New Blood

New Blood
Chapter 17: The Test

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Department H

Undercover work was a dangerous and risky business. But at times it was also painfully boring. Raven Darkholme was all too used to such aspects of the job. Over the years she had some pretty mundane covers, but few were ever as boring as this. Department H was supposed to be a hotbed of secret activity involving governments and mutants and it was. But it was still a government agency. That meant there were mountains of paperwork and bureaucracy sift through. It seemed like she had to get approval from several different people just to look at pictures of certain documents. It was enough to make her long for the incessant ramblings of Magneto during her time at the Brotherhood. At least his meaningless droning wasn’t this boring.

But it was all for a reason. Charles Xavier kept assuring her of that. She called him regularly with reports of her findings. Most consisted of details concerning Department H’s activities surrounding Alpha Flight and her findings on the Weapon X program. But lately the reports had become a lot less interesting. Alpha Flight for all the controversy surrounding them, were pretty boring when they weren’t out on assignment. She talked to a few members like Vindicator, Shaman, Aurora, and Northstar, but she didn’t get to know any of them all that well. She couldn’t risk blowing her cover so she had to keep her distance. None of them seemed that interesting anyways so she didn’t care.

Most of her days consisted of going over more files. Her private office was a mountain of paperwork and file drawers. There seemed to be no end to it, but somewhere within this mess was the information she was looking for. It was times like this she was glad the Hellfire Club was moving towards taking over governments. They needed something more efficient than this.

‘God, I hate paperwork. Why couldn’t Xavier send that Sage woman to do this? Her mind is a computer anyways. She would love this kind of work.’

The shape shifter closed another folder and stretched her tired limbs. She had been at this for nearly four hours now. The rest of the Department H staff had already gone home for the night and most of Alpha Flight was fast asleep. But she was too restless to sleep at the moment. She had to find something in this stack of files soon or she would go crazy from the monotony.

‘Just one more file and I’ll call it a night. I need a break from this shit. Wannabe mutant tyrants I can handle, but God save me from government bureaucracy.’

She tossed another folder away and pulled out a new one from the bin. This one had heavily classified marks on it, hinting it dealt with very sensitive matters. But in her experience governments had a pretty broad swath of issues that they considered sensitive. She couldn’t for the life of her understand why they would classify details of dinner meetings or the family history of certain officials. There was nothing in these details that was any worse than she could read in tabloids. But then again she should talk. Her family was messed up in plenty of ways as well.

‘I should pay a visit back to the manor. It feels like I haven’t seen Kurt and Rogue in ages. It sounds like they need me. Knowing that Selene woman, she’s probably still trying to mentor Kurt. Xavier better keep that promise of his because if that woman tries anything with my son I’ll kill her in ways that’ll make her wish she wasn’t immortal.’

Mystique’s expression hallowed at the thought of her kids. She still heard from them. Kurt and Rogue sent her frequent emails and called her with updates on their progress at the Hellfire Club. So far they seemed to be doing well. Rogue certainly sounded better. There was new life in her voice she hadn’t heard in years. Being able to touch was quite a shift for her and she took full advantage of it. Mystique still found time to scold her for being a little too promiscuous, but she knew that was unavoidable when dealing with the Hellfire Club. So long as she didn’t develop any bizarre tastes or hook up with some really shady man, she was okay with it. She was just glad to hear her happy.

Kurt, however, was a different story. He spoke enthusiastically about what he was learning at the Hellfire Club. He would go on and on in his emails about new ideas he learned from his research in the Hellfire archives. Even though he always had a taste for spirituality and philosophy, Mystique never saw him go on ramblings like these. They were a lot darker, focusing less on the nature of the soul and more on the cravings of human desires. She suspected Selene influencing some of these thoughts. She even heard a touch of her cold tone in his voice when he talked about it, but he kept assuring her that he was okay. He hadn’t forgotten what she told him about Selene, but that didn’t stop him from bending the rules. It was all too typical for a curious teenage boy.

She hoped to make a visit back to the manor soon. Xavier wanted a progress report and she wanted to see her kids. But at the rate she was going she wasn’t going to have much to show him. These files contained some interesting information about Canadian government officials that he could possibly exploit. But there was little on the elusive Weapon X.

“Details on deceased Department H associates,” she read on the file, “Better be more promising than it sounds.”

The shape shifter opened the file and began sifting through it. There wasn’t anything too earth-shattering, just a few figures that had died in the course of action over the years. She noticed a few that had ties to Weapon X, but they were old and most had been killed in experiments that went wrong (which seemed the norm). There weren’t many out there still alive with knowledge on this program. Why Xavier wanted information on it was still beyond her, but who was she to argue?

She turned a couple of pages, not expecting to find much else. Then an interesting name came up. It was one she recognized from earlier. It was unique in the sense it wasn’t a complete name. It only read “Logan.” There was a picture to go along with it. It showed a short, burley, muscular man in a black and yellow spandex standing alongside some Alpha Flight members. It matched one of the figures Xavier told her to look out for along with Victor Creed. But what really struck her was that it listed him as dead.

“Hmm…that’s odd,” she said to herself, “I could have sworn there were other records after the date on this.”

Following her hunch, she went back to her pile of folders she already looked at. She had sift through some clutter, but she was able to find the folder she recalled seeing that name in. It was an old file from Department H’s secret monitoring program. It was a shady record of who they kept tabs on even after someone parted ways with the organization. Logan was one of them and he seemed pretty important. Anybody who had most of his file blacked out was deemed important or dangerous by default. Upon removing the documents, she looked over the information on the first file and compared it to the one she just found.

“Well I’ll be,” she said with a grin, “They’re keeping tabs on a dead man. Either their records are horribly managed or there are other forces at work here.”

It was the promising find she had been looking for. On one file it said he was alive and well, having moved to Japan. On the other file, which was dated before the other, it said he was dead before he even left. There were only so many explanations for such a vast discrepancy. Government bureaucracy may be incompetent, but not to this extent. Either someone was choosing to look the other way or someone had altered the file to stop the powers that be from pursuing this Logan character. Whatever the reason, she had more to look into now.

