New Blood

New Blood
Chapter 11: Anger and Acceptance

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Cape Verde, Arizona - Apache Reservation

It was the saddest day of the year for James Poundstar. One of the toughest and most respected members of the Apache tribe always spent this one day of the year in mourning and everybody was wise enough to leave him alone. From the moment he woke to the rising sun to the moment he turned in for the night, he bore this burden alone. Every year he dreaded this day because it was a constant reminder of a devastating loss. It was a loss he still struggled with, but one that hardened him to the harsh world around him.

But James Poundstar wasn’t a typical Native American living a secluded life on a reservation. He was a mutant of great power. He had superhuman strength, speed, and agility along with sharpened reflexes, great physical durability, and enhanced senses. These abilities earned him great respect within the Apache community. Some even thought he was the embodiment of divine spirits. He participated regularly in tribal rituals. They often turned to him for answers on community matters, but he was reluctant to offer any advice. He rarely spoke, but when he did people listened. He spent most of his time carrying on the traditions of his family, training in the ways of a warrior. A lifetime of dedication made him a skilled combatant, but in this day and age wars were rare and the most conflict he ever encountered were from drunks. For that reason and many others he was a loner among his people, but he hadn’t always been.

Part of what made this day so difficult was the constant reminder that he was alone in the world. His only real family, his brother John Poundstar, was the closest friend he ever had. Neither of them knew their parents very well. They died when they were young, but James always stuck by his brother and they helped keep each other in line. Together, they trained in the ways of combat through tribal elders. They quickly gained a reputation as being tough and when their powers manifested their reputation grew even more. Like him, John had many of the same powers. Together they had the potential to be influential in the affairs of their impoverished community. But with one fateful decision, their paths diverged and their fate was forever changed.

As he sat in a meditative state atop a desert mesa watching the sunrise, James vividly recalled that moment. It started off as typical sibling bickering. But it quickly turned into a bitter feud about the future of their community. James believed they should stay with their people and act as examples for everybody to live up to. John believed they should set their sights outside the community and join respected institutions in order to get better aid for their people. Shortly before a representative from SHIELD, a supreme law-enforcement agency throughout the world, paid them a visit and offered them a job as an agent. They promised great benefits for themselves and their people. And John thought they should go with them, but James thought otherwise.

“You’re being selfish, John! You’re leaving everything behind to work for these people! What kind of an example does that set for our tribe?”

“I’m being selfish?! Brother, look around! There’s nothing for us here! We’ve spent our whole lives training to fight so why not use what we’ve learned to do good in the world? Isn’t that the kind of example you want?”

“And how can you be sure SHIELD will do good? They don’t care about you! They just want your powers so they can further their own agenda!”

“Oh you’re being paranoid, James! It’s a law enforcement agency! You want our community to gain respect? We have to work with the law and not against it!”

“The law is the very thing that’s been holding us back all these years! And now you want to help them?!”

“I’ve made my decision, James. I’m going with SHIELD. You can either accept it or complain about it. Neither will change my mind.”

After that fateful conversation a rift formed between them. He and John weren’t on speaking terms for the next six months. He made true on his word though. John went with SHIELD while he stayed behind. During this time apart he learned two things. The first was that setting an example for his people wasn’t as effective as he would have liked. And the second was that SHIELD was just as slow as the US government in bringing benefits back to the reservation. During John’s entire tenure at SHIELD, they saw minimal benefits. A few politicians visited and a couple of care packages came their way like sums of money, new water pipes, and materials to fix old roads. But it was small, antiquated, and barely benefited anybody.

For a while it seemed like neither one of them was right about the best way to help their people. Then that fateful day came. He got a call from Nick Fury, the director of SHIELD. And he had bad news.

“I’m sorry, James, but you’re brother’s dead.”

“What?! But…how did…what happened?!”

“Sorry, but that’s classified.”

“Classified?! But my brother’s dead! I think I deserve to know what happened to him!”

“I wish I could tell you, son. Believe me, I do. It involves sensitive data about a sensitive mission. I can’t say much more than that other than there are just some things we can’t reveal. Your brother knew that the day he enlisted. If it’s any consolation, John was a true patriot. He died a hero.”

“No! In fact that’s no consolation at all! All this time he’s been out there fighting for you people and getting nothing in return like you promised! Then you finally take a trip down here in the middle of nowhere where my people are forced to live and say my brother is dead?!”

“You think I’m not affected by this?! I respected your brother! And I will make good on those promises, but it takes time!”

“Shut up, Fury! A promise from you is about as valuable as the mud you’re standing in! As far as I’m concerned you people killed John! And if you ever set foot on this reservation again I’ll rip your arms off and feed them to the vultures!”

Those were his last words to Nick Fury. Since then he hasn’t returned. James was almost disappointed he didn’t. He would have loved to slug him into the next time zone, but now wasn’t the time for anger. Now was the time for mourning. Since that fateful day he learned of his brother’s death, he held a private ceremony for him. Wherever John’s spirit was, it was his duty to honor it in the traditions of his people. Even though he and John never patched things up, he was still his brother and it was his job to honor him.

“I still miss you, John,” he said to the sun as it rose over the desert landscape, “I know I say this every year, but you were the better dreamer. You thought beyond life in the reservation. I only wish I had the opportunity to do more like you did.”

Sitting in a meditative state, John Poundstar chanted a traditional hymn in the name of his brother’s spirit. As he did this he took a wad of leaves and herbs he got from a local medicine man and scattered them to the desert winds. He swore to his brother that he would finish what they started. He would use his training for something greater. On this day, the anniversary of his death, he renewed that promise as he did every year. He wasn’t sure how he was going to carry it out, but hopefully a new opportunity would come along one day.

JFK Airport

Remy Lebeau’s head was throbbing as he stepped off his plane. The flight from New Orleans felt like a lifetime. High altitudes, cramped quarters, and chronic head pain were a bad mix. It hurt so much he couldn’t work up the drive to seduce a cute stewardess into the mile-high club. He already downed half a bottle of pain pills and they were starting to wear off. Whatever these people were offering he hoped it worked fast because he couldn’t take much more.

After the night in the motel, Remy called the number on the card Ororo gave him. He ended up talking to some woman named Sage and when he told her about his predicament, she said the Hellfire Club could help. She spoke in vague terms, but she sounded confident they could fix his pain problem. Of course, it wouldn’t be free. They were going to have to work out a deal in terms of how he’ll help compensate them. But he wasn’t worried about that. He just wanted the pain to stop.

After making his way through the gate, he arrived at the front entrance where the cabs pulled up. He was told by this Sage woman to wait here for his ride. She didn’t go into specifics. She just said he would know it when he saw it. He looked around, but his head hurt too much to concentrate. The glare of the sun didn’t help and neither did the hot, humid weather. Now he really wished he saved those pills. Whoever these people were they better show up soon.

