New Blood II: Growing Ranks

New Blood
Chapter 6: Perks and Impressions

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

Sinister’s Lab

After the messy affair in Canada, Rogue spent the next twelve hours in and out of the Hellfire infirmary. After having absorbed Miss Marvel to such an extreme extant, she was pretty out of it. She never held onto somebody for that long before. She never absorbed that much of a person for as long as she had her powers. She didn’t plan on doing it. She just got lost in the heat of the mission after seeing Miss Marvel attack her mother. Even though Mystique had encouraged her, the side effects were pretty rough.

On the way back she passed out and stayed passed out for a good twelve hours. During that time she remembered having vivid dreams of Carol Danvers’s life. She must have gone through all her major memories from the time she first watch a plane fly over her head to the time she joined the Avengers. She awoke in the infirmary with Hank and Sage looking her over. Mystique was there too looking pretty worried, but she assured her she was going to be okay. And even though she had been out for so long, she was still tired. On top of that she had this strange light-headed feeling. Hank said it would pass and gave her something to help her sleep. But that’s when a new problem arose.

As she rested she found it wasn’t just Carol’s powers and memories that she absorbed. She also absorbed her consciousness. She could feel Carol’s presence within her mind and needless to say she was pretty upset about her predicament. In her dreams she started fighting her. On a mental plane in the depths of Rogue’s sub-conscious, she was attempting to claw her way through a myriad of mental images to take control. Rogue fought back, but was unprepared for Carol’s determination. A few times she actually took control of Rogue’s body and tried to attack Hank, Sage, and Mystique. But each time Rogue managed to contain her. It got to the point where they had to restrain her with metal shackles, but this was only a temporary fix. Something had to be done.

“Errrrrrr let me go! Let me out of here!” exclaimed Carol through Rogue’s body.

“Rogue, snap out of it!” exclaimed Mystique, “She’s gaining control again!”

Rogue continued to struggle, but Carol was strong and kept fighting her way through.

“What the fuck did you people do to me?! Get me the hell out of this body! Call the Avengers! Call Hank Pym! Just get me out of here!”

“I’m afraid we can’t do that, Carol,” said Sage in her usual stoic tone, “You’re in no position to bargain.”

“The hell I am! I still have my strength and when I break out of here I’ll find out who you are and take you down with my bear hands!”

She started thrashing again, causing the bed to shake. She definitely had her strength and at the rate she was going even the shackles wouldn’t hold. Mystique was getting anxious. Hank was attempting to decipher blood samples while Sage tried to get another round of sedative ready. In addition to Miss Marvel’s strength, they found Rogue absorbed her durability too. Her skin was as tough as tank armor and no needle they had could break her skin. They had to find another way to calm or down or she may go on a rampage.

“Will you two hurry it up?!” exclaimed Mystique.

“We’re working as fast as we can!” said Hank, who could barely hear himself think over the commotion, “I…I think I see what’s going on here.”

“Well spit it out already!” yelled the shape shifter.

Hank brought up an image of Rogue’s blood sample on his computer screen. It showed a strange image of blood cells and DNA scans. All in all, it was unlike anything he had ever seen before and given he worked with Sinister that was really something.

“In absorbing Miss Marvel so fully, Rogue’s DNA has been significantly altered,” he explained, “Normally when she absorbs people with unique powers, her X-gene mimics the structure and that’s what allows her to wield its power. But the structure is usually incomplete so it breaks down. That’s why it’s only temporary.”

“So what happened this time?!”

“By absorbing her so completely, she has permanently incorporated Miss Marvel’s genetic structure into her own. So it is reasonable to assume that the abilities she absorbed, flight, strength, durability, and so on, are now a permanently hers. But as you can see the absorption didn’t stop there.”

Mystique looked anxiously at her daughter. On one hand it was nice to hear she had that level of power permanently bonded to her, but it wouldn’t do her much good if she wasn’t in control of her body. She was still struggling mightily, trying to break the shackles. She could tell Rogue was fighting Carol pretty hard. She could only imagine the kind of exchange that was going on in their minds. But she remained close.

“Augh…mama!” said Rogue in her old voice again.

“I’m here Rogue! Keep fighting her! Don’t let her push you around! It’s your body! Not hers!” said Mystique strongly.

“Ah’m…tryin!” she struggled, “This is gal is tough! Ah don’t know if Ah can…”

Then her face contorted and the tone of her voice changed again.

“I won’t give up!” spat Carol, “I must get free!”

It looked like neither one of them was gaining the upper hand. Mystique was powerless to help and Hank was still scrambling for a remedy. Sage, however, had seen enough.

“That’s it, I’m going in,” said Sage, tossing aside the syringe, “I’ll try and encase her in a psychic block.”

“Fine, just get her out and be careful! That’s my daughter’s mind you’re dealing with,” reminded Mystique.

“Relax, Raven, I know what I’m doing,” assured Sage.

Mystique stepped aside and let Sage go to work. Standing at the head of her bed, she grabbed hold of Rogue’s head and entered her mind with her telepathy. Inside she saw quite the battle raging. Rogue and Carol were on some strange mental battlefield that resembled the facility in Canada where they first clashed. They were fighting relentlessly with Carol slugging Rogue across the face with several right hooks while Rogue countered with a knee to the gut and a kick to the face. But here they didn’t have to worry about breaking bones or spilling blood. It was all in the mind. Each blow damaged their hold on this body and Sage was there to tip the balance.

‘That’s quite enough, you two.’

Her voice boomed in the mindscape of Rogue’s psyche. The two women stopped fighting momentarily and saw a huge, titan-like figure standing over them. It was Sage and she was fully inside her mind. Using her large size, which was purely a mental construct, she grabbed the puny sized Miss Marvel and captured her in her hand. She then made a firm fist to hold her in, allowing Rogue to finally catch her breath.

“Dang…thanks Sage.”

‘Don’t thank me yet. This one’s a fighter.’

Using the psychic plane to her advantage, Sage formed a cage around Carol Danvers. They represented psychic blocks on her, but they weren’t like blocks in the real world. In the mind everything was a metaphor. The laws of physics really didn’t apply. And Carol seemed to know that because she was already trying to fight her way out.

“Who are you?! Let me out! I won’t let you trap me here!”

Back in the infirmary, Sage stepped up her psychic hold and turned towards Hank. He looked like he was at a loss. This was one of those rare occasions when she actually wished Sinister was here.

“Hank, I won’t be able to hold her!” said Sage urgently, “Can you get that sedative ready or not?”

“I’m trying!” he exclaimed, “Fashioning a special needle and syringe with the proper dosage isn’t the easiest job in the world!”

“Well hurry up!” yelled Mystique, “I want that bitch out of my daughter’s mind!”

“I hate to break this to you, Raven, but that may not be possible,” said Sage grimly, “She’s absorbed Miss Marvel so completely I’m not sure she can push her out.”

Mystique was getting more anxious by the minute. Looking at her daughter, she looked exhausted. She also looked like she was in pain. Sweat was pouring down her face from all the struggling. It looked like she was in control for now, but that was surely temporary. Something had to be done.

“It’ll be okay, Rogue. We’ll find a way!” said the shape shifter strongly.

Suddenly, a new presence appeared in the lab. Kurt teleported in with Wanda. He didn’t look as worried about Rogue as Mystique was. Even as she stayed by Rogue’s side, Kurt didn’t stick around. It made the shape shifter mad enough, but he didn’t seem phased.

“I’m back, Mother,” he said in a stoic tone.

“Kurt?! Where the hell have you been?” yelled Mystique angrily.

“Vith Wanda. Vhere else vould I be?” said Kurt, casting his lover an affectionate gaze.

“You’ve been having fun with your girlfriend while your sister is here suffering?!”

