New Blood III: Triumph of Darkness

New Blood
Chapter 13: Regrouping and Recovering

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Xavier Mansion – 30 Years Ago

“Kurt…please, he’s just a child! Don’t do this!”

“Stay out of this, Sharon! This is between me and your boy! If you take another step so help me I’ll…”

These powerful words of anger echoed through the vast halls of the Xavier mansion. Young Charles Xavier sat cowering in a closet, the angry footsteps of his step-father, Kurt Marko, drawing ever closer. His heard pounded in his chest as he hugged his knees. He closed his eyes, hoping that this was just a bad dream. It’s what he always hoped. Maybe everything up until this point was a bad dream. Ever since his father, Brian Xavier, died and his mother re-married a man named Kurt Marko, his whole life had been a nightmare.

At first he thought it was a good thing. But then he started noticing a change in her. She began drinking more wine and she grew more distant. She also frequently had strange marks show up on her face and arms, as if someone had been hitting her. She often tried to conceal them, but he knew they were there. Then he started to get to know his step-father and he found out first hand where some of those marks came from. Whenever he stepped out of line, his step-father wouldn’t hesitate to hit him. Sometimes he would hit him so hard he would bleed. His mother tried to stop it, but she never could. Kurt Marko was too strong and they were both too weak.

But no matter how much he wished it was all a dream, the cold hard reality set in. His step-father was a angry, greedy monster. It was only lately he found out just how much a monster he was. Over the past few years he noticed that he had an ability nobody else did. He could hear what other people were thinking and he could subtly influence their actions. At first it was scary, but he had learned to control it for the most part. But he couldn’t control it enough sometimes and it got him into trouble.

Upon hearing his step-father’s footsteps, he cowered. He knew he was going to beat him. It was all because of a fight he got into with his step-brother, Cain Marko. He didn’t mean for it to happen. Cain had been teasing him like he always did. Then punched him and Charles couldn’t control his anger. He tried to strike back, but he was too weak. Cain only beat him more. He beat him up until something inside him went off and the next thing he knew, he was using his mind to attack Cain. It put him into a world a pain, so much so that his screams were heard all over the mansion. That’s how his father found out and that was why he was in such big trouble.

“Come on out of there you little shit! I know you’re in there!” yelled Kurt Marko as he banged his fists against the closet door.

Charles didn’t do anything. He didn’t even breathe. He stayed as quiet as possible, hoping that it would all just go away. But it only got worse.

“CHARLES! I’M THROUGH PLAYING GAMES! EITHER YOU GET OUT OF THAT CLOSET OR I’LL BREAK IT DOWN AND USE IT TO BEAT YOU SENSELESS!”

Charles trembled with fear, already bracing himself for the wrath he was about to face. But before his step-father could make good on his threats, he heard the voice of his mother step in.

“Kurt stop! Stop this right now!” she said, now standing between him and the door, “I will not let you threaten my son like that!”

“Get out of my way, Sharon! I’m warning you!” threatened Kurt, “That boy of yours hurt my Cain!”

“I know he did, but please…let’s not solve this with any more violence,” she pleaded, “Let’s just be reasonable and…”

That’s when Charles heard it. It was the most sickening sound he ever heard in his life. It was a hard, forceful slap. He couldn’t see it, but he could picture it perfectly. The large, imposing fist of his step-father made contact with the face of his mother. Then her body hit the floor with a hard thud. He could hear his mother sobbing. He could even sense her pain with his mind. He was so scared his telepathy was starting to act up again, just as it did when Cain was beating him up. And this time it was even worse.

“Mom…” Charles said to himself.

Outside, Kurt Marko continued his angry rage.

“Damn Sharon, I warned you!” he bellowed, “You are NOT to stand in my way like that! Ever! I am your husband and this is my son we’re talking about! Cain, who your son may have brain damaged for all I know, just because he’s a freak! A freak who needs to be taught a lesson! And if you won’t do it then I will!”

“Kurt…please,” Sharon Xavier cried.

“You’re both weak!” he went on as he loomed over her, “You’re weak and I’m strong! And you will not defy me, understand? And if you keep defending that little punk of yours, then maybe I need to teach you a lesson too!”

When Charles heard that he could no longer stay hidden like this. His step-father was going to hit his mother again and this time it was going to be even worse. He knew it. A part of him just wanted to stay in this closet and shut it all out. But another part of him longed to break out and fight back. He was torn, driven by anger and fear. It tore at him from within and his head throbbed the longer he waited. Something inside him was trying to get out. He fought it as best he could. Then in a fateful moment, Charles Xavier made a decision.

Kurt Marko rose his hand up and prepared to strike Sharon Xavier as hard as he could. But before he was able to, the closet door shot open and young Charles Xavier came rushing out.

“STOP!!!” he yelled at the top of his lungs.

Then using the same psychic power he used to accidently attack Cain, he unleashed an attack onto the mind of his hated step-father. Only this time it was no accident.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Kurt Marko exclaimed.

His face contorted in a twisted display of pain and suffering. The attack was intense, focused, and very powerful. Charles Xavier’s young mind could not comprehend the kind of damage he was inflicting upon this man. He was ripping at every part of his mind, demolishing it and everything that held it together. For a good ten seconds the powerful, imposing man who could beat him and his mother so easily, screamed in agony. At one point blood started seeping out of his ears and nose. Then in an instant, he went silent. His eyes rolled into the back of his head and he fell limply to the floor.

It was over now. Everything was quiet. There was no more fear, yelling, or anger. There was just Charles Xavier standing over the body of his step-father while his mother, still reeling from the blow she took earlier, slowly got up and took in what just happened. For young Charles it was a traumatic moment. He wasn’t sure if he killed his step-father. He didn’t meant to, but he was so full of anger and hate that he couldn’t help it. Now he was scared again. But before he could crawl back into the closet and cower, his mother came over to him and took him in her loving arms.

“I…I…I don’t know what happened,” he sobbed, “I…I didn’t meant to…to…”

But Sharon Xavier just hugged him tighter and lovingly kissed his forehead.

“It’s okay, Charles sweetie. It’s okay.”

“But I…I might have killed him! My powers they…”

But Sharon didn’t let him finish. She carefully caressed his young face and looked him in the eye with love and intent.

“You did the right thing, Charles. You stopped him from hurting either of us.”

“But…”

“Don’t worry about it, sweetie. Don’t worry…mommy’s here. Mommy will take care of this. Just remember that you did the right thing. It may seem wrong now, but trust me…it was right. You did the right thing.”

Those words kept echoing in young Charles Xavier’s mind as he hugged his mother tightly and sobbed. Only this time, they weren’t sobs of weakness. They were sobs of relief. He saved his mother from being beaten. He saved himself from being beaten. Now Kurt Marko would never beat them again. He would never hurt anyone again. What he did was so wrong in some ways, but it was so right and others. But to him and his mother, it was right. To everybody else this man hurt, it was right.