Choosing to forgo rest, she went back to work. There was some real mystery behind this Logan character. She was beginning to see why Xavier was so curious about him and Weapon X. Maybe if she found some more conflicting records, she could get an idea of where to find this guy. What better way to get the answers they were looking for than going to the source of it all?

As she set the files aside she heard a knock on her door. It was Heather Hudson and she looked surprise to see her still here.

“Miss Miller? You’re still working?” she said as she peered into the office.

“Yes, a good bureaucrats work is never done it seems. No need to worry,” said Mystique in the authoritative tone she always used as Miss Millar.

“It’s not worry I assure you,” said Heather, “Those files you’ve been looking over must be returned to the secure archive along with any copies you make. You understand why we can’t let you look over them in perpetuity, right?”

“Yes, yes, of course. I’ll be done soon. I just need to gather some information on a few essential subjects.”

“Okay,” she replied warily, “Let us know if you need any help.”

“Believe me, Mrs. Hudson, this is something help is neither required nor proper.”

Heather nodded, picking up on the subtext of her tone. It said to her she didn’t want her help because she didn’t want her to know the full extent of what she was doing. She had been around government people long enough the drill, but something about this woman was different. This woman may have cleared all the layers of security they had in place, but there was just something about her that didn’t sit right. James seemed to agree with her. He didn’t like her either, but there was no way he was going to risk causing more friction with the higher ups. For now they could just wait and hope she would be done soon. There were plenty of secrets none of them wanted getting out.

As Heather left, Mystique gazed at her suspiciously. She suspected she may know a thing or two about Weapon X and this Logan character. She noticed in the folder with the picture how close she was standing to him. It implied she may have known him on a personal level if not a little more. That was something else she would have to look into. Any connection could potentially lead to the source. For now she was content to learn more about Logan. He sounded much more interesting than her old flame Victor Creed anyhow.

Hellfire Manor Pool/Spa

In the lower levels of Hellfire Manor, there was a fancy indoor pool and spa that many elite Hellfire members took time to unwind in. The pawns had always been fond of it. It was a good place to relax after training or a mission. It was also a great place to have some of the Hellfire Club’s army of sex workers pamper them in luxury. It wasn’t unusual for dozens of naked men and women to be lofting about by the pool, indulging in excess sex. But not everybody used it to relax.

At the moment Scott Summers was swimming laps from end to end. Although the pool wasn’t designed for laps or sports, it was plenty big enough to give a good workout. Scott was the only one who did it though. Training in the hub at X-Industrial tower or the weight room here at the manor wasn’t enough for him. He liked to diversify his training and stay active in different ways. His fellow pawns thought he was just overachieving for James and Xavier.

Lounging lazily along the side of the pool was Pietro and Piotr. They watched Scott swim from end to end, not quite understanding why he was so intent on being the best prepared and the best trained. Maybe it was his way of proving to the Black King and Queen that he was ready for more leadership roles. Piotr thought it was admirable of him, but Pietro just thought he was overdoing it. But he didn’t call him out on it. He had too much else on his mind at the moment.

“So things are still strained with your sister, yes?” said Piotr as he lay back on one of the fancy pool lofts.

“You really gotta ask?” groaned the speedster, “She’s still giving me the silent treatment. It seems like nothing I say holds any value to her anymore.”

“Why do you think that is?”

“Well I want to say it’s Selene’s doing, but we’ve always had problems getting through to one another. I remember being just as stubborn as her when she tried to convince me not to go along with our father’s plan. Guess this is her way of repaying me.”

“I see. So neither one of you is willing to talk it out?”

“This isn’t one of those things you can talk out, Peter. With twins it’s always more complicated.”

Pietro’s words were wrought with frustration. He sensed Wanda becoming a different person because of Selene. It was just like what happened with him when he started taking on traits from Magneto. Only he got a dose of reality when Xavier sent Scott, Jean, and Warren into stop them. That more than anything revealed how wrong his father’s beliefs were. Wanda’s situation with Selene was different though. She saw her as a mentor, not just a leader. Add magic to the mix and it was a very tenuous situation.

Piotr cast his fellow friend a sympathetic glance. It was times like this he was glad he and Illyana had a good relationship. He couldn’t imagine being so distant from her.

“You’re lucky, Peter. Your sister listens to you,” muttered Pietro, “How do you do it?”

“Well it helps when you’re bigger, older, and stronger than she is,” laughed the Russian mutant.

“I’ll bet,” he scoffed, “Isn’t she a mutant too?”

“Yes, but her powers are not quite realized just yet. Right now all she can do is teleport. Lord Xavier says it’s somewhat like Kurt’s, but functions differently.”

“Guess that’s better than her having hexing powers. She never used to use them on me when we were with the Brotherhood, but since she started taking lessons from Selene’s she’s been a lot more willing to shock me a few times. And let me tell you something, man…those things hurt!”

“You have my sympathies, comrade. But remember, she is still your sister. You should still try to work things out with her.”

“I know. I know,” sighed Pietro, “I just get the feeling we’ll reach a point of no return, you know? Like at some point she’ll be so entrenched in what she’s doing she’ll completely cut herself off.”

“That won’t happen. I don’t see either one of you allowing it too,” said Piotr.

“I appreciate your vote of confidence, but I’m just not sure anymore.”

Piotr wasn’t sure what to make of it. He was lucky enough to have a good relationship with his sister, but then again they weren’t twins and their father wasn’t Magneto. Illyana also had the benefit of not being tutored by Selene. Piotr was pretty sure that if he was in Pietro’s position, he would be just as concerned. But unlike him, Pietro was overly stubborn.

In the pool Scott overheard much of their conversation as he swam by. He was working on his final laps and the conversation did get him thinking. If memory served him right, he had a younger sibling as well. But the circumstances surrounding that were also quite complicated.

“Hang in there, Pietro. You’ll work it out,” said Scott as he climbed out of the pool, “Sometimes you just have to be willing to humble yourself.”

“How would you know? Do you have a twin sister we don’t know about?” scoffed Pietro.

“No, but I do have a younger brother and lets just say our relationship has room for improvement.”

“Ha! Bet it’s nothing compared to what I’ve got going on with Wanda,” said the speedster.

“Don’t be too sure about that. You think Wanda’s stubborn? Obviously you’ve never met Alex Summers,” said Scott, his tone sinking somewhat.

