New Blood III: Triumph of Darkness

New Blood
Chapter 17: Gaining an Edge

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Secret Hellfire Island Villa – Rear Landing Area

Dawn had risen over Hellfire Villa and Xavier’s Inner Circle arose without hesitation to face the busy day ahead. Nobody got much sleep. The looming prospect of facing Selene and her minions was enough to keep everybody restless and anxious. They just got whatever rest they could, gathering their strength and preparing themselves for the ultimate battle between the two opposing forces within the Hellfire Club. On one side was Xavier and on the other was Selene. Only one could be allowed to propagate and they had no intention of ceding that duty to the likes of Selene.

Not long after the sun rose, another aircraft descended over the island. Inside the craft was Forge, a close ally of Xavier’s who most of the pawns barely knew. But he was someone Xavier trusted and that was enough for them. Scott, Jean, Piotr, Rogue, Warpath, Pietro, Logan, Mystique, Bobby, Jubilee, Kitty, Sam, Julian, Rahne, Remy, Emma, Ororo, Deadpool, and Danielle all gathered with Xavier and Moria on the rear landing pad where they had landed earlier in the week. They watched as Forge carefully landed the craft next to theirs using the vertical take-off and landing mechanisms. The plane he was flying was much more advanced, bearing far greater stealth technology than the one they escaped in. They were going to need that stealth for their planned assault on Selene, but they had a feeling that wasn’t all they would need. However, Xavier said he had a plan that would give them an edge.

As they all stood by and watched Xavier guide Forge in, many of the pawns were still tired and restless.

“Ah take it the rest of you didn’t get much sleep either last night,” commented Sam.

“Are you kidding? How could we?” groaned Bobby.

“Aye, this be one of those things where ye can only rest to a certain extent,” said Rahne, “Unfortunately, that rest is never nearly enough.”

“No argument here,” said Kitty, “But it’s better than nothing.”

“Speak for yourself,” said Pietro, “It looks like some people didn’t have problems getting any sleep.”

Pietro pointed towards Scott and Jean, who looked a lot more rested than the rest of them. And since they were standing so close they could tell they had sex last night. It was always a dead giveaway with them. But they weren’t the only ones. They noticed Remy and Ororo looking equally refreshed. It was probably easier for them anyways since they hadn’t endured Selene’s torture. And to the surprise of many, Logan and Mystique also had that same look to them. That raised plenty of questions, but this was no time to get into such matters.

“I see what you mean,” said Kitty, “But what’s with Logan and Mystique? How did they enter the picture like this?”

“Ya don’t keep up with them much do you, Kitty?” sighed Rogue.

“Well it’s not like I don’t have my own personal affairs,” said Kitty, looking over at Piotr briefly, “But why them? When did that happen?”

Rogue looked over at Logan and her mother and saw them holding hands briefly. They still maintained that tough expression that they always bore, but she could tell there was something more between them. She always suspected it. Now it seemed as though they took the next step. It was awkward for given that it involved her mother, but for now she figured there were worse guys she could have gotten close to.

“It’s a long story,” she told her friend and fellow pawn, “Let’s just worry about one thing at a time.”

Kitty nodded and was content to leave such a matter for another time. She and the others fell silent as the Hellfire jet landed and the hatch to the side opened, revealing a neatly dressed Forge. He had with him a couple of large metal briefcases and when he saw Xavier and Moria, he smiled and walked over to greet them.

“Sorry I’m late, my lord,” he told them.

“You’ve got nothing to apologize for, old friend,” said Charles as he shook his hand, “You’re here now when we need you most. That is all that matters.”

Forge smiled and gave Moria a welcoming hug as well. It showed just how much trust they had in him. It was a given since they had such an extensive history together. But for many of the pawns, that history was a mystery.

“So this is Forge, huh?” commented Julian, “How come we never saw this guy around the Manor?”

“Don’t know, but Lord Xavier seems to trust him and that’s good enough for me,” shrugged Jubilee.

“It isn’t trust that concerns me,” said Julian, “Lord Xavier said something about having an edge in this fight. And this guy doesn’t look like much of an edge to me.”

“Don’t be too quick to judge, Julian,” said Danielle with a confident grin, “I got to know this man pretty well over the past few months. And if he’s got in that case what I think he’s got then I think it’s safe to say we’re in pretty good shape.”

“Really? What do you think is in the case?” asked Jubilee.

“You’ll see,” said the Native American girl.

Once the greetings with Xavier and Moria were out of the way, Forge turned his attention to the pawns. He didn’t know many of them on a personal level. He knew Rahne from when she and Moria worked out of the Hellfire Club’s European branch and he knew Danielle from ‘special’ training over the past few months. He also knew Mystique and Ororo to some extent, but mostly as associates and occasional sex partners. But he really didn’t know many of the others.

“Everybody, I assume you all know Forge to some extent,” said Xavier as he directed their attention towards him.

“Aye, we think of him as the nicer version of Sinister,” commented Rahne.

“Nice to see you too, Rahne,” said Forge with an amused look.

He then took in the appearance of the other pawns. They all looked restless and anxious, yet they also looked determined to go into battle.

“Is this everybody?” Forge asked Moria.

“Aye, Selene got to all the others,” said Moria, “And she’s left them pretty empowered to say the least.”

“No surprise there,” said the Native American mutant, “I also managed to gather a few remaining reports from the manor in Paris. If what you said about her going to Nova Roma is true then she’s got quite a force on her hands. She has all of her elite guard and what remains of the Hand’s army of assassins. And that’s not counting the royal guard.”

“So how many forces in all does that give her?” asked Scott, always the strategist.

“I can’t give you an exact number, but it’s probably in the hundreds or even thousands,” said Forge.

“Thousands of Hand, elite guard, and Nova Roman military under her control?” exclaimed Pietro, “How do we fight against that?!”

“Don’t start brooding,” said Forge, “It’s not as bad as it could be. Since the New York branch blew and all the networks were frozen, she couldn’t concentrate all her forces like I’m sure she wanted. We should be grateful she doesn’t have tens of thousands of Hellfire guards on her side because that easily could have been the case.”

Pietro grumbled, still not liking it one bit. The idea of having to go through those kinds of forces as well as his father to get to Lorna didn’t sit well. But a calming gesture from Rogue, who was in a similar predicament with Kurt, helped set him at ease.

“Regardless of her numbers, what’s our plan of attack?” said Warpath, “I assume this stealth jet is our ticket in.”

“It is,” said Xavier, “But getting in is the easy part. To get an edge over Selene, we’ll need to use a little strategy. And Moria and I came up with something last night that may help prove decisive.”

“Please tell me it involves things that explode!” urged Deadpool, who was lingering near Moria and Rahne, “Pretty please with napalm on top!”

“It just might,” said Xavier with a half grin, “Forge, did you bring the map I asked?”

“Of course,” answered the inventive mutant.

Forge then opened the first briefcase and placed it on the floor. It was revealed to be a large holographic projector (of his own design of course). When he activated it a large three-dimensional map of the secret kingdom of Nova Roma formed in a dark greenish hue. It revealed a vast landscape that looked like an image taken right out of an old mosaic from the Roman Empire. The center was dominated by what they assumed was the imperial palace and a large mountain that looked over it.

“As you can see, Nova Roma itself is quite vast,” said the Black King, “Much of it is dominated by the cityscape that houses its residents. And it is all centered around Selene’s main palace, which of course she expanded and modified after she regained control.”

“Typical of that woman,” scoffed Emma, “I take it she ran her citizens ragged getting something that big built.”

“You have no idea,” said Xavier distantly.

“Might we be able to get their support?” asked Piotr, “If we rally the citizens against Selene’s tyranny, that may prove helpful.”

“We thought about that,” said Moria, “But in Nova Roma Selene is regarded as a real goddess and she’s instilled such fear in terror within the populace that nobody would even think of defying her. However, there is one person within the city that may share our interest in defeating Selene.”

“And who might that be? Anyone we know?” asked Ororo.

“Not quite, but let’s just say our paths have crossed in other ways,” said Xavier.

He then nodded towards Forge and he went on to the next step. He hit a button that brought up a new holographic image over the map. It was an image of an attractive young woman with South American features who looked to be about 17 or so. She was wearing an elaborate display of Greco-Roman attire, which the pawns assumed was the style of this kingdom. But they got the sense there was more to her than her appearance let on.