All his life he had been weak, unable to stop his step-father or step-brother from beating him. He held back from using his powers and he wouldn’t fight back when someone pushed him. But from that moment on Charles Xavier made a solemn promise to himself and to his mother. He would never allow himself to be that weak again. From this day forward, he would be strong. He would fight back. Never again would he give into fear. Charles Xavier would now walk a new path in life. And there was no turning back.

Hellfire Jet – Present Day

“Charles? Charles, are you awake?”

“Hnn…what?” grumbled a tired Charles Xavier.

The Black King awoke to find himself sitting in the cockpit of the Hellfire jet. Next to him was Moria, who was flying the plane. She looked worried. She always had a talent for sensing when something was wrong with him. And it wasn’t the first time she woke him up from such a dream.

“Are ye okay, Charles?” she asked him, “You were mumbling in your sleep.”

“It was nothing,” he assured her, “Just a dream, that’s all. Where are we?”

“We just passed over the Dominican Republic,” she said, “We should be there in about a half hour.”

“Just out of curiosity, where exactly is we headin’ to?” asked Remy, who was sitting behind Xavier and Moria in the cockpit.

“Someplace secluded and completely off the grid from Selene and the rest of the world for that matter,” Xavier answered, “It’s a small island I purchased years ago for just such an occasion. I made sure there are no maps, records, or even images of it.”

“Sounds like a nice getaway,” said the Cajun.

“It’s no vacation, I assure you,” said Xavier in a serious tone, “We are only going there to rest and regroup. I’m not so naïve to think that Selene didn’t survive that explosion. I’m certain she did. And if she’s still out there we must find her and take her down.”

“But how? With the manor gone where will she go? And what will she do?” asked Ororo, who was sitting next to Remy.

“I don’t know, but we must not stop until she is punished for her crimes. Black Queen or not, nobody escapes justice from the Hellfire Club.”

His words were stern and strong. Charles Xavier was a reasonable man for the most part, but when people crossed him he showed no mercy. Ororo knew that better than most people and so did Remy. But they also understood that Selene was a special case. She would not go down easily and making her answer to her crimes posed a very unique set of daunting challenges.

But it was too late to think about that now. Everybody was too tired and many were still scarred from what Selene and her minions did to them. The women were still distant, still feeling that sick sense of violation from being raped so many times. The men were also bitter at the humiliation and pain inflicted on them by Selene and her female minions. But aside from the lingering scars of the ordeal, there was also a sense of loss.

One of the hardest issues they had faced since their escape was the revelation that Sage sacrificed herself to help them escape. Xavier spoke solemnly when he said this and nobody knew what to say. Sage had always been a bit of a loner, but she was someone they all respected and admired. She always stayed strong and composed in the face of a challenge. She wasn’t the most social person in the world, but she could always be counted on to say the right thing. And for some who were even closer to her, like James Poundstar, it was especially difficult.

“Damn it Sage…why did you have to do it?” said the Apache warrior as he gazed out the window.

“She’s not going to answer, you know,” said Deadpool, who was peering over the seat in front of him, “Believe me, I’ve tried. She’ll never answer another booty call again.”

“Was I talking to you?” said Warpath angrily.

“Is that a trick question because I saw how ugly it got in that movie, Pulp Fiction? You ever see that flick?”

Normally Warpath would have yelled at the mouthy merc for that remark, but he was too tired, sore, and distraught to care. And that caught Wade off guard.

“Hey, aren’t you gonna yell at me or something? Usually by now you’re grabbing me by the throat and choking me until I say uncle!”

“Sorry, but I’m not in the mood,” he muttered, “You see, where I come from, when someone dies in battle it’s supposed to be this big, noble affair that’s to be celebrated and not mourned. But whenever it happens to the people I’m close to it’s never worth celebrating.”

“Must have some pretty bad karma going for you,” commented Wade, “Maybe you accidently ran over a cow with truck in your past life?”

“It’s not karma. It’s just bad luck. First my brother dies needlessly and now Sage dies because Selene betrayed us all…it’s just wrong. It’s all wrong. You can’t understand that because you’re a nutcase, but to me she wasn’t just a beautiful woman you could crack jokes about. She was my friend.”

Deadpool didn’t make a comment at first. As messed up as he was, he did have a sense of connection with people. And Sage was one of them. She was the only one who could really stand his jokes and not get too upset about it. She was also great in bed too. But beyond that, she was more than just a computer genius who looked great in a thong. Even to him she was special.

“Hey, I feel you Chief,” he said, giving Warpath a friendly punch in the shoulder, “I’ll miss her too. That babe was one of a kind. And I know I’m a few chips shy of a motherboard, but even I know gal’s like Sage are a special breed. I’ll miss her as much as you.”

“I sincerely doubt that,” said the Apache warrior.

“Doubt all you want, but it’s true. I liked that girl. This place won’t be the same without her. She always had a way about herself. I’ll miss how she could turn me on and confuse the hell out of me at the same time.”

James looked at the offbeat mercenary who got on so many people’s nerves strangely. Then for the first time for either one of them, he actually laughed at his remark. He wasn’t sure why, but it felt appropriate. He and Sage didn’t start out well. For a long time he resented her for working for SHIELD, the organization that killed his brother. But he came to see she was more than what she did in the past. It was going to be hard going on without her. But he was going to make sure that Sage’s sacrifice wasn’t in vain.

James and Deadpool weren’t the only ones mourning the loss of somebody close to them. Rahne hadn’t said a word since she got on the plain. The memory of Hank holding her hand and saying goodbye to her still hung strong. She couldn’t believe he resorted to such extremes for her. He completely warped his body and mind just so he could be strong enough to save her. It showed to her just how much he cared for her. It was strange in a ways because he never seemed to care for anybody. Learning from Sinister left him a cold, desolate man. But she seemed to reach him and he reached her. And losing him was difficult to handle.

“Rahne? Rahne, you still with us?” asked Sam, who was sitting next to her, “You haven’t said a word since we took off?”

“Sorry, I just don’t feel like talking,” she said in a low tone.

Sam was silent for a moment. Then he remembered how she stayed behind to go after Hank when nobody else seemed to give it a second thought.

“Is it about Hank?” he asked her.

Rahne held back a sob as her expression remained stern and distant.

“You wouldn’t understand,” she said bitterly, “Nobody here understands. To you, Hank was nothing but a creepy recluse who hung around Sinister too much. To you, he was just a doctor, a surgeon, and the occasional butt of a joke. But to me he was a lot more than that. He gave me something I couldn’t get anywhere else from anyone else.”

“And what was that?” asked Sam curiously.

“Perspective,” she answered, “He taught me to look at my powers in a different way. You’ll never understand this because they never went haywire on you like mine did. And for a while I thought I was going crazy because of it. But Hank kept me grounded. He taught me to embrace what I was after I spent a lifetime just trying to suppress it. He really helped me and now he’s gone.”

Rahne swallowed another sob. Sam didn’t say a word because in reality he really didn’t understand. His powers were not like hers. He had no idea what it was like to have an animal inside wrestling with his human side. He remembered how distant Rahne was at first when she arrived, but he saw how well she adapted. He had no idea Hank was such a big part of it and losing him like this must have been really devastating.

