New Blood II: Growing Ranks

New Blood
Chapter 2: New Wave

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Department H

It was another boring day at Department H for Mystique, but after four years of working undercover on this mission she was used to it. There were times she wondered why Xavier kept her here. It wasn’t like there were other more eventful missions out there for her. Ever since she brought that Remy Lebeau in she had been relegated to undercover work, which she was better suited for anyways. There were times she missed the excitement, but at least with this job she could more easily keep in touch with her kids. She tried to call them every week to see how they were doing and visited whenever she could get some time off. For the most part they were fine although she did worry sometimes. Rogue matured somewhat slower than the other pawns due to her rebellious nature, but she was beginning to come around. And Kurt was still somewhat dark at times, but he seemed to balance it out well. Sometimes she suspected it may be an act, but with so many duties between them it was hard to be sure.

Over the past four years her work at Department H expanded well beyond the initial mission to investigate Weapon X. In addition to her sleuthing, she acted as the Hellfire Club’s eyes and ears in the upper levels of the Canadian and American military. She provided numerous files on their secret activities. Everything from advanced weapons research to the private lives of a few high ranking officials was fair game and the Inner Circle used it to great effect. She had already seen some of the results while she had been working here. A few officers got fired, a few weapons secrets were leaked to other countries, and a couple of spies were ousted. The shape shifted couldn’t help but smile every time she saw the fruits of her labor. The Hellfire Club was nothing if not efficient, but their main goal evaded them.

Despite going over countless documents, Weapon X remained an elusive and mysterious entity. Many of the people involved were either dead or missing. There were a few names that kept coming up like Dr. Abraham Cornelius, but they were hard to come by. The deeper she dug the more walls she hit and every time she went through another layer of red tape, she hit another dead end. She was beginning to think this wasn’t an ordinary weapons program. It was like it took on a life of its own since it started decades ago. But Xavier remained interested in uncovering its secrets.

Even though she encountered many dead ends, there were still two important figures that kept coming up that she knew were out there. One was Victor Creed, or Sabretooth as he was referred to as in the files. She knew him well and on a very personal level. She knew he was part of this affair from the beginning. She even suspected that was why Xavier chose her for this mission. But all points considered she hoped to never face him again.

The second subject was much more promising. He was Logan, codename Wolverine. He had been very active these past few years. Like her, he had been looking to uncover the secrets of Weapon X. Only his reasons were far more personal. She read some of the details about what they did to him and there was little doubt he was angry and had vengeance on his mind. Department H kept a close eye on him, but he always seemed to slip back under the radar. Xavier told her to keep track of him if she could. It sounded like his goals and their goals were intertwined. If they crossed paths they may be able to make an arrangement. Mystique sure wouldn’t mind meeting him. Anybody who Sabretooth hated with such a passion couldn’t be all bad.

At the moment she was returning from the archives with a new batch of files. It was getting late and she preferred working late at night. This way she didn’t have to deal with the scrutiny of the rest of Alpha Flight. She got the feeling they didn’t trust her, but they were too busy to be suspicious. With all the conflict going on concerning mutant affairs (some of which the Hellfire Club orchestrated) they had their hands full. She also hoped to pay another visit to Hellfire Manor soon to visit her kids. That and she needed to get laid. The pickings here in Department H just weren’t cutting it anymore.

She was thumbing through some of the files when she passed near a partially open door with the lights still on. At first Mystique thought it was just the janitor cleaning up or something, but then she heard the distinct voice of Heather Hudson and she sounded worried.

“Logan you’re talking crazy! You can’t seriously believe that breaking into an active nuclear disposal facility is going to get you anywhere! Why would they even have any information about Weapon X to begin with?”

As soon as she mentioned the name Logan, Mystique took an immediate interest. She moved in closer and carefully listened in. It was hard to make out at first, but she could distinctly hear a gruff voice on the other end. And he sounded pretty determined.

“I don’t know, but can you honestly think of a better place to keep a secret? I did some checking on this place and it’s been active since the Cold War.”

“Which is all the more reason to stay away! Why do you insist on investigating this place anyways? You don’t even know if you’ll find anything.”

“Because I got a lead, Heather! I’ve been tracking Sabretooth around the area and if he’s here that’s all the convincing I need!”

“But it could be a trap!”

“You think I don’t know that? That’s never stopped me before and it ain’t stopping me now! I’m goin’ in, Heather! You can either help me or hang up the damn phone and go back to your government sponsored circus act!”

His words were harsh and they seemed to hit Heather Hudson pretty hard. Mystique even saw tears in her eyes. She must have really had a soft spot for this guy. She did hear that while Logan was with Alpha Flight he had a thing for this woman, but she didn’t return the sentiment. Judging by what she was seeing it was a little deeper than that.

“Logan please…don’t do this.”

“I have to darlin’. Now are you gonna help me or not?”

Heather paused for a moment and sighed. Mystique could see some real frustration in her demeanor, but she also saw a touch of guilt. She may only be a spy, but even she knew there were major consequences for helping someone attack a government facility. This woman must have had more sentiment for this Logan character than she let on.

“Fine…I’ll help,” she said, “But remember Logan, if Alpha Flight is called to the scene we won’t hesitate to take you down.”

“So what else is new? Now get a pen and paper because I’m gonna need some major info if I’m gonna pull this off.”

“Okay, I’ll do what I can,” she said sadly, “I just need a little time. I’ll have to cover my tracks.”

“I know the drill, darlin’.”

Raven smiled as she watched Heather jot down some notes for Logan. This was the opportunity she had been waiting for. If Logan was going to attempt something this foolhardy it would give the Hellfire Club the perfect chance to move in. He sounded like someone who wasn’t all that concerned with odds. He didn’t care if it was a trap or if he would face his own comrades. All that mattered to him was uncovering the truth. There was something about that kind of brazen attitude Mystique found alluring. Maybe it was just the lack of sex talking, but the more she learned about this man the more interested she was in meeting him.

After jotting down a few notes herself she silently returned to her officer where she planned to send Xavier a message. He heard he was busy with a new round of recruiting, but she had no doubts he would jump at this opportunity. What better way to add to Hellfire’s ranks than bringing in a product of Weapon X? It was a great opportunity for the Hellfire Club and an even better opportunity for her to finally get out of this boring job.