“Wow, ain’t she a looker,” commented Remy.

That earned him an elbow to the ribs from Ororo and a look from Xavier, who went on without missing a beat.

“Her name is Amara Aquilla,” said the Black King, “She’s the former heir and princess to the throne of Nova Roma.”

“Former?” said Kitty curiously.

“Yes, you see when Selene regained control over Nova Roma she immediately took out any possible threats to her power. That meant torturing and killing the royal family and all their supporters. But Amara was singled out for a particularly harsh form of humiliation.”

“A young, attractive girl like her I can’t say I’m surprised,” scoffed Logan, “How bad was it?”

“Every bit as worse as what the lot of you suffered,” said Xavier in a grim tone, “After making her watch her parents get tortured to death, Selene stripped her naked and paraded her into the main square. Then while her citizens watched, she had her elite guard rape her incessantly.”

Many of the pawns, especially the women, shifted awkwardly at the mention of such torture. The memory of what Selene did to them still hung vividly in their minds and many were still struggling to deal with it. But it came as no surprise that Selene subjected other rivals to such torment.

“Poor girl,” commented Bobby, “From princess to prisoner just like that.”

“And she didn’t stop there,” said Xavier, “After her guards were ‘done’ with her, Selene had Amara dragged to the top of the dormant volcano looking over the city. Then using a special binding spell, she threw her in a lake of lava.”

“Yeow! So she was burned alive?” said Julian.

“Not exactly,” said Moria, “Ye see, Amara wasn’t an ordinary princess. She happens to be a mutant with the power to control magma and volcanism. In fact, she comes from a long line of mutants with control over the earth. It’s how they’ve kept the volcano guarding their kingdom at bay.”

“I guess that makes sense,” said Jean, “So does that mean throwing her into a volcano didn’t kill her?”

“You are correct, my dear,” said Xavier, “It merely encased her in a shell of rock, sealing her in a coma-like state. Her unique physiology allows her body to survive within the volcano.”

“But why would Selene throw her there if she knew it wasn’t gonna to kill her?” said Rogue.

“With Selene, who knows?” said Rahne, “Probably wanted to keep her ‘preserved’ or something so she could break her out and torture her again sometime. Or maybe she wanted one last piece of the royal bloodline alive to use as some sort of trump card if her reign was ever threatened.”

“Those are possibilities, but Selene’s reasons for keeping her alive are not our concern. What is our concern is that Miss Aquilla is someone else who shares our resentment for Selene. She has been wronged by her just as much as we have. If we can break her out of her rocky tomb, we can enlist her help in defeating Selene. I believe her power over the forces of volcanism may prove decisive against her.”

“Why would she bother to help us?” said Mystique skeptically, “If memory serves me right, we’re the ones that helped put Selene back in power. She may end up blaming us for all her suffering instead of Selene.”

Xavier’s expression hardened. He never liked being reminded of some of the things he helped Selene with in his ascension to power. They were all necessary deals that he had to make at the time and now they were coming back to haunt him. But there was no use dwelling on the past. He had to work with whatever cards he had been dealt.

“That’s a matter that we’ll have to get around,” said Xavier, “But don’t worry. I’m certain I can get through to her. That is why as soon as we descend over Nova Roma, Moria and I will break off from the rest of you to get Amara out. Emma and Danielle, you will come with us for support.”

“Me? Why do I have to come?” said Emma strongly.

“Need I remind you of your predicament, Emma?” said the Black King with an equally stern response, “You’re still on thin ice for your earlier transgressions. And as such you will be closely scrutinized through this affair. Should you serve loyally, your atonement may be mitigated. So I suggest you not question such orders.”

Emma’s expression tensed and she fell silent. Having helped Selene earlier, even if it was unwitting help, she was under constant suspicion from everybody. Nobody had really talked to her since they arrived here. That wasn’t unusual given her persona, but now her very loyalty was in question. Because of that, she couldn’t afford to be snide or crafty. She had to show she had some speck of remorse for what she did and work to remedy it.

“Wow, I ain’t ever seen Emma shut up like that,” commented Rogue.

“I know. It’s great, isn’t it?” said Jean with a smug smile of satisfaction.

Once Emma got the message, Xavier continued. He used the advanced graphics of the map to zoom in on a specific part of the volcano.

“Now even though Amara is in a deep coma, I should still be able to pick up traces of her mind. I also had a number of spies watch over Selene’s takeover and made sure they noted where she the body was located.”

“Always keep track of potential mistakes your enemy made,” commented Scott.

“Precisely,” said Xavier with a confident grin.

“So then while you’re off rescuing the princess, what’s the plan for us?” said Pietro, hiding a touch of sarcasm in his tone.

“You’ll be using the direct approach,” said the Black King, “Before we break off, we’ll drop you off at wherever Selene has set up her operations. Your task is simple. Disrupt her, distract her, or just hurt her in whatever way you can until Moria and I return with Amara. And if any of her guards or minions stand in your way, do not hesitate to take them down.”

It sounded simple enough. They drop right in on Selene and attack her. That was the kind of plan they were all hoping for because they all wanted a shot at this devious woman for what she did to them. Many were already excited at the prospects of facing this woman down.

“Fly in and beat the shit out of her,” Logan summarized, “I like it!”

“Me too!” said Deadpool, “Simple, elegant, and destructive! It’s the trifecta of everything that makes a day in the life of a merc worth living!”

“Yeah, and it’ll give us a chance at a little payback for the others who chose to join her!’ said Jubilee, clenching her fists.

This was where some like Pietro, Rogue, and Julian got a little nervous and showed some reservation.

“But what about the ones she’s controlling against their will?” asked Julian, “Laura didn’t join her voluntarily.”

“And neither did Lorna,” said Pietro, “What do we do about them?”

Xavier and Moria had a feeling this would come up. Selene always liked to shield herself in unique ways and using loved ones of her enemies was always a favorite tactic of hers. But they couldn’t afford to let that stop them.

“You’ll have to do what you can to either neutralize them or knock them out,” said Xavier, “But if push comes to shove, you must be willing to go through them. You cannot allow Selene to use them as leverage over you. Because trust me, she’ll make good use of it.”

Pietro, Rogue, Julian, and even Mystique and Scott shifted somewhat at his words. They didn’t like the idea of having to hurt their loved ones, but if that’s what they had to do in order to get to Selene so be it. Their focus was always her. She was the one responsible for their plight and she would be the one that would pay.

“I’ll do what I have to do,” sighed Pietro.

“Ye better,” warned Moria, “Because with Selene, ye won’t be getting any second chances.”

Nobody argued that. They were lucky enough to be in one piece after having endured Selene’s torture chambers. Failure wasn’t an option this time. There was no telling how far she would go if she got the better of them again. That was something they hoped they wouldn’t have to consider.

“So that’s the plan?” said Warpath, “You, Moria, Danielle, and Emma free Amara while the rest of us attack Selene head on? Because if the forces you described earlier are any indication, that may not be in our favor.”

“It isn’t,” said Forge as he shut off the hologram projector and closed the first briefcase, “But that’s where I come in. While you guys will be outnumbered and outgunned in most respects. You will still have an edge.”

“We will?” said Kitty curiously.

“What kind of an edge are we talking about here?” asked Sam.

Then Danielle stepped in, who was probably the only one besides Xavier who knew what he was getting at.

“The kind of edge that helped me expand my powers to the point where I could deceive everybody and not just Selene,” Danielle answered.

“What are you talking about, Danielle?” said Piotr.

“Oh come now, you guys have seen me use my powers. You know full well their limitations. Weren’t you the least bit curious how I could cast such vivid illusions over great distances in a way that were so convincing that nobody gave them a second thought?”

When put like that it did seem pretty obvious. Many of the pawns exchanged glances as they thought back to it.

“The thought had crossed mah mind,” said Rogue.

“Well let’s just say I gave my powers the right kick,” Danielle grinned, “Show them, Forge.”

Forge grinned as well as he took out the second briefcase he brought with him and opened it. Inside, it revealed a series of small yet bulky syringe devices not unlike the ones Hank and Sinister used in their labs. They were all filled with some strange reddish liquid that had a weird glow to it. There was a distinctly powerful feel to it and once heightened the pawns curiosity.

