New Blood II: Growing Ranks

New Blood
Chapter 21: More Family Matters

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Frankfort, Germany – Restaurant

Family had always been a complicated concept for Kurt, Rogue, and Mystique. Their situation had never been easy. First when Mystique had Kurt, she was on the run with him. Then when she adopted Rogue she had to get past the scars left behind from her real parents. It didn’t help that she was often running around, doing jobs for the Hellfire Club. But she still tried to be a mother to them and while she was not a running candidate for parent of the year, she did her best under their unique circumstances.

So when some of the others were given time off to catch up with family, Mystique tried to do the same with Kurt and Rogue. It was different since they saw her more often now. But neither one of them were as enthusiastic as she would have liked them to be. Kurt was definitely hesitant. Being away from Wanda for any period of time seemed to distress him. Wanda had to coax him to go with her, which didn’t sit well with Mystique because it showed just how big an influence she had over him. But she hoped to address that by getting him and Rogue away from Hellfire Manor. And while Rogue wanted to help her brother just as much as Mystique, she wasn’t too confident they could do much at this point.

To help matters along, Mystique invited Irene Adler to join them. Since they left for the Hellfire Club, Irene remained in Germany where she acted as a consultant for the Hellfire Club. She used her precognitive powers to predict market trends and if an enemy would move against them. She kept in touch with Mystique, but over the years she hadn’t kept up with Kurt and Rogue much. In general, they were happy to see her. But her presence did little to change Kurt’s state of mind.

At the moment they were having dinner in a very fancy German restaurant. Mystique went out of her way to set up a private area in the upper levels so that she could talk to her kids without distraction. They already ordered and had their food on the table, but only Kurt seemed interested in the food.

“It’s been too long since I’ve enjoyed authentic German cuisine,” he as he bit into a bratwurst, “I almost forgot how zhe real thing tasted.”

“Will you cut it out with the food, Kurt? We all know it’s good,” said Rogue, “Ah thought we were supposed to be talkin’ seriously.”

“Funny, I zhought you vould have much more appreciation for long, juicy bratwursts. They’re in your favorite shape,” quipped Kurt with a mischievous grin.

“Why you little…you know Ah’m a lot stronger now than Ah was a year ago, don’t you?!” shot Rogue, blushing profusely at his comment, “Ah should snap your neck just for…”

“Enough Rogue!” said Mystique in a commanding tone, “Let’s not make this into another family feud. As hard as it may be, I’d like to keep things civil. And that requires none of the usual sibling squabbles!”

Rogue muttered a curse under her breath as she bit into her bratwurst. It used to be she and Kurt never fought. If ever there was a snide comment, it would come from her. But Kurt was just so different now compared to four years ago. It worried her as much as her mother, but he didn’t seem too worked up about it.

“Kurt, please put aside the food for a moment so we can talk. We need to discuss this,” said Mystique in her usual stern tone.

“Need is such a strong vord, mother,” said Kurt as he finished his food, “Do ve really need to talk about something we’ve already worked out?”

“Yes we do,” she said strongly, “Because even though you say we worked it out, I get the distinct feeling you’ve been giving me lip service since I got back from Department H.”

“Oh mother, vhy vould you zhink zhat?” said Kurt, using his most innocent tone to address her.

“Because I’m your mother and I can sense things with my son that others can’t.”

Kurt shook his head in exasperation. His mother was so protective, not to mention perceptive. Since she got back he did everything he could to make it seem as though all was well with him and he adhering to her wishes to keep his distance from Selene. But apparently, it wasn’t enough.

“Is zhis vhy you brought Irene along?” he said, turning to address the blind woman, “Is zhis some sort of intervention? If it is you’re wasting your time.”

“Don’t talk about time when you’re around a precog, Kurt,” said Irene, “You should know by now that I have insights that you don’t.”

“I never said you didn’t. And I don’t see vhy that matters.”

“Because I’ve been having dreams, Kurt,” she said strongly, “Vivid dreams of a future full of impending darkness. And lately I’ve been seeing you within that darkness.”

Her ominous words earned him looks from everybody. Kurt was on the spot now. It was easy to lie to his sister and mother, but much harder to lie to Irene’s dreams. He knew first hand how accurate they were. And both Mystique and Xavier trusted them. It was hard to get around no matter how convincing he was.

Mystique put on a more serious expression. She tried to set aside her usual authoritative sternness and address Kurt as a concerned parent. It was never easy for her. Even Kurt knew she wasn’t very good with affection. But she really was concerned about her son.

“Kurt, I’m not going to beat around the bush. I know you’re deeply involved with Wanda. And I know she’s involved with Selene. She says she isn’t, but she is. And before you try and deny it, let me say right now that I don’t care at this point.”

“Of course you, care,” argued Kurt, “You vouldn’t be making a big deal about it if you did.”

“Well it is a big deal!” said Mystique strongly, “Being involved with that woman always is! But it’s not her I have the problem with. It’s not even the fact that you may be palling around with her! The problem lies solely with you, Kurt! Because for whatever reason you’ve changed these past four years. You’ve grown and matured, but at the same time you’ve taken on some very different traits. You’re dark and secretive. You don’t question things like you used to and you don’t bat an eye when something goes wrong. You’re either hopelessly tied to Wanda or hopelessly relegated to the will of others! And I worry about where they’re leading you.”

This was usually the point where Kurt would deny her claim and reassure her that everything was okay. But this time he stayed silent. He just looked his mother in they eye, seeing in her someone who was concerned and suspicious. She then reached across the table and held his hands, a gesture that was rare for someone so used to being cold and cunning. Even though Kurt didn’t show it, it did affect him.

“Change or no change, you’re still my son,” she told him, “And I’m not going to stop worrying about you. But I need to know that the boy I gave birth to still remembers. I need to know that everything you tell me isn’t a lie.”

“It’s not about lies, mother. It never was,” said Kurt, his tone shifting a bit.

“Then what is it about, Kurt?” asked Rogue, now looking just as concerned as Mystique, “Come on, we’re your family. You can tell us.”

“It’s complicated,” he answered.

“Then uncomplicate it!” Rogue exclaimed.

“It’s not zhat easy, I’m afraid,” he said, pulling away from his mother’s grip, “As I’ve said before, I’ve made my choices. I know vhat I am doing. I know zhe path I am valking. And I cannot turn back.”

“Why not?!” exclaimed Mystique.

“Because I don’t vant to,” he said stoically.

Mystique and Rogue were at a loss. Kurt still sounded so dark, but there was so much certainty in his eyes and his voice. Lies or not, he genuinely meant it when he said that this was what he wanted. It was hard to tell if this really was his choice or a choice someone influenced, namely Selene. But he wasn’t being controlled either. He really was certain of this. It gave them as sense of despair and frustration. Even when they reached out to Kurt, there was no getting through to him. Whatever had happened to him, it wasn’t something that could be undone.

But Kurt didn’t leave it at that. He may be resolute in his choices and the lies he told about Selene. But he hadn’t forgotten that this was his family. He had to do something to set their minds at ease.

“Look, I know I have done a lot to varrent your concern zhese past four years. I’ve done a lot zhese past few months even,” he said, “But try not to vorry too much. I know vhat I’m doing.”

“Do you?” questioned Irene, “Do really know the kind of consequences your actions may have? Because I do and I think you underestimate them.”

“Perhaps I do,” Kurt conceded, “But at zhe same time, I know zhat no matter vhat happens you two vill be zhere to keep me from going over zhe edge.”

“Over the edge?” said Rogue, looking at her adopted brother strangely, “How in the heck will we know when that happens?”

“Believe me, you’ll know,” said Kurt, “You’ll know because everybody vill know. And vhen zhat time comes I know you’ll do vhat you need to do.”

“I appreciate the vote of confidence, but Kurt that’s not enough for me!” said Mystique strongly, “Just what is it that you’re caught up in? What is it that’s doing this to you?”

“I can’t say,” he said flatly.

“You can’t? Or you won’t?” she questioned.

“I can’t,” he said strongly, “I’m sorry mother. I’m sorry to all of you. But I just can’t.”

Rogue, Mystique, and Irene studied the young mutant carefully. The look in his eyes was so different from the Kurt they remember. But there was still a touch of him left beyond that cold, emotionless darkness that so dominated his persona. And it came through when he talked about them stopping him from going too far. It also came through when he said he couldn’t tell them what was happening with him. That indicated he was telling the truth this time. But that was all they could tell him.

