Selena Frost vs. Dante Slayton

[SnowQueenSCW]

Scars of a Fascade

”Into the Spider’s Web”

Unknown Location
New York City, New York
October 14th, 2025
12:54am

“I feel like I can only blame myself for doing this.” Selena Frost sighed irritably, running a hand through her long, unbraided, platinum-blonde hair. “’Oh come with me, Selena! I wanna show you this really cool, really secret place!’” she added with a grumble. “You would think someone in MY line of work – where I am repeatedly ambushed and sneak attacked – would not even entertain the words ‘Secret place’ or ‘Come alone’.”

“Oh hush, Mrs. Gloom.” Tallis Goeshyn threw back, keeping a step or two ahead of the Snow Queen. Whereas Selena had chosen a black gown that flowed down to just above her feet with a slit in the leg and left her shoulders bare, Tallis wore a brighter cream-colored dress that wrapped beautifully around her delicately small frame, leaving her upper back bare as it went around her neck for support. “Ozzy showed me this a year ago and I swear to it!”

“And I’ll be the one swearing in the end.” Selena whispered back, though clearly loud enough to hear by the more excited Tallis. “Should have stayed home. Had some hot chocolate. Worked on researching my next match…” she listed off, though she knew Tallis was ignoring at this point.

And she wasn’t really going to follow that list too badly. In terms of research? She had already done it. She was set to face Dante Slayton… again. Selena had to roll her eyes at the thought. It wasn’t that the boy wasn’t talented. He was – but he was MORE talented at running his mouth towards the wrong people and writing out cheques his ass couldn’t cash. From Fall of Man, to Xander Valentine – hell, even to her.

THAT was the most annoying thing for the former world champion. She didn’t need to research Dante Slayton because… she had ALREADY faced him! It seemed that, coming out of RTG and all the BS that was Cid Turner actually being the world champion again, it seemed management was content with Selena just facing ‘old foes’ she had dealt with in the previous season. Chris Lawler, whom she had beaten earlier that year, and now Dante – whom she had just beaten back in May.

When it should be Glory or Cid to end this farce with the world title once and for all… or at the very least the damn Glimmer Sisters. She felt her jaw clench. She was being torn in so many directions given the actions of people just itching to ‘make a name’ through her when her focus had never wavered from her own choice. She hadn’t been vague or unclear. She wanted to be the world champion again – NEEDED to be the world champion again. She had gone undefeated for nearly a year, won the chamber, and only been pinned once so far (thanks to an undisputed 3-on-1 assault) this year. She had a STILL relevant winning streak in 2025 that put Glory Braddock’s current one to shame – yet where was her chance? Her last title shot had been HER using HER rematch, not what management had awarded her for her dominance. In actuality, the fact that Selena had had to use her rematch clause to get a world title shot in the first place after all she had done last season just further irritated her.

And now, on top of it all, here she was, fighting past-fallen foes, and not even decent ones like Xander and Glory. Oh no! She was fighting the rabble. The loudmouths. Punch Selena in the face – BOOM! – that’s the next pay-per-view match for the most dominant world champion in SCW history right there – unless that someone was Cid Turner with the world title! Interrupt Selena Frost in the middle of a segment? BADDA BING! INSTANT match! But Selena knocks out Cid Turner? Nope. Interjects the Glimmer Sisters? Nope – Shinigami Foundation get title shot number 312 because they’ve done SO well with all the others they’ve had! Makes total sense!

Quietly – or as quietly as possible – Selena exhaled a breath from her nostril, trying to dissuade some of the frustration she felt. Was she really mad about facing Dante again? No, not really. It would make a great angle for a promo to piss the young man off – maybe even prompt him to dig deeper and harder than he had in their last match – but facing a previously beaten opponent? It wasn’t the true cause of Selena’s frustration.

In truth (away from the camera and persona she had crafted), the Snow Queen felt… at a loss. She was supposed to be going after the world title… and she had no idea how to get any closer to it. Everyone (including Cid) had been right. Glory was next in line – hell, Glory was OVERDUE to get a one-on-one shot! Still, Cid shouting ‘earn the title shot’, hypocritical as it was coming from him of all people, had left the young woman listless – because she didn’t know how. Who else could she beat? There were no tournaments for her to win. There was no one left on the roster that she hadn’t beaten, excluding some of the new arrivals… and she was STILL winning despite RTG. What more could be done?