“On the contrary, Raven,” said Wanda with an ominous grin, “We’ve been working on a solution to Rogue’s little problem. And with a little help from Mistress Selene, I’ve found a solution.”

The shape shifter looked at her strangely. She never fully trusted this girl for having such a strong hold on Kurt. But she sounded serious in her claim. She had in her hand a strange-looking jewel. It was a gold scarab with a red ruby in the center. It looked pretty old, most likely Ancient Egyptian. Mystique surmised it belonged to Selene. Only she would have something like this lying around. She was no mystic expert, but if it would help her daughter she could care less.

“Just step aside and let me work my magic,” said Wanda, “It’ll take less than five minutes. I promise you Rogue will be fine.”

“She better,” said Mystique menacingly.

“Please mother, have faith in my love,” coaxed Kurt.

Mystique muttered a curse under her breath and watched as Wanda approached the struggling Rogue. It annoyed her to no end that Kurt seemed to take her side more often than hers. Four years since they hooked up and Wanda was starting to match her influence over him. She understood Kurt was a grown man and all, but it still worried her that Wanda had such a firm hold on her son. But she would be willing to give her some leeway if she could help Rogue.

Standing at the side of Rogue’s bed, Wanda hovered over her fellow pawn with a strikingly calm demeanor. Even though Rogue was still struggling with the shackles, she bore no signs of fear or apprehension. It was not unlike the cold, stoic way Selene approached a situation.

“Rogue, if you can hear me, try and relax,” said Wanda, “I’m going to suck Miss Marvel’s spirit out of you with a little cleansing spell.”

“Ah’ll try,” groaned Rogue, “Just hurry it up already!”

Wanda closed her eyes and held the jewel over Rogue’s chest. She was still struggling so she had to use some hex force to keep her still. Mystique was about to protest this, but Kurt held her back. He had faith in his lover’s skill and she was going to prove it. Wanda had come a long way since Selene took her in as an apprentice. Her many secret sessions had taught her a lot about magic. This spell here was no more difficult than a jog around the block for her.

While holding the scarab over her chest, Wanda began chanting in a series of mystical phrases in ancient Egyptian. This spell was once used by pharos and priests to exorcise unwanted spirits. It was an old form of exorcism and probably the oldest of its kind. And if it could exorcise spirits then surely it could exorcise a moral woman. As Wanda chanted each verse, the jeweled scarab began glowing. It started off a dim reddish color, but then it mixed with the purplish aura of Wanda’s hexing power. It filled the room with mystical energy, causing some of Hank’s computer screens to flicker and a few assorted tools to shake. As it grew brighter Rogue began struggling more. She started groaning in pain, but Wanda didn’t let up.

“Stop it! You’re hurting her!” exclaimed Mystique.

She was about to lunge at Wanda, but Kurt promptly grabbed her and held her back.

“It’s okay, mothers. She knows what she’s doing.”

“Damn it, Kurt! That’s your sister on that bed!”

“I know. Zhat is vhy I’m certain Rogue will be okay.”

Mystique didn’t share her son’s confidence, but she continued to watch on. For better or worse, at least Selene wasn’t the one doing this. But the sounds of her daughter’s pained moans weren’t getting any easier to listen to.

Inside Rogue’s mind, everything was shaking. It was like a storm was forming in the depths of her psyche. The mock up of the facility was starting to fade and Rogue was really feeling it. She had experienced magic enough over the past few years to know what it felt like, but it was never this uncomfortable. Carol seemed to recognize it too and was on the verge of breaking out of the mental blocks Sage put on. She sensed her time was short. She knew she had to get out and Rogue knew she had to maintain control.

“Gotta…break…free!” grunted Miss Marvel.

She kept punching at the cage. Then finally, it shattered and she flew over towards Rogue to attack her. She knew if she could subdue her, she would have the upper hand on whoever these people were. Rogue looked disoriented so this was her chance. She pounced on her and grabbed her by the neck, holding her in firm grip so she couldn’t escape.

“I won’t let you trap me here!” she said in a determined tone, “Now help me get out of here or I’ll haunt your nightmares for the rest of your life!”

They were bold threats from a veteran avenger. But Rogue could feel the power of Wanda’s spell taking affect. The way it was affecting her psyche was becoming clearer. It was still draining, but she knew what was about to happen. And Carol Danvers was in for a rough awakening.

“Sorry sugah, mah mind only has a vacancy for one. And you’re about to get evicted,” said Rogue with a sinister grin.

“Over my dead body!” spat Carol.

“Be careful what you wish for.”

Suddenly, a mysterious purple mist formed around Carol and was yanked away from Rogue with immense force. Then the mist bound to her like it was some kind parasite, draining her strength and rendering her powerless to fight back. She tried to get free, but it was no use.

“Augh! What the?! What is this?!”

“It’s our one-way ticket outta mah head, bitch,” taunted Rogue.

“No! Stop I…AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

Her pained screams echoed in Rogue’s mind as the mist consumed her and carried her out of her mind. She was tired, both mentally and physically. She was sure to have a mother of a headache after this. But it was nothing she couldn’t walk off. At least now she could return to the real world and gather herself.

As Rogue’s body finally relaxed, Wanda finished with the final phrases of the spell. The purplish, red glow of the energy was now at its brightest as Miss Marvel’s spirit was sucked out of Rogue’s being with brute, mystical force. Mystique, Sage, Kurt, and Hank watched as Rogue’s eyes and mouth glowed in a similar color as the consciousness of the powerful avenger was forced out. They could still make out the outline of her figure, only now it was in a disembodied mist-like state. Once out of Rogue, Carol’s spirit was sucked into the red ruby of the scarab. She groaned in a confused agony the whole time. Once she was locked in Wanda stopped chanting and the energy ceased.

For a moment the room was quiet. After a display like that, everybody needed a moment. Mystique quickly shook it off though and ran up to her daughter’s bedside while Kurt stayed with Wanda.

“Rogue! Rogue, can you hear me? Are you alright?” she said, wiping some of the sweat from her daughter’s brow.

“Ah’m fine, mama,” said Rogue, looking up at her with a reassuring smile, “Just tired, that’s all.”

Mystique let out a sigh of relief. This had certainly been an experience. At least now they knew the extent of Rogue’s abilities. That may come in handy in the future, but for now she was just glad her daughter was alright.

“Well you’ve earned a little rest,” she said, “Here, let’s get these shackles off you.”

“Yes, I believe they won’t be necessary anymore,” said Hank as he moved in to help.

Mystique went to undo them and Hank followed suit. They got them about halfway off when suddenly Rogue jerked her arms and they were literally ripped off by the bolts. It caught both adults off guard. Even Rogue was a little surprised at her show of strength.

“Wow…ain’t that something?” said Rogue with an amused grin.

“I’ll say,” commented Mystique proudly, “You might want to take some time to get to know your new strength.”

“Yes, because unlike the others you’ve absorbed, these won’t wear off,” Hank reminded her.

“Ah guess there are worse powers to be stuck with,” said Rogue as she looked down at her hands, which now possessed immense strength, “At least now Ah can share some workouts with Peter and James.”

“I’m sure they’ll be thrilled,” said Sage, “But we should also inform Xavier. He’ll be very interested to hear about these new powers of yours.”

“Ah bet,” she smiled, “But what about Miss Marvel? What’s gonna happen to her?”

“Come over and see for yourself,” said Wanda mischievously.

Rogue looked over at Wanda and Kurt, who were still standing at the foot of her bed looking at the scarab used in the spell. They were each smiling at something so she, Hank, and Sage walked over to see what was going on. What they saw was strange, but fitting. They saw Miss Marvel’s spirit stuck in the ruby gem. Her disembodied spirit was hovering silently, not making a sound or saying a word. She looked drained, but still conscious. She clearly knew she was trapped. There was a look of despair on her face, but it gained her no sympathy from the Hellfire pawns.