“Damn, where de hell are they?” he groaned.

Then he heard a familiar voice.

“Remy! Over here!”

The Cajun mutant turned to see Ororo Munroe sanding next to an unmarked black Lexus. She was wearing black sunglasses and an attractive black dress that rode halfway up her thighs. She looked somewhat surprised by his appearance. No doubt he looked a lot worse than he did the first night they met. And standing besides her was a large, muscular figure with blue fur and an ape-like appearance. This must be what Sage meant by him knowing his ride when he saw it.

“Wow, you really are sick,” commented Storm.

“Thanks for pointin’ out de obvious,” groaned Remy, “What are you doin’ here anyways?”

“I was in town so I thought I’d accompany you. My employer believes it would help if you were around a familiar face.”

“We only met once, cherè,” he reminded her.

“Are you going to be picky about this or are you going to get in the car? Hank here will takes us to a place where you can get the help we promised. So either get in or go back to your swamp.”

Remy didn’t have the luxury of a sharp retort or a game of twenty questions. He was in too much pain at the moment and he needed relief. He came this far he might as well see where it took him.

He loaded his tossed his bag into the trunk and entered the car. Hank gazed at him curiously, looking as though he was analyzing him or something. Remy assumed his appearance was a mutation or something. But he felt couldn’t help but feel a little odd under his gaze.

“What are you lookin’ at?” he said sternly.

“Nothing,” said Hank, “Just observing, that’s all. Were you born with those eyes or did they change color later?”

“Remy ain’t in de mood for questions. Let’s just get on with it already.”

Hank nodded and got into the car. But as they pulled out of the airport, he still found himself analyzing the young man in the back seat. He looked pretty out of it, but it wasn’t the pain that intrigued him. It was the mutation Sage mentioned. She said he could charge inanimate objects and make them explode. Sinister told him to make note of it because it was one of those rarer mutations that so fascinated him. He was learning to look beyond the person and focus on the powers. It was the powers, after all, that was the key to their research. Any new information could only help.

The ride into Manhattan was a quiet one for the most part. Ororo sat in back with him so she could keep a close eye on him. Even though the Black King and Queen were giving him a chance, he was a career thief and trickster. They didn’t trust him yet so they had to keep close watch. But from what Ororo was seeing, he didn’t look like he was in thieving shape. He looked like a chronically ill man struggling in agony. His skin was pale and he kept grasping his head and groaning. She tried not to let it affect her, but she wasn’t like Hank in that she couldn’t look beyond the man behind the powers.

“Are you going to be alright, Remy?” she asked, finally breaking the silence.

“What? Now you’re suddenly concerned?” said the Cajun.

“You’re in serious pain. I may be a thief, but I’m not heartless. Seriously, what happened since the last time we spoke? When did this pain start?”

“Dis pain has always been with Remy,” he groaned, “Ever since my powers manifested, I’ve been gettin’ these poundin’ headaches. They’re like migrains, only much worse.”

“How bad is it?” she asked.

“On a scale of one to ten…about fifteen.”

Ororo reached over and touched his hand to help calm him. It didn’t do a lot of help, but she had to do something. Remy seemed to appreciate her gesture, but it did little to ease the pain.

Hank, on the other hand, remained unaffected. Ororo was amazed at how he could look so calm when a sick man was in the back seat groaning in pain. Then again the Hellfire Club had a way of numbing people to the pain of others, especially with Mr. Sinister. She herself was a product of that training and it was part of what made her such a successful thief. But she wasn’t completely numb. She could never be that heartless. Then to her surprise Hank reached into his pocket and pulled out a bottle of pills and tossed them back to Remy.

“Here, we have a ways to go and this should make the ride more bearable. Take as many as you need.”

“What kind of pills are these?” asked Remy suspiciously as he picked up the unmarked bottle.

“You need not worry, Mr. Lebeau. They’re perfectly legitimate. But if you wish to remain in agony, go right ahead. Though I wouldn’t recommend it.”

Remy didn’t have time to be paranoid. These pills could have been poison for all he knew, but he was in too much pain to care. He opened the bottle and downed several pills. Within a few minutes he felt the effects and the pain subsided.

“Feeling better?” asked Ororo.

“Don’t know,” replied Remy distantly, “Maybe if ya raised that skirt up a little higher, it’ll get Remy’s blood flowin’ a little better.”

Ororo rolled her eyes and turned away from his playful grin.

“You’re feeling better,” she surmised.

That was the Remy she remembered. Even in pain, he was every bit the confident ladies man she approached that fateful night. She had a feeling he would accept the Hellfire Club’s offer, but she still couldn’t wrap her head around why Xavier would want him. She had been his primary thief for years and now he was bringing someone with a shady background and questionable laurels. She assumed he had his reasons. She noticed recently how many additional jobs Xavier was giving her. Maybe adding Remy would help with the growing workload. She didn’t mind help so long as he kept his flirtatious ego in check.

Midtown Restaurant – Kitchen

“Ack! Ahhhhh! Augh! Stop…please stop!” begged a hapless middle aged man.

“You’ll have to be more convincing than that, my good man. I’m still very upset with how you betrayed my trust,” said the Black King in a stern, calm tone.

“Please…no more!”

“Shut up,” grunted Piotr as he delivered another punch to the face.

The man groaned in agony, coughing up blood and choking on his own bile. It had been nearly fifteen minutes since he was led back here. He was just out for the night eating dinner at his favorite overpriced restaurant when in the middle of his meal two imposing young men approached him and said he had an emergency phone call. They led him into the back, but to his surprise Charles Xavier was there waiting for him. Everything that proceeded was a new lesson in agony.

For the Black King, it was just another way of doing business. This man was one of his confidantes that he trusted to manage one of his many business enterprises, but when he found out he was taking a little extra money for himself he had to step in. Xavier was a reasonable man, but when people crossed him he acted swiftly and harshly. It was a painful reminder for this man, who was not walking out of this place in one piece.

This was also a good way to get the pawns involved in some of their practices. Piotr who was still new to the organization got a chance to show what he could do. So far he was picking it up quickly. The Russian mob did this sort of thing all the time and while he hadn’t participate in it regularly, he stepped up this time to show the Hellfire Club that he was serious about his new role. It helped that this man was similar to the greedy pigs that caused so much bloodshed in his homeland. As far as he was concerned, this man was no better.

A few other pawns participated as well. Scott, Pietro, Jean, Rogue, and Warren each got their shot, but they left the heavy hitting to Piotr. By now, the man’s face was unrecognizable and his whole body was covered in blood. When they first brought him in they stripped him down to his underwear so he would feel vulnerable. Then they used the stoves to burn his hands and feet. After that they used some knives and forks to tear up his fragile flesh. Then the beating started. But at this point they doubted he was feeling much of anything with all the broken bones and profuse bleeding. He was starting to go limp, but Piotr didn’t let up. For the final push, he took on his metal form.

