New Blood

New Blood
Chapter 12: Spiritual Advice

************************************************************************

Sinister’s Lab – Infirmary

Remy Lebeau was up and walking again and for the first time in what seemed like forever his head wasn’t killing him. Even after the meds wore off, the pain didn’t return. And as far as he could tell, he was still intact mentally and physically. His powers were working fine and he showed no signs of brain damage. He still had a bandage around his head, but they assured him he could remove it within a few days or so. He truly felt like a million bucks. Even if there were still many things he still didn’t like about that Sinister guy, he was very much indebted to him and the Hellfire Club for freeing him of this pain.

With a new day and a new beginning ahead of him, Sage, Hank, and Ororo were there to greet him in the morning. When Ororo saw him she could see a clear difference. He looked much better than the sickly, pained man they picked up at the airport. He looked strong, poised, and confident. He was much more the man she heard about in thieve circles than before. That probably meant he would be much more like the cocky Cajun she met back at that bar. So while he was free of headaches, hers were just beginning.

“You’re certainly looking better, Mr. Lebeau,” said Sage.

“Merci. Remy feels a lot better,” he replied, “You folks is alright helpin’ dis here Cajun get over dat nasty pain. I can’t remember de last time I felt dis good.”

“And it shows in your read-ups,” said Hank as he went over a couple of papers, “As far as these latest tests are concerned, you’re a completely healthy young man. Sinister and I were able to stop the growth process along with removing the part of your brain that was causing all the pain. We also biopsied the piece and we could find no other ailments.”

“Good,” said Sage, “Then you’re ready to begin the process of compensating us for our help, Mr. Lebeau.”

Remy sighed. He dreaded this next part, but he knew he couldn’t back away from it.

“Oui, Remy knows de drill. You help Remy and Remy helps you. I gave you my word that dis here Cajun would do his part and I intend to keep it. Thieves honor.”

“I’m sure you will,” said Ororo, who still showed some skepticism, “Although I have to warn you the jobs you’ll be doing here are nothing like the small time jobs you did with the Thieve’s Guild.”

“Sounds like a challenge. And Remy loves challenges!” grinned the Cajun.

He had confidence. That was good. He had a sense of obligation. That was even better. Sage was beginning to see why Xavier targeted him instead of more accomplished mutant thieves. Hopefully he could back that confidence up with results because there was no shortage of work to be done in the ever ongoing affairs of the Hellfire Club.

Hellfire Manor

James Poundstar arrived at Hellfire Manor like a fish out of water. Having spent most of his life on a Native American reservation in the blazing deserts of Arizona, coming to a place like Manhattan into an organization like the Hellfire Club was quite a shock. The first thing he saw when he arrived was the opulent mansion that acted as a primary base for the organization. The exterior alone was worthy of legend, but the interior was far more impressive. He had no idea such wealth even existed. A part of him was somewhat turned off by the over-the-top riches, but considering he and the rest of his people lived in poverty that was understandable. However, some of those reservations were laid to rest when he met some of the women of the Hellfire Club.

The first two people he met when he arrived were Rogue and Emma, who were instructed to greet him. They were in their provocative Hellfire uniforms, which definitely gave James an eyeful. Xavier had to keep himself from laughing when he sensed some of his thoughts. Clearly the reservation didn’t offer much in the form of female companionship and seeing as how he was an attractive young man, he was practically starving for some womanly companionship. So for the entire tour Rogue and Emma stayed by his sides. This helped calm him down among other things. The girls themselves were also quite excited by James’s arrival. This man definitely had a warrior’s body. They could only imagine what kind of skill he had in the bedroom.

Over the course of the tour, Xavier spent a lot of time talking about how his warrior skills would be applied to the Inner Circle. He would no doubt be expected to kill, but that was something James was more than ready for. He and John had been conditioned for it over the years and now it looked like he would finally have a chance to apply it. Xavier also showed him some video feed of the training program they had for Hellfire soldiers and assassins. And James seemed impressed by them for the most part. It wasn’t quite like a training program for normal soldiers, but it wasn’t exactly like warrior training. He could see there was room for improvement and it was definitely a task he could really pursue passionately.

“You’ve got quite a setup here, Xavier,” commented James as he overlooked the garden out back, “You certainly weren’t lying when you said the Hellfire Club wasn’t a typical organization.”

“I never lie about such matters,” said the Black King as he overlooked the garden, “We have long prided ourselves for being free from control of governments, kings, and nations. We consider ourselves an entity all our own, working behind the scenes to shape the course of history.”

“But it wasn’t always that way, was it? This deal you’re offering me is new.”

Xavier turned to the young man and smiled. He caught on quickly.

“Smart man,” he said approvingly, “You’re right. The Hellfire Club has gone through numerous changes over the centuries. What started as a collection of aristocrats with a taste for decadence has evolved into an organization with goals and principles.”

“You told me about the principles. Serve yourself, then your comrades, and then everybody else. But what about the goals? What exactly are you doing all this for, Xavier?”

Xavier turned back to the sight of the garden and his gaze grew distant.

“You know, I once never gave that question a lot of thought. I used to live in a world of idealism where I thought that just doing good was enough to make the world a better place. It may sound foolish now, but I believed it. Then a few major events in my life showed me the true nature of the world. And that’s how I found myself down the path that led me here.”

“And what were those events if you don’t mind me asking?” said James curiously.

Xavier paused for a moment. It was a simple question with a very complicated answer. There was no way this young man could possibility understand so it would have to remain a mystery to him and the rest of the pawns.

“That’s a conversation for another day, my boy. Just know that what happened made me realize the cold hard truth. The world is not just. Human beings are fundamentally flawed. And the system by which civilization manifests is imperfect. At one point the conflict was between tribes. Then it grew to villages, cities, states, empires, and entire nations. Now the biggest conflict yet has arisen. The battle between humans and mutants has just begun to take hold and the potential consequences for civilization are vast.”

“I can attest to that,” muttered James, “My brother got caught up in that mess and he ended up dead.”

“He won’t be the only one if society continues with this unending cycle of conflict, war, and death. Long ago I saw that mutants had the potential to lead humanity towards its next great change. That change had the potential to be very good or very bad. Should it spin out of control, there’s little doubt that the human race if not life in general would not survive. But if it was tamed and guided by reason then the possibilities would be truly limitless.”

“Is that were we come in?” asked James.

“Indeed,” said Xavier with an ominous grin, “Since I became the Black King, I have taken it upon this organization to guide civilization to the next step. The conflict between mutants and humans is inevitable, but that conflict must be managed. Humanity must accept mutants and mutants must accept humanity even if they kick and scream about it. We are the invisible hand that will guide both sides into the future. Doing so requires methods that are strict if not harsh at times. But the alternative is chaos and both history and nature show us that chaos brings far worse.”

“In other words, we’re the lesser of two evils?”

“I wouldn’t go so far to call it evil. But unlike many, the Hellfire Club accepts that there is darkness and light in all of us. To deny either is to be a fool. That’s why we exercise both. It may not be for everyone, but it works for us as you have already seen.”