“My dear pawns, allow me to introduce to you mutant growth hormone, or MGH,” said Xavier proudly, “It is the result of years of research that has been done on the side using data complied from various different sources such as Sinister, Weapon X, and Norman Osborn.”

“Weapon X?” growled Logan, “You used stuff from those assholes in this?”

“Yes, but only to an extent, Logan,” assured Xavier, “If you recall, I made a deal with Norman Osborn long ago to free him from his obligations to the Kingpin.”

“Oui, I remembers that,” said Remy, “Everybody made a big deal over it.”

“And for good reason,” said the Black King, “You see, it was from Norman Osborn’s famous goblin gas that MGH was derived from. Over the years I’ve provided Forge here with a steady supply for him to do research and testing, developing something that would not only enhance any mutant’s natural abilities, but enhance their overall physicality.”

“So it’s like a steroid for mutants?” surmised Scott.

“Essentially yes,” said Xavier, “It increases strength, speed, and endurance as well as enhancing mutant powers. It even has the potential to unlock secondary or tertiary powers.”

“I don’t know what tertiary means, but I’m sold!” said Bobby intently.

“It means a lot, Bobby. Trust me,” said Danielle, “Just one injection of this stuff and I felt my powers expand to a level I never imagined. I wasn’t just able to create illusions, I was able to form objects that were so real that it was indistinguishable from reality.”

“So what would it mean for powers like mine?” asked Kitty, looking just as intent as Bobby.

“You won’t know that until you try it,” said Xavier.

“Well then what are we waiting for? Pass them out already and let’s get juiced already! We’ll be just like pro-wrestlers before Wrestlemania!” exclaimed Deadpool in excitement.

Xavier and Moria couldn’t help but smile at their reaction. They had a feeling they would all be enthusiastic about enhancing their powers to fight Selene. But there were still limitations.

“Easy Deadpool, we can’t just use this stuff now,” said Forge.

“Aw, why not?” the merc with a mouth whined.

“For two reasons,” he replied, “First, the effects of MGH are only temporary. Your powers and abilities will be given a boost, but only for a couple hours at the most. And second, these are all the doses I could come up with since so many Hellfire resources are frozen.”

It was somewhat disappointing, but a short boost was better than no boost at all.

“Guess we’ll have to make due,” said Scott, “With any luck Selene’s minions and the rest of her forces will be overwhelmed. Once we take them out we can fight our way to Selene herself.”

“And do we do when we get there? Just kill her?” said Rogue, “Because that sure as hell doesn’t seem like enough for her.”

“It isn’t,” said Xavier, “But bear in mind she is immortal. Killing might be too great a challenge even with MGH.”

“So then what do we do? Cut off all her limbs and rip out her vocal chords?” said Logan, “Because I’d be all for that!”

“We all would,” conceded Moria, “But we also have to remember that stopping Selene comes before punishing her. It’s a given that she’s planning something. And whatever it is it’s big.”

“How big?” asked Ororo.

“Big enough to cause disruptions in the mystical energy field she has protecting Nova Roma and big enough to cause disruptions in nearly everything running on magic throughout the world,” Xavier answered ominously, “Last night, I made a number of calls to our spies. Something appears to be gathering mystical energy from everywhere and I think it’s reasonable to assume Selene is behind it.”

“But if it’s effecting mystical energy, why haven’t I felt it?” wondered Jean.

“That I don’t know. But whatever she’s planning, we have to stop it!” said Xavier strongly.

All the pawns fell silent and Forge closed up the metal briefcase. All eyes were on the Black King now as he rallied the young mutants he work so hard to train over the years. This was going to be by far their biggest test. Selene was unlike any other force in the world. She wasn’t a rival organization or some cocky leader looking to move in on their power. She was a force of true darkness. But should they succeed in stopping her they would all prove themselves truly worthy of Inner Circle royalty.

“You all remember what Sinister said in his final message,” said Xavier intently, “There are some people in this world who are too dark to be contained. Selene is one of them. She can’t be bargained with, she can’t be reasoned with, and she can’t be intimidated through fear or force. And she will never stop until she gets what she wants.”

Then Xavier’s tone shifted as he tried to maintain a calm and collected demeanor.

“From day one, I’ve taught you all to value the sanctity of order. I took control of the Hellfire Club so it could become a true agent for order. But Selene has completely gone against those principles. She has shown that she would rather plunge the world into chaos than maintain any sort of rational order. She is an agent of chaos. She is now the epitome of what we stand against! And we must not stop until she defeated, powerless, or dead. Is that clear?”

Xavier’s loyal pawns nodded in affirmation. Scott, Jean, Piotr, Rogue, Warpath, Pietro, Logan, Mystique, Bobby, Jubilee, Kitty, Sam, Julian, Rahne, Remy, Emma, Ororo, Deadpool, and Danielle had all been trained and conditioned in the ways of the Hellfire Club. They all came to understand and uphold the principles of order and power. Even know when the power of the Inner Circle was stretched and weakened, they sought to uphold it. It made Charles and Moria so proud and gave them plenty to look forward to when all was said and done.

“We’re with you, Lord Xavier,” said Scott strongly, “We’ll stop Selene! We won’t let her bring more chaos to this world!”

“And we’ll do it while humming a catchy tune and blowing stuff up!” added Deadpool.

Every pawn seemed equally enthused. They had the stern, cold look of determination that true Hellfire agents were conditioned to have. They were ready to kill, maim, and destroy anything that stood in their way from their goal. It was the kind of grit they would need if they were to face Selene and succeed. Xavier and Moria exchanged glances. Then they turned back to their pawns.

“Excellent,” said the Black King with a look of approval, “Then it’s time to move out. Everybody get on stealth jet and strap yourselves in. Nova Roma is less than two hours away so let’s not keep our former Black Queen waiting.”

“Oh yeah, because you just know how much she champions patience,” said Warpath, already seething for a shot at that woman.

“What about me?” asked Forge as he handed Xavier the briefcase containing the doses of MGH, “Should I come along just in case?”

“No Forge. I need you to go back to New York City and meet up with Jamie Madrox at X-Industrial. Your job is to unfreeze all of the Hellfire Club’s assets and reactivate our base of power. We’ll need if we’re to rebuild after Selene’s defeat.”

“Of course,” said Forge, “I’ll use the other jet then. But for all our sake I hope you’re as good as your confidence implies, sir. Because Inner Circle or not, I don’t want to wake up to world being run by Selene’s whims.”

“Believe me, Forge. None of us does,” said Moria, “Good luck.”

“Oh don’t worry about me,” said the Native American mutant, “Save all the luck for yourselves. It sounds as though you’re going to need it.”

With the supplies and plan complete, Xavier and Moria said goodbye to Forge and joined the rest of the pawns in the stealth jet. Moria led them all in, making her way into the cockpit where she promptly started up the engines. Xavier stood back and watched each one of his pawns enter. Once they were all in he entered as well, turning back to take one last look at Forge and the Villa. He spent years of his life planning for the day when he would finally take down Selene and phase out the last of the old order. It hadn’t always gone as well as he would have liked, but he was confident it would one day be a reality. Now it was finally within his grasp.

With a look of determination, Xavier joined the rest of his pawns in the jet and took his seat in the front next to Moria.

“Is everybody strapped in and ready?” said Moria.

“You even gotta ask?” growled Logan, “Just get us to this Nova Roma place so we can start rippin’ Selene to shreds!”

Taking Logan’s word for it, Moria activated the thrusters and the jet took off. The time for rest and planning was over. They had all fumed over Selene and what she did to them. They had all seethed at how they were going to make her pay. Now it was time to put their raging emotions into action. Selene, their former mistress and Black Queen, had defied the Hellfire Club and stirring chaos in a world that needed order. She could not escape their justice any longer. Like anyone else who threatened the Inner Circle, her soul will be burned in Hellfire.

