New Blood III: Triumph of Darkness

New Blood
Chapter 20: New World Order

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X-Industrial – Jean Grey

The days following Selene’s defeat were a blur for many, but they were marked with plenty of eventful changes. Upon defeating her and her minions, they destroyed the Temple of Orcus and helped Amara Aquilla return to the throne of Nova Roma. She was still dazed and traumatized from what happened to her, but witnessing Selene’s defeat gave her a new resolve and she pledged Nova Roma’s allegiance to the Hellfire Club from that day forward. And they were going to need it.

When they returned to New York, they returned to a chaotic situation. The Manor was destroyed and there was still a lot of snooping around on the part of SHIELD and the Avengers. But close allies like Norman Osborn and agents like Forge and Jamie Madrox were able to keep them at bay until Xavier returned. Once he did, he immediately took charge and cleared the scene of any incriminating evidence and began the long arduous process of rebuilding.

For now, the Hellfire Club was going to be run out of the main building at X-Industrial. There Forge was already hard at work getting Cerebrum back online. He and Moria were also working on upgrades to ensure that this system would be more powerful than any before it and it would allow Xavier to exert control to the furthest extent possible. While they were working on it, Xavier and his loyal followers began the tedious process of re-establishing their network. With Selene’s betrayal, many of their allies and rivals broke off and tried to seize power for themselves. Luckily, it was so chaotic none of them could really succeed. And Xavier planned on purging all those who were foolish enough to think that he and the Hellfire Club would just fade away. It was sure to bloody and messy, but it was necessary to re-establish order.

Jean Grey was certain to be part of it. With Selene officially de-powered, she was now the Hellfire Club’s supreme mystic. She had proven with her Phoenix powers that she could wield magic on a grand scale and stand against anyone who threatened the Inner Circle with mystical force. It was a role she looked forward to taking. Now she would be the one leading the rituals, battling malevolent forces, and wielding great power. Not only that, she would have an apprentice to tutor in Illyana Rasputin, a role she greatly looked forward to. With this new power and Scott by her side helping her, she was poised to become a powerful force in the Inner Circle.

But even though she was optimistic about her new role, there were still some unresolved issues. During the battle, mystical forces all over the world had been disrupted as a result of Selene’s ritual. It was part of why Illyana fell so ill for a time. Sorcerers like Dr. Strange and Baron Mordu all reported signs of great disturbances in their powers. But Jean had not. She was unaffected. It didn’t make sense until she eventually surmised why.

As she dwelled on this matter she was in her room, casually gazing out the window of her temporary quarters. She then sensed a familiar presence and found herself smiling even more.

“I had a feeling you’d show up sooner or later,” she said.

“Aww, you ruined the surprise,” said the deep voice of Enchantress as she emerged from the shadows.

Jean turned around to face her teacher and mentor. She hadn’t seen her since this whole mess began, but she owed this woman a lot. She was the one who taught her about magic and she was the one that helped her realize the power of the Phoenix.

“It was you, wasn’t it?” said Jean, “You’re the reason why my powers weren’t affected by Selene’s ritual.”

“I may have thrown a few protection spells around,” she said with her usual vanity, “I simply couldn’t allow my pupil to be hindered by Selene’s meddling.”

“But that’s not the only reason, is it?” grinned Jean.

“Well I also wanted you to be fit to take on Selene when the chance arose. I can’t tell you how satisfying it was to see her suffer like that.”

“I’m sure it was. What about the Phoenix? Did you help with that?”

“Oh no, my dear pupil. That was all you,” said Enchantress with great pride, “You’re the one who finally realized your true power. And as such, you do not need any further lessons from me. From here on out, you must develop your power on your own.”

“You think I’m ready for it?”

“Jean, you went head to head against Selene and took her down. I’d say you’re plenty ready,” said Enchantress with an approving grin.

Jean smiled back, approaching her mentor and bowing respectfully. She was lucky to get such training from a real Asgardian goddess. She may not be the friendliest person in the world or the most charming, but she still had a special relationship with this woman. And she would need everything she learned from her to shape her emerging future.

“So I guess that means no more lessons?” said Jean with a touch of sadness.

“Asgard is in quite a bit of disarray as a result of Selene’s stunt. Odin has required every god of Asgard to contribute in rebuilding it. And of course he’ll need me. But I’m not worried about the affairs of Midgard. I’m sure you and your comrades will manage it well.”

“You can be sure of that,” said Jean confidently, “So I guess this is goodbye?”

Enchantress placed an affectionate hand on her pupil’s shoulder. She didn’t usually care much for mortals, but Jean Grey was special. She had proven herself worthy of the approval of a goddess.

“For now, at least,” she said, “I’ll check in on you and your new pupil from time to time. Just remember that the power you wield is vast. It’s every bit as vast as the power Selene wielded so you must be careful. It’s not enough to just wield it. You must wield it wisely. Do so with strength and confidence and it’ll serve you well in this life and the one to come.”

“I will, Enchantress,” vowed Jean, “You have my word.”

“Good girl,” grinned the Asgardian goddess, “Please send my regards to Charles and good luck with your new order. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must grace Asgard with my presence once more.”

With one final gesture, Enchantress cast a spell that transported her back to her home. A glowing ball of yellow light consumed her and Jean watched and waved goodbye as she disappeared. It was somewhat sad that she wouldn’t get a chance to see her teacher as much anymore. There was still so much she wanted to learn. But Enchantress had always been strict about having her gain knowledge on her own. It wasn’t the most compassionate way to teach, but it did her well. Now Jean Grey was going to have to expand her powers on her own. But with the lessons she learned under the Asgardian goddess, she was confident she could make her proud and do her part as wielder of the Phoenix.

Jean felt a new sense of confidence in herself now that this matter was resolved. She still had other issues to work out. Most notably, the issue with Emma Frost still lingered. Xavier promised she would be a part of the process that dealt with her transgressions. But she urged her to be reasonable since Emma did show remorse and did make an effort to help them. That wasn’t going to be easy when that woman tried to steal her lover, but she understood the need for understanding. After all, she wanted to avoid becoming like Selene.

X-Industrial – Holding Cells

Family affairs in the Hellfire Club had always been tricky. In an organization where traditionally anybody’s power base was unstable, maintaining family bonds had always been a challenge. Scott and Pietro had experienced first hand just how challenging it was. They both got their families involved in this organization. And they both experienced them betraying them and joining Selene. For Alex it was voluntary. For Lorna it was involuntary. It created quite a mess between them and now that Selene was defeated, they were left to pick up all the pieces.

At the moment Scott and Pietro were with Lorna and Alex in a holding cell. Lorna, having been controlled by Selene through a love spell, was given leniency for her misdeeds. She was expected to regain her full role. Alex, however, wouldn’t be so lucky. As someone who fell deeply into Selene’s grasp, he suffered Mephisto’s punishment. His free will had been taken away and so was much of his personality. Now his existence was one big daze. His expression was always blank and he only spoke when someone told him to. For Scott it gave him mixed feelings. Lorna had them as well. Right now she was sitting next to him, holding his hand and contemplating where they would go from here.