It was disheartening. Mystique hoped that coming back to his home country and spending time with his family would help him open up. But it didn’t work the way she hoped. This was probably the most honest he had been with her in years, but he was still hiding something. And it was something serious if he really couldn’t tell them. The more she studied him the clearer it became. She was never going to break through that veil of darkness. But at the same time, he was never going to let go of them either. That offered some comfort in a situation where there was very little.

“Can you at least give us a hint?” asked Rogue intently.

Kurt sighed and shook his head.

“Sorry, mien sister, but zhis is zhe vay it has to be for now. But I promise you it vill not always be like zhis.”

“It won’t?” said Mystique curiously.

“Ja, and while I may not be able to tell you vhat vill happen, I can tell you zhat no matter vhat I vill not forget my family. Zhere may be a lot of distance between us now, but I am still tied to you. And I don’t vant to change that. Zhat is vhy I know you’ll do vhat you have to do vhen zhe time is right.”

Mystique thought about it for a moment. Then she looked over to Irene, whose keen insight was always a step ahead of everybody. She seemed to be contemplating something. Most likely she was trying to find out if what Kurt said could apply to the dreams she had been having. It was a tense moment, but then to her surprise her expression lightened. She then nodded to Mystique, who got the message.

“If that’s the way you want to do it, Kurt, then I suppose I’ll take your word for it,” she said.

“What?!” exclaimed Rogue, “You can’t be serious, mama!”

“I am, Rogue,” she said strongly, not taking her eyes off her son, “If Kurt says this is the way it has to be…then this is the way it has to be.”

“Zhank you, mother,” said Kurt with a relieved smile.

“But make no mistake,” she said, “You won’t be immune from punishment if what you’re doing leads to serious conflict.”

“Oh believe me, mother, I vill take all zhe spankings I deserve,” he said jokingly.

“You damn well better,” said the shape shifter with a half grin, “Just because we’re in the Hellfire Club doesn’t mean I can’t give you some old fashioned motherly love.”

“I vouldn’t have it any other vay.”

Rogue was astonished. She couldn’t believe her tough, mercenary mother was going to let this go. She was under the impression that she would torture Kurt if she had to in order to get the truth out of him. But she didn’t push further. She clearly didn’t like it, but she was okay with his response. And so was Irene. Maybe there was something she wasn’t getting, but it just didn’t add up. It was enough to make her sick.

“Ah can’t believe it,” she groaned as she pushed away her food, “Ah think I’m gonna be sick.”

“Don’t be so melodramatic, Rogue,” said Mystique, “I’m taking this just as seriously as you.”

“No really, Mama, Ah think Ah’m gonna be sick!”

Rogue then shot up from her chair, clenching her stomach, and rushed over towards the washroom. Upon seeing this Mystique pushed her food aside as well and got up to ran after her. Rogue wasn’t usually one to get sick, but when she did it was usually pretty serious.

“Hold on, Rogue! I’ll be right there,” she exclaimed as she ran after her before she started puking.

Kurt watched with mild concern, but didn’t seem too affected by it. He just sighed to himself and went back to his meal. It was a bit odd that Rogue would get sick just as they seemed to resolve things for now. But Mistress Selene warned him that something like this may happen. She implied that a slight ‘bug’ may start going around as they furthered their plans. She didn’t go into detail, but as always he didn’t ask questions. He had no doubt something big was coming. But whatever happened, he trusted that Rogue and his mother would be there to do what they had to do.

Irene, however, was a bit more intrigued. Unlike the rest of them, she had a vague idea of what was coming. She couldn’t be sure, but something about this situation felt like a sign. Her visions of the future were never crystal clear. Most of the time she saw only signs in the midst of great uncertainty. The signs were subtle and even though she was blind, she knew them when they happened. And for a vision like this that wasn’t a good thing. There was a great darkness on the horizon. And when it was over, nothing would be the same.

‘And so the darkness draws closer…’

Cheyenne Reservation – Graveyard

Every culture has a unique way of dealing with death. To some it is an end. To others it is just another beginning. Then there are those that view death as something that isn’t absolute. It isn’t clearly defined and it isn’t well-understood. In Cheyenne culture, as well as many other tribes like the Apache, the past and the present are not separate. They are one in the same. Therefore death is not something finite. It is an ongoing process that continues to manifest in different ways. For Danielle Moonstar and James Poundstar, it was especially strong because death had such a major impact on their lives.

For Danielle, it was never far from her mind. She lost both her parents at a young age and then her grandfather just a few years ago. So it seemed as though death was a major driving force in her life. It was part of what led her to her current situation. And she had little doubt it would be a determining factor in the events to come. She bore a heavy burden since that fateful meeting with Charles Xavier. He placed a great deal of trust in her. She had been working so hard with him and Moria, trying to live up to the expectations that he and her family had of her. They told her repeatedly that failure was too grave to contemplate. She had to step up if she was to prevent more death. It was times like this she wished her parents and grandfather was still alive to guide her.

James Poundstar knew that feeling well. He could see it in her eyes. It was the same look he got whenever he wished John was still alive to keep him in check. Ever since he died it felt as though he had to carry the load on his own. It wasn’t easy even with his powers. But that’s why he always took some time out of his Hellfire duties to travel home and pay his respects to his brother. And with many of the others traveling to visit family, it seemed appropriate that he took some time today to keep in touch with his spirit. But since Danielle’s situation was so similar to his, he brought her along.

They already visited the Apache reservation where his brother was buried. And after doing what he had to do there, he flew with Danielle in one of the Hellfire jets to her home town on the reservation. There they gathered in the graveyard where her family had been laid to rest. In accordance with tradition, the dead were cremated and their ashes were scattered over a particular area that was marked off with ceremonial stones and wooden statues. This was time she set foot here since her grandfather died. She often resisted the urge to connect with the dead. But if ever there was a time she needed to connect with her lost family for strength, this was it. If only she knew where to begin.

“I…I don’t know what to say,” said Danielle as she stood next to James.

“Just say what you feel,” said the Apache warrior, “They won’t judge you. The dead are polite like that.”

She didn’t know if that was meant to be a joke or something. James was never the joking type anyways. But never-the-less she tried. She walked up to a small stone that bore the etchings of her family name. At first no words came to her. Then she found herself talking to them.

“Hey mom. Hey dad. Hey Grandpa,” she said, “Sorry I haven’t visited in a while. Life sure has gotten complicated. But I’m doing better now. I have a new job. I have new responsibilities. And I’m really learning to manage my powers. It’s definitely a far cry from those early years of nightmares and visions I’m sure you all remember so well.”

Danielle managed to laugh somewhat. She tried to imagine her family laughing with her. But there was so much she wanted to tell them and it was a struggle to know where to begin.

“I know you guys always told me that I took too much blame for what happened. You always told me that I shouldn’t put heavy burdens on myself…that I should trust that the fates will work things out. But I don’t think I can avoid it anymore. There are burdens I have to bear now that nobody else can. There are things I have to do, people I have to trust, and skills I have to learn in order to do what I feel is right. I know it sounds like I’m complaining, but I just…I don’t know how to handle it.”

Danielle looked away from the stone, needing a moment to collect herself. She was never good at confiding in anybody, dead or alive. She usually never had anybody to confide in. But she needed this. And James kept encouraging her.

“Go on, you’re doing great,” he told her.

Taking one last deep breath, Danielle turned back to the stone and knelt down so she could be closer to her family’s spirit.

“I wish you were here. You always told me the right thing when I needed it most. You always made me feel better. You always gave me the strength to move on, even when I thought I was falling apart. I sure could use that now with all these new challenges I’ve got. But the fates had other ideas. I guess this is something I need to handle on my own. I don’t know if I’m ready for it, but I know it’s something I can’t turn away from.”

Pausing for a moment, Danielle reached into her pocket and pulled out a small bag of ceremonial dust. It was customary that when someone spoke to the dead, they made an offering at the end. And for something like this, she took extra care to ensure her family understood what she was doing.

“You may not agree with some of the things I have done. You probably won’t agree with some of the things I’ll end up doing. Just know that I’ll always be the daughter you know and love. I may be growing into my own person, but I’ll never forget the strength you’ve given me. I only ask that you watch over and give me the strength to do what I have to do.”

With those final words, she poured the dust out of the small bag and held it over the stone. She then closed her eyes and chanted softly the ceremonial prayer to the dead her grandfather taught her. And as the dust was carried away by the winds she felt a wave of calm come over her. It was as if her family really was there, standing by her side and embracing her. It was more than she expected. And it gave her the comfort she needed in a difficult time like this.

“I think they heard you,” said James, breaking the silence.

“I know,” said Danielle with a smile.

She then rose up, feeling better and more confident, and walked back over towards James.