James laughed somewhat at that last part. He remembered the parts of the tour that showed just how much the darker things like lust and greed are entrenched in this place. At one point they even passed by a half open door where Scott and Jean were having sex. And they were really into it. They didn’t even care they left the door slightly open. They even waved as they passed by. It sort of summarized the way the Hellfire Club thought about life and morality. It was different, but it had its perks.

“So where do I fit in?” asked James, “Am I just here to train the pawns or what?”

“Oh you’ll do much more than that, James,” assured the Black King, “Here, you’ll have a chance to impart your warrior ways to the Inner Circle. I believe we can all benefit from such teachings. And you, my boy, have the chance to fight battles of a much higher and more meaningful order than anything you could have fought back home. At the end of the day isn’t that the greatest desire of all warriors?”

“It’s one of them,” he grinned, “But how can I be sure I’ll get my chance here?”

James was a smart kid. Even in these surroundings, he couldn’t be convinced by his rhetoric. Unlike the other pawns, Poundstar had a different way of thinking. He wouldn’t just join the Hellfire Club if they threw money and women at him. That may fulfill a few needs, but not the important ones. That’s why Xavier prepared something special for him with the help of the Black Queen.

“You need some extra convincing? Very well, follow me. There’s someone I’d like to introduce you to.”

Lounge Levels

Upon leaving Xavier to finish the tour of their newest recruit, Rogue decided to relax a bit back one of the many lounges at the manor. She had a double shift at the club tonight and was going to need some rest. As much as she loved sex, having so much of it through her job really took it out of her. But it helped in more ways than one. Sex was a good release, especially early on when she was adjusting to really using her powers to hurt people for the Hellfire Club. Some of her earliest training was draining prisoners and really inflicting pain. She didn’t have as much trouble with it as the others did like Jean and Scott. That was part of the benefits of having Mystique as a mother. But it did weigh on her a bit and sex helped her deal with it. It was getting to a point where she didn’t lose any sleep over it. Hopefully this James guy felt the same way.

She couldn’t help but be a little disappointed though. She was hoping to get a shot at welcoming James into the club. With his looks it was certain the rest of the girls would be throwing themselves at him. Hopefully they wouldn’t wear him down too much because she needed to be friendly too so to speak.

As she passed by one of the snack rooms which always had a fancy buffet set up for them, she saw Warren and Piotr having a snack. They looked a little tired. They had probably been training or spending some time with the girls.

“Hey guys, any of you seen Kurt around?” she asked them.

“No, I’m afraid I haven’t,” said Piotr, who was having some soup, “He wasn’t in the weight room with the rest of us and I didn’t see him this morning at breakfast.”

“Didn’t see him at the club either,” said Warren, “None of the girls have seen him either.”

That made Rogue worry a little. Kurt had been in somewhat of a tear lately with some of the Hellfire Club’s sex workers. She even talked to a few of them who said he was very intense in bed, not brutally so but very energetic so to speak.

“Last I heard he was hanging out in the library with, Wanda,” said Warren, “Although why he would want to hang out there when there are girls and food just down the hall is beyond me.”

“Ah’ll have to ask him,” said Rogue.

It did sound a little strange. Then again Kurt always had a fondness for books. It was his favorite pastime back home in Germany. But she always thought it was because of their lack of options. There wasn’t much else to do when he was forced to stay cooped up in a house every day. Now that he was here it seemed like books should be the last thing on his list of recreational activities, especially since he began seducing women.

But it turned out Warren was right. Kurt was in the library and he was buried in a pile of old books. He looked pretty into them too. There were at least four open at once and he appeared to be taking notes on them as well.

“Kurt?” she said as she approached him.

“Oh, gutan tag Rogue,” he greeted, “I didn’t hear you come in.”

“Looks like you were occupied,” she commented, “What is all this anyways? We get a summer reading list or something?”

“Nien, zhis is just some side-reading I’m doing for zhe Black Queen. She lent me zhese books on zhe mystic arts and I intend to read every vord before zhe end of zhe week.”

“Sounds like a tall order. How’d she rope ya into doing that?”

“She didn’t rope me into anything. I’m doing zhis because I vant to.”

That came as another surprise. Why anybody would want to pour over old books like the ones Kurt was looking at was beyond her. But he seemed serious about it.

“Whatever little brother,” she said, “But why the sudden interest in the hocus pocus? Ain’t we already gettin’ lessons in that stuff?”

“Vell some of us are. You nearly fell asleep in zhe last session,” quipped Kurt.

“Hey, Ah like conjurin’ spells and studyin’ the other side as much as the next gal, but a few sessions with Mistress Selene is enough. You remember what mama told us about her, don’t ya?”

“Ja, but zhis is important to me, Rogue. Zhis power has zhe insight into a world I’ve been searching for my whole life. It’s like everything I’ve ever known was wrong. What I once thought was right and moral was just a farce. And even if mother has reservations about Mistress Selene, she’s teaching me zhings I never zhought I could learn.”

“Yeah right, what’s she teachin’ you? How to turn water into wine? It’s been done in case ya haven’t heard.”

That stirred Kurt’s anger. Rogue was not the most sensitive girl in the world, but she was starting to push it.

“You vouldn’t understand,” he said, casting his sister a harsh scold, “And if you’re going to insult my interests, do me a favor and leave. I’m sure zhe Hellfire studs are vaiting for you.”

“Hey, take it easy, Kurt! Ah was just saying…”

“Do me a favor and vatch vhat you say,” he said, cutting her off, “I don’t criticize your new passions. Please don’t criticize mine!”

Rogue was starting to worry. She noticed a slight shift in his tone during that last part. It was as if some sort of darkness was laced within his words. It didn’t sound quite like the Kurt she knew. The Hellfire Club changed everybody, but this was something else. She noticed how he had less a problem accepting brutal tactics during training. After only a few lessons with Selene, he had no problem putting people to death by his own hands. Even the others commented on it. If Mystique was here even she would be worried. So she gave him a moment to cool down, not wanting to provoke him any further.

“Look, Ah’m sorry Kurt. Ah just worry about ya, alright? We’re family and Ah love ya,” she said in a more sincere tone.

Kurt’s demeanor shifted much to her relief. Whatever darkness there was in his expression seemed to fade.

“I know. I love you too, Rogue. But zhis is important to me.”

“Ah know, but try not to take it too far,” said Rogue with a reassuring smile.

“I’ll be careful. I promise,” he assured her.

Rogue took his word for it and left him to his studies. She hoped he would keep that promise. Maybe when Mystique came for a visit she would talk to her about this. Of course knowing her, she would probably overreact and only make it worse. She respected and followed the Black Queen much as the next pawn. It was largely through her teachings and training that they didn’t feel guilty about torture or killing. But with her status it was best to keep her at arms length. That meant she would have to take it on herself to make sure that Kurt didn’t get in too deep with Selene.

For Kurt, however, his promises were of secondary concern to his newfound interest. He didn’t deny that Selene was a risky person to get close to, but he believed he could handle it. He just had to be extra careful.

