New Blood

New Blood
Chapter 21: Rewards of a Special Kind

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Times Square

The hustle and bustle of New York City was at its best this time day. Time Square was especially ripe with tourists, shoppers, and people just passing by. Everybody had somewhere to go, something to see, or something to distract them. In other words it was perfect for a skilled thief to do a little pick-pocketing.

Remy Lebeau and Ororo Munroe, two of the Hellfire Club’s skilled thieves, were making their rounds in this fertile thieving ground. When the Inner Circle didn’t have a job for them (which was rare) they kept their skills sharp the old fashioned way, stealing a few dollars here and there for some extra cash. It wasn’t like they were underpaid for their work, but it was very much engrained into their lifestyle. Both Remy and Ororo were career thieves. This was what they knew and this was what they excelled at.

Remy adjusted well to his new life in New York. The Hellfire Club was a tough place to work for, but they knew how to compensate their people for their efforts. Nobody ever paid him the kind of money the Hellfire Club paid him back in New Orleans. Plus, he didn’t have to worry about the Thieves and Assassins Guild. There was still plenty of infighting among the criminal underworld, especially since the Kingpin skipped town. But Remy didn’t get involved in any of them. He stuck to what the Hellfire Club gave him, doing jobs that ranged from sabotage to stealing equipment from rivals. He frequently worked with Storm on his missions. In fact, he moved into the same opulent apartment building she lived in downtown. And while she wouldn’t openly admit it, Remy got the feeling she was growing fond of him. And he was growing fond of her as well.

“So how many did you get, cherè?” said Remy as he and Storm met up near a restaurant.

“Four wallets and three watches,” she said, showing him her loot, “What about you?”

“Six wallets, five watches, and a diamond ring,” he replied proudly.

“Show off,” said Storm in a bemused tone.

“What? Remy ain’t makin’ you feel left out, is he?”

“No, but do you have to make a contest out of anything?”

“Of course. Remy loves to compete! I always find a way to win.”

“I’ll have to remember that. Someone’s gotta keep that ego of yours in check,” said Ororo with a smirk.

“So long as it’s you, cherè, I don’t mind.”

Ororo rolled her eyes and laughed. This man was impossible sometimes. He always jumped at the chance to flirt or compete. He loved impressing her, but he also loved pushing her buttons. It made him a difficult, but interesting man to work with and they made a good team. They had yet to come across a challenge they couldn’t overcome together. In addition, working with him gave her a chance to get to him better. He told her about growing up in New Orleans, training under his father Jean-Luc, learning about his mutant powers, and participating in the war between the Thieves and Assassins. But there were some gaps in his life story he often avoided, namely why he cut his ties with Thieve Guild. But she didn’t pry too much into that issue. She hadn’t revealed too much about her life either, but he was still the first man she really opened up to in a long time.

“So what are you up for now, Stormy? Wanna have a night on the town or you just wanna head back to Remy’s apartment?”

“Oh quit getting so ahead of yourself,” chided Ororo, “But as nice as a night on the town sounds, I got a call from Xavier an hour ago. He wants us at the manor tonight.”

“He got another job for us or somethin’?”

“Not this time. He says it’s more of a ‘casual’ task, whatever that means.”

“Hey, with the Hellfire Club you never know,” shrugged Remy, “So long as it don’t involve workin’ with that Selene woman again, Remy’s game. But before we head over, you up for a little dinner date? My treat!”

Ororo shook her head again. The man would find any excuse in the world to take her out as if she were his girlfriend or something. She didn’t mind the attention or him picking up the tab, but it was still annoying sometimes. She didn’t mind what he called it so long as he remembered the basics of their partnership, namely keeping it from getting too personal. But lately she found herself a lot less worried about it. She was okay with it to a limit, but that limit was constantly changing.

Hellfire Manor – Throne Room

It was a rare moment of peace in the inner chambers of the Hellfire Club. The Black King and Queen were in good spirits, sitting back in the throne room enjoying a helping of their best wine and finest dining. Servants and waiters came in and out, catering to their every need. The masked guards stood by silently overseeing everything. It was a fine way to enjoy the fruits of their labor and it also gave Charles Xavier and Selene time to discuss recent events.

Overall, the topics of concern were positive. This class of pawns they brought into their midst was thriving. They were all becoming loyal subjects of the Hellfire Club. The personas they had now were very different from the ones they came in with. They all embraced Hellfire ideology in their own way and were maturing into strong, powerful players in their illustrious organization. Even Selene, who had been skeptical of this little experiment, spoke highly of their progress. She even got some dedicated pupils out of it in Kurt and Wanda, but there were still issues of concern.

The dynamic between Xavier and Selene was still tenuous. The Black King knew that she was pursuing her own agenda. He needed no psychic talents or vast spy network to tell him that. Selene was a selfish, deceitful woman by nature and she was proud of that. There were even times she hinted at having something to hide, but did such a good job hiding it even he couldn’t uncover the full story. She seemed especially active lately. She carried herself with an upbeat mood, at least as upbeat as someone like her could manage. Xavier suspected it had to do with what was going on with Kurt and Wanda. While they assured him they were no longer taking as many private lessons with the Black Queen, he still had his suspicions.

But for now the Black King focused on the positives. The Hellfire Club was prospering. Their power was expanding. And all those who stood in their way were obliterated without mercy.

“To a good year,” said Xavier, raising his glass as he finished his gourmet meal.

“Are you talking about the wine or everything in general?” said Selene, raising her class as well.

“Both actually, although the Merlot is a little dry,” he said upon finishing his drink.

“Such picky tastes,” she commented.

“So says a woman who has all her lingerie custom made.”

Selene cast her associate a snide gaze. That wit of his was a sharp one and she walked right into that. But for the mood she was in she was willing to overlook it. Since gaining an apprentice in Wanda Maximoff she had too many reasons to be optimistic. The girls was progressing well, carrying herself in a way that diverted suspicion from everybody. Even the Black King seemed incredulous, but she never discounted his perceptive abilities. She knew from experience just how good they could be.

“So are you going to make me say it or should I just out and get it over with?” said Selene in a more serious tone.

“Care to be more specific? I can think of plenty to say regarding the many issues we’ve disagreed on.”

“I’m sure you keep track,” she said, rolling her eyes, “I’m talking about the pawns.”

“Ah yes, our fast growing generation of Hellfire elite. What about them?” he said with a wry grin.

“Don’t rub it in, Xavier. You know what I’m getting at. I was against bringing them in. I gave you a lot of shit for it from the very beginning. But I’m not above admitting I’m wrong…to some extent at least.”

“The Black Queen is humbling herself before me? Excuse me while I get the camera,” laughed Xavier.

“Don’t hold your breath,” she quipped with a half grin, “While I agree the pawns were a good idea. They have a long way to go before they can be considered Inner Circle material. Sometimes I get the feeling you’re too eager to fit them into your circle when they have yet to prove themselves.”

“You’re saying they haven’t proven themselves yet?”

“I’m saying some there are those more proven than others. And they have a ways to go. They are still children after all. They have to earn the right to take the next step.”

The Black Queen had a point there. With everything the pawns get involved in sometimes it was easy to forget that most of them were still teenagers. They could carry out their duties, but they couldn’t carry themselves as true examples of the Hellfire Club just yet. Many were still developing and some were slower than others. But the Black King had confidence in them.

“I agree, they are still young,” he conceded, “But they still have plenty of potential that has yet to be tapped.”

