Eavesdropping

Jared groaned softly, his head pounding as he tried to orient himself. "Ugh... where am I again?"

He flustered his eyes open, but the darkness of the room revealed little. Shadows clung to the walls like creeping phantoms, and the faint hum of machinery in the background was the only sound to accompany his disoriented state.

"I was in the restroom, and then... out of nowhere, a woman, about as tall as Lady Fulgrimia, came out of the shadows. Then I fainted," he muttered, his voice barely audible to himself. Jared shifted uncomfortably in the bed. "Is this some kind of dream? ...No, I guess not."

Gathering his nerve, Jared swung his legs over the edge of the bed. The cold metal floor beneath his feet sent a shiver up his spine, jolting him further awake. He took a cautious step forward, then another, his hands outstretched in the dark to find some sense of direction. But before he could get far, a sultry, feminine voice sliced through the stillness like a dagger.

"Where do you think you're going, Sergeant?"

Jared froze in place, his heart hammering in his chest. The voice was unmistakable, alluring yet carrying a dangerous edge. It sent chills down his spine for reasons he couldn't fully articulate.

Ah, she's in this room with me, Jared thought, swallowing hard. How lucky I am.

His breathing quickened, his instincts screaming at him to retreat, but his body refused to move. He couldn't tell where she was, but he could feel her presence, like a predator toying with its prey.

"W-Who are you?" Jared stammered, trying to sound composed but failing miserably.

A soft, melodic giggle echoed from somewhere else in the room, breaking the oppressive silence. Jared's breath caught in his throat as he tried to pinpoint the sound.

"Forgive me for my lack of decorum, Sergeant," the voice said smoothly, every word carefully measured yet disarmingly warm. "I am Juno Guilliman, Primarch of the Ultramarines Space Marines. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

Ultramarines? Jared thought, his brow furrowing. Never heard of them before. And why does she know me?

As if reading his mind, Juno's voice came again, now laced with an almost playful understanding. "I know you must have a lot of questions swirling in that head of yours," she said. "I will gladly answer them all, but for now... let us begin with the most immediate matter at hand."

The sound of deliberate, graceful footsteps echoed in the darkness, drawing closer to him. The soft rhythm set his nerves on edge, and he instinctively took a step back, his hands brushing against the bedframe for stability.

"Uh... My Lady," Jared began cautiously, trying to maintain a semblance of composure, "can you... can you please turn on the light? it's dark in here."

The footsteps paused for a brief moment, and then Juno's voice came again, softer this time, almost amused. "Ah, of course. How rude of me to keep you in the dark—literally."

With a faint hum, the room's lights flickered on. Jared blinked rapidly as his eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness. When his vision cleared, he found himself standing in an ornate chamber, its polished metallic walls lined with intricate carvings of abstract symbols and battle scenes.

And there she was—Juno Guilliman.

"Better?" she asked with a slight tilt of her head, her lips curving into a small smile that somehow managed to be both reassuring and unnerving at the same time.

Jared swallowed hard, feeling more vulnerable under her scrutinizing gaze than he had in the oppressive darkness. "Yes, My Lady. Thank you," he managed to say, his voice steadying just enough to hide the unease gnawing at him.

But the question remained, burning in his mind: Why am I here? And what does a Primarch want with someone like me?

First, it was Lady Fulgrimia, then that pale mystery woman, and now… this woman, Jared thought, his mind racing as he tried to piece together the events leading to his current predicament. Did I dig my own grave or something?

Unknown to him, Juno Guilliman's piercing eyes scrutinized every inch of him, her gaze sharp and calculating, like that of a predator assessing its prey but Juno was not like some of here siblings. No, she prided herself on her discipline, her ability to master her emotions and desires. Her sisters might succumb to their baser instincts, driven by the strange allure Jared seemed to hold over them, but Juno was determined to rise above such folly—at least, for now.

"Now, Jared, I need you to answer some of my questions," Juno said, her piercing blue eyes locked onto his with an intensity that made him feel as though she could see right through him. Her voice was calm yet carried a weight of authority that was impossible to ignore. "Can you do that for me?"

Jared gulped, feeling the weight of the question settle on his shoulders. 'As if I could say no,' he thought, his throat dry.

"Uh, yes, my Lady," Jared stammered, his voice betraying a mix of nervousness and resignation.