Hellfire Manor Ritual Room

James Poundstar was in the midst of the Inner Circle’s final step to recruit him into their ranks. He had yet to take his blood oath and was extra cautious about accepting their deal. So Xavier and Selene prepared a little something special for him in the ritual room. The Black Queen put it together herself. It was a special conjuring spell with ties to numerous Native American rituals. James was surprised to learn they knew of Apache mystical beliefs. He was even more surprised to learn they knew Apache chants and ceremonial practices. These kinds of skills were usually reserved for tribal elders and medicine men back home. To see them wielding it so skillfully gave them credibility in his mind.

Accompanying Selene with the spell were some of the pawns including Emma, Pietro, Jean, and Scott. Wanda was also there to help the ritual along, but she wasn’t using her hex powers or any of the special skills Selene taught her. For now, she was just going through the motions like the others. She thought it was a little beneath her, but then again she was still new to it. She had to jealously watch Jean act as a secondary medium since she had been at it a little longer than her. But she would get her chance eventually. She just had to prove to Selene she was worthy.

The spell was pretty advanced. Selene, Jean, and the pawns were all standing in a circle around a pile of assorted timbers they gathered in the center of the room and lit with a mysterious blue flame. The flame was big, but specially contained to ensure it wouldn’t start a fire and sitting right next to embers in a meditative state was James. He was attempting to clear his mind as he gazed into the flames while Selene led the ceremonial chant.

“Are you to accept the flames, James Poundstar? Are you ready to gaze into the land where spirits dwell?” said Selene while the others chanted.

James took several deep breaths. He hadn’t done anything like this in a long time and this was unlike any ritual he had ever been a part of. But he had come too far to turn back now.

“I’m ready,” he said intently.

“Then prepare to see a world that lies beyond consciousness!” proclaimed the Black Queen, “Open your eyes and see what you are meant to see!”

Every bit of James Poundstar’s training as a warrior came into play at this moment. He gazed intently into the flames, trying to look beyond the burning embers. The fires started burning erratically, morphing into strange shapes that were clearly not natural and guided by an invisible hand. The chanting continued and intensified. With each verse the flames grew livelier. It was as if something within was trying to get out. Then he saw a shape take form in the middle of the flames. The shape then formed a face which seemed to direct the flames around it. James immediately recognized the face.

“John…”

It was really him. Through the fire his dead brother was staring right at him as if he were looking through a window. In a daze he reached out to touch the figure. Then it disappeared and the flames took a new shape. Now they resembled hand and arm-like extensions and they were reaching right for him. This signaled he was ready for the next step.

“Jean, would you do the honors?” said Selene.

“Yes, Mistress Selene,” said Jean.

Closing her eyes, Jean used her telekinesis to levitate a handful of special herbs and grasses that were commonly used by Southwestern Native Americans in these rituals. Once they got to a certain point in the chant she scattered them evenly into the flames. The embers immediately reacted, turning from blue to green and letting out a sharp hissing sound. The whole area soon became consumed in smoky fumes, only they didn’t spread like normal smoke. It all gathered around James and he inhaled it in a single breath.

“Ack!” he choked, “I…I see…the spirits!”

It was as if his mind and body were lifted up into the heavens. He no longer felt like he was in Hellfire Manor. Now he was back at the reservation atop the mesa near where he and John used to camp out. It was the dead of night and every star in the sky shined with a radiance unlike anything he ever saw. There were also these strange streams of blue/green light streaking through the sky. It was like the ribbons of heaven itself. And in front of him casually stoking a fire was his brother John, looking no different than he did the last time he saw him.

“John…is that you?” said James as he cautiously stepped forth.

John turned around from the fire and smiled. He had a strange yellowish glow to his body. And when he started walking towards him gentle breezes of wind picked up the dust around him.

“Take it easy, James. I know why you’re here,” said John.

“What? How do you…”

“Let’s just say I’ve been keeping tabs,” smiled his brother, “And I know the challenge you’re currently facing.”

“The Hellfire Club…yeah, I guess I have them to thank for being here,” said James, who was finally starting to collect himself.

“Better late than never I guess. But is it still too late to say I’m sorry? I know our last conversation wasn’t exactly pleasant.”

“You’re right. But you have nothing to be sorry for. We were both at fault. We were young, stubborn, and arrogant. I only wish I could have been there for you.”

“Don’t blame yourself. I was the fool,” said John, placing a hand on his brother’s shoulder, “You still have a life to live. You still have the chance to do more than I ever dreamed. Don’t waste it.”

“I won’t. I promise,” said James strongly.

John smiled and the two brothers shared a long overdue moment. It seemed like a lifetime had passed, but at long last they could make their peace. John’s life was over and James’s was just beginning. And before they diverged again they shared the goodbye that was so overdue.

“You have to go back now, James,” said John.

“I know. But even if we didn’t part on the best of terms, just remember that I still love you. And I’ll always miss you.”

“Me too, brother. But don’t worry. I’ll never be too far away. Somebody’s gotta watch over you,” grinned John.

“Still as annoying as ever,” laughed James.

“But before you go I have one last message,” said John seriously, “Be careful about who you ally yourself with in this Hellfire Club. Some are sincere, but some are wolves seeking blood. They’ll give you a lot of opportunities, but you must never forget who you are. Understand?”

It sounded like a warning. James knew the Hellfire Club was going to push him to do things he had never done before, but that could only go to a point. He was still an Apache warrior. The worst thing he could do was forget everything he and John aspired to be. And since he was the only one of them left alive, it was his responsibility to see it through.

“I understand,” said James.

“Then good luck, brother. I’ll be watching,” said John proudly.

“And I’ll be waiting. Until our spirits cross again…goodbye John.”

“Goodbye James.”

The world around him faded and he felt his being return to the real world. When he came to he let out a ragged gasp and fell back. Scott and Pietro caught him and helped him back up. His eyes were still bleary and bloodshot, but he was no worse for wear.

“Easy buddy. Come on back to us,” said Pietro.

“That’s it. Take deep breaths,” said Scott.

After a minute or so of collecting himself, James rose up in a daze. Once again the Hellfire Club surprised him. These people were a lot of things, both good and bad. But they knew how to be persuasive. They also knew how to give incentives. A ritual like this was a pretty tall order back on the reservation and they put one together just for him. It was a nice gesture even if it was entirely self-serving. They wanted him in their circle and this was their way of bringing him in. It more or less sealed his decision.

“Good job, Jean,” said Selene to her pupil, who had officially completed her first real group ritual.

“Thank you, Mistress Selene,” said Jean respectfully.

That earned Jean a slight scold from Wanda. She was determined to catch up and exceed Jean. Another look from Selene also implied this act doubled as motivation for her. And she got the message.

“Satisfied, Mr. Poundstar? Have we made our point?” said Selene.

“Yes…you have,” said James, still short of breath.

“Then are you ready to make it official? Are you ready to become a pawn in the Inner Circle?”

Through his daze, James grinned intently.

“Lady Selene, you’ve officially got yourself an Apache warrior. Just tell me where and when I begin.”