“Oh I don’t disagree there, Charles. My experiences with Kurt and Wanda have shown me just how raw these prospects are. Just think poor Wanda was only using a fraction of her hexing power before I helped her unlock it. And that sweet little Kurt was still hopelessly deluding himself by holding onto old notions of faith.”

“Yes, you’ve certain left your mark on them,” said Xavier, adding in his tone a touch of suspicion, “But I see greater progress in those such as Scott Summers. He’s become quite the dedicated student since his arrival. He puts in more hours of training and studying than anyone else among our ranks and has shown great leadership skills in organizing strikes with our operatives.”

“And you think that qualifies him for a position in the Inner Circle? He does nothing special that you couldn’t condition anybody else to do,” remarked Selene.

“Say what you will, but Scott definitely has the intangibles of a great Hellfire leader. Jean has also prospered in her roles. She’s mastered the use of her powers much quicker than I expected her too. Sage has even told me her telepathic potential has grown to the point where only I can beat her in terms of psychic capacity.”

“Feeling threatened, Charles?” teased Selene.

“Of course not,” he scoffed, “Jean is a showing herself to be a fine Hellfire woman. Not only has she embraced her powers, she has embraced our merits as well. Emma told me she is among the most popular girls at Club Hellfire. She knows how to carry herself and has the passion and drive required to ascend to the Inner Circle.”

“That remains to be seen,” said Selene realistically, “I’m more surprised with the Worthington boy’s embracement of our ways. I still recall how much he resisted at first. I did have to break him if I recall.”

“That you did,” muttered Xavier, “But you’re right. Warren has done a way with his old idealist ways fairly quickly. His father certainly isn’t complaining. He’s actually excited that Warren is getting involved in Worthington Industries affairs. Although he was a little concerned by how much he took to our cutthroat business practices.”

“He’s the one who asked us to mold him. That’s what he got,” shrugged Selene.

She was right about that. Warren’s father did tell him he wanted his son to embrace the business world. He couldn’t have been too disappointed with how well he was carrying himself among business circles now. So long as he didn’t know of some of Warren’s darker activities, namely what he did at the clubs with women when he wasn’t wearing a suit, he should remain content.

“What about that other Maximoff twin, Pietro?” inquired Selene, “I’ve worked extensively with Wanda and know her potential quite well. But I’m not so sure about her brother. All I hear is he spends his time lounging about with women.”

“Yes, he does do that a bit more often than the other men, but I’m willing to chalk that up to him growing up isolated his whole life,” said Xavier, “Bear in mind he was cut off from a lot of things as a boy. It’s only natural he indulge a little. But I sense he has a strong drive in him. He wants to get out from his father’s shadow and here he can do that.”

“Guess we’ll have to wait and see,” said Selene, still not convinced, “And then there’s Mystique’s other offspring. You know the one who insisted on meddling constantly while I introduced Kurt to the world of the black arts?”

“That would be Anna, or Rogue as she prefers to be called now,” said Xavier, “But you cannot fault her or Pietro for that matter from being part of their siblings’ development here.”

“I still say she was in the way. That little Rogue seems to have only two aspirations: hassle me about her brother and jump into bed with every man she comes across.”

“Another result of growing up in isolation,” reasoned Xavier, “Rogue, like Pietro, is still young and trying to find her place among us. She’s got her mother’s toughness, that I don’t doubt. She could be a powerful operative in our upper ranks one day. Her attitude and confidence has the potential to go far in the future.”

“If she can manage her baser drives, of course,” said the Black Queen, rolling her eyes a bit, “I suppose that leaves our two strongmen to discuss.”

“Yes, Piotr and James. They are quite fascinating young men, very mature for their ages. I hope you’ve taken time out of your busy schedule of torture and bloodlust to get to know them.”

“I’m sure they are,” said Selene, ignoring his comment about her morbid pastimes, “But I’ve read up on their progress. I still think they cling too much to the past though. That Russian boy is too soft for his sister and James drones too much for his dead brother.”

“I admit they’ve taken a while to get over such matters. But Piotr is a hardened soul in more ways than one. His experience with the Russian mob has given him a good feel for the criminal underworld. He could be a valuable asset to have in dealing with our more ‘aggressive’ associates. And James has shown he can adapt his warrior ways to that of the Hellfire Club. He’s gone his whole live trying to do good and never getting anything in return. Here he’s doing what needs to be done and getting more than he ever imagined. His power and skill alone make him a prime candidate for the Inner Circle one day.”

“You keep believing in that, Charles. I choose to maintain more of a ‘watch and see’ attitude. Some pawns are destined to stay pawns.”

“And some are meant to be kings. Only time will tell which one of this first class of pawns will be which.”

The Black King and Queen disagreed on a lot of issues concerning the pawns. But one part they were in complete agreement was their effect on the Hellfire Club. A lot had changed since they did a way with the old order. The organization was changing rapidly and growing at an increasing rate. The old Inner Circle could never have dreamed of extending their reach like this. They never would have had the foresight either to bring in a new generation of young mutants to train in the image of Hellfire. Each pawn had shown unique ability to adapt to their dark world and thrive in their own way. They may young now, but over time they could very well join them in the uppermost echelons of the Hellfire Club. With so much power at the top there would be no stopping them as they tightened their grip on a wary world.

With their meal done and their discussion over the current state of affairs complete, the Black King and Queen had the servants clear their plate.

“Well I suppose I’ll leave it there, Charles. Unless you have anything else to add I have work to do and people to torture,” said Selene.

“Actually, there was one last matter I was hoping to discuss,” he said with an ominous grin, “I was thinking about organizing a little activity for the pawns to participate in…one that would show them our appreciation for their dedication thus far.”

“Oh? And what activity did you have in mind?”

Charles Xavier’s grin widened. As much a realist as he was he did have a taste for theatrics. In a place like the Hellfire Club it was necessary. Sometimes it was necessary to remind the pawns as well. He also needed them to think of themselves as a unit and team. As much as the Hellfire Club was about fulfilling individual needs, they also valued having a collective identity. With what the Black King had in mind he hoped to blend the two.

Hellfire Dining Room

It was a rare moment for pawns of the Hellfire Club. For once they were gathered together for something other than a mission or training session. Instead they were gathered in one of the main dining areas enjoying an opulent dinner together, courtesy of the Hellfire Club’s army of servants and chefs. Every dining room was pretty fancy, full of expensive gold candle stand, plush velvet chairs, beautiful artwork on the walls, and elaborately embroidered tables. It made for a rich environment to sit down and enjoy a good meal. And given the wealth of the Hellfire Club, nothing was off limits. The cooks were dedicated to cooking whatever they desired whether it was exotic Russian dishes for Piotr, German bratwurst for Kurt, or southern style barbeque for Rogue. It was the kind of luxury most people could only dream of and it gave them a rare opportunity to converse.

Sage sat at the head of the table overlooking the other pawns. She noticed how some got along better than others. Scott and Jean sat next to each other, as they always did. She noticed how they seemed a little closer recently, giving each other subtle looks of affection when they thought nobody was looking. She always sensed a certain bond between those two, but she suspected something must have happened between them and whatever it was it must have been pretty significant. Piotr and James sat near them as well. Those two got along well with Scott, who they respected for his dedication to training. They also got along well with Jean, but that was probably because she got along well with most of the men.

Across from them were Kurt, Kitty, Rogue, and Wanda. She knew there had been some strain between them all because of Selene and she thought it was spinning out of control for a while. Then out of the blue they patched things up, saying they worked things out with Selene or something. Sage didn’t buy that for a second and sensed other forces at work. She noticed how Wanda was carrying most of the conversations and Kurt agreed with her every word like an obedient puppy. Pietro seemed deadpanned because he was so used to doing the talking and now Wanda wasn’t letting him. Rogue didn’t seem to mind though and even cracked a few jokes. But she suspected she just wanted to avoid rekindling the conflict from earlier.