Nova Roma – Temple of Orcus

The roads up to the Temple of Orcus were treacherous and difficult. There were no paved roads or clear trails up to it. Selene had them all blockaded and destroyed after its construction was complete. Only a select few could ever venture into the temple. The only way up was through special hover transports from the Hellfire Club. Those that were allowed were specially controlled by Selene. She made sure their minds and wills were completely hers like she did with all her minions. Their jobs were to just maintain the temple and prepare it for her eventual return.

It wasn’t built for worship or public gatherings. Its purpose was simple and clear. It was to be the centerpiece of the final ritual that would give Selene the ultimate power she craved. She had it built years ago when she just regained power. Since then it had just been a matter of gathering the right materials and support. She had that now so there was nothing left standing in her way. It was so close. Ultimate power was just within her grasp. All she had to do was carry out one special ritual and it would all be hers.

The transports settled in a large clearing on a plateau that stretched out from the base of the temple. From this area one could see all of Nova Roma down below. When Selene and her minions stepped out, they greeted with the thin mountain air. It was strangely warm for an area this high up. A powerful heat seemed to emanate from the large temple, which stood over a dozen stories high. Selene’s minions patiently waited for their queen’s next orders. They just stood in silence and watched as she walked up to the temple steps.

“Finally,” she proclaimed, “I have returned!”

The Black Queen then turned towards her pawns.

“Start unloading the transports!” she commanded, “Wanda, I want you and Kurt to get Illyana set up inside. The rest of you get all the ritual materials inside and begin setting them up in the central chamber. Make sure every relic stays intact! If one piece is damaged I’ll see to it that all those responsible are disemboweled on the spot!”

“We will be careful, Mistress Selene,” said Wanda strongly, who stood close by her mentor, “What of the guards and assassins? What will their role be?”

“What else? Defense,” said Selene, “Have them all establish a perimeter around the temple. If by some remote chance anyone foolish enough tries to interrupt my ritual, have them killed on sight!”

“It will be done, Mistress,” said Wanda, “And if I may be so bold to ask a question…what are the chances Charles Xavier will find us here?”

Selene folded her arms and laughed.

“Xavier? Ha! By the time he finds out about my operations here it’ll already be too late,” she said confidently, “He probably still thinks I’m trying to take control of the Inner Circle. So I’m not worried about him. Let him and his little pawns waste their time while I send the world into a pit of darkness!”

She had every reason to be confident. At no point, even when she thought Xavier was dead, did she drop any hints as to her true plans. She may be confident, but she was no fool. She wasn’t about to take any chances when she was this close.

“You heard your, mistress! Get to work!” barked Wanda to the others.

“Yeah, whatever you crazy witch,” growled Sabretooth, who never liked being bossed around like this.

“Watch it, furball. One wrong word and you’ll be the first to feel Mistress Selene’s wrath,” said Warren with a dark grin.

“How about I rip those pretty wings of yours off and stuff em up your ass?” growled the feral mutant.

“How about I skin you like the animal you are and use your pelt as a rug?” said Betsy, formed a psionic blade and held it to his neck.

“That supposed to scare me, babe?”

“No, but it should at least remind you whose in charge,” she said sternly, “So long as you’re with us you’ll follow Mistress Selene! And if you want any chance at the rewards you’ve been promised, including Wolverine’s head, you’ll go along!”

Sabretooth growled bitterly. As much as he hated taking orders from weird punks like this, he hated Wolverine even more. He was willing to put up with this crap so long as it gave him another shot at his nemesis. He also didn’t mind having access to the still submissive X-23. He loved how he got ravage her without an ounce of resistance. After Logan was dead he hoped to keep her as a prize of sorts. But he had to get through this crazy ordeal first.

“Not bad,” said Warren, voicing his approval at her tactics, “I’m impressed with how you’ve taken control.”

“Thanks luv,” Betsy replied, “I already decided that I’m not going to let this be another failure. I’m going to see this through no matter what.”

“That’s my girl,” said Warren, giving her an affectionate gesture, “And just think, when this is all over we can savor the darkness forever!”

Betsy responded to her gesture by leaning into his warmth a bit. But before they could get too person, the others reminded them of the task at hand.

“Save it for the next orgy, you two!” said Tabitha.

“Yeah, come on and help us unload the stuff!” said Roberto.

Betsy and Warren parted reluctantly while Sabretooth shrugged them both off. He started shadowing Laura, who was already obediently unloading boxes and secure trunks full of supplies. He gave her a hungry snarl, letting her know he was coming for her later, before getting to work himself. She didn’t respond. Her face just tensed and she went about her duties.

The rest of Selene’s minions followed suit. Alex, Tabitha, Monet, Roberto, and Lorna coordinated to unload the mystical artifacts first and the rest of the supplies afterwards. There was a lot to unload since this promised to be a very big ritual. But the most sensitive and fragile cargo by far were the twelve mutant infants from Sinister. They were all kept docile within incubators. For them, Magneto was tasked with using his magnetic powers to carefully maneuver them out of the craft and into the temple. And since his mind was already warped to Selene’s will, she knew he wouldn’t dare screw it up.

“What do you think she’s going to use the babies for anyways?” pondered Alex as he worked with Lorna to remove some of the smaller artifacts.

“Does it matter?” scoffed Monet as she effortlessly lifted two heavy crates at once, “Mistress Selene said they were vital parts of the ritual and that’s all I need to know. Try not to think of the details. You’ll just waste your time. Focus only on the end result. That’s what this is all about.”

“The end result…right,” mused Alex.

Alex watched as Magneto carefully floated the incubators containing the infants out all at once. He then found himself looking over at Lorna, who had been staying close to him since the beginning. He wasn’t sure why, but a part of him felt wary about what may happen to those children. Mistress Selene had few limits when it came to sacrifice. But he kept shutting it aside. Monet was right. All that mattered was the end result. It was how he had Lorna. So long as he kept this dark feeling that had been imparted to him it would all be okay. At least that’s what he kept telling himself.

He and the rest of Selene’s followers fell silent as they continued to work. While they handled the materials, the many guards and assassins that accompanied them swarmed out and got into defensive positions all around the temple. Some were what was left of Selene’s elite guard from the manor, some were the top Hand assassins she retained after she took it over, and some were from her royal guard from the imperial palace. They were all a formidable force and they were all mindlessly obedient to Selene, which is just what she would need for something that like this. When dealing with power this grand, nobody, not even her, could afford any mistakes.

While the other minions continued unloading and the guards got into position, Wanda and Kurt went about getting Illyana set up inside the temple. Since she was stubborn and defiant, they had to put her in a separate transport and immobilize her. Wanda cast a paralysis spell so she would be more docile. But it didn’t stop her from making comments.

“Ungh…let me go you witch!” she groaned as Kurt brought her out.

“Quiet!” ordered Wanda, “You’re lucky Mistress Selene doesn’t want any further harm to you or I’d cripple more than just your limbs!”

“Bite me, Slavic bitch.”

Wanda was tempted to hit her with a hex bolt for that, but she restrained herself knowing that Mistress Selene was watching. Thankfully she fell silent as Wanda led Kurt towards the steps of the temple where Selene was waiting for them. From there they were ready to enter the sacred halls.

Selene led Kurt and Wanda into the heart of the temple where the grandest of all rituals would be conducted. The temple itself was mostly open space. It was arranged like a giant inverted cross with the entrance being at the bottom end. The halls were vast and supported by rows of columns that extended into high ceilings where elaborate, decorative chandeliers hung. And all along the ceilings and walls were elaborate decorations of Greco-Roman art and relics. But what made it different from the other temples of Nova Roma was that there were no images or statues of gods or goddesses. The only creatures of divinity that were allowed here were demons, hell lords, and witches. But there was a good reason for that.

At the center of the temple where each branch of the cross converged there was a large circular stage area. Underneath that stage was a large star-like shape that had 12 main points on it that encircled a rectangular doorway with a clear opening. There were also a number of small pentagrams surrounding the area in a perfectly symmetrical form. It was one of the most elaborate occult displays Kurt or Wanda had ever seen. It definitely had that ominous, macabre feeling to it that many of Selene’s rituals had. Only this was bigger than all of those put together.

“Ah, my sanctuary,” said the Black Queen in a rare show of contentment.

In an elaborate gesture she flicked her wrists and cast a quick spell. Right on cue the oil fueled chandeliers above were magically lit and soon the whole temple was illuminated by the ominous glow of orange/yellow flames. It put the sheer size and scope of the temple into perspective and left Wanda with a great deal of awe and excitement.

