The grand ball

[Jaxen Marveet]

Scion Marveet,

PPC

Scion loomed like a pillar near the edge of the stairs. Ascendancy pulled his eyes upward as though Brandon reigned on high. It was hard not to stare, though Scion was long-accustomed to being in Brandon's presence. What struck, and continued to do so, most, was that they were the same age. Both men born in the same decade, yet Brandon was remarkably youthful. It burned, to witness immortality stretching out before him yet unable to grasp it himself. 

Speaking of immortal, Vena sauntered close, and Scion welcomed her return with a slim smile. What secrets she possessed were worth more than the intelligence of a hundred KGB agents. He cupped her hand, kissed a knuckle among others sparkling with diamonds as Danjou began his speech.

Another youth, although this one was authentically young. Scion was pleasantly surprised by the young man's composure. No wonder Ascendancy held him in so high a regard. Not a channeler, though. Unlike Scion's own son. 

"Where is Jaxen?" he whispered of Vena while clapping interrupted the speech.  Scion politely clapped along with the crowd.

Vena didn't know. Scion frowned with barely smothered anger.

A light flickered. Cold air washed in like the winds of winter arrived in all of a single furious moment. Scion searched for explanation, confusion puckering his brow low. What emerged wrenched a gasp from the otherwise stoic man. Ascendancy screamed in terror. Falling, wrapped with some sort of gauzy, billowing cloud. Was this another channeler? An attacker among them?  Fear that Scion rarely felt gripped his spine.  Ascendancy just knelt there, muttering to himself, the white billowing, flashes within spreading like hidden lightning in the clouds. Even if Scion overcame the urge to flee, there was nothing he knew that could help. 

He pulled Vena near to him protectively, but together they retreated while others pushed forward.