But even if he couldn’t understand, he did his best to console her. He reached over and took her hand and gave it a squeeze. It wasn’t the most comforting gesture, but it gave her something to hang onto.

“Ah’m sorry,” he told her.

“Don’t be,” she told him in a low tone, “I’ll have plenty of time to work out my grief when I start clawing at Selene. Hank sacrificed himself so I could live. And I won’t let his sacrifice be in vain.”

Rahne was resolute. She was saddened by Hank’s death, but her anger outweighed her sorrow. He cared for her enough to break rank from Sinister and save her. The least she could do was finish the job. Hopefully she and the rest of her fellow pawns would have their chance soon.

But Rahne wasn’t the only one with vengeance on her mind. While her loss was painful and emotional, others were dealing with losses of a different kind. Pietro and Julian had been tortured like all the others, but unlike the others Selene took it a step further. She didn’t just torture them physically, she tortured them emotionally by taking something away from them. Or more accurately, they took someone from them.

Pietro had already dealt with it before. Selene corrupted Wanda long ago. For years they grew more distant with Wanda become more dark and reserved. Then Lorna came along and he had a second chance. And for the most part, he made good on it. He and Lorna got close. He came to see her as a real sister who he could relate to. But then Selene took her away from him, using Alex of all people to bring her under her spell. Now she was under her control. He could care less about what she did to Wanda and his father, but he wasn’t about to make the same mistake with Lorna.

Julian suffered the same pain from what they did to Laura. Ever since he joined, Laura had been special to him. She was so different from the other girls. She carried herself in a way that intimidated most men, but intrigued him. And lately he thought they were getting closer than that. He was even considering that maybe they could be more than just friends and frequent lovers. But then Selene had to use her for her own sick means. The image of her ordering Laura around as if she were a machine filled him with great rage. But he wasn’t going to let it stand. He was going to save her.

“Hey Pietro, can I ask you something?” said Julian who was sitting next to him near the back of the plane.

“What is it?” he said flatly as he gazed bitterly out the window.

“It’s…about Wanda. I know it’s a sore subject for you and all, but I have to know…did you ever try and break her free from Selene’s control?”

Pietro turned to the young mutant and stared at him with a bitter look.

“Kid, I didn’t even know how far Selene’s control over her was until just recently.”

“But you still knew, right?”

“Of course I knew!” the speedster exclaimed, “But I didn’t think it was this bad! Every time I talked to Wanda about it she would put on this sincere look and tell me it wasn’t as bad as I thought! I know it sounds stupid now, but I believed her! Or maybe I just wanted to believe her, but still!”

Julian was silent for a moment. He had a feeling he would evoke a response like this by mentioning Wanda, but he had no idea it would be this bad. He probably should have expected as such.

“I’m just asking because I want to know if it’s possible to break Laura free from her control.”

Pietro took some deep breaths to calm himself down. He remembered that Julian was in a similar situation. Someone he cared about was under Selene’s control as well. For that, he tried not to take his frustration out on him.

“I wish I could tell you it is, but I honestly don’t know,” he said in a calmer tone, “I’m hoping there is. But in my experience the longer Selene controls someone the harder they are to break from that control.”

“But Laura and Lorna haven’t been under her control for very long. Does that mean there’s still a chance?” asked Julian.

“I told you. I don’t know,” he said bitterly, “We can only hope they’re strong enough to resist before Selene totally breaks them.”

“Well that isn’t a problem with Laura. She’s plenty strong enough. Believe me I know,” said Julian confidently.

“Even so, we all saw what Selene’s capable of. All the strength in the world may not be enough to resist her. We just have to hope we can get to them soon. Because the longer they’re with her the harder it’s going to be.”

It didn’t sound too promising. Pietro had been down this road before with Wanda and while the situation may be different, the factors were the same. Selene was the one pulling the strings. She was the one they had to overcome if they were to get Laura and Lorna back. It wasn’t going to be easy. They both experienced first hand how her control over people could change them. But they both refused to let her get away with this one.

“I’m not going to give up on her,” said Julian intently.

“Neither will I,” said Pietro.

Julian and Pietro fell silent as they continued to muse over their loved ones. The idea of Laura and Lorna being under Selene’s control was too difficult to bear. They just had to hope their love for them was enough to overcome Selene’s unlimited capacity for darkness.

For others, love was the only thing keeping them going after such a painful and traumatic ordeal. Some still hadn’t recovered from the beating, the torture, and the rape Selene had inflicted. For Kitty Pryde it was especially difficult. Ever since she joined the Hellfire Club she worked tirelessly to get stronger so she wouldn’t be the victim anymore. She wanted to be every bit as tough as Logan or Warpath or Piotr despite her size and stature. And she thought she made progress until Selene brought her back down to the role of victim. It was a cold, dark feeling, being raped and humiliated as if she were a toy for Selene’s minions. She tried to be strong, but she couldn’t stop it from affecting her.

Piotr, who was sitting next to her, his arms protectively around her the whole time, sensed this. He had been with Kitty since she arrived. He always felt she had a special strength to her. That strength had been brought out and expanded by the Hellfire Club. Then Selene crushed it. It was hard for him too given the humiliation he endured, but he had the strength of his powers to fall back on. Kitty didn’t have that and it was difficult for her.

“Are you going to be okay, Katya?” he asked her.

“I don’t know,” she sighed, “All those things Selene and her men did to me…all the pain, rape, and humiliation…it still hurts.”

“I know. It hurts all of us,” he said, holding her closer, “We were all victims.”

“But you all fought back. I couldn’t,” she said, holding back a sob, “I didn’t have strength, or firepower, or brain power to just go up and take my anger out on her. I had to stay back and play the role of the defenseless pretty girl. That was a role I swore I would never play again and yet here I am.”

She clung to him harder, trying not to cry but she couldn’t help it. Piotr hated seeing her like this so he just kept holding her. He fought back a sob of his own, but he had to be strong for her.

“You’re still as strong as you were before, Katya,” he told her, “You wouldn’t still be here if you weren’t.”

“But I’m still not strong enough!” she lamented, “I want to get back at that bitch just as much as everybody else! But even if we had the chance, how can I hope to match up? I’m just…”

But Piotr stopped her before she could go any further.

“You’re tired, sore, and distraught. Even the strongest are prone to our limits. But that’s exactly what sets us apart from the likes of Selene.”

He then took her hand in his and held it closely.

“Katya, you’re the strongest person I know. You’re angry like the rest of us. But you can’t let that anger lead you to despair. Instead, let that anger be your focus. We will make Selene pay. And you will show her your true strength. You just can’t give in.”

His grip on her was comforting. It had always been a source of her strength since her arrival. And now more than ever she drew from it. Kitty Pryde had crossed many lines since she joined the Hellfire Club, but this was one she refused to cross. Giving into despair was the same as giving into Selene. And she refused to let that happen.

“I won’t,” she said in a stronger tone, “It’s just hard, you know?”

“I understand,” said Piotr, managing a smile, “But I’ll help you if you help me.”