“I gave you a fair chance, but you chose to be greedy,” said Xavier, who remained indifferent to the man’s suffering, “All that money and comfort just wasn’t enough for you, was it?”

The man coughed up more blood, now barely breathing as he choked to get air in his lungs. Then Xavier turned to his pawns.

“Let this be a lesson to you, my young pawns. Don’t allow greed to cloud your judgment. It leads you down a slippery slope of pain and betrayal. Always honor your deals and don’t turn away from a favorable situation. This man was well-paid and well-respected. Now he is nothing.”

“So what’s gonna to happen to him?” asked Rogue.

“The same thing that happens to all those who betray the Hellfire Club,” said Xavier ominously, “Peter, if you please…”

The Russian mutant nodded and turned back towards the man. He was barely clinging to life, but he was in so much agony death must be sounding like a welcome release. So Piotr gave it to him, slugging him one last time with his colossal strength. The force of the blow nearly shattered his skull and twisted his head to the point where it severed his neck from his spine. The man went limp after that. There was no way anybody was walking away from a beating like that.

“Ooh, he’s dead,” said Pietro.

“So much for second chances,” said Jean, who tried not to look too much at the bloody scene, “Did you sense he was working with anybody else?”

“No, he acted alone,” affirmed Xavier, “You’ll find that most of my associates are smart enough not to conspire against us. But every so often you’ll get a bad apple like this. It’s just a matter of sending the message that I won’t tolerate this sort of behavior.”

“And how will we do that?” asked Scott.

“By making our unfortunate friend’s exploits known to the rest of my contacts,” he said, “We’ll dump the body in the East River and I’ll schedule someone to pick it up a few days later. The media should then pick it up and take care of the rest.”

“Sounds like standard business practices for you, sir,” grinned Warren.

“Well I wish I didn’t have to resort to such tactics, but for the results they deliver I have no complaints. Just remember that you must be willing to use such force, but only as needed and never in excess.”

They were wise words from a man who practiced what he preached. The Hellfire pawns were always amazed at how cunning a man the Black King was. He could be amicable and reasonable one minute and then the next minute he could have someone beaten to a pulp. It was representative of the two sides to his persona. He was willing to do whatever he had to in order to achieve his goal. Sometimes it required friendly persuasion and other times it involved a show of force. The highest morals for him were the ones that advanced the Hellfire organization. And it was something they all admired about him.

Once a couple of his henchmen dragged the body off into the back, the Black King led his pawns back out into the restaurant.

“I hope this has been a valuable lesson for the lot of you,” he said, “Now then, who’s hungry?”

Sinister’s Lab

Remy Lebeau waited impatiently as he lay on a medical table awaiting his test results. He had been under a microscope for nearly an hour and still nobody told him how they were going to help him. The drive in had been long enough. When they got close to the destination they made him put on a blindfold so he couldn’t see where they were. They still didn’t trust him and he didn’t trust them either. But Ororo and Hank assured him it was all for a reason.

While Sinister went over the data, Sage stood by and watched over him. Once she arrived she relieved Ororo of her duties so she could return to the manor. Now it was on her shoulders to judge whether or not this man was trustworthy. She was aware of his background. He was part of the Thieve’s Guild, but he had a reputation for striking out on his own. That could either mean he was a loner or he didn’t see eye-to-eye with his comrades. If he was a loner, that could be a problem. But if he was looking for a better deal, then they might be able to reason with him. For now, she kept a close watch on his thoughts.

“Ah, just as I suspected,” said Sinister as he held up an X-ray.

“What is it, doc? You finally figure out what’s causin’ Remy all dis pain?” asked Remy intently.

“I believe I have,” he said as he laid out the scan for him to see, “It appears the headaches are a product of your mutations growth factor. Tell me, exactly how far have you pushed your abilities?”

“Pushed em? Heck, Remy’s never had to push em. I get by with cards and de occasional piece of heavy furniture. Probably de biggest thing Remy ever charged was a safe.”

“Well if I’m reading these results correctly, you could do far more than that. Since your powers manifested, the breadth of your power has been increasing exponentially. In theory, you could eventually charge whole cities to explode if given enough time.”

The Cajun was officially surprised. That sounded pretty amazing for something he only used as complement to his thieving skills.

“Dang, Remy had no idea he was dat powerful.”

“Yes, well power doesn’t come without a price. It seems your ability originates in your brain. As your power has grown so too as a section in your brain that controls it. I estimate it has grown by a factor of five in the past year alone. That pain you feel is the pressure it exerts on the surrounding cranial structure. The bigger it grows the more it hurts.”

“Guess dat would explain it. Just how fast is it growin’ anyways?”

“By my calculations, the size should double within the next six months. And the pressure will quadruple. I don’t know how much the pain will increase, but I think it’s safe to assume it will be immense.”

Remy cringed at the though. The pain was unbearable enough as it was yet it was still getting worse? There was no way he could continue to bear it.

“Can you fix it?” he asked strongly.

Sinister set the readings aside and approached the anxious young man. Unlike the other pawns Xavier had him look at, this one was unique.

“Oh don’t you worry. I can stop the growth with a simple procedure. I will, however, have to remove a part of your brain to relieve the pressure. After that you should be pain free.”

It sounded like something a mad scientist would say, but based on what Remy gathered from this strange-looking guy so far that wouldn’t be an exaggeration. He had an aura to him every bit as sinister as his name implied. But if he could free him of this pain, he could be the devil himself for all he cared.

“Now I must warn you, the procedure is quite risky,” warned Sinister.

“Remy will take his chances,” he said.

Sinister figured he would, but then Sage stepped in.

“And it won’t come cheap,” she added, “You go through with this and you by default accept whatever deal the Hellfire Club gives you. Is that clear?”

“Whatever,” he said indifferently, “You make dis pain go away and Remy will be your personal master thief.”

“Always music to Hellfire’s ears,” grinned Sinister, “Now let’s get you prepped for surgery. Hank, get my equipment ready.”

“Yes sir. And should I prepare any additional equipment?” said Hank obediently, who had been hanging by his feed above one of the tables.

“I’ll take care of that, my boy. Just help Remy here get comfortable. It’s going to be a long night for all of us.”

Hank did as he was told, making his way over to Remy with anesthesia and surgical gear in hand. The young Cajun looked pretty calm for someone who was about to go under the knife, but the promise of a pain-free life was worth any risk. For Sinister, however, he had additional preparations to make. Remy Lebeau’s mutation was unique in many ways. And the piece of brain he was about to remove may be useful in his ongoing research. He was still a ways from a finished product, but every resource he could gather could only help his pursuit.

