Crackling fire heated the air in the Slumberwood home, fogging the windows. Aside from the fire, there were no other sources of light. On the ornate sofa, Damon sat with his glass of wine. A frown was ever present on his face, the previous days misfortunes still tainting his mood. He watched the fire dance as he sipped the wine before sitting it down on the table next to the sofa. The only sound he heard was the crackling of flames and a subtle breeze. It was almost silent but not quite. As he very nearly drifted off to sleep where he sat, he was alerted by the sound of heels clicking against the wooden floor of his home. He turned his head slightly towards the entrance of the room, positioned directly behind him.
"Eryl, is that you?" he called, "I'm not in the mood to speak at the moment." he said bitterly.
"Is that so, dear brother? Shame, you don't much have a choice in the matter." The voice responded, though it wasn't the voice of Eryl.
Damon rose to his feet quickly in surprise, turning fully to face the archway, "Selena?" he asked, "I didn't know you were coming."
"No, you weren't meant to. I had planned for this to be a social visit but it seems that I am needed here." she spoke, cold and concise. She moved out of the archway and towards the couch. "You've stirred the pot a bit, hmm?"
"I just insulted a manathar, it's not-"
"You insulted a secretary of the magi, and the Typhonus Court Mage." She scoffed, though didn't smile. "Do you truly think that's the same thing as simply insulting a manathar?"
Damon's eyes tracked her but his jaw remained locked shut.
Selena moved around and stood in front of the fire, facing away from Damon, "It was your idea to come to the city, to try and become nobility. Not going very well is it?"
"Better than you say." Damon snapped at her.
Selena turned to him, "mm, Indeed. You've made allies with a commoner, Angered one of the most revered houses in Regalia and your whore insulted a member of the second most powerful house in the Empire."
"Don't you dare-" Damon started angrily before being cut off, his finger pointing towards her, as his face turned into a snarl.
"I'll dare to do what I feel is necessary," Selena retorted, only raising her voice slightly. She did not look at him and yet Damon could still feel the coldness coming from her. "I didn't want to become entwined in Regalian politics, but it appears you've left me no choice." Selena turned to him now, clasping her hands in front of her. "From here until I deem otherwise, I will make deals and lead this family."
"We rule together!" Damon exclaimed bitterly, his face twisted with rage.
"And look where it's gotten us. In a war we didn't need to be involved in and most likely laughed at by the Regalian Peerage. I couldn't care less for them, but their opinion matters and they don't easily forget insults." Selena stated sternly. "It is why I didn't want to get involved."
Damon kept his eyes locked on her but did not speak. He wasn't afraid but he knew that anything he said would be silenced. Maybe he was afraid, come to think of it. His sister was a ruthless woman.
"Mm, your mistake will cost us, but I will minimize the damage if I can. For now, go home to Kintyr, return in a week when your head is clearer. Remember, we can not let our beast show, we can not let the impulsive nature of our kind to ruin us."
"I know that."
"Mm, and yet you let yourself slip. I can only be happy that you didn't do anything worse. Why did you approach the Howlester in the first place? Were you planning to assault her? The Grand Inquisitor?"
"She insulted my wife." Damon said coldly.
Selena moved across the room and back handed him, right on the bruise on his cheek. Her ring dragged across his flesh, leaving a nasty cut, "Your wife is an Ithanian Slizzar whore who makes other Ithanians look like geniuses." Selena scorned.
Damon held his cheek, blood pooling under his palm. He looked to Selena with anger but did not dare to say another word.
She walked back to the fire and shook her head. "Typical." She breathed and for a long moment there was silence. "The rot of one, taint's the many." She turned to Damon. "Don't make me cut it out." she growled before promptly exiting the room. Damon simply fell back into his seat and went back to sipping on his wine.
