New Blood

New Blood
Chapter 19: Light in the Darkness

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Miami Harbor – Hammer Industries Hub

It was another night of dangerous missions for the Hellfire pawns. The Black King was in the process of making another deal that required some special “hands-on” work to complete. This time it led them to one of the busiest ports in the world in Miami Florida. Here, most of the goods from South America, the Caribbean, and the west coast of Africa came in. Countless businesses depended on this port. One of them was Hammer Industries, which was so big it had its own privately secured hub. And it was the target of tonight’s mission.

Scott Summers surveyed the situation. An hour ago he and a team of pawns including Warpath, Piotr, Warren, and Rogue flew in from New York and started staking out the heavily secure hub owned exclusively by Hammer Industries. Xavier was in the process of negotiating a deal with Tony Stark, the billionaire industrialist who secretly financed the Avengers and participated as the armored hero Iron Man. Scott remembered how Xavier told him about his history with Stark. The man didn’t like him or the Hellfire Club for that matter. He had too much the hero complex going for him as an Avenger. But he was still a businessman that Xavier wanted to do business with. In order to accomplish that they had to play the part of hero too by stopping Hammer Industries from importing illegal nuclear technology from a few very unfriendly despots overseas.

It was not the kind of role Hellfire was used to playing. Being heroes was rarely part of the mission, but if they had to be in order to get things done so be it. Only they would do things the Hellfire way and not the way of a bunch of idealistic sissies like the Avengers. Hopefully Stark took note because this was the real way to make a difference.

“Who are these people?!” exclaimed a Hammer Industry security operative.

“I don’t know, but keep shooting!” exclaimed another, who was manning a machine gun.

Scott scoffed at their feeble attempts to stop them. He was currently being flown over the scene by Warren, who flew down in dive patterns while he fired powerful optic blasts at strategic areas down below. Piotr and Warpath were fighting down below in the thick of the mayhem, beating back wave after wave of Hammer’s army of private security personnel, some of which were foreign mercenaries. And Rogue had been strategically dropped onto the deck of the ship where she was fighting off men stationed at machine gun nests and absorbing as many high level captains as she could for information.

It was a standard attack. Scott positioned them to strike just as the unmarked ship was anchored. Then as soon as they started unloading their lethal cargo, they struck. He hit them first by firing an optic blast that severed the ropes of loading cables, causing a huge crate to crash down onto the dock and crush several Hammer workers along with it. From there they stormed in, showing no mercy and taking out as many of Hammer’s operatives as possible.

“These guys are a joke. Half of them aren’t even Hammers,” commented Warren.

“Must be cutting costs by hiring mercs,” said Scott, “Fly me down to the stern! I’m going to end this.”

Warren had a good idea of what Scott had in mind. He signaled Piotr and Warpath to cover him. They picked up on it as well and plowed through a group of guards cowering behind crates to get into position. There were already a few dead bodies they had to step over, but they didn’t think too much of them. It was their fault for getting in their way. Several mercenaries, each dressed in paramilitary uniforms, kept falling back as they fired wildly with their machine guns. But the bullets bounced harmlessly off Piotr and Warpath, not even slowing them down. Eventually, they gave up and ran.

“This is bullshit!” said one of the men in a thick European accent, “Hammer doesn’t pay us enough for this!”

The man along with the rest of his colleagues dove into the water rather than face the two super-powered young men. A few foolishly stayed behind and tried to attack with knives, but Warpath swiftly avoided the attack and countered by slugging them in the gut to break most of their rips and ripping the knife out of their hands and using it to slit their throats. Piotr was less fancy, choosing instead to just crush their skulls or punch them so hard it severed their spines. Their blood curtailing screams did little to dissuade them. They had grown used to them in the time since they joined the Hellfire Club.

Once Piotr and Warpath were in position, Warren set Scott down behind them. He was now looking over the stern of the ship and had just the angle he needed to take this thing down.

“Cover me, guys!” he told Piotr and Warpath, “Warren, go pick up Rogue! She’s not going to want to be on the ship once I’m through with it.”

“On it,” said Warren as he took to the air.

“That hull is probably a few inches thick,” commented Piotr, “Do you think you can blast through it, comrade?”

“Only one way to find out!” said Scott.

Walking towards the edge of the dock, Scott gazed into the water and looked for a weak spot. If his basic knowledge about ships was right, the main engines should be located in the lower areas of the stern near the propellers. If he could blow through there and hit the right parts, he could permanently disable the ship so Hammer couldn’t tow it away. He took aim with his optic blasts, concentrating just as Xavier taught him to charge up his power. One of the benefits to having control was he could direct the force and concentration of his power as needed. He could make it wider to take out a cluster of foes or narrow to blow through thick reinforcements, or in this case heavy steel plating.

Once charged he unleashed a powerful burst just at the waterline near the propellers. At first the metal just warped a bit, but with an extra push he blew right through it. Once penetrated, the surrounding area began to crack as well and water started pouring in. But Scott kept firing, hoping to hit something explosive. He didn’t have to do it for long because after a few more bursts a sharp burst shot out through the hole.

While this was going on another round of Hammer’s mercenaries tried to bear down on them. This time they were armed with some heavier ordinance including a 50 caliber machine gun and a bazooka. Most security had run away by now, but a few loyalists stayed. They figured if they took these punks out Hammer would give them a big bonus.

“Better hurry up, Scott! It’s about to get rough!” warned Warpath.

“Almost done! Just a little bit longer!” said Scott.

Scott kept firing into the now smoking hole, widening the crack as much as he could to sink the ship into the port. Upon seeing what he was doing, Hammer’s henchmen took aim with their machine guns and fired right at him. But Piotr kept his guard, charging the group of men as they hid behind a pile of debris. The high caliber bullets bounced right off him, only slowing him down a little until he reached the barrel of the gun, grabbed it, and warped it beyond repair. It also caused a small explosion from the back, which morally wounded the unfortunate shooter. When the others saw this most picked up and ran, but the foolish stayed behind and tried concentrating their fire on the metal mutant. But it was no use. Piotr charged and crushed another gun. Then with the debris he threw it at another couple of men who were firing from behind a crate. They were quick enough to get out of the way, but it stopped their onslaught.

While the machine guns didn’t work out as well, the other henchmen tried their bazookas. They aimed right at Warpath, who stood firm with the hardened look of a warrior. Scott was still working on the ship and he knew he couldn’t allow one round to hit near him. He concentrated hard, the sharp awareness he trained into himself all his life taking over. He waited for the men to pull the trigger. He wanted them to do it. He was practically daring them. One henchman, who was one of Hammer’s port guards, took him up on his dare and fired right at him. Time slowed as the rocket propelled round screamed right towards the Apache mutant. But just as it was about to hit he delivered a perfectly timed punch to it and blew it apart as if it were a cloud of dust. And when the smoke cleared, there wasn’t a scratch on him.

“Is that all you got?!” taunted Warpath.

It horrified all those who saw it. Not only were they stopping bullets, but even heavy ordinance wasn’t enough. Another henchman from across the port tried to shoot him again, but this time he actually knocked the round up into the ship, causing a major explosion as it impacted barrels of chemicals that were being held on deck. After that the rest of Hammer’s henchmen took a hint and ran. There was no way they were going up against someone like that.

“Cowards,” scoffed James, “You almost done, Scott?”

With a few more blasts into the now gaping wound in the ship, the job was done. The water was now pouring in so fast it was causing the ship to tilt. This part of the port was shallow so it would probably sink about halfway, doing some damage to the dock as well, and seriously hurting Justin Hammer’s ability to ship heavy merchandise into the region

“It’s done,” affirmed Scott, “This ship isn’t going anywhere and neither is Hammer’s merchandise. He’ll have a lot to explain when he wakes up this morning.”

“Bet he’ll be pretty pissed.”

“Who wouldn’t?” smirked Scott, “Now where’s Warren and Rogue?

Up near the bow Rogue was still going strong, grabbing every man on deck she could and absorbing them until they passed out. Not many of them had useful information, but she hoped the captain knew a thing or two about Hammer’s operations that the Hellfire Club could exploit. She found him cowering on the starboard side trying to lower a lifeboat. She fought through two skippers armed with knives, absorbing them both and leaving them unconscious. Then she went for the captain, kicking him in the leg, dislocating his kneecap, and grabbing his neck just before he could dive into the lifeboat..

“Get away! Do you know who you’re dealing with?!” he exclaimed.

“Question is, sugah, do you?” she taunted.

