New Blood II: Growing Ranks

New Blood
Chapter 12: Darkness and Evil

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

Wanda’s Quarters

“Hnnnnn…”

Kurt’s tired groan was muffled by his pillow as he slowly arose from a deep sleep. It felt like he had been out for over a day and yet he still felt tired. Rising up from the sheets, he rubbed his eyes and yawned. It was then he realized he wasn’t in his room. He was in Wanda’s. He also realized he was naked, but there was nothing shocking about that. Over the past few years he had grown used to that sort of thing. For a moment he rubbed his temple to collect his thoughts. Then he looked over towards the corner of the room to see his lover, Wanda, silently meditating.

“Power…darkness…forces of the nether realm…heed my whims and fill my soul with your energy,” she commanded.

She was in a sitting position, hovering a foot or so off the floor. She was naked except for a revealing black thong that she wore last night. It was then Kurt remembered what happened.

“TAKE IT, KURT! EMBRACE IT! FEEL MY POWER CONSUME YOUR SOUL!”

“Vanda…my love.”

“THAT’S RIGHT! YOUR HEART AND WILL BELONG TO ME! YOU ARE ETERNALLY BONDED TO ME! SUBMIT TO ME AND EMBRACE THE DARKEST OF PLEASURES!”

A vivid memory from last night flashed through his mind. He remembered Wanda paralyzing him with his powers, lying him down naked on her bed while she was on top riding him with all her might. Her body was glowing brightly and her eyes flashed with a dark, sinister purplish color. The whole room sparked and lit up with energy. As he looked around he saw the kind of mess it left. The maids would have quite a time cleaning this up. He also remembered seeing the on her face. It was deranged with power and darkness. She was in a state of ecstasy and power. He remembered feeling as though her strength was crushing him. Ever since Selene started teaching her, it had been getting stronger over the years. But last night was by far the most intense.

As he sat up in bed, dazed by his memories and tired state, his eyes became fixated on his lover. He originally came to the Hellfire Club following his mother, seeking a more fulfilling life than lingering in the shadows of society. But he found something so much greater in the dark knowledge preached by the likes of Selene. The spiritual curiosity that drove him during those early years led him down a very dark path. Since he met Selene, that spirit he so desperately sought had been filled with darkness. Every day it consumed him further. He was long past the point of no return.

For four years his life had been a constant balancing act between putting on a façade for the others, especially Xavier and his mother, and serving his lover and her mistress. At no point did any thoughts of doubt cross his mind. Since that fateful night Wanda first filled his spirit with darkness, he had been completely committed to her. Nothing else mattered. The relationship between him, his sister, and his mother had deteriorated steadily despite his efforts to reassure them that all was well. But they knew him better. They knew something was up. And it was getting harder to convince them otherwise.

Upon stretching his limbs, Kurt slipped out of the bed and put his pants and underwear back on. He was quiet so as not to disturb his love. She had a tendency to get a little irritable when she was meditating. He remembered how one of the Hellfire servants accidently startled her from her state and she punished him by breaking his legs with a hex bolt. Since then nobody dared disturb her. As she meditated he smiled and bowed before her. For all the darkness and control she had instilled on him, he still loved her with all his heart. He couldn’t explain it. He just felt it and that was enough for him.

He quietly slipped out of her room, being careful not to disturb her. But just as he stepped out and closed her door, he saw Mystique standing there waiting for him.

“Mother?” he said incredulously.

“Why am I not surprised that you spent the night here of all places?” said the shape shifter in an irritated tone, “What did she do to you this time? Tie you up and brand you like a barnyard animal?”

“Mother, I’ll thank you not to refer to zhe voman I love vith such scorn,” replied Kurt strongly.

“Why not? Those marks on your wrist didn’t come from nowhere!”

Kurt tried to hide his hands. It was then he remembered that during Wanda’s little ritual last night, she tied his arms and legs to the bed so she could have complete dominance over him. He also remembered her pouring candle wax on his chest, but thanks to his fur it didn’t’ show. And it was a good thing too. His mother would have probably been much angrier if she started seeing scars.

“It vas just innocent fun, mother,” he assured her, “Vanda has some ‘unique’ tastes in zhe bedroom. It is only proper zhat I, her lover, accommodate her.”

“You say that so casually as if it’s the most mundane thing in the world!” exclaimed Mystique, “Is this what she’s done to you for the past four years while I’ve been working?!”

“Of course not. But I do not see vhy zhis is such a big deal. Zhere are others in zhe Hellfire Club vith much more extreme tastes zhen Vanda.”

“I don’t care about them. I care about this because it affects you!”

Mystique moved in closer to her son. In his eyes she saw a young man different from the one she brought to this place four years ago. There was a distinct darkness to him now. It wasn’t like the ruthless, hardened look that most of the other pawns developed during their training. It was something completely different and she didn’t like it one bit.

“Kurt…” said Raven in a more concerned tone, “I know I missed a lot of time with you while I was spying on Department H. I also know I’ve given more attention to Rogue since I got back because of her powers. But you should know that I’m always still concerned for you. You’re still my son.”

“I know. And you’re still my mother,” he said, his demeanor not changing, “But you must accept zhat Lord Xavier and Mistress Selene sent you away for a reason. Rogue and I had to develop on our own here at zhe Hellfire Club. And in zhe time you’ve been gone, I’ve found myself in a vay I never imagined. And I’m happier for it.”

“You sure don’t look happier,” she said skeptically.

“But I am,” he said with a strange grin, “I’ve become enlightened by zhe Hellfire Club’s teachings. I now see how everything I ever read about faith and soul was a lie. Now I know zhe truth and I embrace it.”

“That’s all well and good, but it’s not your soul that I’m worried about. It’s you! Just look at yourself, Kurt! You’ve become more reclusive, more distant, and more disconnected than any of the other pawns!”

“But isn’t zhat vhat you vanted for me? To escape zhe veakness of my former life and embrace myself in a new way?”

“Not like this! I wanted you to become strong and assertive! Instead you’ve turned into Wanda’s pet!”

“Zhe relationship between me and Vanda is a personal matter, mother,” said Kurt, still not raising his voice despite his mother’s harsh tone, “Vhat ve have is strong and pure. I love her and she loves me back. Isn’t zhat enough for you?”

Mystique held back a curse. Even for all the darkness in his eyes, Kurt sounded genuinely sincere when he said he loved Wanda. But at times he sounded too sincere. It didn’t feel right for the shape shifter and she suspected there were other forces at work. But there was no way Kurt would ever believe them in his current state. That did not mean she couldn’t get through to him though.