“Set the girl over here,” ordered Selene, pointing to an area just in front of where she was standing.

Kurt wordlessly obeyed, laying the bound body of Illyana Rasputin down where his mistress ordered. She remained silent, but she still cast Kurt a menacing glance. He ignored it as did Selene and Wanda. They were too caught up in the grandeur of the temple.

“It’s amazing, my mistress,” she said, “So you had this temple built for just this ritual?”

“Of course, my pupil,” answered Selene, “Such a ritual requires a grand stage to put it all together. You can’t expect ultimate power to emerge from modest settings.”

“But vhat exactly is zhis ultimate power you have been vorking for, Mistress?” asked Kurt curiously, “You’ve spoken extensively about what it will mean for zhis vorld. But vhat does it entail?”

Selene grinned in anticipation as she started walking around the central stage where the symbols converged. It was here where it would all come together. It was just a matter of putting the pieces together.

“Do you two remember that little speech I gave you when you first joined?” she said, not taking her eyes off the layout, “The one where I talked about the world of demons, darkness, and how they all fit together?”

“Of course, my mistress,” said Wanda, “You taught us a great deal on such matters.”

“Oh I taught you the how. But did you ever stop to ponder the why?” Selene mused, “Think about how it all works. In the hellish realms of demons and hell lords, there is suffering and toil. To the souls that fall prey to such darkness they it is agony. It is torment that defies all mortal perceptions. To them it is terrible, evil, and reprehensible. But to the demons themselves, it is as normal and enjoyable to them as it would be to us if we were to do something we took pleasure in. It’s all a matter of interpretation.”

It was an interesting way of looking at such matters. But that was part of what was so unique about Selene. She saw the world in ways no other human being ever had. It was twisted and dark, yet it was still so very unique.

“It all comes back to that nasty little thing we all know as morality,” said Selene as she now stood in the very center of the room, “Put the fear of death and eternal suffering in anyone’s mind and they lose it. Put it in everybody’s mind and they all cower in fear. Take away all certainty and hope and they’ll just start tearing at each other. Whether it’s man, beast, or insect it’s all the same. And that’s what this ritual is going to change! It’s going to take those foolish notions and turn them on their heads!”

Wanda couldn’t help but smile intently as she watched the excited look on her mistress’s expression grow. But Kurt stayed silent and stoic.

“Is zhat vhat zhis is about? Stirring fear in all living things?”

“Oh that’s only part of it,” grinned the Black Queen, “Even in the world of demons and darkness there are the hell lords who rule over them. I’m sure you’ve read tales of Mephistopheles, Blackheart, Dormammu, Satannish, and Belasco. But what makes them different and unique among all other dark forces is their ability to control their domain. When they venture into our world their power is limited, but in their world they are unmatched. They dictate and direct that fear, hopelessness, and suffering upon the souls they control. Whether for their own kind of justice for their personal amusement, they decide on a whim the fate of all. That is ultimate power. And that is what I seek!”

It was quite a power to seek. Kurt was beginning to understand why she considered this sort of power to be so vast. As someone who studied extensively on the subject of demons and hell lords, he knew the scope and breadth of such power. Nowhere in his studies did he ever hear of a human, immortal or otherwise, wielding such power. But Selene was determined to break that trend.

“With this ritual, I will not just grasp unlimited levels of power!” she went on, “I will take the very rules of the mortal world and shape them to my own desires! I will tear this pathetic world apart and turn it into my own personal realm of Hellfire! Every living mortal will be subject to my whim! And I shall rule over the fates of all the power of a true Hell Lord!”

Clenching her fists, Selene gazed around at the elaborate layout of her temple and savored the ambience. Such power had always been her greatest desire. She spent many lifetimes working for it. It was only now it was within her grasp. Her whole immortal life was leading her to this point. Her excitement was apparent. Wanda seemed to share it. But Kurt remained as distant as ever, as was typical of anyone under a spell. At least now he understood.

“It sounds quite grand, Mistress Selene,” said Kurt.

“Oh it’s more than that,” she boasted, “And if it’s all the same to you I’d appreciate it if you got to work with the others. I’ve waited many lifetimes for this and my patience grows thin.”

“Of…of course,” said Kurt obediently, “But if I may inquire to just one more matter, what will this special ritual involve?”

Selene rolled her eyes. Kurt had always been so full of questions, even after Wanda put a spell on him. It was nice he inquired so much about the ways of darkness, but at a time like this is was just getting on her nerves.

“You need not concern yourself with that. Just do as you’re told!” she said sternly as she then turned to her apprentice, “Wanda, start the setup.”

“Yes, my Mistress. Come Kurt,” said Wanda, grabbing his arm and pulling him aside, “We must get to work. No more question.”

Kurt hesitated at first. He still wanted answers. But under such stern commands from his mistress and his love, he conceded to their whims.

“Of…of course, my love,” he said, “I’ll be silent.”

Kurt followed his lover, obediently doing as she said. The elaborate setup for the ritual needed careful and skilled hands and as Selene’s longest tenured minions they were the only ones equipped to handle it. But even though he vowed to stay silent, that didn’t mean he would let this go. There was still uncertainty within him. And even as he and Wanda began putting the materials together, it continued to grow more ominous. How it would affect him and his actions remained to be seen.

Nova Roma – Skies Overhead

The flight to Nova Roma from the secret Hellfire Villa was a short one. Once the stealth jet was airborne Moria and Xavier activated the afterburners and accelerated towards the hidden kingdom, using the advanced tracking software provided to them by the late Mr. Sinister. The pawns were silent for most of the ride, only talking to go over plans and debate who was going to get a shot at Selene first. They all wanted their time with her. The closer they got the more their hatred and anger seethed. It was sure to fuel them as they entered the battle. But Xavier continued to remind them that they were to stick to the plan.

After about an hour of flight, the jet descended from the clouds and started zeroing in on Nova Roma. The bad weather in New York appeared to follow Selene. The clouds were thick and wrought with an ominous feel. There was no thunder or lightning, but there was still something very dark about them. The tracking signal from the twelve mutant infants was strong. They were definitely close. But in order to maintain the element of surprise they kept a safe distance from the area and kept the advanced stealth features of the aircraft going full throttle. This aircraft had a special invisibility cloak to both radar and visual observation. But knowing Selene she would also use mystical defenses as well. That quickly became apparent as they flew over what seemed to be just endless stretches of jungle and mountains.

“Is this the place?” said Warpath as he gazed out the window.

“According to Sinister’s tracking sensor, the infants are within this area. But none of our other scanners are picking up on anything,” said Moria.

“That’s probably because of some mystical cloak,” said Scott, “Can we pass through it in this jet?”

“This jet was built for stealth, not magic,” answered Moria, “We don’t want to risk taking damage or alerting Selene of our presence.”

“So then how do we get through?” asked Ororo.

“Simple,” said Xavier, who was helping Moria fly the aircraft, “We fight magic with magic. Jean?”

“I’m on it, Lord Xavier,” said Jean Grey, who undid her harness and got out of her seat.

The young psychic looked out the window and closed her eyes, focusing her energy and powers on her mystical abilities. Using the connection she established with the Phoenix, she summoned its power and used it to expand her mystical senses. It wasn’t long before she sensed the field and the power behind it.

“What do you think, Jeannie? Feel anything?” asked Logan.

“It looks simple enough,” she said, her eyes glowing the fiery red and orange colors of the Phoenix, “It’s a standard deception spell, just on a larger scale. I’m guessing Selene has a bunch of mid-level mystics keeping it up.”

“Can you break it?” asked Pietro.

“I should be able to with a revelation spell,” said Jean, “But if we’re to keep Selene from picking up on our presence I’ll have to open just a small window. It’ll have to be quick though or else someone will take notice.”

“Duly noted, lass,” said Moria, “Just give us the word.”

“I will. Just hold on,” said Jean as she started concentrating harder.

“Ooh, I love it when hot redheads start doing magic tricks! Can you do a few card tricks while we’re waiting?” said Deadpool obnoxiously.

“Not this time, Wade. Power like this is going to require my full focus,” said Jean strongly.