“Thanks for having me do this. I needed it,” she told him.

“Sure thing,” said James, smiling back, “Sometimes you have to remind yourself of who you are, especially when you do the kinds of things we do. The dead may not say much, but they’re a good way to stay connected.”

Danielle laughed and looked back at the ceremonial stone one last time. She said what she needed to say and now the responsibility was solely on her. What Xavier was asking her to do was a very tall order, but she made a promise and she was going to keep it. And now that she had done this, she felt a bit more confident that she would be able to deliver when the time came.

“So you ready to go now?” James asked her.

“Yeah, I’m ready,” she said, “Let’s go. But before we head back, let me buy you dinner at my old favorite restaurant. I owe you one.”

“Sounds fair. Do they serve smoked steaks?”

“The best in the state, I guarantee it,” grinned Danielle.

“We’ll see about that,” said James, never one to trust others when it came to food.

They both laughed as they left the graveyard. Danielle’s spirits were higher than they had been in a long time. James could see it in her eyes. Whatever it was she was struggling with, the spirits of her family helped ease her uncertainty. Since he recruited her, he noticed how shy she was sometimes. He sensed she felt inadequate because she didn’t have destructive powers like some of the others did. But she was learning to employ them in her own way. And yet she still put so much pressure on herself. It was as if learning to master her powers was a matter of life and death. He wasn’t sure what to make of it.

“Can I ask you one more thing, Danielle,” he said curiously.

“Sure,” she said, “What is it?”

“When you were talking to them you said something about needing the strength to do something. And just out of curiosity, what was it?”

Danielle hesitated for a moment. Lord Xavier told her specifically not to drop any hints about what he was teaching her to do, even to friends. James was a perceptive man and lying to him wasn’t easy, but she had no choice.

“Nothing specific,” she shrugged, “Just everything I’m still learning to be a good Hellfire woman.”

“You sure that’s all?” he questioned, “I got the sense you were asking for help on something major. Is it anything I should know about? Maybe I can help.”

Danielle leaned in closer to the imposing man and smiled. James was a smart, strong, honorable man. He may be a bit hot-headed at times, but his spirit was always in the right place. But there were just some things he couldn’t help with.

“I appreciate the offer, but it’s okay. I can handle it,” she assured him, “That rant back there was just a teenage girl going on about responsibilities she may not be ready for.”

“You sure about that?” he said skeptically.

“Positive,” she said definitively, “Now let’s put death behind us and focus on something more important like getting in a good meal.”

Warpath still wasn’t completely convinced, but he set his concerns aside for now. She seemed more confident she could handle herself now and it wasn’t his place to get in the way of that. And besides, he was hungry. His appetite took precedence. If there was something Danielle was struggling with, whether it was training or something she wasn’t telling him, she would find her own way to deal with it. She was strong and growing stronger each day she spent at the Hellfire Club. If she ever needed help, she knew he was there.

But for Danielle, it was a little sad she couldn’t let James in on what was going on with Xavier and Moria. He had done so much to help her and it felt like she owed him. But a promise was a promise. She couldn’t risk telling him or everyone may suffer. She only hoped that she didn’t let him down. Because if what Xavier was warning her about came to pass, she would need all the strength she could muster to get through it.

Milan, Italy – Mall

Jubilation Lee lived a good part of her life in malls. She knew malls better than most people knew their own homes. Living in them gave her a special appreciation for them and the amenities they offered. During the time she spent living as a mall rat in Beverly Hills, she encountered all kinds of mall-loving characters. She encountered the ditzy, valley girl mall lovers who would squeal at the mere hint of a sale. She encountered the lazy, apathetic stoner types who just hung out at the mall, never buying anything and just taking up time and watching people pass them by. But of all the mall stereotypes she encountered, Emma Frost was in a class all her own.

“Seriously Emma, pick something and lets move on!” Jubilee groaned, “We’ve been in here for almost two hours!”

“I agree,” said Monet, “I love high end shopping as well as the next girl, but there’s only so much time I can spend in a single store before I get tired of it.”

“Will you girls just chill out?” sighed Emma as she looked at herself in the mirror for what must have been the millionth time, “We’re in Milan, we have an unlimited line of credit, and we’re in a store with two floors of high end lingerie. And I’m not leaving until I find the perfect piece.”

“Translation, we’re going to be here until the next ice age,” muttered Jubilee.

“Great beauty requires great patience,” said the blonde telepath confidently, “And I’m willing to be as patient as I have to be.”

Jubilee rolled her eyes. If patience was such a virtue then it was the only virtue Emma gave any credence. But she had her priorities. That much she would give her. And her beauty was tops on a very long list. It was part of why she organized this little trip across the world. They never usually needed an excuse to go shopping, but with so many of the others off visiting family they had to get away. None of them had any family left to visit and Emma was especially sore on the subject. And of all the things they could have done to distract themselves from such a morbid issue, shopping was the most obvious.

But for three Hellfire women, they couldn’t shop just anywhere. They had to travel to Milan and visit one of the biggest high end malls in the world. It was in an opulent mecca for rich tourists and contained stores so overpriced that nobody without at least a six figure income would bother setting foot inside. Even for Jubilee, it was over the top. But she had to admit the merchandise was out of this world. She saw jewelry, clothes, cosmetics, electronics, and accessories so nice that even a casual shopper would drool over it. But at the rate Emma was going she wouldn’t get a chance to check them out.

As soon as they set foot in the mall, Emma made a beeline for the high end lingerie department. It was this store with this fancy Italian name she couldn’t pronounce that had two floors of nothing but lingerie. It was like a giant Victoria’s Secret, only this place had certain outfits that were too provocative for window displays. She recognized some as being the tools of the trade for stripping. She even wore a few of them on stage. But Emma wasn’t here to pick out new stripping attire. She was here with a very different mission in mind.

“What do you think, ladies?” said the attractive blonde as she held up a revealing camisole to her voluptuous body, “I like the color, but do you think the embroideries are a little bland? Perhaps I can get them adjust it and make them see-through.”

“I think you’re pushing it, Emma,” said Monet, “You’ve already picked out ten garments. Are you going to try on every piece in this store before you’re satisfied?”

“If that’s what it takes, so be it,” she shrugged, looking at herself in the mirror again.

“Well if that’s what you’re going to do can you at least have someone else give you their opinion?” said Jubilee, “We would like to do some shopping of our own, you know?”

“Fine then. Run off and have a ball for all I care. But I’m not leaving until I find the perfect number to complement my perfect figure,” she grinned.

Monet and Jubilee exchanged glances. Emma was vain to an extreme and just as snide. But nobody could say she didn’t have standards. She had gone on shopping sprees before, but never like this. Jubilee just thought it was part of her bitchy persona, but Monet suspected other forces at work.

“You know if I didn’t know any better, Emma, I’d say you were planning something with this lavish shopping expedition,” commented Monet.

“Then I guess you don’t know any better,” shrugged Emma, “That’s a shame. I thought you were supposed to be a genius.”

“If you think insulting me is going to get me to back off then you’re sadly mistaken. I’m pretty patient too, you know. I can chide you all day if I have to.”

Emma shot her a look. For someone who was supposedly perfect in every way, Monet was pretty childish in her tactics. She was like Sage, but with more character. But to her credit she didn’t call her out like some of the other girls did. She was more subtle and cunning. While it was a respectable trait for a Hellfire woman, it was still annoying.

“You’re wasting your time, darling. I don’t need a reason to look for a way to complement my figure. The other girls do it all the time,” said Emma.

“Not like this they don’t,” said Monet, “There are limits to this kind of scrutiny. To go all out like this requires a reason. And not just any reason. There’s always something deeper to it. And it’s almost always personal.”

“Are you trying to sound like Xavier? Using bland logic to dissect an utterly simple desire to look beautiful?”

“Then prove me wrong,” said Monet with a snide grin.

“And how do I do that?” she said dryly.

“Look me in the eye and tell me this has nothing to do with seducing a certain someone.”

Emma flinched at her comment. She was usually pretty good at keeping her composure, even when she was under harsh scrutiny. But Monet struck a chord. She was smart and she saw through her usually unbreakable shell. She could easily deny it, but her reaction more or less confirmed her suspicions.

“Ah, I see what you’re saying, Monet!” said Jubilee, who picked up on it as well, “A binge like this could only happen if there was someone Miss Blondie here is looking to impress!”

“That’s just stupid,” scoffed Emma as she went back to sifting through garments, “I don’t need to have a reason like that to do a little extra shopping.”

“You’re lying,” said Monet.