Hellfire Manor – Outside Ritual Room

It was late afternoon when Lord Xavier sent a telepathic message to all the pawns to meet in the ritual room. Six new young mutants had just arrived and were about to get ‘initiated’ in the Hellfire ways. Everybody was expected to be on hand for that, not just because it was important to meet the newest class of pawns but because it was sure to be a spectacle. If their initiation was anything like the ones the first class faced they were in for quite a show.

But for Scott and Pietro, it was hard getting excited about the prospect of new pawns. They had a number of issues going on at the moment, much of which was related to this latest drive by Xavier and Selene to expand the Inner Circle. In addition to seeking out young mutant prospects through traditional means, they inquired to them about bringing in their mutant siblings. One of the many secrets Pietro uncovered about his father since joining the Hellfire Club was that he fathered another child named Lorna with a women he met after his and Wanda’s mother died. At first he was disgusted, but he came to expect no less from Magneto. Lord Xavier later revealed that her powers manifested a while back. Like her father, Lorna had the power to manipulate magnetism. That made her a potentially potent weapon, but getting her on board wasn’t going to be easy and Pietro wasn’t looking forward to it. At first he tried passing off the task to Wanda, but Lord Xavier insisted on him taking it up. He suspected it was because he didn’t trust Wanda as much, but that was another issue.

Scott had a sibling that manifested mutant abilities recently. It was his younger brother, Alex Summers. Shortly after the plane crash, he and Alex were separated. He had the luck of not having to deal with brain damage so he was adopted by the Blandings family, who recently lost their son in a car accident. After that he and Scott didn’t talk much until they were teenagers. And by then a rift had developed between them. Alex grew up in the comforts of a loving family while he grew up as an outcast at the orphanage. They tried meeting up a few times, but after Scott joined the Hellfire Club they pretty much lost contact completely. Now that Alex was exhibiting mutant powers, Lord Xavier wanted him to reach out to his brother again. It was a daunting task that he was not looking forward to. But since the order came from Lord Xavier and Mistress Selene, neither he nor Pietro had a choice.

“So Lord Xavier wants you to bring in your wayward sibling too, huh?” said Pietro as they walked towards the ritual chamber.

“Yeah, and we haven’t spoken in over four years,” sighed Scott, “I don’t know how happy he’ll be to see me.”

“That still sounds better than trying to win over a sibling you’ve never met. It’s ironic because when I first heard my father had a child with another woman I was furious he never told us. Then I figured he probably didn’t even know since he never tried to recruit her for the Brotherhood. I wonder if he even remembers the woman he knocked up.”

“You could always ask him. He is still alive you know,” said Scott in a half-joking, half-serious tone.

“I’ll pass,” muttered the speedster, “I’m still not ready to face my father yet. I have enough problems keeping an eye on Wanda.”

“Does she know about Lorna?”

“Yes, but I get the feeling she doesn’t care. She’s too caught up in her own shit to be bothered by family affairs even if they do involve long lost siblings. But that’s another issue I’d rather not get into.”

“I don’t blame you,” said Scott.

Even though Wanda said she wasn’t taking private lessons from Selene, Pietro suspected that wasn’t the full story. She continued to play a major role in Hellfire rituals, using her hexing talents to enhance curses, power enhancement, and sex spells. But he still noticed how comfortable she was around Selene. He wanted to believe that she wasn’t learning from that dangerous woman, but his gut told him she was deeply involved in her affairs. He just couldn’t prove it. Even with his speed, there was only so much ground he could cover.

“So why do you think Lord Xavier and Mistress Selene want to bring in our siblings anyways?” pondered Pietro, eager not to get off on a tangent about Wanda.

“I don’t know,” shrugged Scott, “Maybe they think it’ll just be easier since we can play the family loyalty card.”

“Perhaps, but sometimes I suspect there’s more to it than that.”

“How do you figure?” said Scott curiously.

“Just think about it from a purely pragmatic perspective. With family on board there’s more motivation. You don’t want your own siblings turning against you so you work harder to have them get along. I get the feeling this is Xavier’s way of getting me to be more proactive.”

“Sounds logical. You do have the tendency spend too much time at the strip clubs and spas than carrying out your duties,” said Scott with a slight smirk.

“Shut up,” scorned the speedster, “I get that enough from my sister.”

“Well here’s your chance to prove her wrong,” said Scott, “But what about me? Why would Lord Xavier want to bring in Alex when I’m plenty motivated? I am the field leader for Hellfire’s covert forces after all.”

“I don’t know. Maybe he just wants someone to keep you on your toes since you seem to spend too much time with Jean Grey. He must be worried about you getting too soft or something.”

Now it was Scott’s turn to scorn.

“I’ve never let me being with Jean affect my performance when it mattered!”

“Whatever you say, Summers,” laughed Pietro snidely, “Of course there was that time you guys were hunting down those spies for the Avengers and one of them snuck up on her while she was interrogating someone. You got so worked up you shot the guy’s head off before we could even get any useful information out of him.”

“That didn’t prevent us from getting the job done, did it? We still found those other spies and made them pay,” retorted Scott.

“Perhaps, but it could easily have gone the wrong way if you killed the wrong guy.”

Scott fell silent. He faced this kind of criticism before. There was no doubt Jean affected him whenever she was near, even on missions. That mission Pietro mentioned was just one of handful and Xavier did lecture him about it a couple of times. He vividly remembered that moment when that man attacked Jean. For a moment his focus shattered and he tore into the bastard who did without thinking. It was one of the few times he could lose track of the mission, but he never let it get in the way of getting the job done. It concerned him. He loved Jean, but he had to make sure that what they had was a strength and not a weakness.

“I won’t belabor the point if you don’t drone on about my motivation,” Pietro went on, “But for now lets just agree we’re in a no-win situation. We have to reach out to siblings who probably don’t want anything to do with us and convince them to join the Hellfire Club.”

“That I won’t argue,” said Scott, “But you should consider yourself lucky in some respects, Pietro. My brother and I have a history of bitterness while this Lorna girl doesn’t even know you.”

“I don’t see how that makes a difference given my father left her,” muttered the speedster.

“But he left you and Wanda too for a while. You have a chance to build a relationship with another sibling. I know things between you and Wanda haven’t always been peachy. Maybe it can be different with Lorna.”