The same was true with the Glimmer Sisters. Why had they thrown a ‘challenge’ at her? Because they knew getting someone – anyone – to team with her was a damn impossibility. Who the hell would team with her? Who would agree to team with the most hated person in SCW? The ‘World Ruler’? She couldn’t think of anyone – except one – and she REFUSED to distract Deanna from the opportunity of the SoA tournament. Truly, she was proud of her beloved redhead and, perhaps even more than winning the world title again (though she would not admit this aloud), she desired Deanna to win the tournament. She’s suffered through so much already…

But still, left the Snow Queen with no options and it seemed the Glimmer Sisters knew that, which was probably why they had mouthed off as they had. 2-on-1? They had gotten her. And if it stayed that way, the odds would be heavy that they could again. Even Selena wasn’t sure. Sure, they were rookies, but she had been on the wrong end of a handicap one too many times in her career to believe it would be a cakewalk.

“You look like you’re going to turn to stone any second now with how tense you look.” Tallis’ voice broke through Selena’s mental tirade, causing the wrestler to give a sigh before reaching up with a hand to massage the bridge of her nose.

“I just had a lot on my mind.” She admitted. “I’m still trying to work things out with work, work things out with Deanna – and did I mention my daughter hates my guts?”

“Several times” Tallis reminded her quietly. “That’s why you need this, baby.” She added turning to gently wrap an arm around Selena. “You need to unwind. What happened to the woman that found fun in all she did? Hmmm?” the younger woman gave a tilt of her head. “I remember a time when you were laughing and couldn’t wait to catch me up on all you were up to. When you were with that redhead… what was her name?”

“Dawn.” Selena mentioned.

“Right! Well, you certainly have a type.” She threw a wink at the wrestler, who merely rolled her eyes. “If I dye my hair…”

“Hair-color has nothing to do with it, Tallis.” Selena shook her head good-naturedly. “My heart belongs to one person and you know it.”

“Cringe.” Tallis teased, sticking out her tongue a little. “And yet… I’d kill to have that with Ozzy.”
“I’m sure he shows it in his own way.”
“He does…” Tallis admitted, her zealously pleasant demeanour dropping a little. “Still, he tries so hard to keep this fascade going. Being this ‘power player’ in his world. I want…” she sighed. “I want to see more of the man behind the closed doors. The one that makes me breakfast in the morning every now and then. Who holds me when I cry. Who lets me know…”

She stopped herself, shaking her head before casting a smile at Selena. “Look what you’ve done.” She admonished. “I’m trying to raise you up and here you are bringing me down. You’d be terrible at parties!”

“I have a history as such.” Selena answered simply, tilting her own head to the left.

“Well, nevermind!” Tallis clapped her hands between the two of them to try and refocus. “Tonight is about something special! And you’ll love her!”

Selena’s spine went stiff. “Her?” she asked with a raised eyebrow. “What are you- Tallis, this isn’t some stupid hookup, is it?”

“No no! Calm down, Lena.” Tallis assured. “I meant you’ll love the person we are meeting – in a non-romantic, sexual way… just trust me, okay? No funny business!”

“A…alright.” Selena sighed as the pair continued walking down the streets of New York City. Occasionally getting cat calls and people strutting up to them, yet one look at Tallis’ hand showing the mace she carried on her keychain… or Selena showing the gun in her purse because… well it WAS New York City… and they were mostly left well-enough alone. Onward they walked, passing one street block after another. And just when Selena’s feet had started to hurt due to walking in heels, she felt the smaller woman pull her inside a tall, unnamed building. It didn’t even have a number on it to mark what its address was.

“Welp, took two about three months longer than I planned, but if this is how I die.”
“Oh stop!” Tallis smacked the bare arm of the Snow Queen. “You’re fine. Now… this is where it gets fun.”

Biting her lower lip, Tallis brought Selena over to an elevator, pressing the up-arrow-button. A minute passed before the door open, Tallis scooting in first with Selena following. “Now watch this.” Tallis whispered, biting her lower lip in excitement. “We go up to the eighth floor…” she pressed the appropriate button and waited for the elevator to rise. Selena, meanwhile, watched the screen attached to the wall that indicated the floor number. When the ‘ding’ came and the doors opened, the platinum-blonde stepped towards the doors, only to be grabbed by the regular-blonde, who pulled her back.