“Damn you, Alex. Why did you have to do it?” said Scott as he looked into the dazed eyes of his younger brother, “Why did you have to give in?”

“I don’t think he’ll be able to answer that anytime soon,” said Pietro, “I’ve already asked Wanda the same question a hundred times. I guess we’ll never know.”

“I guess so,” sighed Scott, “But I can’t help but think I could have done something different. Alex and I were always at each others’ throats. Maybe I pushed him away too much. Maybe I wasn’t understanding or reasonable enough.”

“Or maybe they were just destined for darkness,” said Pietro, “I don’t think it would have made much of a difference. Wanda, like my father, just had a tendency to walk the wrong paths. Sometimes you just can’t avoid it.”

“I know, but still…”

Scott continued to wonder. Ever since their parents died, he took it upon himself to look after Alex. But too many forces were working against them. Alex ended up getting adopted while he joined the Hellfire Club. And Alex had always had a very loose and uncoordinated personality. It almost seemed inevitable that it would lead him to this.

Lorna, however, didn’t walk that path. She was tempted by Selene just as he was, but she resisted. She was able to resist the darkness. And she would be rewarded for it. She kept her free will, her powers, and her role. But for all the pain Alex ended up causing her, she still remembered the special bond they shared.

“So what’s going to happen to him?” asked Lorna.

“I don’t know yet. That’s up to Lord Xavier to decide,” said Scott, “But brother or no brother, he will be punished.”

“I know. I’m not saying he shouldn’t. But I still hope we can hold onto some of those feelings we had before Selene came in.”

“Why would you want that, Lorna?” said Pietro with a look of surprise, “It was all a spell, remember? Selene just used a love spell on you so you would be her minion.”

“Spell or no spell, the feelings I had for Alex were still there,” said Lorna as she affectionately caressed his face, “And as crazy as it may seem, they still are. Alex and I shared a lot of good times together. And even though he’s a different person now, I don’t want to lose that.”

“But he was irrational, stubborn, and just plain annoying at times!” argued Pietro, “How can you care for him?”

Lorna just laughed as she turned towards Pietro with a coy grin.

“The same way I can care for you, I guess. It’s just one of those things you can’t explain, but you know in your heart.”

Pietro mumbled a curse under his breath and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. Scott couldn’t help but chuckle a bit as well. But she had a point. There were just some feelings that can’t be ignored. He had those feelings for Jean and he had similar feelings for his brother. For all the bitterness and resentment that plagued their relationship, he still loved his brother as any brother should. Looking down at his blank expression, he place a hand on his shoulder and then turned to Lorna.

“We’ll still take care of him. That you can be sure of,” said Scott, “Lord Xavier is too reasonable to ignore these things.”

“I hope so,” said Lorna as she stayed close to Alex, “But at least now he’ll be easier to deal with.”

“That’s for sure,” said Scott with a smile, “And I’m sure you’ll be able to keep him company when I can’t. I know I can’t apologize for my brother’s deeds or his faults. But I’m glad he has someone like you to watch over him.”

“Thanks Scott,” smiled Lorna, “I promise I’ll do as much for him as I can. And Pietro will help, right?”

Pietro groaned again, but Lorna gave him that wanting look that always seemed to have an effect on him. He could never seem to escape it because he had too much a soft spot for her.

“Fine,” he sighed, “But I don’t have to like it. And I still get to punch him every now and then!”

“Can’t say I would expect anything less from you, Pietro,” said Scott as he gave him a friendly punch on the shoulder.

Taking one last look at his brother, Scott sighed to himself and prepared to make his leave. He was confident that Alex would be in good hands with Lorna and Pietro wouldn’t go too far so long as Lorna kept him in line. Pietro may not understand what it meant to have feelings for someone despite all the hardships between them, but he did. And it was something he still had to deal with concerning the situation between Jean and Emma.

“Where are you going?” asked Lorna as she watched Scott walk off.

“I have something else to take care of,” said Scott, “Thanks again, Lorna. My brother will never appreciate how lucky he is to have someone like you.”

Lorna smiled and waved goodbye. Pietro did as well, but he remained somewhat bitter. He still didn’t like Alex and seeing Lorna holding his hand with such affection was tough to watch. At least now Alex wouldn’t give him an attitude anymore. And he had no intention of criticizing Lorna for it either. He made so many mistakes with Wanda and his father. He swore to himself he wouldn’t make those mistakes with Lorna and now that she was okay and by his side, he was confident in their future as a family.

“Are you always going to give me that look?” said Lorna with a smirk.

“I’m your brother, Lorna. I’ll always be giving you looks,” said Pietro in a more serious tone, “Just know that I’ve lost a lot through all this. Our father’s dead and Wanda is facing the same fate as Alex.”

“Yes, I haven’t forgotten,” said Lorna, matching his tone, “What are we going to do for them? I do think we should at least bury our father.”

“We will,” said Pietro, placing a hand on her shoulder, “But whatever happens between us or others just know that we’ll always be a family. And I don’t want to lose you like I did everybody else in my life.”

“Don’t worry. You never will,” assured Lorna.

The two half-siblings shared a warm smile. It was amazing to think that not long ago they didn’t even know each other. Now they were as much a family as any other. The Hellfire Club would give them many opportunities to grow and bond. There would be many other opportunities for them to grow apart as well. But having made so many mistakes before, Pietro and Lorna were confident they could make the right decisions from now on. They lost much of their family, but they weren’t going to lose each other.

Outside Holding Cells

Emma Frost had a lot of time to think since this mess with Selene was resolved. Because of the role she played in aiding Selene’s betrayal, she was going to be reprimanded like the others. It wouldn’t be as severe or as permanent, but she would be punished. She already spared herself some of the damage. She kept her free will and spirit. She wasn’t being kept in a holding cell, but until her punishment was given she was prohibited from leaving X-Industrial. She couldn’t go shopping, work the clubs, or anything of the sort. But it wasn’t her pending punishment that had her worried.

Not that it was over she had time to reflect on what led her to this predicament. It all started with Scott and the plan she had to make him fall in love with her. The plan failed and she was left heartbroken and enraged. And in her rage she was willing to help Selene in order to get back. But the price of such vengeance ended up being too high. She still harbored resentment towards Scott and Jean for making her live through the pain of heartbreak again. But bitterness aside, a part of her still felt for Scott. And she didn’t want to go back to being cold, angry, and lonely.

She found herself walking aimlessly throughout the X-Industrial building, just letting her thoughts wander. She eventually found herself walking around the secure area just outside the holding cells. It was one of the quietest areas in the building at the moment. Then while she was casually pacing back and forth around the main entrance, the door opened and Scott and Jean stepped through. When she saw them she froze. They each bore a look of bitterness upon seeing her, but there was no burning anger or pure hatred. They just looked eager to confront her.

“We need to talk, Emma,” said Scott in a serous tone.

“Nice to see you too, darling,” muttered the blonde telepath, “I had a feeling this would come up.”

“Are you going to be snide about it or are you going to listen?” said Jean, showing more bitterness than her lover, “Because you’ll just be making it harder on yourself.”