Pietro never thought of that. It did sound kind of appealing. He and Wanda used to be really close even though they bickered constantly. Then when Magneto came along a rift between them formed. Then the Selene affair happened and it got even worse. He had any number of chances to make things better, but he was too stubborn and impulsive to act on them. Maybe with Lorna it could be different. Maybe he could be to her what he wished he could be to Wanda. It was an interesting prospect. If nothing else he would do more than his father ever could for her.

“Maybe your right. I guess we’ll have to wait and see,” said the speedster.

“Guess so,” sighed Scott, “But let’s not dwell on this issue for now. We’ve got a new class of pawns to break in and you know what that involves.”

“Damn straight,” grinned Pietro, “And I don’t want to miss it.”

The two men arrived at the entrance to the ritual chamber. It was almost time and the new class of pawns were about to get a crash course in the Hellfire way. It should be interesting to see, not to mention entertaining. Plus, it might be nice having a class of pawns beneath them. They would have some authority over them, which opened the door to so many interesting possibilities.

Hellfire Manor – Ritual Room

The six newest recruits for the Hellfire Club had been in a constant state of awe since their arrival. They all arrived around the same time at JFK airport on different flights. There a woman named Sage greeted them and an ape-like man named Hank drove them in a limousine to the manor. The outside alone was impressive enough, but when they saw the inside they were really stunned. Even Roberto, who had a rich father, was impressed by such opulence. It gave off the feeling of power and prestige. There was also a distinctly dark feel to it at times with the way the male guard were dressed. Kitty Pryde, Bobby Drake, Sam Guthrie, Jubilation Lee, Roberto Da Costa, and Tabitha Smith had seen only part of the opulent Hellfire Manor, but it was enough to leave a grand impression. But there was no going back now. They all made the decision to come here and they were all going to see it through.

They were eventually led into what Sage called the Ritual Room. She didn’t say specify what kind of rituals she meant, but if the layout of the room was any indication it was pretty elaborate. The whole area was big and spacious, as if it were a ball room of sorts. There were no tables or chairs, just wall-to-wall red carpeting. There were candle stands all around the perimeter of the room, each of which was lit to illuminate the walls of occult art and symbolism. At the front of the room was a stage-like area with what looked to be thrones. Hanging over them and filling the area with an ominous dim light was a golden chandelier, which also illuminated various symbols on the floor. Nobody knew what they meant, but their elaborate nature made clear they weren’t just for décor.

Now standing in the center of the room, Sage made her way towards a chamber door near the stage.

“Wait here,” Sage told them, “I must see if my superiors are ready for you.”

“Sure thing, Miss Sage. Just stand around and wait in a freaky-looking ritual chamber…nothing hard about that,” said Bobby as he gazed over the room.

“Don’t tell me you’re scared, Drake,” said Jubilee, who wasn’t intimidated easily.

“I’m not scared!” he retorted, “This just isn’t the kind of welcoming I was expecting.”

“You and me both,” said Kitty, “Anybody else think this feels a little off?”

“You’re in good company,” said Sam, “This is the first time Ah’ve been in a big city, let alone a place like this.”

“I’m sure it’s all for a reason,” said Roberto, “My dad knows these people. He told me to just be patient and go along.”

That was easier said than done. Many still had questions about this place and the people involved in it. When they were approached they were only told minimal details. They knew this place was called the Hellfire Club, they knew they recruited mutants, and they knew they were very rich and powerful. But other than that they knew nothing. When they arrived Sage told them they were going to meet a man named Charles Xavier and a woman named Selene. She didn’t specify whether it would be a simple greeting or involve something else. But whatever the case they were going to find out soon.

“Go along, huh? That’s comforting,” said Jubilee somewhat warily, “Your dad tell you anything else about this Hellfire Club, Roberto?”

“Nope. He was pretty tight lipped about it,” said Roberto, “And that’s odd because he usually tells me everything.”

“Based on this room alone I say they’re some sort of power cult that conducts satanic rituals to further their power,” said Bobby.

“Oh get real Bobby,” said Kitty, who rolled her eyes, “Since when do rich people worship the devil?”

“Hey, you never know,” said Tabitha, who was kind of enthralled by so much occult symbolism, “I think it would be kind of cool, you know? I’ve always wondered about that stuff.”

“What? The devil?” said Kitty.

“No, occult magic and shit. Just think about it this way…we live in a world with the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and a whole bunch of other good natured heroes that stand for truth, justice, and what not. And despite all those positive influences, there are people out there who still go with the other side.”

“What’s your point?” said Sam curiously.

“I don’t know. It just makes you wonder I guess,” she shrugged, “I’ve seen enough bad shit in my life to know there isn’t enough justice to go around for everybody. I mean honestly, can any one of us say the world is just place?”

“Hell no,” said Bobby, scoffing at the notion, “But what’s that got to do with this Hellfire Club?”

Then before anybody could answer they all heard a strange voice in their minds.

‘More than you think, Robert.’

The six mutant teens looked at each other strangely for a moment. Some knew it was a telepathic voice, but they never heard this voice before.

“Did…you guys hear that too?” said Bobby.

“Yeah, I think we all did,” said Jubilee.

“But what in the hell was it?” said Sam, sounding more anxious since he hadn’t experienced telepathic communication before.

Then the same voice answered.

‘Turn around and you’ll see.’

Bobby, Jubilee, Kitty, Sam, Tabitha, and Roberto all turned towards the stage area where the thrones were. The chamber door where Sage disappeared into had opened and a new presence entered. He was a bald, tall, slimly built man dressed in fancy Victorian attire. He carried with him an aura of prestige and power. They weren’t sure how, but they knew that he had to be the source of the voice. But he wasn’t alone. Following close behind him was an equally imposing woman dressed in similarly styled lingerie that was all black and very revealing. Some of the boys had to stop themselves from staring too much. Then behind her a group of other younger looking men and women entered. Each was dressed in similar styles with the men wearing Victorian suits and the women wearing revealing lingerie.

None of them said a word as the group of younger men and women positioned themselves around the perimeter of the room, standing silently in a large circle as if to make them feel closed in. It was a little intimidating because it felt like they were there to keep them from running away. In every direction they looked there was someone standing there eyeing them ominously. It was as if they knew what was coming for them and they were excited to see it. That didn’t help with the strange feeling to this place. Bobby’s theory of a satanic cult sounded a lot more likely all of the sudden.