“What did you do to her?” asked Hank curiously.

“Threw in a little containment spell at the end,” said Wanda with a cold smirk, “Now her spirit is trapped in the scarab. She’s fully aware of her situation, but she knows she’s not getting out anytime soon.”

“She better not,” said Rogue, whose head was still sore from the fight she had with her, “So what are you going to do with her?”

“I’m not sure,” said Wanda as she held the scarab up, “This relic belongs to Mistress Selene so I’ll have to check with her. If nothing else, she could provide some amusement during her off hours. I’m sure she’ll come up with something.”

“She always does, ja?” grinned Kurt.

Knowing Selene, she would probably send the spirits of demons and evil creatures into the gem to rape her. The Black Queen always got off on that sort of thing. Rogue thought it was fitting and so did Mystique. Miss Marvel did try to attack them and that deserved punishment. And the Hellfire Club was very good at dishing out punishment. Hank and Sage, however, were indifferent as always. So long as this woman didn’t become a threat they could care less what Selene did to her.

“That’s what you get for messin’ with mah family, bitch,” taunted Rogue.

“Yes, I never thanked you for that, did I?” said Mystique, who cast her daughter an approving glance.

“You don’t have to, mama. It’s what we do,” said Rogue.

“Vhat about Wanda?” asked Kurt, “She vas zhe one who fixed zhis, you know?”

“Yes, of course,” said Mystique somewhat begrudgingly, “Thank you, Wanda.”

Wanda couldn’t help but grin. Mystique still had reservations about her and Kurt’s relationship, but it never hurt to gain a little approval here and there. She was still her competition. She had gained so much influence over Kurt his mother’s role was pretty much secondary. She made sure it was her will that always took precedent. Of course, she had to be accommodating at times. She couldn’t afford to have Mystique resent her too much. They were on the same side after all…for now anyways.

Looking into the gem, Rogue grinned at the sight of Miss Marvel’s spirit. She put up quite a fight. But like everyone who stood against the Hellfire Club, she failed.

“Thanks for the powers. Ah’ll definitely be puttin’ them to good use,” she told her.

While they couldn’t see it, Carol Danvers held her head low. She was in a state of complete despair. All hope for her freedom was lost now. Her spirit was completely locked away in this prison. She was stuck, fully aware and conscious of her state. It was a truly terrible fate. And there was nothing she could do about it.

It had been a messy affair. It wasn’t every day they had to exorcise the spirit of an angry avenger out of someone’s mind, even at the Hellfire Club. But for all the struggles, they got something out of it. Rogue got new powers on top of her old ones and they got a new prisoner. All in all, it was another major victory for the Hellfire Club.

Outside Hellfire Manor

Three days after being approached by his estranged older brother, Alex Summers found himself in a stretch limousine riding through the heart of Manhattan towards Hellfire Manor. It was all happening pretty fast. One day he was busting his butt sixty hours a week for minimum wage, hoping to God that a lawsuit from his former school wouldn’t leave him in jail. The next day his brother comes in looking to solve all his problems. And even he had to admit, Scott and these people he was working for were pretty damn efficient.

A day after Alex accepted Scott’s offer, he was informed that his former school was dropping all charges against him for losing control of his powers when they first manifested. Not only were they dropping the suit, but they had to pay him punitive damages for wrongful legal action. It came as quite a surprise to Alex, who wasn’t used to the law being on his side. Scott didn’t give him too many details. He just said the Hellfire Club had some damn good lawyers and a friend of theirs got cozy with the judge, who passed down the sentence. Scott later revealed that one of his fellow pawns, Emma Frost to be precise, paid a visit to the judge. He wouldn’t say what exactly she did, just that she did it with her usual efficiency.

With money in his pocket and a new life ahead of him, Alex took a few days to get his affairs in order. He paid a visit to the Billings family and explained what was going on. He didn’t give them too many details. He let Scott do most of the talking and for the most part they were supportive. It seemed they were glad to see him get involved with anything that wouldn’t get him in more trouble, especially now that he was a known mutant. There was still some clear distance between them. They hadn’t quite gotten over their disappointment in Alex’s stubborn behavior, but they still parted on a decent note.

After everything was in order, Alex joined Scott on a private jet to New York and now here he was. Throughout the trip he gazed out the windows of the opulent vehicle, enjoying the free drinks and taking in his new surroundings. He was still in his Hawaiian attire of a loose shirt and cargo shorts while Scott was neatly dressed in an expensive custom made suit. At times Alex couldn’t help but laugh because anybody who saw them like this would never have guessed they were brothers. It also highlighted just how different their lives had gone.

As they neared the manor, Alex slammed back another hard drink. He was still taking it all in, occasionally glancing over at his brother. Scott, ever the stoic one, remained calm and collected. Yet there was still this darkness to him that Alex didn’t quite understand. He wasn’t sure what it entailed, but he was too anxious about this visit to contemplate it.

“You know Scott, it’s kind of funny,” said Alex as he finished another drink.

“What is?” asked Scott.

“How the tables have turned,” he said, his voice becoming more distant, “Time was it was me who was the lucky one. After the plane crash you got stuck in a coma while I got adopted. You lived in an orphanage while I grew up behind a white picket fence with a loving family. Now here we are, years later, with you wearing these fancy clothes riding around in limos and private jets. And me? I fell flat on my ass, getting kicked out of college and pushing my foster parents away.”

Alex let out a bitter laugh and reached for another drink. But Scott didn’t let him get to it this time. He put his hand in front of the bottle and gave his brother a more serious glance.

“Try not to think of it as one of us getting a better deal than the other,” said Scott, “Life took us down different paths. We each went our own way, making choices along the way that led us to where we are now. How we got here doesn’t matter. All that matters now is the future. We’re brothers and it’s time we start acting like it.”

“Wow, I’m touched, Scott,” said Alex in a somewhat sarcastic tone, “And to think just four years ago we wanted nothing to do with each other.”

“Are you always going to give me an attitude?”

“Oh come on, bro, you know I’m just messing with you! Isn’t that what brothers do?”

“Come on, Alex, this is serious! You’re getting a very unique chance to do something big with your life and I don’t want to see you make light of it.”

“Hey, I’m taking this just as seriously as you, Scott. You think I want to go back to working in a surf shop for minimum wage? Trust me, I’d rather take my chances with you guys.”

“It’s not just about getting away from where you were. It’s about becoming part of something much bigger than yourself,” said Scott in a strong tone, “This organization is more than just fancy clothes and high class living. It’s about an ideology and a plan to really impact this chaotic world. Being part of it is more than a privilege. It’s an honor.”

“Yeah, yeah, you’ve made that abundantly clear,” said Alex, rolling his eyes, “Seriously, Scott, when did you get so smug about this stuff? Did this place change you that much? Because you’re being a bit of an ass.”

Scott scolded his brother again. Alex tried to reach for the bottle of fine wine again, but Scott kept it from him. In a ways Alex had a point. He had changed since he joined the Hellfire Club. When he looked in the mirror he didn’t see the same Scott Summers that came into this organization four years ago. He saw a Scott Summers more determined and resolute than ever. It was ironic in a sense because he remembered how he used to lament about having to kill, torture, or destroy. After that first mission years ago he lost a weeks worth of sleep over it. Now it didn’t bother him in the slightest. Looking at his reflection in the mirror he saw much darker eyes than he began with. But he had no regrets. And hopefully Alex would come to see things the same way.

