Chapter Eleven
This year's Valkyren gala stood apart from its predecessors since it would also serve as a memorial for the passing of the esteemed Arman Julio.
Politicans, Corporate monguls, Celebrities congregated underneath Obsidian Arc to exchange views and support that would determine the next phase of Valkyren after the massacre at Blane which brought an end to a little over two hundred lives and claimed the one they had all come tonight to honour.
The orchestra stopped their performance and made way for the orator.
"Good evening esteemed gentlemen and ladies of Valkyren city. Welcome to the annual gala."
The crowd gave a round of applause before the orator continued.
"We've had an amazing year so far and this is all thanks to the strength and hardwork of you all and the studious residents of this wonderful city. It is a tragedy that weren't able to end the year without this tragedy that befell our home and that is why we've gathered not just to celebrate but to acknowledge the incredible lives of those lost and offer support to those they've left behind because we are Unity. A blow to one is an affront to us all so please join me to welcome Lady Selene Arman to offer her words."
Another interval of applause came and lasted for barely a minute before Selene Arman took her place besides the ortaor.
She was a mouth-watering sight.
Little smooth black hair, black as midnight.
A charming teardrop face that exuded regality and mischievous beauty.
Ashy brown skin and a curvaceous frame that stirred lust in the heart of both male and female.
She stepped forward not as a victim but as a woman in power ready to face anything that came her way.
"Thank you Evans." She greeted the orator with his real name and pecked his cheek before collecting the microphone.
Facing the audience, she stood without speaking before suddenly chuckling causing her infectious smile to spread all over those below.
Hahaha! The hall echoed with laughter as everyone burst out in cheer without knowing why or what it was for. After all had their fill, Selene began.
"I apologise, this is my first time here like this so I couldn't help myself. Thank you for your support during this difficult time, Julio would have loved to know that even in his absence those he knew and loved still honoured the man he was. His absence still haunts me, every single day when i wake up and feel the empty spot beside me and remember who once filled there but I know this to be true – Julio would want all of us to keep on living our best lives with a smile on our faces as we face all the challenges the world will throw at us in the coming days. I know this is hard especially those who lost others in the incident and I promise to reach out and help each and every one of them to the best of my power and assist the law in catching the monster responsibile for taking our loved ones away from us. Thank you and Good night."
The crowd cheered as Selene left the stage and the ceremony continued on as it should with a musical performance, a dance, then some awards of recognition and discussion future projects every elites there would have to pitch in on and with that the event ended.
But the celebration didn't stop there, Selene hosted a late evening party of her own in Arman manor.
There wasn't any strict invite, only those from the gala and an extra.
With a good turnout, the garden villa was lively and lit up, it felt more like a home party than a posh gathering.
Selene moved tending to her guests with smiles, compliments and refreshments aided by the on-ground servants.
A new guest entered, a dashing white haired young man clad in a professional black suit, she recognised him from the gala as one of the attendees and left the couple she was chatting with and went to welcome him.
He moved through the crowd with a mysterious aura, studying with interest, Selene tried and failed repeatedly to grab hold of him, he disappeared out of her sight and she turned around to worried.
Soon, a commotion came from the entrance, she arrived and saw a man trying to force his way into the house in an entitled manner.
"Call Selene. She's my woman, she'll let me in."
"Excuse me." Selene walked up flanked by two bodyguards, a look of recognition flashed on her face followed by slight fear and disgust.
"Baby girl.." Selene interrupted the man and ordered, "Get out before I kill you. I don't belong to you or anyone if you don't see that then it was a good thing i dumped your ass."
The man gritted his teeth and barked, "So after you inherited some money from that piece of shit you now think you're better than me, eh?"
Selene walked up slowly and said to his face, "I was always better. I just humored you because you were useful. Now.. Not so much."
The crowd behind laughed as Selene left the man frothing at the teeth in fury, his eyes darkened and he left the scene.
Everyone applauded as Selene walked past not questioning the exact nature of her relationship with the person from before and how controversial it could be especially mere weeks from when her husband lost his life.
Selene bowed as if giving a performance and grabbed a glass as she went to the back.
Surrounded by the quiet garden maze, Selene sighed and leaned on the walls crafted from the green shrub.
"You look tired." Someone told her and Selene turned to them, it was the mysterious gentlemen from before, he looked so young it was incredible someone at his age could enter the elite circle.
"It's okay, its good to be tired. It means you tried, way more than half of these people could care to do in a single hour."
Selene sniggered, nearly sneezing out her wine at the humorous comment. "And you are?"
"Ives Rothschild. Pleasure." He extended his hand and they both shook hands, never once did Ives change his expression only a calm bored look plastered his face.
"Are you a friend of Julio?" Selene began a conversation with this question.
"No. I barely knew the man, I heard there was an after-party for those in the gala so I came. I did pay for the gala why not enjoy the added bonus." Selene intrigued asked, "So him dying doesn't bother you in the slightest."
Ives slipped from his glass and said, "Him no. I am more concerned for those poor folks who had to perish on the job during the attack. If you die at least die where you feel the best. In the toilet or having sex."
His quip rather than tear Selene away drew her closer to Ives who continued to stir her curiosity and kill time with her.
"How did you get rich? Crypto? Daddy's money or perhaps something you can't reveal."
Selene who had been trying play her charms on Ives to see if his young soul would crack, realised that Ives' had no peculiar impression of her only looking at her when he wanted to quip then staring at the moon in the other moments.
"I played a spin the wheel and hit three billion." Ives revealed.
"Are you for real?" Selene purred.
"Why would I need to lie?" Ives asked, this time more assertive than before. Selene was about to ask again when screams erupted from behind.
The next thing a guard was rushing to her,
"We need to get out now!"
Gunshots and screams of terror echoed through the manor, Selene paled and immediately followed the guard heading into the safe room.
They didn't get far at the staircase, a figure shot at them with the speed of a jet, pulverising the guard and several others into a chunky paste of human gore.
Selene rose to meet the face of none other than the masked man responsible for the massacre that killed Julio.
The mask parted and revealed the man who she turned away at entrance, his face throbbing with veins and madness.
Selene said in disbelief, "Marcus?!"
The pitch black bodysuit he wore began emitting an electric hum and rose into the air along with the one wearing it.
He moved as if gravity didn't exist, enduring gunshots without a single flinch as the bullets ricocheted off his body.
To Selene, he was a phantom of death capable of doing unspeakable things to her and getting away with it.
And God, he had every reason to.
"Tell me, Can your money do this?" The assaliant now identified as Marcus said proudly and spread his hands to show his confident air.
Annoyed by the shots fired by the guards, Marcus shot at them, he hit one with the speed of a canon. Tore off the hands of one and threw him to the ceiling fifty meters above and went on a rampage.
One of the attendees ran up to Selene who was in a daze and grabbed her hand heading inside the house, Marcus was alerted to this and intercepted them, grabbing the woman from the leg and throwing her out the window causing her to splatter on the stone steps below.
"No!" Selene cried out at the sight and this pleased Marcus who floated in front of her cornering her to the wall.
He whispered with toxic passion, "I removed that bastard from the picture so we could be together and this is how you repay me."
"No.. No.. No!" Selene waved her head, trying to stop that conclusion.
"Good. I will forgive you if you say it." Marcus wrapped his arms around Selene's waist, "Say you're my woman."