“Welcome to the Hellfire Club,” said the bald man, “I hope your flight in was pleasant. I’m sure you’re all anxious for some answers, but let’s start with the basics. I am Charles Xavier, the world’s most powerful telepath and bearer of the title of Black King to this illustrious organization.”

“And I am Selene, bearer of the title Black Queen,” said the woman next to him.

“King and queen? You do know the Middle Ages are over, don’t you? This is the twenty-first century last I checked,” said Tabitha, clearly not as intimidated as the others.

“I’d hold your tongue if I were you,” said Selene sternly, “It is not nice to be snide in the presence of an immortal woman who can inflict torment upon you like the very fires of hell itself!”

Tabitha Smith wasn’t silenced often. She never usually had a problem thumbing her nose at an authority figure. But when that woman looked her in the eye and threatened her like that, she shut right up. The others were pretty impressed if not a little freaked out. With a tone like that and in a place like this she might not be exaggerating.

“Easy Selene, no need to get temperamental,” coaxed Xavier, “They are new after all. I’m sure much of what they’ve seen from us so far has seemed strange. They may know who we are, but they don’t know what we’re about. And seeing as how they’ve all made the arduous trip here they deserve an explanation.”

“That better be all they deserve,” she said under her breath.

Tabitha shifted awkwardly under the woman’s gaze. Everybody did. Selene was as intimidating as she was beautiful. There was something in her eyes that was very dark. And if her tone was any indication she wasn’t very friendly either.

“Dang, that woman is spooky,” commented Sam.

“Shh! Don’t tempt her, man! Just shut up and listen,” replied Roberto.

Xavier grinned at how fast they all shut up. As abrasive as Selene could be, she had a way with teenagers. Even they were foolish enough to annoy her. Now he had their undivided attention and he would need it for what was to come. So with his usual confident poise he stepped down from the stage and walked up to his newest recruits.

“You’ve all come from varying walks of life,” began the Black King, “Some of you come from small towns. Others come from big cities. Some of you have stable parents. Others don’t have any family at all. But you all have one thing in common. You’ve all endured great injustices. Much of it has to do with your mutant abilities. Some involve forces outside your control. But the reason we brought you here has nothing to do the past. It has everything to do with the present.”

Xavier then turned towards Jean and nodded. She nodded back and used her telekinetic powers to float a copy of today’s paper towards him. Once in hand he opened the front page and showed it to the young recruits. The headline read “More Mutant Chaos. Is there an End in Sight?”

“I’m sure you’re all aware of the current state of affairs. As the mutant population grows, so too does mankind’s wariness. Just as it has throughout history, mankind’s fear of change has caused them to react irrationally and often violently. You’ve all gotten a taste of this in your respective lives, but have you ever actually stopped and thought about why it happens? Just think about it. Human civilization is thousands of years old. It has seen these sorts of changes before and yet it always reacts the same way. What does that tell you?”

Everybody was silent for a moment, but Xavier seemed to want an answer. They all looked at each other for a moment, daring one another to give it a try. Finally Bobby came through.

“Um…it’s messed up?”

“Oh that’s putting it mildly, my boy,” laughed Xavier, “I would go so far as to call it insane. Isn’t the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result? So why, pray tell, does it keep happening? Before mutants, it was races. Before races it was other empires. And even before that it was rival tribes and clans. So what’s the common theme here? What keeps all these forces acting with such insanity?”

More silence followed, but Bobby, Kitty, Sam, Jubilee, Roberto, and Tabitha found themselves intrigued by this man’s musings. They never thought about the issue of why humans fear them so much in that great of depth, but this man seemed to have it figured out. And he didn’t wait for them to guess this time.

“The answer is chaos,” he said sternly, “The chaos of an uncertain world instills fear, that fear feeds anxiety, and anxiety feeds irrational thinking and even more irrational behavior. Civilization has only progressed when varying degrees of order have been instilled. That is because order is the cure for chaos. But throughout history mankind has been limited in their abilities to instill order. The most common way to do so has been through force, using the threat of pain and death to hold society together. In other cases man uses persuasion, making deals with one another on an economic front to provide incentives for order. It allows for the growth of wealth, but does little for society at large. But while man is forever doomed to accept his limitations, mutants offer much more.”

Xavier then started backing towards the throne area. They could see a touch of excitement in his demeanor as he talked about this subject. It was as if he had been working on it his whole life.

“The Hellfire Club has a long tradition of instilling order through traditional and non-traditional means. Since its inception, we have always sought out special beings with capabilities beyond those of normal humans. For over two centuries they have made up the core of our organization and our ideology. We believe that power of any kind, especially those of exceptional beings, should be used in its fullest and without constraint. For you see it is only when you have power that others cannot match that you can truly instill your will upon them. And it is only through the consolidation of others with similar power that true order can be enforced.”

Xavier then gestured towards Selene, who stepped down from her throne and stood besides him. She smiled ominously at the nervous young mutants. They looked afraid, but they also looked very much intrigued by what Xavier was getting at. It was a point she always enjoyed reinforcing with a few tricks of her own.

“Each one of you has a power that sets you apart from society,” said the Black Queen, “I’m sure you’ve all seen them as curses at some point. But great power is only a curse to those who don’t know how to wield it. And even for those that do, it is only when that power is used without restraint or conscious that all your desires can be fulfilled.”

To show her point Selene formed a ball with both hands and chanted a mysterious Latin phrase. Then before the bewildered eyes of the new recruits, a brilliant ball of yellow light formed in her palms and grew to a point where it shined with the radiance of a miniature star. Then in a show of force Selene directed the ball to a nearby candle stand, causing each candle to burn away into ashes. It was quite a show of force and it left the six young mutants amazed and awestruck.

“Damn!” exclaimed Tabitha.

“Wow, that’s hot. And that from a guy who can light himself on fire!” said Roberto.

“How…how did you do that?” ask Sam in astonishment.

“Yeah, I’ve never seen a mutant power like that!” said Jubilee.