She started absorbing him and just as she hoped, the man knew quite a bit. Turned out he was the one Justin Hammer sent to negotiate this deal. She got a list of names and a location for where the funds came from, which would be easy to hack out once Sage knew what to look for. She also found out that this captain had a bit of problem skimming money from Hammer’s illegal operations. That might also come in useful if they were to use him for blackmail and extortion.

As she absorbed this the whole ship jolted. The damage Scott did with his optic blasts were taking a toll on the vessel. Rogue didn’t let go though. She wanted to know all this man’s secrets. She used to be turned off by their groans of pain as she drained them, but when they were enemies of the Hellfire Club she didn’t mind. In fact, part of her relished her victim’s suffering. It showed just how far she had come as a Hellfire pawn.

Just as she got the last bit of information, Warren came flying in.

“Rogue! Finish up already! This ships going to keel over!” he yelled.

“Ah’m done, wings. This nice gent has told meh everything Ah need to know,” she grinned as she let his limp body fall to the deck, “Now how’s about givin’ a girl a lift?”

Warren picked her up in his arms and flew her out, copping a feel of her butt in the process but she didn’t seem to mind. He even got a smile out of her. Not long after they disembarked, the ship jolted more violently to the side. Such sharp movements caused massive crates to fall over and do heavy damage to the docks. Barrels of gas and chemicals spilled all over the deck, sparking fires that did even more damage. Those unlucky enough to still be on board jumped ship and swam as far away as they could. It was quite a sight, but not unusual for a Hellfire mission.

“Ah love fireworks,” said Rogue.

“Don’t we all,” grinned Warren.

By now most of Hammer’s henchmen had run away or been slain. Scott, Piotr, and Warpath were just finishing up near the entrance, taking out a few more men who tried to take a stand. They were met with optic blasts, metal fists, and raw muscle, adding to an already impressive body count. But it wasn’t the highest the pawns had ever been a part of and there was little doubt it would be the last.

“Are we done here?” asked Warren as he set Rogue down.

“We’re done,” said Scott, “Hammer’s boys, the ones still alive anyway, will have quite a story to tell.”

“What about the illegal ordinance on the ship?” asked Piotr, “Shouldn’t we destroy it or at least take it for ourselves?”

“No, Xavier said to leave it there for the authorities to find,” said Warpath, “That ship has Hammer’s name on it. Once SHIELD and the Coast Guard find out what’s on there, that guy will be in some pretty hot water.”

“And I shorted a large load of Hammer stock just this afternoon so we should come out with a nice profit once the news hits,” grinned Warren.

“That’s always a plus,” said Rogue, “But why exactly would Tony Stark want the Hellfire Club to do something like this? Can’t he and his Avenger pals do the same?”

“Probably,” said Scott, “But they would stop short like all heroes do. They would probably try and get some incriminating evidence and hope the authorities put him away. They would never resort to blowing up a ship and killing his henchmen.”

“It is a shame, yes?” said Piotr bitterly, remembering what happened to his parents and how well the justice system took care of their murderers.

“Some folk never learn,” shrugged Rogue.

Looking back at the damage they did, there was a lot to be said about the difference between the Hellfire Club and groups like the Avengers. Justin Hammer was monster, responsible for many destructive agents like Beatle and Crimson Dynamo, but idealists like Tony Stark never had the drive to stop him. They erroneously thought the law would take care of him when a rich man like Hammer would probably get out of this thanks to a good legal team and a few corrupt officials. The Hellfire Club was hardly heroic, but they were a lot more efficient. They didn’t shy away from being brutal or violent. They never had to face the same enemy twice. Try as they might, Tony Stark and the Avengers could only do so much. In the end the only justice that mattered was that of the Hellfire Club.

“So now that the mission is done, what do you say we stick around and enjoy the Miami night life? I’m sure a bunch of strong, rich, devious youths like us can find something to do!” said Warren.

“I’m game,” said Piotr, “I’ve never seen Miami.

“Guess it couldn’t hurt,” shrugged James, “What about you, Scott?”

Scott shook his head and smiled.

“Sorry guys, but I need to get back to the manor. I have plans.”

“Oh come on, Summer! It’s Miami for crying out loud! What could possibly be more important than cruising around the beach and picking up a few girls?”

“As fun as that sounds, I made a promise to Jean. I said I would help her with something important and I’m not going back on it.”

“Figures,” said Warren, rolling his eyes, “You know if you keep going out of your way to spend time with her people will start to talk. And you know relationships in the Hellfire Club never last, right?”

“Do you think I care?” said Scott as he began walking off, “I’ll see you back at the manor.”

“Hold up, Ah’m comin’ with you,” said Rogue as she caught up with him, “Ah have plans as well.”

“Oh? What kind of plans?” asked Piotr, knowing Rogue wasn’t usually one for planning.

“Stuff involin’ mah brother,” said Rogue bitterly, “Trust meh, Ah’d rather not go into details.”

“I understand,” said Piotr with a nod.

“Suit yourself, but you don’t know what you’re missing!” said Warren, already excited about the prospect of a wild night in Miami.

“We’ll manage,” said Scott, “Later guys.”

“Yeah, see y’all back at the manor.”

The group of pawns parted. Rogue would have loved to stay in Miami and just live it up, but she had family issues to work out. She promised herself she would sit down with Kurt and try and work out the ongoing strife between them. She also promised she would try and dig deeper into what was changing him into this darker persona. She had a strong feeling Selene was part of it, but she didn’t dare confront her. She was still Black Queen and capable of doing much worse if she spoke out of line. Kurt was her responsibility and hopefully she could get through to him before it was too late.

Upon waving goodbye, Scott and Rogue made their way towards the other end of the dock where they landed the Hellfire mini-jets they used to get here. They were fairly small so they brought two. Scott was sure the three of them could squeeze in the other once their night on the town was over so long as one of them stayed sober enough to fly. In the meantime, he had a date with a beautiful redhead. She didn’t tell him exactly what she needed his help with, but he promised her he would be there and he always kept his promises, especially to Jean.

Jean’s Quarters – Later that Night

After being debriefed by Sage and Lord Xavier, Scott made his way towards Jean’s quarters. It was almost midnight, which was the time she told him to be there. She didn’t tell him exactly what they would be doing tonight. He assumed it was more research into this spell she was working on, probably translations or testing ingredients. He didn’t mind either so long as he got to spend time with her. Warren’s words about relationships didn’t bother him in the slightest. He could see why he would think that the Hellfire Club was no place for romance. All the constant sex, violence, and bloodlust didn’t make for the best environment for love to blossom, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t possible. If something did happen between them, he wouldn’t fight it.

He arrived at Jean’s door to find it already open a bit. He still knocked though and Jean, having probably sensed his arrival, was quickly there to meet him. But to his surprise, she wasn’t dressed in her usual attire. Instead she was wearing the thin black ceremonial robes they all wore during officiating ceremonies of new members. And since the robes were so thin, he could see she was naked underneath.

“Jean?” he said as he took in her appearance.

“Hey handsome!” she said with a welcoming smile, “You’re right on time! I’m just about ready.”

“Ready for what? And what’s with the robe?” he asked

“Isn’t it obvious? We’re casting our first spell tonight. I figured it would help if we dressed appropriately.”

“First spell? I thought you said that was still a work in progress?”

“It was until last night! I’ll tell you everything, but first you need to get out of those clothes and into a robe. This spell is time sensitive and we have to act fast!”

Jean seemed more excited than usual tonight. Something must have happened because he couldn’t remember her being this worked up. It might mean tonight would involve a lot more than just reading over texts and mixing elixirs. So in going along with her excitement Scott entered her room, closed the door behind him, and took off his clothes. Jean shot him a playful look as he did, but they were used to that. Having seen each other naked plenty of times before it wasn’t that big a deal to them, but it this was how they were going to do this spell it would be interesting to see what came of this.

While Scott got dressed, Jean finished with the setup she put together for the spell. It was a bit more elaborate than last night. Since she came so close then she pulled out all the stops. She organized the main area with the crucible and assorted ingredients on the floor where she painted a pentagram on the carpet. She also hung pictures of mystical symbols on her wall and brought in some candle stands from the ritual chamber, which she fit with pink and red candles. They were already lit and giving off the distinct aroma of special incense. Part of all magic was setting the proper ambience and if this spell was to do what she hoped it would, everything had to be perfect.

“So are you going to tell me what this is all about Jean? I get the feeling we’re doing more than just studying,” said Scott as he fastened his robe.

“You got that right. We’re taking the plunge tonight. We’re going to cast a real spell in a real ceremony.”

“Yeah, I can see that,” he said, looking around at her setup, “But why so sudden? I thought you said you weren’t ready yet.”