“I take it you two don’t talk much,” surmised Piotr, “But why? And how come you’ve never mentioned him?”

Scott grabbed a towel and started drying off. It was rare he or anybody for that matter discussed family, but it sounded like Pietro and Piotr could understand where he’s coming from given they had siblings as well. He especially empathized with Pietro. At least he still conversed with Wanda. He hadn’t spoken to Alex in ages.

“We sort of took different paths in life,” said Scott distantly, “It wasn’t entirely by choice. When our parents died we ended up in different places. He got adopted while I stayed at the orphanage.”

“How did that happen? Why would anybody want to split two brothers up?” said Piotr, shocked that anybody would allow a family to be torn apart like that.

“I had brain damage. He didn’t. That made him more adoptable so they figured one of us ought to get a chance. So he went one way. I went another. We didn’t even see each other again until we were teenagers. At one point we tried to be a family again, but by then we had grown too far apart. So you should both consider yourself lucky. At least you and your siblings are still close.”

It was a sad story and even Pietro couldn’t bring himself to brush it off. As much as he and Wanda bickered, they never truly grew apart from one another. They remained in contact and a big part of each others’ lives. Even if they did get on each others’ nerves, they never once considered leaving one another.

“Okay, you’ve made your point. You have sibling issues too. Heck, Piotr here’s the only one among us who actually gets along with his sibling.”

“What about Kurt and Rogue?” Scott reminded.

“They’re not technically related so that doesn’t count,” said Pietro, “But if you couldn’t make it work with Alex what makes you think I can work things out with Wanda?”

“Well you can start by not thumbing your nose at me all the time and actually give my advice some though,” said Scott strongly, “Just because you still harbor a grudge about the Brotherhood affair doesn’t mean everything I say isn’t worth listening to.”

“Hey, do I still bring that shit up?”

“Not overtly at least.”

Pietro’s gaze narrowed on Scott, but he decided not to belabor the point. He would only vindicate Scott’s point that he still harbored a grudge. The truth was he had a point. It did take him a while to let these things go. It’s just how he was. But that didn’t take away from their similar situations. At the very base of it all, Scott did understand and that did go a ways for the speedster even if he wasn’t keen on showing it. But for the sake of not being as cold as his father, he let his comrades know their sentiment was valued.

“Fine, I’ll work on that too once I get things squared away with Wanda,” he said as he got up from his chair and started walking towards the exit, “Thanks anyway though. If I come up with a solution to stubborn siblings before you I’ll let you know.”

“Thanks,” said Scott with a smile, “That’s probably the nicest thing I’ve ever heard you say, Pietro.”

“Me too. I am also surprised,” commented Piotr.

“What? You think I don’t have feelings too?” he replied in an overly dramatic tone, “Now who’s being insensitive?”

The speedster ran off leaving Scott and Piotr process what just happened. Pietro was never the friendliest of the group, especially to Scott since he led the attack on the Brotherhood with Jean and Warren, but it was nice to see he was trying move beyond it. Like it or not they were in this together and even though they came from different backgrounds, there were still things they could empathize with.

“Did he just turn that around on us or was he trying to be nice?” wondered Piotr.

“With Pietro, who knows?” shrugged Scott as he tossed his towel aside and headed out, “Well, I guess I’ll see you later big guy. I’m scheduled to tag along with Deadpool and a team of agents on a fact finding mission.”

“More training? Scott I’m beginning to worry you’re not giving yourself enough time to unwind.”

“You and everybody else, Peter,” said Scott, “I just like to keep busy. It’s the only way I know how to get better. But don’t worry. I have my ways of keeping it together.”

“I’ll take your word for it, comrade,” said Piotr, “But you’re still the only one who uses this place for exercise.”

“You bench press tractors, I swim laps. I’ll train in whatever way I have to,” he shrugged.

Piotr shook his head and lay back on his chair as Scott made his leave. As he exited he passed Emma Frost, who entered the pool area in just a robe. She flashed him a brief smile, her eyes trailing over his nicely sculpted upper body that was only covered by swim trunks. He smiled back, but kept walking. He didn’t have time to pay her lustful gazes any credence. He had more training ahead of him. But Piotr was right. He should probably find some time to let himself unwind. Maybe he would pay the girls a visit later. Or maybe he could get with Jean. She always had a knack for helping him relax.

As Emma walked by him she sighed. She was looking to take a dip and having an attractive male companion always made it a little better. Scott Summers was one of the better lovers in the Hellfire Club. He was growing noticeably from all his training and she loved putting that endurance to the test each time. But it was hard since he was training all the time. Why he insisted on doing so was beyond her. But she quickly forgot about that when she saw Piotr Rasputin, another great lover, lounging by the pool.

“Enjoying yourself, Peter darling?” said Emma as she walked up to him.

“Oh, hello Emma. Were you hoping for some privacy?” he asked.

“Not really, no. But since you’re here there is something else I was hoping for.”

Before Piotr could inquire further, the beautiful blonde casually undid the sash to her robe and let it elegantly fall off her body, revealing that she was fully nude underneath. The sight caught Piotr off guard a little, but in a good way. A naked Emma Frost was nothing to complain about. She paraded her body around knowing she was beautiful. Her skin was so smooth and flawless and her breasts were so perfectly proportioned. She spent more time on her appearance than any other woman at the Hellfire Club (with the possible exception of Selene) and it showed. As she casually walked up to the pool, she cast the Russian mutant a suggestive grin.

“Are you going to just sit there and admire the view or are you going to get those trunks off and join me?”

Piotr didn’t say another word. He just smiled, got up, and slipped out of his swim trunks. He was never one for small talk. When a woman made an offer like that he found it was best to just keep his mouth shut and go with it.

Emma elegantly dove into the pool, swimming around gracefully as Piotr stepped in. He swam around a bit as well, soaking up the relaxing feeling to the warm water. Then Emma swam up to him and seductively ran her hand up his body and pressed her womanly frame against his. The feel of their naked skin against one another really got them in the mood and soon their sensual touching turned to all out foreplay.