“Kurt, regardless of who you’re involved with I will not sit idly by when something is clearly wrong. I understand the Hellfire Club is supposed to change people, but I want to make sure you’re changing into the right kind of person. Understand?”

“But I’m happy vith zhe person I am now,” he told her.

“Even if you are, that doesn’t mean it’s right,” she said strongly, grasping his shoulders firmly, “Now that I’ll be around more, I plan on spending more time with you. I want to make sure you’re learning the right things. You may not like it, but it’s what’s best for you. Understand?”

Kurt could see a world of concern in the eyes of his mother. But it did not bother him in the slightest. He long since stopped caring about what loved ones thought. His only cares were for Wanda. Even his own mother could not sway him. But he knew he could not just brush her aside. He had to reassure and be convincing about it. It was what his love ordered him to do the first night she filled him with darkness. So for her sake he did what had worked so well for the last four years. He lied.

“I understand, mother. I vill do my best to lay your concerns to rest,” he said in a convincingly sincere tone.

“Good,” she smiled, “And I’ll do my best to for you. That you can be sure of.”

“I vould expect nothing less.”

He smiled for her as a way to reassure her. She seemed to buy it…for now at least. Kurt knew his mother was no fool. She was a world class mercenary for a reason. She could sniff out lies and deception. She may not want to believe it at first, but that would only go so far. Eventually he may have to resort to more drastic measures to get her out of the way. She may be his mother, but the needs of his true love came first.

“Now that we’ve got that squared away, why don’t we get something to eat?” said Mystique, “It’s been too long since we’ve had breakfast as a family.”

“Ja, zhat sounds nice,” he said, keeping up the façade.

Mystique smiled and walked with him down to the dining areas. She was glad to see that Kurt was showing some willingness to listen to her. Anything was better than him following Wanda around like a dog on a leash. But her maternal instincts continued to nag her. Even though Kurt sounded sincere, it still didn’t feel right. Kurt never lied to her before, but that was four years ago. A lot had changed since then. Hopefully, she could find some way to get through to him. He was her son and she wasn’t about to let him go down the same path as Wanda or Selene.

X-Industrial – Training Arena

“Let’s go, runts! Stop holding back already! You’re making us all look bad!”

Logan’s booming voice echoed through the training arena as the new pawns were in the middle of their latest session. It was by far the most challenging and the most extreme. Logan had them fighting simulation droids again, only this time it was a lot more difficult. As usual, the droids were made to look fully human. They bled like real humans and begged for mercy like real humans. It was the kind of conditioning that tested their fighting skills and their willingness to kill. After months of training and missions, the eight young recruits had become fairly desensitized to killing. They didn’t think about it nearly as much when they started out. But Logan wasn’t just training them to kill. He was training them to fight and his methods were a lot tougher than they expected.

The simulation was brutal. Alex, Lorna, Sam, and Kitty were standing on one elevated platform while Jubilee, Bobby, Roberto, and Tabitha were on another next to them. The platform swayed and shook, testing their balance and composure. But as they struggled with that, various armed humanoids came dropping down from above in large numbers. They were all armed with swords, knives, and the occasional gun and were all programmed to kill. It wasn’t unlike other drills they had done, but this one was an extra level above in that the number of opponents was so much larger and their skill level had been upped. They were holding their own, but Logan wasn’t satisfied.

“Damn it! I’ve got no room to work with here!” grunted Kitty, who was stuck playing defense phasing through attacks from several droids.

“Ugh! I’d love to help, but I’m a little busy!” said Lorna, who used her magnetic powers to disarm two knife-wielding droids and stab them in the eye.

“Me too!” grunted Alex, who was firing in all directions it seemed, “Just stay intangible and try to get them to fall off!”

“Ah don’t think that’s gonna work!” exclaimed Sam, “These things must have weights in their feet because they ain’t fallin’ off!”

The four young pawns were staring to struggle, trying to stay away from the edges of the platform as it shook again. But it was no use. They couldn’t gain the upper hand no matter how ruthless or aggressive they were.

On the other platform Jubilee, Bobby, Roberto, and Tabitha weren’t faring much better. Another dozen droids dropped in on all sides of the platform and they were trying to stay close to the center to avoid falling off. Since they all had firepower of some kind they tried taking them out from a distance, but these things weren’t playing fair in that they were being dropped right on top of them and trying to divide them up.

“Augh! How much more of these things are there?!” groaned Tabitha, who just took another hit from a droid.

“I don’t know! Logan didn’t say!” said Jubilee, who fired wildly in both directions at incoming droids, missing many in the process.

“I get the feeling it doesn’t matter! He seems hell bent on one of us getting mortally wounded today!” said Roberto as he did a back kick to stop a droid from attacking him while he wrestled with two more.

“Funny, and here I was thinking he was just in a bad mood,” commented Bobby as he froze three attackers where they stood.

“When is he not in a bad mood?” muttered Jubilee, “And watch where you’re slinging that ice, Bobby! Don’t freeze what little ground we have to stand on!”

“Sorry!” he said sheepishly.

The eight young pawns continued to fight, trying to coordinate their efforts to resist the onslaught but they just kept coming. There was no signal on what the time limit was or how many of these things had to fall before it cases. Logan just stood there outside the arena watching with a disgruntled snarl, not looking at all pleased with their performance. To him they were just punching and kicking everything around them, not using any strategy or finesse. As far as he was concerned, they deserved to fail this mission.

“Damn kids,” he grunted, “I thought I trained you guys better than that!”

“This isn’t training!” grunted Alex, who was in a grapple with a deranged looking droid, “This is more like hazing!”

Logan wasn’t fazed and didn’t do anything to let up on the onslaught. He just kept yelling out and barking orders. He was too pissed off to be nice today.

Finally, Piotr and James Poundstar came running over. They had just arrived looking to do a little training themselves, but when they saw what Logan was doing to the younger pawns they immediately stepped in.

“Logan! What the hell are you doing?!” exclaimed James.

“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m training these runts to be tough!”

“With the extreme level program?!” said Piotr as he looked up nervously at the fight above.

“Why not? They should get a little taste of the rough stuff,” shrugged Logan.

James was about to chew Logan out for this stunt. Then they heard a panicked cry from above. Kitty, who had been forced on defense because of the incessant onslaught, had been backed towards the edge. And just as she managed to drop kick one of her attackers, the platform shook and she fell off.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

“Katya!” exclaimed Piotr.

