Butterflies Volume II

Chapter 43

Violet arrived at the party in a simple purple silk dress. It was modest, movable if needed, and contrasted the warm aged colours of Tek Knight's mansion. As she passed the security, having handed her invitation to shocked faces, she quickly realised the party she was invited to wasn't a simple Vought party. There were some faces she recognised, higher ups at Vought, partners she remembered seeing on the news. But also, the most alarmed faces were those of an opposing political party, republicans with their flag pins gasping in the sight of her.

It was an ambush, but one she couldn't quite describe. Past the aged wood of old money stood a wall of oil paintings and the heads of hunted animals. A grand painting of Tek Knight stood in the middle, surrounded by what must have been ancestors who also shared the same flaunt of money. She had walked into some secretive republican party, dressed in a subtle purple dress that no longer was as subdued of a colour as she thought it was. A waiter passed with glasses of champagne, Violet grabbing two. She drowned in the first one, forcing the waiter to halt as she handed it back to him. This was a type of hell Sage was taunting her with.

Senators talked in whispers to wealthy men, their wives decorating their arms. It was a vapid display, one Violet had no idea how to navigate, but whilst Sameer's fear of her made her feel sick, their fear ignited her. None of them knew she was going to be there, and the force field it caused around her gave her a sense of power. No matter what they spew in the media, all the calls for her to be investigated, put in a room with her and they start shaking. That was power, it must be what Homelander felt, as he went on to make all his idiotic decisions. Ultimately they were afraid, that was why they pushed for so many barbaric laws.

"Violet Henry," Tek Knight slowly approached her, "in my home. You know I've always wanted to meet you."

She gave a slight grin, "likewise."

His involvement in what happened at God U was profound, how well he could decipher a person just by how they breathe. Could he sense it in her, how willing she was to bash his head in just by how he looked her up and down? To her answer he smiled, despite so obviously knowing she was lying. But that lie was more rewarding for him than the truth.

"I was a little confused when Sage told me to invite you," he glanced around, "not really your base...?"

"She wants to talk. I came to talk."

"Well... When I see her I'll send her your way."

Tek Knight was swallowed in a black suit, failing in his attempts to be suave. He broke away from looking at her at the entrance of someone else, Homelander. Ryan stood by his side, and when Violet looked over, she instantly recoiled. The party was an obvious affair of all the most evil and corrupt, Ryan being present was the same as flaunting a diamond. It wasn't necessary, all it showed was value, Homelander's obsession with family. She could see the rest of the broken Seven behind him, and as Tek Knight saw her hesitation, he called out.

"There's the big man!" He raised a glass, Ryan frowning as he saw her, "the myth, the legend, the symbol of America."

The other guests applauded his entrance, Violet scanning the room in search of that same waiter. An ambush could be described the same as public humiliation, because it felt more as though that was Sage's plan than wishing to talk to her. Why not the tower? Why not some undisclosed location? She was giving her a taste of the other side, and Violet couldn't figure out her bearings.

"Please. We're all patriots," Homelander grinned before looking over at Violet, "most of us."

There was a faint snigger, but Violet glanced around and quickly shut down any attempts to make her feel small. Homelander stepped down to briefly speak to the first boot lickers that approached him, which left Violet waiting as Sage finally appeared. She stood just as out of place as Violet, Violet could see how uncomfortable she was. And perhaps that was another reason she was invited, as Sage secretly despised the room as much as Violet did. The smartest person in the world would never be republican.