Hellfire Manor - Selene’s Training Area

The ominous echoes of chanting reverberated through the chamber of Selene’s mystical training area. Shortly after Scott and Jean’s arrival, she put together her own little classroom where she could teach the pawns about magic and even carry out a few rituals. So far she just scratched the surface with the pawns. But Kurt and Wanda opted to take extra lessons and that’s what she was giving them at the moment.

“Feel your spirit flow from within,” she while slowly moving her hands in a circular gesture, “Allow the energy to rise up within you and channel it into your body.”

Kurt and Wanda took deep breaths as they mimicked Selene’s gestures, standing with her in a triangular shape over an image of a demonic face. They were each wearing black robes that were slightly transparent and nothing else underneath. Even in the dim candlelight they could make out the naked features of one another’s bodies. Selene emphasized the importance of embracing all things fleshly. It was the desires and yearnings of the body that drove many to magic in the first place. And these two had been especially touched by the power of the mystic arts.

Ever since Selene gave him those books, Kurt spent much of his time reading and learning about the world of black magic. He quickly became engrossed, intrigued by these teachings that were so opposite to many of the faiths and religions he grew up studying. It also led him to pursue many additional nights with the Hellfire Club’s many sex workers. He frequently made trips back to Club Hellfire where he indulged in sexual excess. And because he was a pawn he was never refused. Embracing his desires only fueled his need for more knowledge and Selene took extra time to teach him, although he suspected she only favored him because of his appearance.

Wanda was another case of burning curiosity. Since her arrival, she had been pleading with Selene to show her more about magic. The Black Queen treated her enthusiasm the same way she treated Jean’s in that she ignored it until she could prove she had the killer instinct she was looking for. So far she had yet to make her case, but she had an equally strong desire to learn. Like Kurt, she read up on everything she could about magic. She was also learning how to use her powers in new ways. After feeling what it could do when she first had sex with Warren, she pushed it further by sleeping with Scott, Piotr, and Hellfire’s numerous mindless studs. She developed an appetite for pleasure on par with Kurt’s, but for Selene it wasn’t enough.

“Now comes your first test,” she said while they were still in a trance-like state.

Selene took out a beautiful red rose and set in the center of the image on the floor. Wanda and Kurt exchanged looks, having only a vague idea of what she wanted them to do. But they continued chanting, ready to do what they had to in order to prove themselves.

“Go ahead…reach deep within and take the power you seek! Use it like I showed you and Wanda, no assistance from your mutation.”

“Yes, Mistress Selene,” said Wanda.

The Black Queen stood back and let the two young pawns chant. They held their hands out and focused over the center of the image. The power was just simmering within them. The enchanted words of ancient languages that were long extinct rolled off their tongues despite difficult enunciations and complex terms. A deep rooted darkness arose and their hands started glowing. The flame from the surrounding candles intensified as did the outline of the symbol.

As their chanting intensified, anger and passion surged through their voice. Then the red rose levitated. Selene watched in approval so far. But the real test was just about near. Sweat poured down their faces and their hands shook as the glowing intensified. Finally, it happened. The rose burst into an ominous green flame, burning swiftly to a crisp in a sickening hiss. It was as if the rose itself was crying out in agony as it was consumed by the mystical fires conjured from the depths of darkness.

“Vow…” said Kurt as he gazed in awe of what he just did.

“It worked,” said Wanda, who was equally drawn in.

Selene smiled in approval. These two may just have that spark after all.

“Congratulations,” she said, “You’ve passed your first test.”

Kurt and Wanda smiled back, a distinct hint of darkness now looming behind their eyes. It was the first sign that they may indeed be affected by these teachings. But whatever it was they were learning from the Black Queen, they liked it.

“Thank you, Mistress Selene,” said Wanda, “I never thought I could do stuff like this without using my powers.”

“Ja, I could definitely feel it now,” said Kurt.

“And that feeling will grow so long as you nourish it,” said the Black Queen, “Remember to keep up with your studies and feed your desires. You still have a lot to learn about magic, but you’re well on your way.”

“I understand, my queen,” said Kurt respectfully.

“Yes…I’ll do what I must,” said Wanda in a low tone.

Selene noticed a touch of disappointment in Wanda’s tone. She was clearly the most ambitious one of the pawns when it came to magic as well as the most impatient. Kurt had the curiosity, but she had a genuine drive. That showed promise in her mind. It was still too early to consider her as a protégé. Only time would tell whether or not she was worthy.

Just then the chamber door to the chamber opened and Charles Xavier entered.

“Hope I’m not interrupting something, Selene,” he said as he entered.

“When do you not?” muttered the Black Queen.

She then turned to Kurt and Wanda.

“We’re done, you two. Start studying the material on curses and charms I gave you. You’ll be tested on them very soon.”

“Yes, Mistress Selene,” they each replied.

The two pawns left their lords to talk. As they left Xavier couldn’t help but sense a shift in their expression. These extra lessons Selene had been giving them was leaving its mark. He may have to spend some extra time ensuring they don’t fall too deeply into her grasp. He remembered he promised Mystique he would keep Kurt from becoming like Selene, but that was a secondary concern at the moment.

“You seem to have finally warmed into a teaching role,” he commented, “Now your giving private sessions?”

“If you’re trying to get me to say you were right all along, you won’t succeed,” said the Black Queen snidely, “Those two are far from true Hellfire prodigals.”

“But it looks like they’re on their way.”

Xavier walked casually around her setup. It wasn’t as elaborate as her ritual chamber, but it definitely had all the marks of Selene’s handiwork. He did notice something a little different though.

“I see you’re using only emblems of black magic,” he said as he ran his hands over the symbols, “I thought we agreed we would teach the pawns about both black and white magic.”

“Since when have you known me to be all that enthusiastic about, white magic?” scoffed Selene, “I still give lessons, but I teach what I know best. And besides, black magic is a lot more ‘entertaining’ to me.”

“I can only imagine,” muttered Charles, “But I warn you not to play favorites. You may end up alienating some of the pawns by sending mixed messages.”

“Oh please, if they can’t handle it they shouldn’t be here.”

“Well they are here, Selene. And I’d appreciate it if you made the effort to keep with your duties. You know how the Hellfire Club treats purely selfish pandering.”

Xavier’s words were forceful. The Hellfire Club may be about indulging in selfish desires, but when anybody, especially a member of the Inner Circle, started their own side-projects that was cause for concern.

“Oh relax, Charles. Since when have I neglected my duties?” said Selene, “Some students are just more intrigued by my ways than others. And what can I say? I like to indulge them.”

“I have nothing against that so long as you know the limits of such actions.”

“Oh so now you’re worried about limits? Honestly Charles, you sound as though you’re suspicious of me. And after everything I’ve done to help you, I’m honestly hurt.”

“Look me in the eye and say you wouldn’t do the same, Selene,” said the Black King, now standing mere inches from here, “Because if you can’t, then I’ve made my point.”

