
But, most of all, he needed her for something. It became clear, through the insinuations, the veiled threats, the hints at the dangers lurking in the void between the stars in the Expanse. Xavier was on to something, something big enough to make him search for prospective allies. What was it ? she wondered.
Whether her helping hand was obtained willingly or not was not Xavier's problem. It would be given to him, no matter the cost for herself - if she wanted to keep her head over her shoulders, that's it, which, according to anyone, was a strict requirement for being able to do whatever Rogue Trader did.
Once he was done with reminding her of their power dynamics, and gifted her with a stupid little ring she pretended to take ceremoniously, Xavier Calcazar and his dashing acolyte left the study slowly. They were intent on making her feel like she was not at home in her own palace as much as possible.
Heinrix stayed behind. He waited for them to be gone, and then waited again, counting under his breath. Minutes flew by before his shoulders started relaxing. The furrow between his brows, though, did not.
Elena leant back on her chair, contemplating the ceiling. " So ", she finally said, if only because the silence had gone long enough.
Through the windows, she saw the dawn rising. There was still music and laughter echoing from the reception hall - though it was growing faint.
Heinrix's face, which had been so inscrutable and so impassive all night, finally gave in. Elena watched, mesmerized, as Heinrix's perfect control over his expressions fell apart under her eyes.
First, it was the eyes. A light returned to them - only to fade just as once, replaced by lingering anguish. Then, the mouth - a thin line still, but some muscles had relaxed around his cheeks and chin, giving him a more natural look. His forehead - furrowed, smoothing out ever slightly. His shoulders relaxing. His posture changed, leaning forward, towards her - like a sunflower searching for the sun. What was most telling was his hands, that he hid away behind his back - but she had seen the very soft trembling of his fingers.
" Now you see what I was trying to warn you about ", he said. He looked at her closely. He was trying to guess at her thoughts, at her feelings. It was not the clinical, logical look he had given her before, while studying her for his master. " How do you feel ? "
She looked back. Her stern face must have given away her annoyance.
" I am angry right now, Heinrix. But it will pass. It was an interesting conversation. I hope you do no not doubt me if I say that everything that involves the safety of the Expanse is of interest to me as well. " She passed a hand through her face, as if trying to clean away the fatigue of the night. " I know you did…more than what you were authorized to, to warn me. I am aware of that. I just wish…it didn't go quite well, did it ? "
She played with the white ring in her fingers.
Heinrix said nothing for a few seconds, then closed his eyes. " You are here. I am here. I think it went as well as possible, considering the circumstances. You did not make an easy case for yourself, did you not ?"
Elena sighed. " I suppose I did not." She put the ugly ring over her desk with annoyance. " What about you ? How do you feel ? "
He looked surprised by her question, and dismissed it with a casual shrug. " Fine, thank you. "
As if on second thought, he added spontaneously : " Though there is something that has been troubling me. Stand up. "
She raised a curious eyebrow at his commanding tone, but did not ask questions. She got to her feet. Heinrix straightened and slowly circled her.
That disconcerted Elena. Usually she was the one teasing him, not the other way around.
" What are you doing ?" she asked.
Heinrix sighed. " When you danced earlier. I saw that brute scratch at your back." He stopped behind her. She felt his cold fingers linger on her bare back, gently pressing into her skin.
He found the scratch. She felt a gush of cold - and knew it was gone. His fingers traced her spine down very slowly.
" Heinrix. " Her voice was a little too veiled with desire, she knew that. She collected herself. " Earlier, you said…you said you made a mistake. Does that involve me ? Am I your mistake ? "
He said nothing.
The fingers had stopped over the base of her spine. She could swear they were trembling a little. His closeness to her lower back irritated her, sending a wave of warmth through her.
" Heinrix. Just tell me already" she insisted. " Else I am going to have to pester this answer out of you."
" I don't know what I want." His voice finally pierced through the silence. Though it was composed, it also sounded more hollow than usual, as if he was dissociating from himself as he spoke. " I don't…what I want is…it is…I don't think…I don't want, I think, I think we're playing games. Are we, Elena ? It cannot be serious. "
Elena was glad he could not see her face right now. All this hesitation and double meaning and hollowness was tearing her heart out from her chest. She did not think he could hurt her - yet he sounded less than reassuring right now.
Were they just playing a dumb game ? A play-pretend of a relationship that could not be ? She understood how he could reach that conclusion. What else could it be ? It's not as if it could be anything else. Not between a Rogue Trader and an Interrogator. A naive dream, an interlude.
She stared at the wall in front of her, unflinching.
" Elena, say something", Heinrix said. He didn't say 'please', but the softness in his voice and the faintness of it almost formed the word.