Sitting up near her were Warren and Emma. Emma didn’t get along with most people. She never saw the need. But among those she was least opposed to being around, Warren was pretty up there. Having come from rich backgrounds they could relate a little easier. That charming personality of hers remained strong though. She could tell Warren was getting a little frustrated with that wit of hers.

“You’re not being realistic, Emma. You can’t just mind fuck one person into doing what you want and expect everything to pan out in a deal,” said Warren, belaboring the point, “The business world is too complex. Someone will notice and they’ll run to the nearest associate to blow it wide open.”

“So what? You can always mind fuck them as well,” shrugged Emma as she finished her prime rib, “You can’t be afraid of numbers. So long as you have the power, why not use it to the fullest?”

“That’s not the point, Emma. I just think you’re way isn’t the most efficient. Don’t you think so, Miss Sage? You’re a telepath. Back me up here.”

“Oh no, you’re not dragging me into this argument,” said Sage strongly, “Just save yourself the trouble Warren and tell Emma she’s right even if she isn’t. She won’t let up either way.”

Emma grinned snidely at the older woman and then back at Warren. Even if her tone was insulting, she didn’t hide from it. She was every bit as thick as the diamond shell she could summon and wasn’t ashamed of it.

“Whatever,” said Warren, rolling his eyes as he finished his pasta.

“Smart boy, quitting while you’re ahead,” said Emma wryly, “I like that in a man.”

“I’m sure you do,” muttered Sage.

Over with Wanda, Kurt, Pietro, and Rogue a similar argument was going on only this wasn’t about money or mind fucking people. Wanda was going on another one of her rants. Her lessons from Selene turned her from the reserved, cautious woman who wouldn’t start a confrontation unless she had to into a very opinionated person. But being opinionated also meant being a little insensitive at times.

“I’m sorry if it’s hard to swallow, dear brother, but you must admit our parents’ skewed views on the world were partially because of their laughable spiritual beliefs,” said Wanda, who was eating an elaborate seafood dish.

“And I’m telling you spirituality had nothing to do with it,” said Pietro in a frustrated tone, “I don’t know what you saw, but I don’t remember Magneto ever praying even if he was Jewish.”

“Oh who cares if he didn’t pray when we were around!” scoffed Wanda, “The point is he was raised Jewish and indoctrinated in Jewish beliefs. All that rigid orthodoxy and moral absolutes about God’s word and proper roles had to have influenced him. Why else would he consider himself the messiah of all mutants? He was just acting out what he was taught.”

There was a lot of dry sarcasm in her tone. She clearly didn’t respect or care for these beliefs even though she was raised with them. Pietro never took them seriously either, but he never mocked them. It showed just how much she rejected her old ways and embraced the ones Selene and the Hellfire Club had taught her.

“I still think you’re oversimplifying things,” said Pietro as he finished another dish to fuel his hyperactive metabolism, “There were probably a lot of things that influenced father. I’m sure he would have become the same power-hungry madman with or without his faith.”

“I don’t doubt that, but it is interesting to contemplate. Wouldn’t you agree, Kurt?” said Wanda, turning and rubbing her lover’s chin affectionately.

“Of course, frauline. Ve both studied zhese matters and I zhink you’re spot on,” he said, smiling back at her.

“Thank you,” said Wanda, now feeling vindicated.

Pietro didn’t bother going further. He was still getting used to his sister dating someone. It wasn’t like Kurt was a bad person or something. Heck, it seemed she had him by the balls. But there was just something else about the whole thing that didn’t feel right. Looking over at Rogue, he wasn’t sure if she saw it too. She just thought the whole exchange was humorous. It was typical of her free-spirited nature.

“Man, she’s got you pretty whipped little brother,” commented Rogue.

“Vhy Rogue, you say zhat like it’s a bad zhing,” replied Kurt in a playful tone.

“You mean it ain’t? Don’t ya get tired of agreeing with her on everything?”

“Zhat’s just how our relationship works. I go along vith her and ve’re both happy in zhe end. Isn’t zhat vhat it’s all about anyways? Happiness? You vant me to be happy, don’t you Rogue?”

“Ah take it back then. You ain’t whipped, Kurt. You’re just crazy,” she said with a playful grin.

“Crazy for me, that is,” said Wanda, butting in and slipping her arm around her lover.

“Vell said, mien liebe.”

Rogue just shook her head and finished her barbeque. She was glad to see Kurt so happy. She never remembered him looking this happy back in Germany. But something about his relationship with Wanda seemed a little strange. For one he was always submitting to her. She was all for chivalry and all, but she got the feeling it wasn’t about good manners. It was like Wanda had some sort of hold on him. She didn’t know what to make of it. Kurt still carried out his normal Hellfire duties. He even still slept around with the other women. She figured since Wanda did the same that wasn’t an issue. But it was still strange. She figured it would just take some getting used to. All that mattered was he was happy.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this,” muttered Pietro.

“Aww, cheer up speedy,” teased Rogue, “Not everything can happen as fast as you want.”

Pietro laughed at her poor use of a pun.

“You’ve been hanging around Deadpool too much,” he told her.

“Maybe you should hang around him more often. A sense of humor would do you some good.”

“It would do us all some good,” commented Wanda.

Pietro fell silent. There was no use going on when everybody seemed against him. He may be impulsive and overly aggressive at times, but he knew when to quit. But that didn’t mean he would let this issue go.

Over with Scott, Jean, Piotr, and James the topics of discussion were much less serious. It seemed like every time the pawns got together there were more arguments than agreements. It wasn’t all out open conflict, but it didn’t exactly show them as a unified team either. But for some of them they did relate well outside the typical mission and business settings. They could even go so far as to call each other friends, something that was new for the Inner Circle.

“So what did you do after that?” asked Piotr as he, Scott, Jean, and James discussed some of their latest missions.

“What do you think I did?” laughed Jean, “The guy tried to run and I had to catch him with my telekinesis. And even after that he still fought.”

“But you were still able to interrogate him,” said James, who had been there on this particular mission.

“Yep!” said Jean with a dark sense of satisfaction, “I mind raped his ass and got the information we needed. I had to tear through a lot of twisted thoughts though. The guy’s probably still in the hospital for what I did.”

“You don’t think you went a tad overboard?” commented Piotr, smirking some what at the way she talked about it.

“I had to. It seems everybody from Latveria has a tougher mind,” she shrugged, “That Dr. Doom guy really does a number on his people.”

“Yeah, no wonder Lord Xavier and Mistress Selene sent us there disrupt some of his operations. That guy has been a thorn in Hellfire’s side for decades I hear.”

“Well he should take a hint after what we did to him,” said James sternly, “I ripped through at least a dozen of those doom-bots of his and disemboweled ten of his most loyal subordinates.”

“I’m sure you’ll get a thank you note from the Fantastic Four, as if they ever had the guts to do something like that,” said Scott, his tone thick with sarcasm.

“Da, I don’t see how they can justify leaving that man alive after some of the things he’s done,” said Piotr, “Back and Russia his exploits are well-known. He’s somewhat of a boogey-man in our neck of the world. And for them to have faced him as many times as they have and not taken him out, they’re just as responsible for his atrocities as he is.”

“What do you expect? They’re ‘heroes’ or so they claim,” said Jean in a mocking tone.