Selene didn’t respond. How could she when it was that kind of suspicion that helped them both attain the power they enjoyed today? Xavier always knew how to make a point, but that didn’t mean she cared for it.

“I thought so,” said Xavier as he backed away, “Now onto other matters. I believe we have room for one more pawn in our ranks.”

“Another? I thought we agreed we would keep the first round of recruits small,” said Selene.

“We did. We’ve covered such attributes as leadership qualities, mental capacity, physical prowess, mystical potential, and raw strength. But I feel as though this class of pawns is still lacking something.”

“And what might that be? I thought you planned everything out.”

“Plans change,” said the Black King, “I thought I could manage this class of pawns with fewer members. But I’ve since discovered that certain roles require a more personal touch. And one of those roles is combat training.”

“Combat training? I thought you had that covered with that Deadpool character. You know, the one that won’t shut up?”

“Yes, I thought he would fit well into that role, but unfortunately that hasn’t worked out as well as I hoped.”

“Ha! I could have told you that!” laughed Selene.

The Black Queen always liked it when Charles had to admit he was wrong. It didn’t happen often, but when it did she made it her mission to remind him constantly. And this definitely qualified as a what-were-you-thinking moment on his part.

“I agree. I thought it was a good idea at the time,” conceded the Black King, “But that’s why I’ve been on the lookout for someone with advanced combat skills. And earlier today, Sage hacked a few files from SHIELD that might provide us an opportunity.”

“SHIELD? You’re not thinking of bringing in another former agent, are you? Sage is enough,” said Selene.

“No, not quite. I was thinking along the lines of someone with a grudge against SHIELD and organizations like them. You should know better than anybody how powerful personal vendettas can be.”

Selene was intrigued. SHIELD had always been somewhat of a nuisance to the Hellfire Club. Having someone on board with an axe to grind could be a good counter. However, that all depended whether or not this individual was someone who could stomach their ways.

“Sounds promising,” said the Black Queen, “I assume you already have someone in mind.”

“Indeed I do. His name is James Poundstar, a Native American mutant living on a reservation in Arizona. He’s supposed to be a true warrior. His people call him, Warpath.”

“Warpath? I like him already,” she grinned, “Do you think you can provide enough incentive for him to join us?”

“I’ve already taken care of that,” said Xavier ominously, “I plan on paying him a visit tomorrow morning. In the meantime I need you to set up some rituals to welcome him. You’re familiar with Apache mysticism aren’t you?”

“Why do you bother asking when you already know the answer?” quipped the Black Queen.

“Just making sure,” said the Black King, “And remember our discussion about limits. I’ll be keeping an eye your extra sessions just as I’m sure you’re keeping an eye on mine. Understood?”

Selene scoffed, not giving him the satisfaction of an answer. But he was confident he got his point across and left the Black Queen to her musing. She never doubted that he kept a close eye on her. He knew better than anybody what she was capable of. But just because he spied on her didn’t mean he knew everything. Xavier was a cunning man, but he was still just a man and she was an immortal. No matter what he did, the odds were in her favor in the long run. She would continue to entertain these pawns for now. But she had much bigger ambitions and if she was going to carry them out, she had to plan carefully.

Apache Reservation – The Next Day

With his annual day of mourning behind him, James Poundstar returned to his life of drudgery at the reservation. His home, a dilapidated outpost just outside the nearest city, was in serious need of repairs again. High winds last night blew out his windows again. He groaned at the thought of having to do more repair work, but he was used to this sort of frustration.

As usual, he started his day with combat exercises under the morning sun. It promised to be another rough day on the reservation. Jobs were always scarce, but he made a decent living doing heavy hauling from the reservation to nearby cities like Phoenix and Flagstaff. It was a one-man operation he ran with just his mutant strength and a beat up old truck. The money was decent compared to what others on the reservation made, but every day when he rode into town he had to watch the sorry state of his people. It acted as a constant reminder of how he and John failed to inspire their Apache brethren to better their lives. It was part of why he moved to the outside of town. Here, he could be alone with his thoughts and train in peace.

He grunted and panted under the hot morning sun as he went through the motions, attaining the focus he worked so hard to maintain. It wasn’t the same training without John, but he his spirit kept him going. He may have failed to inspire their people, but he would not fail at being a warrior. He was just getting into the rougher motions when his sharp senses picked up a strange noise in the distance. James stopped what he was doing and looked out towards the sunset where he made out a small shape. It looked like a helicopter and it was heading straight for him.

“Somebody must have taken a wrong turn,” mused the Native American mutant.

He watched as the helicopter flew closer and descended towards the ground. It ended up landing on a flat plateau about a hundred yards from where he was standing. He couldn’t make out who was inside, but judging from the size of the helicopter there couldn’t be many.

Inside the aircraft, Charles Xavier unstrapped his restraints and prepared to step out. Sage, who was flying the aircraft, prepared to join him, but he gestured for her to stay.

“Stay here, Sage. I’ll take care of this,” assured the Black King.

“Are you sure, Charles? This man is supposed to be pretty strong and I’m not just talking about his powers.”

“I’ll be okay. And besides, it might be better if you kept your distance. He probably still harbors deep resentment for agents of SHIELD, former or otherwise.”

Sage nodded. She remembered the details of this man’s file. He blamed SHIELD for his brother’s death and had since gone into a life of seclusion. It sounded like a good opportunity to bring him into the Hellfire Club, but having thoroughly gone over this man’s file Sage suspected he wouldn’t be swayed that easily. But if anybody could convince him, it was Xavier. Hopefully that additional file she hacked for him would help.

Back outside, Charles Xavier approached an unimpressed and suspicious man. James Poundstar looked annoyed if anything. Seeing him in his Victorian style Hellfire attire surely made him seem out of place. And he made it known he was not intimidated by his sudden entrance.

“You must be very lost, pal. The nearest costume party is at least 500 miles west,” said James in a strong tone.

“Nice to meet you too, Mr. Poundstar,” replied Xavier, undaunted by his demeanor, “I apologize for my unannounced entrance, but I wanted to meet you in person. I’ve heard quite a bit about you.”

“Did you hear I don’t like trespassers? Because that’s something I try to make very clear.”

“Oh I think you want to listen to what I have to say, James.”

“I’ll be the judge of that. And how the hell do you know my name?”

“Oh there are few things in this world I don’t know. For instance, I know that you and your brother, the late John Poundstar, grew up precisely 16 miles from here in a small Apache town where you trained to be warriors. You were the idealist while he was the one who thought big. I also know that you possess great power. The locals thought you were a vessel for ancient warrior spirits and gave you the title, Warpath. How am I doing so far?”

James didn’t say anything. He was surprised the level of detail this man knew about him. He could have just as easily spouted of meaningless information like his birthday, his age, and what he did for a living. But instead, he focused on parts of his life that had the most impact. That was enough to get his attention.

