The letter came sealed with red wax and gold trim. No return address. Just her name in crisp black ink across the front: Emma Grace Frost.
It arrived by courier.
Emma didn't open it right away. She stared at it for a few seconds, fingertips tapping the envelope like it might bite her.
Magnus looked up from his desk. "Trouble?"
"No," she said, still staring at it.
She broke the seal with her nail.
Inside was a single sheet of thick parchment. Folded once. Embossed.
---
The Outer Circle of the Hellfire Club
Cordially invites Miss Emma Frost
To an exclusive gathering of high-value associates
Boston, Massachusetts — August 5th, 1950
Formal dress. Discretion expected.
RSVP by July 20th
---
Twin swords crossed behind a crown of fire.
Emma frowned. "What is this?"
She handed the letter to Magnus.
He read it once, then again, slower the second time.
"They're early," he muttered.
"Who's early?" she asked.
He didn't answer right away. He set the letter down, pressed his fingertips to the desk, then looked at her.
"Sebastian Shaw," he said. "The scientist we missed. The one at the concentration camp."
Emma's expression shifted. "The old Nazi collaborator? The camp we raided had nothing left. You think he is the one who sent this"
"I don't think," Magnus said. "I know."
She tapped the envelope again. "What is this group?"
"A new network," he said. "A place to build connections and a gathering of the Elites but actually it is a place for the Mutants. They call it the Hellfire Club."
Emma's brow furrowed. "Never heard of it."
"You wouldn't have. They formed it recently. I guess around the start of the year."
She folded her arms. "So what do they want from me?"
"To test you. They must have suspicion that you are a Meta-Human. If yes then recruit you. If no then they just form connections."
Emma raised an eyebrow. "Should we go for the kill?"
"No," Magnus said quickly.
"It's not the right time," he said. "We'll let them build what they're trying to build. Then take it all."
She stared at him for a moment, then nodded once. "You want me to go?"
"I want you inside. From the start and as one of the pillars. Then, when it's useful—"
"We remove Shaw," she finished.
He didn't respond. Just gave the faintest nod.
But deep down, Magnus had other reasons of not killing Shaw. Not yet.
He needed the man alive.
To grow the Hellfire Club.
To draw out its secrets.
And to copy every ounce of power hidden in his DNA.
And the most important to keep the timeline as similar to the cannon as possible. After all other than his System his biggest cheat was his Meta-Knowledge.
Take this case as reference. Magnus already knew the Hellfire Club to rise around 1950s. He also knew they would approach Emma. Just as they had done in the movies. And that is also why he did not interfere much with Emma's public image.
---
She didn't need instruction. She knew what this was. The Hellfire Club didn't send out blind invitations. If they were reaching out to her, it was because they'd already done their homework. They knew she was powerful. Knew she was connected.
That made her valuable.
She dressed as usual. White. Sharp lines. Subtle jewelry. No excess.
"I'll stay passive unless you say otherwise," she told Magnus.
"No," he said. "Play along. They'll test you. Let them. Just don't give them more than you need to."
She nodded.
Then paused. "What are you hoping for?"
"A look inside," he said. "A seat would be better."
Although he said that Magnus knew that Emma was the future White Queen of Hellfire Club. But he could not tell her outright.
She soon reached the place.
The Hellfire Club didn't advertise. No sign, no public address. Just a brownstone on a quiet Boston street. Third floor, east side. Black doors. Guards with immaculate suits and no names.
They let her in with a glance.
The lobby smelled like old whiskey and older leather. The crowd was split—some in dark suits and shadowed smiles, others in formal wear, silent and alert. Eyes followed her, but no one stepped in her way.
A man in a dark-red vest approached.
"Miss Frost," he said. "This way."
They led her through a hall, past velvet-lined walls and low-lit paintings, into a private salon where five people sat at a round table.
Sebastian Shaw was seated at the head.
He didn't rise. Just looked at her like he already knew she would come.
"Emma Frost," he said. "Thank you for coming."
"No need of thanks." she said evenly. "I almost didn't."
That earned a smile from one of the others—a woman in pearls, eyes sharp enough to draw blood.
Shaw gestured to an empty chair. "Join us."
The table talk was polite at first. Names. Cities. Vague references to finance, power, old bloodlines. No one said "mutant." No one said "meta-human." But Emma could feel the undercurrent.
Every person here had influence that didn't come from money or votes. They were all hiding something. Just like her.
Shaw watched her closely. Every word she said, every moment she made.
After the second drink, he leaned forward. "We don't gather like this often. Especially not with strangers. But we've heard of you. And we're curious."
"Curious how?"
"Curious why you've stayed quiet. A woman with your… talents. Your reach. Your background. And yet—nothing."
"Some of us prefer to build slow," she said. "Out of the blast radius."
Another chuckle from Pearl Lady.
Shaw nodded. "That's wise. But the world's changing again. The game's speeding up. If you're not at the table, you're on the menu."
"And which are you?"
"Oh, I set the table."
Shaw poured himself another drink. "The world will never be fair, Emma. It never has been. We don't fix that. We exploit it."
She sipped, said nothing.
"We're offering you a chair," he said. "Nothing formal yet. But if you're interested, we'd like to see what you can do."
She didn't answer right away.
She stayed another hour. Listened. Took note of names and power balances.
Before she left, Shaw handed her a second envelope.
"Think about it," he said. "We'll be watching."
She took it without blinking.
****************************************
You can get access to early chapters on patr*on.
If you like my work and you want to support me then you can become my patron on patre*n.
My patr*on account is S_Pandey_0170