Unchained Instinct ( Complete)

Chapter 48


“Damn these X-Men,” Mystique muttered to herself. With haste, she gathered the few things she wanted to take with her, driven by the urgent knowledge that the rest of those meddlesome children were on their way to ruin her evening and take Logan away from her...just when he was finally breaking. By the end of the night she might have unchained his bestial instincts that lay within him. But now she’d have to be satisfied with his punishment as it was and she’d savor his pain and humiliation, hoping that enough of the animal had escaped from deep within Logan to turn Kurt away from him.

Maybe now, Logan would show his real side to Kurt. Maybe now her child would see the true nature of the man he claimed to love.

Or if not, she’d find another way to force the issue.

She may very well have lost her son forever, considering the look of loathing he had given her back at the mansion three nights ago, but if her actions ultimately drove Kurt away from Logan, then she’d have succeeded. She would have done her motherly duty...even if Kurt never understood.

Glancing around, Mystique let out a sigh, hating to be driven from her lair so soon. But she knew when to leave and the time was now.

The corridor outside the room she’d chosen for her personal refuge was quiet, but far away she heard the echoing of footsteps, voices talking softly, floating on the air. Rushing down the hallway, Mystique headed for the main corridor, her goal, the closest exit so she could take to the air.

The main corridor lay just ahead. Mystique picked up her pace yet tried not to abandon stealth. Peaking around the corner, she saw nothing. Listened and heard nothing. She stepped out into the wider passage way and rushed towards escape.

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

The news hit Kurt like a sledgehammer. “Where are you, Rogue?!” he demanded. “Tell me!”

“Calm down, Kurt,” Scott said over the headset.

“Don’t tell me to calm down!” he cried out, anguish spilling over into his voice. “Rogue!”

“Um, we’re in a room, just off the main corridor,” Rogue replied. “Fourth hallway beyond where Gambit tried ta blow up the place. Did ya see it?”

“Yes. Yes.”

“Gambit did not try ta blow up the place. He was tryin’ ta blow up Mystique.” Gambit’s voice sounded irked through the headset.

Jean’s or Kitty’s hand gently landed on Kurt’s shoulder, trying to calm him. He ignored them, concentrating on Rogue’s instruction.

“I think I’ve got it.” he replied.

“Kurt?” Rogue’s voice sounded weary. “It’s gonna look bad. But he’s alive and conscious...and in a really bad mood.”

Kurt didn’t respond. Going to all fours, he bounded away, leaving Jean and Kitty far behind in a matter of moments. His keen sight penetrated the darkness, scanning ahead for the hallway Rogue indicated.

He had passed the second corridor and was heading toward the third when a flash of something caught his eye...something yellow. And there it was again, yellow eyes heading his way.

“Mystique,” he hissed, rising to his feet and he saw her stop in her tracks at the sound of his voice.

“Get out of my way, Son,” she demanded. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You already have. Over and over again, you’ve hurt me, Mother.” His words dripped with venom, poison seeping into Kurt’s soul.

“What a troublesome child you’ve become.” Mystique flung back her hair, her hands going to her hips.

“I didn’t ask for your interference in my life,” Kurt replied. “I told you to leave me alone, but you wouldn’t listen. And now, I’ll never forgive you for whatever you’ve done to Logan.”

Mystique let out a low laugh that sent a chill of dread down Kurt’s spine. “What I’ve done, my dear son, is draw out Logan’s true nature. Now you’ll see the real man, the beast he is, not the facade he wrapped around himself.”

Rage rose up inside of Kurt, pounding in his head. He teleported, reappearing so close to Mystique that she stumbled back. But Kurt grabbed hold, fingers tightening around her biceps, his tail, wrapping around Mystique’s neck and squeezing.

A look of fear mixed with anger worked it’s way around Mystique’s face.

“Stop!” Mystique cried out, her fingers clawing at his tail, pulling futilely as he grip tightened. “Kurt! What...are you...doing?”

“I should kill you for all the things you’ve done!” he snarled into her face. “For blowing up the mansion and trying to kill my fellow students. I should kill you for hurting the Professor and for the things you did to Rogue! I should kill you for helping Apocalypse who would have murdered millions of innocent people! And now for what you’ve done to Logan. You are evil, Mystique.”

A sneer spread across her face. “Then so are you...my child for...my...blood runs in...your veins.”

Kurt’s hold slackened, Mystique’s words hitting him hard. Anguish and doubt rushed through his body and set his mind on fire with the reality of her words...of the reality of what he was doing.

“If you kill me,” Mystique continued, taking advantage of his sudden reluctance. “You are no better than a murderer yourself and every bit my son.”

Kurt pushed away from Mystique, his tail uncoiling from around her neck. She staggered back and a smile crept across Mystique’s face.

“Go find your precious Logan, my son. See what he’s become and see if you can live with and love a vicious animal.”

With that, Mystique morphed, her raven form swooping passed him and away down the corridor.

Jean and Kitty rushed up on either side and Kurt felt as though his legs had turned to water, washing away beneath him.

“Oh my god, Kurt,” Kitty said. “That was Mystique. Are you okay?”

Kurt let out a held breath and nodded.

“Kurt?!” Rogue’s voice sounded in his ear. “Ya comin’?”

“Yes...of course.”

“He just had an altercation with Mystique,” Jean stated. “She’s escaped.”

“We’ll deal with Mystique later,” Scott said, his voice authoritative. “We need to get Logan out of here right now.”

“I’m coming,” Kurt said, shaking off the weakness that had overcome him in the aftermath of his confrontation with Mystique and bounded away.