The Black Queen grinned. These little punks needed some warrior spirit in them. They needed something to keep them from getting too soft. All the money and sex had a way of weakening certain character traits of a person and if these little pawns were to be the future of the Hellfire Club they had to be tough. James Poundstar appeared to have what they were looking for. Xavier sure was high on him and he seemed to develop a rapport with the young man. However, whether or not she could fit him into her future plans was still in question. If Apache warriors were as tough as people said they were, that may be a challenge. At the same time he may pose a threat. But that was the dilemma she faced with all the pawns. At least with James and Piotr, they had some muscle.

Hellfire Manor – Sage’s Office

Once he was cleared from the infirmary, Remy rode with Sage and Ororo to Hellfire Manor. They told him this would be his new home base and where he would receive many of his orders. He also learned that this was where he could lay low if he ever picked up heat. It sounded like it would come in handy, especially if anybody in the Assassins Guild came after him. Based on what he saw so far these guys were light years ahead of any syndicate in New Orleans. They weren’t a criminal organization, a collection of mercenaries, or some shady business. They were something different altogether and he found himself very much intrigued.

For Ororo, returning to the manor was always an experience. She didn’t live here like the new pawns they recruited. She had a nice apartment in an upscale place downtown. The generous compensation Xavier paid her for her work allowed her to live a rich, comfortable lifestyle. But at times she had a taste for other luxuries that only the Hellfire Club could offer. She frequently visited the manor for some quality time with their assorted collection of studs. Being an accomplished thief left little time for a personal life, but that didn’t mean she wanted to give up sex and the studs were always very generous to her. From time to time she even participated in a few sex rituals, but only if Xavier was present. She didn’t trust Selene to be alone in a room with her and probably never would.

Looking over at Remy, Ororo couldn’t help but wonder how he would fit in. He had the skills to be an asset. There was no question about that. And once he got a look at some of the Hellfire Club’s female sex workers it was almost guaranteed he would be hooked. But there were a lot of other intangibles that may come into play. He left behind a complicated life back in New Orleans. There was always a chance something or someone from the past would come back to haunt him. That happened to her once and it was not pleasant. There was also his reputation. They say he wasn’t the most trustworthy guy in the world and that concerned her. She was certain it concerned Sage too. Hopefully she wouldn’t get too caught up in it.

“Damn, nice digs!” commented Remy as they pulled up to the side entrance.

“This is just one of our facilities,” said Sage, “But this is the main location you’ll be working with. All major orders will come from here.”

“Remy ain’t complaining. Y’all got nice tastes. Any chance we’ll get to meet de generous guy who fixed my head?”

“Not today, unfortunately,” said Sage, “We’re only stopping by to pick up the details of your first assignment.”

“Aw, why ain’t you gonna let Remy hang out a bit?”

“Because we don’t trust you yet,” she replied bluntly, “But you’ll have an opportunity to earn our trust if you do your job and do it well.”

She sounded kind of harsh. This Sage woman was like a machine sometimes in the sense that her voice never faltered. Even his powerful Cajun charms probably wouldn’t work on her. Plus, she was psychic and he had an aversion to psychics. Even if they were hot, he didn’t like them poking around in his head.

Upon getting out of the car, Remy followed Sage into the mansion. She didn’t lead him through the main corridors like she did the pawns. No doubt she was keeping him away from some of the nicer parts of the mansion. That way he wouldn’t get any bright ideas about stealing from them. It showed just how little confidence they had in him. Him giving them his word meant about as much to them as the scent of swamp gas that clung to his clothes. He would have to prove himself worthy of trust, but that all depended on just how much he wanted their trust.

“So did they give ya this kind of trouble when you first arrived?” Remy asked Ororo, who followed close behind.

“Not so much,” she shrugged, “I have a history with Charles Xavier. He helped me a lot earlier in my life and I’ve been returning the favor ever since.”

“Did that involve doing more than just than just bein’ a thief?” he said with a suggestive grin.

“That’s for me to know and you to find out,” she quipped.

“Ya didn’t say no so Remy may not have to.”

“Don’t start assuming things, Remy,” warned Ororo, “As far as you’re concerned, I’m your competition. You would do better to keep those comments to yourself.”

“Why? Remy loves games in case y’all haven’t noticed,” he said, flashing an ace of spades he had stashed up his sleeve.

“Enough you two. We’re here,” said Sage as she stopped at an unmarked door down the hall.

Sage opened the door and the two mutant thieves followed her inside. It had been a while since she invited anybody into her office. As the Black King’s secretary and personal assistant, she preferred to work alone. Much of her office was littered with computers various electronics. Having a computer-like brain gave her an affinity for machines. They were a lot less complicated than humans. She could handle them much better than she could handle people. And with all the advanced hardware the Hellfire Club provided, there were few things she couldn’t do with her computer skills.

Ororo had been in here before, but Remy was a little surprised. He never would have suspected such a good-looking woman wearing such revealing lingerie would be a computer geek. But the Hellfire Club had a reputation for recruiting interesting characters. He got the feeling this Sage woman was just one of them.

“Nice setup,” commented Remy, “I ain’t never seen a girl who needs six monitors goin’ at once.”

“This isn’t even half the equipment I have,” she responded flatly, “You must excuse the informality of this visit, Mr. Lebeau. The Black King didn’t plan on you coming to us when you did.”

“Remy didn’t plan on his head blowin’ up so we’re even. Any chance I’ll get to meet dis Black King?”

“Not today, I’m afraid,” said Sage, “You first must prove yourself worthy of his charity. And it just so happens we have an important job that requires master thieving skills and foolhardy courage to complete.”

“Sounds like its right up Remy’s alley,” grinned the Cajun, “What exactly am I gonna be stealing?”

“Oh this isn’t your average heist. This will involve a mix of stealing and sabotage. I assume you know a thing or two about sabotage.”

“You even gotta ask?” said Remy, charging one of his playing cards to prove his point, “What’s de target?”

Sage sat down at her desk, which was organized so neatly and perfectly that it was like it was done by a machine. And the moment she sat down in her chair, a compartment opened up and a keyboard popped out. It was as if the computers knew what she wanted. Then she started typing feverishly. While she did this a couple of her many screens turned automatically to face Remy and Ororo. After a few more commands, a series of images came up and revealed what he was up against.

“I’m sure a man of your background will recognize this man. His name is Wilson Fisk, but he’s better known as the Kingpin.”

Remy shook his head and scoffed.

“De Kingpin? You gotta be kiddin’ me! You want Remy to steal from de big man himself?”

“Oh you won’t just be stealing from him,” said Sage, “You’ll be putting a major dent in his operations.”

“Lady, you might as well be tryin’ to knock off de president. Because it ain’t gonna happen.”

“And here I was thinking you loved challenges,” commented Ororo with a wry grin.

“There’s a fine line between challenge and crazy and this is definitely flirtin’ with it,” said Remy.

“Too bad because this is not a negotiation. You already agreed to this assignment the second you accepted the Hellfire Club’s help. This is what the Black King wants you do to and if you refuse your obligations I assure you the consequences will be grave.”