Emma guided the powerful Russian towards the shallow end of the pool where they began their aquatic romp. After exchanging some hungry kisses, Emma jumped up and hooked her legs around his large torso. Piotr instinctively caught her by the butt, giving her waist a firm squeeze as he lowered her down onto his member. He then bounced her up and down his ridged length, splashing her partially into the shallow water each time. Their pleasured moans echoed through the area. Piotr kept with the fervent pace until the hot blonde climaxed. He soon followed her, blowing his load into her hot depths. But she wasn’t done with him after that. She showed some real sexual assertiveness as she swam with him towards the deeper parts of the pool, playfully teasing him with her intoxicating sexuality. She kept rubbing up against him, shoving her breasts in his face, and trailing her tongue over his massive muscles. She soon had him around again. This time she pinned him up against the side of the pool and jumped him again, straddling him vertically and riding him until she had another orgasm. Then he turned her around, grabbed her by the butt, and hammered into her from behind. The hot, wet smacking sound of their flesh clashed with the water in a heat of sexual bliss. Emma guided him to numerous romps, leading him all over the pool and having more sex until she wore him out.

Sex in a pool was a great way to unwind. Scott had his training and Pietro had his issues with Wanda. But Piotr was fine with keeping it simple, keeping to himself and enjoying opportunities like this along the way. He never could have enjoyed such luxury in Russia. It was one of the many parts about the Hellfire Club he came to enjoy.

For Emma, though, it was just her way of relaxing. Sex with a big, strong muscular man was just what she needed. She liked that Piotr didn’t say much. It was easier that way. So what if the other girls said she was too cut off? She could still enjoy herself without talking. She didn’t see what was so special about it. She was just fine with the way things were…for the most part anyways.

Lounge

“Come on, Jean, can you speed this up already? Ah start mah shift at the club in a half hour!” groaned Rogue as she lazily lofted on the couch.

“I’m going as fast as I can, Rogue! Magic isn’t something you can rush, you know?” said Jean in a frustrated tone as she hovered over a small black crucible.

“Well how long is this thing supposed to take?”

“Not long. A half hour at the most,” said Jean, still concentrating on the crucible.

“It’s been an hour, Jean,” reminded James.

“I know! Sue me, it’s the first time I’ve tried something like this!”

Rogue and James shook their heads and groaned. Jean wasn’t going to accept defeat. She was going to get this spell right if it killed her. They were just there as casual observers. They had been in the lounge resting and relaxing after some earlier training sessions and then Jean came in all excited about this spell she had been working on. She claimed she had it right this time. It was a basic energy spell, the kind Selene often used to do her little light shows. They were also supposed to have some force behind them, but given how Jean was struggling that may be asking for too much.

She was still bent on learning magic and refused to accept that she just might not have the talent for it. Her dedication was admirable, but at some point she had to come to grips with reality. She was a great psychic, a good stripper, a beautiful woman, a great lover, and a powerful force in the field. But she wasn’t a mystic. They felt a little sorry for her. It was really important to her. Rogue remembered the story she told her about her dreams as a little girl, but amazing as they sounded they were just dreams. James also admired her dedication, but he also knew that some people just don’t do magic well. He remembered how John once tried to learn from a medicine man on the reservation and got so frustrated he quit within a week. Jean, however, wasn’t giving up that easy.

Looking over the mixture carefully, Jean meticulously added a pinch of salt from the Dead Sea and a touch of olive oil. She then mixed it in with the rest of the assorted ingredients with a stone rod, making sure it had the right consistency. Once she was satisfied she picked up a small clear vial with the label “blessed water.” It was basically holy water, but Selene didn’t like to call it that so she labeled it something more acceptable. It didn’t matter what it was called. All that mattered was that it did what it was supposed to do.

“Okay, I think it’s ready,” said Jean, brimming with anticipation.

“Finally! So what’s supposed to happen with this stuff anyways?”

“You’ll know it when you see it,” replied Jean confidently.

“We’ll see,” said James, remaining skeptical.

Jean opened the clear vial and dabbed a small drop of the water into her palm. Then she set the vial aside and held her hand over the crucible. She closed her eyes and concentrated her energy on the task at hand. She cleared her mind and took a deep breath. Then while holding her hand over the crucible she chanted a jumbled phrase in Latin. She stuttered a bit in the beginning, but she was able to finish the chant and once it was done she let the drop of enchanted water fall into the crucible.

The strange mixture quickly reacted. The greenish/white contents started to fizz and emit a bit of smoke. It also let out a low hissing sound, indicating some level of activity. Then it started to glow dimly. Rogue and James were surprised so far. This was the most they saw Jean get out of a spell yet. She kept holding her hands over it, trying to channel the energy from the reaction. But to her disappointment, the concoction fizzled.

“Damn it! I almost had it!” cursed Jean.

“Had what? That was more than I expected,” said James.

“I was supposed to be able to control that energy! It should have been drawn to my hands and guided by my whim!”

“Maybe you needed more salt?” suggested Rogue.

“If it were that simple do you think I would be this upset?” scolded Jean, “Maybe a little more enchanted water will re-energize the mixture.”

She opened the clear vial and went onto pour a few more drops in. This time the reaction wasn’t so subtle. It didn’t glow or fizz. Instead it just let out a soft hissing sound and changed color to a featureless gray goo. It also gave off a new smell.

“Blegh! Ah don’t think that did it,” gagged Rogue, “That stuff stinks like a dead pig!”

“That’s putting it lightly,” muttered James, “I think you may want to set this spell aside, Jean.”

“I think you’re right,” groaned Jean, holding her nose as she telekinetically levitated the crucible and threw it into the nearest trashcan.

The young redhead conceded defeat yet again. These spells were every bit as hard as Selene said they were, but she never told her they could be this unpleasant. And she had such high hopes for this one. She thought she really had it for a moment. It showed she could have some influence on the forces of magic, just not as much as she liked.

“I thought I did everything right this time. I mixed it properly, I was focused, and I said the incantation right.”

“You sure about that? It sounded a little jumbled,” said Rogue.

“Most of it at least,” muttered Jean, “Maybe this spell is just too advanced for me. I’ll try working on a different one next time.”

With the smell still lingering that sounded a bit daunting for Rogue and James.

“Maybe you’re not cut out for magic, Jean. Is this smell isn’t proof I don’t know what is,” said James.

“Hey, I can do this! I know I can,” she said strongly, “I just have to keep working at it. And maybe see if I can get a little more help on the side.”