“And you look ugly with that bland lipstick, but you don’t hear me calling you out on it.”

“Insult me all you want, Emma. You’re just proving my point.”

“And you’re just speculating wildly,” scoffed Emma.

“Am I? Here’s a few keen observations to back it up. First, you went for lingerie when there were several jewelry stores with far more elaborate displays that you usually jump at. And even before jewelry, most girls would focus on the cosmetics first. Because without makeup even the perfect piece of lingerie is limited. That implies that it’s not about looking beautiful for a party or a gathering. It’s about impressing someone specific. And I’d gather it’s someone who has seen you in risqué attire before so it’s only natural you would be looking for something better. How am I doing so far?”

Emma muttered a curse under her breath. Monet wasn’t just book smart, she was perceptive as well. She picked up on her subtleties and was able to decipher more meaning than she thought she could. And what’s more it was valid. Monet knew she was on the right track and just folded her arms smugly, grinning at Emma’s coarse reaction.

“I take it by that obscenity you just uttered I’m on the right track. Do you want me to continue listing reasons or do you want to save yourself the trouble and tell me?”

“There’s nothing to tell,” she said, “And even if there was, why would I tell you?”

“Because maybe I can help.”

“Yeah right. And why would I want your help?”

“Because you wouldn’t be shopping for something if you weren’t struggling with it.”

That genius IQ of hers was uncanny, but annoying. Even Jubilee was impressed. Monet’s line of reasoning was sound, but Emma wasn’t about to give into it. She never liked it when people prodded and scrutinized her personal life. Usually her cold, bitchy demeanor was enough to turn people off. But Monet was different. She seemed genuinely curious. It was strange because she never took her for the empathic type, especially lately since she took on a much darker persona. But she seemed intent.

Jubilee was about to say something, but Monet waved her off. Then she walked up to Emma, who was keeping her eyes on the merchandise, and whispered silently into her hear.

“I think I know who it is too,” she said, “I’ve seen how you look at him. You try to hide it, but I know it’s there. I won’t make you admit it, but you should know that any chance you take with him is doomed to fail.”

“Yeah right!” said Emma harshly, pulling away from Monet, “How would you know?”

Monet kept smiling snidely and sent her a little message telepathically.

‘Because everybody knows he loves Jean. Even I don’t need a genius IQ to figure that out. The man actually called me Jean last week when we were having sex. Trust me, that kind of love can’t be fought…unless you know how to do it right.’

Emma heard her message loud and clear. Nobody ever called her out on her attraction to Scott. Only Jean seemed to take notice, but she never pushed the issue. Either she just didn’t want to bother or she was so confident that Scott couldn’t be seduced from her she didn’t care. Either way it was an affront to her. She couldn’t help how she felt and she had been biding her time for so long, waiting for the right moment to move in on Scott. That was why Monet’s ominous warning hit so hard.

Jubilee, however, had no idea what Monet was up to. She may be new to the Inner Circle as well, but even she was smart enough not to call out Emma Frost. She couldn’t hear what she whispered into her ear, but whatever it was it must have been harsh because she never saw her rendered speechless like this before.

“Ah the silent treatment,” grinned Jubilee, “So it is true! There really is someone! Miss I-Don’t-Need-Anyone has a crush!”

“Shut up, Jubilee. I may have the patience to find the perfect lingerie, but I have no patience for childish teenage gossip.”

“It’s not gossip if it’s true,” she quipped, “So are you going to spill it or are we going to have to make a scene?”

“I wouldn’t try it unless you want me to telepathically warp your mind to the point where you don’t have enough brain power to tie your shoes,” said Emma in a low, threatening tone.

Jubilee cringed for a moment. Coming from Emma, that was not an idle threat. But she kept grinning as did Monet.

“Whatever,” she shrugged, “But even if you don’t tell us who it is, you’re cold and bitchy reputation takes a hit.”

“Do you think I care?” Emma scoffed.

“Of course you do. You care about your reputation almost as much as you care about the clothes you wear (or don’t wear for that matter),” said Jubilee, “But you obviously care about someone else a little more.”

“Oh so now you’re playing Monet’s game?”

“Why not? I may not be as smart, but I’m not dumb either. Take a chance for once! It might be worth it.”

Jubilee’s teenage enthusiasm was admirable, but painfully naïve. And it was getting on Emma’s nerves.

“Or it may be dreadfully painful,” said Emma in a dark tone.

“That’s the risk you take, I guess,” she shrugged, “You win some. You lose some.”

That was just too much. Obviously, this girl had no idea just how great those risks were.

“Don’t trivialize this, Jubilee!” she shot, “You obviously no nothing about this subject! And unless you have anything constructive to say just shut up or I’ll shut down the speech center of your brain!”

“Whoa, take it easy, Emma,” coaxed Monet, stepping in front of Emma to hold her back, “She’s just offering some friendly support.”

“Well go offer it somewhere else! I don’t need your support.”

Jubilee’s demeanor shifted. She clearly hit on something she didn’t expect. Even for Emma, that was pretty extreme. She didn’t get emotional very often, but when she did it was nothing to scoff at. She couldn’t help but wonder why she reacted so harshly at the mention of taking a chance. But then again this was Emma Frost. She had any number of problems she didn’t understand.

“Fine, jeez! No need to make a scene. And they say I’m immature,” she said, “Come on, Monet, I don’t think she wants our opinion anymore and I don’t think I want to give it.”

“So it would seem,” said Monet, still grinning since her outburst only further vindicated her, “But that’s okay with me. She can continue her little quest without us.”

“Good. We’ll meet out front later. Just go,” said Emma, going back to her shopping.

Jubilee shook her head and made her way out. The Hellfire Club had plenty of strange and unusual characters, but Emma Frost was in a class all her own. She didn’t just turn people away. She shoved them away. She almost felt sorry for whoever it was she had a crush on. Chances were she would have a hard time being affectionate enough. But that was her problem and she wanted nothing more to do with it.

Monet followed close behind, but she wasn’t quite ready to leave this issue to rest. Emma’s little predicament intrigued her. Mistress Selene once told her to be on the look out for any opportunities they could exploit. And after she gave her a touch of darkness she had been on full alert. This situation was too perfect. She had an unstable woman who nobody liked who showed she had a clear weakness for someone else. There were so many ways to exploit that and before she left she gave her one last message.

‘We both know this isn’t over, Emma. You’re going to make your move sooner or later. And when that time comes you’ll see the truth for yourself. You won’t like it, but it will be unavoidable. You’ll be angry, bitter, and humiliated. But it doesn’t have to be like that. If you want to get through it I may just be able to help. Just come to me when the time is right. I’ll be waiting.’

‘Fuck off, Monet.’

Monet grinned smugly before she ran off with Jubilee. But as annoying as her ominous message was, Emma did take note. Monet seemed convinced that nothing she did would make Scott love her like she loved him. She didn’t believe that, but then again she couldn’t know for sure until she made her move. And say she did fail. Could she take it? Having experienced rejection before, it was too difficult a matter to contemplate. She didn’t even want to consider the possibility. For now, she just had to wait for the right moment. Looking at her collection of lingerie, she felt confident she could do what had to be done. Jean didn’t deserve Scott’s love. He was going to be hers. And soon she would get him to realize that, even if it meant risking more pain.

Academy of Tomorrow

Piotr Rasputin was having a good day. Every day he got to visit his sister, Illyana, was good by any measurement. And today was extra special. For once he had an entire day to spend with her. There were no missions, no duties, and no training to carry out. It was the first time in what felt like forever he could just sit back and take all the time he needed to enjoy his sister’s company. Illyana sure was happy. Today she had no classes and was free to spend the entire day with him, seeing the sights and catching up on everything.

It felt like it had been too long since they did something like this. Even though Piotr visited her at least once a month, their time together was limited because of his duties and her schoolwork. It seemed as though there was never enough time to talk about everything they wanted to talk about. But today they had an entire day and there was no shortage of things to talk about. The most pressing, of course, centered on Kitty Pryde and how she and Piotr had been getting closer lately.

“So things with you and Kitty are getting serious, you say?” said Illyana as she and her brother walked along the boardwalk on Coney Island.

“Well I wouldn’t say they’re serious, but there the chemistry is definitely there,” said Piotr, blushing somewhat at the tone in her voice, “Katya and I have a good connection. I can talk to her in ways I cannot talk to the others.”

“So it is serious,” the younger Russian joked.

“I just told you it wasn’t!”

“Face it, big brother, it is serious. I can tell,” grinned Illyana.

“Oh? And what makes you so sure?” he said, amused by her confident poise.