The limo arrived at the outer gates to Hellfire Manor just in time for sunset. When Alex saw the opulent manor he was floored. If the cars and clothes weren’t fancy enough, the house was downright amazing. He never took his eyes off it even as the driver came out to open the door for them. Scott was used to it so while Alex was admiring the sight, he instructed the driver to take Alex’s things out of the trunk and start bringing them into the manor. He threw in a fifty dollar tip for good measure.

“Damn!” exclaimed Alex as he took in the opulent surroundings.

“Yeah I know, it’s nice isn’t it?” said Scott with a half-grin.

“Nice nothing. Place probably has it’s own zip code! And this is where you’ve been living?”

“It’s one of the places,” said Scott, “Trust me, this place is only part of a much greater network. I’ll give you a tour later, but first things first. We have to meet Charles Xavier.”

“Yeah, whatever,” said Alex, still dazed by the grandeur of the manor.

Scott shook his head and led Alex up to the front gate. Along the way he noticed he wasn’t the only one bringing a guest into the manor. Another limo had pulled up in front of his and was already empty. Once inside the manor grounds Scott saw Pietro standing near the center fountain with Lorna, who looked every bit as amazed as Alex. To his surprise Pietro was smiling. He rarely smiled and seemed to be telling Lorna about the setup they had here at manor. From the looks of it he and Lorna really hit it off. Too bad he and Alex weren’t quite there yet.

“Hey Scott, I see we beat you here,” said Pietro with a smug grin.

“Nice to see you too, Pietro,” said Scott, “I take it your trip was successful too.”

“Indeed it was,” said the speedster.

He then got Lorna’s attention and directed her to Scott and Alex. Like Alex, she was still taking it all in. But as long as they were here she might as well get to know the others.

“Lorna, this is one of my associates, Scott Summers,” said Pietro, “Scott, this is my half-sister, Lorna Dane.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lorna,” said Scott, who respectfully bowed after taking her hand and kissing it.

“Nice to meet you too,” said Lorna, who couldn’t help but smile at such chivalry.

It was now Scott’s turn. Turning towards Alex, he noticed he was a little more disheveled than Lorna. His surfer style clothes made him look very much out of place. At least Lorna was nice enough to wear something that had been washed. But never-the-less, Scott introduced him.

“And I guess this would be the other Summers brother?” commented Pietro, snickering at his appearance.

“Yeah, this is him,” said Scott, “Alex, this is Pietro Maximoff. You’ll have to excuse him for being a little sarcastic. He has a problem with not thinking before he speaks.”

“He’s not the only one,” smirked Alex as he shook Pietro’s hand.

He only shook it for a moment though. He quickly turned his attention to Lorna, who caught his eye the second he saw her. He approached her more readily, taking her hand and kissing it like Scott had. Only he wasn’t as much a gentleman about it. He made sure she saw the flirtatious look in his eye.

“Nice to meet you, Lorna. It’s refreshing to see that I’m not the only newbie. It’s also doesn’t hurt to come in with someone as easy on the eyes as you.”

“Oh um…thank you, Alex,” said Lorna, blushing profusely at his words.

Scott shook his head while Pietro scowled. He just connected with Lorna and didn’t need some pretty boy honing in on her. Alex, even though he was Scott’s brother, gave him a bad vibe. But instead of getting vocal about it, he grabbed Lorna’s hand and directed her attention away from the other Summers brother.

“That’s enough of that,” he told them, “Come Lorna, Charles Xavier is probably waiting for us.”

“Oh uh okay,” said Lorna, still smiling at Alex, “So when do I get to meet my half-sister?”

“One step at a time, Lorna,” Pietro replied, “We have a lot of ground to cover.”

“I’m sure we do,” said Alex, shooting the speedster a snide grin.

Pietro cast him another scorn while he led Lorna towards the mansion. Scott planned to follow, but held back for a minute. He found the exchange somewhat amusing. Alex did say he was good with the ladies before his powers kicked in. On the flight to New York he told him about a number of sexual adventures he got into. He didn’t have any qualms about hooking up with women. For that reason he felt he would do well at the Hellfire Club. However, he might want to set his eye on another girl.

“You don’t waste time, do you?” Scott said with a smirk.

“I can’t help it if the ladies dig me,” shrugged Alex, “You did say there were plenty of hot girls around here. Any chance I can meet a few? That Jean girl you wouldn’t shut up about sounds hot.”

“Like Pietro said, Alex…one step at a time.”

Alex rolled his eyes, but none-the-less accepted it as he followed Scott towards the front entrance. He just arrived and already he made an impression on a cute looking girl with green hair and got on her half-brother’s bad side. Already he was definitely leaving his mark. There was a lot about this place he didn’t understand, but after meeting Lorna and Pietro he was definitely more curious. He saw how it left a mark on his brother. It would be interesting to see the kind of mark it left on him.

Once at the front door, Xavier himself was waiting for them. Having sensed their arrival, he made his way down to meet his newest recruits. He was pleased to see that Scott and Pietro were able to get through to them. He knew playing the family card would help influence their decision. From here the persuasive power of the Hellfire Club could take over.

“Greetings Alex Summers and Lorna Dane,” he said in a welcoming tone, “Welcome to the Hellfire Club. I hope your journey here was pleasant.”

“Yes sir, Mr. Xavier. It was very comfortable,” said Lorna politely.

“Yeah, it’s not every day a limo picks you up from a private jet,” said Alex, “You guys must be rich on at least ten ridiculous levels.”

That earned him an elbow in the ribs from Scott, but Xavier kept smiling. It was good they were impressed. It would help them handle all the rigors they were about to face.

“You’d be surprised, Alex,” he said ominously, “Now follow me. We have much to discuss.”

Logan’s Quarters

It had been an interesting couple of days for Logan. Once again his life was changed immensely within a short span of time. He should have been used to it by now, even with a choppy memory. But it still hit hard. Not long ago he was just chasing clues to his past, living on the road and following whatever clues he came across. For years now he had been searching and it led him to many dead ends. And in his most recent search, it turned out to be a trap. But what could have been a very ugly situation for him turned into a new opportunity.

Since taking Charles Xavier up on his offer to join the Hellfire Club, Logan spent the next day or so getting to know the organization. Like many of the others he was surprised to see how vast it was. He had no idea so much power was concentrated in the hands of so few. Xavier and Selene put together a truly global entity. He always suspected there were people like this out there and he usually resented them. But by giving him the opportunity to participate, his views shifted. He saw that he would have plenty of opportunities to do what he did best in this place.

Xavier’s vast mercenary army at X-Industrial was the largest he had ever seen. Just watching some of their scenarios assured him he could excel at this place. He also met many of his fellow pawns, most of which he already knew from the rescue. He didn’t care too much for making friends with them, but he was pretty friendly with the girls. They seemed to like him too and he hoped to really get to know them later on. But he noticed they all shared Hellfire’s demanding spirit. These people weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty and he liked that. They needed a tough, predatory brute to set an example and he fit the role perfectly.

But his acclamation into the Inner Circle was of secondary importance at the moment. As soon as he finished the initial tour, he sequestered himself in his new room to look over stacks of old files. It was something Xavier set up for him as a token of good faith. He had Sage gather every file and computer disk she compiled on Weapon X and his past and had it shipped to his room. Much of the data was hacked from secure mainframes or gathered by Mystique over the course of her four-year mission. There was a lot to go over and Logan planned on looking over every page. He spent so many years trying to uncover his past and these files potentially contained so many answers.

Sitting at the foot of his bed, wearing nothing but the tattered jeans he arrived in, Logan looked over one of the few files that referred to him by his birth name, James Howlett. It was a file detailing his days as a soldier in World War II. While he had clear memories of fighting in that war, there were a few shady areas he wasn’t sure of. But after looking at his old picture, reading over his record, and looking over some of the missions he participated in it started coming back to him. He could remember people calling him James or Jim in the heat of battle and he remembered taking a few bullets. He almost smiled at the feeling of getting those memories back. He still had the dog tag Xavier gave him. He kept it close to him ever since. It felt like the link to his past that he had been looking for. Now it was just a matter of sorting out the details.

