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Richard is enjoying the freedom of being able to do what he likes when he likes now. Not that being arrested had slowed him down. The trial had been a farce and he had walked free. The devastation on Elliot Stabler’s face had warmed something in his cold dead heart. The fabulous Captain Benson had looked furious, and Richard had crowed in triumph.
Deciding that this deserved a proper celebration, Richard picks up an invitation to an evening at a club called Elphame that he had been trying to get an invitation to for a long time. The club was very exclusive, and he was glad to see they were finally recognising his pedigree.
They are led to one of the best tables in the house and Richard settles down quickly. The band is good, the lead singer captivating, the food is amazing, and the drinks taste like heaven.
They are just thinking about leaving when the lead singer steps forward during a break in the music.
“We have a real treat for you ladies and gentlemen tonight, for the owner of Elphame, has agreed to come up and perform for you. And believe me when I say you will not be disappointed.”
Richard and his wife exchange curious looks before focusing back on the stage.
The woman that walks out onto the stage is ethereal. Richard’s jaw drops and it is only years of training that lets him school his expression as quickly as he does. For walking out on to the stage is Captain Olivia Benson. Except while Captain Benson exudes humanity this woman looks otherworldly. She also looks to be more than twenty years younger than the Captain. She is Richard thinks one of the most beautiful women he has ever seen in his life, and he can’t tear his eyes away.
And then she starts singing and the music weaves something through him. He is more terrified than he has ever been in his life and he wants to run, but he can’t move. The goddess on the stage is staring at him predatorily, and for the first time Richard thinks that maybe he had made a mistake going after the Captain, because his reckoning feels like it is coming and it is not going to be pleasant.
Like anyone would be
I am flattered by your fascination with me
Like any hot-blooded woman
I have simply wanted an object to crave
But you, you're not allowed
You're uninvited
An unfortunate slight
Richard darts his eyes around the club. Pilar looks just as terrified as he does. His eyes flick over to the bar, and they meet the eyes of Rafael Barba who somehow looks like himself but also not at all. The man looks highly amused and raises the glass he is holding towards Richard.
Richard can’t look away from the stage for long and his eyes are drawn up again where the Captain is smirking down at him. The power he feels flowing through the club is building, Richard doesn’t believe in the supernatural, but he can’t deny something is happening here.
Must be strangely exciting
To watch the stoic squirm
Must be somewhat heartening
To watch shepherd need shepherd
But you, you're not allowed
You're uninvited
An unfortunate slight
He wants to get up and run, to get out of here. Wants to go back and take back everything he has done to slight the woman on the stage, hell he wants to go back to before he chose this life and choose again.
Like any uncharted territory
I must seem greatly intriguing
You speak of my love like
You have experienced love like mine before
But this is not allowed
You're uninvited
An unfortunate slight
I think you're unworthy
I need a moment to deliberate
The second last line in the song is changed and as last note trails out the power rushes out and through him. He feels weighted down. He feels the terror down to his bones. He grabs Pilar’s hand, vaguely recognising the blonde detective and the ADA sitting at a table near him. He is nearing the door when he is suddenly stopped in his tracks again, for the woman that couldn’t possibly be Olivia Benson is standing in front of him with Rafael Barba.
“I hope you liked my little performance.”
“Who are you.” Richard can barely get the words out. The woman in front of him terrifies him more than anything or anyone he has ever seen. Barba smirks at him and Richard wants to tear the look off his face.
“That doesn’t really matter. What matters is that you went after people who I consider mine. And I can’t have that.”
“I didn’t know.” Richard hates that his voice is trembling.
“Knowing or unknowing, you still did it. Your reckoning is coming Richard Wheatley.”
“You set me up!”
“Did I?” The being’s voice is tinkling and full of amusement, but her eyes are cold.
“I will report you.”
“I would like to see you try. You won’t be able to do anything that tells anyone what happened here tonight. And besides, who would believe you?”
And then suddenly Richard and Pilar are standing by their car in an empty street in Manhattan pale and shaking, staring at each other in horror.
“What did you do?” Pilar stutters out.
“I didn’t know, who could know something like that?” Richard whispers and they climb into the car.
“Whatever it is you need to stop. You need to make it up to her.”
“I don’t think I can.”
“Figure it out.”
Back in the club Olivia smirks darkly and turns to the man standing beside her.
“Shall we dance my love?”
“Always.”
For he would follow her anywhere. She only had to ask.