“Good luck with that,” scoffed James, “Selene’s been so busy lately she hasn’t even had time for lessons. The only ones she even talks with anymore are Wanda and Kurt.”

“Well if not her, then someone! I really want to learn this. It may not be a big deal to you guys, but it is to me. I may not have the talent, but I can still learn. I just have to find my catalyst.”

“Catalyst? What’s that? Some kind of build in magic meter?” said Rogue with a slight laugh.

Jean rolled her eyes. This is what she got from someone who zoned out during Selene’s lectures on the mystic arts.

“No Rogue, it’s one of the foundational building blocks of all magic. Everybody has in them some sort of key to their own mystical potential. It’s kind of like the way mutant powers manifest, only it doesn’t happen naturally. You need some sort of experience or act to jump start it and from there it evolves. Most people never have one and even those that do have a limit to their potential.”

“So what? You think you’re one of them? Just someone with curiosity, but not the potential?” said Rogue.

“No, I know I have it in me. I can feel it!” said Jean strongly, “I just need to keep trying.”

“Feelings can be deceiving, Jean,” warned James, sensing a touch of stubbornness in her tone, “Just because you feel something in your gut doesn’t make it true. It sounds like you want to have this ability and I don’t blame you, but wanting something is very different from having it.”

Neither had much faith in her, not that she could blame them. Even Jean had her doubts, but she refused to let this feeling go. Nobody was going to tell her it wasn’t there when she knew it was. She just had to keep working at it.

“Believe what you want about me, guys, but I’m not going to stop!” said Jean in a determined tone, “I’ll keep on trying until I have it right.”

“Suit yourself,” said James, sighing in defeat, “But next time test your spells somewhere else. It’s going to take a while for this room to air out. In the meantime I guess I’ll have to find another place to watch movies.”

Despite another scorn from Jean, the Apache warrior got up and made his leave. He dealt with enough stubbornness when John was still alive. He didn’t need anymore with a girl who just didn’t seem to get it. He liked Jean and all. She was one of the best girls to be around among the pawns, but she was too dense. He hoped she would come to her senses, but until then he would have to watch out for her spells.

While James left, Rogue stuck around. As much as she hated the smell, she didn’t want to leave Jean hanging. She didn’t want alienate her only real girl friend in the Inner Circle. She needed a friend at the moment anyways.

“Crybaby,” Rogue commented after James was gone, “Maybe you should take a break from this stuff, Jean. Heck, Ah know what’ll cheer you up! Why don’t you double up with meh on mah shift? Ah know it’s your night off, but Ah’ll bet we can find some cute rich guy to have fun with.”

“I appreciate the tempting offer, Rogue, but I think I’m just going to mellow for a while,” sighed Jean, “I need to brush up on my Latin anyways. I’ll never get this right if I don’t at least say the words properly.”

“The only thing you need to brush up on is a nice hot stud. That’ll take your mind off this magic mess,” said Rogue with a smirk.

“I don’t doubt that, but I’ve got that covered too. Scott promised he’d help me my spells and we’re going to have a nice late night session once he gets back from his mission.”

“Ah see,” said Rogue with a suggestive grin, “And just how much of this night will involve actual studying?”

“More than you think, Rogue,” smiled Jean, “Just because Scott is handsome doesn’t mean I fuck him every time we’re together.”

“Well that sounds like a waste. What else do you do anyways? Ah like small talk as much as the next girl, but come on!”

Jean shook her head and laughed. Rogue never was one for deep conversation. She had too active a personality to spend time really talking about things. Jean didn’t consider herself deep either, but around Scott it was different.

“I do too, but we do more than just small talk and sex,” said Jean seriously, “We actually confide in each other. We talk about our good days and our bad days. And we help each other even when we have to go out of our way to do so.”

“Sounds like you’re pretty close to the guy,” said Rogue, not taking her words too seriously.

“We are close. Scott and I arrived at this place together. He’s the first person I met when I arrived, he’s the first person I had sex with, and he’s the first person I can say is my best friend in a long time. I really can’t imaging going through all this without him.”

Rogue looked at Jean strangely. There was a strange undertone to her words that sounded like there was more to it than she was letting on. She thought she was just being melodramatic, making too big a deal about a guy who popped her cheery. But that look in her eye and that tone in her voice said otherwise. There could only be so many reasons, but a few stood out in particular.

“You know when you say it like that it sounds like you’re in love with the guy, sugah,” she said, now sounding more serious.

“Well I wouldn’t say it’s that strong, but yeah. I guess there is love there,” said Jean, smiling at the prospect.

“You sure about that?” said Rogue with a wry grin, “Ah may not know much about feelings and all, but Ah know enough to see the signs. This is serious, Jean!”

“You’re not going to tell me it’s a bad thing, are you? Because Emma already gave me that lecture.”

“Ah’m not sayin’ it’s bad. Ah’m just sayin’ it’s serious,” said Rogue, sounding more serious now, “Now don’t get meh wrong, Scott’s a great guy. He’s mature, he’s tough, and he’s damn good in bed. But Ah don’t think the Hellfire Club is the best place for relationships. Between the amazing wealth, the dangerous missions, the brutal tactics, and of course the abundant opportunities for wild and promiscuous sex Ah think love is best confined to bad chick flicks.”

Jean thought about that for a moment. It was the same point Emma made when she first joined. The Hellfire Club just wasn’t a good environment for relationships. There was too much money, treachery, and sex going on. But for Jean that just wasn’t enough to make her want to avoid this. She and Scott made no secret of their special fondness for one another. They had sex with each other more than any other lover. But beyond that they were close friends. They had good chemistry. It didn’t bother them that they had sex with others on the side or that they carried out deeds of dubious morality for the Hellfire Club. It wasn’t like they hid that from anybody. So why would that stand in the way of them being something more than just friends and fuck buddies?

“I don’t know, Rogue. If those feelings are as serious as you think they are, I don’t see why I should hold them back…especially if Scott feels the same way. And I’m pretty sure he does.”

“What makes you say that?” asked Rogue.

“I’m psychic, remember?” she grinned, “Sometimes I can’t resist peaking inside some peoples’ head.”