One other file he had next to him was less pleasant. It was a highly classified file detailing Weapon X and it’s history. In it he was surprised to find out that the X didn’t have anything to do with using mutants with an X-gene. It was actually a Roman numeral to document the tenth attempt at such a project. It turns out the program was more extensive than anything he ever imagined. There was much more to it than small group of people he eviscerated that fateful day. It was a grand conspiracy that encompassed many shady figures and many powerful people. And a few names jumped out at him.

“Abraham Cornelius…Zander Rice…General Wraith,” he growled, gazing at each picture with unparalleled rage, “You two just made it to the top of my must impale list.”

Aside from learning more about such hated figures from his past, he learned about a couple of allies. Omega Red, the Russian version of Weapon X, was mentioned and so were the likes of Maverick and his ex-girlfriend Silver Fox. He would have to get in touch with them later to share some of this information with them. Maybe they could fill in some of the blanks. Xavier also told him one of his top mercenaries, Deadpool, was involved in a program with Weapon X ties. He might be worth looking into, although Xavier did say the experiments left him pretty twisted mentally. He probably wouldn’t be able to get too much useful information from him, but it couldn’t hurt to try.

Another disturbing revelation he noticed were some newer files that Xavier said were just discovered recently. They detailed a new Weapon X project under development by a group called Hydra. It was revealed to be a cloning project with him as the key subject. If some of these documents were right, they may have tried to clone him as much as 23 times. He would definitely have to look into that down the line. If someone was trying to clone him, he was going to make them pay. Even though the file says something went wrong and the project was terminated, he had to find anybody linked with it.

“Fucking Hydra,” he grunted, “It’s bad enough people keep trying to control me. Now they wanna clone me. I swear when I find the bastards responsible for this I’ll tear their guts out and choke em with the entrails!”

He had to close some of those files, less he get too worked up. These files may contain answers, but not all of them were good ones. He had a lot of work to do, not just going over this information, but getting in touch with some of these people. He still had questions, but for some he wanted only vengeance. And here at the Hellfire Club he would have plenty of chances for that.

“One down, about a million to go,” he sighed as he put the files away.

It looked like he would have plenty to keep him busy. Xavier told him there were even some digital files he had on records he could go over. He would have to make time for that later though. He had enough files to keep him busy for a good long while. It looked like he had a long night ahead of him. He was about to pick up another file when he heard a knock at the door.

“What is it? I’m busy,” he said in a grumpy tone.

The door opened and Jean Grey walked in. She quickly drew Logan’s attention and not just because she was wearing that sexy looking skin-tight outfit with black leather pants and a black and red shirt. She didn’t say a word from the other side and she wasn’t turned off by his harsh words. In fact, she was smiling a little.

“Is this what you’re going to be doing in your spare time, Logan? Pour endlessly over old files?” she said as she casually walked in and telekinetically shut the door behind her, “Because if you are then that’s just sad.”

“What do you care, Jeannie? I don’t ask you how you spend your time,” Logan quipped.

“No, but there are plenty of other ways to entertain yourself around here,” she said as she stepped over some of the files, “And none of them involve burying yourself in the past.”

Logan cast shot her a disgruntled scorn. She wasn’t the first one to criticize him for chasing the past. Most people did and he couldn’t blame them. But he still got defensive about it.

“Did you just come to piss me off? Because I’ll warn you right now that’s stupid and dangerous.”

“I’ve been in the Hellfire Club for four years, Logan. I’m used to danger,” she said with a wry grin.

Logan kept scorning her, but it didn’t affect her in the slightest. She just walked over and sat down on the foot of his bed. He kept staring at her and she stared right back, not showing any fear or anxiety in his presence. That was rare, especially with beautiful women. But her looks alone weren’t enough get her off the hook.

“Why are you here?” he demanded.

“Well you barely took any time to meet the other pawns you’ll be working with so I thought I’d drop in and give you another chance,” she said, her smile never waning, “Hellfire is a pretty tough club. It helps to make a few friends.”

“I don’t need friends. I just need people who stay out of my way.”

“That attitude won’t get you very far here. People don’t have to like you, but they do have to respect you.”

“Believe me, Red, I get plenty of respect,” he said with a wolfish grin, flashing his claws to prove his point.

“Fear isn’t respect, Logan. It’s useful, but only to a point,” she said, clearly not impressed by his display.

“Yeah whatever,” scoffed Logan as he turned back to his stack of files, “I don’t know what kind of regiment you guys run around here, but don’t expect me to go along with everything. I got my own priorities.”

“I’m sure you do. But that’s not the point,” said Jean, her tone becoming more serious.

Jean got up from the bed and Logan turned back around. She now had a different look, but she had the same penetrating gaze in her eyes. It was like she was trying to decipher him or something. She seemed genuinely intrigued. She intrigued him as well, but not for the same reasons.

“Lord Xavier told me a bit about you. You’re a complicated man to say the least,” she said.

“You got that right. Hell, even I don’t know where I’ve been and what I’ve done,” said Logan.

“But he still saw something in you that was worth pursuing. That to me says two things. First, is says you’ve got the potential to excel in our tough environment. But that’s obvious to anyone who saw what you did in Canada. Second, and more importantly, it says you’re a man of great drive. You’re willing to be reasonable when you have to, but you’re not afraid to step up.”

“You tryin’ to flatter me, darlin’?”

“No, but would you care if I did?” she said with a smile.

“Not at all. But what makes you sure Chuck and the rest of you Hellfire guys are right about me? For all you know, I could be jerkin’ you around.”

“But you’re not,” said Jean confidently, “And I know you’re not.”

“Oh so you read my mind too?” he said crassly.

“Nope. I didn’t have to.”

She then moved in closer to him, showing once more that she was not afraid of him. Her close proximity allowed him to get a good whiff of her scent. She smelled good. She smelled real good. She had with her this unique musk that drew him in. He seemed to draw her in as well. He could see it in her eyes.

“You’re a real man of mystery, Logan,” she said, her tone becoming serious once more, “Here at the Hellfire Club being mysterious can be dangerous. Some people will look for excuses to call you out and use you to their own ends.”

“You mean like that crazy Selene woman? She sure smelled like the type.”

“Yes, but not just her,” said Jean, smiling at his assessment of the Black Queen, “Everybody here needs someone to vouch for them. We’re not a team or a fraternity. We’re the Hellfire Club. And if you want, I could be that someone who can stand up for you.”

“That’s awful nice of ya, Jeannie,” grinned Logan, “But why would you go and do that? You don’t exactly seem like the good girl type.”

“Oh whatever gave you that idea?” she said seductively, trailing her hand down his burly face, “Don’t think of it as nice. Think of it as a gesture of mutual respect.”

“That doesn’t sound very sexy,” quipped Logan.

“I’m serious, Logan,” she said in a sincere tone, “Lord Xavier taught me long ago that gaining someone’s respect is key to getting ahead in this chaotic world. And I see an interesting man in you…a man I think is worth getting to know.”

She continued trailing her hand down his burly face. Her touch felt good. It wasn’t overtly seductive or playful, but it did reinforce her point. Logan was usually pretty good at reading people. It’s what made him so good in battle. And he saw nothing in this beautiful woman’s eyes that lead him to believe she was leading him on. She really did want to get to know him. He really did intrigue her. And the more he looked at her, the more she intrigued him as well.

“You’re a bold woman, Jean,” he said with a wolfish grin, “I don’t know about the other hotties in this place, but you’re alright.”