“Who are you?” he asked intently.

The Black King approached the powerful young man and smiled.

“My name is Charles Xavier. I come as a representative of the Hellfire Club, an organization that caters to powerful individuals like yourself. And as luck would have it, we’re in a bit of an expansion stage. Care to know more?”

“Let me guess, you’re part of some sort of government mutant initiative,” scoffed James, “No offense pal, but the last time I listened to people like you my brother ended up dead.”

“Oh we’re not with the government. We’re not with any law-enforcement agency either. Trust me, I have just as much distaste for SHIELD and people like Nick Fury as you do.”

“Somehow I seriously doubt that.”

“That may be so, but what I have to offer is much grander than anything they could put together. And judging from your current surroundings you could use an upgrade in living standards.”

James cast the Black King a bemused look, but he couldn’t deny the truth. They each turned back to his house just in time to see the door fall off its hinges. The Native American mutant cringed at the thought of more repairs, but it reinforced this man’s point. He didn’t like living here. That much he would concede. But he was still plenty suspicious.

“What exactly are you offering? You’re not part of some criminal empire are you? Because I don’t work with thugs.”

“I assure you I’m not a criminal either. What Hellfire has to offer goes beyond crime, politics, government, and even the law itself. We’re part of something much greater and you have a chance to become a part of it.”

“Greater, huh? Care to be a little more specific? Because in case you haven’t noticed I’m not impressed with fancy clothes and private helicopters,” said James.

“Very well, I’ll answer with a brief history lesson I’m sure many of your people know. When Europeans originally came to America, they were overwhelmed at first at the harsh conditions and unforgiving land. They had no idea how to farm the terrain and many went hungry those first few years. That’s why they turned to the natives for assistance. Having lived off the land for centuries, they knew the tricks of the trade. And with their help, those tiny communities of settlers eventually grew.”

“And then they turned on us and that’s why people like me are living on reservations,” said James, rolling his eyes in exasperation, “What’s the point?”

“Oh I wasn’t going to talk about how the current status quo came to be. I’ve always been more fascinated by the what-if scenarios that could have led history down another path.”

“What’s that got to do with anything?”

“Imagine this, James…say those natives opposed the settlers in a different way. Say instead of just fighting them head on, they pretended to embrace them. They adopted their ways and earned their trust, working their way into their circles. They use their knowledge of the land and how to survive in it as leverage. They don’t just give them knowledge. They use it to infiltrate their ranks. And from behind the scenes, they furthered their own agenda. That way they themselves don’t have to fight. They can just get their enemies to fight each other.”

“I’m not following,” said James, who was just confused at this point.

Xavier smiled and turned towards the rising sun, which he often saw as a symbol of the power that the Hellfire Club had amassed.

“The point I’m trying to make is that sometimes the best way to get ahead is to use cunning in addition to strength. That is the core philosophy of the Hellfire Club. We get things done by doing what is necessary to benefit ourselves and the organization we serve. Those that work with us share in the benefits. Those that resist whether they be governments, competitors, or SHIELD are dealt with swiftly and harshly.”

“Sounds like a hell of a business,” said the Native American mutant, “So why do you need? I’m not exactly business savvy.”

“Oh you underestimate your worth, James. You have something to offer that the Hellfire Club has lacked over the years…something I wish to incorporate into our organization for a new generation of ambitious mutants.”

“And what might that be?”

“The skill of a true warrior,” said the Black King strongly, “Even though you have great strength and durability, you rely on your skills first and complement them with your powers. Such discipline is admirable. I would very much like to see the rest of my young associates take up such spirit. That is why I want you to join us.”

James didn’t react either way at first. While he didn’t completely trust this man, there was a strong yet reasonable look to him. He carried himself in a way that reminded him of how tribal elders carried themselves. He was respectful, yet stern. He made it clear he was not intimated by his obvious physical advantages. He may not have been a warrior, but he sure knew how to talk to one.

“You deserve much more than the meager existence you’ve carved for yourself, James,” Xavier went on, “Someone of your strength and skill has the potential to make a true difference…not just for your people but for everybody. The Hellfire Club’s reach is vast and you could do very well for yourself if you gave it a chance. You’ll never have to live in a shack like this again and you’ll have access to more comfort and wealth than you’ve ever dreamed.”

“You make it all sound so appealing, Xavier. What’s the catch?” asked James, knowing full well there had to be one.

“Oh it does come with a price, I assure you. That price is absolute loyalty. Like nature itself, the Hellfire Club functions in a strong hierarchy. I sit at the top with the title of Black King. You, like the others you’ll be working with, will be a pawn. You must answer to and respect those like myself who rank higher. But honor your position and both you and your people will be rewarded. You’ll have far more access to all of Hellfire’s comforts than most of our other associates. You must be willing to look beyond your life here and embrace something much bigger.”

It sounded pretty daunting. John was always good at thinking big. He was much more ambitious about getting out into the world and making a difference. But that mindset is what led to his death. Now he faced a similar decision and wasn’t sure what to do. This man was offering a lot, but he wasn’t sure about the loyalty part. He may be a bitter loner, but he had his standards. Sensing this, Xavier provided one last bit of incentive.

“I understand this is a big decision, James. But if it helps, I have a little something for you that may help you decide.”

“And what might that be?” he asked suspiciously.

Xavier reached into his coat and pulled out an unmarked enveloped. He then presented it to James in a gesture of good will.

“Consider it a token of my sincerity,” said the Black King, “Inside that envelope are the classified documents Nick Fury would not give you. They were hacked from one of their most sensitive databases. They reveal the true details of your brother’s death.”

The young man’s expression shifted. He quickly tore into the envelope and pulled out the documents. There were only a few pages, but they had all the headers and emblems of SHIELD to indicate they were authentic. None of the text was blacked out or censored either. And it told a very different story than the one Nick Fury gave him.

As he read over the documents, James Poundstar’s face hardened. He resented SHIELD before, but now he outright hated them. John’s death wasn’t heroic or meaningful. It was a senseless loss that they themselves were responsible for. The documents outlined a highly sensitive mission to retrieve a stolen cache of SHIELD computers from a cargo plane. The plane hadn’t been hijacked or stolen or anything. The people behind it weren’t international super-villains either. It was just a small time gig pulled off by a group of mercenaries looking to sell SHIELD secrets to the highest bidder. But the worst part of all was it happened because someone at SHIELD carelessly leaked information on the shipment and these thugs just happened to pick it up. So they sent John and a team of agents to retrieve the parts before the plane landed in unfriendly territory. And that’s where it all went wrong.