“Whatever,” said Rogue, rolling her eyes, “But even if he does feel the same way, you should keep it to yourself. You don’t want to get caught up in a relationship that’s just gonna hold you down.”

Jean cast her friend a bemused look. Obviously, Rogue had never been in love before. She also didn’t know much about love.

“And what if it doesn’t hold me back? What if it makes us stronger?” she retorted, “Lord Xavier did once say strong relationships are essential in getting ahead.”

“Ah doubt he was talkin’ about romance. Ah honestly don’t see how love can make anybody stronger.”

“Says you,” chided Jean.

“Ah call em like Ah see em,” said Rogue confidently, “So are you gonna give it some thought or not?”

Rogue’s cynicism was uncanny. But there were some good points to be found in her argument. Jean wasn’t taking this lightly. There was no doubt that if she and Scott did fall for each other, it would have far reaching consequences. But she wasn’t going to do it Rogue’s way and ponder how to avoid it. She was going to look at it reasonably as the Black King had taught her and ask herself whether this was worth pursuing for both of them. She and Scott had their own world of affairs to deal with. Deeper feelings may help and hurt their pursuits with the Hellfire Club. But they wouldn’t know for sure until they confronted it. That was another prospect Jean was going to have to work out.

“Fine, I’ll give it some thought,” said Jean.

“At a girl,” smiled Rogue, “Now what do you say? You still wanna hang around and read Latin or can you spare a girlfriend some fun on her shift?”

“Seeing as how you’re so charitable with your advice, I think I can squeeze a quickie in,” smiled the redhead.

“Great! I’ll meet you at the club! Oh and wear that sexy school girl outfit you got! That’s always fun to work with!”

“That it is. Thanks Rogue.”

“Anytime, sugah.”

While Rogue ran off to get dressed, Jean gathered up her supplies and made her way back to her quarters. A good romp at the club should help clear her mind a bit. She would need to keep a level head if she was to contemplate her situation with Scott, her ongoing struggles with magic, and her Hellfire duties. It seemed like she had a lot on her plate, but she always found time to unwind in amazing and sometimes devious ways. That was the Hellfire way and it worked for her.

Hellfire Meeting Room

Wanda and Kurt were in the midst of another private lesson. Only this time it wasn’t Selene giving them the lesson. It was Charles Xavier. It came as a surprise to both of them. The Black King didn’t give too many private lessons. He was usually busy doing business or conducting attacks on rivals. On rare occasions he did tutor a few pawns. Most of the time he would give Jean lessons in using her psychic powers and other times he would have Warren tag along for lessons in business since he developed such a knack for it, but for them he discussed a different topic. This involved the core philosophies of the Hellfire Club, something usually taught by Selene, but Xavier insisted on a more balanced approach.

He sensed they weren’t too enthusiastic about it. Selene had been spending a lot of time with the two of them, indoctrinating them into her ways. And that was a concern for him. He didn’t want the pawns taking too much after the Black Queen. She was difficult enough to deal with on her own. Plus, he remembered the promise he made to Mystique about keeping Kurt from falling in too deep with the Black Queen. He found it a difficult promise to keep, especially since he was so taken by her ideas. But he was still a curious young man. He was open to new ideas, including those that didn’t quite mesh with that of Selene. Wanda, however, was a different story. She was a powerful young mutant and the last thing Xavier wanted was someone of her potential entrenched in Selene’s image.

So his way of counteracting Selene’s influence involved traditional tutoring with some explicit aids. In one of his meeting rooms, he set up a projection screen with a high definition image on it playing a clip he often used to explain his methods. It was an old clip he secretly recorded between him and a rebellious associate that once worked for the old Black King, Fabian Cortez. The incident played out simply enough. Xavier had to convince him to swear his absolute loyalty to him and renounce the old order. That wasn’t easy, but with some creative persuasion with telepathy and persuasion with money he was able to gain his loyalty. It didn’t have the theatric brutality that Selene often employed, but it worked just as well if not better. And it proved a point.

“So you see, he agreed to my generous terms,” said Xavier as he froze the video, “It took only an hour of negotiation, but he eventually saw the benefit of my offer. Since then it has been nearly a year and Mr. Cortez has been completely loyal ever since.”

“I would hope so, Lord Xavier,” said Kurt as he took in the beleaguered expression of the man on the screen, “But how do you know he won’t betray you? What if he still has ties to the old Black King?”

“Ah now there is the interesting part, my boy,” said Xavier with an ominous grin, “Now for me, that is never a problem. I have the advantage of being able to read his mind. So if he so much as thinks about betraying me, I’ll know ahead of time and I’ll know to act. But the thing is he isn’t going to. Do you know how I’m sure of that?”

“How?” asked Kurt intently.

“Because I’ve given him two things. First, I’ve given him something to lose. The incentive I offered was generous, both in terms of money and security. Second, I’ve given him a clear understanding of my capabilities. I show that I am serious in my treatment of dissent, but reasonable in my decisions. That will actually make him consider my offer no matter how loyal he is to the old order.”

“But are you sure that’s enough?” said Wanda, still skeptical of his mannerism, “Doesn’t he need to fear you more above all else?”

That was definitely Selene’s ideology talking and Xavier was quick to respond to it.

“Fear only goes so far, Wanda. Fear will make people comply, but it won’t make them content. The key is to use both fear and respect. You see, I didn’t just scare Mr. Cortez into accepting me. I persuaded him that his old boss didn’t treat him as well as he should have and I will do more for him if he does as I ask. It goes back to the most basic rules of reciprocity. You make a deal and you keep your end and in turn your client will keep his. Sometimes you need to be a little harsh and there will always be those who will still resist, but you need keep a level head no matter what situation you encounter.”

It was different from Selene. Her message was a lot simpler. She believed that putting the fear of unbearable torment was enough to get anything done, but Xavier believed there were alternatives to that. He was still not averse to using such ruthless tactics, but only as necessary. Wanda seemed intrigued, but not too convinced. Kurt, however, seemed to give it more thought. And that was just what Xavier wanted.

The Black King then turned off the projector and addressed his two young pawns directly.

“I know this little session may seem unnecessary, if not esoteric, but seeing as how you two have taken a special interest in our philosophies I feel it is best if you get a comprehensive view. Selene is an expert in many facets of the Hellfire Club, but there are a few matters she simply cannot teach.”