“Oh those weren’t my mutant powers,” grinned Selene, “That was good old fashioned magic. It’s just one of the many tools the Hellfire Club uses to further our goals. That and it also makes for entertaining recreation.”

“What do you mean recreation?” asked Kitty.

“Oh you’ll find out very soon,” said the Black Queen, “But first you must make a decision. Isn’t that right, Charles?”

“Indeed,” agreed Xavier, “We did not just bring you here to talk philosophical musings. We brought you here because we believe you each have the potential to do more with your abilities. You’ve all lived in an unjust world that has robbed you of your greatest desires. You’re angry and bitter and have every right to be. But here at the Hellfire Club you can rise above it all. Here you can maximize your potential and enjoy all the pleasures and comforts those with great power should enjoy.”

“Comforts, huh? What kind of comforts are we talking about?” said Tabitha, the idea resonating after living in poverty for the past year.

“And what about money? Ah got family that needs it bad back home,” added Sam.

“Yeah, me too. My folks are on the ropes,” said Kitty.

“Oh you all will be very generously compensated. And for those of you with family, they will never have to worry about money again,” said Xavier confidently, “Now this compensation will not come free. You must earn it by embracing our ways and serving our organization. But know that you’ll be serving an organization that works to instill order onto this chaotic world. There are some things we do you may find objectionable at first, but rest assured they are necessary. It is all building to a grand future…one which the Hellfire Club will dominate. And you have the chance to be a part of it. Will you take that chance or will you go back to meager lives of perpetual injustice?”

Xavier knew how to present his case. When put like that, the choice seemed fairly obvious. None of them had much to go back to. If they did they would face only hardship with family troubles and the inability to get ahead because of their mutant status. But here they were faced with a new choice. If they joined the Hellfire Club all their old problems would be resolved. That said nothing about the other problems they would face. Looking at Selene and the others surrounding them, there was no telling what would be required of them. But there were no good alternatives.

Bobby, Jubilee, Kitty, Sam, Roberto, and Tabitha each looked at each other and then at the individuals that brought them in. Kitty looked over at Piotr, Bobby looked over at Emma, Jubilee looked over at Jean and Rogue, Sam looked over at James Poundstar, Roberto looked over at Warren, and Tabitha looked over at Wanda. They were all smiling at them as if to reassure them that the opportunity they had before them was a good one. But still there were uncertainties.

“So that’s it? You want us to join this Hellfire Club?” asked Kitty.

“In simplest terms, yes,” said Xavier, “But bear in mind that joining the Hellfire Club is no laughing matter. Once you swear yourself to us you cannot take it back.”

“So you’re basically asking for a lifetime commitment,” summarized Roberto.

“Indeed, but as my other associates have probably told you by now it is well worth it.”

“Forgive me for being rude sir, but that’s asking quite a bit,” said Kitty.

“Yeah, you can’t expect us to just roll over and swear our lives to something when we don’t even know if you’ll deliver on all these lofty promises,” said Tabitha.

It was the same issue they faced with the first class of pawns. They were hesitant to swear their lives to an organization they barely knew anything about. They may be young, but they weren’t fools. But it was just the kind of resistance Xavier and Selene were hoping for. And for the first class of pawns, all of which were still watching intently, they knew what was coming next.

“So you’re saying you need more incentive?” said Selene with a coy smirk, “Very well, I suppose we can provide you with a brief taste of how we do things. I’m sure you’ll find it very convincing.”

The Black Queen approached the six confused teens and raised her left hand. She then closed her eyes and chanted another phrase in an unknown language. It was a phrase the elder pawns knew very well and one these new pawns would become very familiar with. It caused another ball of energy to form in her hands. It wasn’t like the first one. This one was flashing red and pink. And this one seemed to be aimed at them. Some like Kitty and Sam took a step back while the rest just watched on with growing curiosity. The ball increased in size and brightness. It was almost as if it was drawing them in somehow. Then with a forceful gesture, Selene slung the energy at the six bewildered teens.

When it hit them they all gasped. The reddish pink glow now surrounded their bodies and burned around them like a halo. It felt like being shocked at first, but then it quickly turned into this powerful feeling of being filled with a strange energy. It was invigorating and hot, making the air around them feel at least ten degrees warmer. All of the sudden the only thoughts they had were of lust and desire. The women felt the area between their thighs become slick with arousal and the men felt their pants tighten as a result of bulging erections. Whatever this energy was it was very sexual and making them very horny.

“Ohhhhhhhh!” they all moaned.

“Feel that? It’s the power of desire,” said Selene, seething with anticipation, “My little trick just stirred it up inside you and made it so intense the only way to cope is to give in to it!”

“Give…give in how?” stammered Kitty.

“You know damn well what I mean! Strip!”

Her eyes flashed bright red as she issued her command. It hit the six mutant teens with another overwhelming wave of energy and the next thing they knew their bodies were moving without their minds telling it to. The men nearly tore off their shirts and stumbled as they stepped out of their pants. The women did the same, fumbling with their bras (at least those who were wearing one) and shyly slipping out of their panties. Now completely naked, they all stood anxiously before this intimidating woman. A few like Kitty and Sam tried to hide their private areas while others like Tabitha didn’t seem to care. But Selene would have none of that.

“No cheating!” she barked, forcing Kitty and Sam to remove their hands and display their private areas, “Here at the Hellfire Club we embrace our fleshly desires rather than deny them. So get used to being naked because you’ll be seeing a lot of it around here.”

“Sounds fun,” said Tabitha, who was the only one who was really into it.

Selene smiled. At least one of them wasn’t being so pathetic. She made a note of that, but that was for later. Now came the fun part. First, Wanda stepped in a bit and used her hexing powers to gather up their clothes and toss them aside.

“You won’t be needing these for a while,” she said with a grin that looked every bit as sadistic as Selene.

The six teens barely noticed. They were all so hot and aroused. The men had full-blown erections that were rock hard and the women had moist wetness seeping from their vaginal folds and trailing down their inner thighs. All the higher functions that would usually tell them to stop and think about this situation had been turned off. The only will that carried any weight with them now was Selene’s.

“Now for the real fun!” she said, her eyes flashing again, “Let the fucking begin! Don’t hold back! Don’t stop for anything! Just start fucking and let the pleasure consume you!”