“Yeah, they’ll never learn,” said Scott with a grin, “Maybe you should mind fuck them over too. It sounds like they need it.”

“Maybe I will one day,” she said with a playful yet sinister grin, “I’m sure there will be plenty of chances.”

The two lovers laughed and exchanged a playful gesture. They had no qualms about doing what they did. The Hellfire Club had done a good job of conditioning them to be mercilessly efficient. It used to bother them, but it didn’t as much anymore. The more they saw of the world the more they saw the need for Hellfire’s methods. James and Piotr went through the same thing. That’s why they found it a little odd sometimes when Scott and Jean would act so flirty around each other. It was nice they found love and all, but even they admitted it was a little odd in a place like this. But so long as it worked for them who were they to stop them?

They still worked well together in missions, but lately they noticed a growing trend. It was an unfortunate byproduct of the Hellfire Club’s expanding influence. Sometimes they crossed paths with those involved in the hero business, including the villains. And heroes being heroes simply don’t have the guts to just take a villain out without mercy. They always had to follow that laughable code of conduct they went by. It was sad really, but left plenty of work for them. That mission to Latveria to sabotage Dr. Doom from harassing shipments from Hellfire associates into Eastern Europe had been a tough one. At one point they considered taking him out, but that would have only upset the fragile balance that Hellfire had to work with in order to propagate.

It sounded like an exciting mission. Piotr almost wished he hadn’t been busy back in America paying visits to politicians in Washington who were trying to obstruct the Hellfire Club’s operations. A few were smart enough to accept bribes, but the foolish had a different fate. He broke most of their bones and crushed their skulls, leaving them to die without mercy. It wasn’t as exciting as a mission in Latveria, but it was a necessary part of being in the Hellfire Club.

The lively conversations continued as the meal came to an end. Servants started flowing in to clear their plates and offer them desert. For the most part the rest of the evening was free. Some had training and others had studying, but there were no pressing issues at the moment. As pawns they were constantly busy, but they always found time to enjoy the opulence they were apart of. They just had to do their part to earn. Then the conversations abruptly halted when Charles Xavier and Selene entered the dining room.

“Good evening my loyal pawns. It’s nice to see you all dining together,” greeted Charles.

“Thank you sir. Care to join us??” offered Scott, “We were just about to order desert.”

“Forget desert. We’ve got a new activity in mind for the evening…one that you’ll all be expected to participate in,” said Selene with an ominous grin.

“Even me?” said Emma, “Because I’m not technically a pawn, you know.”

“Don’t flatter yourself, Frost. You’ll be part of this too,” said Selene, shooting her a look, “We’ll also have a few special guests participating with us. Charles, if you please?”

Xavier snapped his fingers and three figures emerged from behind them. The first two were Ororo and Remy, who most of the pawns recognized. They didn’t work directly with them, but most were familiar with them. The men knew Ororo pretty well since she slept around a bit. The women also knew Remy, who had an equally strong sexual appetite. A few of the women even flashed him some smiles which he politely returned. But the last figure was unexpected. It was Mystique, who appeared to be taking some time off from her mission in Canada.

“Mama!” exclaimed Rogue, shooting up and coming over to the shape shifter.

“Zhis is quite a pleasant surprise,” said Kurt, who teleported over to greet his mother.

“I decided it was a good time to check in on you two,” said the shape shifter, “You’re looking well, but I’m sure we have a lot to talk about.”

“Indeed, mother,” said Kurt ominously.

He looked over at Wanda, who just nodded with a slight grin. It told him all he needed to know. This was bound to happen sooner or later so they prepared for it. Selene knew as well and as a good, loyal subordinate to his woman and his mistress Kurt would carry out their wishes. But first they had other matters to attend to.

“So what is this here activity y’all planned for us?” asked Remy, “And why is we involved?”

“You’ll see,” grinned Xavier, “Finish up your meal and meet in the ritual room. And dress appropriately. We’ll be conducting a little ‘exercise’ in unity.”

Ritual Room – Later

As instructed, the pawns along with their guests gathered in the ritual room dressed in their ceremonial robes. When they arrived Xavier and Selene were already there, also dressed in the proper attire. Only the robes they wore were a bit more elaborate, having regal embroiders over the shoulders and chest. Selene also had elaborate etchings over strategically placed areas like her breasts and lower regions. They were also just as transparent as the others with everybody able to make out the outline of each others’ nude bodies underneath.

As revealing as they were, the pawns had grown use to them for the most part. They had seen each other naked at some point since they had been here. But for some it was still a little awkward. For Kurt and Rogue having their mother participate was a little intimidating. Kurt didn’t seem to care, but Rogue sure was vocal about it at first. But Mystique reminded her she had nothing she didn’t and eventually calmed her down. Remy, on the other hand, hadn’t even been part of a ritual yet. Wearing a robe with nothing on underneath was new to him, but he quickly got over it. Ororo told him it was all for a reason and he trusted her word.

“These things don’t leave a lot to the imagination, non?” commented Remy.

“What’s the matter, Cajun? Ya shy in front of crowds or somethin’?” teased Rogue, who was standing next to him.

“Nah, just gives Remy that strange Voodoo vibe.”

“Trust me, Lebeau, Voodoo is child’s play to what we do,” added Wanda, who flashed a somewhat dark look.

Remy looked at the girl strangely. Growing up in New Orleans where Voodoo had strong roots, he never denied the power of magic. But he also knew real darkness when he saw it and for some people in this crowd it was more prevalent than others.

He wasn’t the only one who noticed. Mystique, who was standing close to her kids was a little put off by Wanda’s demeanor. She looked a lot different than the Wanda she knew from the Brotherhood. She didn’t know her personally or anything, but she took a much stronger interest in her now that she was involved with her son. She was glad he was keeping his distance from Selene now, but Wanda was a bit more of a wild card.

“And that’s the woman you’re dating?” commented the shape shifter.

“Ja, she has a vay vith people, doesn’t she?” grinned Kurt.

“That’s one way of putting it,” muttered Mystique, “We’ll have to sit down and talk about that at some point.”

“Later, mother. Lord Xavier and Mistress Selene are almost ready,” said Kurt.

The pawns waited patiently as Xavier and Selene made their final preparations in the center of the room. For this little activity of theirs, they broke out some of their most potent mystical relics. Selene broke out some of her rarest and most potent incense as well as her special ceremonial jeweled chalice. She usually reserved it for more ambitious rituals, but for the sake of potency she would amuse Charles’s request this time. On his end he set up some elaborate candle patterns and lined the walls with special markings. He may not have been a mystical expert, but he still knew a thing or two and everything they were setting up all served a purpose. As with most rituals it would be centered on a large pentagram they had etched in the floor. But they also set up a series of plus red carpets around the pagan symbol. The reason for these would be revealed in due time.

Once everything was in place the Black King and Queen gathered in the center of the pagan symbol and drew everybody’s attention.

“Are we ready, Selene?” asked Charles.

“We’re ready, Charles,” affirmed Selene, holding her chalice firmly with the necessary ingredients.

“Then let’s begin. Everybody, pawns and guests alike, please gather around. Join us in this special ritual that we’ve organized as a treat from us to you.”

The Remy, Ororo, Mystique, and the pawns gathered around as instructed. They formed a circle around the perimeter of the pentagram. Selene and Xavier stayed in the center with Selene holding the chalice and Xavier holding a decorated sword with jeweled handles. The pawns recognized that sword. It was the one used in the initiation ritual where their wrists were cut slightly to draw blood as a symbol of their dedication to the Hellfire Club. They knew when it was being used it usually meant this was more than a normal ritual.