“Is that another reason why you’re doing this? Because we’ve been learning from her more than you?” asked Wanda bluntly.

It was a painfully obvious point, but the Black King didn’t flinch.

“That is an issue of secondary importance, my dear,” he replied, “But you’re right. Since you have been learning so much from the Black Queen, it is only proper you get a balanced perspective. I respect and admire Selene, but there are times when her extreme tactics are a liability. Learning about them is fine. But if you are to assert yourselves in the Hellfire Club, you must be knowledgeable of all our ways and not just Selene’s.”

It made sense. He didn’t call the Black Queen out on her tactics. He even conceded they worked at times. But Kurt and Wanda were not wholly convinced by just one lecture. They spent too much time learning first hand from Selene the ways of darkness. Xavier’s more reason-based methods were just as valid, but didn’t ring quite as well with them. But it did get them thinking.

“Is zhat all, Lord Xavier?” asked Kurt.

“For now, at least,” he told them, “But I want you to look over some other materials in your spare time. I’ll lend you a few books that will help reinforce what I’ve laid out.”

“We appreciate that, Lord Xavier, but Selene has already given us a lengthy reading list,” said Wanda.

“I understand. But please find some time to look them over. I believe they’ll help in ways that her materials can’t.”

He started them off small, giving them each only two books. Neither were very big, but they offered good insight into the true cores of the Hellfire philosophy. Both were about the old Victorian founders of the Hellfire Club. It laid out how they used ideas from the Enlightenment to develop organizations like theirs and why they succeeded when others failed. Hopefully they would give them a chance. They weren’t as poetic as the texts Selene was giving them. It was hard to compete with stories about magic and hell, but it was something.

“I’ll see what I can squeeze in,” said Wanda.

“That’s all I ask,” said Xavier.

He was about to give her some extra materials. He wanted to reinforce his point as much as he could because if he didn’t, Selene surely would. But before he could do anything else the doors abruptly opened and Warren entered.

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything, Lord Xavier sir, but Mistress Selene has requested Wanda’s presence in her private chamber. She says she has an important lesson for her.”

“She does? I’m not aware of any such plans,” said Xavier, who usually kept up with any important meetings.

“She said she’ll fill you in later. She just asked for Wanda.”

Never one to argue with the will of the Black Queen, Wanda set her books down and followed Warren. Xavier still seemed a little unnerved. He wasn’t quite done with his lesson, but Selene clearly had more influence on Wanda than he did at this point.

“I’ll look over those books later, Lord Xavier,” said Wanda, “Thank you for the lesson.”

“Of course, Wanda. I look forward to a follow-up,” said the Black King, not hiding his uneasiness with her decision.

Wanda just nodded and followed Warren out of the room. Xavier sensed he knew something and peaked into his mind briefly to see what the story was. But to his disappointment, there was nothing. Selene was too smart for that. All she had him do was have him get supplies and retrieve Wanda. He didn’t seem to know that he would be walking in on a private lesson between him, Wanda, and Kurt, but he had a feeling Selene knew. And that was cause for concern.

Turning his attention back towards Kurt, Charles Xavier could retain some solace in still having one pupil he could get through to. Kurt had a very open mind, which was part of why he became so fascinated by Selene’s teachings. But that also made him open to other influences. He hoped that all his pawns would be balanced with none taking too many of Selene’s attributes. Kurt was an especially important case because he was Mystique’s son and the last thing she wanted was Selene sinking her teeth into him.

“I should be going too,” said Kurt as he gathered up the books, “Miss Sage has some computer training for me she says I’ll need for a future mission.”

“I understand. But before you go, can I have one last word with you?” said Xavier.

“Of course, sir. Vhat is it?”

Xavier approached the young man with a serious and honest look. He placed a hand on his shoulder and looked him in the eye with that hard, penetrating gaze that he carried with him so well as Black King.

“I spoke to your mother recently. Her assignment is still ongoing, but I’ve been giving her regular progress reports on you and Rogue. For the most part they are glowing. You and Rogue have truly distinguished yourself here among the pawns. But she is also concerned about the lessons you’ve been receiving from Selene.”

“I see,” muttered Kurt, not surprised given how Rogue had shown similar concerns, “Vell zhe next time you talk to her, tell her I can handle it. I know vhat I’m doing.”

“Do you, Kurt? Do you truly know what Selene is teaching you?” questioned the Black King, “Because I’ve known Selene a lot longer than you. I know better than most people what she’s capable of. And believe me when I say she can turn you into someone you don’t want to be. On the surface she’ll give you everything you thought you ever wanted, but in reality she’s only giving you what she wants you to have. Learning from her is one thing, but truly following her whim is something else entirely. And both myself and your mother wish to avoid that for you.”

Kurt took some offence to what he said about Selene. He knew she had some pretty sadistic tendencies, but learning from her didn’t mean he would become just like her. Sure, he noticed some changes in his demeanor. He was rougher with the women when he had sex with them and he wasn’t so averred when he witnessed Hellfire cruelty. But he was still in control. That was something he wanted to make clear.

“I understand such concerns, my lord,” he said respectfully, “But I already promised Rogue I would not fall too deep into Selene’s grasp. And I intend to keep that promise.”

“I admire your confidence, Kurt, but how can you be sure? You’ve seen first hand what she’s capable of.”

“I know. And I do not take it lightly. My loyalty is still to zhe Hellfire Club, not just Mistress Selene. Tell my mother zhat zhe next time you talk to her. My lessons from Selene are for my own curious purposes and nothing more.”

“And what if she pushes you over the edge as she has done to countless others? What do you expect to happen then?”

“I vould expect you, Rogue, and mother to bring me back. I vould hope for nothing less.”

Xavier studied the young man. He was confident in himself, but not to the point of being naïve. He knew Selene’s tendencies and believed he could set himself apart from them. But he was realistic. The Black King could see and sense in him a different man than the one that first arrived. There was more darkness in his eyes, no doubt traces of Selene’s influence. But they were not completely devoid of his true persona. There was still a man in there loyal to the Hellfire Club and his family. That told Xavier that he was serious in his assertions, which helped set some of his concerns at ease.