“Is that a yes? Will you give this a chance?” she smiled.

“If that means gettin’ friendly with a hot redhead like you, I don’t see a downside.”

Jean smiled. She had a feeling her looks would play a part. Logan was a mystery man, but he was still a man. It also helped he was an attractive man. That always caught her fancy. Being at the Hellfire Club gave her a strong appreciation for muscular men who didn’t care to wear shirts. Logan wasn’t clean shaven or organized like Scott, Pietro, or Warren. But that had its on allure and hopefully that was something they could play off of if she was going to learn more about him.

“So what now? If you’re gonna get to know me shouldn’t we get ‘acquainted?’” he asked, throwing in a little sexual innuendo as he inched closer to her.

“I guess it’s only proper. Any ideas on how to do that?” said Jean, returning his tone with a sultry look of her own.

“I thought you were psychic, Jeannie. If you can’t pick up on what I’m thinkin’ then your powers are seriously out of whack.”

“Oh I know what you’re thinking,” she said wryly, “I just didn’t think it was polite to mention such lurid thoughts.”

“Seriously, Red, does it look like I care?”

The sexual tension between them boiled over. Logan slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her into a rough kiss. It was rough and abrupt, but Jean didn’t fight it. She just grabbed onto his shoulders and kissed back, nearly losing her balance in the process. For a moment their lips hungrily wrestled. Logan slipped his hands onto her butt, giving it a nice squeeze while she seductively raked her hands over his bear chest.

Her scent was so powerful. Logan wanted her and she wanted him. He could smell the arousal on her. Her legs were already rubbing together from the heat that was building up inside. She didn’t hide it either. As they kissed she pressed her body against his, communicating her need for intimacy. And he was more than happy to accommodate her.

Logan led her towards his bed, roughly stumbling along the way. They kept kissing the whole time, his lips furiously devouring hers. He was really getting her worked up and she was rousing the lustful beast within him. But through this erotic chaos, Jean found a way to sneak in a little Hellfire mystique. Once at the foot of the bed, she turned around and sat him down. He was still hungrily kissing her, but she managed to pull away from him briefly to give him a little show.

“Easy Wolverine,” she said seductively, “Let me entertain you a bit.”

Logan grinned and rose up to see what she had in mind. He watched as she rose up and started doing a little striptease for him. She swayed and gyrated her body, rubbing her hands down his bear chest. He fought the urge to just tear her clothes off and fuck her on the spot, but he didn’t mind being teased a bit. After some creative dancing she began removing her clothes. He started with her shirt, turning around and swaying her butt as she slowly slid it off over her head. She wasn’t wearing a bra so once it was gone, her large breasts came tumbling out. She covered them with her arm at first, much to Logan’s dismay. But then she leaned in and shoved his face between her fleshy orbs, which definitely put a smile on his face. He reached up and grasped them, squeezing them a bit and hungrily licking around her cleavage. Jean let out a soft gasp, loving how he was so into it. But she wasn’t done yet.

Backing off again, she continued sensually swaying her hips. Then in another slow, sensual display she undid her skin tight pants and slid them down her sexy legs. She also turned around slightly so he could get a good view of her profile. Logan watched in a hypnotic trance, becoming further enticed with each inch of naked flesh she revealed. Once she kicked her pants off along with her shoes she was only in a revealing black thong. She looked so hot and he could see moist arousal seeping down her inner thighs. The scent was overpowering. He wanted this woman so bad.

Jean’s stripper experience really paid off. She had Logan completely in her erotic grasp. Smiling playfully, she slipped onto his lap and pulled him into another round of heated kissing. With much of her flesh now exposed, his hands hungrily roamed around her body. His every touch was filled with feral lust. She could also feel a bulge in his pants. He yearned to take her and she was getting impatient herself.

“Better get these off soon, Red. It’s gettin’ mighty uncomfortable,” he grinned.

“Way ahead of you, Logan,” she said playfully.

Continuing with the spirit of her show she slipped off his lap and kissed down his manly build, slowly working her way down along his chiseled muscles. He leaned back to allow her to remove his jeans. Since they were old and tattered they weren’t too hard to remove. Once his throbbing erection sprung free, Jean hungrily grasped it and gave it a sensual lick. She also used her telekinesis to remove his pants completely, letting him kick them off at the end. His dick was a pretty good length, right up there with the rest of the men at the Hellfire Club.

She stepped up her teasing, showing off her oral sex skills by squeezing the base of his shaft hard while sucking on the tip. It drove Logan wild with lust. He grasped her head and ran his fingers through her long flowing red hair. He guided her head up and down his shaft as she slurped and sucked his member, skillfully licking up and around the base and tip. She didn’t do it too hard, but she did it more fervently than she did with other men because that’s what Logan seemed to enjoy. He grunted in approval with each sensual lick. His expression was dazed with lust and full of feral yearning. Soon he couldn’t take it anymore.

“Enough Jeannie! I gotta fuck you!” he growled.

“Mmm…as you wish,” she purred as she rose up from her position.

She did one last striptease, sensually slipping off her thong. Only Logan didn’t sit back and watch this time. Upon wiggling her way out of the revealing garment, he lunged at her and took her in his powerful arms. He then pulled her onto the bed so she was on top of him, making their way towards the head of the bed as they hungrily kissed and groped each others’ naked flesh. Once there Logan grabbed her hips and guided her onto his dick. Jean parted her legs slightly, resting her knees at his sides as she maneuvered her hips until Logan’s cock was at her wet entrance. Once he felt the outer part of her moist folds, he squeezed her hips firmly and thrust up into her.

“Ohhhhhhhhhh fuck!” gasped Jean.

“Yeah! Oh fuck you’re so tight, Jean!” grunted Logan.

The feeling quickly overtook them. Logan planted his feet firmly on the bed and began fervently pounding into her. He didn’t take it slow or build it up. He just went right to the hard stuff, bouncing Jean up and down his length as his dick probed her tight folds. The young redhead gasped sharply, struggling to catch up at first. But she soon found herself moving her hips with each upward thrust, holding onto his shoulders with her waist slightly elevated above his pelvis. He squeezed her butt firmly each time he thrust upwards. He did it pretty hard too, really hitting her depths. It made her insides throb despite some initial awkwardness, Jean grew to love it.

The bed rocked hard to their frantic movements. They quickly worked up a sweat as they held on to each other, gasping and grunting to each blissful sensation. Jean leaned back a bit, giving Logan a better view of her breasts and allowing him to hit other areas in her pussy. Logan hungrily ran his hands up over her body, grasping her naked flesh and savoring every hot feel. His grunts were like the lustful fury of an animal. Jean expected this, but she had no idea it would be so intense.

Their bodies moved in a chaotic mesh of lust and flesh. The pace remained fast and furious, guided by Logan’s feral state. Jean found herself getting into the spirit as well, picking up on his thought projections. She went at it with nearly as much vigor. Her body rocked and her breasts bounced to each forceful thrust. They enjoyed this heated pace for a while, but it was hard to draw it out. But that matter. This was the kind of sex that was best to just have at it and embrace the pleasure as quickly as possible. Going with the spirit, she leaned over and kissed him passionately as he kept thrusting into her. The feeling soon built up to the point where they couldn’t hold it in.

“Uh-uh-uh-oh fuck-uh-oh fuck-oh Logan-I-I-I’m going to cum!” cried Jean.

“Uh-uh-augh-rah-rah-me too-rah-oh fuck-fuch-uh-rrrraahhhhhhhhhhh!”