As he tried to steady his breathing, another thought crept into his mind. 'Wait... how does she know my name?' His brow furrowed slightly in confusion. 'Probably from my records. That would make sense... but it's still unnerving.'

"Good," Juno said with a soft smile, but Jared couldn't help noticing how it seemed forced—an expression carefully crafted to convey reassurance, yet lacking the warmth of genuine kindness. Her piercing blue eyes remained cold and unyielding, betraying a sharp edge of intensity.

"Now, I want you to tell me," she continued, her voice low and steady, "what exactly Fulgrimia did with you on her ship?"

The shift in her tone sent a chill down Jared's spine. It wasn't overtly hostile, but there was a pressure behind the words—a subtle but undeniable weight of authority.

Jared swallowed hard, his mind racing. 'Why does she care so much about that?' He struggled to find the right words, knowing full well that anything he said could have consequences.

"Uh..." he began, his voice cracking slightly under her intense scrutiny. "She... well, she brought me to her quarters, and we... talked."

Juno's smile didn't falter, but the air around her seemed to grow heavier. "Talked?" she repeated, her tone deceptively light. "Is that all, Jared?"

Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, like a predator sizing up its prey, and Jared felt as though the temperature in the room had dropped.

"Y-Yes, my Lady," he stammered, trying to keep his composure. "She asked me questions, mostly about my past and... other things. It was nothing serious, I swear!"

Juno tilted her head, her smile fading just enough to reveal a hint of her true emotions. "Nothing serious," she echoed, her voice quieter now but no less intense. "And the marks on your neck? The ones that look suspiciously like bite marks?"

Jared's face flushed with embarrassment, and he instinctively raised a hand to touch his neck. "I-I don't know what you're talking about," he blurted out, though his voice betrayed him.

Juno's eyes glinted with irritation. "Jared," she said, taking a step closer, her tone sharper now. "I suggest you reconsider that answer. Lying won't help you here."

He froze, realizing there was no way out of this. His mind raced, searching for a way to explain without incriminating himself—or, worse, angering the powerful figure standing before him.

"She... uh..." Jared hesitated, feeling cornered. "She got... close. Too close. But I didn't do anything, my Lady! I swear!"

Juno's gaze bore into him, her expression unreadable. Then she let out a quiet sigh and straightened her posture.

"Very well," she said finally, her tone cool and measured. "I'll take your word for now. But understand this, Jared—Fulgrimia's actions are a concern for all of us, and we won't tolerate anything that puts you at risk"

Her words left no room for argument, and Jared could only nod, feeling both relieved and unnerved by the exchange. What have I gotten myself into? he thought, his heart pounding in his chest.

'Holy, I think I almost died just now,' he thought, beads of sweat forming on his brow.

"And one more thing, Jared," Juno said, her voice calm but edged with a steely undertone. She turned her gaze briefly toward the door, as if contemplating something—or someone—on the other side. Then, slowly, she refocused on him.

"Do not trust any of my sisters here on this ship."

Jared blinked in confusion, unsure whether to respond or remain silent. But before he could process her words fully, she continued.

"Also," she added, her gaze sharpening to a knife's edge, "If I see you chea—cough—getting close with any of my sisters, you can expect reprimand from me. Understood?"

Jared swallowed hard, feeling as though her blue eyes were pulling him into an abyss—deep, dark, and utterly inescapable. It was as if the very act of looking away would be a declaration of guilt.

"Y-Yes, my Lady!" he stammered, his voice cracking under the weight of her intense scrutiny.

"Good," Juno said, straightening her posture, her expression softening ever so slightly.

Jared nodded furiously, desperate to escape her presence and the overwhelming atmosphere she brought with her. 'By the Throne,' he thought, his mind racing. 'What kind of hell have I stumbled into?'

Juno's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. "You may go now, Jared," she said, her tone lighter but still carrying that undercurrent of authority. "Remember what I said."

"Yes, my Lady," Jared replied, nearly tripping over his own feet as he moved to leave the room.

As he stepped out into the corridor, the door closing behind him with a soft hiss, he exhaled deeply, his body trembling with a mix of fear and relief.

'Trust no one?' Jared thought, shaking his head. 'How in the Emperor's name am I supposed to survive this madness?'