“Very well,” said the Black King, “But I’d talk to your mother personally when you get a chance. She should stop by for a visit soon.”

“I vill,” said Kurt, “Zhank you, sir. I promise I’ll look over your materials. Just remember I’ll still be looking over Selene’s work as well.”

“I understand,” said Xavier, “Just remember to be vigilant. You never know what you’ll end up facing.”

“I know. My mother has been telling me zhat since zhe cradle,” he replied with a grin, “I’ll be fine, sir.”

Xavier smiled back, satisfied with the young man’s response. He then took his books and teleported back to his room. The Black King liked the boy. He thought his curiosity into spiritual matters was an admirable one and had potential in the upper ranks of the Hellfire Club. But he still had his concerns. Even if he was strong enough to keep from falling into Selene’s iron grip, that didn’t mean he was immune from her influence. There was any number of tricks she could pull to turn that bright young man into a mindless slave to her whim. He didn’t want that and neither did Mystique. Hopefully he could stop him if it ever got to that point. But given this involved Selene, it couldn’t hurt to have a backup plan. He had a few ideas how he could do that. And who knows? It might prove useful if in maintaining a constant eye on the Black Queen.

Selene’s Chamber

Wanda nervously followed Warren to the Black Queen’s private chamber. He didn’t say much along the way. He just told her Selene wanted to see her. She wouldn’t specify a reason. It was not uncommon for her to request private meetings, but they usually didn’t happen this suddenly. They were often planned out in advance in order to accommodate their various other Hellfire duties. But this time it was completely out of the blue. That was not like the Black Queen, but then again she had been keeping to herself a little more these past couple of days. Maybe this lesson had something to do with it.

Once outside the chambers, Warren stopped and held the door for her.

“She’s ready for you,” he told her, “She says only you’re supposed to go inside. I’m not allowed to take part in whatever it is she has planned.”

“Okay, thank you Warren,” said Wanda.

“Good luck.”

He watched as she entered the chamber, having only the slightest idea of what was in store for her. Earlier he helped Selene gather some materials for a ritual. The Hellfire Club always kept a healthy supply of occult and mystical materials on hand and for this she really had a lot. It would have been easier if she got the other pawns to help, but she didn’t trust them with this. She asked him because he wasn’t so aversive her tactics. In fact, he came to appreciate them since he joined. He smiled to himself every time he thought about how he took down rivals to the Hellfire Club and Worthington Industries. He was starting to understand the satisfaction Selene got out of tormenting those who would stand in her way. Hopefully Wanda would understand as well.

Once in the chamber, Wanda entered to see an elaborate and mysterious setup. The Black Queen really pulled out all the stops for once. The chamber looked like it was set to conduct a major ritual, much bigger than any she and Kurt had been part of in the course of her training. Dozens of gold plated candle stands dotted the area, forming a star-like shape across the room. All over the walls an array of symbols and words written in a mix of Latin, Greek, Aramaic, and a few she didn’t even recognize. In the center of the room there was a pentagram etched on floor over the lush carpet, a symbol knew very well. But over the pentagram were an array of other circles with more symbols and patters inside them. Each side of the pentagram had strange streaks that lead to the central area where a rectangular stone mount covered in a silk red cloth stood along with the Black Queen herself. And she looked well-dressed for the occasion.

Selene smiled ominously at the presence of her star pupil. As she made her way towards her she waved her hand and the chamber doors shut behind her, startling her a bit but not enough to make her stop. She was a bit surprised to see her in her ceremonial attire, which consisted only of a thin black robe with a hood. And she didn’t bother tying it either so Wanda could see traces of her breasts and private area even from a distance. It was her way of showing that this was a serious matter and judging by how nervous she looked, she understood fully.

“You…you wanted to see me, Mistress Selene?” said Wanda as she took in the ambience.

“Is that all you have to say after all the preparations I’ve made? I’m hurt,” said the Black Queen in a mocking tone.

“No, I uh…I’m just surprised, that’s all,” said Wanda nervously, fearing she angered her mistress, “What is this anyways?”

“Oh Wanda, I thought you would be knowledgeable enough in the field of magic to know a grand ceremony when you saw one.”

“A ceremony? For what?”

“Why, you’re initiation of course. You know any apprentice must be initiated before they can truly take on a greater role.”

Wanda’s heart jumped. The word apprentice resonated strongly with her. She remembered how she explained on their first day at the Hellfire Club how she was on the lookout for an apprentice. It was a title she aspired to, but every time she brought it up Selene said she wasn’t ready for it. She must have changed her mind.

“Did you say…”

“Yes, Wanda, you heard correctly. I want you to be my apprentice,” said the Black Queen, “You’ve shown you have the power, the aspiration, and the capacity to embrace your dark side. These are all qualities of a fine practitioner of the Black Arts. But as my apprentice, you’ll be so much more.”

“I…I’m flattered, mistress. But why now? I thought you said I wasn’t ready,” said Wanda, still awestruck that this was happening.

“Oh you were ready. I just wasn’t sure if it was the right time for me to take an apprentice. You must understand it’s been a long time since I’ve had one. But I’ve realized that with this new class of pawns, the time couldn’t be better. There is much I’ve yet to teach you and there is still a lot of potential in those powers of yours. And should you accept this opportunity, you will not only fully realize that potential…you’ll obtain everything you ever desired. But of course, you must accept my offer first. Choose carefully because once you swear yourself to me, there is no going back.”

It was quite an offer and not one to take lightly. But Wanda Maximoff didn’t have to think too long about it. She spent her entire life helping others achieve power. From the High Evolutionary to Magneto, nobody ever truly nurtured her gifts. Here was a chance to fully realize her power and attain everything she ever wanted in the process. She had already been touched by darkness. There was no use in stopping now.

“Okay Mistress Selene…I accept,” she said decisively.

The Black Queen’s ominous grin widened, her conversation with Blackheart playing over again in her mind. This was a necessary step for her if she was to achieve her ultimate goal. Wanda was destined to play a part. She had what she was looking for. There was no use in waiting any longer. This was the time to move forward with her plans and doing so required this young mutant to take a much darker path.

“Good, now take off your clothes and get on the mount. Let the ceremony begin!”

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

Up next: Wanda takes Selene’s test and Kurt gets involved as well.