“Believe me, Jean, there’s nothing you could say or do to me to make this any worse,” said Emma, “If you want to talk about this, let’s just talk.”

Jean held back her anger. Scott stayed close to her, trying to keep her calm since she was a lot more worked up about this than he was. She had no former friendship with the attractive blonde and she never got a chance to call her out for what she did. But she promised Scott she would try to be reasonable so they could move on from this.

“You tried to steal my lover,” Jean started off, approaching Emma with an apprehensive look, “You tried to warp his mind to your will just like Selene warped the minds of so many others to hers.”

“I know. You don’t have to remind me,” muttered Emma, her face hardened despite Jean’s gaze, “I hate myself enough for it.”

“Then why did you do it? Why did you have to stoop so low? If you thought for more than two seconds about this you would have known you were helping Selene! Why couldn’t you have just left it alone?!”

“Jean…” said Scott, putting a hand on her shoulder to calm her down.

Her words were harsh, but Emma’s hardened expression didn’t wane. And she wasn’t going to hide from the truth.

“Because seeing you with Scott disgusted me,” she said bluntly, “I sat by for years and watched you two grow so close. And in that same time I started spending time with Scott as well, opening up to him just as you once told me to. I didn’t expect it to happen. I didn’t even want it to happen. But it did. I fell in love with you, Scott. Say what you will about me, but that part of it was always true. And in some ways it still is.”

Jean’s expression contorted with anger again. But she managed to calm herself down. As much as she resented Emma, she knew she was telling the truth about her feelings for Scott. She knew those feelings well and she knew how strong they were. With that in mind, her actions seemed somewhat more understandable. But they still weren’t forgivable.

“That doesn’t make what you did any less damning,” said Jean.

“And it doesn’t gain you any sympathy either,” added Scott, “But Jean and I have talked about this. We do understand how strong these feelings are and what they can drive you to.”

Scott then stepped forward, looking at Emma with a mix of understanding and anger. He hated what she did, but he didn’t forget that at one point he did see her as a friend.

“I understand you were heartbroken after I stopped you,” said Scott, “I don’t blame you for wanting to get even because that’s who you are, Emma. You’re a predator who does not take things lying down. But you went too far when you helped Selene.”

“I know,” she said, her hardened expression waning under his gaze.

“Jean and I were tortured, raped, and brutalized,” Scott went on, “We suffered in ways that defy description. So if you wanted us to suffer for your personal pain, you succeeded. But you went beyond simple vengeance. You didn’t just hurt and betray us. You hurt and betrayed everybody. And we to know that you feel remorse.”

Emma shifted uncomfortably. She had done a lot of bad things in her life and there were very few instances where she felt any remorse for them. Scott was right about her being a predator. It was part of who she was. But she was not without her limits. She could still feel guilt for something she truly regretted. And for first time in a long while, a look of sorrow fell upon her.

“I do feel remorse,” she said, “You know I do. If I haven’t made that clear since this mess began how can I? I’ve had my heart broken before and it left me very messed up to say the least. I know that isn’t an excuse. But for what I’ve done to you and Jean, at least understand that I really am sorry. And I’m ready to accept whatever punishment comes my way.”

Jean was almost taken aback when she heard the word “sorry” come from the mouth of Emma Frost. She was inclined to scoff, but she could sense how serious she was. While she digested that, Scott continued.

“Emma, we spent four years as friends,” he said, “And for everything we’ve been through, I don’t want to forget that. I don’t want to lose it either. But you have to accept that I love Jean. I can never love you the way I love her.”

“I know. You’ve made that abundantly clear before,” said Emma in a bitter tone.

“But I need you to understand that now. And I need to know you can move on from it. I can still be your friend. But I can’t be your lover and I can’t forget about what you did. Can you at least promise me that?”

Emma looked at Jean and then at Scott. As much anger as she had inside, she still couldn’t forget what she once had with him. And she didn’t want to lose it either.

“I can’t promise you I’ll just forget what I felt about you. But I can promise I will get through it eventually. Just don’t expect me to do it with a smile.”

“I never would,” said Scott, managing a slight smile, “But while we’re working through this, you will have to face the consequences to your actions. We can’t change that, but Jean and I did talk to Lord Xavier. And we may have a way to make it more appropriate and reasonable for each of us.”

“How would it be any better than anything the others will get?” she said skeptically.

“Just hear us out,” said Jean in a slightly annoyed tone, “Trust me, if I had my way you would suffer more. But seeing as how you really didn’t intend to help Selene and you did apologize, we can still be reasonable.”

Emma wasn’t sure how to react. A punishment from the Hellfire Club was bound to be harsh by any measure, but if Jean was willing to look past her anger it was worth hearing out.

“It goes like this…” said Scott, “You’re going to have to work under everybody from now on. You’ll be taking on more menial duties that you may not find glamorous, but they’ll still be worlds apart from what others will endure. Your power and influence with the Inner Circle will be severely restricted. But unlike the others, you’ll still be able to enjoy some of the Hellfire Club’s luxuries.”

“I expected as such, but somehow I know there’s more,” said Emma.

“There is,” said Scott, “Since you hurt us the most, Lord Xavier has tasked us with being your primary superiors. That means you won’t be reporting to him or anyone else anymore. You’ll be reporting to us.”

“And that means doing whatever we say,” said Jean, emphasizing that point.

Emma cringed somewhat at the notion of Jean dictating her roles. But Scott gave her a reassuring look to let her know they were not going to share in Selene’s cruelty. They were going to punish her, but within reason.

“Is that all?” she asked.

“There is one other thing,” said Scott, his expression shifting somewhat, “Remember how you went to such lengths to ‘repay’ me that night this all started? How you put on such an elaborate sexual escapade for me that was so nice until you pulled that stunt with the paralysis disk?”

“Yes…I remember,” said Emma with a mix of bitterness and curiosity.

“Well while you’re serving your punishment, plan on making similar ‘repayments’ regularly to both me and Jean. I know you’re not shy about using her sexuality. So prepare to use it even more for us.”

Emma shifted a bit. The idea of her having to repay some of her debt with sex wasn’t too bad to her. She did enjoy that little ‘repayment’ she did for Scott before it all went bad. It seemed appropriate that she would have to do it again.

“I’m sure I can manage that,” she said with a half smile, “But I assume it won’t just be you. How will I repay Jean that way? I’m sure I’ll have change it up so to speak.”

“Oh don’t worry about that. I assure you I have a few rituals in mind that may help with that,” said Jean with a mischievous grin, “And over time if we’re satisfied with your duties, you will get a chance to work your way up again. You just have to be willing to accept this as a debt you have to repay, not to us but to the Hellfire Club as a whole.”

It wasn’t the worst punishment she could have had. There were so many other terrible things they could have inflicted on her. But as harsh as it sounded having to work at the bottom of the power base for a while and follow the whims of Scott and Jean, it was still bearable. Jean may make it rough on her, but at least Scott would be there to keep her from going too overboard. He wouldn’t be easy on her either, but at least he was willing to look past the anger and bitterness to salvage what they once had.