“Because I’m your sister and I know when you get that look in your eye,” she said coyly, “Every time you say her name, I see it. You may not think so, but I know it’s there! It shows just how much you like her!”

“You uh…really think so?” said Piotr, feeling somewhat awkward that he was getting romantic musings from his little sister.

“I know so! But I think it’s a good thing! It’s so cute! My big, strong brother has such a big soft spot!”

Illyana gave him a playful tease. Piotr just laughed, always glad to see his sister in such high spirits. It was amazing she was getting involved in his love life now. Over the past four years she had grown a great deal. She was quickly becoming more than just a cute little girl. She was becoming a beautiful young woman. She was fourteen now and growing fast. It was hard to believe that not long ago she was so little. It showed just how much had changed since they arrived here.

“So when are you going to introduce me to her?” Illyana asked.

“I think you’re getting a little ahead of yourself, my little snowflake,” said Piotr, “But hopefully soon. There are still some things we have to work through.”

“What kind of things?” she asked, “If you like her and she likes you, shouldn’t that be enough?”

“It’s a little more complicated than that, I’m afraid,” he sighed.

“You always say that,” chided the Russian girl, “You say the same thing every time I ask you about these missions these Hellfire people have you do.”

“I know. But I say that because it’s true, Illyana,” said Piotr, putting on a more serious tone.

The powerful Russian than knelt down and placed a hand on his sister’s shoulder. He looked at her with mix of concern and care. It was a look she knew well to listen to.

“You must remember, Illyana, there are still some things about what I do that you are too young to understand,” he told her, “Someday when you’re ready, I’ll tell you everything. But for now you just have to trust me. And this extends to my personal life.”

“But I’m fourteen, Piotr! How much longer will I have to wait?” she groaned.

“Not long,” he assured her, “It’ll all make sense one day. I promise.”

Illyana sighed, having no reason to doubt her brother’s word. Piotr never broke a promise to her before and she was confident that he wouldn’t start now. But still, there were some things she was curious about.

Over the past four years as she studied at the Academy of Tomorrow, she learned a lot about the world and how it works. She was one of the few her age that knew of the Hellfire Club, the Inner Circle, and the extent of their power. Teachers like Headmistress Amelia taught them about power, money, and morality. It wasn’t like what her parents taught her, but she took to it as much as the other children. But there were always details left out. Piotr knew these details. But he kept them from her and she could only hope he had a good reason for it.

“Okay, big brother. But I will hold you to that promise,” she told him.

“I know you will,” he smiled, “And I won’t let you down.”

“You never do.”

Illyana leaned in and hugged her imposing big brother’s muscular body. Piotr hugged back, slipping his massive arm around her shoulder and clinging to her as they walked along the boardwalk, admiring the view of the ocean and the shops they passed by. It was one of the special family moments they so cherished. Illyana was just glad to spend time with him, but for Piotr it was much more than that. Having his sister with him helped keep him grounded in the world of Hellfire. It was so easy to lose one’s self in the dark, decadent ways of the organization. Those such as Warren and Kurt were proof of that. Piotr swore long ago that he would never walk that path and spending time with Illyana helped him stay true to that vow.

Piotr and Illyana continued to walk, talk, and enjoy themselves on this free day for them. They played a few boardwalk games along the way. Piotr even won her a couple of stuffed animals, although he did cause a bit of a scene when he smashed one of those games where he hit a target with a hammer. Even when he wasn’t in his metal form, he didn’t know his own strength. But Illyana wasn’t complaining. She was just glad to have more animals to add to her collection.

For the most part, Piotr avoided talking about issues like the Hellfire Club, her classes, and other serious matters. But there was one thing that he had been meaning to talk with her about that they never had time for. She knew it too, but she was as quick to avoid it as he was quick to avoid her questions about the Hellfire Club and Kitty. But it had to be addressed.

“Thanks for the prizes, big brother!” she said as she held in her arms two oversized stuffed animals.

“Anytime, Illyana,” he smiled.

“Too bad about that man with the hammer,” she mused, “He seemed pretty upset that you broke it.”

“He’ll get over it once he gets a check from my boss,” grinned Piotr, “Speaking of bosses, I spoke with Miss Amelia lately.”

Illyana’s expression immediately shifted. She knew where he was going with this and hoped to avoid it.

“Ooh, there’s another game! Could you please win me another prize?” she asked as if she hadn’t even heard the question.

“Illyana, I know you heard me,” he said with a touch of brotherly scorn, “We have to talk about this. We both know we’ve been putting it off for too long.”

“Do we have to?” she groaned, “Can’t we just save it for your next visit? This day was supposed to be free of that stuff!”

“This day is supposed to help us catch up. And this is something we must address sooner or later. So why not sooner?”

Illyana groaned. As much as she loved her brother, there were times when he was just too serious. They stopped walking and he sat down with her on a bench, looking at her with that worried but serious glint in his eyes.

“I know you have never been too keen on discussing your powers,” Piotr began, “It was hard enough getting control of your teleportation abilities. But Amelia told me that there have been other strange manifestations as of late.”

“Was she referring to those mirrors and glasses I broke?” she said in a low tone.

“Among other things,” said Piotr with a half-grin, “She says she’s been working with you to help control this. But you’ve been struggling. In fact, you’ve been downright resistant at times.”

“You would be too if you started breaking things without knowing how,” she muttered.

“I’m sure I would. But that makes talking about it all the more important.”

Illyana looked up at her brother, seeing the concerned look in his eye. Talking about her powers were never easy. They had always been a source of distress since they manifested back in Russia. Her teleportation powers were difficult enough to get a hold of. But the thought of having to do it again was daunting.

“She gave me a checkup,” she told him, “She did all those tests they do for all new mutants. And she told me she wasn’t sure what was causing these…whatever they are.”

“Did the tests reveal anything else?” Piotr asked intently, “Perhaps it’s just too complex to determine.”

“It wasn’t that. She said she wasn’t even sure if these abilities were mutant related. She said there may be other forces at work, but she didn’t tell me anything more. For all I know she could have been hiding something.”

“I don’t think she would do that,” said Piotr, “Believe me, I would find out and so would my superiors.”

“So what do I do?” she exclaimed, “It’s hard enough when you know what you can do. But when things start happening around you that you have no control over and can’t even explain…it’s more than scary! It’s overwhelming!”

Illyana was getting a little worked up. Piotr could see now why she wanted to avoid this issue. He calmly slipped his arm around her and hugged her closer. She clung to him, trying not to sob or cry. She wanted to be tough like him, but it wasn’t easy when she didn’t understand what was happening to her.

“It’s okay, Illyana. It will be okay,” he told her, “You’ll figure it out. And Miss Amelia will help you.”

“She’s already given me three checkups,” she groaned, “What if she never finds out? What if it’s something dangerous and by the time I figure it out it’s too late?! What if I can’t even control it?”

“Calm down, snowflake. You’re getting ahead of yourself again,” Piotr coaxed, “You’ll find out. I know you will. You have some of the best people and the best resources around you.”

“I know I do. The thing is I can feel something brewing inside me. I don’t know what it is, but I know its there. And even if I do find out, it was hard enough managing my powers the first time. I don’t know if I’m ready to do it all over again.”

“I don’t think anybody is ready when their powers manifest,” said Piotr, managing a slight smile, “Do you think I was ready the day I saved you from that tractor? Do you think any of the other kids at the academy were ready the day their powers manifested?”

“No, but I just wish it wasn’t so hard!”

Piotr sighed and hugged her closer. There were time she wished Illyana was normal and could live the life of a normal teenage girl. But that just wasn’t possible with them. She was still young and she had a lot to learn about being a mutant.

“These things are always hard,” he told her, “As papa always said, the greatest things worth having are always hardest to obtain. But that is why we’re here. That is why we work to better ourselves.”

“I know,” she sighed, “I just wish it wasn’t so overwhelming at times.”

“We all do, Illyana. But that is why you have a big brother to help you,” he said with a reassuring smile, “I’ll do everything I can. I’ll call in as many favors as I have to. If Miss Amelia cannot find out what is causing this, I will locate someone who can. I do not care what it takes or costs. Just remember that I’ll always be her for you. You have my word.”

Illyana was silent for a moment. Then she smiled. She always took a great deal of comfort in his promises. It’s why she looked up to her brother so much. He never let anything stand in his way, both literally and figuratively. It’s why she always felt safe around him. But even someone as strong as him couldn’t fight something that was inside her. And something about this just didn’t feel right. At least her teleportation powers were predicable. But like her brother, she had to be strong. He made good on his word so far. She had every reason to believe he would keep it this time.