“Ah, you’re no fun.”

Ignoring Deadpool’s childish comments, Jean stood in the center of the jet between the passenger seats and began summoning her phoenix power. They were still new to her, but she had a much firmer grasp of them after last night thanks to Scott. Soon her body was consumed in a golden halo of fiery flames. She chanted strongly a series of phrases in a mix of Latin and native South American languages, the same form as which this veil had been cast. As she chanted Moria and Xavier gripped the controls firmly, waiting for the word.

“Damn, that’s hot,” said Bobby as he watched Jean work.

“I know, Scott’s a lucky guy,” grinned Remy.

Those comments drew the ire of Emma Frost, who was sitting right behind when she heard them. She tried not to focus on such matters, but they were hard to avoid. This mess had been made possible in large part by her because she helped Monet, which also happened to help Selene. Ironically her desire to get back at Jean seemed to make her more powerful because now she had a new source of magic to work with. It was one more luxury Jean had that she never would. But she set aside her bitterness for now, focusing more on getting back in the good graces of Xavier and the rest of the Inner Circle. And the best way to do that was to help take down Selene.

For about a minute Jean worked her magic, the mystical flames around her pulsing and flaring. It was as if she was looking for something. They all assumed she was looking for a weak part of the field. And after some thorough searching she seemed to find it.

“Okay, I think I’ve got it! Get ready to make a sharp turn to your left in about five seconds!”

“We’re ready when you are,” said Xavier as he and Moria gripped the controls intently.

The next five seconds went by in slow motion as Jean chanted three mystical phrases with the power of the Phoenix clearly showing in her tone. When she finished the last one the fiery aura surrounding her flashed brightly and outside in the humid tropical air, a seemingly innocuous part of the sky became wavy and distorted. Xavier and Moria saw it and for a brief moment, they saw the entrance in. Then Jean gave the word.

“Now!”

They immediately banked the jet to the left, causing it to arc severely. This caused heavy turbulence that everybody felt, forcing them to hold on tightly and endure heavy g-forces. Through these rigors, Moria directed the aircraft right into the narrow opening. As soon as the jet was in the opening closed. And the landscape outside suddenly appeared very differently.

“Whoa, did you have to make it that rough? If I wanted to ride a roller coaster I’d go to Six Flags or join a Dutch S&M club!” said Deadpool.

“Whine about it later, Wade. Look outside,” said Ororo.

Everybody turned their attention to the windows. Despite the dark clouds and tropical haze, they could make out the landscape below. And it was quite a sight.

“Wow…” said Sam.

“I know. Wow,” said Kitty in agreement, “It’s like a page out of a history book!”

“Wouldn’t know anything about that since I slept through history in school,” said Jubilee, “But it’s still impressive.”

“Yeah, just not as clean or regal as you would expect for the last Roman city,” said Danielle.

“It’s bein’ ruled by, Selene. What do you expect?” made Rogue.

That made sense. While the layout of the city was vast and nicely planned, they could make out plenty of poverty and despair. Aside from the temples and bath hourses, much of the buildings, which they assumed were residential, looked dingy and in a state of disrepair. A lot of roads weren’t very kempt either. And they noticed in many squares elaborate statues depicting Selene. It was surreal to see such a kingdom, but Selene had definitely left her mark.

“So this is Nova Roma,” said Warpath, “It’s hidden, remote, and lush. It really is a perfect place to hide.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” said Julian, “Check out the imperial palace up ahead.”

The pawns turned their attention up ahead as the jet flew over the palace that stood just at the base of the mountain. Compared to the rest of the city it was a stark change. It was so huge and opulent, bearing all the elaborate opulence of a Greco-Roman structure. No doubt it took the blood and toil of countless slaves to build it. It perfectly fit in with Selene’s tastes.

“Even by my standards, that’s quite a palace,” said Emma.

“I know. Too bad we have to ruin it,” said Piotr sternly, “I gather Selene’s inside?”

Moria and Xavier did a quick scan. They assumed that Selene would hold up in her most powerful stronghold. But to their surprise their scanners and a quick telepathic scan by Xavier didn’t pick up anything except guards and servants.

“Hmm…I can’t sense any traces of her or her minions inside,” said Xavier.

“Aye, and Sinister’s scanners indicate the children aren’t there either,” said Moria.

“Then where could they be?” asked Mystique, “There’s only so many places that bitch can hide in this place.”

Moria recalibrated the scanners to zero in on the signal. Despite the weather outside and the mystical interference, the signal from the mutant children was still coming in strong.

“If I be reading this scanner right, the signal is coming in from somewhere up the mountain. There seems to be some kind of structure up there.”

“What kind of structure? Who would build anything on top of a mountain anyways?” said Logan in his gruff tone.

“It’s Selene. I’m sure she has her reasons,” said Xavier as he directed the plane up towards the mountain, “It appears to be a temple of sorts and quite a large one at that.”

“If it’s anything like her palace I’m sure it’s hard to miss,” said Rogue.

“Is that you think she is?” asked Piotr.

“If the children are there I’m sure Selene isn’t far behind,” answered Xavier, “Hold on, I’m taking us over the summit. There, we can separate so I can locate Princess Amara.”

The pawns all knew this part would come eventually. The plan was to get the comatose princess out from her volcano tomb and get her assistance. Some were still skeptical that she would be able to help them much. But given what was done to her and her kingdom they figured she would have a major grudge against Selene and that was enough for them.

“So how exactly are you going to find this Amara girl?” asked Pietro, “It’s a pretty big mountain out there.”

“I’ll find her,” said Xavier confidently, “She may be in a coma, but my powers will be expanded and allow me to pick up the faint traces of her mind.”

“I’m also printing out a map of the magma chambers within the mountain,” said Moria as she brought up a quick geological readout of the mountain, “Once Selene threw her in her body probably would have floated down through a fissure. There are only so many areas it could have gone so she should show up in one of them.”

“How long do you think it will take?” said Logan, “We all know damn well how quickly things can get messy with Selene.”

“I don’t know,” said Xavier bluntly, “But rest assured, we’ll work as fast as possible. Just keep the fight going until we arrive.”

“I doubt that will be a problem,” said Mystique bitterly, “Selene got the better of us once. We won’t let it happen again.”

“We better not,” said Rahne.

It wasn’t the most comforting assurance Xavier could have offered. If it took too long for him to free Amara, they could be in trouble. But nobody even considered the possibility of Selene taking them down again. They were all too focused and pissed off to let that happen. It was more of a concern over whether anything would be left once Xavier and the princess arrived.

After a steep climb in the jet, Xavier and Moria brought it into hover just over the summit. Then they undid their harnesses and got up from their seats.

“Scott, you and Warpath take over,” ordered Xavier, “Keep it steady until we’re off and clear.”

“Yes sir,” said Scott as he undid his harness.

They then made their way towards the rear of the jet where the hatch was. Along the way Danielle got up to join them and so did Emma. However, Emma was still a little hesitant. She didn’t like being kept out of the fight against Selene. But she knew everybody’s trust in her was still shaky at best. At the very least she had to regain the trust of Charles Xavier.

“Have fun, Frost,” muttered Logan under his breath.

“Shut up,” she said bitterly.

Xavier shot her a stern look, reminding her that she was not in his good graces yet and she had best cooperate if she was to have a chance. Luckily, she heeded his silent warning.

Once at the rear of the jet, Xavier opened up the briefcase containing the doses of Mutant Growth Hormone. He took out three syringes. He gave one to Moria and one to Danielle while keeping one for himself. He had used this before when he was first putting his plan to thwart Selene in motion. It was how he was able to so effectively cloak his mind and those of his cohorts. And he was going to need that power again for this fight.

“We’ll be arming ourselves with MGH to make our search quicker,” said Xavier.

“Don’t you need someone to follow along to fly you around the mountain?” asked Sam.

“No need, Samuel,” said Xavier, “MGH not only enhances my telepathy, it gives me advanced telekinetic abilities that I can use for flight and for boring through the rock.”

“Wow, neat!” said Julian, “Does that mean it’ll give me telepathy or something?”

“You’ll have to wait and see for yourself,” said the Black King.

Xavier and Danielle prepared to inject themselves. Emma was about to reach for a dose too. She figured since she was going along for this too she would also get a dose. But Moria denied her.