Unknown to Jared, the moment he stepped out of the room, Juno allowed a faint smirk to cross her lips. Beneath her composed and commanding demeanor lay a web of carefully laid plans.

She turned toward the corner of the room where a subtle glint reflected off the dim lighting—a concealed device no larger than a coin, barely distinguishable from the metallic decor. Juno's hand brushed over her wrist-mounted interface, activating the device silently.

"Perfect," she murmured to herself, her voice barely audible. The eavesdropping device she had discreetly placed in Jared's temporary chamber was now live, feeding every sound, every whisper, directly to her console.

"Now, dear," Juno murmured, her voice dripping with a dangerous blend of affection and obsession, "in the end, the only one left for you to rely on will be me... and only me."

Her soft giggle echoed in the empty chamber, a chilling contrast to the cold determination in her blue eyes. Those eyes, usually calculating and composed, now bore a glint that could only be described as unhinged—a madness carefully hidden beneath her Primarch's veneer of control.

Her mind raced with plans, each more intricate than the last. She had always prided herself on her logic, her unwavering discipline. But Jared—Jared was different. For the first time in centuries, she felt a thrill coursing through her veins, an excitement that bordered on mania.

"He makes me feel... alive," she whispered to herself, her voice trembling with a mixture of awe and possession. "After so long, someone who truly for me."

Her thoughts turned darker, her gaze sharpening. "No one else will have him," she hissed. "Not Fulgrimia, not Hathor, not any of them. They can play their games, but I will always be steps ahead."

"Dear Jared," she murmured, almost lovingly, "you'll see soon enough. I'm the only one you can trust. The only one who truly understands you."

Her smile widened, her eyes glinting with a crazed determination as she whispered her final thought, her voice barely audible:

"You will fall into my plan, my love... and when you do, I'll make sure there's no escape."

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Jared muttered under his breath, frustration creeping into his voice as he looked around the endless, gleaming hallway. The walls seemed to stretch on forever, a maze of polished metal and dim lighting. His footsteps echoed loudly in the silence, amplifying the sense of isolation.

He had only ever been on small supply ships, never anything of this scale. This ship—Vengeful Spirit, if he remembered correctly—was massive, its corridors seemingly endless. The ship had an eerie emptiness to it, and the lack of crew moving through the halls only intensified the feeling that something was off.

"Seriously? This place should be buzzing with activity, but instead, I'm walking through what feels like a ghost ship," Jared thought, growing more irritated by the minute.

He tried to remember the way back to his temporary quarters, but the ship's design was bewildering. The high-tech corridors looked too similar to each other, and he had no idea where he was now. He could swear he'd passed this junction at least three times.

With a sigh, he muttered to himself, "Great. I'm stuck in a massive ship full of who knows what, and now I'm lost. Can this get any worse?"

His frustration mounted as he walked down another identical hallway, the soft hum of the ship's systems filling the quiet. He didn't even know where he was heading anymore, just wandering aimlessly, hoping to bump into someone—or anyone—who could point him in the right direction.

Suddenly, there was a soft click, followed by the faint hiss of a door opening down the hall ahead of him. Jared's head snapped toward the sound. Someone was coming. A crewman, finally.

Or so he thought.

Jared's heart skipped a beat as the figure emerged from the door. His eyes went wide as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing. A woman, tall and imposing, stood before him. Her presence was overwhelming—her beauty, ethereal, but it was the power radiating from her that commanded his attention the most.

Her long, golden hair cascaded down her back, glistening as it caught the dim light of the ship. Her piercing blue eyes locked onto his, and for a moment, he felt as though she could see straight through him, her gaze both penetrating and serene. She was striking, yes—perhaps even more so than Lady Fulgrimia in terms of sheer beauty—but it was her aura, her presence that made her unforgettable. It was the kind of majesty that could stop you in your tracks, one that seemed to demand respect, even reverence.

But what caught Jared's attention the most, what made him freeze in place, were the wings behind her back.

They were massive—far larger than anything he had ever seen before. The delicate arches of the feathers shimmered faintly in the low light, and despite being folded neatly behind her, their sheer size was enough to intimidate. Even at rest, the wings seemed alive, as though they could unfurl at any moment and carry her away like an angel of war. Their majestic proportions made her appear even more otherworldly.