“I thought I was,” said Jean as she lit some incense around the crucible, “But last night I was experimenting with one of those spells you helped me research. You know, the one with the rose petals?”

“Is that one that’s supposed to cause ‘passionate revelation’ or something?”

“Yes, and even though we had trouble translating it I got a reaction. I recited the incantations and it started glowing. It wasn’t much, but I could definitely feel it! I think this is it, Scott. I think this is the spell that’s going to be my catalyst for developing mystic abilities.”

She sounded pretty serious. Scott remembered which spell she was talking about. It was one she tried casting before, but without success because it was so hard to translate. Most spells weren’t clear in their affects. Every title was a metaphor or a riddle it seemed. The idea of ‘passionate revelation’ sounded promising, but there was still plenty of uncertainty. Then again, magic was more art than science and there was only one way to know for sure.

“What makes you so certain this is the one?” said Scott with growing intrigue.

“I don’t know. Call it a gut feeling, but seeing as how none of the other spells have worked so far I feel this is my best shot. You know how important this is to me, Scott. Everybody says I don’t have the talent for magic. They say I should be content with the abilities I have already. But I know what I felt. The power is there! That’s why I really need your help.”

“Well what can I do? I’ve never cast a spell before.”

“That doesn’t matter, Scott. You still have a spirit and that’s all anybody really needs,” said Jean as she rose up and approached her friend and fellow pawn, “What I need from you is to cast it with me. My spirit alone wasn’t enough for the spell to manifest. But if we did it together and at midnight, the best time for any spell, it might just work!”

Now standing much closer to him, her excitement mellowed and she gazed longingly into the eyes of the young man before her. They were very different two nervous teens that first arrived. They had changed a lot, not just in terms of the deeds they did, but the ways they saw the world. The ruthless drive and grit of the Hellfire Club was firmly instilled in them. But that connection they made when they first met was still there.

“I know I’m asking you to do something you don’t normally do. But you’ve helped me with this from the beginning. You’ve helped me with a lot since we got here. You’ve helped me train, you’ve helped me learn, and you’ve helped me explore my sexuality. And I don’t trust anybody else to do this with me other than you, Scott.”

“Wow, I…I’m honored you feel that way, Jean,” said Scott, feeling touched by her sincerity.

“It’s true,” she said with a smile, “So are you going to do this with me or not? We’ve got less than five minutes before midnight.”

“I’ve helped you come this far, haven’t I? I might as well see it through,” said Scott as he smiled back.

“Oh you’re the best!” said Jean, giving him a peck on the cheek as a reward, “Come on, it’s almost time!”

Scott smiled as she took his hand and led him to her setup where he joined her on the floor where she set up her supplies. Everything was arranged around the pentagram she painted on her floor with the crucible in the center and five candles at each end. It wasn’t quite as neat as the one in the other ritual chambers, but it still gave off a mystical ambience. He sat down on one end of the crucible and Jean sat down on another. He looked over at the clock to see it was less than three minutes to midnight. If this was going to happen they had to begin soon.

Jean had everything she used from the previous night and then some. She had all the necessary ingredients mixed in the crucible and a small black bag of crushed rose petals to add in during the incantation. She made sure everything was just as it was when she did this last night. Hopefully she would get more than just a weak glow from it this time. She felt that with Scott’s presence, the extra ambience, and the midnight hour there couldn’t have been a better moment for the magic to manifest.

“So how exactly do we do this?” asked Scott.

“That’s what I’ve been preparing for all day,” replied Jean, “You see, last night when I tried to cast this spell I got a reaction, but it wasn’t a very big one. I could definitely feel the power, but it needed more push so to speak to fully manifest. And that’s where you come in. You’re going to help me give this spell that extra push.”

“Sounds simple enough.”

“It’s not,” said Jean, “We need to do the whole thing together. That means you have to focus just as much as I do. We need both our spirits fueling this spell. Can you do that for me Scott?”

“You can count on me,” he assured her, “One last question though…what exactly is this spell supposed to do anyhow? What does this whole ‘passionate revelation’ mean?”

“That I don’t know. But if you’re ready, I’d like to find out.”

She was pretty daring, casting a spell she didn’t fully understand. But Scott wasn’t dissuaded. That daring nature was part of what he liked about this girl. They both developed a taste for new experience since they joined the Hellfire Club. There was no reason why this should be any different.

“I’m ready,” he told her.

“Then let’s begin,” said Jean strongly, “Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and follow my lead.”

The clock now read one minute until midnight. It was now or never. Scott closed his eyes and began settling into a relaxed, focused state. While he never trained in magic, James Poundstar taught him how to clear his mind and focus on a given task. It worked well for combat training so hopefully it worked for magic. As he took deep controlled breaths, Jean settled in as well and began focusing her spirit as the spell instructed. She began waving her hands over the crucible, silently urging the magic within the mixture to rise. She then opened up the bag of crushed rose petals and poured it into her hand. She waited a good fifteen seconds until she was sure she was in the right state of mind. She also sent waves of calming sensations to Scott through her telepathy so he could join her.

“Oh great powers from beyond, heed the urgings of our spirits! Reveal unto us the passionate revelations by which you decree! Hear us as we chant the words of the ancients and open our spirits to this power!”

The air was already starting to heat up. It definitely felt different this time. It wasn’t just a test or some haphazard attempt. This was the real deal. Jean reached over and took Scott’s hands in hers. She guided it until it was over the crucible. She then linked her mind up with his so they could say the incantation in perfect unison. Even though Scott knew most of it because he helped her research it, he had to say it perfectly with her in order for everything to work. With thirty seconds left, the two teens began chanting the elaborate collection of words and phrases that would summon the power of this mysterious spell. They said every word together, their hands never parting through the whole thing. As they chanted they felt the air around them swirl in a vortex-like pattern. The air had with it a very ominous feel, resembling the kind of sensations they felt when they were involved in rituals with Selene. Only this one was smaller and more intimate.

As they neared the end Scott and Jean sensed a distinct feeling growing inside them. It was like something within them was trying to get out and with every word it drew closer to emerging. Yet they remained focused, chanting together through the final verse. Once they uttered the final word they felt a powerful gust of hot air swirl around their bodies. It was as if the energy from their spirits was charging the air around them, making everything seem so thick with mystical activity. Then as the clock struck midnight Jean opened her hand and let the crumbled rose petals fall into the mixture. It marked the final part of the spell. Now came the difficult task of waiting.

Scott and Jean opened their eyes. They gazed intently into the crucible where the mixture resided. It didn’t appear to be doing much, but they could still feel the strange ambience in the air around them. The candles flickered and scent of incense hung strong. But this wasn’t the reaction they were looking for. This spell was supposed to manifest something much greater.

“Did it work?” asked Scott after a few seconds.

“Wait for it,” said Jean intently.

They did everything perfectly. They had all the necessary supplies and surroundings. It couldn’t possibly fizzle out on them now. Jean refused to accept that. But with each second that past her anticipation grew. Something was coming. She could feel it. It just wasn’t showing yet. Scott was about to declare it a misfire when suddenly it happened.

The mysterious mixture in the crucible began to glow. This time it was much brighter than last time and it didn’t fizzle. Jean and Scott gazed at it in awe. It was so bright it illuminated the whole room, but it wasn’t the kind of light they shielded themselves from. It was a soft, warm glow that was almost hypnotic in its beauty. The glow then extended to the candles, turning the small flame into a bright pink and causing the outline of the pentagram to glow softly in a similar color. After gazing at it for a few seconds it started to rise up out of the cauldron in the form of a concentrated ball of pink light. It was almost like a miniature star. Scott and Jean, dazed by its beauty, rose up from their seated positions until the ball of light was hovering between them at eye level.

For a few seconds it just hovered there, glowing in a steady stream of brilliance. Scott and Jean just kept staring, not knowing what this thing was or what it was going to do. Whatever it was it burned with a strange kind of passion just as though it were alive. And as it hovered between them it started to intensify as if it was reacting to something. It intensified to the point where it was about to overtake them, but the two teens remained unafraid.

Then in a brilliant display of power and majesty, the ball of light broke apart into two swirling streams of mist. One stream swirled around Scott and the other swirled around Jean. It kicked up a strange gust of wind around them, making their robes flutter and their hair nearly stand on end. Then in a strange process the mist merged with them, consuming their bodies from head to toe. Scott and Jean each let out a gasp. But it wasn’t one of pain or discomfort. It was one of sheer exhilaration. All of the sudden a new feeling came over them. The ball of light was no longer there, but they remained standing in a dazed state. Only now they were gazing into each others’ eyes with great passion.