“Not so fast, lass. You don’t get to use MGH,” she told her.

“What?! Why not? Don’t I deserve as much a boost for this fight as everyone else?” said Emma strongly.

“No,” said Xavier, grunting as he injected the powerful compound into his system, “You do not get the privilege of more power for your transgressions. You’ll have to rely on your own wits.”

“And that’s too bad. You’re missing out,” grinned Danielle as she injected herself as well.

Emma’s expression tensed angrily, but she held her tongue. The last thing she wanted to do was give Charles more reason to punish her. It would be hard enough to do her part without a boost, but she took some comfort in the knowledge that her wits were strong and had served her well.

Emma watched along with the others as Xavier and Danielle tensed somewhat as the compound took effect. All their muscles seemed to contract and there was a brief discomfort. But it soon passed and they soon stood stronger with traces of the new power seething in their eyes. Many couldn’t wait to get their taste of this power as well. Then to the surprise of some they saw Moria prepare to inject herself.

“Wait Lady McTaggart, what are you doing?” said Jubilee with a concerned look.

“Ungh…don’t worry, lass. I’m just joining the fight,” she said, grunting with intent as the compound took effect, “MGH works on humans too. It grants them mutant powers. For me it gives me all the extra strength, agility, and durability Forge mentioned earlier. It also gives me the power to elicit a deafening sonic yell. It should come in handy with breaking rock.”

“A sonic yell?” said Deadpool, “You know there are so many dirty jokes I could make about that I don’t know where to start! Somebody pick a number! Quick!”

“Knock it off, Deadpool! That’s me mother you’re talking about,” scorned Rahne.

Moria laughed as the power took effect. She had come to love this feeling. She always resented being one of the few humans in the Inner Circle. But with MGH she could become every bit as powerful and dangerous as the others. She hoped to one day perfect a process that would make her powers permanent. But for now this would have to do.

Once the MGH took effect, Xavier stood near the hatch with Moria, Emma, and Danielle close behind. Then while Scott and Warpath carefully kept the jet in a state of hover, he turned the latch and opened it. A sharp gust of cool air blew through the jet. The young pawns of the Inner Circle held on as they all turned back to their king to see him off. This was going to be the biggest fight they had ever faced. Their king had brought them this far and now they were going to be on their own for a while.

“Good luck, Lord Xavier,” said Jean.

“Don’t worry about me, my dear,” said the Black King, “In this world you make your own luck. I expect that you will make yours in the battle to come.”

“We will. You can be sure of that,” growled Logan.

“I’m sure I can,” he said with a confident smile, “We’ll catch up soon, my pawns. Until then, be sure you give Selene hell. And rest assured when all this is over, your rewards will be vast and unparalleled.”

The pawns smiled back, watching as their king used his newfound telekinesis to levitate himself and Moria, Danielle, and Emma with him. Then with impressive speeds, he flew out into the crisp mountain air. The clouds were still ominously dark and growing darker by the minute. But nothing was going to stop Charles Xavier or the rest of them from reaching their goal.

Once Xavier and his team was clear, Scott and Warpath took command and activated the jet thrusters. Now they were on their way to the temple. Scott, Jean, Piotr, Rogue, Warpath, Pietro, Logan, Mystique, Bobby, Jubilee, Kitty, Sam, Julian, Rahne, Remy, Ororo, and Deadpool had all come a long way from their place in the Hellfire Club. This would certainly be the ultimate test of their dedication and loyalty. They were all certain that their king would do his part. Now it was time to do theirs.

“Wonder what kind of reward he’s talkin’ about,” pondered Remy.

“Hope it involves boobs and things that explode! Or both!” said Deadpool.

“Worry about rewards later,” said Scott firmly as he took command, “For now, our only concern is Selene! This woman has committed too many unacceptable atrocities! She betrayed us and she betrayed the Hellfire Club! It’s time she start paying for them! So let’s do it! Let’s make sure she suffers!”

Temple of Orcus – Central Ritual Area

While Xavier and his pawns were still making their approach, Selene’s minions worked fast at the behest of their mistress. They followed her strict instructions in unpacking the relics and putting together an elaborate setup in the central sage area of the temple. The many relics and supplies made for quite a display, one that she emphasized would be necessary in order for this ritual to work. Some were just there to add to the overall mystical energy of the room. Having so many together in such close proximity was usually dangerous because it disrupted mystical energy fields, but Selene could care less what instability she caused so long as it did the job.

When her minions were finished, the stage stood in a macabre display of occult power. All around the center stage were special candle stands made of solid gold. In each stand were rows of black candles with specially treated whacks that made them burn extra brighter. In between each stand were small pillars with a series of special statues Selene had been collecting on the side. They were all statues of powerful Hell Lords, which included Mophisto and Dormammu. One she had to steal from Baron Mordu himself, but it was worth it. Inside the rink of candles and statues there were elaborate symbols and markings, a mix of Latin, Hindi, and Olmec text, that traced patterns up and throughout the central stage. They all converged around the twelve-sided shape in the center, which was made up of two six-sided stars that were superimposed on one another. But it was within the symbol where the most potent aspects of the ritual were set to take place.

On each point of the stars, a special pedestal about waist high was set up with a plush red velvet pillow on top. Lying atop each of these pillows was one of the infant mutants that Sinister had created. They had been removed from their incubators and placed bear, wearing nothing but ceremonial cloths that had a specific symbol of the zodiac etched into it. Some of the infants fussed, but Wanda cast a spell to make sure they would stay asleep. Inside the ring of unwitting infants, Selene had four smaller pedestals arranged in two-by-two rows. On each pedestal was a shard of the blood stone. Two were from her private collection, one had been kept in the temple, and the other has been taken from the Hand. They were all neatly laid out, ready to begin. They would act as the catalyst, but not the medium. That task would fall upon the one who stood in the center of it all. Illyana Rasputin, who had been unwittingly abducted to take part in this, was chained by her wrists and ankles in the large doorway that stood in the center. She had also been dressed in a ceremonial outfit that consisted of a yellow bikini-like piece with special matching stockings and graders. She also wore a mysterious necklace with a strange black diamond in the center. She continued to try and resist, but Selene wasn’t having it.

As for Selene herself, she made sure she was dressed for the part. Her attire consisted of a special black corset with elaborate embroiders that just barely contained her ample breasts and a matching thong and gartered stockings with similar embroideries. She also wore an elegant, black hooded cape with elaborate markings. Strapped to her side was an elaborate sword and case, giving her both a regal and warrior-like appearance. And to make sure she truly looked the part, she wore matching black lipstick and her best perfume. There was no way she was going to accept ultimate power without looking the part of a true Hell Goddess.

Now standing in the center of the stage before the podiums with the blood stones, she was finally ready to begin. Many lifetimes of preparation and anticipation had all lead up to this point. She was ready to assume that which was rightfully hers. She was ready to take her rightful place in this disgusting world. Watching from outside the setup, her minions stood and watched. Wanda, Alex, Tabitha, Kurt, Warren, Betsy, Monet, Magneto, Roberto, Sabretooth, Laura, and Lorna were all staying back against the wall, watching with intent. Sabretooth was the only one that didn’t seem to care all that much. He didn’t understand the gravity of what was going on. He was just along for the ride.

“How long is this shit gonna take?” growled Sabretooth, “I got places to go and wolverines to maim!”

“Quiet!” scorned Tabitha, “Save your complaining for after the ritual!”

“I’ll complain whenever the hell I want, bitch!”

“Not for this!” spat Roberto, flashing his solar powers briefly in a threatening manner, “Mistress Selene has spend a long time preparing for this day! And it will NOT be ruined! Especially not by you!”

“Ease up on the fireworks, kid,” growled Sabretooth, shoving him aside, “I’ll be quiet, but I’m just getting bored with all this magic shit.”

“Well don’t worry. It’ll all be over soon,” said Warren in an ominous tone.

Sabretooth rolled his eyes and just leaned back against the wall, hoping this would be over soon. He looked to his right where Laura, Lorna, and Magneto were standing. They all had the same blank looks on their faces they had since the beginning. He almost envied them because they didn’t have to deal with this boring wait. This all had better lead to something. He would go to great lengths to hunt down his enemies, but this was pushing it.