The six mutant teens didn’t say a word and followed the Black Queen’s forceful command. Their free will was temporary subdued. All they could think about now was giving into this burning desire.

They each paired up. Kitty got with Bobby, Sam got with Jubilee, and Roberto got with Tabitha. They started off with lustful groping with the women running their hands down the upper bodies of the men and the men fondling the women’s breasts, thighs, and hips. They were messy and uncoordinated for the most part. Some were clearly virgins and hadn’t done this before. Those that weren’t were a little more enthusiastic about it and got into it easier. Soon their legs refused to carry them and the three pairs wrestled each other to the floor. They were already breathing hard, the burning need within growing stronger by the second. Every time their naked skin touched it set off a firestorm. It was so intense. Even those who were sexually experienced were overwhelmed by it.

They continued with the foreplay initially, exploring each others’ naked bodies with their hungry hands. But it didn’t last long. They needed to fuck and started to get into position. At this point the other pawns moved in closer so they could get a better look. They all seemed to be enjoying the show so far, but even with an audience the six mutant teens were in too dazed a state to care. Kitty laid on her back and held her legs apart while Bobby hovered over her, holding onto her thighs and guiding his cock towards her wet entrance. Jubilee and Sam were in an upright position with Jubilee’s legs arched over his waist while he held onto her butt, her pussy hovering just over his ridged cock. And Tabitha pinned Roberto on his back, straddling his pelvis and hovering just over his member while he continued fondling her breasts. They were all ready to begin, but some still had reservations

“I’m a virgin,” said Kitty through the daze.

“Me too…for the most part,” said Bobby, “It’ll be okay.”

“Just do it quick! I can’t stand it!” she gasped.

Over with Jubilee and Sam it was a similar situation, only with their roles slightly reversed.

“Ah’ve…never done this before,” said Sam, engrossed at the feeling of a naked woman in his lap.

“I have. Don’t worry. You’ll like it,” assured Jubilee in a playful tone.

Over with Tabitha and Roberto, however, there were no such issues. They were both sexually experienced and were much more eager to get it on.

“Damn you’re a hot girl, Tabitha,” grinned Roberto.

“You ain’t seen nothing yet you Brazilian stud!” said the young blonde intently.

Now fully engrossed in a state of lust, the six mutant teens began indulging in sexual bliss. Tabitha plunged down onto Roberto’s waiting cock, letting out a moan of approval at how he filled her. She then began riding him nice and hard, leaning over so he could fondling her breasts with greater ease and suckle on her nipples. Jubilee and Sam followed suit with Jubilee lowering herself down onto Sam’s waiting dick. They each let out a sharp gasp with Sam especially grunting hard, seeing as how this was the first time he had sex. Jubilee gave him a moment to take it in. She had done this before, having slept with a few guys back when she was living in a mall. She usually did it out of necessity for money, but she never enjoyed it this much. As Sam tightened his hold on her hips she really started getting into it, rocking her hips against his and working his cock in and out of her depths. Kitty and Bobby were last. Bobby, despite his dazed state, entered her carefully so she had time to adjust. Kitty’s body tensed as he reached her barrier and broke her hymen, causing a small streak of blood to seep out from her pussy. It hurt only a little though. Pleasure soon overtook her as if whatever spell Selene cast on her was converting the pain sensations into raw ecstasy. Once Bobby was all the way inside her he started instinctively moving his hips, grunting hard at how tight her pussy felt around his member. Before either of them knew it they were moaning out in ecstasy with Kitty beckoning Bobby to work it harder.

The Black King and Queen smiled at the sight. Their new recruits seem to be enjoying themselves. Selene’s spell was potent like always. She especially enjoyed seeing virgins like Sam and Kitty get their first taste of sex. It always got her excited and helped make the spell more potent. The other pawns were enjoying the show as well. Those that had been in this position before like Scott and Jean couldn’t help but smile as such a sight brought back some nice memories. It reminded them of what it felt like to truly cross over and embrace that dark feeling of lust and desire. It changed them forever, sending them down the path to Hellfire. And there was every indication that Bobby, Kitty, Jubilee, Sam, Tabitha, and Roberto were beginning down that path as well.

Their naked bodies moved in a heated rhythm. Their naked skin grinded together and worked up a really nice sweat. The glow from Selene’s spell still surrounded their bodies and helped push them to great heights of pleasure. The initial awkwardness of having sex in a ritual chamber with an audience had long passed and now the six teens were pushing their sexual limits. Kitty let out high pitched cries of delight as her body jerked back and forth on the floor as Bobby hammered into her. She held her legs apart nice and wide so he could get in deep, but at one point she shifted her grip to his shoulders and pulled him down on top of her so she could feel his sweaty body rub against hers as he fucked her. Sam and Jubilee were pretty loud too. Sam really got into it, leaning back on his arms and thrusting his hips upward every time Jubilee plunged down onto his cock. He watched in a daze as she fondled her breasts, her face awash with ecstasy as she savored the feeling. But Tabitha and Roberto were by far the loudest. Tabitha really worked it hard, gritting her teeth with seething lust as she gyrated her hips in a circular motion with Roberto’s cock thrashing inside her. Roberto loved every second of it and kept squeezing her breasts, giving her nipples a firm pinch every time she really worked it hard.

“Uh-uh-fuck-fuck-fucking-fuck-ohhhhh fuck I love it-uh-I love to fuck!” cried Tabitha.

Her choice of frantic words surprised and impressed some of the pawns.

“She’s got a mouth on her,” commented Rogue.

“I know. But I like it!” grinned Pietro.

The glowing aura of mystical energy intensified as the six mutant teens neared their climax. The feeling really built up, fueled by the energy and insatiable lust that consumed them. Xavier sensed in their minds that they were giving in, surrendering their old selves and embracing a new darker feeling. He smiled and gave them a telepathic nudge towards their peak. Their naked bodies were all moving at a faster pace now, pushing towards the feeling they all craved.

“Uh-uh-uh-damn Jubilee-uh-ah-ah-Ah’m gonna cum!” cried Sam.

“Uh-uh-oh me too-uh-just a little-uh-bit-oh fuck-more!” grunted Jubilee.

“Yes-yes-oh harder, Bobby! Harder! I-I can feel it coming!” cried Kitty, who was also close.

“Uh-uh-ohhhhhhh me too!” moaned Bobby.