“If that’s how it has to be…so be it,” sighed Emma, “But don’t think for a second I’ll be any less predatory in the end.”

“I know,” said Scott with a grin, “You’re still Emma Frost. Neither of us wants to change that. We just want to do what has to be done.”

“Don’t we all?” she said, managing a smile as well, “But if I’m going to endure this and work on getting past old feelings, can I at least expect the two of you to do the same?”

Now it was Jean’s turn to smile. As much as she hated Emma for what she did, she was not without understanding. There was no undoing the past so the best they could do was build towards a better future. She and Emma may never be friends in the long run, but they could at least learn to tolerate one another.

“You have my word, Emma,” said Jean, “I promise if you do your part then I’ll do mine. Just don’t try any more stunts on our love.”

“Fair enough,” she sighed, “That still doesn’t mean I have to like it though.”

“We’re not expecting you to,” said Scott, “We’re just expecting you to do what you do best and tough it out.”

That earned one last smile from Emma Frost. As hard as this had been on all of them, it was nice to finally work it out. There was still sure to be bitterness. Emma would always remember those feelings she had for Scott and Scott and Jean were going to remember what she did to them in her heartbroken rage. But this was something they were all going to have to put behind them. Emma Frost had helped them enough in the fight against Selene to keep herself in the Inner Circle. They may never be able to completely work through the bitterness, but at least they could come to an understanding.

X-Industrial Infirmary – Laura

The battle against Selene had been arduous both physically and mentally for Laura Kinney. For a brief time she reverted back to being what her creators trained her to be. She became a soulless, mindless, obedient killer. And she followed the whims of Selene of all people. That more than anything sickened her. She had only vague memories of what happened. She remembered fighting the others and she remembered Sabretooth raping her while she was under control. Those were sure to be nightmares that she was going to have to contend with, but she had pulled herself together from this before. She could do it again.

In the infirmary, Forge and a number of Hellfire doctors gave her a thorough checkup to make sure the trigger scent was completely out of her system and that she was stable enough to return to her active role. Since Selene had taken control of her against her will, Lord Xavier was willing to show leniency. She was still going to have to work her way up, but she didn’t mind so long as she had her free will and sanity back. She swore to her mother before she died that she would never let herself be controlled again and she had every intention of keeping that promise.

During the checkup, Logan and Julian stayed with her. They gave her encouragement and kept her company through the whole ordeal, knowing how much she hated infirmaries and doctors. Once Forge gave the green light and declared her healthy and ready, he and the other doctors cleared out. She was told to rest for a bit to regain her strength. But exhaustion was the last thing on her mind right now. Her focus remained on Julian and Logan.

“Looks like you get a clean bill of health, Laura,” said Logan as he sat near her bedside, “You’re gonna be okay.”

“Yes…I guess that’s good news,” she said distantly, “But what that woman did to me…I don’t think I’ll be forgetting it anytime soon.”

“Can’t say I blame you,” said Logan, offering her a comforting gesture, “But we’ll all be dealing with shit like that. Selene worked everyone over good. I know she took it a step further with you, but we’ll work through it. You got a lot going for you and just remember I’m always here if you need help.”

Laura managed a slight smile at his gesture. Logan wasn’t much for affection, but he did care for those close to him and with his help she was confident she could get through this and become stronger.

“Thank you, Logan,” she said, “I know things between us have never been easy, but I’m glad you found me. And I can’t thank you enough for giving me this chance at a new life.”

“Don’t mention it,” he said with his wolfish grin, “You’re my blood. That makes you family. And I made you a promise, remember? I told you I’d get you away from a life of running from the past. This is just me keeping that promise.”

“And I’m making you one as well,” she said strongly, “I promise I’ll be strong for you and the Hellfire Club. And I’ll never let anyone control me again. If they try, I’ll make them suffer.”

“That’s my girl,” said Logan proudly.

The two shared another smile. Logan and Laura had come a long way since he found her in Tijuana. They both had dark pasts and struggled with anger and bitterness. But they came together and helped one another. They really were like a family in a strange way. They were anything but normal, but that didn’t bother them in the slightest.

With one final gesture Logan got up to let Laura rest. He had other matters to work out as well and he trusted Laura would be okay. His eyes then fell on Julian, who had been sitting in a chair next to her bed the whole time. He had a feeling he and Laura would be getting a lot closer soon. But he still made sure Julian understood that Laura was important to him. He cast him a look of warning to remind him that if he ever hurt her, he would have to deal with him.

“Rest up, kid,” said Logan, “I’ll see ya around.”

“Thanks Logan,” said Laura as she settled into the bed, “But for the last time don’t call me kid!”

“Just checkin’ to make sure you still got the spirit,” he grinned, “Guess this means you do. Just don’t expect me to stop reminding you anytime soon.”

Despite Laura’s annoyed tone, Logan kept grinning as he made his way towards the door. Along the way he looked at Julian again and nodded. Then just as he left he closed the door and sealed it so they would have some privacy. Julian got the message and wasn’t about to pass up an opportunity given to him by Wolverine.

Julian Keller had come a long way from being the rebellious, cynical, sometimes deviant young man who once worked a boring job at X-Industrial. He came into the Hellfire Club looking to do more and make his place. He expected to learn a lot of things and become more than his parents ever could have hoped for. But he never expected to come across someone like Laura. He connected with her in a way he never expected. And after what happened in the fight against Selene where he had to go into her mind and save her, he could no longer avoid the truth. Laura was so different from any other girl he knew. And now that they would be rebuilding, it couldn’t hurt to take it to the next level.

Getting up from his chair, Julian sat down next to her on the bed. Laura found herself rising up as well, looking him in the eye with that powerful gaze that always had such an effect on him. Only this time his gaze was affecting her as well. She knew she owed this boy her life for what he did. Now it left them at an interesting impasse.

“So…” said Julian, already feeling awkward.

“So…” repeated Laura, “I guess I should thank you too. You really came through for me, helping me regain my memories and get control of myself again.”

“Ah it was nothing,” smirked Julian, “But uh…there’s been something else on my mind since this all went down. I think we both know what it is and we should confront it.”

Laura was silent. She did know what he was referring to. Before all this happened they had been getting closer and more intimate. She started feeling things for him that she didn’t expect and he seemed to return those feelings. They never had a chance to come together and work them out. Now after everything that had happened, it seemed an appropriate time to do so.

“I…I’m not sure how,” said Laura, looking away distantly, “You know I’ve never been good with emotions. There are still some that I’m trying to make sense of.”

Julian smiled and moved in closer, taking her hand in hers.

“That’s just it. I don’t think you can make sense of feelings like these. They really are beyond rationalizing and understanding. I know that may sound kind of sappy, but it’s true.”

“So if we can’t understand them, what do we do?” asked Laura, now looking Julian desperately in the eye.

Julian paused for a moment. So much of the connection they shared grew off from unexpected, sometimes unusual moments that just happened without warning. It was Laura who so started them down this road with her bluntness. Keeping with that spirit, Julian took a deep breath and just came out and said it.