“Jean…”

“Scott…”

Suddenly another gust of air shot up through them, causing their black robes to loosen. Then as if by an intelligent hand the robes were pulled off of their bodies, leaving them completely naked. For a moment Scott and Jean just stood there, their gaze never waning. The flames of the candles erupted into miniature columns of pink fire and the symbol beneath them bathed their bodies in a soft glow. Then a new feeling came over them…one of raw, unbridled passion.

In what seemed like slow motion, Scott and Jean moved in close to one another so they were standing in the center of the pentagram. Without looking away from one another, they slipped into a warm embrace. The feeling of their naked skin grazing against one another was like an avalanche of sensations. It was as if their touch had a special energy to it. It was unlike any energy they ever felt before, but it was pleasant and warm. In their daze they began drifting closer to one another. They drifted closer and closer until their lips met in a soft kiss. It was then they felt the true meaning of this spell.

‘Scott…I can feel it.’

‘Me too, Jean.’

The kiss deepened and was accompanied with more passionate touching. Scott’s hands roamed down Jean’s womanly curves while she gently traced over his manly physique. It was deeply intimate, stirring within them a great arousal. Only this wasn’t like the lustful sexual arousal they were more accustomed too. This had something else with it…something much more meaningful. It wasn’t excitement, desire, hunger, or anything of the sort. Above all one emotion dominated over all others as they tenderly kissed and touched…love.

The light from the candles and pentagram kept glowing even after they parted. And as they gazed back into each others’ eyes with unparalleled emotion they smiled and held each other closer.

“Make love to me, Scott,” said Jean in a soft yet desperate tone.

“Oh Jean…” gasped Scott, now fully engrossed in this woman.

Following their passions, the two teens kissed again. This time they were more passionate, allowing their tongues to twirl and dance. They remained in a warm embrace as they stumbled towards the bed. The glowing pink light followed them until it was under the bed, illuminating it in a column of light. The candles moved as well as by an unseen hand, positioning themselves around the bed. It was like the magic was reacting to their emotional state, ensuring everything was perfect for them to make love.

Once at the bed Scott effortlessly lifted Jean up in his arms and laid her naked body down in the center of the bed. Their lips never parted with Jean clinging desperately to his arms while he held her firmly by the hips. Their bodies were fully aroused. Scott’s penis was rock hard and Jean’s vaginal folds were dripping with her juices. But they didn’t immediately start having sex. For a while they just held each other and made out, kissing and touching one another’s naked flesh. There was still plenty of lust to go along with their gestures, but this time it was mixed with much deeper feelings of intimacy and love.

“I want you,” said Scott in a soft, passionate daze.

“I want you too,” said Jean as she smiled warmly at the man on top of her, “Please, take me.”

Scott smiled and brought her into another deep kiss. As their tongues danced Jean spread her legs and hooked them securely around his waist. He then adjusted himself so his erect member was at her moist entrance. But he didn’t just thrust it into her. He rubbed it around her outer folds a bit, teasing her clit and building up the moment. Then when the moment was right he entered her. The pulsating light underneath the bed intensified as soon as he did and the young lovers let out passionate moans of ecstasy as this powerful feeling consumed them.

“Ohhhhhhhhh Scott!” gasped Jean.

“Jean…ohhhh you’re so beautiful!” moaned Scott.

Instinct and passion took over as the two teens began moving together in a strong sexual rhythm. They started off nice and slow. Scott worked his hips while holding onto her hips, drawing his length out partially and then thoroughly thrusting it back in. Jean tensed her inner muscles each time he did this and squeezed his waist with her legs, adding extra tightness to their intimate dance. They each gasped and moaned with each movement, not going at it with excessive lust. For once the focus wasn’t pleasure. It was on truly connecting with each other on another level. That established a connection the first day they met outside Hellfire Manor. This moment truly solidified it.

Their bodies meshed together as they made love in a nice, steady rhythm. It wasn’t the kind of sex that would rock the bed or leave them screaming at the top of their lungs. But it was still more intense than anything they ever experienced before. The Hellfire Club had given them a strong appreciation for lust and pleasure, but it never gave them an appreciation for the kind of intimate love that went beyond basic desires. Yet for everything they had done, for all the other people they slept with, and for all those who stood in Hellfire’s way that they took down without remorse, they still had a capacity for love.

The glowing light from the pentagram and the candles beamed continuously as Scott and Jean made love. They kept the pace slow yet thorough, really dragging the experience out for as long as they could. The pleasure was intense, as if the magic amplified it along with their emotions. They shifted their bodies a bit with Scott rising up off her slightly and allowing her to spread her legs out a bit more as well as giving her more room to move her hips and complement each one of his thrusts. The whole time they kept kissing and touching, feeling each other thoroughly on every intimate level. It built up an orgasm like no other. And the close they came to it the more fervent their movements and gestures. The light from under them pulsed brighter, burning along with the intensity of their lovemaking.

Then they felt it. The overwhelming surge of pleasure and feeling overtook their bodies as they each hit their peak. Jean’s inner muscles clamped down on her lover’s length and arched her back. Scott held her close, squeezing her hips as he drove into her one last time and deposited his hot fluids into her depths. And together they shared a cry of ecstasy.

“Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Scott!”

“Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Jean!”

The light from the spell surrounded their bodies as they bathed in the feeling. Jean’s eyes flashed a fiery red, the magic from the spell flowing through her and into Scott in a powerful mix of emotion, sexuality, and spirit. It was unlike any other climax they ever experienced before. The pleasure was intense, but so was the connection and that’s what made it truly amazing.

Their bodies remained entwined with Scott hovering over her, gazing passionately into her eyes. She smiled warmly as she caressed his handsome face, her touch carrying with it a magical sense of fulfillment. Then they met in another soft kiss, expressing through it all the powerful feelings of this moment. The area around them continued glowing, the power of the spell still going strong. Their arousal was still strong and so was the drive for more lovemaking. They felt this before, wanting more sex even as the first climax was still lingering. Magic always had a way of pushing sexual limits. This was no different, only now it had much deeper meaning.

“Please…don’t stop,” said Jean, still gasping for air.

“I’m not. I’m going to keep making love to you as long as humanly possible,” assured Scott.

Bent on making good on his promise, they kissed again and the lovemaking continued. They rolled around on the bed until Jean was the one on top. Her hands raked down his well-built upper body while he grasped her breasts and rubbed them in a circular, massage-like fashion. They kept feeling out each other’s naked bodies, savoring every inch of flesh. The desire was still strong, but they didn’t go right into it immediately. As intense the emotions were, there was still room to be playful.

Jean pinned Scott on his back and sensually kissed down his neck and chest. She was a lot more thorough than usual, paying close attention to every sinewy curve of his manly physique. Scott gasped contently at the feeling of her lips on his skin. They carried with them a warm range of sensation and passion while also fueling his arousal. After passing over his chest and hard, six-pack abs she reached his still hard member. Taking it in her hand she flashed a warm look up at her lover and began sensually stroking it. She watched as his reacted pleasantly to the sensations. Then she teased him more, kissing around the tip and sensually licking up the shaft. She didn’t devour it like she usually did when she gave oral sex. This was more about pleasing him rather than just getting him in the mood again.

And it worked both ways. Scott rose up and gently ran his hands through her long flowing red hair. He also felt down her back and onto her butt, softly rubbing her smooth skin every step of the way. The feeling of her talented tongue teasing his hard cock was heavenly and he wanted to share the feeling. So while she was still teasing him he sent a message through his thoughts to her and she quickly picked up on. They then adjusted their bodies so that they were in position to orally tease each other with Jean’s pussy in his face and Scott’s cock in hers. They didn’t do this position much with others because it didn’t always go along with the whole taking pleasure for themselves aspect of Hellfire sex. But doing it together, exchanging mutual pleasure and affection, really made it fitting for this moment and the power from the spell surged.

Still bathed in the pinkish glow, Jean bobbed her head up and down her lover’s ridged cock while Scott gently spread her moist pussy lips and probed her depths with his tongue. They were thorough and focused, hitting all the sensitive areas that seemed even more sensitive under the influence of the spell. When one of them felt pleasure, they both felt it. It was an intoxicating cycle of bliss and passion and it soon led them to another round of intimacy.