While Selene began chanting silently, casting a spell over the contents of the chalice, Xavier paced slowly around the circle of pawns. He gazed proudly at the class of Hellfire elite he put together. Looking at them it was hard to imagine that they were once faceless drones in the world. Now they were so much more and growing stronger by the day.

“You’ve all served Hellfire well,” said the Black King in his usual strong, collected tone, “For those I have known many years to those I am still learning about, this organization is stronger because of what you’ve done. You’ve not only helped us expand, you’ve taken to heart the sacred bylaws that the Hellfire Club has taught for centuries. You’ve shaken off the weaknesses of innocence and naivety and have embraced the principles of power, drive, and self-fulfillment. And above all else you have shown no mercy to anyone or anything that has stood in your way.”

The faces of the pawns and workers hardened as memories of everything they had done came rushing back to them. Some who never killed before had taken multiple lives and lost no sleep over it. Some indulged in excessive self-pleasures in ways they never thought they would. But despite reservations and even hesitation at times, they had no regrets. The Hellfire Club was where they wanted to be and where they belonged.

“Now as we stand within these sacred chambers, we prepare to move forward. The Hellfire Club is expanding. Our reach is growing. Together we shall seize control and create order out of chaos. And we shall do so by any means necessary. I praise you all for your contributions. Continue your work and your rewards will be vast. And so we, the Black King and Queen, bestow upon you this modest reward for your efforts. Join hands and repeat after us these sacred chants. What will follow is just the beginning. The true power of Hellfire has yet to be unleashed.”

The air grew hot and the symbols on the wall as well as the pentagram on the floor began glowing with mystical intensity. The pawns and guests did as he requested and joined hands. For some like Remy he had to be shown. Once all their hands were linked they closed their eyes and bowed their heads, preparing themselves for whatever was in store for them.

At this point Selene finished casting the first part of the spell. The contents of the chalice were glowing in a bright bluish hue. Now it was time for everybody else to join in. Holding the chalice high, Xavier stood in the center and raised his sword. He then began chanting in a commanding tone, reciting perfectly phases in Latin, Greek, and Hindi. After each phrase, the pawns recited back what he said. Some of it was a little jumbled, but it did not matter. With each phrase they repeated the contents in the chalice glowed brighter. Soon all the candles lighting the room matched the glow, illuminating the whole area in a brilliant, but soft aura. Then once the last verse was uttered, Xavier slammed the blade of the sword into the center of the pentagram. The contents in the chalice then erupted in a burst of light that surged through the room, hitting everybody with a powerful shockwave of mystical energy. Now the next step in this special little ritual could begin.

Once the mystical shockwave hit everybody’s robe was blown off, leaving them all naked and exposed to one another. But there was no embarrassment or shyness. The energy from the shockwave stirred in them a new feeling, one of deep lust and desire. It was very powerful, overriding rational thought and reservations. Flushed with this new energy, they hungered for pleasure.

“Now for the fun part! Let the fucking begin!” grinned Selene as she tossed aside her robe along with Xavier.

“Don’t hold back,” said the Black King, sensing in everybody the insatiable urge, “Embrace this feeling in all its glory!”

His words ringing strong, the pawns of the Hellfire Club and their assorted guests followed their instincts and an orgy of the sensual began. Everybody paired up and gathered on the plush red rugs that were laid out all over the room. Scott got with Ororo, Jean got with James, Remy got with Wanda, Warren got with Rogue, Kurt got with Emma, Sage got with Pietro, and Mystique got with Piotr. Selene and Xavier remained in the center, their sights set one each other. They would participate as well and soak up all the ecstasy that was sure to come in their own special ways.

“Show me what you’ve got, Black King,” grinned Selene.

“As you wish, Black Queen,” replied Xavier.

Selene laid down in the glowing columns of light and parted her legs. Xavier then positioned himself over top of her and guided his erect cock into her pussy. She was very moist from the presence of so much magic and already seething with insatiable lust. As Black King he had to show he could go the distance just as well as she could and used the full force of his telepathic talents to aid him as he began hammering away into her pussy.

Following the Black King and Queen’s lead, the pawns began their romps as well. Ororo pinned Scott on his back and straddled his waist, lowering herself down onto his cock where she began riding him hard. Wanda did the same with Remy, only he stayed partially upright so he could thrust up into her with extra force and really heat things up. Jean laid on her back and pulled James on top of her, letting his imposing body consume hers as he entered her and began forcefully pounding into her tight flesh. Warren engulfed Emma in his wings as he sat in an upright position and pulled her down onto his lap where she began bouncing hard up and down his ridged length. Kurt pounced on Emma, grinning hungrily as he propped himself up on his arms while she lay on her back with her legs arched over his shoulders as he thrust into her. Sage got on her hands and knees while Pietro got behind her and started pounding into her wet pussy with his hard cock at a pace only a speedster could match. And Mystique sensually slid her arms and legs around the well-built body of the Russian mutant, teasing and tempting him as the mature lover she was as she guided his cock inside her and began riding him hard.

Soon the whole chamber was awash in grunts and cries of pleasure. Naked bodies rocked in a sexual fervor, the hot feeling of skin grinding against skin. Everybody was flushed with the burning energy of the spell, which drove them to go at it with the kind of vigor that was only possible with magic. The pulsing symbols emitted sparks of light that consumed their bodies, filling them with more pleasure. They went at it long and hard until they started climaxing.

The telepaths felt it first. Jean, Emma, Sage, and Xavier used their psychic talents to sense the sensations of those they were having sex with and the sensations of those around them. It sendtthem over the edge first and they all gasped sharply as they got their release. The presence of so much magic sent Wanda over the edge next, surrounding Remy in a hallow of hex bolts as she squeezed him with her arms and legs as her body tensed with orgasmic sensations. The others soon followed. Remy climaxed next, overwhelmed by Wanda’s hexing talents. Scott, Kurt, Pietro, and James all got their around the same time. Ororo and Rogue were next, showing off some of their spirited sexuality by screaming the loudest. Mystique and Piotr were last with Mystique pushing the young Russian to his limits with her shape shifting skills to tense her body in all the right ways. Once everybody got theirs, Selene’s eyes flashed dark blue and she got her climax as well. Since she was the one who cast the spell, she got a taste of everybody’s pleasure and cried out in a burst of orgasmic madness. But even after the feeling passed, the magic was still going strong.

“YEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!” exclaimed the Black Queen in the heat of ecstasy, “More! Keep fucking each other! Let the power and pleasure fill your souls!”

“Dang…you folks know how to throw a party,” said Remy short of breath, who was still reeling from the peak he felt with Wanda.

“You have no idea,” smirked Wanda seductively.

Everybody got up and switched partners. Nobody was thinking clearly so they didn’t give much thought to their selection. Scott paired up with Emma, Pietro got with Mystique, Xavier got with Jean, Kurt got with Selene, Wanda got with Piotr, Ororo got with Warren, and James got with Sage. Remy was still a little overwhelmed so he didn’t get up from where he was sitting. But Rogue came over and seductively got on top of him, ready to show him what the Hellfire Club was really about.

“Welcome to our world, Remy. You better have more stamina than that because we’re just gettin’ warmed up!” said Rogue with a sassy grin as she trailed her finger up his chest.

“Trust me, cherè, Remy knows all about stamia,” boasted the Cajun.

“Prove it,” she said intently, the lust burning in her eyes.