Acting on instinct, the Russian mutant leaped into the arena and caught her before she hit the hard ground. She was out of breath and clung firmly to Piotr’s strong shoulders. The Russian breathed a sigh of relief. There wasn’t even a safety net beneath. She could have really been hurt. This further infuriated James so he ended it.

“That’s it! I’m stopping this!” he said, “Emergency override code 6636! Authorization, James Poundstar!”

An alarm sounded. The command immediately halted the program. Every one of the attack droids deactivated and the platforms leveled out and started lowering back towards floor level. The young pawns who had been pushed to their limits let out a sigh of relief. Most fell to the floor, but a few like Roberto and Alex took their frustrations out on the deactivated droids, decapitating a couple even as they reached the ground floor.

“Finally it’s over,” said Bobby with a tired groan.

“Some training,” said Roberto, kicking away the head of the figure he just decapitated, “What kind of training involves us getting ganged up on?”

“Apparently the kind Logan thinks is constructive,” said Alex, who was equally angered by this stunt.

While the pawns caught their breath, James grabbed Logan by the collar and pulled him to within inches of his angry face.

“What were you thinking, Logan?! Throwing all this shit at them!”

“Back off, Poundstar! Or I’ll see how durable you are with a faceful of adamantium!” grunted Logan, roughly pulling away and drawing his claws.

“Knock it off already! I don’t care if you take your anger out on me, but that’s no excuse to just throw these kids into the fire like that!”

“Well maybe if you stopped trainin’ them like kids they would have held up better!” shot Logan.

“This has nothing to do with them or their training! This has everything to do with you and that attitude of yours! Say what you want, but you weren’t thinking about training them! You were just using them so you could have someone to yell at!”

Logan’s face contorted with rage. He was primed to just shove his claws in this guy’s face to shut him up. But with the other pawns watching and a number of Hellfire mercenaries watching as well, he managed to hold back. He needed a few seconds to breathe a little and get his anger to subside. Eventually he withdrew his claws, but his angry expression didn’t wane.

For James, however, it was a sign of something much more serious. Logan wasn’t always this harsh on the young pawns. He was no pushover, but even he had his limits. But lately he was letting his anger get in the way of his duties.

“I’m getting tired of this, Logan,” said James in a calmer, yet stern tone, “These past few months you’ve been angry, hot-headed, and downright irrational at times. Now I’m no expert, but something’s definitely up with you.”

“What? You gonna go all touchy feely on me?” mocked Logan.

“Does it look like I give a damn?” spat James, “I don’t know what’s up and frankly I don’t care. But whatever it is, resolve it or find a better way to deal with it! You keep taking it out on others and I’ll get Lord Xavier involved and you know he won’t be nearly as lenient as me!”

Logan snarled at the Apache warrior. As much as he hated his lecture, there was a touch of truth to it. Ever since Emma Frost took him to see Scott and Jean make love that night he had been more messed up than usual. The image of Jean lying with Scott in bed, saying how much she loved him, enraged him in a way few things could. Since that night he had been on edge to say the least. He didn’t know what to do with himself. He still had feelings for Jean, but knowing she didn’t feel the same way stung and he didn’t know how to deal with it.

But for the sake of not getting Lord Xavier involved, he grunted and turned away. He still thought James was wrong to think a little tough training was bad for these runts. It looked like they needed it. But for now he was going to have to find someone else to yell at.

“Whatever,” he muttered, “I need a drink.”

James groaned and shook his head. Logan was a great fighter and all, but he had no sense of responsibility. It was all anger and rage for him. He let his emotions get the better of him. Whatever it was that was driving him to stunts like this it better be serious because neither he nor the Hellfire Club would tolerate it.

Over with the young pawns, they were steadily collecting themselves. They were all sore, tired, and a little disheartened after taking such a pounding. It wasn’t their fault Logan was in a bad mood, but it still left a few of them pretty angry. The only one who seemed okay with it was Kitty, who didn’t mind landing in Piotr’s strong arms.

“Are you okay, Katya?” he asked as he let her down.

“I am now,” she said with a smile, “Thanks for the save, Petey. I’ll have to make it up to you later.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Oh but I want to,” said Kitty, throwing in a touch of sensuality.

Piotr smiled at her words. Kitty Pryde wasn’t the same innocent girl she was when she first arrived. She had some sass to her now and some toughness. Since that first night they had together she really came into her own. She often turned to him for support and he was more than happy to give it to her. And she was never afraid to reward him for it. She didn’t have the same sexual hunger as girls like Tabitha or Emma, but she knew how to be sexy and he liked that.

The others watched Kitty and shook their heads. How she could flirt at a time like this was beyond them.

“Man, I am so sick of this!” exclaimed Alex.

“Sick of what? Logan pushing us or getting beat up by a bunch of badly dressed C3P0’s?” said Bobby.

“Everything!” he answered, “I mean honestly, how is this kind of training helping us? We run through scenarios, bust some heads, and that’s it! Shouldn’t we be getting more chances to work our way up in this place?”

“Take it easy, Alex,” said Sam, “They told us early on we gotta find our way first. There’s only so much a bunch of pawns our age can do.”

“Yeah, and after a session like this I don’t think I want any extra chances,” groaned Jubilee.

“Me neither. I’m content just training and hanging out with the girls,” said Bobby.

“Oh where’s your sense of ambition, Bobby?” said Tabitha, always the extreme one, “Don’t you ever find yourself wanting more?”

“Don’t we have enough though?” said Lorna.

“I don’t think so,” said Alex strongly, “I get the feeling Lord Xavier hasn’t even taken off our training wheels yet. I don’t know about you guys, but I’m tired of playing in the minor leagues here!”

“I’m with you, amigo,” said Roberto, “My dad didn’t spend years prepping me for the Hellfire Club just to have me train more! I’ve already mastered my powers anyways. Why can’t I start applying them a bit more?”

Another argument was brewing. Alex and Roberto were getting pretty worked up and so were the others. James decided to step in again, answering Roberto’s question directly.

“Because you’re not ready yet,” said James Poundstar in a firm tone, “You’re all still young and skill aside, you’ve got a lot to learn.”

“But how much do you really have to learn for a place like this?” questioned Roberto, “You do whatever is necessary to expand our power. What more do we need to learn about that?”

“Yeah, I always favored keeping things simple,” shrugged Tabitha.

“Well it’s NOT simple,” said James strongly, “Gaining power is one thing, but gaining it effectively and using it responsibly it quite another. You need to know yourself, the other people around you, and your responsibilities. Without those you’re not furthering anything other than your own selfish desires.”

“So what? Isn’t that what everybody does here anyways?” shrugged Alex.