“We can start by just admitting it,” he said, “Here, I’ll go first. Laura Kinney…I’m in love with you. And uh…I think you feel the same way.”

Laura froze for a moment as she processed that. Her gaze never left his. Julian’s hands were literally shaking as he tried to keep himself together with this. But Laura found herself holding them closer as her expression shifted.

“That was too awkward wasn’t it?” he said anxiously.

“No…not at all,” she said with a reassuring gesture, “I just…the only love I ever knew was the love my mother had for me. And since I met you I’ve discovered a different kind of love. I…I can’t explain it. I don’t understand where it came from. But I know it’s there. And I guess…I guess I do feel the same way.”

Julian let out a sigh of relief.

“Wow…I don’t know what else to say,” he said.

“You don’t have to say anything, Julian,” said Laura with a warm smile, “You were there for me and you helped save me. For someone who has done so many horrible things, I couldn’t have asked for someone better to share this feeling with.”

Then in her usual blunt manner, she pulled Julian into a passionate kiss. It was unexpected, but Julian had become used to that with her and quickly found himself embracing it. Everything seemed to come together. Julian slipped his arms around her and embraced her closely while she snaked her arms around his neck and embraced back. It gave them both a warm feeling inside, one they had never felt with anyone else. They soon found themselves lost in it, immersed in passion as their lips wrestled and touched. It was a fitting way to come together and start something new for the future.

When they finally parted, they remained in an embrace. Laura kept staring passionately into the eyes of the young man before her and Julian kept smiling. They were both overwhelmed by this feeling, but there was still so much more they wanted to get out.

“You never cease to amaze me, Laura,” said Julian warmly.

“And you never cease to look so cute when your surprised,” quipped Laura.

“What can I say? I like surprises,” he shrugged, “So what now? Where do we go from here?”

Laura’s smiled widened. Then Julian felt her pull her in closer in a very sensual manner.

“Let’s make love right here in this bed,” she said, “That seems appropriate.”

That same surprised look that Laura thought was so cute returned to Julian’s face.

“You mean it? I mean, not that I don’t want to, but after everything we just went through?” he said awkwardly.

“Yes, I mean it,” said Laura bluntly, “If we’re going to be together shouldn’t we start making love? I may be tired, but I’m not too tired for this.”

Julian shook his head in amazement. This girl was beyond belief. No wonder he fell so hard for her. Only someone like Laura could go through something like this and still have the strength to make love afterwards.

“Can’t argue with that logic,” he shrugged.

“Good, then stop talking and start kissing me.”

“Yes ma’am!”

Julian did as she said and they came together in another kiss. This time it was more passionate. Their lips meshed seamlessly and their tongues started twirling together. Their hands began roaming over one another’s bodies, exchanging in deep affectionate touching. Soon Laura was lying on her back with Julian on top of her. They sank into each other’s embrace, enjoying the warm feeling of their bodies. It was far deeper than anything they had done before and built up a powerful arousal between them.

As they kissed, they began removing each others’ clothes. Laura pulled off Julian’s shirt over his head and Julian did the same for her. She hadn’t been wearing a bra so once the shirt was off Julian grasped her exposed breasts, evoking a deep moan from her. As he kissed down her cleavage he slipped his hands down to her waist where he undid her pants and slid them down her legs along with her underwear. Laura lifted her hips so he could get them completely off. Once he tossed them aside he smiled at the sight of her nude form. He could see the arousal building between her legs as the folds of her vagina grew wet with arousal. Tracing his hands back up her hips, Julian got on top of her again where the kissing resumed. As they exchanged more passionate gestures, Julian affectionately felt around her naked body. It got Laura even more aroused and got him pretty aroused as well. She could already feel a large bulge in his pants and she yearned to feel it more. -

With their lips still locked, Laura rolled Julian over so that she was on top now. From this position she affectionately trailed her lips down his neck and upper body. Julian closed his eyes and moaned in contentment as he felt her hungry lips all over him. She trailed all the way down his chest and core. Along the way she undid his pants and gave them a hard tug, freeing his growing erection. Once she got them completely off she tossed them aside and crawled back on top of him, following both her feral desires and her the burning passion.

Now fully naked, Laura and Julian held each other in a naked embrace and passionately made out. Normally Laura would have just started riding him, but that didn’t feel appropriate for something like this. This wasn’t just about sex. There were so many other feelings involved and they wanted to embrace every one of them. Every kiss and touch was full of feeling. And as was customary for them they were very blunt in every intent. It wasn’t fancy or elaborate. It was just raw passion.

Following this feeling further, they positioned their bodies for the next step. While still locked in an embrace, Laura straddled Julian’s hips and positioned herself over his erect member. Julian grabbed a firm hold of her hips and helped guide her down onto his dick. Then with a hard jerk of her hips, Laura plunged down onto him and let out a seep moan as her hot womanly depths were filled with his length.

“Ohhhhh Julian-uh-uh-ohhhh I feel it-uh-oh it feels so good!” Laura cried out.

“Mmm-uh-uh-Laura-uh-ohhhhh yeah-uh-oh you’re beautiful!” moaned Julian.

Clinging to each other passionately, Laura and Julian moved their bodies in a nice heated rhythm. It wasn’t as vigorous or rough as usual, but it was every bit as intense. Laura held onto Julian’s shoulders as she bounced her hips and down, the tight inner muscles of her vagina slithering up and down his ridged penis. Through the powerful rhythm they kept kissing and touching, letting their feelings for one another guide them through this intimate act. They kept the pace steady, focusing not on just getting their climax, but really drawing it out. It was a different kind of feeling, one that Laura had to slow herself down with sometimes. But they kept it going, their naked bodies meshing in a blissful heat.

They worked it nice and hard, drawing it out as long as they could until they could no longer hold back their orgasms. Laura could feel hers building up and moved her hips with greater vigor as it drew near. Julian was close too. He gripped her hips firmer and started thrusting upwards, driving his dick into her even deeper. Their moans intensified as they kept getting closer. Laura rose up a bit so she was upright, arching her body back and holding onto Julian’s hips as she bounced her body more vigorously. To Julian she looked so beautiful, as if she was dancing on top of him. Then her climax hit.

“OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” she roared with feral passion.

Laura closed her eyes and arched her body as waves of orgasmic bliss consumed her. Her inner muscles clamped down on Julian’s member, releasing her womanly fluids all over him. When Julian felt this extra tightness he climaxed as well, let out a sharp gasp as he sprayed his load inside her depths. It was mind-numbingly good, filling the young lovers with waves of pleasure. The sensations fueled the feelings, making them feel much more intimate than the usual sex they had. Logan once told her having sex and making love were very different. Now she knew first hand just how different it was.

When the sensations passed Julian rose up and took Laura back in his arms. There they shared another passionate kiss. They were still reeling from the feeling and for a moment they just held one another and stared back in a passionate daze.

“I love you, Laura,” said Julian breathlessly.

“I love you too, Julian.”

Smiling warmly, they resumed their kissing. It was a blunt, fitting way to sum up everything that had happened with them and how they came together. They didn’t need any other words. Laura and Julian knew how they felt about one another. They could take care of everything else with gestures.