After a nice long round of thorough teasing, the two lovers rose up and embraced each other once more. This time Jean stayed on top, giving Scott a chance to lay back and enjoy it just as he did with her the first time. She positioned herself over his ridged member, her pussy still dripping wet from all the energy surging between them. She slowly lowered herself onto him, letting out a deep moan as his length filled her insides again. Once he was all the way in she leaned over and kissed him passionately and began moving her hips. Like before they started slow and worked their way up to a thorough, steady pace. They highlighted every movement, relishing each surge of pleasure that coursed through their bodies as their entwined flesh mixed in a heat of passion. Jean held onto his shoulder as she worked her hips up and down his length, occasionally working them back and forth as well to really hit all the areas inside her. Scott kept his focus on her breasts, squeezing them firmly each time she plunged down and kissing down her neck and cleavage with each motion. They dragged it out just as long as the first time, if not a little longer. They held each other as they reached another mutual orgasm, the pulsing light from the spell amplifying the sensations even more. But they still weren’t done.

“More, Scott! Give me more!” gasped Jean desperately.

“I will beautiful,” he said as he affectionately caressed her cheek.

With little need for rest or recover, Scott and Jean kept making love. They didn’t go at it with the kind of coordination or clumsiness that often came with working off lust. They moved together as one this time, letting their passions guide them through each intoxicating moment.

Scott and Jean stayed on the bed, rolling around atop the disheveled sheets and making love from different position. They rose to their knees and Scott got behind her where he could reach around and keep fondling her breasts as she bounced up and down his ridged cock as it thrust up into her from behind. She then got on her hands and knees with his cock still buried inside her and rocked her body back and forth with his hands gripping her hips. They did this until they climaxed again, but as they felt it he leaned over and kissed her from behind while he fondled her swollen arousal with his talented hands. They also used the wall above the bed to their advantage. Jean turned around so that they were facing again and jumped him, throwing her arms and legs around his body while he caught her by the hips. Then he pinned her up against the wall where they moved their bodies up and down to another round of blissful passion, leaning back and crying out in ecstasy as more pleasure surged through their beings. From there they fell back on the bed, engrossed in each others’ arms as they rolled around and kept making love in a heat of passion.

Scott and Jean went onto make love in many more positions, sharing many orgasms and many wondrous feelings. The column of light that inundated their bed shone brightly, amplifying every sensation. Their naked bodies glimmered in the soft light, highlighting the beauty of their intimate act. Their skin rubbed together seamlessly in a mesh of heated passion, the sound of their flesh colliding mixing in with their moans of bliss. They went at it for hours, but from their perspective time had no meaning. It was all a dream-like daze, full of intimacy, passion, and pleasure.

After a long, drawn out experience of lovemaking the spell was nearing its end. Scott and Jean were primed for one last climax together. They were now sitting in the center of the bed, each in an upright position with Jean’s legs arched over his hips while Scott held her firmly by the rump, guiding her along his ridged length. She clung to his shoulders as they kissed passionately along with each movement. For the final push they stepped up the pace, building up for the most intense climax yet.

“UH-UH-UH-OH SCOTT-OH-ONE MORE-UH-UH-OH I’M SO CLOSE!” moaned Jean as she moved her hips faster.

“UH-UH-ME TOO-UH-OH JEAN-UH-JEAN-UH-OH YOU’RE SO BEAUTIFUL!” moaned Scott as he tightened his hold on her butt.

It was just about to hit them. Their moans intensified along with their movements. Jean’s pussy was starting to contract around her lover’s cock and he was primed to fill her with his last round of cum. Then just as the sensations exploded inside them, the light narrowed from around the bed and inundated their naked bodies. It filled them with a new energy that heightened every feeling, emotion, and sensation. It was the greatest pleasure yet and as they clung desperately to each others’ bodies. It lingered the whole time, but it lingered with Jean the longest. Even after all was said and done, her eyes kept glowing with the mystical presence of real magic. Scott smiled at such a sight, finding it surreal and beautiful. Then once it faded they met in a final kiss before settling back on the bed.

It was the most incredible feeling in the world. Scott Summers and Jean Grey came from different walks of life and came of age in the Hellfire Club. They were ruthless operatives for an organization bent on power and control and the training they received had forever affected them. And yet here they were, lying in bed together and making love without a care in the world. It was a feeling that had no equals and with everything they experienced at the Hellfire Club that was saying something.

The spell was finally over. The light faded and the candles flickered out. Scott now lay flat on his back, panting for air, and Jean snuggled up into his warmth, his arm draped around her waist while she rested peacefully on his chest. Their bodies glistened with a light layer of sweat. Every fiber was still reeling from such an intense emotional and sexual experience. Even though the magic had passed, the feeling was still there. And as they gazed into each others’ eyes there was only one thing left to say.

“I love you, Jean,” said Scott with a warm smile.

“I love you too, Scott,” said Jean, returning his gesture with one of her own.

It was probably rare for such words to be uttered within the walls of the Hellfire Club. But they didn’t care. They meant what they said. Everything they did to this point was all the affirmation they would ever need. It still took a moment to sink in though. It all happened in a blur, but even as it finally dawned on them the two lovers shared a warm smile.

“I think I now know what that spell meant,” said Jean as she gazed distantly into space.

“Really? What was that?”

Jean smiled and rolled back on top of him so their eyes were now locked once more.

“It was a love spell,” she said, “But not in the classic sense. I think ‘passionate revelation’ entailed something more. I think the reason it didn’t work before was because there was nothing to reveal. But with you here there was. And that revelation was this…”

Jean leaned in and kissed him, expressing the true meaning in the most fitting of ways.

“So the revelation was that we love each other,” said Scott with a smile, “Sounds like a good spell.”

“There’s probably more to it than that. I think the revelation wasn’t just that we loved each other. It was that we’re right for each other. You and me, with everything we’ve been through since we first met, we had that special something that day. The spell just revealed it. And it’s a good thing too because at the rate we were going we probably wouldn’t have realized it until way down the line because of the shy, stubborn teenagers we are.”

“Yeah, imagine how complicated that would have made things,” said Scott, laughing somewhat at the notion, “Guess you picked a good time to get your first spell right. But was it the catalyst you were looking for? Did it unlock your mystical potential?”

“What do you think, lover?” she grinned.

She then held her hand out and with a little concentration and quick chant, formed a small ball of mystical energy in her palm. It wasn’t as impressive as the power Selene could show, but it was a start. It showed Jean could do magic, proving everyone who ever doubted her wrong.

It seemed that they got everything out of this experience they wanted. Jean unlocked her potential and they found love without having to go through the motions that would have caused years of emotional conflict. It all felt so right. They couldn’t have been happier about it. But there were still certain issues they couldn’t avoid.

“So…what now?” wondered Scott, “The cats out of the bag. We’re in love and we’re pawns of the Hellfire Club.”

“I know. Tomorrow we’ll still have to go about our duties, training to kill and indulging in a world of wealth, sex, and power,” said Jean, “I mean sure we’ll probably still sleep with other people and go out killing those who stand in Hellfire’s way. But that doesn’t mean we still can’t have something, right?”

“I’d like to think so,” said Scott, “But how could we make it work? What could we do to remind ourselves we have this?”

They both thought about it for a moment. It was a serious matter. They wanted to have this love and connection. But they didn’t want to stop doing what they do with the Hellfire Club. They were far too entrenched in their ways to go back now and had no desire to leave anything behind. But if being around the Inner Circle taught them anything it was that nothing was impossible if they were just willing to go the distance.

“I have an idea. What day is it?” said Jean.

“Um…Thursday,” said Scott.

“Well how about this…once a week we’ll dedicate a special night to celebrate our love. We’ll go out and get away from it all. Every other day we’ll carry on like normal pawns, but on that special night we’ll share a moment just you and me. How does that sound?”

“Hmm…I like that idea,” smiled Scott, “So what do we tell the others?”

“Does it matter?” said Jean as she trailed her hand down the side of his face, “We live complicated lives of privilege and responsibility. So long as we share this feeling, why not enjoy it?”

“Spoken like a true Hellfire woman. I love it!”

“And I love you. Now kiss me again, lover.”

Scott and Jean shared one last loving gesture, capping off an amazing night of passion and revelations. Nothing was ever going to be the same between them. They underwent a great change the day they joined the Hellfire Club. This was almost just a profound. They shared something special and it was sure to have a lasting affect on both of them. Some like Selene told them that such emotions were signs of weakness. But as they held each other on this profound night, it sure didn’t feel that way. This new connection they shared was their strength and they intended to nurture it along with everything else that made them products of the Hellfire Club.