Remy grinned, following the feeling as he took this sexy southern woman in his arms and hungrily made out with her while caressing the tender heat of her womanly curves. The rest of the men followed suit, making out with their respective female partners. Then in a coordinated act of lust, the men each laid the women down and kissed down their hot bodies until they reached their still wet pussies. It could very well have been the spell that was leading them all to do this at once, but they were beyond caring. The only one who knew the truth was Selene and she wasn’t complaining.

“That’s it boys! Eat your woman out! Make her scream!” proclaimed Selene.

The men obediently followed, pushing apart the inner thighs of the women and hungrily licking over their wet folds. They were all still moist from the first round and sensitive to the touch. Fueled by the heat of the spell the men dug deep, spreading the lips of their pussies and flicking their tongues out of the wet heat. Some women had rougher tastes than others. Pietro found that Mystique liked having four fingers jammed inside her while he sucked her clit, Piotr found that Wanda liked having her ass slapped a little while he ate her out, and Selene literally forced Kurt’s head into her heat, giving him a faceful of her pussy. Others were more traditional. Jean and Emma urged their partners to be nice and thorough. It helped Xavier was psychic and Scott had always been good at oral teasing, thanks in large part to how intimate he got with Jean. And Emma appreciated the extra effort.

The men thoroughly pleasured the women, licking and teasing their wet folds until they started climaxing again. The psychics were first again. Jean, Sage, and Emma each felt their pussies spasm in a hot release. Rogue and Wanda were next and then Ororo got hers as well, throwing in a little gust of cold wind for an exotic touch. And like before Selene climaxed last, soaking up the feeing of everybody’s orgasm. She yelled out again in a demented show of lust, but even then she pushed the ritual.

“Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh yes!” she exclaimed, “Such nice gentlemen, going down on us until we all cum. You deserve a reward! Ladies, you know what to do! Suck them off and then fuck them again!”

It sounded like a good enough plan for the women. They all rose up and gave their partners a kiss of appreciation for their performance on them. Then they trailed their lips down their chiseled male bodies, grasping their still hard member and giving it a slight tease. Some men laid back while others rose up onto their knees, grasping their heads as they started licking and sucking their members. Soon they were all sucking them off hard, their heads bobbing back and forth along their cocks in a heated show of lust.

Deep manly grunts filled the room and the pulsing lights from the symbols intensified. Some women got creative in their sucking. Emma and Jean used their large breasts to their advantage, sliding the cocks of their partners between their breasts and tit fucking them nice and hard. Wanda threw in some hexing force behind her teasing, causing Piotr to mutter a strong of Russian words, the meaning of which were clearly too obscene for his English to grasp. And Selene used her impressive strength to really squeeze Kurt’s dick hard, causing him to moan out in a sharp gasp of lust.

Each woman sucked their male partner off until he was on the brink of climaxing. But before they could they stopped abruptly and slipped into the heat of their powerful arms, lowering themselves onto their waiting dicks and rode them into another daze of ecstasy. This time the pace was much quicker. Sweat poured off their bodies as the woman bounced up and down the dicks of their partners. Those like Selene, Wanda, and Rogue really worked it hard, digging their nails into the skin of their partners as their cocks slashed inside their tight folds. Others like Jean and Ororo were more thorough, focusing on quality and not force with their movements. Mystique preferred to let Pietro do most of the work, using his speed to fuck up into her pussy as she straddled him so it was like she was riding a jackhammer.

Through their different tactics they brought each man to climax. Pietro came first, largely because of the great speed at which he went at it. Warren and Kurt soon followed, the power of the spell heightening their burning drive since they were each affected by darkness from their involvement with Selene. Piotr was next thanks to an extra push by Wanda’s hexing powers. She was getting pretty good at using them for sexual purposes and she really worked the Russian over, causing his bulging muscles to tense as he blew his load inside her. Scott, Remy, and James were next, each reaching up and grasping the breasts of their partners as they sprayed their thick load into their womanly depths. Xavier was last, having held out until he could telepathically absorb the pleasure of every last man as they climaxed. He used that to push himself over the edge as he filled Jean’s insides with his release. Jean showed off her psychic talents as well by aiding in the process and soaking up some of the pleasure for herself.

By the time it was over the men needed a slight breather, but the spell was still going strong. The men were already looking for their next romp. But before Xavier parted from Jean he leaned in and kissed her near the ear and sent her a telepathic message.

‘You’ve learned to use your talents well. But if you want to really pursue your mystical interests, meet me in my office tomorrow morning. I have a surprise for you. But don’t let any one else know about it…especially Selene.’

Jean, despite her lustful daze, nodded in affirmation. This was an odd setting to give her such a message, but given how everybody was caught up in the spell it made sense. She would have to remember that for later though. There was more pleasure to be had.

Over with Emma, she spent a little extra time with Scott. She wasn’t quite so willing to part from him yet. Looking over at Jean she remembered how she called her out when she arrived on her attitude towards relationships. Now she was acting on her words even after Emma warned her. For that she found it necessary for a little something extra.

“You’re a talented lover, Scott. You’re quickly becoming one of my favorites,” said Emma in a sexually charged tone.

“Um…thanks, Emma,” said Scott, not expecting a complement like that from her.

“Keep it up and I might just let you in on a few secrets of mine,” she said, “But that all depends whether or not you can stay the man you are now and don’t turn into the kind of man who has burned me before.”

Scott was unable to respond to that. He was in too much of a daze to care. But her words did catch his interest. Perhaps he would look into it later. But that would have to wait. Mystique had come over and literally pulled Emma right off of him.

“Save the pillow talk for later, blondie. It’s my turn!” said the shape shifter.

“Alright you impatient bitch, I guess I’ll just have to find another partner,” grinned Emma, immediately setting her sights on Kurt.

From there the orgy continued with every man pairing up with every woman at least once. The only exceptions were Kurt and his mother and Pietro and his sister. They may have been under a spell, but they weren’t so dazed that they would push the limits. That didn’t stop Kurt from coupling with Rogue though. She was a little hesitant and so was Mystique when she saw it, but because they weren’t related by blood she went along with it and let Kurt go to town on her. It was quite the spectacle and Kurt seemed strangely exhilarated by it, something that earned him a grin from Selene.

Even after everybody paired up once they kept going at it. Some took it a step further and some group sex broke out with two men double teaming a woman and two women going at it with a man. Remy was particularly find of getting two women to hump together, getting Rogue and Ororo to double up on him. Emma was fonder of getting more men involved, inviting Piotr and James to sandwich her between them with Piotr under her thrusting up into her pussy and James on top doing her ass. Other’s took it one at a time, like with Pietro using his speed to go from woman to woman, pounding into them with vigorous fervor and being able to climax partially in one and running over to finish in another. But none were quite as charged as Selene, who always took command of each man she fucked. She worked it the hardest and cried out the loudest whenever she reached orgasm. And through this ordeal of decadent sexual indulgence the spell kept it going, fueling them with sexual energy that kept them going far longer than any normal human could. It led to many intense climaxes and overwhelming pleasures, making for a truly memorable ritual.

Towards the end everybody paired up with more familiar partners. Scott got with Jean, Remy got with Ororo, Kurt got with Wanda, Emma got with Warren, Rogue got with Pietro, Mystique got with Charles, Sage got with James, and Piotr was left to take care of Selene. For this final peak, they pulled out all the stops. They went at it harder and faster as the glowing lights intensified to their brightest yet. Most were upright with the woman straddling the man, rocking their hips against his while the man held her by the butt and guided her along his length. A few had the women underneath, their legs spread wide as they hammered away into them. Only Selene remained on top of her man, riding him hard and fondling her breasts as they pushed for the last peak. Everybody with the exception of Xavier and Selene were dazed with lustful ecstasy. The scintillating power of lust, pleasure, and indulgence filled them to the core with the deviant spirit of the Hellfire Club. They all held on as the magic filled their bodies, bringing them to the greatest euphoria yet.