Still burning with passion, Laura and Julian kept making love. They made out for a while in a sitting position. Then Laura got back on top and shifted her body so they were in a 69 position with her sucking his member while he licked and teased the throbbing folds of her pussy. After a nice long round of oral teasing they went at it again for another round. Julian got on top this time, positioning himself between her legs and holding them apart as he drove his dick back into her pussy. From there he thrust in and out of her with the same vigor as she had done earlier with him. Laura held onto his shoulders the whole time, moving with him until they shared another blissful climax. From there they kept going at it from other positions. Laura got on her hands and knees so Julian could do her from behind, holding onto her hips with one hand and fondling her dangling breasts with the other as their bodies rocked in a heated rhythm. After riding that position to another climax Laura fell onto her side and Julian got behind her where he kept thrusting into her some more, reaching around and fondling her clit as he did. They kept doing it in other positions, drawing it out and sharing more blissful peaks together. And every step of the way the passion still burned.

Laura and Julian pushed their limits, making love until they were too exhausted to go on. For the final climax together, Julian got on top of her again and just let his body fall down against hers. With his hands on her hips and her legs hooked tightly around his waist, they worked their bodies back and forth, Julian driving his dick in and out of Laura’s pussy for one final round. They went at it much slower this time, savoring every last feeling. They kept kissing and touching, the warm sensations fueling their emotions. They held on until the last blissful orgasm consumed them. This time they had it together, clinging to each other as the waves of pleasure surged through them. And when the final feeling passed they just held each other and smiled, sharing one last kiss before they rolled off one another and gave into exhaustion.

The circumstance of their love was anything but normal. The lives they lived were far from normal too. They were ruthless operatives of the Hellfire Club yet they still had this capacity for true intimacy. They didn’t expect to come together like this. They were from two very different worlds. Laura was a former living weapon. Julian was a rebellious son of a couple of billionaires. Yet they still found something special together. There was a certain connection and closeness. And they continued their work with the Hellfire Club, helping it rebuild for the future, it was sure to blossom.

X-Industrial – Secondary Cells

Mystique knew she was no mother of the year. She also knew she was no role model. She had many character flaws and personal issues that affected anybody she got close to. But she still had a genuine love for her children and wanted only what was best for them. That was why she brought them into the Hellfire Club in the first place. She felt they could grow and mature here in ways they could never do anywhere else. And they had grown. Kurt and Rogue grew into powerful operatives of the Hellfire Club. But along the way, her son Kurt took a different path that led him into Selene’s dark grasp.

With Selene defeated, Kurt was now sitting in a holding cell with a weak and distant Wanda Maximoff by his side. Unlike the others, he hadn’t totally lost himself to Mephisto’s punishment. It seemed strange for a time, but considering how he did help delay Selene’s ritual he may have gotten some light reprieve. But he still wasn’t the same person. He was distant and submissive, yet still retained some of the defining traits that made him who he was. And one of those traits was his love for Wanda.

Watching him from a window outside the cell, Mystique and Rogue contemplated what would come of them.

“Ah guess you were right about him, mama,” said Rogue distantly, “He did come through for us in the end.”

“I suppose,” sighed the shape shifter, “But it still came at a high price. If only he had overcome Selene’s influence sooner maybe we could have salvaged more.”

“Try not to think about that, mama,” said Rogue, placing her hand on her shoulder, “We still got through to him and he helped us. That’s gonna earn him some leeway.”

“But not a lot,” said Mystique distantly, “He’ll still have to pay the price. But at least it’ll be more tolerable. And I can be there for him to ensure he doesn’t go down the same path again.”

“So can Ah,” said Rogue.

Mystique managed a brief smile and so did Rogue. For all the mistakes she made with Kurt, at least she still had Rogue by her side. She showed the kind of strength through this fight that filled her with great pride.

“We’ll get through this,” Rogue assured her, “And Kurt will too. He made mistakes, but even after bein’ controlled by Selene for so long he was still able to fight through it at the end. Ah think that really says something about him.”

“I’d like to think so,” said Raven, “And I guess he was right about us too. We did stop him when we had to. It’s just going to be strange now dealing with him. He’s changed so much.”

“Tell meh about it. While Ah can’t complain about him bein’ a bit more submissive, it still baffles meh to no end that he still clings to Wanda. Jean said she put a love spell on him. But that spell was broken as soon as we beat Selene. And yet he still loves her.”

Mystique found herself smiling again, watching as Kurt lovingly held Wanda close to him. He let her rest her head on his shoulder, smiling warmly at her and kissing her softly. She used to be the greatest cynic of love and romance, but since she opened up to Logan all that had changed.

“Love is a powerful feeling, Rogue,” she said, “Whether it’s the love you have for a child or the love you have for soul mate, it can transcend even Selene’s darkness.”

“It still doesn’t make any sense,” muttered Rogue.

“Love isn’t supposed to make sense. Now that you’re psychic you should understand that. The spell on Kurt didn’t create those feelings. It just played off them to control his will. So even after the spell is gone, those feelings remain. And they’re still strong. I don’t see him forgetting them anytime soon.”

Rogue looked at Kurt and then back at her mother. She shook her head and laughed. She never though she would see the day when her mother became a romantic, but in a place like this anything was possible.

“Wow, being with Logan really has affected you, hasn’t it?”

“I like to think it’s affected me in a good way,” said the shape shifter with a smile, “I know it must be weird for you.”

“Believe meh, mama, after the stuff Ah’ve seen, the idea of mah mama bein’ in love with someone is a long ways from bein’ weird.”

“So it’s not going to be an issue?”

Rogue sighed and smiled at the woman who did so much for her. This wasn’t an easy issue for her, but compared to all the other complications in their lives it was an issue were some good could arise.

“Ah’m gonna have to get used to the idea, but so long as Logan makes ya happy Ah ain’t gonna complain,” said Rogue, “Ah think you two really do seem to go well together.”

“You think so?” said Raven with a smirk.

“You’re tough, ill-tempered, angry, vengeful, and downright irrational at times. Hell, you’re perfect for each other!”

Mystique cast her daughter a bemused glance. But Rogue just started laughing. Despite her somewhat crass depiction of her relationship with Logan, she found herself laughing as well. They had come a long ways as a family. A lot had changed over the years since they joined the Hellfire Club. More changes seemed to await them. They were going to have to deal with Kurt’s new state in the Hellfire Club and they were going to have to deal with Mystiques blossoming relationship with Logan. But they had overcome great challenges before. There was no reason to believe they couldn’t do it again. And no matter what happened between them they would still be family and they would build upon this new future in the Hellfire Club as a family.

Outside Secondary Holding Cell

Just outside the holding cells where Kurt and Wanda were being held, Logan was waiting for Mystique to come out. After making sure Laura was alright, he decided to catch up with Mystique to see how she was handling her family issues. He figured it was going to be difficult with Kurt so he wanted to be there for her. This transition was going to be difficult on all of them. If they were going to make their relationship work they had to support each other.