“Isn’t that how it always works with us?” said Kitty, smiling back.

“It is. So why should it change for grave situations like this?”

“It shouldn’t,” she said.

Then in a show of renewed strength, Kitty leaned in and kissed Piotr on the cheek. It was a simple gesture, not full of the unrestrained passion they were all so used to. But it carried with it all the meaning that mattered for dark times like this. They shared another warm smile and clung to each other, drawing strength as they so often had. Selene took a lot from them and would have taken a lot more had they not be rescued. But the one thing she didn’t take was the bond they shared. And once they recovered from this maybe they could finally open up about it.

And they weren’t the only ones with an unspoken bond that they drew strength from. In the back of the plain where there were first aid kits and medical supplies, Logan and Rogue were tending to Mystique’s wounds. Logan was doing most of the tending, having been in battle many times before and dealt with any number of wounds. Rogue was there for emotional support. Both she and her mother were reeling, having suffered at the hands of Selene. But that didn’t affect them nearly as much as what happened with Kurt. Even after all the attempts they made to get through to him, he gave into the darkness. He didn’t show an ounce of emotion even as he helped torment them. Even for Mystique, who prided herself on concealing her emotions, couldn’t escape the pain she felt. It was even worse than her stab wound.

“Lay still, mama. He’s almost done,” said Rogue as she hovered over her.

“Whatever,” she said indifferently, “I’ve had worse wounds than this.”

“Ah’m sure ya have, but even shape shifters need to get stitched up after a mess like the one we just got out of.”

“You call that shit a mess?” grunted Logan as he cleaned the wound, “More like a certified, out of control, over the top clusterfuck if you ask me.”

“Hey, watch the choice of words, Logan! It’s too soon to start makin’ snide remarks like that!” scorned Rogue.

“It wasn’t a remark,” muttered Logan, “It’s just the cold hard truth.”

“Damn it, Logan! Don’t make meh slap you at full strength!”

“Take it easy, Rogue. Let’s not start another fight,” said Mystique in a flat tone, “We’re all messed up from this. No need to make it worse.”

Rogue fell silent, but still shot Logan a dirty look. She and her mother had just been raped and tortured, sometimes at the hands of her own foster brother, and she wasn’t taking it lightly. She still felt sore, violated, and bitter. She had so much anger boiling inside her she just wanted to rip into anything that remotely set her off. But looking down at her mother, who remained collected since the escape, she held back.

For Mystique it was equally difficult, suffering at the hands of Selene and her own son. Being assaulted and raped by her ex wasn’t pleasant either. But as bitter and angry as she was, she hid it behind her usual veil of deception. She felt like a failure as a mother by letting her son get pulled into Selene’s influence. But at the same time she felt as though there was something off about Kurt as he participated in Selene’s torture. Unlike the rest of her minions, he didn’t seem to enjoy it and he didn’t taunt others as he did it. He seemed lost in his own world, as if his mind was somewhere else. Maybe Selene didn’t have complete control over him. It may have been wishful thinking on her part, but her maternal instincts were strong on this matter. And she still remembered what Kurt told her every time they talked about this. He said he had faith they would stop him when they had to. She didn’t do it this time, but she would have another chance.

“Okay Raven, I’m done,” said Logan as he put the first aid kit away, “A few days and your healing should do the rest. It might still leave a scar though.”

“Good. It’ll remind me to be extra violent when I get my hands on Selene,” she said angrily, “I’ll make sure she suffers for manipulating my son!”

“It’s a little late for that, mama,” said Rogue in a morose tone, “Ah think Kurt’s fallen too far at this point. Takin’ out Selene ain’t gonna change what he’s become.”

“I’m not so sure about that, Rogue,” said the shape shifter, “Call me an optimist, but I don’t think we’ve completely lost Kurt. He may be with Selene, but I don’t think her hold on him is as strong as it looks.”

“You sure that ain’t the pain killers talking?” said Rogue.

“Call it parental instinct or wishful thinking, but I refuse to believe I’ve lost my son completely,” said Mystique, “I raised him to be stronger than that. He may not be able to break Selene’s grip, but he will resist. I know he will. And we still have a promise to keep for him. You made it too so don’t forget it.”

Rogue fell silent, remembering vividly the promise her mother was referring to. She had been there with her when she made it to Kurt, swearing to him that they would stop him when the time came. He trusted them to do so even though he knew he had already fallen too far. She still resented him for what he did to her, but he was still her brother. She wasn’t about to break his trust now.

“Fahne,” she sighed, “Ah won’t forget.”

Rogue then got up and sat down in a nearby seat, leaving Logan to help Mystique up. But as he did she felt his eyes on him. She knew there was an issue they hadn’t talked about yet, one that was fairly pressing considering how close they had been getting lately. Mystique hoped to avoid it completely, but after what happened that was no longer possible. She half expected Logan to yell at her in disgust for hooking up with his arch enemy, but he did no such thing. He just kept staring at her with that penetrating look of his that always seemed to affect her so much.

“So…you and Sabretooth, huh?” he said in a gruff tone.

“Yeah, I know,” sighed Mystique.

“So it was true. You two did have a fling.”

“For a while, yes. But it was nothing. He was more into it than I ever was. And as you probably surmised by now, he still clings to it.”

Logan’s expression contorted with anger. That thought of her and Sabretooth together made him want to wretch. He could tell it was a difficult subject for Raven. And he could also tell there were details to it she hadn’t revealed.

“Look, I know you probably hate me for it, but I’d rather not talk about it now,” said the shape shifter, “I’ve got enough on my mind so why don’t you go coddle Jean or something.”

Then to her surprise, Logan took her hand and helped her up into a seat. Then she saw his anger wane a bit as he stayed close to her.

“I don’t hate you, Raven,” he said, “I just…need some time to digest this shit. We all do. And if it’s all the same to you I’d like to stick around. You should know by now you can’t get rid of me that easily.”

As bitter and distraught as Mystique was, she still managed a smile. She then found herself leaning into his burly warmth, resting her sore shoulder and letting her distressed mind ease. Logan always had a strange effect on her. Even after all this she still couldn’t understand it. But she liked it and it meant more to her now than ever. And she could tell it meant something to Logan as well. He wouldn’t be staying if it didn’t. Maybe they did have something special after all.

“Thank you, Logan,” she said to him.

“Anytime darlin’.”

While Logan and Mystique settled in, Scott and Jean were doing the same as they sat together near the front of the plane. Since they got on board, Jean was out of it. She was so tired from the torture and the exertion she put on herself while using her Phoenix powers she almost passed out. But Scott was there, remaining by her side and supporting her as he always had.

Scott still couldn’t believe how much power she wielded when she tapped the Phoenix. He always knew she had a special aura to her. Lately as he watched her practice her magic and spells, he picked up on it. But he had no idea she was capable of so much power. But it was that power that saved them all. She was the one that broke Selene’s spell. She was the one that actually beat her back so they could escape. It all seemed to come together as she struggled and endured the rape and torment Selene inflicted on them. He was still sickened by it, especially some of the things Alex did. But for now he just clung to his lover.