“In some ways yes, but only to a point. When desires end and agendas begin, that’s where we draw the line. The only agenda you should further is that of the Hellfire Club and you guys aren’t ready to take on that responsibility fully yet.”

Alex was about to shoot back, but Lorna stepped in this time, placing a hand on his shoulder and silencing him before he could go any further. It allowed James to continue.

“The Inner Circle is a hierarchy. There are kings, queens, knights, rooks, bishops, and pawns. You all are still pawns for now. To gain any other title, you have to earn it. Until then, remember your place. It will do you better in the long run.”

“Yeah, whatever,” said Roberto dryly, “Thinking long term is important I guess.”

“Glad you understand,” said James, “And since Logan worked you guys over pretty well, I’ll forgo my lesson for today. Take some time to recover, but remember we’re still on tracking exercises this evening.”

“Sounds like such a blast,” said Bobby with dripping sarcasm.

James ignored their lack of enthusiasm and let them be. He was a little worried how some of the pawns were a bit rebellious. Alex, Roberto, and Tabitha weren’t as patient as the others and were getting overly ambitious. He admired their confidence and all, but too much could be dangerous. Logan sure wasn’t helping matters. If anything, he was making it worse by making them feel like whipping boys. Hopefully, he could remind them of their proper roles in the Hellfire Club. If they got too distant then it could lead to major complications.

After James left, the younger pawns sat around for a few more moments until their strength returned to them. It had been a tough session and it felt like there was no end to it.

“I still say they’re holding us back,” said Alex.

“Give it a rest already, Alex,” coaxed Lorna, “We’re all cranky after Logan’s stunt. Let’s just try and put it behind us. I’ll even help if you want.”

That got a smile out of Alex. Lorna always was willing to ‘help out’ whenever he got frustrated, which was pretty frequently. He would probably be in as bad a mood as Logan if it wasn’t for her. He was glad she reached out to him, but others didn’t have that luxury.

“Fine, go with the girl who lets you feel her up during training,” said Tabitha sarcastically, “Some leader you are. I need a soak in the spa.”

“I’ll join you,” grinned Roberto, “It’s nice to be around someone who values a little backbone.”

“Shut up, Roberto,” muttered Alex as he walked off with Lorna.

The four pawns walked off, leaving Bobby, Kitty, Sam, and Jubilee with Piotr. Even though they call came in together they weren’t exactly one big happy family. They clashed numerous times over training, missions, and pretty much everything else in their new lives at the Hellfire Club. But more often then not the sides were the same and that was a little disconcerting.

“Those three seriously need to chill out,” commented Bobby.

“Yeah, At least Lorna keeps a level head. But at the rate they’re going they’ll get themselves in trouble with Lord Xavier and Mistress Selene,” said Kitty.

“Hopefully, it does not come to that. They should be smart enough to know by now that the Inner Circle doesn’t take kindly to such disrespect,” said Piotr.

“Yeah…they should be,” said Jubilee, “But what if they aren’t?”

“Like the man says, Jubilee, hopefully it doesn’t come to that,” said Sam.

The young pawns left it at that as they walked off to unwind in the spa. Kitty and Piotr went in a separate direction where they could share a shower together. It was a rough session that led to more complications than they expected. With Logan showing no signs of lightening up and the others showing no signs of taking it, there was plenty of potential for conflict. And in a place like the Hellfire Club that was a dangerous mix.

Xavier’s Office

It was almost midnight and Charles Xavier was working late with Moria, Mystique, and Sage. Moria was originally scheduled to fly back to Paris, but she chose to stick around for a bit longer. Reports had been coming in that Sinister was being flakey lately and with him that was never a good sign. There were also suspicions about Selene’s activities, but then again that wasn’t unusual. Xavier always kept a close eye on her as he did with Sinister, but at the moment it was Sinister who garnered the most suspicion.

At the moment Xavier was on the phone while Sage was going over endless lines of streaming data, her computer-like mind processing it by the gigabyte. Moria leaned in close so she could hear the conversation while Mystique just hung back and listened. She didn’t say much or comment on anything. She kept dwelling on her son. Even after talking to him earlier, she got the sense there was more going on than he let on. That was why she was taking a stronger interest in the activities of Sinister and Selene lately. She just knew that whatever they were up to, it was going to affect him somehow. She didn’t know how. It was just one of those gut feelings only a mother could feel.

“Okay…yes, Sage is getting it now…no, we haven’t…don’t worry, we’ll keep working on it…very well, but be careful, Ororo. Tell Remy and Wade to keep an eye open for anything else…we will. Goodbye Ororo.”

Xavier hung up his phone and turned towards Moria, who had been in on the entire conversation. She had the same look that he did. Something was going on and it didn’t sit right for a minute.

“She doesn’t know, Charles. They’re probably telling her and the others only part of the story,” said Moria.

“As is often the case with Sinister,” said the Black King, “He knows I go into the minds of all my associates. If they don’t know then they can’t reveal his secrets.”

“But he’s clearly up to something. He’s having Ororo, Remy, and Deadpool steal all this advanced hardware for a reason and I don’t think it’s for his typical experiments.”

“Since when have Sinister’s experiments ever been typical?” commented Mystique.

“Point taken, Raven, but Moria’s right. Sinister wouldn’t be doing this if he didn’t have a plan. Moreover, he seems to be going to great lengths to keep the rest of the Hellfire Club out of the loop.”

“And so far, I would say he’s doing a good job of it,” said Sage in her usual flat tone, “I’ve gone over every invoice he’s sent us. The computer says it checks out, but my gut says something’s missing.”

Sage feverishly typed on her computer, bringing up a number of reports sent by Sinister regarding these recent jobs for the Hellfire thieves. It was all pretty advanced, mostly experimental and prototype hardware from overseas markets where the laws were a lot more lenient to science that some considered morally questionable. Every time some new hardware came into a local hub, it was checked and shipped back to X-Industrial. There it was catalogued and reported and then shipped back. It was an elaborate system, but it wasn’t perfect.

“What exactly are you looking at, Sage?” asked Moria.

“Just the reports our teams sent after they went through each crate that Sinister sent back here. It all looks so unassuming on the surface. Every part is advanced in its own way, but none seem to fit together. One job was for an advanced DNA based chip that specializes in processing genetic codes, which I know is hardly surprising for Sinister, but then these other parts come in that specialize in filtering poisons through major organs. They each run on different mechanisms and shouldn’t even be in the same zip code scientifically speaking. It’s almost as if some of them don’t belong together.”

Moria took a look at it. Being an expert in genetics herself, she recognized some of the hardware. But other reports just didn’t seem to fit. There was nothing to indicate that something really big could be made from this.