“Thank you, Piotr,” she told him, “I just hope we figure it out soon. I just have a bad feeling about it, you know?”

“Try not to think too much about it now,” he said with a smile, “I know what will set your mind at ease. How about a nice hot fudge sundae?”

Illyana’s demeanor quickly eased and her face lit up again. Even when she was afraid and uncertain, ice cream could make it all go away at least for a while.

“You know me well, big brother,” she smiled, “Kitty better make a move on your fast. She’s missing out on a great guy if she doesn’t!”

Piotr blushed and laughed again as he got up from the bench and led Illyana back into the crowd. Visiting his sister was always a treat. But seeing her happy made it all the more special. But even as her demeanor returned to normal, he remained concerned. Amelia was a skilled mutant expert. If she couldn’t ascertain what was causing these anomalies with Illyana then something was seriously up. Perhaps Illyana was right. There may be other forces at work. Given his knowledge from the Hellfire Club, it could be any number of things. Perhaps he should in touch with Lord Xavier and Lady Moria. Surely they could figure this out.

But while he was confident that they would eventually figure out what was going on with his sister, he too was concerned. He had that same ominous feeling Illyana described. Something about this just didn’t feel right. But for now he set it aside and focused on enjoying the rest of the day with his sister.

Upstate New York

Far from the hustle and bustle of the big cities, the vast country roads were quiet and serene. Long stretches of road ran through farmland and forest, passing over the many rivers and lakes that dotted the landscape. It was the perfect landscape for motorcycle riding. Along these roads anybody could just ride along, enjoy the scenery, and shut out the rest of the world. It was something Logan had a deep appreciation for. No matter how messed up his life got, he always found solace in the open road. Even after he joined the Hellfire Club, he took time to enjoy the simple pleasures of speeding down the back roads with the wind in his face and nothing ahead of him. Today was no exception. Only this time, he had company.

As he sped along the long, winding roads of the countryside he looked to his side. There riding beside him wearing a matching leather outfit and helmet was Laura, riding with every bit as much daring and skill as him. He revved the engine of his treasured, custom made Harley Davidson motorcycle. She did the same, grinning as she tried to ride out in front of him. But he wouldn’t make it easy on her. He kicked his bike into high gear and raced her down a long straight away, occasionally swerving a bit to keep her on her toes. But she kept up with him every step of the way, showing that she could match his skill even at her younger age.

“Is that the best you can do, kid?” Logan yelled out over the engines.

“Hell no! I’m just getting warmed up!” replied Laura, kicking her bike into high gear as well.

It was a fitting way to spend this nice bit of off-time. At first he rolled his eyes at the notion of setting aside time for family. For a guy like him it seemed redundant. But then Jean suggested she spend some time with Laura. He didn’t want to at first, but then she gave him that look of hers that he could never resist and he gave it a try. Now he was glad he did. He needed something like this and so did Laura. The circumstances of their relationship may be unusual, but they were still as close to family as they could get.

These past few months had been a learning experience for both of them. Laura was still learning how to manage her emotions and Logan was still learning to support her. Sometimes she was like a daughter to him in need of some paternal guidance. Other times she was like a kid sister who was just in need of a friend. Neither had decided which one they were, but it didn’t matter in the long run. He was helping her and she was helping him. There were still some issues they hadn’t worked out. Logan still felt uneasy when Laura talked about doing sex work. She had already hooked up with many of the other pawns. But for the most part they were functioning as well as any family good under such circumstances.

After several hours of riding, Logan and Laura took a break at a small gas station along a highway. It gave them a chance to gas up their bikes and get some refreshments. Upon pulling in they parked their bikes next to one of the pumps and took their helmets off. The rush from the ride was still lingering. Logan definitely let it show while Laura was a bit more reserved about it. But she was still learning. Logan was sure she would get into it more eventually.

“Not bad, kid. You ride pretty well for a sixteen-year-old novice,” said Logan.

“Call me young all you want, but don’t call me a novice, Logan,” said Laura as she set her helmet down, “I was trained to ride everything from motorcycles to tanks before I was ten.”

“That doesn’t count! Any kid can learn how to drive! But really getting something out of it takes more than just skill,” said Logan as he proudly patted his hog on the seat.

“And what do you get out of it that’s so meaningful?”

“A lot of stuff, but most important is peace of mind,” Logan answered, “When your life is as messed up as ours, you need something to just get away from it all. And I’ve found that riding down the highway, the smooth sound of a hot rod just hummin’ away while the wind blows in your face…it makes the painful memories and everything with them just melt away.”

“Sounds kind of like the feeling I get when I have sex,” grinned Laura.

Logan burst out laughing when he heard that.

“HA! Yeah, I guess it is kind of like sex. Only a bike doesn’t wear out and it won’t talk back or say its too tired for more.”

That got Laura to laugh as well. She had experienced a lot of new things since joining the Hellfire Club. But aside from the sex, the ones that stood out most often were the ones Logan showed her. This was just the latest and already it was one of her favorites. It was new to her so she didn’t have quite the same affinity to it as Logan did, but she definitely picked up on the feeling. It was nice, riding along without a care in the world. Maybe she could add this to her growing list of activities of things that helped her deal with her many issues.

After catching their breath a bit, Logan and Laura rolled their bikes up to the pumps and began filling them with gas. Logan also took the time to clean off some of the dirt that accumulated on the chrome and seat. He used to not care too much about how dirty his motorcycle got, but that was before he got this high end, custom made Harley. He bought it shortly after he joined the Hellfire Club, using the generous sum of money Xavier paid him for his services. Having never had so much money to spend before, he went all out. Everything on his bike was high end, custom made, and overpowered. It was a kind of luxury he never got to enjoy before and he had grown to enjoy it.

Laura found it somewhat humorous that Logan took such meticulous care of his motorcycle. The one she had was just a standard Harley and even though it was a very nice bike, that’s all it was to her. Then again, the whole concept of affection was still foreign to her. The only affection she ever got was from her mother, Sarah Kinney. But she was long gone and her capacity for any kind of attachment had been severely hampered ever since. But lately she had been working on getting close to people again. Logan was jus one person she was trying it with. Julian was another. But there were still many things she hadn’t learned yet and as they waited for their bikes to fill up, now seemed as good a time as any to bring it up.

“I was talking to Mystique earlier,” she said, breaking the silence between them.

“Oh boy, that’s always a mixed bag,” smirked Logan.

“It wasn’t like that,” said Laura, rolling her eyes, “We started talking about this and that and eventually we started talking about you.”

“I’m flattered. Do you talk about me with everybody you try and have a conversation with?” quipped Logan.

“To be fair, she was the one who brought you up,” said Laura, “She ended up telling me a bit about what happened to you before you joined the Hellfire Club. She said you got around quite a bit before you ended up with them.”

“Well Raven’s got a knack for understatement,” said Logan as he leaned up against his bike, “What did she tell you? Anything I need to yell at her about?”

“That depends. She said she kept track of you for years while working undercover at Department H. During some of that time, you were living in Japan. She said you got involved with some major Yakuza family. She didn’t name names, but at some point it fell apart. And that’s what led you back to Canada.”

“Is that all she said?” inquired Logan, curious to see how much Raven had revealed about him.

“For the most part, yes,” she said, “But I bring it up because she also said there was a reason why you left Japan behind. Some woman over there had it out for you or something. And I was just wondering…”

But Logan immediately knew who she was talking about before she finished.

“Yuriko Oyama,” he said in a low tone, “Was that her name?”

“Um…I think so,” said Laura, “Why? Who is she?”

Logan’s expression sank into one of anger and sorrow. He didn’t like talking about his past. Even though there were a lot of blank spots, there were some memories that still hung strong. Yuriko was one of them and it was one he would rather forget.

“It’s complicated and I’m not sure you’re ready to hear something like this,” he said.

“Try me,” said Laura, “I want to know.”

“You sure? This shit ain’t easy to wrap your head around.”

“I may understand more than you think.”

“I doubt it,” muttered Logan, “But to make a very long story short, Yuriko…was something that started off good, but went bad real fast. She was a woman I met shortly after I arrived in Japan. I don’t remember much about how I got there. I just remember being pretty messed up. She and her family taught me I could be more than just some soulless killer. They showed me I could be a warrior as well.”

Laura was silent for a moment. She remembered how early on at Hydra she had a sensei who taught her how to fight. He was one of the few people at Hydra who treated her well. He didn’t just preach combat skills. He once told her she had the heart of a warrior and that really stuck with her over the years. But Hydra didn’t seem to like that so they had her kill him. It was a bitter memory, but the idea of being a warrior more than just a killer was something that really resonated with her.