The plane was flying in bad weather and only John had the strength and durability to survive the elements. So he was the first one on, leaping into the plane through the bitter cold and high winds at over 25,000 feet. He was able to get on board and lead the agents in, but when they tried to stop the mercenaries they ended up losing control of the plane. John tried to gain control of the plane, but he was given direct orders from Nick Fury himself to let it crash so they could destroy the computer hardware. He imagined John arguing with him, but Fury was unyielding. So he tried to help the other agents off, but it was too late. The plane went into a tailspin and crashed nose first into the Alps and John didn’t survive. They recovered his remains along with those of the remaining agents a week later. And it was all because of a decision from Nick Fury and a stupid mistake by some dumb bureaucrat.

James hands trembled as he read the report. Once finished, he crumbled them up and ripped them to shreds.

“Those sons of bitches!” he yelled out.

“I’m sorry, James,” said Xavier.

“No you’re not. You didn’t even know John!” exclaimed James in a fit of anger, “He wanted to make a difference! He wanted to do more! And what did they do to him? They just let him die to cover their own asses!”

“That’s how organizations like SHIELD work,” said the Black King, “I can’t pretend to understand your anguish. But one thing you should take away from your brother’s deed is how he embraced an opportunity. Now you have that same chance. Question is…will you embrace it as well?”

James was seething. Looking at the crumbled up paper in his hand, he remembered back to all those disagreements he had with his brother. But one thing he never denied was John’s bravery. He was willing to take a chance while he was too stubborn to do so. And what did that stubbornness get him? He lived a life of poverty among a people with no sense of warrior spirit. Here was a chance to get out of this place and make something of his life. It was every bit as risky as the chance John took, but if he was to truly honor his memory he had to share his bravery.

“So you want a real warrior in this club of yours, huh?” said James in a calmer tone, “What else can you tell me about this place?”

“Oh I could tell you a great deal. But it may be better if you saw it for yourself,” answered the Black King.

The Native American mutant’s expression finally softened. This man had made his point. And he made his decision.

“Guess it couldn’t hurt to check out,” he said, extending his hand in a welcoming gesture.

“I’m glad you feel that way,” smiled Charles as she shook the young man’s hand, “I have a feeling this will be good for all of us.”

“We’ll see.”

And so the man the locals called Warpath was on his way to the Hellfire Club. His life was sure to change. Neither he nor John could make a difference with their individual plans. Hopefully these people could show him a new path.

Sinister’s Lab – Infirmary

Remy Lebeau was in a daze. He wasn’t sure whether he was awake or dreaming. He remembered agreeing to the surgery. He remembered lying down on a gurney and having a plastic mask placed over his face. After that it was all a blur. He wasn’t sure if he was supposed to be awake or not. His head wasn’t hurting anymore and he felt a large bandage around his forehead. He assumed the procedure was over. He was still alive so that must have meant everything went well. But if everything was fine then why were Sinister and Hank hovering over him?

His eyes barely opened halfway and he could only make out a blurry image. But he was sure the two figures standing over them were Hank and Sinister. Those two were hard to miss even while under the heavy influence of anesthesia. It sounded like they were discussing something. It was hard to make out because he was still pretty out of it, but he was able to make out their conversation.

“Is the analysis complete?” said Sinister.

“Yes sir,” affirmed Beast, “I analyzed the section of brain we extracted. As expected, the makeup of it is very unique. I know mutation can be affected by the brain, but this is an entirely new manifestation. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Excellent. It shall provide a new window into our research. I long theorized certain physiological structures could affect the power and growth of a mutation. Now we have tangible proof.”

“So what now?” asked Hank intently, “What’s the next step?”

Sinister was silent for a moment. This was a very exciting discovery. For the first time in a long while Xavier brought in someone useful. This could very well be the discovery he had been waiting for that would help him achieve his ultimate goal.

“I believe we’re ready to take our research to the next level,” said Sinister, “Keep that chunk of brain in stasis, but report to Xavier that we disposed of it. I want to run more tests. I need to find out the mechanisms that led to such growth in his power.”

“But Xavier and Selene spy on us constantly? And won’t they get suspicious if we start doing a new round of experiments?”

“Just do as I say and deliver the report. I’ll take care of the Inner Circle. Rest assured they will not uncover our work. I’ll make sure of it.”

It was at that point everything cut off for Remy. He fell unconscious again, the anesthesia kicking back in with a vengeance. But he wasn’t going to forget what he heard. He knew something about those two was off the second he entered. They had their own agenda and it sounded like he just helped them. Now he had to stick around. Those two were up to no good. But he would have to be careful. He didn’t know who these people were or which side to play. He could only rest for now and plan his next move. But one thing was for certain. His life was officially entwined with these people.

Wanda’s Room

After their lesson, Kurt and Wanda returned to the dormitories with their books and materials in hand. Selene was not the easiest teacher in the world, but she made them work for her respect. At the moment they were a long ways away from being in the same league as her, but their passion for the mystic arts drove them to endure.

They stopped off at Wanda room where Kurt lingered to talk. So far Wanda was the only other person besides Jean that shared his interest in mystical studies. But unlike Jean, she embraced a lot more in terms of Selene’s dark ideology.

“You know, I just noticed something. Ve may be taking a lot of zhese classes together,” said Kurt as he watched her set her books down.

“Yes, that also occurred to me,” said Wanda as she turned back to the young man, “What’s your story? Why does magic fascinate you so much?”

“It’s a long story,” he sighed, “One zhat involves my personal need to find a spiritual side to my life. Vhat about you?”

“Well I wish I could say it was that deep, but you’ve seen my powers. I just feel a strange lure to the world of magic. And if anybody can teach me more, it’s Selene.”

“Ja, she is zhe master. She’s got an ‘interesting’ ideology as vell,” said Kurt.

“I don’t mind it. Do you?”

Then to Kurt’s surprise, Wanda casually removed her ceremonial robe. And she wasn’t wearing anything underneath so once it was off, he saw her in all her naked glory. While he had seen her strip in the clubs, he couldn’t help but admire her in this closer, more private setting.

“What?” she said with an amused look, “Don’t tell me it makes you uncomfortable. You’ve seen me naked before.”

“Who said I vas uncomfortable?” he replied with a suggestive grin, “Just so you know zhere are some parts of Selene’s ideas zhat I’ve taken to. One of zhem involves embracing zhe more…primal part of our spirits.”

“I think I know what part you’re talking about.”

Wanda set her robe aside and casually walked up to the young mutant, seductively swaying her hips and showing off her body every step of the way.

“And for the record…I’ve embraced that part as well.”

There was an erotic undertone in her voice. Kurt’s grin widened as he moved in closer, shutting the door behind him and giving them more privacy. Wanda further proved her point by sensually slipping her arms around his neck and pulling him into a kiss. While they both indulged in plenty of sexual acts since they joined the Hellfire Club, they had yet to share a moment with each other. Now seemed as good a time as any and it should be a good bonding experience seeing as how they would be studying together.