The Wolverine roared as he slammed into her as hard as he could, finally slowing his thrusts as he his climax it. He delivered three forceful thrusts, hitting all the way up to her cervix as his member exploded in a burst of cum that splattered into Jean’s tight pussy. Jean moaned at the feeling, but didn’t hit her orgasm at that moment. Logan kept moving, allowing her to move her hips a bit more until she got her release as well. When it hit she leaned back and cried out in ecstasy as her cunt tightened over his member. Her fluids mixed with his in an intense combination of orgasmic bliss. It was a feeling Logan hadn’t felt for quite a while and one Jean didn’t expect to be so intense. But it was worth it.

“Mmm…such an animal in bed,” said Jean breathlessly.

“Thanks,” grinned Logan, who was still groping her butt, “You ain’t so bad yourself. You like the rough stuff?”

“I don’t mind it,” she said, still catching her breath.

“Just you wait. When I get through with you you’ll love it!”

Even though she was still recovering, Logan crashed his lips against hers and drew her into another heated kiss. He rolled her over so now he was on top, his burly flesh pressing down against hers. She clung to his shoulders, moaning as his hands hungrily trailed up from her waist onto her breasts. She was still gasping, but he was ready for more. His dick was still rock hard even after having just climaxed. Usually men couldn’t do that without the help of a little magic, but it seemed perfectly natural for him.

“Ready for more already?” she said in amazement.

“Healing factor, Jeannie. Where most men stop, I keep on goin’. So just lay back and enjoy it. I’ll make you feel real good.”

“I…ohhhhhhhh.”

Her words were muffled with more hungry kissing. His thoughts were full of lust and primal desire. She picked up on them easily and they soon got her in the spirit as well. Even though she was still recovering, the next round was about to begin. Something told her this was going to be a wild ride. But she was up for it and so was Logan.

After thoroughly exploring Jean’s womanly body, Logan rose up and flipped her over so she was on her hands and knees. He then positioned himself behind her, grabbed her butt firmly, and thrust his cock back up inside her. Her pussy was still slick with their fluids so he went in with ease. Jean let out a deep moan at the feeling, clutching the sheets of the bed as Logan reestablished the vigorous pace from earlier. Like before he didn’t start slow or anything. After the first thrust he was hammering away, pounding his cock into her tight folds with heated ferocity while squeezing her butt each time he entered her. Her body rocked back and forth with each thrust. The wet smacking sound of his pelvis colliding with her butt echoed over their moans. The bed rocked even harder this time. At one point Jean was forced to lean against the wall to keep her balance. Logan’s grunts were just as feral as last time. As he slammed into her he leaned over and grasped her swaying breasts with one hand while fondling her clit with the other. It made Jean scream even louder in ecstasy. This time they dragged it out a little more, prolonging the experience. But eventually another orgasm washed over them. This time Jean was the first to climax with Logan following soon after.

Even after a second round of ecstasy, they kept with the feeling. Jean rose up so she was on her knees with Logan behind her. She turned her head so she could kiss him while he continued fondling her breast and clit. Her pussy was dripping with fluids and he was still hard. He wanted more and that primal lust she was picking up on was driving her wild. If she was going to keep up she was going to need a little help. So while he was feeling her up she chanted a little spell to help out.

“What the hell was that?” Logan asked, stopping his touching for a moment.

“Just a little sex spell for me so I can keep up,” she said with a sultry grin, “Don’t stop. Now it’s your turn to keep up.”

Her eyes flashed a fiery orange, indicating the use of magic. It caught Logan off guard, but not for long. Soon they were back on the bed, making out in a heated frenzy. This time Jean was the energetic one, wildly raking her nails down his over his manly flesh and moaning intently in an erotic daze. They rolled around until she was on top again. This time Logan laid flat on his back with her straddling him securely. She pinned him back as she lowered herself back onto his dick and started riding him. Like he did with her, she didn’t waste time building it up. Once he was in her she rode him nice and hard, working his cock in and out of her tight depths at a fervent pace. Logan added to each movement with a thrust of his own, but let her have this one as moaned and grunted their way to another climax. When it hit, Jean rose up into an upright position and moved his hands onto her breasts. She then let out a wild cry of ecstasy. To Logan she looked so beautiful, embracing this primal side of her. He got the feeling she didn’t do it often, but she was pretty good at it.

From there, Jean and Logan continued going at it in a wild rage of lust. They were like animals in heat, not bothering to be tender or take it easy with each other. They just fucked each other long and hard, letting their primal desires guide them. They rolled around all over the bed and even got off the bed at times, doing it in various positions. Logan rolled Jean on her stomach and mounted her from behind, holding her legs together as he slammed into her. He also showed off his strength, propping himself up on his knees and pulling her up into his arms so he could bounce her along his member. They rolled around on the bed until Jean nearly fell off, but Logan caught her and used her position to his advantage, bending her over so she was lying back on her neck while he thrust into her from above. Then he pulled her back up and they got into a sitting position, her legs hooked over his waist while he held onto her butt, grinding her pelvis against his and working his dick nice and hard inside her. Through each position they shared numerous orgasms. It wasn’t the most coordinated effort. They rarely climaxed together, but it still felt every bit as good. With Logan’s healing factor and Jean’s spell, they kept going at it. They barely slowed down, keeping with the pace and working up a good sweat. Soon their bodies glowed with perspiration, the musky scents of sex inundating the room.

They pushed themselves hard, really soaking this up. It was Logan’s first time in the Hellfire Club and Jean’s first time doing this with him. It was only fitting such sex would be memorable, especially if she was to befriend him. But eventually they reached their limits. Even Logan’s healing factor could only go so far. So for the final round, Logan got on top missionary style and worked their heated rhythm. Her legs were locked securely around his waist while she clutched his shoulders, her nails digging into his burly flesh as his feral form slid up and down her naked body. He firmly grasped her hips, grunting wildly each time he slammed into her. He was almost at his peak and so was she. For this final climax, they would share it together.

“UH-UH-UH-OH-OH FUCK-OH LOGAN-AH-AH-SO STRONG-AH-AH-OH ONE MORE! JUST GIVE ME ONE MORE!” cried Jean.

”UH-UH-AUGH-UH-HOLD ON JEANNIE-UH-AUGH-UH-ALMOST-UH-THERE-AUGH-RAAAAHHHHHHHHH!”

As they were sent over the edge, Jean closed her eyes and arched her body. Logan slowed his thrusts, holding onto her tight as he felt her pussy throb around his member. She climaxed first, let out her loudest cry of ecstasy yet. Her pussy clamped down on his cock, squeezing it mercilessly in a tight bind of hot flesh. He didn’t climax with her at the same time, but the extra tightness helped push him over the edge. He let out a sharp grunt as he filled her pussy with one last load. The whole time they were gasping for air, the primal lust still dominating their minds. As they soaked up this feeling they met in a final hungry kiss. It was a nice way to get acquainted and a good first taste for Logan of the Hellfire way.

Now sweaty, spent, and utterly content Jean and Logan lay comfortably on his bed. Jean was still gasping for air as she rolled off him, purring contently in the lingering afterglow. Logan was still grunting softly, feeling equally content with a naked woman still curled up in his arms. Thanks to his healing factor, he wasn’t as spent as Jean. But he was still every bit as satisfied.

It had been a while since Logan had been with a woman. Back in Japan he had a few lovers, but ever since he started chasing his past in Canada he hadn’t had a lot of time for real intimacy. He still hooked up with his share of women, but never for anything other than a one night stood. This was different. Jean had an erotic aura to her unlike anything he ever seen. She wasn’t blatant about it, but she didn’t hide it either. She clearly loved intimacy. And he got the feeling this wasn’t just sex for the sake of sex. He felt something with her. And he was pretty sure she felt it too.

“Wow…that was incredible, Logan!” said Jean breathlessly.