“YES-YES-YEEEEEESSSSSSS-UH-UH-IT’S ALMOST TIME-AUGH-ALL OF YOU-UH-ALL OF YOU CUM TOGETHER-UGH-CUM WITH ME AND FEEL THE GREATEST PLEASURE OF YOUR LIFE!” yelled Selene in a heated, yet still commanding tone.

The naked bodies of the Hellfire pawns rocked and gyrated as the whole room became consumed with light. They were all on the brink, crying out in an overwhelming surge of crazed lust. When the feeling hit everybody held onto their partners and let out a howl of euphoria, their bodies convulsing in waves of pleasure the likes of which they never experienced before. The men all grunted as they filled their female partners with one last load of their cum. The women all blissfully gasped as their inner muscles tensed and their bodies contorted to the waves of pleasure that filled them. As they embraced this pleasure everybody’s body was consumed by the light. It was so intense that only the power of the Hellfire Club could possibly have brought about such a feeling.

When all was said and done the light from the spell faded and everybody collapsed in a fit of exhaustion. Only Charles and Selene were still collected enough to get up and survey the scene. It was almost humorous to watch. The young pawns were gasping for air, the men drenched in sweat and the women with streaks of fluids trailing down their inner thighs. It was the first time they experienced a ritual of such magnitude, but it wouldn’t be the last.

“Hope you enjoyed this special little ritual,” grinned Selene as she walked passed the tired bodies, “We’ll be doing plenty like them as time goes on.”

“Indeed,” grinned Charles with equal encouragement, “Continue your efforts and the rewards will be even greater. This is still just the beginning. The power of the Hellfire Club is still growing and you’re all a part of it. Remember that as we move on into a very promising future.”

Greenwich Village – The Next Day

It was early in the morning and Jean Grey was navigating her way through a special area of Greenwich Village. As she walked the streets she let out a tired yawn. After the ‘bonding’ ritual Lord Xavier and Mistress Selene organized everybody was tired. She woke up this morning feeling pretty sore in certain places, but she had no regrets. She smiled at the memory of some of the things she did during that ritual. As someone just finding her mystical potential, she had a greater appreciation for its power and its affects. That was part of why she was sent on this solo task by Xavier.

He was unusually quiet about it. The only time he even discussed it was when they talked through psychic communication. It was as if he was trying to hide it from everybody else, namely Selene. She understood the need to keep some things from the others, but that put her in a precarious position. If Selene started getting suspicious she would no doubt start asking questions. And knowing her she wouldn’t be polite about it. But that only made her more curious as to what Xavier had her doing. All he told her was to meet somebody in this area who would give her ‘special’ lessons.

What those lessons were, however, he didn’t say. She assumed it had something to do with magic. He didn’t state it overtly, but he definitely knew what happened with her and Scott that night she cast her first spell. She still smiled at the memory, but beyond the personal aspect of it all there was also the potential for her to develop a new skill. She had a firm grasp of her psychic talents and was just starting to explore magic. Completing one spell and unlocking her potential was just one step. There were many others ahead of her she couldn’t begin to comprehend. But whoever this contact was hopefully they could help.

The setting was appropriate. Greenwich Village was famous for mystical activity. It was even where Dr. Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme, resided. She was instructed to keep her distance from him since he wasn’t fond of the Hellfire Club, but she did pass his complex on the way there. She felt the energy of this place coursing through her being. It was one of the effects of rousing her mystical potential. She now had a slight attunement to magical forces. It wasn’t as good as Selene’s or Wanda’s, but she was working on it.

After a few more blocks Jean stopped at a seemingly ordinary three-story building. Reaching into the pocket of her street clothes, she pulled out a slip of paper where she wrote the address. She checked and re-checked it to make sure this was the place. Once satisfied she walked up the stairs of the stoop to the door.

“Guess this is it,” she said to herself, “Might as well introduce myself.”

She knocked on the door. In the middle of the second knock it opened itself, but there was nobody on the other end. Jean got the distinct feeling that some kind of magic was involved, but she didn’t see any signs of the one behind it. All she saw was a dark, vacant hallway before her.

“Hello? Is anybody there?” she called out into the hall.

At first there was silence. She started to wonder if maybe she was at the wrong address. Then she heard a deep, feminine voice echo from down the hall.

“Come in, Jean. I’ve been expecting you.”

Her curiosity heightened, Jean entered and began making her way down the hall. About halfway down the door behind her closed and she felt the presence of magic again, only now it was stronger. Whoever was here had to be pretty powerful. The deeper she walked into this place the more intense the feeling grew. She was a little nervous given she didn’t know who this was or what she had in store for her, but she brushed that aside like the hardened Hellfire woman she was and followed the path of the voice.

At the end of the hallway there was a junction. One end didn’t seem to lead anywhere while the other led to an open door with light coming from it. She sensed the presence in the direction of the open door. It didn’t feel like a normal mind though. It was almost superhuman in a sense. It wasn’t psychic, but there was something unique about it. Making her way towards the door she could make out a mysterious chanting. She recognized some of it from her studies, but other parts of it were totally unknown to her. It sounded like a mix of old German and Norse and whoever was chanting it had a heavenly voice.

Upon reaching the door she carefully entered to find an imposing, but beautiful woman sitting in the middle of the room chanting over a statue. She was tall, well-built, and had long flowing blonde hair. There was a clearly Nordic look to her and there was something about the way the dim light shined off her skin that seemed more than human. All around her were rare artifacts, most of which looked Norse. The only light from the room came from candles and shaded lamps, all of which had elaborate engravings. And the statue she was chanting to resembled that of Odin, the lead Norse god of Asgard.

Jean watched for a moment as the woman finished her chant. Then she rose up, revealing more Norse attire. She wore tight green and black pants with a matching strapless garb that showed off her perfect cleavage. When she turned to face her Jean came face-to-face with her penetrating gaze. It was then she was certain that this was no ordinary woman.

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Jean Grey. Charles has told me so much about you,” said the woman, “I am Amora of Asgard, but most know me as Enchantress.”

“Asgard? You mean THE Asgard? The home of the mythological Norse gods?” said Jean in bewilderment.

“Mythological? Hardly,” she scoffed, “I assure you the gods of Asgard are real. But I’m sure you already knew that.”

“Of…of course,” said Jean quickly, “I didn’t mean to…”

But Enchantress didn’t let her go further. She was used to such reactions from impressionable mortals.

“Please, no need to apologize. We don’t have time for that anyways. We have a great deal to discuss. Charles told me you’ve taken a strong liking to the mystic arts?”

“Um…yes, well I have been experimenting a little lately,” said Jean, “I’ve successfully cast a spell on my own and I know the basics of incantations and spells.”

“And let me guess, beyond that you’re completely ignorant and nobody else seems to be able to help develop your skill,” surmised Enchantress.

“Well I do have an expert in the mystic arts back where I live, but she doesn’t think I have the necessary potential to go that far.”

“I assume that expert you speak of is Selene,” she said, her tone turning cold and bitter.

“Yeah, that’s her,” affirmed Jean, “She chose another girl, Wanda Maximoff, over me to train.”