“What do you think, Moria? What could Sinister make with these parts?” asked Charles.

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out, Charles,” she said as she looked over each report, “But near as I can figure, the most he could do with these parts is upgrade his current genetic engineering systems and maybe enhance the power output.”

“That’s all the computer came up with too,” said Sage, “But it still doesn’t seem right. I mean why would he all of the sudden start directing all these heists? He’s never done anything like this before.”

“Which is part of why I’m suspicious,” said Moria, “But I just don’t see what he could do with this equipment.”

Xavier started pacing while the two women looked over the reports. Mystique continued to linger, her thoughts drifting to other matters. He always liked to stay on top of things, especially when they involved Sinister. And on the surface there was nothing out of the ordinary. But that’s part of why he was so suspicious.

“Maybe that’s what Sinister wants,” said Xavier as he looked over the reports, “He figures if he brings in many different forms of hardware we won’t be able to zero in on what he’s using it for.”

“But can’t you track how he’s using it? I mean, all his tech has to go through us doesn’t it?” said Raven, who had experience in stealing for Sinister.

“It does and so far every part he’s brought in has passed inspection. But I get the feeling this isn’t the whole story,” said the Black King, “What we’re seeing may not be the essence of his plans.”

“And just how would he manage that? We keep an eye on him 24/7,” argued Moria.

“Perhaps…but Sinister is nothing if not inventive. Perhaps the hardware we’re getting isn’t the same hardware that Ororo, Remy, and Wade are bringing in.”

“You think Sinister may be switching the parts for something less assuming?” said Raven.

“It’s possible. If he was cunning enough he could make it seem as though he’s not doing anything wrong. And if he’s made certain arrangements, which he probably has, then there’s no telling what he may be planning. The fact that he’s acquiring so much hardware is indicative enough of something. We just have to find out what he’s up to.”

“Can’t you just torture him to find out?” said Moria, “I’m sure Selene could find some way of inflicting pain on that body of his.”

“Appealing as that may be, I doubt it would yield anything from Sinister,” said Xavier, “I know him better than anybody and no amount of torture will ever break him. He’s too proud of himself.”

“Doesn’t mean it’s not worth trying,” shrugged Mystique, “And if not him, what about Hank? I’m sure he’s not nearly as tough.”

“He doesn’t know anything,” said Xavier, “I’ve already scanned his mind many times. Sinister has wisely kept him out of the loop. He knows that I’ll read his mind at any given time and will not tell him anything incriminating.”

“So what do we do?” asked Moria.

That seemed to be the big question amongst them. Sinister had always been a wildcard, but he kept to his duties to the most part for the past decade or so. He served the Hellfire Club and conducted research as he always had. But there were never any doubts that he had his own agenda. He just never seemed to make a move on it. But with this latest development, it seemed as though he was up to something and they had no idea what it was.

“For now, the best we can do is keep a close eye on him. We must make him think we’re still oblivious so we can look further into his dealings,” said the Black King.

“Why not just put him under house arrest?” asked Sage, “That should stop him in his tracks.”

“I’d like to leave that as a secondary option, Sage,” said Xavier, “If we do that we’ll just delay him, not stop him. For now, let’s see where his agenda leads us. Besides, I want to see what he’s up to. His ultimate goal may provide something of use to us if we can find a way to take it.”

“You sure you want to get caught up in something Sinister creates?” said Mystique skeptically.

“Why not? If we can find a way for it to serve us, I think it’s worth trying,” said Moria, her scientific side growing intrigued at the possibilities.

“And besides, what better way to ultimately defeat him than to attack the fruits of his labor?” added Xavier, “Knowing him it should be something powerful. And you know the Hellfire Club never squanders a chance for more power.”

Moria and Sage smiled at that prospect. But Mystique thought it was a little too risky. Having been out in the field more, she knew people like Sinister and the things they were capable of. Oftentimes, they did not create anything worth controlling. If anything, their agendas had nothing to do with power in the first place. They just wanted to cause chaos.

But for Xavier, Sage, and Moria the matter was settled.

“Very well, I’ll see if I can uncover anything,” said Sage, “I doubt he’ll leave his computers open, but if I find any gaps in his behavior I’ll make note of it.”

“Good, and I’ll send some extra spies as well,” said the Black King, “Mystique, I may need you to play a part as well.”

“Of course,” she sighed.

“I’ll also do my part,” said Moria, “I’ll look closer into the thefts Remy, Ororo, and Deadpool are carrying out and see if there’s something amiss. Sinister is a smart man, but he’s not above making mistakes.”

“Let’s hope he does,” said Charles, “Would it be at all possible to have Rahne track some of jobs as well?”

Moria shifted a bit. Rahne was still a bit of a touchy issue for her. She was still doing her usual Hellfire job, acting as a bounty hunter and tracking down enemies that tried to run. But she was still struggling with her powers and it was causing her undue stress. She was becoming increasingly hesitant to let her go on missions, but Rahne was never one to just lay around. And with her powers in her current state, it may not be a good idea to push her.

“I’m not sure, Charles,” she said in a distant tone, “She’s still…struggling with her powers.”

“I see,” said Charles with a sympathetic gaze, “Just do what you can with her. And if you need help with her at all, please let me know. I care about her too.”

“I know ye do,” she smiled, “I’ll be in touch.”

Moria kissed Charles on the cheek to show her gratitude. Then she bowed towards Sage and Mystique and made her leave. Sage packed up her stuff as well, closing her laptop and picking up a few disks he brought with her. Clearly, she had her work cut out for her. Keeping an eye on Sinister was a tough job even for someone with a computerized mind. But she agreed with Xavier and Moria. He was too dangerous to be left alone. Someone had to keep an eye on him. And the second he crossed them, they were going to pounce. She hoped that day would come soon though. The Hellfire Club without Mr. Sinister would be that much more bearable.

“I best get to work as well. I’ll let you know if I find something,” said Sage, “And just for the sake of argument, say we do catch Sinister red-handed…how are we going to silence him? He’s a bit more durable than our usual enemies. ”

“Oh don’t you worry about that, Sage,” said Xavier with an ominous grin, “I assure you I have ways of making it so no amount of durability will save them from Hellfire’s wrath.”

Sage managed a slight smile, which was always rare for her. But she trusted Charles in his methods. They had yet to steer them wrong so far and with any luck Sinister would find that out first hand.