“Fuck let’s all cum together!” exclaimed Tabitha.

They didn’t have to give it any thought. Their bodies did the rest as they all climaxed in a semi-coordinated symphony of bliss. Tabitha got hers first. She tensed her inner muscles and dug her nails into Roberto’s shoulders as she threw her head back and let out a cry of ecstasy. The throbbing sensation around his dick almost got him to climax as well, but he had to thrust into her a few more times before he blew his load inside her. Bobby climaxed next. His body tensed briefly and then relaxed as he thrust into Kitty’s pussy a few more times before spraying his cum inside her. His cock remained buried in her folds and she moved her hips a little more to help send her over the edge as well. Only for her it was much more intense. She arched her back and grasped the rug as throbbing waves of pleasure consumed her. For her first real orgasm it was quite memorable and if the look on her face was any indication it left a lasting impression on her. Sam experienced a similar feeling as Jubilee rocked her hips against his harder and pushed him over the edge. When he felt it he squeezed her waist hard and let out a sharp gasp. His tight hold on her got Jubilee to climax soon after, letting out a deep moan as the blissful sensations coursed through her body.

It was an intense feeling. Even for those who had sex before it was unlike anything they ever experienced. The rush of just throwing out all cares and concerns and giving into their baser desires was exhilarating. The magic made the pleasure a lot more intense as well. And it wasn’t just their bodies. Their minds were in a different state, one dominated by this new sense of dark indulgence. It washed over much of their old ways of thinking, giving them a new perspective on the concept of self-fulfillment. For six teenage mutants who endured so much injustice it was truly amazing.

“Wow…” said Kitty, panting hard from the lingering feelings.

“That’s putting it lightly!” said Jubilee, who was also catching her breath.

“Yeah…dang that was somethin’!” said Sam, who was also all smiles after his first sexual experience.

“Yeah, that was the best fuck I’ve ever had!” exclaimed Tabitha, “Shit, you guys know how to have fun!”

“Glad you’re enjoying yourselves,” said Xavier with an approving grin, “But please, don’t let us interrupt. Go ahead and continue.”

“Continue?! You mean there’s more?” exclaimed Bobby, who was still reeling.

“Of course,” said Selene, “You didn’t think it would be over after one round, did you?”

After how intense the first time was it seemed daunting. But with the lingering sensations it was definitely appealing. The mystical halo of energy was still glowing around them. They also noticed their arousal wasn’t subsiding. The men were still hard and the women were still wet. For those who knew sex it was pretty surprising, but they weren’t complaining.

“Damn, I don’t know if I got the energy,” said Roberto.

“Trust me, you have plenty,” said Selene, “Just keep embracing the feeling. Let the power of desire guide you to even greater ecstasy!”

The six mutant teens took her word for it and switched partners. Now Bobby was with Jubilee, Roberto was with Kitty, and Sam was with Tabitha. They let their bodies guide them and found themselves engaging in new sexual acts.

Since they were still reeling from their first orgasms, they all began a round of oral teasing. Roberto laid Kitty down and grabbed her by the hips, raising her pelvis up so he could taste her feminine heat. She had to prop herself up a bit to maintain balance, but she found herself moaning blissfully as Roberto’s tongue probed her depths. Bobby got on his back and Jubilee got on top of him, her pussy right at his face while she was in position to tease his cock. They each let out muffled moans as she began sucking and slurping around his still ridged shaft while he licked around her moist folds, which were still dripping with fluids. Over with Sam and Tabitha, Sam was propped up on his knees while Tabitha was on all fours sucking him off. She grasped the base of his shaft with one hand and fingered her pussy with the other, building up more arousal and adding to the heat of the experience.

After some thorough oral teasing, they all repositioned themselves for another round of sex. Tabitha stayed on her hands and knees while Sam positioned himself behind her, grabbing her shapely butt and thrusting his cock up into her pussy. Kitty crawled on top of Sam, straddling his waist and holding onto his chest as she started bouncing up and down his length while he fondled her breasts. Jubilee rose up from her position on Bobby and squatted over his dick while facing away. Then she lowered herself onto him and leaned back as she started working her hips up and down his member while he placed both feet on the floor and thrust up forcefully into her. It didn’t take as long to establish a heated pace compared to the first time. Soon they were all moaning blissfully as their bodies rocked to the intense sexual rhythm.

The Black King and Queen continued to watch along with the other pawns. They were all impressed so far. They were really getting into it and even made a few comments here and there. It was always a good sign when someone took so strongly to Selene’s sex spells. The pleasure was really starting to work them over. Telepaths like Xavier, Jean, Sage, and Emma could sense it. It meant they would be more malleable to shape in the image of Hellfire. Plus, it gave them new members to have sexual experiences with.

The six mutant teens each worked their bodies together nice and hard until they neared another orgasm. This time it wasn’t as coordinated. Tabitha climaxed hard when Sam was still working towards his peak. He kept thrusting into her, expressing his need to cum. She showed some creativity by parting from him briefly and turning around and bending over so his dick was positioned right between her breasts. From here she worked it up and down his length until he shot his load onto her chest and face, which she sensually licked up. Kitty climaxed early as well, unable to control her body from going over the edge as she rode Roberto to a nice orgasm. But when she sensed he didn’t cum she rose up off him, grasped his cock, and devoured his length in her mouth. She sucked him nice and hard until he climaxed. She chose not to swallow it though, feeling that was a little too much at this point. But Roberto was content to let his load out onto her breasts. With Bobby and Jubilee, it was Bobby who climaxed first. The way she rode his dick in a reverse position was too much for him and he sprayed his load inside her. But he helped her get off too, rising up from and reaching around to fondle her clit with one hand and one of her breasts with the other. She also turned around and kissed him as he did this, moaning blissfully until her pussy tensed in another heated orgasm.

But even after their second climax, they were still in a sexual frenzy. They only paused briefly to catch their breaths before switching up again. The aura of glowing pink energy around them was still going strong so they kept it up, needing to fill this insatiable need for more sex.

“More! I want to fuck more!” gasped Tabitha in a lustful fury.

“Don’t hog it all! I want it too!” exclaimed Jubilee.

“Relax you little sex freaks. There’s plenty to go around,” said Selene.

