Sins of the Father

Sins of the Father Chapter Thirty Three (NC-17)
Disclaimers Apply


A/N Goddess Foxfeather, Queen of Mad Plotbunnies, BUSIEST WOMAN ALIVE (tm), Prophetic Muse, Hamster Witch and Uberbeta... *heaps of Yaoi kibble * InterNutter, TC, Maxwell Pink and Dracena are deloverly for archiving/hosting! :) ProPhile: It's coming, it's coming! Morgan: *giggle * I have a wicked notion... Well, more notion that wicked... Readers/Reviewers: The ducks are nervous...something about emus... I blame the armadillos, frankly! And *glomp * thank you sooooooooo much for reading and reviewing!


The lake was oddly silent, as if it somehow knew the gravity of the day. Rogue barely kicked her feet as she sat at the end of the pier, staring out over the water at the single duck paddling in a lazy circle. Todd had not moved for several long minutes beside her. The silence was becoming unbearable-she wanted to cry or scream or even simply believe the news but she could do none of that. She was horrified to find that she was growing bored, mortified that it might be showing through her mute exterior. She glanced sidelong at Todd and licked her lips. "I'm gonna go for a walk, okay?" Todd nodded dumbly and continued staring at the duck. "I'll be back in a few." She had the strong feeling that he had not even registered her departure.
Rogue walked aimlessly down the far shore of the lake, heading into the woods and away from the mansion. The official word was still "missing" but she knew the Professor thought of Remy as dead already-it was obvious from the way he had secluded himself as soon as the news was broken. It was as if she were watching some bizarre Victorian melodrama. People had alternately cried, swooned or, in the case of Jubilee, become violently ill. Everyone one but Jono and herself. Jono, incapable of outwardly showing emotion, had remained death-still and silent but he radiated an aura of profound sadness. His eyes had caught Rogue's dry ones and his brow quirked. He knew, she snapped at herself, that she was not feeling the pain...He knew. She could not linger in the room, feeling like she was somehow betraying her friends, betraying Remy, by not dissolving into tears. She had not minded Todd following her but she had objected to his one attempt at conversation. He had simply shrugged and captured her gloved hand in his bare one, squeezing so tightly she swore that she could feel the fine bones grinding together. Still, she remained silent. Not a sound passed between them until she announced her walk, and even then the words might as well have not been spoken for all the response they had gotten. In an odd way, she realized, she was glad. She did not think Todd would understand this lack of feeling. It was not that she did not care for Remy and even, she knew, love him a little, but it was more that she did not and could not believe he was gone. _He always said he had the most amazing luck. I refuse to believe that Remy LeBeau could be killed by something as mundane as an explosion. Not when he lives for loud noises... _
"You are not listening to me!"
Rogue's head snapped up at the sound of the female voice, barely familiar. Another followed it. "I am not leaving without my things!" Amara sounded extremely put out.
Rogue frowned and automatically began heading to the loud but distant voices. She had not seen Amara or Lance all day, thinking nothing of it and assuming that the pair had snuck off for alone time, as was their usual. It occurred to her as she walked quietly but quickly into the woods that she had not seen Amara's new shadow, Poena, either. A faint tremble, barely discernable, rumbled beneath her feet. "Well, now we know where Lance is..."
"LET GO OF ME!" Amara's voice rang clear and loud, sounding distinctly tinged with fear. A sharp crackling noise burst like a gunshot through the forest, followed by a rush of fire bursting like a cloud about ten yards ahead of Rogue in the thick woods. Rogue stopped in her tracks for one moment, looking back over her shoulder to see if anyone was coming from the house, then broke into a dead run.
Lance grabbed Amara's back-flailing arm as Poena grabbed the other, the scene looking absurdly like a tug-o-war using the Nova Roman in place of rope. He was trying hard not to use his powers out of sheer anger but control was starting to slip. The faint trembles of the earth were growing closer together, becoming strong enough to register. He snarled at Poena, "Let go of her now or so help me God you're dying!"
Poena bared her teeth in a grimace not of pain but of annoyance. "She agreed! She tried to renege! My dealings are with her!"
Amara looked scared for the first time since Rogue could remember as she broke into the clearing. "What the fuck?" the Goth demanded. "Lance?"
The fire came again, this time not as a burst but engulfing Amara's entire body. Lance howled in pain and flew back, curling automatically over his singed hand. Poena did not let go, though pain was writ large on her face. The flame died as quickly as it came, leaving Amara red-faced and panting. "Lance, please!" she muttered. "This isn't your problem!"
"Like hell!" he growled, rising to his knees.
Rogue felt her head spin from the sharp jolt from her ersatz mourning to being ready for a fight. She strode forward and grabbed Poena's arm, pulling hard enough to turn her away from Amara. "You're a pushy little bitch, you know that? I don't know what the fuck your game is but..." her words were cut off by a sharp slap.
"Amara is MINE," she roared, her voice not quite normal. "She owes me! I saved her!"
Rogue was stunned. Amara was actually cowed. "Amara," she said urgently, "this isn't you. What's wrong? Tell me, please!"
Lance shook his head, getting to his feet. "She won't talk. I tried..."
Rogue narrowed her eyes. "She might not but this one will." Her hand shot out and she grabbed a fistful of Poena's hair, jerking her head back. The sudden movement startled her into releasing Amara. Rogue pulled Poena hard, throwing her to the ground as Lance surged forward to grab Amara, pulling her back from the two other females. "I don't know who the hell you think you are but I'm gonna make damned sure you're out of here before dark!"
Poena grinned. "I plan to be..." She seemed to be going over some calculations in her head before she stood slowly and advanced on Rogue, who stood her ground. "You drain life...you drain it and use it uncontrollably, yes?"
Rogue stepped back involuntarily as Poena came too close for comfort. As she moved back, Lance moved forward, putting himself between Amara and Poena. "Fuck you," she drawled. "Get the fuck out of my face!"
Poena smiled more gently now. "No, I don't think I will. You've made things ever so much easier for us." As she spoke, she brought a hand up and touched it to Rogue's cheek. "EVER so much easier..."