Even after Sage and Moria left, Mystique lingered. She just kept standing back, leaning against the wall as she looked out the window at the night sky over Manhattan. As concerned as she was over the whole Sinister issue, she was more concerned about Kurt. Despite his reassurance to her from earlier, something still didn’t sit right and she couldn’t shake the feeling. This was not lost on Xavier, who knew her well enough to pick up on her subtleties.

“Is everything alright, Raven?” said Charles as he walked over towards her.

“Why do you bother asking that question when you always know beforehand anyways?” she said bitterly.

“It’s just good manners,” he shrugged innocently, “Now are you going to tell me or do you want me to just read your mind and make my own assumptions?”

The shape shifter sighed. She didn’t like talking about personal issues, but Xavier was one of the few men she trusted to hear her out.

“It’s Kurt,” she said in a low tone, “Ever since I got back from Department H I’ve been trying to catch up with him. Having been away for so long, he’s really grown up a lot these past four years. I know this is part of what we planned, but some of the things he’s picked up just don’t sit well.”

“Are you referring to his relationship with Wanda?”

“That’s part of it. But sometimes I wonder if it’s just Wanda or if Selene is still influencing him.”

“I thought she stopped giving him private lessons years ago,” said Xavier, “And to my knowledge she has not given any others since.”

“As much as I’d like to trust your knowledge, Charles, I think Selene is fully capable of finding a way around that. Hell, for all I know she could just be lying about it and it would be the same.”

The shape shifters words were harsh and bitter. Xavier was just as aware of Kurt’s transformation, but he initially welcomed some of his changes because his darker persona made him a much more willing and able Hellfire operative. But over the years he did sense something else about him that was different from the others. He sensed the same thing in Wanda. There was a darkness to their thoughts and it definitely had Selene’s fingerprints on it. But every time he questioned her about it she insisted she was not in the private tutoring business. She taught the same lessons to them as she did the others. Of course he didn’t believe her. But every time he tried to find evidence to the contrary, nothing came up. Selene had always been good at covering her tracks and even he had his limits with her. So it was not out of the question that she had some sort of hold on Kurt.

“Raven, I’m not going to stand here and tell you all is well when we both know it is not,” he said, “But remember, I did make a promise to you when you first brought them here and I have every intention on keeping it.”

“I think it may be a bit too late for that,” she muttered, “It seems like every time I talk to him, I’m only talking to part of him. There’s always this other part he keeps concealed from me and I just know it’s because of Selene!”

“I would not be surprised in the slightest,” said the Black King, maintaining a calm tone, “But you know as well as I do that we’ll never get anything out of Selene or Wanda for that matter.”

“Then what am I supposed to do?! Just stand back and pretend everything is okay?!” she exclaimed.

Xavier calmed her with a simple gesture, maintaining his reasonable demeanor.

“Just continue being his mother, Raven,” he told her, “Remind him that you still care. No matter how much darkness Selene fills him with, you are still his mother and he is still your son. If he remembers that then when push comes to shove, he’ll choose you and Rogue over Selene and Wanda.”

Mystique was still fuming. But a few deep breaths and a gentle hand on her shoulder helped calm her down.

“For all our sake, I hope you’re right,” she said.

“I know I am,” smiled the Black King, “In the meantime, I’ll keep an extra eye on Selene. If she tries anything with Kurt, you’ll be the first to know.”

“Good, because if that woman so much as breathes on him I will see to it that no amount of immortality can save her from me!”

“Spoken like a dedicated mother,” said Xavier, “Kurt’s a lucky boy.”

It was a difficult situation for the shape shifter. She felt her son slipping away from her and falling into the hands of Selene. He had already fallen pretty far. He was so entrenched in this dark persona it was hard to contemplate whether or not she could still reach him. But as his mother she had to try. She brought him to the Hellfire Club so he could make something of himself and live the life he deserved. Having Selene sink her claws into him was not part of the plan, but she was not about to give up on him. She was going to get him to remember no matter what it took.

For Xavier, it posed yet another challenge. The Sinister issue was currently his top concern, but he couldn’t forget about his promise to Raven. In some ways he felt a little responsible for Kurt becoming who he was now. On the surface he was every bit as successful as the others in becoming a Hellfire operative. He was strong, ruthless, and tough in every way. But within him, a darkness loomed that may threaten to destroy him. For Raven’s sake, the Black King was not going to let that happen. Moreover, he was not going to let Selene corrupt others to the point where she could start conspiring against him. Like Sinister, he knew she had her own agenda. She couldn’t be allowed to get a step ahead of him. He would have to step up his observations of her.

But most importantly, he would have to start formulating a contingency plan.

Sinister’s Secret Lab

Months had gone by since Sinister began his effort to collect the materials he needed for his ultimate plan. It was happening slower than he would have liked, but such meticulous care was necessary when dealing with the constant scrutiny of Charles Xavier. So far he managed to deceive him. Every time a part came in, he swapped it out for something more mundane and reported it as if it were the right part. He then made sure Hank put it to good use on his end so that Xavier wouldn’t think he was wasting time or something. He also had to throw in some curveballs so to speak, having Ororo, Remy, and Deadpool steal parts that weren’t even necessary for his experiments, but would add an extra distraction for Xavier and his associates to uncover what he was doing. It wasn’t the most efficient way to set up his equipment, but it was necessary. And he had help.

In addition to the fake reports he sent Xavier, Selene was using her talents to help him stay under the radar. He didn’t even want her help at first, but when he saw what she could do with those powers of hers he was convinced. She could fool Xavier’s spies and security better than any technology. She would create clones and look-alikes made out of pure mystic energy that looked and sounded indistinguishable from his real self. With the proper instructions, he could make it look as though he was working in his lab or doing mundane experiments with Hank. It gave him more time to set things up in the secret lab he had underneath the warehouse where the Hellfire thieves were bringing in the goods. Selene paid a few visits as time went on, but today she was in for a real treat.

“Please excuse the poor lighting of my dwelling,” he said as they stepped off the secret elevator, “As you can imagine, I’ve been a bit too busy to set up any ambience.”

“I don’t mind. I prefer dark ambience,” said the Black Queen wryly.

Sinister rolled his eyes and led her to the central area where the major components were coming together. At the moment it was a little messy. Not much was running and there was a mess of tools and assorted boxes strewn about the area. But the overall outlay of the device was taking shape.

“My oh my, haven’t you been a busy little mad scientist,” commented Selene.

“There’s nothing mad about what I’m building, I assure you,” said Sinister, “These parts, while cluttered in their current state, will soon become the proverbial womb for my greatest creation!”

“I see,” said the Black Queen, trying not to sound too unimpressed, “And how exactly is this toy of yours going to create this ‘greatest creation’ as you so eloquently describe it?”