“So what happened to her?” Laura asked him.

“That’s where it got complicated,” he muttered, “Turns out her father worked on the Weapon X project. He was the one responsible for the process that bonded adamantium to my bones.”

“So he’s responsible for this?” said Laura, drawing her claws to emphasize the point.

“Yep,” said Logan bitterly, “And as you probably already know, after Weapon X worked me over and went ahead and made them pay. And while it’s all really fuzzy to me now, I guess her father was part of the body count.”

“Oh…I see,” said Laura as she pieced it together.

“As you can imagine, she wasn’t happy,” he sighed, “She then made it her life’s ambition to hunt me down and kill me to avenge her father. And I can’t say I blame her either.”

“But why was it such a big deal? Don’t a lot of people try to kill you? I did,” said Laura.

Logan chuckled a bit at that, but his expression remained hallow.

“It was different with her. Thing is I really cared for Yuriko. I was closer to her than anyone I remember. She was always able to look past the monster inside me and bring out the best in me. For a while we were even pretty serious. Hell, I almost married her,” said Logan.

“So…you were in love with her?” Laura surmised.

“I don’t know. I guess I was,” he said, “And she was in love with me. But when she found out about her father…well, you can probably guess what happened. I tried to get through to her. But she just hated me so much for what I did that she just threw away any feelings she may have had for me. It wasn’t long after that I left for Canada. I haven’t been back to Japan since.”

It wasn’t quite the story she expected, but Laura saw some of the same struggles in his story that she had experienced as well. Like her, he once tried to get away from all the killing and bloodshed. And like her, he had someone who loved him enough to get past what he had done and reach out to him. But it ended in tragedy. She ended up killing her mother and the woman he loved ended up hating him. Each was pretty bad in its own right. But he seemed to get past it. And if he could that gave her hope as well.

“I’m sorry,” said Laura, “I probably shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“Don’t worry about it,” said Logan with a half grin, “If you’re gonna trust me I guess you should know about me. But next time, don’t get your stories from Mystique. Just because she spied on me doesn’t mean she knows me.”

“I don’t know. She seemed to know you pretty well,” said Laura with a smile, “She might even have a thing for you. I noticed how she gets this look in her eye whenever she talks about you.”

“Really?” said Logan with heightened curiosity, “What kind of look is it?”

“I don’t know,” she shrugged, “I’m still struggling to understand some of the emotions people show. But I guess it was pretty significant. I don’t see her get that worked up when she talks about anybody else.”

Logan wasn’t sure what to make of that. It was interesting to consider. Raven Darkholme, a woman who made a living on deception, might actually have feelings for someone other than her kids. They had been getting closer lately, especially since she helped him bring in Laura. Next to Jean, she was the woman he spent the most time with and that didn’t just include sex. But like Laura said, she wasn’t all that keen on emotion. She could have been mistaken. But still, it might be something worth remembering.

But he had to be careful. He was still working things out with Jean and he didn’t need another emotional mess to emerge with another woman. He had enough troubles with women as it was.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” said Logan, “But try not to make too much of it. Love and emotion is a complicated beast. You’re a long way from understanding it. Hell, I can barely understand it.”

“So I’ve learned. But what happens if I start to feel these things myself?” she asked, “What if I still don’t understand and I start having feelings for someone?”

“I think you’re getting a little ahead of yourself, Laura,” snickered Logan.

“That doesn’t mean it can’t happen.”

“True, but I wouldn’t worry about it. You’re young, your pretty, and you’re tough as hell. You got plenty of time for that kind of shit later. For now, just focus on one thing at a time. You’ll save yourself a lot of frustration.”

“But that’s just it. I feel as though if I don’t at least try to understand these things I’ll be even more frustrated. And I don’t want to go down that road again,” said Laura, her tone become more distant.

“I don’t want you going down that road either, Laura,” said Logan, “But trust me, you don’t want to make the same mistakes I made. These things will come. Just give it time.”

Laura managed a smile, trusting in Logan’s word. The bikes finished filling up and they were just about ready to go back on the road. But as Logan went in to pay and get some snacks, she couldn’t help but linger on this issue. Her thoughts drifted back towards Julian and how she had developed a special bond with him lately. It started off as sex, but she felt it growing into something else. She wasn’t sure what it was. She didn’t understand the nature of emotions well enough to make sense of them yet. But she didn’t discount the possibility that she may develop feelings for this boy. He may have already developed some for her. It was hard to tell in a place like the Hellfire Club, but it really hung strong over her. The capacity to feel was something Hydra robbed from her. And she wanted to get it back at some point, no matter how difficult it may be.

After Logan returned they put their helmets back on and started their bikes again. There were still a number of things Laura wanted to talk to him about, but for now she set them aside. The thought of the open road ahead of them helped set her mind at ease. She was already beginning to see why he did this. Maybe from now on she could join him more often. It might help her make sense of some of these complicated issues she and Logan were dealing with.

“Ready to hit the road again, Laura?” grinned Logan as he revved up his Harley.

“You bet!” she said, grinning back with the same intent, “This time, you’ll be the one trying to keep up!”

“We’ll see about that, bub!”

Logan and Laura rode off, blazing a new trail down the long country roads. It was a unique way to spend time together. But then again they were an unusual pair. Their whole lives had been unusual by every possible measure. But they were both learning how to get past it and build upon the new lives they had at the Hellfire Club. It wasn’t easy and it wasn’t always noble, but it worked for them. And they helped each other every step of the way. Cloning and other circumstances aside, it was the closest thing to family they had. It was still new to them, but it was becoming a big part of their lives.

Club Hellfire – Private VIP Area

The Hellfire Club had a legendary reputation for many things. There was the wealth, the power, the ruthlessness, the bloodlust, and the decadence. But one of the lesser known reputations it had concerned something a bit less glamorous, although hardly surprising. And that was the Hellfire Club’s knack for throwing a great party.

With many of the other pawns out visiting family or traveling about, those that remained decided to enjoy this off time on their own terms. Among those that stayed behind were Alex, Tabitha, Wanda, and Julian. Together they organized a little private party at Club Hellfire. They cordoned off an entire section of the club and reserved it just for them. They then gathered some of the club’s hottest and most skilled workers, both male and female, and let loose. There was drinking, dancing, and plenty of wild sex shows that were too elaborate for anyone outside the Hellfire Club. There were S&M shows, role playing, and even mini-orgies on stage. And the four young pawns had a front row seat to the whole thing.

Right now they were watching three men gangbang a woman all at once while blindfolded. Behind them a man was strapped to a wooden X-shaped cross and repeatedly whipped by a very busty woman with blonde hair wearing full dominatrix attire. To the sides, several more women were doing a normal strip routine to some music. It was all excessive, decadent, and very sexy. And they were enjoying every minute of it.

As they watched, a couple of barely dressed women and half-naked men catered to their every need. They brought them food, drinks, and even gave them the occasional shoulder rub. It was luxurious, relaxing, and entertaining. It was the perfect way to spend their off time.

“Mmm…I pity the others for wasting their time with family,” said Tabitha, letting out a content moan as a muscular male worker massaged her shoulders.

“Tell me about it,” said Alex as a scantily dressed woman fed him a cherry, “Family’s so overrated anyways. I spend enough time with Scott and we fight half the time so why bother?”

“I agree,” said Wanda as she swirled a glass of whine while watching the woman get gangbanged on stage, “Pietro doesn’t like hanging around me anymore. He’s too caught up in his new sister and she’s only partially related to him. It hardly seems fair.”

“You don’t sound too disappointed about it,” said Julian as he relaxed in his seat while a naked woman fed him some chocolates.

“Why should I be? If my brother is too stubborn or too scared to talk to me anymore, that’s his problem.”

“Damn, must be tough around the holidays,” commented Tabitha, “But I’m sure you guys will work it out. You are family after all.”

“Somehow I doubt it,” sighed Wanda, “Family is often more trouble than it’s worth.”

“I hear that,” said Alex as he gulped down a heavy shot of bourbon.

Wanda poured herself more red wine as she watched the show. All this talk of family was dampening her mood. She and Pietro had been growing apart steadily these past four years. Despite Selene’s instruction to make it seem as though nothing is wrong, there was no getting around the rift between them. She became completely consumed by darkness. She was the apprentice of the Black Queen. She was not the same person she was when she first arrived. Pietro didn’t like it and neither did Lorna. It annoyed her to no end, but her mistress told her it would all work out soon.

“You there!” she said, pointing to one of the males serving her a drink.