“Mmm…Scott?” she said in a tired tone.

“Yes Jean?” he asked softly.

“All that power I wielded…it was just like the dream I had when I was little,” she mused, “Only this felt like so much more. I was tapping into a power nobody had tapped in ages. It was…overwhelming. But after everything Selene put me through I just couldn’t hold back.”

“Yeah, I know. And I don’t blame you,” he said in a soft tone, “But I think that shows that maybe this power was meant for you. And because of it you saved us.”

Jean looked up at him with her tired eyes and smiled warmly.

“If only I could have tapped it sooner. Maybe I could have stopped Selene. It was just so intense I could barely keep it together.”

“Try not to think of it that way,” he said to her, “What’s done is done. Just focus on using this new power to overcome the challenges ahead. We are going to have to face Selene again. You know that as well as anybody. When that time comes we’ll all be ready and so will you. And with this power I’m sure you’ll give Selene hell.”

His words were comforting and earned him a warm smile. And even though she was very tired, she was able to lean in and give him a soft kiss. Scott Summers had been there for her since the beginning. They came of age together in the Hellfire Club and shared a bond unlike any other. He was the one who first help her unlock her mystical potential. And in a ways he was the one that helped her tap the power of the Phoenix. Even through Selene’s torture, their love remained a source of strength and they would need that strength when the time came to face her again.

“I love you,” she told him softly.

“I love you too.”

As Jean rested on Scott’s shoulder, Emma Frost watched with mixed emotions from across the isle. She hadn’t made eye contact with Scott and Jean since she got on. They hadn’t made eye contact with her either. And she couldn’t blame them. She really had screwed up on this one. She let her anger and resentment cloud her judgment and she ended up helping Selene in the process. She was no different than the other pawns she used only she didn’t have to use magic to force her. Emma Frost was never one for guilt, but this was hard to avoid.

Even though Scott’s rejection hurt, it was nothing compared to this. Everyone was looking at her as if she were a traitor. Even Charles Xavier, who knew the full story, looked at her with disapproval. And for all the pain she endured, one thing still hung out. She still felt a special connection with Scott Summers. Even if it wasn’t the love she wanted, he had been the only real friend she had that she could relate to. And now she may have lost him forever. She didn’t care if everybody else hated her, but she didn’t want to lose Scott.

‘I know you’re watching me, Emma. I can feel your eyes on me.’

Emma shifted uncomfortably. She hoped to avoid this, but Scott knew too her well. And she couldn’t avoid him forever.

‘Sorry if I’m ruining your little moment. But we do need to talk about this sooner or later.’

‘What’s there to talk about? You betrayed us all and for what? Because I rejected you for trying to mind fuck me?’

‘You don’t need to remind me of what happened, darling. I was there too. But I was angry and heartbroken. I was so intent on making you and Jean pay for the pain you caused me I didn’t stop and think about what I was doing.’

‘Obviously you didn’t. But you sure did make me and Jean suffer. So I guess you succeeded.’

His snide, cynical tone was clear even in his thoughts. But Emma kept her composure.

‘Scott, you know me better than that. You know me better than almost anyone. So will you please just try and look past your obvious anger for a moment and listen to me when I say I never meant for this to happen. You know I would never willingly help Selene. I hate that woman as much as you do.’

‘But not enough to betray everybody like this?’

‘Damn it, Scott! I told you I didn’t know! I swear on everything holy that I had no idea what was going to happen! I know you and Jean hate me now, but you were still my friend at one point! You still know me well enough to understand when I’m telling the truth! So please stop adding to it by making me feel worse!’

Emma fell silent as a wave of remorse come over her. And for the first time in a long time she actually felt tears in her eyes. She hated crying because it made her feel weak. But for a moment like this where she was begging for the forgiveness of the only person who ever reached out to her, she let them flow.

‘I know I screwed up. And I know I’ll be punished for it later. I’m willing to take whatever comes my way. But please Scott, you’re one of the few people in my life I’ve ever been able to relate to. I don’t care if you never forgive me, but at least believe me when I say that I am truly, honestly, and unequivocally sorry.’

Scott didn’t respond to that. He just looked over at her, making eye contact for the first time. He noticed traces of tears in her eyes, which for Emma was very rare. As much as he wanted to hate her for what she did, he couldn’t escape the genuine regret he saw in her eyes. And he also couldn’t escape that this woman had once been a friend. It was too early to work this out now. But he wasn’t going to push her away.

‘I believe you, Emma. But don’t think that’s all there is to it. We’ll talk about this more later.’

It wasn’t the most sincere response, but it was the best she could have hoped for under the circumstances. Her eyes now locked on Scott, she nodded and wiped away some of her tears. Then she turned back to the window, leaving Scott and Jean alone for now. She still had a long way to go if she was to ever make up for what she did. And there was little doubt she would suffer consequences for betraying the Hellfire Club. But she would take them as they came. For now all she could do was not make it worse and hope that for all her misdeeds, she might still be able to redeem herself.

In the seats just in front of Emma some of the other pawns were too restless to just sleep through the ride. Bobby, Jubilee, Sam, and Danielle all sat in a corner together, recounting on the morbid events that had just transpired. For Bobby it was just something to distract himself from the pain he was still in. And for Jubilee it distracted her from the sick feeling she still had in the pit of her stomach as a result of what she endured. But beyond the difficulty of coping with this, there was also a sense of relief and curiosity over Danielle, who they all thought was dead.

“So that fight we saw back at the pier where you and Sage were killed was all an illusion?” Jubilee surmised.

“Yes,” said Danielle, “It was actually an illusion from before it even began.”

“Really? So you really weren’t there at all?” said Bobby, finding it hard to wrap his head around.

“Nope, I was already in a secure location with Lord Xavier, creating all the illusions I had to create so that Selene and her minions would think we were dead. It was all part of an elaborate backup plan he put together in case he wasn’t able to contain Selene.”

“Well I think it’s safe to say it worked,” said Bobby.

“I guess so,” said Danielle, “I just wished it didn’t come to this.”

“Yeah…tell me about it,” said Jubilee, still feeling a bit sick from it all.

It was a remarkable ploy. Danielle created illusions so real they didn’t even know they were in their midst. They had powerful telepaths working with them too like Emma and Jean and even they didn’t notice. Most impressive of all, it totally fooled Selene. And that’s why they were still alive and not being mutilated at this moment.

“So I guess that means we all owe you big time,” said Bobby, “If not for your illusions we would all have suffered a fate worse than death.”

“Yeah, I’ll bet Lord Xavier will make you queen or something,” said Jubilee.

“Oh he promised to generously reward me,” she said with a smile, “But it wasn’t all me. If he hadn’t given me some special training I never would have been able to create illusions like that. It took a lot of work to create a ruse this elaborate. I can’t even begin to describe how hard it was, but I’d say it’s somewhere between running three marathons back to back while trying to put together a million piece jigsaw puzzle at the same time.”