There was a threatening undertone to her stoic words. Sage made it clear through her unflinching tone that Remy was in no position to debate. But he knew better than most people that the Kingpin was a dangerous person to mess with. The Thieves Guild rarely did business with him and was always careful never to get in too deep. Wilson Fisk may have paraded around as a high end business man, but underneath that large, imposing exterior he was a real monster. Few criminals dared to oppose him. Any that did usually disappeared in short order. And now Remy would have to throw himself into the proverbial lions den. He already gave them his word and these people did fulfill their end of the bargain. What other choice did he have?

“Did Remy say he was backin’ out?” he told her, “Just reminding you that this is a tall order you guys are asking. The Kingpin is a dangerous man.”

“Oh believe me, we’re well aware of his reputation,” said Sage, “But he’s also aware of ours. At one point, the Hellfire Club did business with Fisk. The old Inner Circle even considered inviting him to join. But since the new Black King took power our relationship with Fisk has become strained.”

“What happened? You send him the wrong brand of chocolates or something?” joked the Cajun.

“Not quite. The Kingpin’s thriving criminal empire may be vast, but it is also a magnet for unwanted attention. In recent years he’s gotten into trouble with SHIELD, the Avengers, Daredevil, and Spider-Man. And while he has maintained his grip on power despite their interference, the Black King has no desire to attract that kind of attention. He favors more legitimate and private forms of business.”

“Legitimate?” scoffed Remy, “Right, and a crocs teeth is just for show.”

“I didn’t mean legitimate in a legal sense, Mr. Lebeau. I meant it in more relative terms, which brings me to the main reason for this operation.”

Sage typed in another series of commands and brought up the profile of another man. This time Remy didn’t recognize him. He was tall, middle aged, and had slightly reddish hair. He looked like just another businessman, but knowing these people there was probably a lot more to him than that.

“This is Norman Osborn, head of Oscorp Industries,” said Sage, “Seeing as how you probably don’t read the business section of the paper I’ll give you a brief rundown. Oscorp is a major chemical and manufacturing company that does business with both public and private partners. Their main exports are advanced weapons and pharmaceuticals. It’s one of the leading technology developers with each major advancement retaining full rights and royalties. Much of their research is at least two decades ahead of the rest of the world.”

“Sounds kind of like Stark Industries, but without the big time mascot,” commented Remy.

“Many would agree, but recently Oscorp encountered some unwanted public attention when it was rumored they were doing chemical weapons research of a very illegal kind. According to a few sources, Norman Osborn was secretly seeking to recreate a version of the super soldier serum that made Captain America. But that kind of research is illegal for any private company to undertake without strict oversight by SHIELD. For a while he managed to deny it, but then there was an explosion at one of his main research labs and the truth was out.”

“Bet that didn’t make his shareholders too happy,” said the Cajun.

“You have no idea,” said Sage as she brought up some scathing news articles from the Daily Bugle, “For a while it looked like he would face treason charges. If convicted, it would not only mean the end of Oscorp, but they would also lose the exclusive rights to their many technological advancements. And Norman, being the egotistical bastard that he is, decided to make a deal.”

“Let Remy guess…he called the Kingpin.”

“Can you think of anybody better for such a job? Fisk has so many politicians in his back pocket getting Norman off the hook was as easy as making a few phone calls. He never made it to trial. Only a handful of people were ever indicted and anybody who knew the truth was either bribed or killed. But easy as it was, his services didn’t come cheap.”

“I’ll bet,” said Remy, “Bet Osborn found that out the hard way.”

“He did. While getting him off the hook, Fisk collected evidence against Norman and all his shady dealings. Within a few days he had a treasure trove of illegal deals and a long list of laws Norman broke in the pursuit of his research. Fisk made it so he could pretty much ruin Norman with the push of a button. And not only that, he made it so he would get the rights to his inventions.”

“Ouch…sounds like a one-sided deal.”

“It’s the way Fisk operates,” said Sage, bringing his picture back up, “No matter what happens to Norman, he still comes out on top. He had him by the balls and there was nothing he could do about it. Since then he’s been the Kingpin’s lackey, doing research only on the projects he sees as most beneficial to him. He’s also got Oscorp selling weapons to the Kingpin’s numerous associates at very unfair prices. All in all, Norman Osborn knows his days are numbered. It’s only a matter of time before these lopsided deals and constant meddling sink his company. That’s why he called us for help.”

Sage then brought up an image of the Kingpin’s main base of operations, Fisk Tower. It was an opulent structure nested in the heart of Manhattan, the perfect place for a crime lord to parade as an honest businessman. On the outside it looked like just another skyscraper, but knowing Fisk the inside was built like a fortress.

“So what does he want us to do?” asked Remy.

“Simply put, Norman Osborn wants to be free from the Kingpin. And he’s willing to make generous deals with the Hellfire Club if we help him. This is where you come into play, Remy. Your job is to infiltrate Fisk Tower and steal a collection of computer files from his secure archive. In addition, you will plant a special program that I created that will not only cripple his network, but release information on his numerous dealings to every law enforcement division in the world.”

“Ooh, that ought to be tough to weasel out of, even for him.”

“He’ll be crippled, but not irreversibly so,” said Sage, “Even an operation like this would merely damage his operations, but not destroy it. However, the damage will be dealt to the very core of his organization.”

It sounded pretty ambitious. It had to be if it was going up against the Kingpin. The challenge would fall on Remy’s shoulders and it would no doubt push his thieving skills to the limit. But there was no backing down now. He was indebted to these people and this was how they wanted him to pay them off. He wouldn’t say it was fair, but it showed how serious these people were.

“So let me see if Remy understands dis little job of yours…” said Remy as he looked over the imposing image of Fisk Tower, “You want me to break into the Kingpin’s main headquarters, probably the most secure building in the history of organized crime, steal a bunch of computer files that he probably keeps locked away in multiple layers of security, and upload a program onto a system that’s probably more secure then the Pentagon. And after all that I’m supposed to get out without gettin’ killed or captured.”

“Yes, I think that sums everything up.”

Remy shook his head and laughed. She made it sound so easy. He turned to Ororo, who looked somewhat sympathetic to his situation. But he sympathy was for the weak. That was something Jean Luc taught him in the course of his training. And he refused to be weak even in the face of such a daunting task.

“In that case, Remy’s all set,” he said with a confident grin, “You have my word the Kingpin won’t know what hit him.”

“Good,” said Sage indifferently, “Succeed here and you’ll earn significant confidence in the eyes of the Inner Circle.”

“Tell em dis here Cajun is on the case. They ain’t got nothin’ to worry about.”

“You sure sound confident for someone going at a job like this all by himself,” commented Ororo.

“Oh he won’t be doing it alone, Storm. You’re going to help him.”

“What?!” exclaimed Ororo.

“Don’t look too surprised. The Inner Circle wants this job to succeed and having you on board can only help.”

Ororo scolded the stoic woman. She hated it when the Hellfire Club threw surprises at her like this. As much as she respected and admired Xavier, she liked to be kept in the loop. This was probably another test or something. Not only would she have to assist in this crazy job, Xavier probably expected her to keep an eye on Remy as well. But the thought of working with this Cajun who wouldn’t stop staring at her butt didn’t sit well.