“No no!” Tallis ordered. “Not yet! Let the doors close.”

Confused, Selena could only obey as the doors closed. “Next, we go down to the third floor.” Tallis instructed, pushing the ‘3’ button, the elevator lowering down as needed. When the doors opened this time, Selena didn’t move, instead eyeing Tallis, who continued to smile. “And then… floor 6!”

Again, the elevator started to move up, Selena casting her eyes up to the screen, if only to hide her growing annoyance. However, as the numbers on the screen changed, going to four, then five, then… instead of a six, an image of a spider – like something from one of David’s Spider-Man comics – popped up, causing Selena to do a double-take. Before she could say a word, the doors suddenly opened, revealing a small little room with velvet curtains hanging at the other end.

“Got it!” Tallis remarked in triumph, stepping out of the elevator and pulling Selena out with her.

Too stunned to speak, Selena could only follow as Tallis walked towards the curtains, pushing them open with her free hand. They swung open with a soft whisper, revealing a quiet room no bigger than Selena’s kitchen-family room in her Manhattan home (or use to be). “This is it. The place I told you about. Just breathe. Let it all go for now.”

“Don’t say that.” Selena whispered. “I have heard that phrase enough these last few weeks.” She half-growled. “Still…” she added, allowing herself to eye the room. “This is… interesting.”

Her eyes lingered on the dim glow of vintage Edison bulbs, casting warm amber pools of light along the walls of dark blue. There was no neon, no sign. In front of them, there were two men sitting at the bar-counter, wearing long coats of different colors and nursing a drink in front of them. Neither acknowledged the pair of women before them, too focused on themselves.

“What is…”
“Sssh.” Tallis whispered, quietly guiding Selena to sit at one of the stools surround the counter. Still looking around, Selena eyed the numerous bottles on the shelf, the lower counter on the other side of the one she sat at, the dispensers and sprayers-

“Is this a bar?” She hissed under her breath. “Tallis, I-“
“Sssh!” Tallis repeated, a bit harsher. “First, it’s a speakeasy! And second, trust me!”

With a sigh, Selena settled her purse on the counter as she sat fully onto her stool. Allowing herself to relax, she let the scent of polished wood, faint citrus, and something spicy she couldn’t identify fill her nose. Her ears picked up the soft hum of jazz playing in the background, coming from speakers or something. She had been to bars before, they weren’t so different to clubs or restaurants, but still, there was something inviting to this place, despite the uber-strange way she had travelled here.

“Well…Well…”

A sultry voice that Selena didn’t recognize almost scared her, though definitely caught her attention. Before her eyes, Selena saw blonde hair in soft waves that shimmered under the dim lights, framing a face that seemed carved from marble and piercing blue eyes. Her dress was a work of art—cut high at the thighs and plunging at the neckline, accentuating her goddess-like features. Yet, despite her stunning appearance, there was an unapproachable calm about her, as if she belonged to another realm entirely.

She was beautiful, Selena could clearly see that, and yet… simply from where she stood, having entered the room from a door behind the bar, the platinum-blonde could sense that this woman’s beauty – much like some of the greats in SCW – belied a greater set of power and skills.

“Tallis…” the woman smirked. “You’ve brought a friend. Glad to see you branching out.”

“Risky is my middle name.” Tallis answered back, tossing her hair back in a playful return to the bartender. “Arachnia…” she placed a hand on Selena’s shoulder. “This is Selena. Selena…” she gestured to the woman. “This is Arachnia.”

The blonde smiled and, for a brief second, Selena felt eyes scanning her, but only for a second. “Charmed to be sure.” Arachnia greeted. “Welcome to Edenfall.”

“Edenfall?” Selena asked.

“That’s the name of this place.” Tallis remarked. “It’s a secret speakeasy that you have to be told about.”
“Oh… so some kind of prohibition style thing?” Selena asked.
“Actually, yes.” Arachnia grinned. “Smart cookie. This place used to be used during the prohibition times, but when that ended and Capone went to Alcatraz, it stayed open… a little NYC secret.” She winked at Selena.

“And you… work here?” Selena asked.
“That’s the thing.” Tallis continued, her excitement evident. “Arachnia only works here once a week at most, sometimes longer. You have to be on a special list to know when she’s coming in AND!!! You only are notified that day what day she will be in!”