“You weren’t so bad yourself, Jeannie,” grinned the former living weapon as he lustfully trailed his hands up her side.

“That healing factor of yours goes a ways. Most men need a little magic to go that far.”

“I ain’t most men. I’m the best at what I do and I ain’t ashamed of it.”

“You shouldn’t be,” she purred softly.

Jean leaned into his naked body and gave him another kiss. Ever since she heard about him, Logan really intrigued her. He came off as an angry brute, but he was also a tortured soul who did what he had to do to get by. He also didn’t shy away from his baser instincts. That much was evident in the way he fucked her. He was perfect for the Hellfire Club. But she had just scratched the surface with him and wanted to learn more about this man. He looked like he could use a friend as well as someone to help him establish himself in the Inner Circle. There was also no denying some serious attraction. She could tell in the way he looked at her. She felt it too, but only to a point.

After lying in bed together for a while, Jean slipped out of his bed and gathered her clothes. They were scattered around a bit, but once she had them all in hand she started getting dressed.

“Thanks for hearing me out, Logan. And thanks for the hot sex,” she smiled as she slipped her thong back on.

“Anytime, beautiful, but ain’t you gonna stay a little longer? I kinda like having a hot naked redhead in my bed,” he said with a husky grin.

“One step at a time, Wolverine. Don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves now do we?” said Jean as she slipped her pants back on.

“Says who?”

“That’s just how it has to be,” she said as she put her shirt back on and turned back to the naked Logan, “I have my priorities and you have yours. But the key is to develop good bonds with your Hellfire brethren. And I promise I’ll help you along the way.”

“Lookin’ forward to it, Redd. But it may be hard keeping away from a girl like you,” he warned with another wolfish grin.

Jean smiled as she now stood at side of his bed. Logan really took to her. He was still clearly in the mood, but she wasn’t about to overdo it at this point. There would be plenty of time for going over the top once he got a taste of their sex rituals.

“I’m sure you’ll manage,” she told him, “Just remember we all have our own roles. It’s up to you to find yours.”

With that final message, Jean turned around and left. Logan watched her every step of the way until she was gone. His smile never waned either. Even though he detected a bit of reluctance on her part, he was confident he made an impression. She was more attracted to him than she let on. He was sure of it. Maybe it could lead to something more. Even in a place like this with so many beautiful women, he wasn’t opposed to getting close to someone. Even loners like him needed company. Even though he had a bad history with relationships like with Heather Hudson or Yuriko Oyama, he felt differently about this. And as he lay back in bed his thoughts lingered around Jean Grey and what may come of this.

Outside Logan’s Room

After leaving Logan’s room, Jean stretched her tired limbs and began making her way towards her quarters. She walked a little awkwardly because of some lingering soreness between her legs. But it was the good kind of soreness she didn’t mind having. Logan was quite the animal in bed. With him on board she and the rest of the Hellfire women were in for quite a ride.

After walking a short distance down the hall she passed Scott. She hadn’t seen him much lately since Alex arrived so she smiled at his presence. He looked a bit less thrilled though, probably because he saw her come out of Logan’s room.

“Hey Jean, busy night?” he said with a knowing look.

Jean looked back towards Logan’s room and blushed. She kept smiling though as she wasn’t ashamed of what she had done.

“No more than usual,” she said, “Just thought I’d take some time to get to know Logan a little better.”

“Looks like you got to know each other pretty well,” said Scott, his eyes running down her disheveled state.

Jean shifted awkwardly. She probably should have cleaned herself up a bit more. Her wrinkled clothes and sweaty face were obvious signs of what she had been doing. It was nothing they weren’t used to since they had a pretty open relationship sexually. But that didn’t mean it couldn’t cause tension.

“It’s nothing serious, Scott. No need to make a big deal out of it.”

“Are you sure?” said Scott seriously, “Lord Xavier told me a bit about Logan. He’s not exactly ‘people friendly.’ I’d feel better if you kept your distance.”

“Oh he’s not so bad,” scoffed Jean, “Sure he’s a bit rough around the edges, but he’s an okay guy once you get to know him. I think he’ll do well here.”

“That’s not the point, Jean. I’m just not sure you should be the one getting close to him.”

Now Jean was getting a little irked. Scott usually didn’t have this much of a problem with her hooking up with men. Of course, most of those men were guys he knew or strangers she seduced as part of her duty. It had never been a completely non-issue, but they never really fought over it like this.

“Why not?” she said, getting defensive, “I’ve never made an issue whenever you’ve gotten close to another woman. What about Emma? Or Rogue even?”

“That’s different,” said Scott.

“So what?” she said strongly, “I have a right to make friends with whoever I want! Who are you to say I should back off just because it makes you uncomfortable?”

Scott was about to respond, but no words came out this time. This was one of the harder aspects of having a relationship in the Hellfire Club. There were always going to be other sex partners. Sometimes they would be a little more intimate than others. And it didn’t usually bother him. Sure it was hard at times when he would want to get close to her, but she would be too tired because of her shift at the club or because she slept with someone else earlier. He knew she didn’t like that either when he was too out of it from other women. But they still able to work through it these past four years and he wasn’t about to let some new guy come in and threaten that.

“Jean…” he said in a calmer tone, “I just worry about you, okay? In the Hellfire Club it’s never a good idea to get close to the wrong people.”

Jean took a deep breath to calm herself down and then moved in closer to her lover.

“I know that. But I don’t think Logan is one of them.”

“But how can you be sure?”

“Come on, Scott, I’m psychic and I play around with magic,” she said with a half-grin, “Don’t I deserve the benefit of the doubt?”

Scott managed a small smile as well, but he was still a little uneasy. Sensing this Jean slipped her arms around him and gave him an affectionate hug.

“Look, no matter who I get close to, Scott, you’ll always be my true love. That I promise you,” she said strongly.

“I know. I love you too, Jean. I just can’t help how I feel about certain others,” said Scott, settling down a bit in her arms.

“I know. You’re only human and I don’t hold that against you,” she said with a reassuring smile, “But I’ll make it up to you. Tomorrow is our night, you know? I’m sure we can find ways of making it extra special.”

“You better,” grinned Scott, “In the meantime just be careful.”

“Will do, lover.”

The two shared a kiss and walked off arm-in-arm. This issue wasn’t past them. It probably never would be. Having an open relationship in the Hellfire Club had its perks, but it had its pitfalls as well. Logan was just the latest to come along and he may present more of a challenge with the way Jean reached out to him. But relationships were always a challenge, especially in the Hellfire Club. All they could do was take them as they came and hope their love was strong enough to get them through it.

But Logan wasn’t the only one with his eye on the young couple. As Scott and Jean walked off, they were unaware that Emma Frost had heard their little exchange. She had just been passing by, on her way back from a round at the spa. She originally planned on paying Logan a visit to welcome him in, but it seemed that Jean beat her to it. That’s what she got for doing a favor for Scott by sleeping with that guy from Alex’s old school. But it wasn’t a total loss. Hearing their argument revealed some interesting things. She always figured there was some tension with them having an open relationship, but this felt like it was something more.

She spent the past four years slowly coming out of her shell, mostly because of Scott. He was the only one she really got close to. After that conversation they had in Hong Kong she opened up again. They had become fairly good friends since then and he quickly became her favorite lover. But it always felt that Jean was in the way. She always had priority with him. Whenever something was going on with her, he was the first to come to her aid. It bothered her and she often called them out on it, but they always brushed it off. Maybe this was a sign. Maybe she could take that next step with Scott. She just had to bide her time and wait for the right moment.

‘Hmm…trouble in paradise? Perhaps I can use this. I always thought Scott was too good for her. Maybe this will prove it.’

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

Up next: Tensions among pawns grow and the new pawns get acquainted.