“But why does it have to be me? Can’t you get Deadpool to do it or something? This sounds like his kind of job anyways.”

“This is not up for debate. The Black King’s orders were clear. You and Remy are to work together in accomplishing this task. And I suggest you start planning because the Inner Circle wants this job done as soon as possible. Every day wasted is a day closer to losing the deal with Oscorp. I’ll provide you some materials on the security and layout of Fisk Tower, but it’s up to you to see that it’s done.”

Ororo sighed and muttered a curse. She looked over at Remy, who still had that cocky grin on his face. He didn’t seem too disappointed that he would have a partner. She assumed he appreciated the help, but she had a feeling the promise of female company was more appealing to him. Ever since they met that time in New Orleans he had been giving her the look and she kept brushing it off. Now that was going to be a lot harder. Sometimes Xavier had a sick sense of humor.

“Lookin’ forward to workin’ with ya, cherè,” grinned Remy.

“Don’t get too ahead of yourself, Remy. This partnership is purely professional, not to mention temporary.”

“Whatever you say,” he shrugged, his playful grin not fading, “Just know that Remy don’t mind getting close if he has to.”

“Don’t bother. I never mix business with pleasure.”

Remy didn’t believe her for a second, but left it there. So far his introduction to the Hellfire Club had been pretty eventful. He was finally cured of his headaches and he got a new job. It was definitely going to be a challenge. The Kingpin was a nasty guy to go up against, but at least he wouldn’t have to face him alone. This job would give him a chance to prove to these Hellfire people that he was worthy of their trust and their respect. It would also give him a chance to get to know this Ororo woman better. Something told him there was more to her than those sky blue eyes he found so attractive.

Department H Headquarters – Canada

It was the first day of Raven Darkholm’s new assignment. Once Xavier made the right calls and sent the necessary paperwork through, she was in. She was officially an employee of Department H. Of course, Xavier couldn’t get her complete access. Even the Hellfire Club couldn’t push through all the layers of government bureaucracy that kept most people from learning classified military secrets. Plus, the more distant they stayed the more deniability they would have if something went wrong. But that shouldn’t be a problem. This kind of work was Mystique’s specialty.

Upon her arrival, she was given a tour of the facilities by James Hudson, also known as Vindicator. He and his wife Heather were lead the mutant team known as Alpha Flight, which she was sure to get to know very well in this job. They were one of the few government sanctioned mutant teams in the world. They didn’t get a lot of press and many were skeptical about them, but they played their part in walking the fragile ground of mutant/human affairs.

As far as they knew, she was just another high level government lesion. She took the form of a middle aged woman with black hair, brown eyes, glasses, and a pale skin tone. Her identity, Josephine Miller, was a veteran archivist with years of experience in handling and storing classified documents. And since Department H had its share of shady work with the United States military, there was no shortage of documents for her to work with. Thankfully this was a long term assignment, but she would still have her work cut out for her if she was to find what the Black King wanted on the Weapon X program.

“So I guess that concludes the tour,” said James Hudson, “Any questions, Miss Miller?”

“No, I believe you’ve answered them all,” replied Raven, “I look forward to working with you and your team. I hear you have a colorful reputation in these parts.”

“Don’t believe everything you hear. It’s pretty rough when you’re the only show in town. Half of Alpha Flight’s job involves maintaining good public relations. That alone is a battle worthy of a team of super-powered mutants.”

“I can only imagine,” she said, “I’ll try to make things easier.”

“I hope you do,” said James, “But before you get started I was hoping I could ask you a few questions. The higher ups didn’t exactly give me a detailed background on you.”

His tone had a hint of suspicion. But Mystique played it off like she always did.

“Yes, and there’s a reason for that,” she told him, “But I would rather keep those reasons to myself for now. I was specifically told to avoid questions whenever possible.”

“And that’s something I have a problem with. I don’t like it whenever my team and I are kept out of the loop. I know the history of Department H as well as the next person and if you’re going to be sifting through our records I think I have a right to know the reasons.”

He almost sounded threatening. James Hudson may have been a veteran in this line of work, but he was no fool. When something didn’t feel right, he didn’t avoid it. That’s why he kept such a cautious eye on her. Thankfully, the shape shifter was used to it.

“Look Mr. Hudson, I can’t tell you the specific nature of my duties. And it’s not because the higher ups don’t trust you. You have to understand that your team’s alliance with the government is a tenuous one at best. There are just certain matters that you are better staying out of. That way when anybody asks you won’t have to lie about it.”

“I see,” said James, “But how will I know if something’s up? There’s only so much I can turn a blind eye to.”

“Trust me, you’ll know if and when there’s a problem. But you said it yourself. You know Department H’s history. There are a few issues I’m sure your aware of that are best left untouched. Those are the only issues you’ll have to brush off. The rest, I assure you, is fair game. Is that clear?”

“Fine by me, and if I do suspect something what exactly am I supposed to do?” said James seriously.

“What else? Your job,” she answered with a coy smile.

James studied the woman for a moment. He had a feeling he knew what those particular issues were that she mentioned. They were the kinds of issues that had caused him enough headaches over the years and he was in no mood to revisit them. But he still couldn’t help but be suspicious. Just what was this woman’s interest in Department H? Moreover, why did the higher ups send her here? He would have to keep an eye on her. Something told him she may be more than she appeared. But for now, he played along.

“Now then, are we done here?” asked Raven, maintaining a professional demeanor.

“Yeah, we’re done,” said James flatly.

“Good, then I should best get to work. I have a long road ahead of me.”

“I’m sure you do.”

James left her to her arduous task. She had a feeling that man may become a problem down the line. If he got too suspicious, the operation could be at risk. She should probably take a few precautions. But she chose to worry about that later. For now, she had a job to do.

She made her way to the main archives center, which was located in the very core of the building. Department H employed numerous security layers in this area. First she had to run a keycard through an electronic lock, then she had to scan her fingerprint on a reader, and then she had to pass down a hallway where a special camera read her facial features in order to identify she was cleared to enter. It was quite a bit security for a department that didn’t have a large public face. But that also made it the perfect place to hide records on a program like Weapon X.

When she arrived in the central hub, she sat down at a desk where a computer connected to a series of servers. There were other high ranking officials in the room, but they each just nodded and passed her by. In these kinds of environments, it was always best to keep personal relationships to a minimum. She sure didn’t want to get too close to anybody. As good a shape shifter as she was her cover could still be blown by one mistake and the Hellfire Club had no tolerance for mistakes. This was a long-term mission so there were sure to be issues along the way.

After logging in, she began sifting through computer files. Department H had a lot of data going back to World War II. And based on what the Black King told her about Weapon X, the project went back that far and spanned every decade in between. Her priorities were numerous. She was to see if she could uncover old research and keep tabs on any new developments. They already knew from Deadpool’s experience that Weapon X was far from inactive. There were rumors of ongoing research by groups like Hydra and there were documented cases of old test subjects walking around. One of them was Victor Creed.