“Ah, now that is an interesting yet complicated process. I could spend hours on end describing what each part of my array does, but seeing as how you’re not one for boring small talk I’ll keep it simple…”

Sinister led the Black Queen over to one part of the area, which consisted of large computer systems that looked like servers. Only these were no ordinary servers.

“The device consists of three main parts. The first, and largest, are the DNA computers. Now DNA computers are nothing new. I have several back in my main lab. But the ones I’m setting up here operate on a slightly different scale. They don’t just process sequences of genetic code. They actually calculate to each codon what each DNA strand must consist of in order for certain traits to be expressed. In simplest terms, it allows me to compose an entire strand of DNA based on the traits I want the specimen to have.”

“So you can pick and choose what the specimens can do, big deal, what else?” said Selene impatiently.

Sinister then led her to a smaller array of computers near the front end of the lab. They were arranged in a semi-circle around a central area with several keyboards and what looked to be gloves with wires coming out of them. It somewhat reminded Selene of Cerebrum.

“This second part is the nerve center for the device. They consist of parts made up of highly advanced (and highly illegal) computer interfaces which allow me to manipulate a strand of DNA down to the molecular level. The interface required quite a few advanced parts and I’m still working on getting it calibrated. But once I have it together I should be able to use it to actually synthesize entirely new strands of DNA.”

“So you can play matchmaker with genes, yes I see. What about these?” said Selene, directing his attention to the last and more important part.

“Ah yes, I figured you would appreciate those.”

Sinister led her to a cluster of bio tanks arranged in two rows of six in the center of the room. They were fairly large, about the size of a standard barrel. They all had tubes and wires running out of the top and base to the surrounding machines. But what made them stood out to Selene was the mysterious liquid inside, which glowed and bubbled in an ominous light. They were the only things in the lab that were powered in the lab at the moment and the only major source of light besides dim lamps. Selene ran her hands over the clear glass, admiring the sinister feel to it. She got the sense that this was where the real action took place.

“These are the final parts of this array and it was these that took the most time to develop. Like many of these other parts, these devices are very rare and highly illegal. What sets them apart from your standard bio tank is capacity. These little marvels will provide the necessary environment I need to actually grow my experiments into something tangible.”

“And what exactly will you be growing? I assume you’re not referring to garden vegetables,” said Selene.

Sinister smiled ominously as he gazed over the tubes. It was amazing to consider that these would be the devices that would give birth to his ultimate creation. He didn’t expect someone like Selene to understand.

“There’s no easy way to say it, but simply put…they’ll be growing living, breathing, gods.”

“Gods you say?” said Selene with an excited grin.

“Yes, gods among men…gods among mutants…the perfect species, not limited by the whims of nature and powerful enough to dominate over all. As an immortal yourself, surely you can appreciate the pitiful state of the human species. Like you, I’ve seen their limitations. And if civilization is ever to escape these unending dark ages of barbarism, these limitations must be overcome…even if it means giving nature a nudge in the right direction.”

“No need to convince me there,” said Selene, “I’ve always been disgusted by how weak and frail the human species is. I’ll welcome any improvement.”

“And thanks to Charles Xavier and all the resources he’s so generously provided over the years, I finally have the knowledge and know-how to put it all together.”

Sinister sounded genuinely excited, a rare show of emotion from a man many considered inhuman in ways not limited to his sinister appearance. But as he ran his hands over the glass tubes, his expression fell somewhat. Even though he had the knowledge and hardware for his ultimate goal, there were still a few obstacles.

“There are, however, a few complications I must overcome before my living gods can enter this world.”

“And what might that be? I thought you had everything planned out,” said Selene in a somewhat mocking tone.

“I said it was a complication, not a roadblock. Please don’t patronize me,” said Sinister strongly, “But the problem is simple biology. Even with the most advanced biotechnology, you cannot fabricate a living being out of nothing and grow them in a tube without some sort of pre-conceived kick start. You must use the old fashioned way of reproduction and development, so to speak.”

“Ah, that just happens to be my specialty,” said Selene in a sultry tone.

“I’m sure it is,” said Sinister dryly, “But it all boils down to having the right framework. I must have a strong base of DNA that I can manipulate and then grow into a viable specimen. But combining the right genetic endowments one by one is costly and time consuming. And under Xavier’s scrutiny it’s a near-impossibility.”

“I’m guessing you have an alternative,” said the Black Queen.

“Indeed, and this is where it gets tricky. You see, over the years I’ve measured the potential of the pawns Charles has brought in and by and large, they are very well endowed in terms of genetics. Their base line DNA is perfect to use as a base that I could build off of. And with the right combinations so to speak and a little help from the advancements I’ve done with the Goblin gas, I should be able to craft some very advanced beings.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” said Selene, “So what is complication?”

“That would be the part about ‘combination.’ It would be too cumbersome to just take their DNA and try and combine it. It would be easier if they did it themselves.”

It didn’t take long for Selene to pick up on what he was saying. Combination was just his way of saying making offspring. The thought of breeding their pawns the same way farmers breed livestock did have appeal in a perverse sort of way. It brought another lurid smile to her face. As foolish and deranged as Sinister was, she liked how he pursued his goals without any sense of morality. She always found such things to be a crutch anyways. It was nice to know he thought the same way.

“Oh…I see what you’re saying,” said the Black Queen, “You’re talking about having the pawns fuck and using the results as your base. I like it! Please tell me that this is the route you’re taking.”

“It would appear to be the most logical at this point. But if I’m to pull this off, I’m going to need a little help,” he said with another sinister grin.

“What kind of help?” she inquired.

“The kind that requires both magic and science to stay a step ahead of Xavier and his foolish henchmen,” Sinister answered.

It sounded like a potent, if not a little strange, partnership. But for what this man was proposing, the Black Queen was willing to give it a chance. This little project of Sinister’s had some major promise. She was for anything that brought gods into a world dominated by pitiful mortal humans. In all her time in this world she came to see that mortal limitations were often the cause of so many ills. It would be nice to have something to bring these insects down to size.

But beyond that, there was something else about Sinister’s idea that held some appear. It was something that may very well help her further her own agenda. It was an agenda she would have to work hard to keep from this man. If Sinister knew what she was planning, he wouldn’t do anything to help her. But thankfully, he was a deluded fool with delusions of grandeur. It was something she could definitely use to her advantage.

“What do you need from me?” said Selene with a dark grin.

Sinister smiled back with an equally dark expression. It appears this was the beginning of a very dubious partnership.