He waited impatiently upon seeing her talking with Rogue. He started pacing back and forth, his thoughts drifting back to how he and Raven came together and what was in store for them. Now that the battle was over they had a new challenge ahead of them. In the time he joined the Hellfire Club he developed feelings for two women, Jean and Raven. For a while he was certain his feelings for Jean were true. But over time stronger feelings for Raven developed. They didn’t expect it to happen and it didn’t happen all at once as his infatuation for Jean had. But it grew and blossomed. Now there was no denying the connection they shared. He wasn’t sure where they would go from here, but he was glad to have her by his side.

He continued to pace as his thoughts dwelled on Raven and his relationship with her. Then in the middle of his musing, a familiar voice caught his attention.

“Waiting for someone, Logan?” said Jean Grey as she emerged from down the hall.

Logan turned and smiled at her presence.

“Hey Jeannie. Lookin’ to spy in on the prisoners? I hear the real show is in the main cell up ahead,” said Logan.

“Actually, I was hoping we could talk,” she said in a serious tone, “We never got a chance to work out a number of issues.”

Logan groaned somewhat at the prospect. He hadn’t spoken to Jean much since the Emma Frost fiasco. But he knew he couldn’t avoid it. And now seemed as good a time as any to get it over with.

“Look Jeannie, I understand if you’re still mad at me,” he said, “I know I’ve been avoiding this, but you should know I still regret what I did.”

“I believe you,” she said, moving in closer to him so she could look him in the eye, “And I haven’t forgotten either. But now that we have a chance I think we should lay this matter to rest so we can move on.”

Logan sighed, but didn’t look away. Even though he found love with Raven, he still couldn’t forget what he once had for this woman. He could tell she remembered too. He didn’t want to lose her and she didn’t want to lose his friendship. So he listened intently as she took a deep breath and said her peace.

“First off, I need to know one thing. Have you moved on from your feelings about me?” asked Jean.

Logan paused for a moment before giving her a clear answer.

“Yeah…I have,” he said, “In case you didn’t notice I sort of found someone else.”

“Yes, I noticed,” said Jean with a half smile, “And I’m happy for you. I’m glad you could find love. You deserve it. But regardless of who our hearts belong to, I don’t want things between us to stay permanently strained. I still like you Logan. Even though I was really upset with what you did, I want to keep our friendship.”

“I wanna keep it too,” said Logan, reaching forth and affectionately caressing her face, “But you gotta understand Jeannie, what I felt for you was pretty strong. I’m not gonna forget that anytime soon.”

“I know you won’t. I don’t expect you to,” said Jean, “I just…I want to start over. I want us to be able to be around each other without the past complicating things.”

“You sure that’s possible, Jeannie? With me the past is always complicated.”

“I’m not saying we have to completely ignore it. I’m just saying we should move beyond it. I want us to start with as clean a slate as we can. I don’t want to come between you and Raven anymore than you want to come between me and Scott. I just want us to be close again.”

To emphasize her point Jean slipped her arms around his neck and pulled him into an embrace. For all the complications between them, they still had a mutual affection for one another and they weren’t going to forget it.

“I want us to be close too. But you know as well as I do there’s always a risk of the past coming back to bite us.”

“I know. But if you’re willing to try, I promise you I’ll try as well,” said Jean with a reassuring smile.

Logan smiled back. Jean was still the same brave and bold woman who first reached out to him that fateful day. He still admired her in many ways. And he didn’t want to begin this new future without her friendship to support him.

“You’re a hell of a woman, Jeannie,” he said with a grin, “You know how to push a guy in just the right way.”

“Is that a yes?” said Jean, still smiling.

“Hell yes,” affirmed Logan, “You know I’ll do what I have to. Just don’t expect me to get along with Summers.”

“I’m not asking for a miracle, Logan. I’m just asking for a clean slate,” laughed Jean.

They shared a good laugh and they hugged again to seal the deal. It was a good feeling, knowing they would have each other as friends again during this time. They were going to need it as the Hellfire Club rebuilt. And Logan was going to need it as his relationship with Raven continued to blossom. And jean was going to need that as her relationship with Scott continued to grow.

“So does that mean I can see you naked again?” said Logan with a manly grin as they parted.

“You’re a brute, Logan,” smirked Jean, “Don’t ever change.”

“Is that a yes?”

Jean laughed and sighed again as she started walking away.

“Tell you what, whenever we need to have sex we have plenty of partners around us to do it with. When we need to make love, you have Raven and I have Scott. But if ever we just need to ravage each other like we did that one night…well, why don’t we make that our special thing?”

“Our special thing, huh?” grinned Logan, “Sure, I can live with that.”

With this matter finally resolved, Jean and Logan shared one last smile. It was going to be a difficult transition period for everybody as they worked with Lord Xavier to rebuild the Hellfire Club. But for all the complications and difficulties they endured during their complicated relationship, Jean and Logan still had a strong friendship. Even though they had lovers of their own, they were still able to share a close friendship with one another. It was time to leave the past behind them and build upon a new foundation. And they were ready to do what they had to do in order to make it better.

X-Industrial – Main Holding Cells

Like many of the younger pawns Sam, Bobby, and Jubilee all had to endure hardship since their arrival at the Hellfire Club. They went from luckless and bitter young mutants to strong, cold, ruthless operatives of the Hellfire Club. The transition wasn’t easy. It took a while for them to become comfortable with killing and brutality. But after enduring Selene’s torment they were hardened in a way that went beyond mere conditioning. Whatever innocence and uncertainty they felt in the past was no more.

This hardened spirit showed as they looked into the main holding cell through an observation window. Inside they watched the now blindly submissive minions of Selene face their own brand of humiliation. Tabitha, Warren, Monet, Roberto, and the now mindless body of Psylocke were all drugged and forced to indulge in a chaotic orgy for their amusement. Warren was on top of Psylocke, relentlessly hammering into her pussy. Roberto had Monet pinned up against the wall, thrusting up into her from behind. And Tabitha was being gangbanged by three masked Hellfire guards. One was under her thrusting up into her pussy, the other was on top fucking her ass, and the other was in front of her shoving his erect cock down her throat. Selene herself was also present, but she was chained naked to the wall where guards could come over and beat and rape her as they pleased. She would be singled out for the most brutal of treatment. She deserved as such for her crimes. They all had dazed and distant looks on their faces. They were the looks of defeat and despair. And the three young pawns relished in them.

“What goes around comes around,” mused Jubilee.

“Yeah, ain’t payback a bitch?” said Bobby with a snide smirk.

“It’s appropriate, Ah’ll say that. But they got a long way to go,” said Sam, “Ah don’t think they’ll ever be able to repent for helping Selene.”

“Then I guess that means we’re in for plenty more shows like this,” grinned Bobby.

The three young pawns kept on watching, listening to their distant and muffled moans. There was a time where such a sight would have repulsed them. But their hardened spirits made them immune to such feelings of weakness.

“You know all this has got me thinking,” said Sam distantly.

“About what? Since when does watching punishment warrant much thought?” said Bobby.