As Mystique began looking over the files, she wondered if she might cross paths with Victor again. What happened with him was a mistake and he probably still had it out for her. If they did meet again, it was sure to get messy. That’s why she had to be careful. She didn’t need the past coming back to haunt her. She had enough of that for one lifetime.

Hellfire Manor – Later

After learning of her mission with Remy, Ororo spent the rest of the day brooding. She hoped she would have a chance to take a break after the recent jobs she pulled and now she was stuck playing a part in one of the most daring jobs yet. Remy was already talking about getting together and going over a plan, but she had a feeling that planning wasn’t the only thing on his mind. It was tempting, but still annoying. Hopefully once he earned some trust from the Inner Circle, he would be too busy sleeping with all the Hellfire women to bother her. But even then he probably wouldn’t stop. Why he insisted on flirting with her was beyond her.

But he was right about one thing. She needed to relax. She hadn’t been laid in nearly a month and for her that was like a lifetime. One of the many benefits to working for the Hellfire Club was free access to their army of sex workers, both male and female. The males were mostly mind-wiped criminals that Xavier brought in and mind-wiped. They had no free will, they didn’t talk, and they were physically enhanced thanks to Selene’s magic. Ororo always found them to be a good sexual outlet. Having tried relationships before with little success, she found doing them to be much easier. Occasionally she would have a one night stand with someone, but that was about it.

Tonight she was in the mood for a good, long romp. Maybe one of the pawns could accommodate her. Piotr had such a great build and Pietro had a lot of endurance. Scott Summers was also filling out nicely. But those guys were hard to find because they were always training or something. Maybe she could just get a couple of the studs into a private room or something where she could have her way with them. Whatever she did, she just needed a good release.

Then as she walked through the halls of the lounge area, she came across James Poundstar, a pawn she had yet to meet. He was just coming back from training from the looks of it. He had his shirt off and was sweating. It was plenty to catch Ororo’s lustful eye.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you around,” she greeted, “You must be the new guy I heard about.”

James turned to see the attractive African woman staring him down with an attractive grin.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you either,” he said, “Who are you? Are you another pawn?”

“No, I’m considered more a trusted errand girl. The name’s Ororo Munroe, but you can call me Storm.”

“I see. I’m James Poundstar, the Inner Circle’s only official warrior. But you can call me Warpath.”

“Warpath? That’s a dangerous sounding name.”

“No more dangerous than Storm,” quipped James.

Ororo smiled. This man was a little overly serious, but he still had some wit. And there was no getting around that body of his. He might provide better company than a mindless stud.

For James, that look in her eye was not lost on him. He had seen it with the other girls. It was the look of lust that was so prevalent in the Hellfire Club. He was beginning to see how big a part such concepts were in the Hellfire ideology. But he wasn’t complaining. At least this woman was a bit more subtle about it.

“So what kind of errands do you do if you don’t mind me asking?” asked James.

“Whatever the Black King wants me to do,” replied Ororo, “Of course, I have certain areas of expertise that you can’t find just anywhere. Plus, Xavier and I have a bit of a history. He’s the reason why I’m a sane, well-adjusted young woman who makes a comfortable living helping the Hellfire Club.”

“Really? What exactly does that entail?” he asked curiously.

“I’ll show you.”

Ororo summoned her powers. Her eyes shifted to a pale shade of white as she formed a small storm cloud over her hand. To further reinforce her point, she mixed in a little thunder and lightning sparks. It seemed to really impress James. In fact, he seemed to find it alluring. She gathered from his Native American appearance and attire, he had a certain appreciation for nature. That definitely earned him some points with her.

“Wow…so you’re like the spirit of nature manifested in a beautiful woman,” he smiled.

“I wouldn’t put it like that, but I sure don’t mind if you do,” she smiled back, her eyes still flashing, “Let’s just say nature and I have a special connection. Earlier in my life I didn’t understand it until Xavier helped me accept it. Now I use my gifts here at an organization with a special affinity for the natural forces of life. And I’m not just talking about the weather.”

“Oh? And what exactly are you talking about?”

“I think you already know.”

Ororo moved in closer, seductively leaning into his manly upper body. His sweaty muscles gave off a thick, manly scent. It wasn’t too powerful, but it got her going. And James sure didn’t seem to mind. He was still getting used to the Hellfire Club’s attitudes about sex, but he was not above temptation. She was giving him an opportunity to explore it and it looked like he was going to take it.

“I think this conversation is getting a little mature,” said James.

“I agree. Care to take it somewhere more private?” grinned Ororo.

“My room is just a few floors up.”

“Sounds good to me.”

Ororo latched onto the Apache warrior’s strong arm and followed him up to his room. After his workout, James needed something to unwind and it wasn’t unheard of in Apache traditions for warriors to use sex as a way to balance their training. He never tried it himself, but he always wanted to and now he had the chance.

Upon reaching his room, Ororo kicked the door shut and slipped out of her casual dress. She removed it slowly in order to entice the Apache warrior into her grasp, wiggling her hips as she slid it down her body and leaning over so her large breasts would dangle alluringly towards him. His lips parted in awe at the sight of her display. It had been a while since he had been intimate with a woman and Ororo was really drawing him in. Once the dress was off, she was only in a pair of black panties. They looked so good on her toned, voluptuous figure. He had a nice view of her as she slipped back into is grasp and lead him to the bed.

“Amazing…” said James as he reached up and touched her breasts.

“Mmm…that’s what I want,” she gasped.

They crawled onto the bed, their arms wrapped around each others’ bodies in a lustful heat. James hungrily kissed her neck while rubbing her breasts while she soaked up the feeling of his well-built upper body. His cut muscles and lingering sweat from his workout really added to his sensual allure. It made as wet as he was hard.

By now a bulging erection had formed in his pants. Ororo felt it pressing up against her thighs, begging to be released. She flashed a seductive grin and trailed her lips down his chest. Sensing what she was up to, he leaned back and let her work. He rose up slightly as she grasped the sides of his pants and pulled them off along with his boxers. His erection popped free, which by now was ridged and hard. Ororo was impressed with his size. He was well proportioned to the rest of his body so to speak. She leaned over and licked the sensitive tip while grasping the base firmly in her hand. The Apache warrior closed his eyes and let out a deep moan of contentment at the sensations that followed.

“Ohhhhhhhhhhh…”

Smiling at his reaction, Ororo grew more daring. She began sucking him harder, taking as much of his length into her as possible. She had always been good at oral sex. She found it got guys going more than anything else. And James sounded as though he was getting pretty worked up. His moans turned to grunts as he grasped her head and guided her along his length. She was nice and thorough, not going too hard or too slowly. It sent him into a very lustful state and in the new spirit of the Hellfire Club, he embraced it.

“No more!” he said, “Now it’s my turn!”

Ororo purred as James pulled her up, flipped her over so she was now on her back, and attacked her with a fury of sensual kisses. While he did this, he grabbed the sides of her panties and swiftly slid them down her legs. He saw that she was pretty wet. The folds of her vagina were tender and moist and her clit was fully swollen. It must have been a while for her. She needed this as much as he did. Now primed for sex, he rose up slightly and positioned himself between her legs. His throbbing member rubbed against her entrance as she grabbed onto his shoulders and bent her knees over his waist slightly. He then grabbed hold of her hips and thrust forward, ramming his erect cock into her folds.

“Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh fuck!” gasped Ororo.

“Yeah! Oh that feels so good!” grunted James.

She was nice and tight. Her inner muscles squeezed his hardened prick mercilessly. Fueled by lustful instincts, James began working it in and out of her pussy. He maintained a strong hold on her, tightening his grip each time he thrust his dick in. Ororo gasped with every motion. Her whole body jerked to his powerful rhythm. He did it hard, but not so hard as to hurt her. He had to be careful with his strength. It was easy to forget sometimes that few were as durable as he was.

He steadily worked up the pace. Ororo’s gasps turned to cries of euphoria as she closed her eyes and savored every sensation. It was so good. James was so strong. She loved how his ripped muscles glided over her naked flesh. His sweat mixed with hers, making for a very heated romp. His throbbing member filled her insides in all the right ways. His forceful thrusting hit those deep pleasure areas inside her that were so hard to hit. With every movement she urged him on, feeling her orgasm build up in the process.

“Uh-uh-uh-oh I’m cumming-ah-I’m cumming-uh-uh-oh don’t stop!” she cried.

“Uh-uh-I’m cumming too! Uh-uh-almost-uh-ohhhhhhhhhhhh!”

The Apache warrior grunted hard as he felt his release wash over him. He slowed the pace of his thrusting, pushing deeper into her until he hit her cervix. Then he stopped as he blew his load inside her, filling her womb with his thick cum. But even after his climax he kept moving until Ororo got her orgasm as well. This woman invited him into bed. The least he could do was get her off as well.

When Ororo climaxed her legs hooked around his torso and tensed as her inner muscles contracted around his length. She clung hard to his flesh as she became awash with pleasure. Her back arched while her inner muscles contracted. It was so mind-numbingly sweet. It felt like it had been forever since she had a real orgasm like this. She was a little rough with how she grasped him, but seeing as how he was so durable he didn’t seem to notice. She liked that part of his powers. It meant she could be a little more frisky.

But even as James and Ororo soaked up the bliss of their respective orgasms, their desires weren’t quelled. James was officially lost in this world of lust. The Hellfire Club had a way of opening the floodgates of desire to anybody who experienced it. Some speculated it was because of the magical aura Selene kept around the manor to act as a barrier to other outside forces. Others just thought it was the darker side Hellfire unleashed. But whatever it was, it was very potent.

“More…give me more!” gasped Ororo.

“Oh I’m just getting warmed up,” grinned James, “We Apache warriors are legendary for our endurance.”

“Really? Prove it!”

Grinning at such a challenge, James pulled Ororo into a deep kiss and resumed the sexual fervor. They rolled around on the bed, making out and groping each others’ naked flesh. Ororo loved how his sweaty skin felt to the touch and he loved the smooth curves of her voluptuous body. And to really get things going again, James lifted her up off the bed so that her legs were draped over his shoulders and her pussy was right in her face. From there he started eating her out, licking her wet folds and probing her depths with his tongue. It was an impressive show of his strength and it drove Ororo wild with arousal.

Once they worked up the energy for another round, they shifted positions. This time Ororo got on her hands and knees and James got behind her. Grabbing her by the hips, he thrust his cock into her from behind and rocked her body back and forth against his length. Ororo really got into this, moving her body with more fervor and rocking his bed in the process. He kept with the same thorough rhythm until she climaxed again, rising up at the last minute and bouncing her body until she got her release. And in the spirit of mutual pleasure, Ororo helped get him off as well by getting on all fours again and working his dick between her large breasts until he shot off another load.

They kept going at it for a couple of more rounds, switching up their positions and really enjoying the feeling. James let Ororo take charge more by letting her be on top. He laid back and marveled at her naked form as she rode him nice and hard, keeping with the rhythm he established early on. At times she leaned over to give him a closer look at her breasts, but never stopped working his dick in and out of her tight folds. After she rode him to another orgasm he rose up so they were both in a sitting position with her legs draped over his waist and his hands securely on her breasts. From here, they panted and moaned as their bodies moved together in a rhythmic heat. Ororo leaned back while James kissed down her breasts and core. It was a heated erotic experience, not too casual but not too deep either. It was just what they each needed at this point.

“UH-UH-UH-ONE MORE-UH-OH JAMES-UH-OH MAKE ME CUM AGAIN!” cried Ororo.

“UH-UH-UH-YOU WANT IT-UH-YOU GOT IT-UH-OH FUCK!” grunted James.

Ororo held out for her final peak. She gripped his shoulders while he squeezed her sexy butt, gritting his teeth as he savored the hot feeling. They sped up the pace, pushing for one last climax they could share together. When they felt it coming, they slowed down and held on tight. This time they climaxed together, Ororo getting hers only a couple seconds before James got his. They each let out moans of euphoria, embracing this feeling of lust and pleasure. It was a feeling Ororo missed and one James was experiencing for the first time. For both of them, it was very profound.

Now utterly spent, Ororo and James sank into the bed in contentment. They were both still panting. Ororo was even gasping a little. James was a strong man in more ways than one. He really pushed her limits in terms of what she could take. He wasn’t about wildly humping away at her. He was more for nice, thorough sex. And he knew his stuff. The man knew how to please a woman. It was just what she hoped for.

As she caught her breath and curled up next to his manly warmth, James closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. He had been denied the pleasures of the flesh for too long. Back home women were often too intimidated by him and his status to get close. But this woman wasn’t afraid. She knew how to get into it and had an amazing sensual aura to her. It reminded him of how good this feeling could be. He never really appreciated it so much until he just let go and embraced it.

“Oh god…that was great!” said Ororo with a satisfied smile.

“You’re a hell of a woman, Storm,” said James, “Thanks for sharing this with me. I needed it.”

“Me too. We all need a good release every now and then. It’s part of being who we are. And the Hellfire Club makes it easy to really enjoy.”

“I’ll say. I’m just beginning to understand that,” mused James.

“And you’re still new so this is just the beginning. Just wait and you’ll see just how amazing the pleasures of Hellfire can really be.”

James smiled at the prospects as he and Ororo lay comfortably in bed, resting their bodies for their respective challenges that lay ahead. This was a whole new world for him. He left behind a life of poverty, seclusion, and bitterness and arrived in a place of opulence, wealth, and pleasure. He had already experienced so much. He saw that the Hellfire Club had an affinity for the material world as well as the spirit world. They didn’t play the tired games of good versus evil. They did whatever they had to do in order to forge ahead. That was something he felt he could latch onto.

There were no causes for him to fight for back home. There was no place for him on the reservation or on the unforgiving world around him. James Poundstar had come a long way, but he was on a new path now. He made his decision and there was no going back. He was a part of the Hellfire Club and would carry out his duties with all the skill and determination of a true Apache warrior.

************************************************************************

Up next: Remy and Ororo begin scoping out the Kingpin and Xavier gives the pawns a business lesson.