" I don't think of it as a game, " she said. " Maybe it's more like a dance. A short dance suspended in time between two opposing melodies. "
" A dance " he echoed her, softening. " Dances are no game. " He paused. Then, finally, he said the words Elena had been foolishly hoping to hear all night : " Shall we dance, then, Your Ladyship ? "
She pivoted to face him and nodded, more sheepishly than she'd thought she would. It was stupid. They had seen so much of each other already, been into battles. Yet she found her heart faltered a little in her chest as he courtly extended her his hand.
He twirled her into his arms gently. His left hand rested firmly over her back, but his right hand held her fingers and wrists very gently, as if she was made of precious glass. The dichotomy of it was strange, unsettling.
Heinrix stayed unmoving for a second, closing his eyes. " Pardon me, Elena. I have to remember the melody and the steps. "
" The melody ?" Elena asked, puzzled.
Heinrix pursed his lips into a thin line. " Don't laugh ", he warned. " It's a nocturne my mother used to teach me when I played the piano. I always thought I'd play it one day to someone I… - anyway. It doesn't matter now. I haven't played ever since leaving Guisorn-III on the Black Ship. "
" I didn't know you used to play music. "
" It was a very long time ago. That's why I need to focus to remember it. " He flashed her a stern glance, veiled with a dimmed spark of mischief - fake sternness, then. The expression was so rare and unique that it melted Elena's heart. " It went like this…"
To her astonishment, Heinrix started humming. His deep voice sounded soothing in this way, though he was no trained singer. The melody was slow, dreamy, redundant ; the waltz talked of reveries and past memories hidden in long gone nights.
Elena fell in step, letting the soft humming melody's rhythm control her movements. For a moment, suspended in time, they were perfectly alone and perfectly vulnerable - not a Rogue Trader, not an Interrogator, not intimidating and dangerous psykers, not freaks. Just Heinrix and Elena, whoever they were once you took that varnish out of them.
Whoever they might have been in the past - a boy that loved the piano and dreamt of being a Knight, perhaps, or a girl that enjoyed repairing machines in the dark low gravity of the belly of a ship. They may have been so many different personas over the time - a clever but maimed young man trapped in endless days of violence, a tough but desperate young girl yearning for recognition and ready to do anything for it. All that didn't matter anymore. It lingered in the atmosphere, like the notes of music one had just heard and which flowed seamlessly into one's mind.
Whoever they might be in the future - corpses, enemies, saviors or doomed. Whatever dreams they might have had - the few, naive ones they still held onto no matter the foolishness of it. All that - it was suspended as well, forgotten for a blissful minute.
The present. Elena quivered. She had never felt that much anchored to the present before. Her mind was always elusive, shattered away in fragments of what will be. Her body felt different now that her complete mind was her - the whole of her. The aerial pull of the visions stopped. Heinrix's eyes glistened and a smile spread across his handsome face. She was once again reminded that there was a light within that was desperate to get out. Like a fire under the ice.
He drew her close to him as they waltzed carefully and slowly. She wrapped her arms around his neck. Now their bodies were acting on their own, enjoying a taste of freedom they could never have.
Elena rested her head over Heinrix's shoulders. With her ear pressed against his torso, she could feel the vibrating resonance of his soft humming. Whatever the melody had been once, it must have been beautiful.
They twirled again and again, their graceful steps treading softly over the carpet of the study.
This suspended moment in time is for them.
Elena dances with Heinrix.
….. ….. ….. ….
….. …. …. ….
….. ….. ….. ….
… …..
Everything comes to an end, in time. Heinrix's hummings grew more and more faint, until it was no more. The light faded out from his face slowly, as regret and bitterness overtook his crisp features.
" Stay ", simply said Elena, her face still nestled against his chest.
Heinrix didn't say "no" forwardly. He contented himself with shaking his head and slowly unraveled himself from her. His eyes lingered over the white ring shining bright with the light of the dawn, over her desk. Elena dared not look at it. " It's been a long night. You should get some rest."
She nodded as gracefully as she could, finding she had trouble searching her words.
Heinrix bowed respectfully, and started heading out towards the door.
Elena snapped out of her hesitation and said : " It was a beautiful melody. I shall find out who composed it and think of you when I listen to it."
Heinrix stopped, and dared not turn back to look at her - the pull would be too strong. " I, uh…I am glad for it. It is a very special piece for me. Something I had forgotten even about myself. Thank you for that, Elena. Goodnight."
Everything comes to an end, in time. Even dances.
But not their memories, nor their meanings.
Those keep lingering in one's heart, one's soul - forever suspended in a place where there is no time, but only possibilities and dreams.