Dominion: Rise of the Siblings

Power was never about votes or bloodlines.It was about rooms—the ones you're allowed into… and the ones you survive walking out of.

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Evermore Summit Hall – Lancaster Core – 8:01 PM

The lights were low. The scent of aged wood and antique ink filled the air. A massive round table dominated the chamber, surrounded by thirteen high-backed chairs.

Twelve were filled.

The thirteenth was waiting—for Lia Vale.

She entered without hesitation.

Every pair of eyes followed her, some amused, some hostile, a few coldly curious.

She wore a matte black dress, simple but sharp, with crimson trim at the cuffs. No jewelry. No notes. No fear.

At the head of the table sat Celeste Thorne, sipping black tea, dressed like a queen who didn't need a crown.

"Miss Vale," Celeste said. "You're late."

Lia smiled faintly. "I don't believe I am. I'm right on time."

Celeste tilted her head. "For what, exactly?"

Lia took her seat.

"To remind you all that this city doesn't belong to you yet."

The Table: The Evermore Council

Celeste Thorne – Financial dynasty & chairwoman

Victor Harrow – Arms magnate

Rita Dree – Media conglomerate CEO

Senator Myles Renn – Government handler

Ibrahim Zayne – Private security mogul

Dr. Liora Wen – Pharmaceutical empire

7–12: Other silent titans of various industries

They'd ruled Lancaster through backdoors and blackmail for decades.

But now, one of them was no longer playing by their rules.

Celeste leaned forward. "Your businesses are rising quickly. Your influence, too. But speed isn't stability. What makes you think we won't simply vote to revoke your seat?"

Lia didn't blink. "Because I have everything you want. And I know what you're all afraid of."

A quiet chuckle rolled around the room.

Senator Renn raised a brow. "And what's that?"

Lia reached into her coat.

Placed a single envelope in the center of the table.

Black wax seal. Virell family crest, rebranded in silver.

Inside: copies of classified documents linking Evermore members to black-site deals, hush payments, and coordinated corruption during the "Equinox Purge"—the event that burned the Virell estate.

Lia met each of their eyes.

"You didn't just destroy a family. You buried leverage. And I just dug it back up."

Victor Harrow's nostrils flared. "Blackmail is an ugly business, Miss Vale."

"I agree," Lia said sweetly. "You should've used prettier paper."

The Room Shifts

Dr. Wen, quiet until now, spoke.

"What do you want?"

Lia answered instantly."Your loyalty—for now.Your silence—forever.And your vote—tonight."

Celeste leaned back.

"What are we voting on?"

Lia slid a second file onto the table.

"A proposal to form an Emergency Oversight Branch. A new department to 'manage urban threat mitigation'—with executive powers to intercept Syndicate activity."

Zayne laughed. "That's a shell company, isn't it?"

"It's my shell company," Lia replied. "You vote yes, I give you plausible deniability and protection when things go public. You vote no…"

She tapped the first envelope.

"I send this to the international press at dawn."

Silence. Then—One by One—They Voted

Yes. Dree.Yes. Zayne.Yes. Wen.Yes. Senator Renn (after a long, bitter pause).Yes. Harrow—grudgingly.

Last was Celeste.

Everyone looked to her.

She sipped her tea.

Then placed her vote:

"Abstain."

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Later – Outside the Hall

Lia stepped onto the balcony overlooking Lancaster. Rain drizzled softly over the glowing skyline.

Celeste joined her.

"You played that well," she said quietly.

Lia turned slightly. "It wasn't a game."

Celeste smiled, sipping again."That's the first mistake every queen makes."

"I'm not a queen," Lia said.

"No," Celeste agreed. "You're a fuse."

She stepped closer.

"Let me be clear, Lia—your brother is dangerous. But you... you're unpredictable. And that scares people like us."

Lia leaned in, eyes sharp as razors.

"Then be afraid."

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Meanwhile – Underground

Alex stood in a war room lined with monitors, studying security feeds from the government docks. The crate they'd tracked was now being moved inside a Senator's private transport.

He didn't smile.

He spoke to the comm in his ear.

"Lia, they just moved the shipment. They're getting ready to play defense."

Her voice crackled through:

"Then let's remind them…We're not here to play."