As they kissed, Kurt let his robe fall to the floor as well. Now they were both naked and very much aroused, fueled by the rush they felt earlier from casting black magic. Kurt’s body felt unique to Wanda. His blue, fuzzy skin and demonic complexion held a special allure. She remembered how Emma and Jean talked about how different, but great it was. Now she would see for herself. Kissing him more hungrily, she led him over towards her bed. Halfway there, Kurt took the initiative and lifted her off the floor. She hooked her legs around his waist while he held onto her butt, squeezing her naked flesh as he laid her down on the soft sheets.

“I have to warn you, I tend to get a little carried away vhen I do zhis,” said Kurt in a lustful done.

“So do I,” said Wanda with a naughty grin, “But I can take it.”

“Are you sure?”

“Watch me!”

Wanda attacked his lips again and turned him over so that now she was on top. Foregoing any additional foreplay, she grabbed the base of his now erect dick and plunged down onto it. As his dick stretched the inner walls of her tight pussy she let out a sharp gasp. He filled her so well and the exotic feel of his fuzzy skin really got her going. She was going to ride this boy for all he was worth.

She began rocking her hips and Kurt began thrusting up into her. They were a little rough at first, but they soon settled into a nice, fervent pace. Kurt quickly found out that Wanda wasn’t like the strippers he would fuck at the clubs. She knew how to leg go the way Selene showed him and really work it. She looked so beautiful as she rode him, her bountiful breasts bouncing with each movement of her body. As their hips moved he shot up and suckled her erect tits, evoking more gasps from her and adding to the growing sensations.

“Uh-uh-uh-ohhhhhhhhhhh fuck!” cried Wanda.

“Uh-uh-uh-Vanda-uh-oh you’re amazing!” panted Kurt, now in a full blown sexual heat.

They worked it harder and harder, rocking her bed and building up a good climax. They didn’t care about taking it slow or making a big affair out of it. They just wanted to fuck and feel good. Wanda bent her knees around his waist, the balls of her feed digging into his lower back as she grinded her hips against his. Kurt squeezed her butt as she worked it up and down his length. Then he felt her pussy start to throb. She was having an orgasm. But as was her style, she used her hexing powers to enhance the experience. Their bodies were soon consumed by the purplish aura of her power, making it so Kurt was sent over the edge as well. It also made his release extra intense.

“Uh-uh-ahhhhhhhhhhhhh Vanda!” he grunted, the sudden rush of energy overwhelming his system.

Wanda’s eyes flashed as she took in the feeling. Kurt’s flashed as well, showing just how much he shared in the power. He really seemed to like it. His face was awash with excitement and intrigue. He had experienced many new things since getting into the Hellfire Club lifestyle, but not like this. Wanda Maximoff offered something different. She didn’t just share his fascination with the mystical world. That world was a part of her.

“Vow…zhat vas…amazing!” said Kurt through is panting.

“Up for more?” grinned Wanda, noticing his cock was still hard.

“I have a hyperactive metabolism. It takes a lot more to wear me down.”

“Oh really? You think I can’t keep up?”

“I don’t know. Can you?” teased Kurt.

“Oh I’ll show you,” said Wanda in a sultry tone.

They kissed again, this time more passionately and hungrily. Kurt didn’t miss a beat. He pinned Wanda on her bed, raising her legs up slightly and thrusting back into her. Wanda grasped her bed sheets and held on as he fucked her nice and hard. She closed her eyes and cried out with every motion, loving how his hard cock stretched her inner walls just right. There was something thrilling about having sex with a man who looked so different. It turned her on more than she expected. She remembered Selene once talking about how she found demons very erotic. She must have picked up on that because this was something else.

Kurt found it equally exciting having sex with a woman once known as the Scarlet Witch. That had spiritual connotations that he found attractive. Plus, it helped she had such a nice body and wasn’t afraid to push her limits with him. While most girls would need a breather after the first round with him, she just kept going and even begged him to do her harder. He loved how she talked dirty with him. It was the kind of turn-on he hadn’t experienced with a woman yet. And he went all out enjoying himself.

Kurt and Wanda’s bodies danced in a rough, yet passionate display of sex. Kurt hammered into her nice and hard, leaning over and suckling her breasts and making her climax again. Then she used her hexing powers to turn him over and so she could go down on him, taking his cock hungrily into her mouth and sucking him off until he blew his load on her face. She looked up and smiled as she licked up nearly every drop and spread what little there was left on her breasts. Kurt found it very alluring and pulled her back into his embrace. This time he got a little creative, using his tale to slide up her legs and tease her still wet folds. From there he flipped her onto her hands and knees and thrust into her from behind. She leaned up against the wall, bucking her hips back and forth as his cock rammed in and out of her tight cunt. At times she used a little hexing power to add some extra sensation to the experience. It all made for many wonderful sensations and some very intense orgasms.

It was the kind of blissful indulgence Selene preached and they loved it. Kurt and Wanda pushed themselves to really embrace this pleasure, going at it without care or concern for anything other than their own enjoyment. It intensified as they neared one last peak together. Kurt turned Wanda over again and got on top of her, letting the whole of his body weight press against her as he relentlessly pounded into her.

“UH-UH-UH-UH-OH FUCK-AH-OH FUCK-UH-UH-OH I’M CUMMING!” cried Wanda.

“AH-AH-AH-ME TOO VANDA-AH-UH-OHHHHHHHHHHH!”

Wanda held onto his arms while keeping her legs spread nice and wide as Kurt thrust in deeper into her depths. Their faces contorted as orgasmic sensations took over. Kurt got his first, delivering three more hard thrusts until he blew his load inside her tight cunt. Upon feeling his seed inside her, Wanda tensed her inner muscles and used her hexing powers to send herself over the edge and add a little extra enjoyment for Kurt. Their bodies glowed under her hex powers and through the sensations, they shared a deep gaze.

It was a different kind of sexual experience. They each brought something special to it. Kurt has his demonic sexual energy and Wanda had her supernatural aura. It felt like a good match if not ironically so. It was not lost on either of them as they lay together naked, soaking up the afterglow.

“Ve go vell togther,” commented Kurt.

“Yes…we certainly do,” smiled Wanda, “The demon and the witch…it’s poetic, is it not?”

“I agree. It’s also fitting. I’d like to do it again if you want.”

“Seeing as how we’ll be studying together, I don’t see why not,” she said, “We could help each other in a lot of ways.”

“Is zhis one of zhem?” said Kurt coyly.

“I’d like it to be.”

Kurt smiled and they kissed again. It felt like the start of something new for them. They had become engrossed in studying with Selene and now it seemed as though their fates were linked. There was no telling what kind of skills they could learn under her guidance. If this was just a taste of what was possible, they definitely looked forward to more experiences.

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Up next: The pawns meet James Poundstar and Remy makes a deal.