Hellfire Manor

After returning from the mission, Rogue began scouring the manor for Kurt. She looked in all the likely places such as his room, the archive, the mid-level lounge, the ritual chambers, and the ceremonial chambers. But to her frustration, he wasn’t in any one of them. He was excused from the mission because of scheduled training with Selene. But near as she could tell that was over because the chambers were empty. It was times like this she wished she was a telepath. She tried looking for Lord Xavier, who would surely know where he was, but he was out at the moment visiting Sinister’s lab. She looked for Sage as well, but she was in her office with Deadpool (and if the manic obscenities were any indication they were probably getting it on). She was starting to get frustrated, not to mention worried.

So with no other options she went to Selene’s chamber to ask of his whereabouts. She was hoping to avoid this because she never liked being too close to that woman, especially around her quarters. There were some grizzly stories that came out of her room. It wasn’t unusual to hear cries of agony or monstrous roars from her area. Few had actually witnessed what she did behind closed doors, but it was reasonable to assume it wasn’t pretty.

Once at her chamber doors Rogue took a deep breath and prepared to knock. Hopefully the Black Queen wasn’t in too bad of a mood. She just wanted to talk to her brother.

“Don’t bother,” came a voice from behind her, “She’s not in there.”

Rogue’s heart nearly jumped out of her throat.

“Damn it, Pietro! Don’t sneak up on meh like that! Especially around here!” she exclaimed.

“Hey, excuse me for trying to save you the trouble!” he said defensively.

Rogue still scorned the Speedster. He always seemed to sneak up on people. It was a relief in some ways. Now she wouldn’t have to confront Selene. But she still had no clue where Kurt was.

“I take it you’re looking for your brother,” he said.

“Yeah, how’d ya figure?” replied Rogue.

“Because I’ve been looking for my sister. And seeing as how they run in the same circles, I figured they would be hanging around one another.”

“Wouldn’t surprise meh,” said Rogue, “They’ve been hangin’ around each other a lot lately.”

“I know. Does that bother you as much as it does me?”

“It only bothers meh when they hang around Mistress Selene too much. Ah could care less if he hung around Wanda. Why? You got something against him?”

“No, I just don’t like the idea of them getting too close,” replied the Speedster.

Rogue cast Pietro a scorn. She had a hard enough time dealing with Kurt’s fascination with Selene. She didn’t need Pietro telling her he disapproved of him being around his sister.

“Really? What’s so wrong with that?” she asked apprehensively.

“Look, you really want to argue that or do you want to find our wayward siblings? Because I need to talk to Wanda too!”

“Fahne,” said Rogue bitterly, “Any idea where to begin? Ah’ve looked everywhere around the manor. Ah was about to check out Club Hellfire.”

“I just got back from there. Not a trace,” said Pietro.

Now Rogue really looked and so was Pietro. Like Rogue, he wasn’t fond of Wanda learning so much of this mystic stuff from Selene. He tried to confront her about it before, but that only led to another fight. Every discussion about this issue led to a fight. It was getting to the point where they couldn’t even sit down and talk anymore. He and Wanda fought a lot over the years, but there was never a time when they weren’t willing to take a moment to listen to one another. This felt different though. He hadn’t seen Wanda since the previous night. That created an ominous dread that made him sick just thinking about it.

“Dang it, Ah hope they didn’t run off with Mistress Selene or somethin’! Ah told Kurt Ah wanted to talk to him!”

“I doubt they did. Lord Xavier would know about that and tell us,” said Pietro.

“That doesn’t mean something ain’t up!” said Rogue, getting a little hysterical.

“Calm down, Rogue! They can’t have gone too far!” said Pietro, “But you’re right. Something is definitely up! I know Wanda and she would never go this long without at least yelling at me for something.”

“Kurt would never go this long without talkin’ to meh either. But if they are hangin’ around each other, where they heck could they be?”

Pietro was silent for a moment as he went over the possibilities. Both he and Rogue were at the end of their ropes. Their wayward siblings were drifting away from them and they seemed powerless to stop it.

Suddenly their train of thought was cut off by a strange buzzing noise from the lights. They didn’t think too much of it at first, but then the whole hallway started flickering ominously. Not only that, the elaborate chandeliers that hung outside Selene’s chamber was swaying as if some unseen force were acting upon it. There was also this strange feeling in the air, as if there was some other energy surrounding them. Rogue didn’t pick up on it, but Pietro recognized it immediately.

“What the hell?” said Rogue, “Somethin’ wrong with the power?”

“No,” said Pietro strongly, “It’s Wanda. Only her powers can affect everything like this.”

“Wanda?! How do you know?”

“I’m her brother. Trust me, I know,” he said strongly, “But why would she be using so much of her power like this?”

“How should Ah know?!” said Rogue, getting frustrated once more, “Why don’t we find her and ask? Come on, there has to be somewhere we haven’t looked! Just think where she would have to be to cause the whole manor to shake?”

The two teen mutants thought about it for a moment. They each witnessed Wanda’s powers. They knew their potential for destruction, especially Pietro. Looking around, the lights flickered even more. Whatever Wanda was doing she was using a lot of power. But where could she be that would cause the whole structure to feel it? Then it hit them at the same time.

“The roof!” they said simultaneously.

Pietro dashed ahead of her at superhuman speeds, causing a gust that nearly knocked Rogue back.

“Damn it, Pietro, wait up!” she exclaimed as she ran after him.

She didn’t have to run far. Selene’s room was already near the top of the manor anyways. It was just a couple floors up to get to the roof. Not many people went up there other than to sunbathe or fix the assorted communication equipment they had wired up there. Why Wanda and Kurt would be out there was anybody’s guess.

After scaling a flight of stairs Rogue arrived to see a very frustrated Pietro banging on the door. He kept trying to push the handle down to open it, but it appeared locked. He was already in a rage. He was convinced his sister was out there and was ready to burst in at full speed. All points considered, it was probably a good thing he was stopped.

“Damn it! Who locked this fucking door?!” he grunted.

“Pietro…step aside,” said Rogue in a calmer tone.

“Why bother? They must have locked it from the other side!”

“Or maybe you just don’t have the right touch.”

To prove her point, Rogue gripped the handle and pulled the door back slightly. Then she turned it and to Pietro’s dismay, it opened. Rogue didn’t rub it in too much though. She just shot him a look that spoke volumes to him.

“You’re a real bitch, you know that?”

“And you’re a prick. Let’s just get out there and see what they’re…”

But before Rogue could say another word she froze. Pietro looked at her strangely and turned towards where she was looking. It turned out she froze for good reason because right there in the center of the roof, Kurt and Wanda were indulging in what could only be described as an elaborate sex ritual. They were having sex on a large red carpet that was laid out in the center of the roof. They noticed the carpet had patterns of pagan symbols stitched all over it, each of which glowed brilliantly in a magical aura of light. In addition, at each corner there were four black candles that burned in a mysterious purple flame, similar to the color of Wanda’s hex bolts. Whatever this ritual was, there was a lot of magic involved.

Pietro and Rogue watched in a mix of shock and awe as the two mutant teens fucked passionately under a full moon. Wanda had Kurt pinned on his back, her nails dug into his side as she rode his erect cock hard. Her hips jerked back and forth, really working it thoroughly inside her. They each moaned in ecstasy, but Wanda was much louder. She was clearly the one in control with Kurt lying on his back submissively, gazing lovingly up at her as she moved her hips hard and fast. Their bodies were bathed in the light of the mysterious symbols and burning candles. Wanda’s eyes were also glowing, indicating the presence of her hex powers in addition to the mystical forces already at work.

The urge to just rush in and stop them was there, but Pietro and Rogue didn’t act on it. They were too awestruck by the strange display of magic and sex. The air around them was hot with activity, acting as a barrier of sorts that dissuaded any interruptions. But Judging by the intensity of the light and how loud they were moaning, they were close to climaxing.

“Uh-uh-uh-Vanda-uh-my-my love!” grunted Kurt through each of Wanda’s forceful body movements.

“Yes-yes-yeeesssssssssss-I feel it coming! I-I-I’m going to cum! Cum with me, Kurt! Cum with me!” exclaimed Wanda with a mix of passion and authority in her tone.

Kurt did as he was told, remaining on his back and submissive as Wanda slammed her hips down harder. The force in her movements caused a little discomfort, but he didn’t care. So long as his love got what she wanted he endured it. She slowed her movements, grasping her breasts as she plunged down onto his cock as hard as he could. Then her pussy throbbed in a burst of orgasmic sensations, clamping down over his ridged member and sending waves of bliss up through her body. Wanda threw her head back and cried out into the night, unleashing a few sparks of hex bolts in the process that shook the area and caused the candles to flicker. As the pleasure and energy flowed through her, Kurt climaxed as well. Only his cries weren’t as loud or as commanding as Wanda’s.