Now Bobby was with Tabitha, Roberto was with Jubilee, and Kitty was with Sam. There was no more careful positioning. They pretty much jumped each other this time and kept with the sexual fervor. Jubilee literally leapt up into Roberto’s arms and he caught her by the hips. Then while on his knees, he lowered her onto his cock and started bouncing her up and down his length. Sam, feeling bolder, pinned Kitty back on the floor so she was on her side with one leg hitched over his shoulder. From here he thrust his cock into her depths at an angle and started working his hips while teasing her foot, making her squeal with a mixture of laughter and moans. Tabitha wasted no time either, grasping Bobby into a vice with her arms and legs and pulling him down on top of her. Now back on the floor Bobby dug his feet into the carpet and thrust forward, shoving his erect cock into her waiting pussy. His sweaty body glided across her naked skin, making for a very erotic feel as they joined the others in a sexual fervor.

Sharp gasps of ecstasy filled the chamber as Xavier, Selene, and the other pawns looked on. The six mutant teens moved their bodies with such fervor, not caring about drawing it out anymore. They just wanted to feel more pleasure. More orgasms soon followed. Only this time when one got theirs and the other didn’t, the one who didn’t just joined in with someone else and went at it until they got theirs as well. But afterwards they kept going at it, not even resting this time. They just switched up again and kept going at it from different positions, enjoying orgasm after orgasm and savoring every blissful sensation.

At some points two girls doubled up on a guy. Tabitha and Jubilee both tackled Sam onto his back and took turns riding him until they climaxed. Then when Sam was ready to cum as well they each stroked him off and let him cum on their faces. There were also times when two guys doubled up on one girl. Roberto and Bobby did this with Kitty with Roberto behind thrusting into her pussy while she was on all fours sucking Bobby off. Tabitha also showed off how much sexual experience she had despite her age, luring Bobby and Roberto into doing her at once with Bobby underneath thrusting up into her pussy while Roberto fucked her ass. Neither Jubilee nor Kitty was ready to go that far yet, but they found other ways to mix it up. At one point they even made out a little while Sam was behind Kitty fucking her and Bobby was behind Jubilee doing her as well.

Through each sexual act, the pleasure was intoxicating. With every orgasm they found themselves descending further into a dazed state. It was a state that systematically broke down their old ways of thinking. Being consumed by lust and giving into their desires had a profound affect on them. And through the process the Black King with the help of his other telepaths pushed them further into a new state of mind that they could mold in the Hellfire image.

Time seemed to slow for Bobby, Kitty, Jubilee, Sam, Roberto and Tabitha. They lost track of how many orgasms they had and how many times they switched up with each other. Even the other pawns lost track as they watched the whole thing. But eventually their bodies reached their limits. The spell was almost complete and they were all approaching their final peak. Bobby was on top of Jubilee, Kitty was on top of Sam, and Roberto was on top of Tabitha with her legs hitched over his shoulders. The pace slowed down as fatigue caught up with them, but they still moved their bodies with thorough force. The energy that flowed through them seemed to link their bodies up as they all neared their final orgasm together.

“That’s it! Cum together! Let the ultimate pleasure fill you to your soul!” exclaimed Selene.

The six teens held onto each other for the final push. Then as they reached their peak, the aura of energy around them exploded in a brilliant display of mystical power. It lead to the greatest climax yet with all six of them let out a cry of ecstasy together that filled the chambers. For a moment they bathed in the feeling, clinging to one another and breathing hard. They never knew pleasure like this existed. It was so intense yet very fulfilling.

When all was said and done the six tired mutants rolled off one another and lay limply on the floor. Their bodies were drenched with sweat and cum, but they looked very content in their current state. It was quite a sight for the rest of the Inner Circle. It felt good for the older pawns to be the audience instead of the participants in a ways. But they indulged in plenty of rituals like this to know what it was like. And with these young new recruits on board it was sure to be even hotter.

For Xavier and Selene, it was a successful introduction to their ways. They saw in their dazed expressions new individuals they could begin crafting. They had them in their grip and they knew it. All that was left was to make it official.

“Did you enjoy yourselves?” asked Xavier, sounding pretty casual about it despite the show they put on.

None of them answered. They were still too tired from it all. But he could sense how much they liked it so he didn’t need a response.

“That was just a small sample of what you can experience with us. There’s a lot more we can offer in terms of pleasure, wealth, and power. But first you must make a decision. Are you willing to dedicate yourselves to the Hellfire Club and our principals? Are you willing to embrace our ways and push yourself beyond your limits?”

Earlier every one of them would have hesitated before making such a decision. But after what they just did there was no going back. They got a taste of the Hellfire ways and they liked them. For everything they were offering and everything they were capable of, there was just too much to turn away from. And despite their dazed states they were able to rise up and give them their decision right then and there.

“I accept your offer, sir,” said Kitty, still breathing hard.

“Me too. I want in,” said Bobby intently.

“Ah’ll join too,” said Sam, “This is where Ah belong.”

“I’m in too,” said Jubilee, “I’m not going back to my old life.”

“Me neither!” said Tabitha, who was still pretty worked up despite her exhaustion, “With sex like this I’ll do whatever you want me to do!”

“Count me in as well,” said Roberto, “My father always wanted great things for me. This is my best chance.”

Xavier and Selene smiled approvingly at their decision. Already they could see a different look in their eyes compared to when they came in. Part of it was probably the lingering after-effects of marathon sex, but some of those effects were permanent. It wasn’t lost upon the elder pawns that they made their decision a bit sooner than they made theirs. Selene must have refined the spell a little more and Xavier must have given them more of a telepathic push, which was more than he did with some of the others. But the results justified his efforts.

“They worked them over pretty quickly,” commented Scott.

“We’ve done some ‘refining’ since you first joined,” said Sage, “This way we can bring in even more pawns down the line. And I assure you there will be more.”

It was a good sign. Bobby Drake, Kitty Pryde, Sam Guthrie, Roberto Da Costa, Tabitha Smith, and Jubilation Lee were officially pawns now. They all had a lot of training ahead of them, but overall it was a good start for a new class of recruits. The Hellfire Club was expanding again and there was no telling who else would enter their ranks.

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Up next: The new class adjusts to their new life at Hellfire and Wolverine makes a fateful move on Department H.