“Damn,” said Bobby with an impressed look, “Well difficulty aside you really came through for us. And you once thought you had the weakest powers in the Hellfire Club.”

“Like Lord Xavier says, it’s not just about having power. It’s knowing how to use it,” said Danielle with a confident grin.

Bobby and Jubilee smiled back, but it was only a halfhearted smile. They were happy for Danielle. They remembered how uncertain she had been early on. She always worried she wasn’t powerful enough, but after this she proved beyond all doubt she had power worthy of the Inner Circle. But at the same time that power hadn’t been enough to prevent Selene from making them suffer. The wounds they felt, both physically and emotionally, still lingered. Danielle saw it in their eyes and she couldn’t understand because she didn’t have to go through it. It left her feeling a little distant from her friends.

“Look, I know it probably doesn’t mean much now, but I’m sorry you had to go through all that,” she said, “I can’t imagine how terrible it must have been.”

“Don’t be sorry, Danielle. It’s not your fault,” said Bobby in a low tone, “It’s all because of Selene. She was the one who tortured us.”

“And she worked us over good. She raped us, abused us, and just plain toyed with us while enjoying every minute of it,” said Jubilee, still sounding sick, “I’ve never felt so dirty and desecrated my whole life. And I used to be a runaway.”

“Try not to think too much about it, Jubes. It’s over now,” said Danielle, trying to support her fellow pawn.

“That’s just it, Danielle. We can’t stop thinking about it,” said Bobby in a bitter tone, “What she did to us wasn’t just about cruelty or domination or anything we’ve ever learned. She just wanted to see us suffer before she killed us. And even if we do make her pay for what she did, it doesn’t erase what happened. It’s going to linger with us for a long time.”

Danielle fell silent. In many ways she was the lucky one. She would be spared the memories of torment and abuse while Bobby, Jubilee, and the others would have to live with it for the rest of their lives. They had done many morally questionable things since they joined the Hellfire Club, but what Selene did to them crossed even those lines. They were all damaged and distraught by it. And it would continue to linger for a good long while.

Up in the cockpit, Charles Xavier picked up on this and the many other conversations and thoughts that the others were having. He sensed in all of them a burning anger for Selene and a powerful desire to make her suffer for her crimes. But at the same time he also sensed the effects of trauma and violation. It left them all scarred in many ways. Their spirits had been weakened and so had their resolve. Now they might not be so ready to resort to such extremes when it was necessary. And he couldn’t have that in his pawns.

“Take us down, Moria. I’ll be right back,” said the Black King as he got out of his seat.

“Why? Is something wrong, Charles?” she asked.

“No, I just have to take care of something.”

Once out of his seat he walked into main area of the plane where everyone was sitting. His presence drew everyone’s attention and those that had nodded off quickly woke up. The Black King had a serious and stern expression on his face, which was not unusual for him but in this situation it carried a different meaning.

“Before we land, there’s something I have to say to you all,” he began, “I know many of you are tired, restless, angry, and some of you may even be in significant pain. But I need you all to focus on me for a minute. Before we go any further, you have to hear this.”

All eyes were on Xavier now as they watched him walk up and down the aisles, looking his young pawns in the eye.

“I am not going to stand here and tell you I understand what you’re going through. I don’t. I’m not going to fane compassion and let you all cry on my shoulder. You should all know by now that compassion for me is limited. But I don’t want to see any tears to begin with and I don’t want to see any self-loathing or doubt. Selene raped, tortured, and brutalized you. And as insensitive as this may sound, you need to get over it. You are stronger than that. You’re all still products of the Inner Circle. If you can’t handle what you’ve done or what’s been done to you then you might as well throw yourselves out of this plane right now because there’s no room in this organization for weakness.”

The faces of the pawns hardened, even among those who were struggling more than others. Xavier looked around, seeing more strength emerge as a result of his words. But he wasn’t done yet.

“For most people, enduring this kind of torture traumatizes them. It makes fills them with fear, uncertainty, and self-doubt. But we’ll have none of that here. What you just endured will not make you weaker. It’s only going to make you stronger. You’re going to take these painful feelings you experienced and you’re going to turn them into focus. And with that focus you’ll not only be able to oppose Selene, but you’ll become stronger. You’ll become more than just pawns. And I know you’ll all do this because this is what true Hellfire resolve is all about. This is what you’ve been trained and conditioned for since day one. Now it’s coming together.”

Many of the pawns exchanged glances. Even with all the pain and suffering that lingered from Selene’s torture, they were reminded of everything else they had done throughout their development at the Hellfire Club. They remembered all the enemies they took down, all the self-indulgence they enjoyed, and all the power they wielded. They remembered how they responded to challenges and carried them out with the resolve that made them so strong. And they weren’t about to let everything they accomplished be tainted by Selene.

Xavier’s stern expression shifted and he smiled at his tired pawns. They were all special in their own right. He saw in them from the beginning the potential to become more than who they were. And the Hellfire Club did a lot to help them develop. They just needed to be reminded of that strength that helped them through this unforgiving organization. They were going to need it if they were stand against Selene and her minions. They were going to strike back at her and make her pay for her crimes. It was only a matter of time.

“Thank you,” he said to all of them, “We’ll be landing shortly at our destination. The island you’re about to land on is a secret island I commissioned for an emergency such as this. It has on it a large estate, complete with medical quarters, food, and sufficient boarding for everybody. Once we land, I want you all to get checked up with Moria in the infirmary. After that please get some rest. You’re going to need it for what’s to come.”

Secret Hanger

Charles Xavier and his pathetic followers left Selene in quite a predicament. They took off in a jet while she and her minions lingered in a building that was set to explode. It was bad enough that man barged in just as she was about to begin tormenting her victims, but then he had to pull a stunt like this. As if her hate for him wasn’t already vast enough, she had even more reason to make him suffer. But that would have to wait.

Like Sebastian Shaw before her, Selene also had a special escape route that only she knew of. It was located not far from her torture chambers. There inside a hallowed out section of wall was a special mystical relic that activated only when she commanded it to. It was a crystal sphere with elaborate symbols shaped inside it. And when activated, this relic cast a special transport spell that encased her and whoever she designated in a bright aura of light. From there they were transported to anywhere within a hundred mile radius.

She managed to cast the transport spell just as the manor exploded. She left many of her elite masked guard behind to perish, but she still had her minions, including the mind controlled Lorna, Magneto, and Laura, and she still had the resources she needed to carry out the next phase of her plan. It was going to be a bit more difficult now that Xavier was involved, but it wasn’t going to stop her, especially not when she was so close.

She along with Wanda, Alex, Tabitha, Kurt, Warren, Betsy, Monet, Magneto, Roberto, Sabretooth, Laura, Lorna appeared in a private hanger located in the Kingpin’s former base of operations. It has since been turned into a hub for X-Industrial, but Selene pulled a few strings to get this area set up for just this occasion.

“Damn, what the hell was that?!” exclaimed Sabretooth, having never experienced magic like that before.

“Oh pick your jaw up off the floor. It’s a simple transport spell,” said Wanda, “I do this sort of thing in my sleep.”