She took a step forward, her movements fluid, graceful—yet there was a power in her every step that made the very air around her feel charged. As she drew nearer, the atmosphere in the hallway seemed to shift, a heavy weight settling over Jared's chest.

He tried to speak, but the words caught in his throat. His mouth felt dry, his body tense as he watched the woman approach. Every instinct he had screamed at him that she was someone far beyond anything he could comprehend.

The woman stopped before him, her blue eyes studying him carefully. A soft smile graced her lips.

"Who are you?" he finally managed to ask, his voice hoarse.

The woman's smile deepened, her eyes twinkling with something akin to amusement. "Ah, I suppose I should introduce myself." She paused, letting the silence linger for a moment, as if savoring the effect her presence was having on him. "I am Sanguinia, one of the daughters of our... father."

Her words hung in the air like an unspoken challenge. "I suppose," she continued, "you've already met some of my... sisters." Her voice dripped with subtle venom as she spoke the word "sisters," a slight distaste underlying it.

Jared didn't know how to respond to that. The weight of her words, combined with the sheer power she emanated, made him feel small in comparison. He tried to push down his anxiety, but it was hard when everything about her screamed superiority.

Sanguinia tilted her head slightly, noticing his unease. "You need not be so tense, Jared. I do not bite," she said with a playful wink, her wings fluttering slightly behind her as if they, too, were alive and waiting for their moment to stretch out.

"I have to say, I find you... intriguing," she continued, her voice softening a fraction, but the intensity behind her words was still palpable. "You see, most people, most men, would be overwhelmed by such beauty and power. But you, Jared, you're different, aren't you?"

Jared struggled to find words, his mind caught in a whirlwind. He tried to focus, to keep his cool, but the pressure from her presence was almost unbearable. He couldn't look away from her gaze, even if he wanted to.

"I…" Jared stammered. "I'm just trying to figure out what's going on. I didn't expect… this."

"Follow me, Jared," she said, her voice commanding, but with an underlying gentleness that seemed to pull him along.

Against his better judgment, Jared took a step forward, the faint sound of his boots echoing in the empty hall. His instincts screamed at him to turn and run, but curiosity—or perhaps something deeper—pulled him onward. The air in the corridor felt heavier, charged with an almost palpable tension as Sanguinia's presence loomed over him like an unspoken threat.

Sanguinia, though, couldn't help but smirk to herself. 'I knew Juno and Cora would make a move on him, but don't worry, Jared," she thought with dark satisfaction. I'm going to make you forget them. You'll be mine. Not right away, but soon… you'll see.'

Her mind raced with calculated desire, her gaze never straying far from him.

For a brief moment, her eyes shimmered, the vibrant blue morphing into an intense crimson, flashing like the red glow of a dying star. It was so quick that it could have been a trick of the light, but it wasn't. There was something in those eyes that unsettled Jared in ways he couldn't quite understand.

'What was that?' Jared's heart skipped a beat, his hand instinctively gripping the edge of a nearby console for support. 'Did her eyes just—did they just change color? What the hell is going on?'

He tried to swallow down the lump in his throat, his breath coming a little faster as his mind raced. 'No... no way. Not her too. Does Lady Sanguinia act like Lady Guilliman and Lady Fulgrimia? Is this some weird power or... whatever?' His thoughts felt jumbled, a maelstrom of confusion, suspicion, and fear. What did he really know about these women? He was starting to feel like he was trapped in some elaborate game where the rules were never clear.

Sanguinia's smile remained, serene and unwavering, but there was an edge to it now—a sharpness, as if her beauty was merely a mask for something far darker. She let out a soft chuckle, but there was something dangerously alluring in her voice, like the call of a predator about to strike.

'I need to control my urges…' Sanguinia thought to herself, the voice in her mind a hushed whisper. 'If I give in now, everything will fall apart. Patience... just a little longer.'

Her eyes flickered back to their normal icy blue, the sudden shift so subtle it almost seemed like nothing had happened at all. But Jared had noticed. That brief moment had rattled him more than he cared to admit.

"Is something wrong, Jared?" Sanguinia's voice snapped him back to reality, her tone soft but laced with an unspoken intensity.

Jared's heart pounded, his chest tight as he fought to keep his expression neutral. "N-no, I'm fine," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. He hated how weak he sounded, but the intensity in her eyes, the way she seemed to loom over him, made him feel small, insignificant.