Pietro and Rogue felt the energy too. It actually caused them to take a step back and shield their eyes from the bursts of light that accompanied their orgasms. It was quite a spectacle, much more so than a normal sex act. The difference was written on their expressions, but there was something else at work as well. Rogue noticed a deep look of passion in Kurt’s eyes as he gazed up at Wanda. She tried to make out if Wanda returned the gesture, but it was hard to tell with her glowing eyes.

But the energy around them seemed to be passing. The symbols weren’t glowing anymore and the candles returned to a normal orange light. It was at this point Wanda turned and noticed their presence, but she didn’t react with shock or violence. She just smiled ominously.

“Enjoying the show, you two? You arrived just in time for the best part,” she said in an eerie tone.

“Uh…Wanda? What…what the hell is going on here?!” exclaimed Pietro, his face awash with confusion.

“What does it look like? My lover and I are just enjoying a little sex ritual,” she replied as she affectionately caressed Kurt’s face.

“A sex ritual? On the dang roof?!” exclaimed Rogue.

“It’s a full moon. Such rituals always work better on a full moon.”

Wanda sounded so casual about this whole thing. And Kurt looked equally content. It was really strange. As siblings they could sense when something was different about them and all indications pointed to something very profound.

But before they could start barking out other comments about what they were doing, Wanda rose up off her lover. Kurt followed suit, staying close to her with the same submissive poise he had when they were having sex. It didn’t bother them that they were still naked. It was actually kind of funny seeing their reactions. They had to find out about this sooner or later and Mistress Selene gave them strict instructions on how to handle it. Now was as good a time as any to clear things up.

“I’m actually glad you walked in on us,” sand Wanda, “We were hoping to talk to you.”

“You couldn’t have given us a little warning?” groaned Pietro, trying hard not to stare too much at his naked twin.

“And miss seeing that look on your face? Where’s the fun in that?”

Her voice sounded dark, not unlike Selene’s. That didn’t sit well with Pietro. It also didn’t sit well with Rogue because Kurt hadn’t spoken up yet. He was too busy affectionately caressing his lovers hips and waist with his furry arms. It was like Wanda had some kind of hold on him. That was all she needed to storm up to them and star her right in the eye.

“Enough playin’ around, Wanda!” she said angrily, now mere inches from Wanda’s face, “Ah don’t know what problems you’ve got goin’ on and frankly Ah don’t give a damn! But Ah need to talk to mah brother so if you’re done with your ritual…”

“No Rogue,” said Kurt, finally speaking up, “I vill not leave zhe side of my lover.”

“You’re…lover?” said Rogue, now even more confused.

“Yes, isn’t it obvious? Kurt and I have been working together under Mistress Selene for a while now and let’s just say we developed some chemistry,” said Wanda.

To prove her point, she affectionately trailed her finger down Kurt’s face and over his chin. She then kissed him hungrily on the lips, showing a strange mix of love and dominating passion. It was still very strange and at this point Pietro finally stepped forward. Even if his sister was naked on a rooftop, they had to confront this.

“Not be insincere about your love life, but that’s not why we want to talk,” said Pietro.

“I know. It’s about Mistress Selene, isn’t it?” said Wanda, rolling her eyes.

“Well we haven’t worked it out yet,” said the speedster strongly, “And this time I’m not leaving until we set the record straight!”

“Meh too!” said Rogue, eyeing Kurt, “This has been causing us problems long enough.”

Usually this was the point where Wanda started another argument with Pietro or Kurt would try and justify his actions. But to both their surprise, they just kept smiling.

“We’re both aware you have concerns,” said Wanda, “Even Lord Xavier has spoken to us about it. And you’ll be happy to know we’ve worked something out, haven’t we Kurt?”

Kurt smiled affectionately at his love, the same dark undertone written in his eyes. Only it wasn’t quite as glaring as Wanda’s.

“Ja, ve have, mien frauline. Last night Mistress Selene sat us down and laid a new path out for us. Zhat path involves us no longer receiving direct training and private tutelage from her. She vants us to spend more time carrying out our duties to the Hellfire Club and exploring zhe black arts on our own.”

“Wait…so she just up and said she wasn’t going to teach anymore?”

“I know. I was just as surprised as you,” sighed Wanda, “But she said we’ve progressed to a new level of our development. As our mentor she must step back now and allow us to grow into our own right.”

“Selene said that?” said Rogue skeptically, “Since when does she let go of anything?”

“They are her words, not mine,” said Wanda, “Talk to her if you wish. She’ll tell you the same thing, I assure you. But her wishes were clear. Kurt and I are to spend more time with our fellow pawns and less time learning directly from her. I admit I’m a little saddened I won’t receive more lessons from her. I felt I was truly raising my power to a new level. But these were her wishes and I must respect them.”

“Ja, and besides, it vill give us time to mend zhe rift zhat came between us,” added Kurt, “Ve are family, after all. And now zhat my dear Vanda and I are together, ve should work to get along.”

Pietro and Rogue looked at their siblings strangely. On one hand it was nice to hear they wouldn’t be getting extra tutoring from Selene. They weren’t sure what the Black Queen’s motives were. They couldn’t even be sure if they were telling the truth. But at the moment that was secondary to this revelation that Wanda and Kurt were all the sudden an item. It seemed to come out of nowhere. Even though they had been working together with Selene for a while now, they never saw any indication they were getting so close. It still felt very strange and they could tell.

“Ah uh…don’t know what to say, Kurt,” said Rogue, her mood shifting a bit.

“You don’t have to say anything, mien sister,” said Kurt, “I vas hoping you vould be happy for me. I have finally found love.”

“No it ain’t that, Kurt. It’s just this all seems a little…”

“Weird?” said Pietro, who had a much more skeptical demeanor, “Wanda, this doesn’t feel right. First you want to learn everything from Selene and yell at me to no end about it. Now she up and cuts you free and you’re up here happily humping around on a roof with a boyfriend you never told me about!”

“Oh Pietro, why so tense?” said Wanda wryly, “I would hope you would be happy for me too. You do want me to be happy, don’t you?”

“Of course, but…”

But Wanda cut him off again, reaching forth and putting her finger over his lips. This had gone on long enough. It was time to settle this and get things back to a sense of normalcy. That is, as normal as they could manage in a place like the Hellfire Club.

Wanda and Kurt finally parted and approached their frustrated siblings. Wanda affectionately brought her brother into a sisterly hug and Kurt affectionately caressed his sister’s face. Rogue and Pietro couldn’t help but feel a little awkward since they were still naked, but they never turned away from their wanting gaze.

“It’s okay now, Pietro. We don’t have to fight anymore,” said Wanda, her grin never waning, “I don’t want my training with Mistress Selene to come between us. I want us all to be closer. We’re in this together, remember?”

“Well said, my love,” said Kurt as he hovered close to Rogue, “Ve shouldn’t fight. Ve should help each other. I’m sure mother vill sleep a lot easier knowing ve have found our place here and are learning on our own terms now.”

Pietro and Rogue stood in a daze before their naked siblings. They seemed so sincere even if they did harbor this strange new look in their eye. Despite Selene’s influence, they were still siblings and they were still pawns of the same illustrious organization. They wanted to stay close to their siblings. Pietro didn’t even remember a time when Wanda wasn’t in his life and Kurt was the only brother Rogue had ever known. A lot was still sinking in after finding them like this, doing a sex ritual on the roof. But it was the most meaningful conversation they had about this issue to date.

“Now then, are we going to lay this matter to rest or what?” said Wanda more seriously.

“Wanda, you know I can’t just up and forget something that’s caused this many problems between us,” said Pietro, sounding serious as well.

“I know. But I want us to try. Can we at least do that? Give me a chance and Kurt as well. It’ll all be better for us in the long run. I promise.”

“Me too,” said Kurt, “You have my undying vord.”

Rogue and Pietro looked at each other and then back at their siblings. It sounded so inviting, laying this all to rest and being a family again. They would still have to content with Kurt and Wanda being an item and all, but compared to Selene it was much better problem to have. So they each let out a sigh and embraced their siblings back as best they could, trying hard to avoid too much contact with their nude bodies.

“Okay…I’ll try,” said Pietro.

“Me too,” said Rogue.

Wanda’s ominous grin widened. It was going better than she hoped. Mistress Selene was sure to be pleased.

“Great! I’m glad we worked that out,” said Wanda, giving her brother a peck on the cheek, “Now why don’t you and Rogue relax in the lounge for a bit? Kurt and I will join you after we clean up.”

