Selene took the seat offered her, looking about impatiently in the mid day sun. The mass of mortals surrounding her irritated her, like meaningless little ants scurrying away on meaningless little errands.
"Would you like a glass of wine?" the gentleman across the sidewalk cafe table asked her politely. "I am having a chablis, myself. I enjoy white wine most when the heat of summer is at its peak, and Central Park is quite lovely this time of year."
"Why have you asked me here...?"
"You may call me White King," he said, sipping at his glass, clearly savoring the flavor of every drop of the dry vintage. "And I am a member of a very discrete, and very influential, group of like-minded people who wish to make a lasting mark on this world."
Selene laughed out loud, causing the gentleman to raise an inquisitive eyebrow.
"Do you indeed?" she sneered. "Do you know to whom you speak?"
"Yes," he replied simply, with a small, fleeting smile. "You are domina Aquilia Severa, the First Vizier to Queen Cleopatra VII. You have had many other names in your long history. But I believe that was your first."
The icy smile he received in reply confirmed the truth of it. "I do not know how you found me, but you will wish you had not."
Despite the threat, the man called White King proceeded along calmly.
"Please be assured, we are an organization comprised of only the very most wealthy and influential members of world society. We are no mere pretenders. If you have any doubt, I invite you to come to the private performance of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony this week end at my estate and meet some of our friends. We can discuss our current project more then." He passed a folded letter across the table to her.
Without further word, Selene rose and moved to take her leave. As she went, the gentleman stood as well.
"You don't have to make up your mind now," he said behind her as she went. "Think of it as an open invitation."
After a very brief moment of consideration, he offered one last thought.
"You probably would not remember, but we have met once before," he remarked casually, brushing a stray piece of lint from the leg of his trousers. "It was in-"
"London, was it not? July, sixteen hundred sixty-two, as mortals reckon time," she smoothly interjected and stopped. With barely a glance backward, she continued. "At the celebration commemorating the grant of the charter for the Royal Society by Charles II. Yes, I remember... and do not doubt that I know who you are, as well."
With that Selene took her leave, disappearing into the bustling crowd.
****
"Magnificent, isn't she," he said as his compatriot took the seat the fearsome woman had just vacated.
"She is," the newly arrived individual agreed. "Her plot to unify the Eternal Coven nearly succeeded. She might have set back our plans considerably if she had succeeded before ever joining in our cause."
"That scheme is of no consequence now," White King replied. "The witches are scattered, and no wiser to their shared fate than before. And, fortunately you were there in case anything went wrong. In any event, the lady Selene would be a valued member of our current project. We did not see her last play for power in time, but she is one of many, many independent operators on the chess board moving about in this most marvelous age."
"Independent. That's a good way of putting it. What makes you think she would put her personal schemes aside to join us, Sebastian?"
"Why, Henry," he answered. "Once she sees how trivial her previous endeavors were, she will practically beg to be a part of this as it unfolds."
"And where on the board to you plan to place her?"
"Right at the forefront, my good Professor McCoy. She will be our Black Queen."
(published September 7, 2015)
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