Selene ignored his comments, too caught up in the moment to care. With everything in place she was ready to begin. From her side, she withdrew her sword and held it firmly, summoning within her the dark power that was brewing with such intensity. Everybody could feel it in the air, that cold veil of darkness swarming over them. To her minions it was exciting. But to Illyana, it was sickening.

“Errr! Let me go! I’m warning you! My brother is coming for me! And when he finds you…Augh!”

Illyana’s words were cut off by a sharp hex bolt from Wanda. As Selene’s apprentice, she was the only one who was allowed to be close during this ceremony. She wore attire similar, but less elaborate, than Selene’s. She was standing just outside the twelve-tipped star, holding a dagger and awaiting her mistress’s orders. Kurt was not far behind, keeping a close eye on her as he always did.

“Sorry about that, my mistress,” said Wanda.

“It is of no consequence, my apprentice,” said Selene as she gazed in disapproval at Illyana, “This little whelp has no idea what she’s in for. She still thinks that oafish brother of hers is coming to save her. It’s really pathetic.”

Illyana groaned and tried to say something in response, but Selene wouldn’t let her. She walked up to her and grabbed her young face and looked her in the eye with that cold, penetrating gaze.

“Believe me, Miss Rasputin, I never planned on having you involved in this. But since Charles Xavier destroyed the manor along with some other vital supplies, I have to improvise.”

“Hnn…why me?” she gasped weakly.

“That’s the tricky part,” smirked the Black Queen, “You see, this ritual involves opening a very special ‘gateway’ of sorts. And it just so happens that your mutant powers give you a unique connection to the realm I need to access. You reek of the mystical residue from it. That’s how I was able to locate you so quickly. And now like it or not, you will aid me in completing this last ritual. But consider yourself lucky. By the end you should be torn into oblivion. At least that way you’ll avoid my wrath. I cannot say the same for that brother of yours.”

“Errr…no!” spat Illyana.

“Yes!” seethed Selene as she slapped her hard across the face, effectively silencing her.

With Illyana helpless and unable to resist, Selene returned to the area in front of the four podiums with the blood stones. She started taking deep, intense breaths as if to gather her strength. Another cold wind swept through the temple, hinting at a brewing darkness emerging from every direction. Selene was concentrating all the mystical might she could muster, preparing for the ultimate spell.

“At long last, the reigns of darkness shall fall upon this retched world! I, Selene Galieo, proclaim this era of mortal ineptitude to be over! I say unto thee, dark forces from beyond, open the Gate of Orcus! Reveal to the living realm the very fires of Hell!”

Upon her proclamation she held the sword up high in the air. Every candle and surrounding chandelier flared violently at her gesture. Then in a brilliant display, the sword began glowing in a fiery red halo. It was as if it was burning from the flames of hell itself. From the sword, embers started sparking out and contacting all the elaborate symbols and markings that littered the floors and walls. When it touched every line and contour began glowing in a similar reddish halo. Soon much of the stage was glowing in a bright pulsing aura. It was beautiful in a dark sort of way. Selene seemed to relish in the power, drawing strength from it for this ultimate act.

“Heed my words, forces of beyond! Open thy gate!” she said in a booming tone.

The Black Queen began chanting the ritual phrases. As soon as she did, Illyana began feeling ill again. It was the same feeling she had back at the academy only this time it was much worse. She started groaning in pain, her body contorting in her bound state. It was agonizing and with every word Selene spoke it kept getting worse and worse.

“Ahhhhhhhhhh stop! Please! Make it stop! Make it stop! AHHHHHHHHHHH!”

But Selene kept chanting, gripping her sword harder as more flames shot forth from the sword. She chanted in languages they never heard in any ritual before. They sounded like a mass blend of tongues from every language ever spoken. They wouldn’t be surprised if it was the first language ever. She kept chanting like this for a solid ten minutes, her every word more booming than the last. As she spoke Illyana’s cries grew louder and her body became more and more consumed by the fiery aura. Soon the fires were so intense they were burning in a large column that shot up halfway to the ceiling of the temple. It was all building toward something big.

Her minions watched on in all, waiting with excitement for the next pivotal step. They could feel the tension building. They watched as the flames kept getting brighter. Selene’s eyes were now glowing with the same intensity as the flames around Illyana. Then after a several key phrases, she lowered the sword and pointed it directly at the bound Russian girl. When she did, she let out her most agonizing scream yet. The column of fire started swirling and concentrating around her, completely consuming her to the point where she was no longer visible. The fires eventually coalesced around the doorway, forming a huge wall of fire. This was the Gate of Orcus. This was the gate to Hell itself.

“Yes! YES! The Gate of Orcus has opened!” proclaimed Selene.

“Wow…we’re looking at the actual gate to Hell,” mused Monet.

“I know…how cool is that?” mused Tabitha.

Selene continued gripping the sword, gazing into the burning gate along with her minions. Then through the fiery glow an imposing figure emerged. It was Blackheart, the demonic humanoid creature bearing black demonic skin and the most menacing of red eyes. And when he stepped forth from the gate, Selene walked out from the podium and faced the demonic creature head on.

“Blackheart,” she greeted, “It’s time to make good on the deal we made.”

With a smile nothing short of pure evil, Blackheart spoke in his demonic tone.

“Not bad, Selene. You finally managed to put it all together.”

“As if you expected me to do any less?” she grinned, “It’s all here! Everything we need to do what is necessary! Grant me the last piece and I shall reign hell over this world! Darkness will dominate and the rules that hold us all back shall be shattered!”

“As well it should. You have done your part. Now we shall do ours.”

Then in a macabre, revolting display Blackheart reached into his own chest and pulled out a brilliant red ruby relic. It bore the same appearance as the other four blood stones, only this one was bigger and had a distinctive glow to it.

“I have brought to you the final piece of the blood stone. Use it to unite the others. Then once you have made the appropriate sacrifice, ultimate darkness shall consume you. The power of the Hell Lords will be bestowed upon you and this realm will yield to fires of Hell.”

Seething with intent, Selene accepted the final blood stone from the dark creature. Once it was in her hand she felt a new surge of power. Her face contorted with a mix of madness and intensity. Blackheart grinned at her response. He then slowly made his way back into the gate. He had done what he came to do. It was now time for Selene to finish the job.

“Now it is up to you to complete the ritual, Selene Galieo. Remember that the power that flows through the Gate of Orcus is only temporary. Complete the ritual or face the direst of consequences.”

“Do not concern yourself with time, Blackheart. I always finish what I start,” said Selene with a dark smile.

With the last blood stone in hand, Blackheart stepped back through the portal and into his realm. As soon as he did, the color of the gate changed from bright red to orange. It signaled to Selene that the clock had started. She had to complete this ritual before the energy stopped flowing through the gate. So without hesitation, she returned to the area behind the four podiums where the pieces of the blood stone resided.

“Yes…the end is finally here!” said Selene as she held the final piece of the blood stone over the others, “Wanda, get ready! As soon as the stones are whole again, the sacrifice must be made!”

“Yes Mistress,” said Wanda, “I am ready.”

Wanda stepped forth, holding the ritual dagger intently as she stood over one of the pedestals where one of the babies was sleeping peacefully. When Kurt saw this he tensed, but remained silent. Others took note too.

“Sacrifice? Is she referring to what I think she’s referring to?” said Alex.

“If you’re no fool, then yes,” said Monet in a flat tone, “Are you having second thoughts?”

“No…of course not,” he said quickly.

“Good, then just sit back and enjoy the show,” said Warren, “It’s almost over!”

Selene’s minions continued to watch with morbid fascination. Only Kurt remained distant. Selene stood over the podium holding the stone Blackheart gave her firmly and drawing forth more power. The gate continued to pulse and a new field of energy surrounded the Black Queen. It was so intense many of the minions were forced to take a step back. There was no stopping Selene now. She was going to do this and nobody was going to stand in her way. Centuries of waiting and countless interwoven plans had all come down to this. It was really going to happen. Selene was going to set the world ablaze with Hellfire.

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Up next: The fight against Selene intensified as her ritual takes shape. The end is near for either side and only one can reign. The fate of all may rest in the hands of an unexpected ally.