“This is what I had in mind…”

Enchantress’s Lair

“One more, Jean! And make it quick! I’m supposed to get my hair done in a half hour!”

“Yes, Madam Enchantress,” said a very tired looking Jean Grey.

Enchantress sat back, casually filing her nails as Jean stood over a burning pile of leaves, herbs, incense, and an array of other mystical ingredients. She was concentrating hard, chanting line after line of spell incantations over the mixture. A column of bright red fire burned brightly in the room, taking various shapes and forms at Jean’s whims. Her hands were also glowing, indicating a powerful concentration of mystical energy. She was only in a ceremonial robe, but due to the strain she was putting on her abilities she got it burned a bit and some of it was singed.

But Enchantress showed no concern for her pupil. She was confident she could handle herself. She wasn’t the most compassionate mentor, but she supported her pupil as she had for the past four years. In that time Jean Grey had made great strides in the art of magic. She went from barely being able to perform the simplest spells to routinely performing intermediate and somewhat advanced spells. She was still a long ways away from being as powerful as her, Selene, or even Wanda. But she never lost her drive and proved to be a quick learner. Enchantress did her best with her, but there were limitations.

Jean finished the final line of the spell. Then she closed her eyes, clenched her fists, and made a strong punching motion towards the flame. Immediately, the embers scattered and the burning ceased. Some embers found their way to her hands and eyes, but they didn’t burn her. They only mixed and meshed with her spiritual aura, filling her with the mystical energy that flowed through all proficient mystic artists. But as visually spectacular as the display was, it was very taxing. And it looked like Jean would need a new robe.

“Well done,” said Enchantress, clapping a bit for her pupil as she got up and approached her, “I think that’s enough for today.”

“Thank you, Madam,” said Jean short of breath, “Sorry about the robe. I’m still working on my control.”

“No worries. Robes are easily replaced. Skills are not. You’ve made great strides this past year in terms of skill. But it seems as though you are reaching your limit.”

“I’ll continue to get better, Madam,” said Jean as she slipped out of her tainted robe, “I promise.”

“It’s not quite that simple, my eager young pupil.”

Enchantress set the robe aside and sat back down across from Jean as she gathered her clothes. She had that serious look in her eye that she only got when was talking about something really important. She rarely got that serious since she always brushed aside what she considered ‘mortal concerns.’ But even as an Asgardian, she had a very human sense of urgency.

“Jean, you are a strong, determined young woman. You have powers and abilities most can only dream of. But like everybody who attempts the mystic arts, there are limits to what you can do.”

“But those are limits I can overcome, right?” said Jean.

“Not necessarily,” said Enchantress, “These are limits all mortals face. Even sorcerers like Dr. Strange and the Ancient One can only wield so much power because as gifted and well-trained he may be, he is still mortal. And no matter how much power either of them wielded, they still wouldn’t last two seconds in a fight against the likes of me or someone like Selene.”

It sounded pretty disheartening. Even with all the progress she made, this was the best Jean could hope for. Something about that didn’t feel right. She was capable of so much more. She knew it.

“So what do I do?” asked Jean desperately, “If I can’t overcome my limitations, is there a way to get around them?”

Enchantress smiled. That was definitely the spirit of a real Hellfire woman. The Hellfire Club taught many things, but one that set them apart was their willingness to go that extra mile. If they couldn’t get through something, they could try and get around it. This was quite a barrier she was facing and one all mortal mystics faced. But given Jean’s drive, that didn’t mean she had to accept it.

“That’s where the next step in your training comes in,” she said as she got up and approached her pupil, who was still naked, “You remember when you first arrived? I was so skeptical of you, but Xavier insisted there was more to you than just some pretty looking girl with mutant powers. It took a while, but now I believe him. I see in you the potential to wield power on a level far exceeding your mortal limitations.”

“And how exactly would I develop this power?” said Jean with growing intrigue.

Enchantress’s smile grew as she casually walked around Jean, her eyes drifting up and down her nude body. It was as if she was looking at something deeper than just her appearance and skills. There was something else she was seeing that even Jean couldn’t ascertain. It was something that was inherent within her since the day she first walked in and it was only now becoming clear.

“Remember that dream you once told me about? You know, the one you had as a child where you were flying through space, consumed by fire?” said the Asgardian woman.

“Yes, what about it?” asked Jean intently.

“Well what if I told you that dream wasn’t just a dream? What if it was something else? Like maybe…a sign of sorts? A sign that there is something buried within your spirit? Something powerful that you’ve yet to grasp?”

Jean’s heart jumped. That dream about the fire had always been prominent in her mind. It was part of what drove her to learn about magic. But she always assumed it was just a dream. Now her teacher and mentor was telling her it was something more. It made her worried yet excited.

“You’re saying that I may have other power I haven’t realized?” she surmised.

“I’m saying there may be forces in this world you’re connected too…forces that may allow you to exceed your limitations well beyond that of any mortal,” grinned Enchantress.

The Asgardian woman then walked over to locked cabinet and opened it with a special mystical incantation. Inside there were some relics, books, and pictures. Some of them were from Asgard. From this collection she took out a book and from the looks of it, it was pretty old. It had bindings and covers that resembled that of Viking times. If it was that old it was in pretty fair condition. It wouldn’t have surprised Jean if the book was from the libraries of Asgard herself.

“It would take many more lessons to explain this matter. And if you recall, I do have a hair appointment,” she said in her usual vain tone, “But this book should explain it.”

Enchantress then gave her the book and Jean looked over it for a moment. There were no words or pictures on the cover. It looked like an old, unassuming book by all accounts. But she knew full well there was more to it than that.

“What exactly will it teach me?” asked Jean.

“It won’t necessarily teach you anything. It will just help you understand. Study it well and we’ll discuss it during your next lesson.”

“I will, Madam Enchantress. I promise,” vowed Jean.

That was all the assurance she needed. Enchantress could already see the excitement in Jean’s eyes. The prospect of uncovering secrets about that dream she had so long ago was appealing. With any luck she should learn the true breadth of her potential. She just hoped the ongoing drama in her personal life didn’t get in the way. She told her about the tension between Scott and Logan. Enchantress just rolled her eyes at that. She had enough love triangles in her immortal lifetime and didn’t want to get caught up in another. Hopefully she would work it out. She would have to. Chances were she would need all her focus if she was ever to confront Selene. It was never a matter of if Selene would make a move. It was only a matter of when. And as she watched Jean get dressed, gather her book, and leave the Asgardian woman couldn’t help but wonder. When that time came would Jean be able to take her?

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

Up next: New bonds are tested while others drift further apart.