“That’s…” Selena eyed Tallis. “Not the smartest idea for a business, considering…” she eyed the only other two patrons.

“Oh I don’t do this for business, darling.” Arachnia stated with head tilt, sending her waves of hair to flow and shift with the movement. Her hands were suddenly moving, grabbing items and glasses as she worked.

“Okay…” Selena shrugged awkwardly, returning her attention towards Tallis. “Well… I’m here… what are we supposed to do-“

She was stopped when, suddenly, a small, elegant glass was placed in front of her, surprising the former world champion. It looked like a delicate and was filled with a clear, fragrant liquid that shimmered softly in the subdued light.

Selena blinked, confused. “What’s this? I didn’t order anything.”
Arachnia’s voice was smooth, almost hypnotic. “The thing you didn’t know you needed.”
“I…” she turned her head towards Tallis. “I can’t drink this.” She whispered, alarm in her voice.
“Yes, you can.” Tallis replied with a smile. “She’s that good.”

“No, I can’t.” Selena sighed, turning her attention back to Arachnia. “I appreciate this and I’m sorry for wasting your time but I can’t drink alcohol. I’m…” she gave another sigh. “I’m a recovering alcoholic.”

Arachnia said nothing, her smile not faltering even a bit.
“Try it.” Tallis urged.

The whole situation terrified Selena, and yet – she could not deny the safety she felt in that moment. With Tallis there… what was one drink?

Slowly, achingly so, Selena brought the glass to her lips and drank – eyes immediately going wide as her tongue was assailed with such a miraculous taste. The warmth, the gentle touch, it was everything she had been lacking in that moment – everything she had needed without realizing it… and yet…

She couldn’t the old demon. The familiar slight buzz of that first drink. It wasn’t there. It was as if she had drank water, or milk, or juice or… or…

Her head jerked up towards Arachnia, her brow furrowed. “How… How did you know?” she asked softly, her voice trembling with emotion. “About everything?”

Arachnia’s lips curled into a knowing smile. “Because I listen. And I see. Sometimes, more than you realize. Your hesitation when you walked in. The tension in your posture when you sat down. The way your hands tensed when you eyed the drinks Albert and Eddie had. It was all there – I just knew where to look. As for that-“ she gestured to the glass Selena now held. “The drinks I make—sometimes, they aren’t just drinks. They’re messages. They’re cures. It’s… what I do.”

Selena looked down at her glass, her mind swirling with questions and revelations. She felt a strange vulnerability—an openness she rarely allowed herself outside the ring. For so long, she had fought battles publicly, her fists clenched, her voice loud. But here, in this quiet space, she was unmasked.

Knowingly, watching her eye the drink, Tallis gave a gentle smile. “What did I tell you?”

With a sigh of defeat, Selena nodded. “You got me. I needed this.”

“They always do.” Arachnia replied with a knowing smile.

It was enough for Selena to drop her guard, if only a little. “I just want to do the right thing. But it’s a losing battle. At least it feels that way.”

Arachnia’s gaze softened. “It’s not about winning or losing, Selena. It’s about staying true to yourself. The world might try to change you, but your heart knows what’s right. Listen to it. And remember—those who hate often fear what they do not understand.”

Finishing her drink, Selena nodded and thanked the standing woman, who was on the move, refilling the drinks of her other customers. Paying for everything, Tallis eventually took Selena and guided her towards the door.

“One last thing!” Arachnia called out thoughtfully. “Love isn’t about fixing each other. It’s about growing together—through the pain, through the chaos. Sometimes, the hardest thing is accepting that you can’t control everything. That sometimes, you have to let go of the past to make space for what’s next.”

Selena’s eyes widened. She hadn’t even mentioned Deanna. “How did you… what gave it away?” she checked herself, looking for any clue, however subtle.

Arachnia merely laughed. “Your wedding ring, hunny.” She held up her hand to indicate, causing a bit of shame to tinge Selena’s cheeks. “Wouldn’t be out this late if you had a happy marriage to go home to.”

Embarrassed, Selena rushed out of the room, Tallis laughing as she followed. Despite the slight humiliating, Selena could still feel the warmth of the drink in her system, or was that the wisdom of Arachnia’s words? She wasn’t sure.

“So…” she asked as Tallis got into the elevator with her. “How does one get on this ‘list’ of hers anyway?”