Sabretooth growled at the young woman’s attitude. But unlike the other pawns, he wasn’t nearly as enthused.

“So I take it this means Logan and the other runts are gone,” he growled.

“That seems to be the case,” said Warren calmly, “I doubt they stuck around for the fireworks.”

“But I wasn’t done with them!” exclaimed Sabretooth, “I had Logan in my hands and I was going to rip his flesh off bit by bit! And now you’re telling me he’s gone?! You pricks are worthless! I would have been better off…”

But Selene wasn’t having any more of Sabretooth’s attitude. She turned around, grabbed him by the shirt collar, and with burning rage in her eyes she stared him down.

“Watch your tongue, Sabretooth! I’m just as fed up as you with this! I know you wanted your time with Logan, but Xavier pulled a fast one! He slipped away and so did Logan! Deal with it! And if you want another shot at him you’ll shut up and do exactly as I say!”

“Oh yeah? What makes you think I can’t just walk away and track him down myself?” said Sabretooth, not intimidated even by Selene’s harsh words.

“How about this?”

Selene gripped him harder. Then her eyes started glowing and with seething hatred and burning mystical energy. The next thing Sabretooth knew, his life energy was being drained out of him.

“Auugggghhhhhh!” he roared.

“I’ll say this only one more time, vermin! You either obey me and assist with my plans or I will suck every last drop of life out of you until you’re just a pile of dust! Then see how well you can track your arch nemesis! Is that clear?!”

“Ahhhhhh it’s clear! It’s clear!” exclaimed Sabretooth through the pain.

Then with one last show of strength, the Black Queen casually tossed the feral mutant aside as if he were as light as feather. Sabretooth growled in an angry fury, still reeling from the pain he just suffered. While normally he wouldn’t hesitate to tear into anybody who did something like that to him, this Selene woman was a special case. She was too powerful and even he wasn’t foolish enough to push her further.

“Word of advice, Sabey. Don’t push Mistress Selene,” said Tabitha with a taunting grin, “She doesn’t take kindly to insults.”

“Blow me, bitch,” grumbled Sabretooth as he picked himself up.

Tabitha and some of the others got a good laugh at seeing Sabretooth brought down to size a little. But they all remained serious as they followed their mistress through the hanger.

“Now that we’re clear, let’s move out. We’ll have to proceed quicker than expected,” said the Black Queen.

“But what about all the relics and artifacts we had stored at the manor?” asked Monet.

“I already had most of them shipped out to the location,” answered Selene, “For the others that were destroyed, we’ll have to improvise.”

“How are we going to be able to do that? Xavier will probably restrict our access to Hellfire resources.”

“We’ll make do,” said Selene strongly, “I don’t care for those resources anyways. By the time I’m finished they’ll all be meaningless.”

After passing through a couple doors, Selene and her minions emerged in the main loading area. There a jumbo sized Hellfire jet was waiting for them. All around were the remnants of Selene’s black masked elite guards and team of Hand assassins. They were all swiftly loading supplies and equipment into the plane, carrying crates, bags, and a series of unmarked boxes into the cargo area. Waiting near the entrance to the plane was Mr. Sinister, who had been waiting for a while now. But when he saw Selene he was less than thrilled.

“Selene! Where have you been?” he demanded, “And why am I getting reports of Hellfire Manor exploding?”

“Probably because it did explode,” said Selene bitterly.

“What?! What happened?!”

“What do you think? It was Xavier. Apparently that fool was too stupid to stay dead.”

“Xavier?! But you killed him! You showed me pictures of his dead, decaying body for crying out loud!”

“Lower your voice, Sinister! I’m in no mood for such a tone! I’m still trying to figure it out myself, but somehow Xavier pulled a fast one and he’s still out there along with his pawns!”

Sinister clenched his fists. One of the only reasons he bothered with Selene was because he trusted she could take care of Xavier. Now it seemed as though he had misplaced his trust.

“Where’s Hank? I haven’t been able to get a hold of him and you said you would send somebody to pick him up,” he went on.

Some of Selene’s minions backed off a little. They had a feeling this was going to get ugly.

“You’re little lab assistant is dead,” said Selene sternly.

“WHAT?!” he exclaimed.

“He’s not just dead, that freak turned on us!” said the Black Queen, “Apparently he didn’t follow your instructions to stay in the lab! He barged in hocked up on that goblin gas and wielding pumpkin bombs! He helped Xavier and the others escape and got himself killed in the process!”

Sinister let out an angry grunt and slammed his fists down on the nearest create, breaking it along with some of the contents inside. Hank was the only other person he trusted. And with him gone he now stood alone against Selene and her minions. Even for him that was not a comforting thought.

“Guess he had a soft spot for that big gorilla,” commented Roberto.

“He’ll get over it. That guy was basket case anyways,” said Alex, who casually stood by with Lorna clinging to him in her daze.

But Sinister heard his remarks.

“Shut up you little punk!” he said menacingly, “This is serious! I need Hank!”

“Well you’ll have to mourn him on your own time,” said Selene sternly as she turned towards the plane, “We’ll have to go on without him.”

“Damn it, Selene! This could ruin everything! With Hank dead and Xavier still out there both our agendas are in jeopardy!”

“You think I don’t know that?” spat Selene, her face now inches from his, “That’s why we’re stepping up our time tables! We have to act fast before Xavier can regroup!”

“But my experiments can’t be moved up! They need time, especially without Hank!”

“Then you’ll just have to flexible with us because this isn’t up for negotiation! You still need me and my resources and I’m beginning to run out of uses for you! Either shut up and stick with me or get out of my sight!”

Sinister held back another remark. He disliked this woman from the beginning and now she was only reinforcing his previous concerns. He found himself hopelessly stuck in Selene’s affairs. Just as he had with Xavier, his work was reliant on the resources she could provide. But even Xavier wasn’t this difficult to deal with. He was beginning to wonder whether or not he would have to implement his backup plan sooner rather than later.

“Fine,” he said bitterly, “But I’m warning you Selene, don’t push me!”

“You’re in no position to threaten me, Essex, and you know it! We can either keep doing this or we can get moving! Now where are the children? We need to load them on board now!”

Sinister held back another curse. He didn’t like accommodating this woman and she was wrong about him not being able to threaten her. But he couldn’t let her in on his plans while both their predicaments were so fragile. So he swallowed his anger and led her over towards an area near the back of the plane. There group of Hand assassins dressed in special white outfits fitted for medical work were carefully rolling out a series of mid-sized crates. They were all covered by aircraft tarp to conceal what was inside. Once they were set down near the loading bay Sinister pulled back to the tarp.

When he did Selene’s minions stood aghast at what it revealed. Underneath the tarp were a row of high tech devices that stood no taller than a mailbox and about as wide as a mid-sized TV. There were twelve of them, all lined up in rows of two. On top of them was a glass box-shaped enclosure that protected the fragile contents inside. And those contents that Sinister and Selene were so concerned about were twelve infant babies, each looking no older than a few months.