Enchantress snarled at that name. As powerful as she was there were a few non-Asgardian figures she couldn’t stand. Selene was one of them. She had been around almost as long as her and their history was long and checkered. That bitch thought she could take the power that rightfully belonged to goddesses like her and she had to stop her many times over the centuries, less anybody doubt her skills and talents.

“Well I hope you’re not too fond of her because you’ll hear no praise from me,” she said strongly.

“Why? Do you know her?”

“Oh I know her,” said Enchantress coldly, “That bitch and I go way back. She had the gall to try and seduce Thor once and at the same time I was pursuing him no less! She’s always tried to usurp me, parading around as if she were Asgardian. She may be immortal, but she’s no goddess…far from it. That’s why I was so intrigued when I heard from Charles one of his pawns was in need of special training.”

Jean was piecing it together now. If Selene wasn’t going to train her somebody else had to. Charles was a strategist if nothing else and saw a clear threat from Selene should she hold a monopoly on all things magical. There had to be someone else to counter her. As logical as that sounded, Jean was a bit surprised that he believed she could be that counter.

“Is that what I’m here for? Training?” she said, excited at the prospect of developing her mystical talents, “But I thought you had to have a certain natural talent for magic.”

“That’s what Selene wants you to think, but I assure you it’s not that simple,” said Enchantress, “Just look at Dr. Strange. The man was an ardent, arrogant everyman before he became Sorcerer Supreme. Then he met a man known as the Ancient One, who nurtured a drive he saw in his spirit that brought about the power he now wields.”

Then Enchantress took a step closer to the young woman. She looked at her with her critical eye, seeing on the surface normal girl who just happened to have some powers. But beyond that she saw something else in her that went beyond a typical mutant woman of Midgard.

“I believe you have that same spirit,” said Enchantress with a mysterious leer, “With the right training, you could be highly skilled in the mystic arts. That’s why Charles sent you to me. He wants me to teach you and in return I get a generous payment and a chance to show up Selene. It’s completely win-win. Only unlike that bitch I’ll be more balanced in what I teach you and not drone endlessly on demons and darkness. But before I teach you anything I must be sure you have the proper drive to do magic.”

“Oh believe me I want to learn,” said Jean strongly, “I want to learn everything I can about magic and I’m ready to start right now!”

“Then answer me, Miss Grey…why would a girl who already has mutant powers, access to limitless wealth, and the opportunity to shape your future any way you see fit want to learn magic?”

It was an important question. This Asgardian Goddess wanted to know why she should waste her time mentoring her, someone who Selene saw as unfit to learn magic. It would have been much easier for Jean to just live the life of a normal Hellfire woman, indulging in money, sex, and power. But just because it was easier didn’t mean it was right.

“Because I have something Selene doesn’t…something that I know will make the power I wield that much stronger.”

“Oh? And what is that?” said the Norse goddess, intrigued by the young woman’s tough tone.

“Passion…the kind that’ll make any magic I wield that much stronger.”

Enchantress smiled at the young woman. She had a fire in her eyes she didn’t see in most mortal women. It was a fire that went beyond a mere desire to experiment with unknown forces. It was something truly special, as if it were an instilled drive. It would be interesting to see how she would handle the forces of magic and she could already see her being better than anyone Selene could train. It had been a long time since she mentored somebody and Jean Grey fit everything she was looking for in a pupil.

“Passion huh?” she said, folding her arms and smiling ominously, “In that case I suppose I could show you a few things to put that passion to good use. That is of course if you’re willing to learn from me and do as I say.”

“Oh I’m willing, ma’am…willing and ready to start!” said Jean in a determined tone.

“Good, because we have a lot of ground to cover.”

It was the start of something grand. Jean could feel it and so could Enchantress. She finally had the chance to learn about magic the way she wanted. That spell she shared with Scott was only the beginning. She felt ready to experience so much more. No doubt another mystic among the pawns would cause a stir, especially with others like Wanda being so close to Selene. But that was necessary in the Hellfire Club. A balance had to be maintained. Only time would tell whether or not that balance would hold because it seemed as though plenty of forces were gathering to destroy it.

Vancouver Canada

It was a cold, dreary morning as a lone ship pulled up to the dock in the main harbor. It was the kind of morning nobody liked waking up to. Just looking outside was enough to make anybody want to crawl back into bed. And after spending days cooped up on a ship it was even worse. But for a short, burly, muscular man known only as Logan it was fitting, if not ironically so. Whoever said home is where the heart is never came back to a place like this after having spent years on the other side of the world.

As the ship docked, Logan stared out into the dreary expanse with a mix of indifference and scorn. It had been a long time since the cold Canadian air blew through his bearded face. Rain mixed with snow in the dreary weather. He could barely make out the city in the background. His home country had a hell of a way of welcoming him. It conjured up brief, but incoherent memories of a dark time in his life. It was ironic in a ways because he didn’t have a lot of memories to conjure in the first place.

“Home sweet home my ass,” muttered Logan as he walked off the boat.

He was a man without a past. He wasn’t even sure if Logan was his real name. He was the victim of an ambitious experiment known as Weapon X that was meant to turn mutants into living weapons. He figured he was the lucky guinea pig because of his ability to heal from pretty much anything. The process bonded adamantium, an unbreakable alloy, to his bones and claws that shot out through his knuckles. Combined with his other mutant ability of heightened senses, it made him a formidable weapon that a group of very sick people wanted to control. Their solution to that problem was to wipe his memories and warp his mind, taking away his free will and reducing him to higher function of a domesticated animal. But it didn’t go as planned.

During the process, something went wrong and he broke out. Full of rage and confusion, he mercilessly slaughtered everybody in his path. They tried to shoot him, trap him, and knock him out with gas canisters, but nothing would stop him. He had only one thing on his mind that fateful day…vengeance. Many fell as a result of his rage, but killing didn’t bring back what they took. What happened after wards was unclear as was pretty much everything else in his life. He only got a hold of himself when James and Heather Hudson of Alpha Flight found him. They helped him get part of his humanity back. They even offered him a position with Alpha Flight, giving him the nickname Wolverine. But he had no interest in playing hero. He had even less interest when the government backers of Alpha Flight, Department H, refused to release any information about Weapon X even though they had detailed knowledge of it. That’s when he struck out on his own.

For a while he tried to track Weapon X down, but the trail soon went cold. For years he searched with no leads. Either the remaining people involved went into hiding or he killed them all. Either way he was lost, confused, and angry at the world. He eventually found his way to Japan. There he was introduced to the ways of the samurai warrior, something that helped gain him greater control over his rage. He trained for years and established a strong presence there. He also got involved with a few major crime families. But even on the other side of the world, Weapon X found a way to mess up his life. One of the families had ties to a scientist that perfected the adamantium bonding process that Weapon X used. When they found out, they all turned on him. That’s how he ended up back in Canada. He was here to finish what he started.

“Time to get to work,” said Logan as he gazed out into the dreary landscape.

He had nothing but the clothes on his back and a couple hundred bucks in cash. But he was through running. He didn’t care if he had to track every scent on this continent. Weapon X took everything from him. He was going to find what was left of those monsters and kill them with his bare hands. He could care less what happened afterwards. He didn’t care who got in his way or how long it took. Logan wanted vengeance and nothing was going to stop him.

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Up next: The next class of the Hellfire Club begins to take shape.

AN: This marks the end of Part 1. The next part of the story will come in a sequel. Please stay tuned to see more of the New Blood universe! There is still plenty more to come! Please remember to take the time to leave a review. Post it on the website or send it to me in an email at slickboy444@aol.com. Thank you all very much for reading and I wish everybody the best!