“Um…sure,” said Pietro, still feeling very awkward being kissed by his naked sister.

“Yeah, sounds fun,” said Rogue, also feeling awkward as she hugged her brother.

It was an overdue sibling moment for both of them. But something about it still felt off. Pietro and Rogue knew their siblings enough to know it was there, but whatever it was it didn’t feel serious enough to warrant major concern. Kurt and Wanda seemed sincere enough and as their siblings they were inclined to believe them. They had been family a lot longer than they had known Selene and that kind of trust didn’t fade easily. So they left Kurt and Wanda to clean up on the roof, hoping this was the last they would hear of this issue.

Once they were gone though, Kurt and Wanda rejoined back on the carpet where they had been having sex. Wanda’s eyes flashed a purplish hue, drawing Kurt’s loving gaze onto her. It all went so well. They told their siblings just what they wanted to hear and they believed them. Now they would be able to work with the Black Queen with much fewer distractions. So long as they believed they weren’t receiving private training from her, they could keep helping her with her goals. It may involve continually lying to their loving siblings, but that didn’t bother them in the slightest.

“Zhey bought it, my love,” said Kurt, his words dazed with submissive love.

“Indeed,” grinned Wanda with a sadistic smile all too reminiscent of the Black Queen, “And they’ll keep buying it so long as they hear what they want to hear and see what they want to see.”

“But vhat if zhey stop buying it? Vhat do ve do zhen?” he asked warily.

“Oh Kurt, my fuzzy little love slave, don’t concern yourself with such things. Trust me and trust Mistress Selene. It will all eventually lead to something much greater. Rogue and my dear brother will do their part as will everybody. You’ll see…everyone will.”

Kurt smiled affectionately at his lover, not giving any one word a second thought. Wanda then pulled him into a powerful kiss, reminding him who had the authority in this relationship. The power she had over him was strong and she knew it. That spell she cast on him that one night had far reaching affects. It tied him to her no matter who else he slept with or who she came across. But their relationship was just a façade they would have to put up for the foreseeable future. Mistress Selene told them everything they did for her would all lead to something. And they would do what they had to in order to attain it, even if it meant lying and betraying their own family.

Sinister’s Lab

The last of the latest hardware shipments to Sinister’s lab was complete. For nearly the entire night, heavy trucks rolled in with unmarked cargo being unloaded into the rear of X-Industrial Tower. Charles Xavier oversaw the operation, which he orchestrated and Sinister requested. It involved doing business with people he didn’t usually do business with, but he got a number of concessions from it. He watched as Hank rolled large crates in on wheeled carts and opened them with crow bars. Sinister was already eagerly unpacking the gear and he was still on the phone with Tony Stark, the man who sold him this equipment, but reluctantly so.

“I just completed the inventory, Mr. Stark. The last of your shipment is complete. But did you have to go so far as to shave the Stark Industry logos off everything?”

“Believe me, Xavier, it’ll help me sleep easier at night. It’s bad enough I agreed to this. Don’t start criticizing me for taking precautions.”

“Oh come now, Tony, you should feel good about this deal,” said Xavier wryly, “Not only did you sell some excess hardware at a good premium, you managed to deliver a serious blow to Hammer Industries, someone I know for a fact you have little admiration for.”

“I’ll give you that, but did your people have to leave such a mess at the docks! The body count was way too high even for Hammer’s thugs!”

“Can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs, my friend,” said Xavier smugly.

“You’re a monster, Charles.”

“No, I’m just a man willing to do what it takes to get things done.”

“And that’s a real shame because you could be doing a lot of good with your power.”

Xavier rolled his eyes and sighed. Why did so many people tell him that? It was annoying and condescending. He honestly couldn’t see how being a good guy would make that big a difference. Doing good always handicapped him and it cost him dearly. There was so much more he could do as the world’s greatest telepath by being indifferent to the good/evil struggle. He could care less if men like Stark had a problem with it.

“Perhaps in another life, Mr. Stark,” said the Black King, “Don’t forget to send me the contact information for that ‘special’ individual I requested.”

“It’s already in your inbox.”

“Excellent. I thank you again for your business. I hope we can make more deals in the future.”

“For all our sake I hope it never comes to that.”

Tony hung up after that, leaving Xavier to shrug and shift his attention to the task at hand. The deal with Tony Stark had been two-fold. For one, he needed some of Stark Industry’s most advanced computer hardware for Sinister to carry out his experiments on the newly acquired goblin gas from Oscorp. Sinister insisted his systems weren’t enough to make the progress he wanted. Xavier was never inclined to believe him, but if he wanted him to make something out of that gas he had to go along. He just had to make sure every part of these machines was hardwired with monitoring equipment so he could keep an eye on him. Sage was already working on it and assured him Sinister couldn’t deceive them. He hoped she was right.

The second goal in making a deal with Tony Stark was to get the contact information of a specific individual that only the Avengers knew about. That individual, he hoped, would help him in his ongoing quest to have a counter for Selene’s growing power. Having sensed some mysterious activity from her and Wanda earlier, he began making plans. Both had the benefit of having magic on their side, which could potentially give them an unfair edge should the balance of power shift. But if what he saw in Jean Grey earlier was any indication, the Black Queen’s monopoly on magic and all those with potential in it wouldn’t last long. He only hoped this woman he heard about in a few closed circles was as good as everybody said she was.

“I believe that is the last crate, sir,” said Hank, letting out a tired sigh as he set down the last heavy load.

“Good. Do you have everything you need, Essex?” asked Charles, turning towards Sinister.

“Oh yes, this should greatly speed up my research,” he grinned, “I appreciate you pulling off such an ambitious deal, Charles. I know Tony Stark is not the easiest man to do business with. His hatred for you is quite strong.”

“I’ll send him some strippers for his birthday and he’ll be fine,” said Xavier, “But all this hardware doesn’t come without strings, Nathan. With this kind of investment, I expect to see dividends sooner rather than later.”

“Patience, Charles, science cannot be rushed,” warned Sinister, “The goals you have for this goblin gas you acquired are quite vast. It is going to take some time to refine.”

“I’m sure someone of your skill can provide results in a timely fashion. You always boast you can.”

“Don’t patronize me, Charles. You cannot just throw money at something and expect it to bear fruit.”

“Maybe not, but I expect you to produce, Sinister. You’re a brilliant man, nobody denies that, but don’t overestimate your worth. You may find one day you don’t have upper hand you thought you did.”

There was a subtle, yet forceful subtext to Xavier’s tone. He chose to leave Sinister to digest that and left to return to the manor. These were important times for the Hellfire Club and he needed his plans to progress. Sinister was always a wildcard and he always suspected he was up to something. But lately he was suspecting even more than usual. He kept his secrets closely guarded and so did that young student of his, Hank McCoy. As he walked out he gave him a stern look, making it clear that he couldn’t always hide behind Sinister. Hank seemed to get the message and Xavier noticed him put a shield up around his mind, no doubt something Sinister taught him to do. But Xavier didn’t bother with the boy yet. He doubted Sinister told him much anyways. He would keep an eye on him though. So long as he and Sinister were working for Hellfire they would adhere to their guidelines.

Sinister didn’t give Xavier’s threats too much credence though. As far as he was concerned, it was just his way of reminding him he was in charge. That may be true in some ways, but that power he wielded would be meaningless in the long run. Looking over his new array of hardware, the stage was set for his grandest project yet. The goblin gas was one part, the chunk of Remy’s brain was another, and these machines were the last. Stark Industries was the only company in the world that made the components he needed to bring them all together. The task ahead of them would be long and arduous, but the end result would be well worth it.

“He seemed serious,” said Hank in a worried tone.

“He’s just bitter he had to make a deal with Tony Stark. He’ll get over it,” assured Sinister, “In the meantime, start unloading those bio-aetheric reactors over there. Careful though, they’re fragile. We need them to begin a new round of tests.”

“Yes sir. And what kind of tests will we be doing this time?”

“That, my boy, I can’t tell. All I can say is you’ll have an idea of what we’re working towards very soon.”

The ominous nature of Sinister’s tone more or less silenced Hank as he wordlessly complied. He had grown used to his mentor’s strange nature. It used to bother him, but not so much anymore. He had been working with Sinister long enough to know how he worked. He wasn’t the most ethical man of science to say the least, but he was making the kind of progress most researchers could only dream of. He used to have reservations, but now he was too caught up in this grand scheme of his to pull back now. He was part of Sinister’s plan and he wanted to see where it would go.

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Up next: Xavier and Selene set up an initiation ritual for the pawns as one phase of their plans ends and the next phase begins.