It was the first time Wanda, Alex, Tabitha, Kurt, Warren, Betsy, Monet, and Roberto saw them. They all understood that Mistress Selene kept certain parts of her plan from them to keep it from being leaked to Xavier. But this was completely unexpected. Magneto, Sabretooth, Laura, and Laura didn’t show much interest but they were all too distant to care let alone react. Wanda also stayed back, remaining close to her mistress. As her protégé she could have no reaction. That was not the case with the others.

“The bloody hell?” said Betsy in a state of shock, “Are these…”

“Whoa, what the hell is this?!” said Tabitha as she stood over the incubator.

“What do they look like, Tabitha? They’re babies,” said Warren as he took in the sight.

“I know that! I meant what is this for? Since when did this plan include babies?”

“Since when does it matter?” said Roberto, who remained indifferent for the most part.

“I say it matters a lot,” said Alex as he turned towards Sinister, “Who are these from anyways?”

“From you, of course,” answered Sinister with a wry grin.

They all froze at such a revelation.

“From us?!” exclaimed Monet.

“You meant to tell us we were privy to a breeding experiment and you didn’t at least drop us a hint?” said Alex angrily.

“And all without leaving a bloody trace?” added Betsy.

“Of course,” said Sinister, “You should all know by now how good I am at covering my tracks.”

“Yeah right,” scoffed Tabitha, “I think I would have remembered having a kid at some point!”

“Yes, even you can’t cover that,” said Monet.

“Watch your tone, Tabitha. You don’t want to wake them,” scorned Selene, “But yes, these children are yours. At least one of them is anyways. They were all created and nurtured from your genetic material. Don’t be too surprised. The way you all hump around here it was easy to come by.”

Everybody was silent for a moment. Revealing that they had been parents and not even known about it came as quite a shock, even for them.

“So…which one is mine?” asked Alex, “And who did I have it with?”

“That you don’t need to know,” said Sinister.

“With all due respect, Sinister! I think we have a right to know!” Warren demanded.

“Don’t raise your tone to me, boy!” Sinister threatened.

Betsy then stepped in, forming a psionic blade and pointing it right at Sinister’s throat.

“Answer the question, Sinister,” she said menacingly, “I gather you’re the bloke behind this.”

“Yeah, only you could manage something this twisted,” said Monet angrily.

But before they could interrogate Sinister any further, Selene stepped in to push Betsy and the others away from Sinister. She didn’t like defending Sinister, but she didn’t need another fight breaking out. In addition she couldn’t afford to give her pawns reasons to have second thoughts.

“All of you, enough of this!” she said in a commanding tone, “Yes, Sinister used you to breed these children and yes he did it without your knowledge or consent. Deal with it! And don’t try to pick your kid out of the batch either because you shouldn’t get too close. These children will serve an important purpose and it has nothing to do with anybody being their parents! Is that clear?”

Nobody dared question or resist the words of their mistress. When Selene said they were to deal with it and let it go, there were no other options. They had to let it go. It was still a lot to take in. They had been parents without knowing it. Even though they had all fallen down the path of darkness, it still struck them. But Selene’s authority and command overrode every other instinct. So they backed off.

“Sorry my mistress,” said Warren with a respectful bow.

“Yes, we were all out of line,” said Tabitha.

Betsy, Alex, Roberto, and Monet followed with a similar gesture. But Selene didn’t have time to chew them out over it.

“Stop graveling. There’s too much work to be done,” she said sternly, “Help Sinister get the children on the plane. We’ve set up a special area for them. We’re leaving soon so hurry it up!”

Alex, Tabitha, Warren, Betsy, Roberto, and Monet all nodded obediently and did as they were told. Selene also ordered Magneto, Lorna, and Laura to help. They were still mindlessly under her spell so they didn’t question what was going on. Sabretooth just found it amusing and even laughed at some of the other pawns, earning him some scolds from the others but he could care less what they thought.

“And they say I run with a strange crowd,” he commented, “You people do this sort of thing every weekend or something?”

“Shut up and help me with these crates,” grumbled Monet.

Sabretooth kept grinning as he went to work. So long as he was stuck with these people he might as well make the best of it. It would all be worth it if he got another shot at Logan.

But while he and the rest of Selene’s minions started working, Kurt lingered a bit longer around the incubators containing the children. He heard Mistress Selene pull Wanda off to the side to discuss something. That gave him some time alone with his thoughts and with this child. He had been silent for the most part through this whole ordeal. He barely spoke during the fight at the pier. He barely spoke when he helped torture and rape the other pawns, including his sister and mother. And he barely spoke when it all turned against them with Xavier’s sudden return. He kept everything inside, locking any kind of resentment, bitterness, or uncertainty away. Unlike the others there was something else within besides the darkness. And when he saw the children it emerged with a vengeance.

Of all the twelve children, only one of them could be clearly identified. That one child was an infant girl with blue skin, yellow eyes, and a small tail. It was a dead giveaway who provided the material for her. And Kurt found himself placing his hand over the glass and gazing upon the sleeping child. Through the darkness that had consumed him another feeling took hold. It was a feeling he didn’t dare show his mistress, but it was very strong and he could not escape it.

“Kurt? Kurt! Did you not hear Mistress Selene’s order?” scorned Wanda, who he had been sticking close to through the whole ordeal.

“Ja…I heard it,” he said in a flat tone.

“Well what are you waiting for? We have to get going! Mistress Selene says so!”

“I know. And ve vill. I’m just…admiring my child,” he said distantly, “She’s beautiful, isn’t she? I think she’s ours.”

Wanda looked over at the child and saw it too. It wasn’t obvious. It was easy to tell she was Kurt’s, but not so easy for her. But somehow she knew and so did Kurt. Maybe it was parental instinct or something, but Wanda tried not to get too caught up in it. Even she couldn’t avoid the impact of having learned she bore a child without knowing it. But Selene told them not to get too attached and she never questioned her Mistress.

“That’s nice and all, love, but you heard the Mistress. We should not get too attached,” she said sternly, “If you want we’ll make one together after all this is over, but we need to do what Mistress Selene says. Understand?”

Kurt was silent for a moment, keeping his hand over the glass. A lot went through his mind as he kept looking at his child, but he didn’t show it. Now was not the time for such feelings. But he was not going to forget it.

“I understand, my love,” he said to her.

“Good, now come with me,” she told him, “Selene told me earlier that she has a special assignment for us and it involves taking a little side-trip before we leave.”

Kurt nodded, returning to his role as Wanda’s obedient lover. But before he walked off with her, he took one last look at the container bearing his child. As much as he wanted to abide to the wishes of his love and their mistress, there were just some things he couldn’t escape. That child in that container was the fruit of his love with Wanda. He couldn’t just brush that aside and not get attached. Something in him just wouldn’t let him. He wasn’t sure where Mistress Selene’s plan would lead or how it would involve these children. But he had a bad feeling about it. And he may have to make a difficult decision if it got to a point where he could no longer stay silent.

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Up next: Selene moves forward with her plan while Xavier and the pawns rest and prepare themselves to strike back.