"Good," she said, her smile growing, though her eyes remained hard and predatory. "You should be. No one else will protect you like I can, Jared. You need to understand that."

Her words were calm, calculated, but something about the way she spoke sent a shiver down his spine. "No one else will protect you like I can," she had said. But what did she mean by that?

The weight of her presence, her beauty, and her unsettling power hung in the air like smoke. Jared's mind reeled with the possibility of what she was truly capable of. He couldn't deny that there was something magnetic about her—something dangerous, and all-consuming.

'Don't worry,' Sanguinia though 'I will make sure you never need anything from anyone again. You'll see—my sisters will fight over you, but in the end, you'll be mine. All mine.'

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"Where is he? His chamber is empty," Petra grumbled to herself, frustration boiling just beneath her calm exterior. She had set her sights on Jared and wasn't about to let her sisters stand in her way. "I hope Hathor doesn't pull any funny business this time." The thought of her sister meddling in her plans made her blood boil.

As she marched down the ship's vast corridors, her mind churned with thoughts of how to win Jared over. 'I can't let this slip through my fingers,' she thought fiercely. 'He's mine, and I'll make sure of it.'

Petra's internal monologue was abruptly interrupted when she noticed Juno walking ahead of her, her regal posture drawing attention even in the dim light of the corridor. 'Is she here for him too? I hope he's not in her sights. At least he's not in his chamber for her.'

Deciding to avoid Juno, Petra turned to head in the opposite direction, determined to find Jared before any of her sisters could get to him first. As she navigated the seemingly endless hallways of the ship, her heart raced with anticipation. She could feel the tension in the air, a tangible energy that hinted at the many desires swirling around the ship.

After what felt like an eternity of searching, Petra finally spotted him standing at the end of the corridor, a figure bathed in the ethereal glow of the ship's lights. 'It's him! Finally!' Her heart soared, but she quickly tempered her excitement. 'Okay, Petra, compose yourself. No need to rush. You wouldn't want to intimidate him.' She took a deep breath, straightening her posture and smoothing her hair, trying to project an air of confidence.

But just as she prepared to make her move, the door to a nearby chamber slid open, and her heart sank as Sanguinia stepped out. 'Ugh, Sanguinia—why is she here now?' The last thing Petra wanted was to compete with her sister for Jared's attention.

Petra stood hidden in the shadows of the hallway, her eyes trained on the scene unfolding in front of her. She could see Sanguinia leading Jared further down the corridor, her steps slow and deliberate, as if she was drawing him into her orbit. 'Where is she heading him to?' Petra thought, watching intently from a distance.

Then, something caught her attention. A subtle shift in Sanguinia's demeanor—her usually calm and serene blue eyes flickered for a moment, changing to a deep, ominous blood red. Petra's heart skipped a beat, and her mind screamed in confusion. 'What? Did I just see?'

For a brief, electrifying moment, Sanguinia's gaze locked onto Petra's from across the hallway. The warmth that had always been present in her eyes vanished, replaced by something far darker—a predatory gleam that sent a chill down Petra's spine. It was as if the woman in front of her was no longer her sister, but a creature driven by something far more dangerous than mere desire.

Sanguinia didn't need to say a word. Her eyes alone spoke volumes, and the silent message she sent was clear: I see you, and I know what you're up to.

Petra's blood boiled in her veins. She could feel her pulse quicken, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. 'Oh, so she's competing against me now?' she thought, her anger flaring. 'She wants him, too? I won't let her have him.'

With a flicker of defiance, Petra pushed herself away from the shadows, her eyes never leaving Sanguinia's. 'Don't worry, sisters,' she thought, her gaze narrowing. 'I'll steal him away from you—right under your noses.'

Petra clenched her teeth as Hathor's voice crackled through her comm-link, effectively cutting off her train of thought. "Petra, your son requests your presence at the bridge."

She let out a frustrated sigh, glaring at the empty corridor where Sanguinia and Jared had just disappeared. 'Such perfect timing,' she thought bitterly. The chance to confront Sanguinia, to stake her claim and assert dominance over the situation, had slipped through her fingers in the blink of an eye. And now, she had to deal with something else entirely.

"Understood," Petra muttered, her voice dripping with irritation as she responded to Hathor's request. 'Damn it, I'll deal with her later. Right now, I need to focus on what's at hand.'