“Yes ma’am,” said the masked servant timidly.

Wanda then gestured over towards one of the young women who was stripping off to the side of the main stage.

“Fuck her,” she commanded, “Fuck her hard. I want you to make her scream.”

Without hesitation the servant nodded.

“Yes, my lady.”

The servant set aside his tray of drinks and slipped out of his pants. He then walked up to the woman, who was just in the middle of removing her top and grabbed her forcefully. He swiftly ripped off her thong and forced her down. At first she was confused and cried out for the man to stop. But she was quickly silenced when the man shoved his fingers into her mouth and forcefully entered her. She let out a pained gasp, but it was muffled by the man’s hand. She then noticed the look on Wanda’s face as she watched. It was then she figured out what was going on and she knew then that she was powerless to stop this.

Wanda smiled sadistically as she watched the servant fuck the young woman. Her squeals and cries did not earn her an ounce of sympathy. She just enjoyed the show, taking a perverse pleasure in watching her get fucked on stage. It was the kind of sadistic tastes that could only be imparted from Selene. And over the past few years she definitely picked up on them.

“Wow, where did that come from?” asked Alex.

“It’s what I do when I get frustrated,” she said casually, “And every time someone mentions my brother and that idiot half-sister of mine, I always get frustrated.”

“Ever tried counting backwards from ten?” said Julian.

“This is much more entertaining,” grinned Wanda.

The two boys exchanged looks. Even by Hellfire standards, that was a little over the top. But then again this was Wanda Maximoff they were talking about. They always sensed that she had been a little off to say the least.

“Still a little excessive, don’t you think?” said Tabitha..

Wanda just laughed as she took another drink of her wine.

“Excessive? What’s so wrong with that?” she mused, “It’s the excessive acts of depravity and decadence that are the most entertaining. It’s the excessive sensations and experiences that make anything more memorable. Our natural inclination is to seek out new thrills and pleasures. What’s so wrong with enjoying them?”

“It can come back at you sometimes,” warned Julian, “That’s why Lord Xavier preaches balance. Excess is fine, but only within reason.”

“Reason? Ha! Xavier isn’t always right,” said Wanda, “When you’ve lived half your life in the reclusive world of a gypsy and the totalitarian bullying of a crazy father, there’s nothing reasonable about seizing what you rightfully deserve. I was denied the chances for these experiences. And I plan on enjoying them at every turn.”

“And I thought I had father issues,” smirked Tabitha.

“Tabitha, darling, you have no idea,” said Wanda with a wry grin.

Tabitha shrugged and went back to her food. Wanda Maximoff was a strange girl. But strange was pretty normal around here. She just took it to an extreme. She didn’t quite understand it, but at least she knew what she wanted out of life. Tabitha was still looking. All this money, wealth, sex, and violence was exciting and all. But she was still uncertain what exactly she wanted to do with it all.

“You have my sympathies, Wanda. But try not to use your past as an excuse. That’s just old,” said Julian.

“That’s easy for you to say when you have rich, supporting parents, Julian,” said Alex, “I went through the wonders of the foster care system. I didn’t get a mean or abusive family, but it was no picnic either.”

“I’ll bet it was better than living with my parents,” muttered Tabitha, “My dad kicked me out the house. And he wasn’t coy about it either. His exact words were ‘Get out you little freak! I don’t want you here no more!’ Try and top that.”

“I’m not even going to try,” said Alex, “But you don’t seem too bent out about it.”

“We never had much of a relationship anyways,” she shrugged, “It still sucked though. I get sick just thinking about it.”

As if on queue her stomach growled. She hadn’t been eating much and already it was disagreeing with her. But she shrugged it off.

“Careful Tabitha, we don’t need this party ruined by someone puking,” said Julian, “We’ve had enough of that lately.”

“Yeah, a bug must be going around or something because I saw Lorna and Jean getting a little sick last week too,” said Julian, “That or it’s something they’re eating.”

“Oh I’m sure it’s nothing,” said Wanda casually, “If it’s a bug Sinister will cure it. If it’s the food we’ll just kill the chef and hire new ones.”

“That’s easy for you to say. You haven’t been sick,” said Tabitha.

“What can I say? I know how to stay healthy,” she said smugly.

Tabitha just shook her head in annoyance. But Wanda couldn’t blame her. She didn’t know the truth behind this mysterious bug that was affecting the women. She didn’t know she was participating in Mistress Selene’s grand plan. She didn’t tell her everything. She couldn’t afford to in case Xavier got nosy and probed her mind. But she did know that this little illness was a side effect of what was being done. It was ironic, if not a little humorous to see them struggle with something they didn’t understand. But it was all building toward something greater. And soon everybody would be a part of it.

As they continued to watch the show and be pampered by the servants, Wanda mused over her fellow pawns. Mistress Selene told her to keep an eye out for those who may be open to joining their little cause. It couldn’t just be anybody. They had to have the capacity for darkness and a willingness to leave behind all their old laurels. Tabitha definitely fit the bill. She was rebellious and decadent. She also had a weakness for pleasure and little capacity for empathy. She was already a prime target for Selene, but she wasn’t the only one.

Looking over at Alex as he had two naked women rub against him, she saw someone else who might be willing to join them. He wasn’t like his brother in any respect. He had a problem with authority, an overall lack of discipline, and above all a desire to be better than Scott. He did seem to have a soft spot for Lorna, but hopefully that was something they could work around. He did enjoy having power over others. That was evidenced in the way he commanded the female servants. That could be useful if and when they made their move on him.

Julian was a different case though. He seemed to enjoy the female company just as much as Alex. He had them serve him food and they let him eat it off their breasts. But he didn’t seem nearly as concerned with power or dominance. He just enjoyed having fun. Plus, his family had ties to Xavier so he looked up to him more than he did Mistress Selene. Even with his lack of maturity, he may not have the right mindset for their ways. But he was someone they could do without.

They all had potential in their own way. They could all potentially contribute to her mistress’s grand plan. But they hadn’t embraced true darkness just yet. They weren’t in the proper mindset. But that could change very soon.

“I hope you all take my advice about excess seriously,” she told them, “A time may come when you’ll have a chance to become more than just a pawn and become part of something more.”

“I thought we were already a part of something,” said Alex, “The Hellfire Club is pretty damn exclusive last I checked.”

“Oh it is,” said Wanda, “But there are so many other ways you can embrace it. You just have to be open to them. Lord Xavier may narrow your thinking at times. But when the time comes you should be willing to take a chance.”

“Hey, I’m all for new experiences!” said Tabitha as she had some more male servants give her a massage, “But I don’t know how much better it can get than this!”

“Same here,” said Julian as more women surrounded him, “Can you ask for much more than this?”

“You’d be surprised,” said Wanda with an ominous grin.

They probably didn’t even hear her because a new song started and the next act commenced. This time they were allowed to participate. Some of the women led Alex and Julian up on stage where some of the female strippers surrounded them and began teasing them in an erotic manner. Tabitha was led up to the back of the stage where a man was still strapped to a wooden cross. The man was naked so she had free reign on him and was allowed to just tease and taunt him all she wanted. It wasn’t long before Alex and Julian were going at it with the girls and Tabitha was bent over and riding the bound man. It was devolving into another wild orgy of decadence and sex.

Wanda was about to join in as well, eyeing the guard who she had ordered to fuck one of the strippers earlier. But then a presence emerged from the locked door across the area. It was Mistress Selene and she ordered her apprentice to come over towards her. And as much as she wanted to join the others in the party, her Mistress’s wishes came first.

“Mistress Selene? What are you doing here?” Wanda asked her as they backed towards a corner for some privacy.

“Sorry to break up the party on your off night, but we need to talk. I’ve decided to move ahead with the next phase of my plan and I’m going to need you do to your part. Kurt, Monet, and Warren will come along to help as well.”

“Of course, my mistress. What do you need me to do?” said Wanda obediently.

Selene gazed up at the stage where Tabitha, Julian, and Alex were in a daze of decadent sexual excess. They probably didn’t even noticed that she walked in. Seeing them let go like this, surrendering to their inhibitions, was a good sign to her. It showed they had the capacity for darkness. And they would aid her in achieving her ultimate goal.

“Get your spell book and break out the most revealing lingerie you can find. We’re going to be expanding our ranks. And you know what that means.”

“Of course, Mistress,” said Wanda with a sadistic grin, “Does this mean we’re almost ready?”

“Not quite,” said the Black Queen, “But as the old saying goes, there is strength in numbers. And we’ll need as many as we can get for what I have planned next.”

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

Up next: Selene begins to tempt the others. Some give in. Some resist.