“It’s not that. It’s us,” he said, “Just look at where are and where we came from. Time was we were getting worked up about having to kill people or having to do sex rituals. But after going up against Selene and taking her down like this, all those old concerns seem pretty meaningless.”

“Well the novelty of killing and orgies wore off a long time ago, Sam,” Bobby pointed out.

“Yeah, we trained for that stuff from day one,” added Jubilee.

“Ah know we did. But Ah don’t think we ever truly hardened up to it until we went through this. Ah remember going into the fight with Selene feeling so focused Ah could have ripped someone’s heart out without a second thought. And after taking on her and all her minions, it just feels like we’ve taken it to the next level. And there’s no going back.”

Bobby and Jubilee thought about that for a moment. Sam had a point. He always had been a good thinker. Even though early on he was most anxious about the Hellfire Club’s brutal tactics, his focus helped him turn into a stern leader not afraid to employ them. They felt it too, the way they didn’t even flinch as they watched their enemies endure the humiliation of their punishment. They didn’t feel any uncertainty or remorse. They just felt vindicated that they did what they had to do.

“I see what you mean,” said Bobby, watching with hallowed eyes as more guards surrounded and gang raped Selene, “I guess all those old concerns we have do seem kind of meaningless now.”

“No kidding,” said Jubilee, “So where do we go from here? What’s next after we’ve been hardened to this world and can never go back?”

Sam thought about it for a moment, watching intently as the orgy continued. He along with Bobby and Jubilee came from a world that was very unfair to them. The way his family suffered and the way they had suffered in their lives showed how weak and powerless they once were. Now they had power and they had strength. And they never wanted to lose that again.

“Ah don’t know. We’re all still working on that Ah guess,” said Sam, “But one thing’s for sure. Ah don’t ever wanna go back to being weak and powerless. We’ve all been there. We know what kind of life that is.”

“Yeah, and I never want to go back,” said Jubilee strongly.

“Me neither,” said Bobby.

“None of us do. And now that we’re all stronger as a result of this, we’ll never hesitate to do what we have to do. We’re in control of our own destiny now. Ah say let’s keep it that way.”

As Sam, Bobby, and Jubilee continued to watch their enemies suffer they all shared a grin of affirmation. They were still young, but they had endured more than their share of trials and were stronger for it. Now more than ever their place was clear. They weren’t just going to try and fit into the Hellfire Club. They were going to ascend and prosper in it. Their spirits had been hardened by Selene’s torture and the rigors of having to fight back against her guards and minions. Now they would have no qualms about being merciless and brutal. They would do whatever they had to do in order to maintain their strength and power. They were not just pawns anymore. They were true products of the Hellfire Club.

Academy of Tomorrow

Illyana spent a few days resting and recovering at X-Industrial. The rigors of Selene’s insane ritual left her tired and drained, but like her imposing brother she was strong and able to overcome it. In the time she had been recovering Piotr rarely left her side. He stayed with her, sharing many long talks with her explaining what Selene was trying to do and what they had to do in order to stop her. For many years now Piotr had been shielding his sister from the Hellfire Club’s brutality. Because of her youth, he worried that she was not ready for it. But after going enduring so much under Selene it was pointless to keep it from her any longer.

As expected, some of his revelations were difficult for her understand. The brutality, power, and sex of the Hellfire Club was never easy to get around. But Illyana in her strength and resolve, did not think any less of her brother or of herself. She just kept smiling and hugging him, saying how proud she was of him. At the Academy of Tomorrow, she had learned about the harshness of the world and the need for such tactics to instill order. She took some comfort in knowing her brother was a part of it.

Now with a clean bill of health and a renewed spirit, Illyana returned to the Academy of Tomorrow to complete her studies. It wouldn’t be long before she entered the ranks of the Inner Circle herself. Jean was already talking about getting her some mystical training and she already showed a great desire to follow in her brother’s footsteps. But that was for the future. For now, she was content to take things one step at a time.

“I guess this is goodbye for now, Snowflake,” said Piotr as he stood with Illyana outside the gates of the Academy.

“Hopefully not for too long, Piotr,” said Illyana hopefully, “I hope to start visiting you for a change. Lord Xavier has already talked about me getting training of a different kind.”

“I know. But are you sure you’re ready for it?” he asked with a wary look.

“If I can endure a ritual with that Selene woman and these new powers, then I can endure anything,” she said with a confident smile, “Try not to worry so much. I know you are my overprotective big brother and all, but I am growing up.”

“I know you are. And I can already see you’re a beautiful young woman,” said Piotr, affectionately caressing her young face, “But I almost lost you. I don’t want us to grow apart in the future.”

“We never will, Piotr. I promise.”

Smiling at her strong words, Piotr affectionately embraced his sister in his powerful arms. Illyana smiled and hugged him back, giving him a kiss on the cheek. Many things had disrupted their lives in the past. Ever since the death of their parents, it seemed as though the world was working against them. But through the hardships they remained a family and were stronger for it.

After they parted Illyana turned to Kitty, who stood by Piotr every step of the way. Illyana didn’t get much of a chance to know her personally, but she had a feeling she would have plenty of opportunities.

“Take care of my brother, Kitty,” said Illyana, “Somebody has to watch out for him.”

“Snowflake, I’m still here you know?” chided Piotr.

“I know. I just like to see that look on your face,” teased Illyana.

Kitty couldn’t help but laugh and gave Illyana a hug as well. If she and Piotr were going to have a relationship, she might as well get used to having Illyana as part of her life.

“Don’t worry, Illyana. I’ll take care of him. I know how to handle big strong handsome Russians,” said Kitty, casting Piotr an affectionate smile.

“Be sure you do,” said Illyana as they parted, “Thanks again for all your help. And be sure to thank the others when you get back.”

“We will, Illyana. And don’t worry. As long as you’re with us, you’re in good hands,” said Kitty.

Trusting her word, Illyana began making her way to the Academy entrance where Amelia was waiting for her. She turned to wave goodbye one last time to Piotr, Kitty, and Warpath who decided to tag along. She looked forward to developing in this new world of the Hellfire Club. Selene brought her into it unexpectedly and against her will. But now that she was in there was no avoiding it. She was going to learn and grow in the Inner Circle and her brother along with Kitty would be there to help her.

Kitty and Piotr watched as Illyana disappeared from sight into the academy. Piotr kept on watching in a daze, still contemplating how everything was going to change between them. As his thoughts wandered Kitty moved in closer and slipped her arms around him, helping to lay some of his fears to rest. For all his uncertainty, having Kitty in his life brought a sense of strength and stability.

“She’s going to make a fine Hellfire woman one day,” commented Kitty, “She’s every bit as strong and tough as her brother.”

“That she is,” said Piotr, hugging her a little closer, “She will make her mark when the time comes. I’m sure of it.”

“Bet she’ll be pretty popular with the boys too,” snickered Kitty, “She’s already quite the looker.”

Piotr blushed upon hearing that. As strong as Illyana was, there was also no denying her emerging beauty. And there was little doubt what such beauty would lead to in a place like the Hellfire Club.

“Please Kayta, don’t make me think about that now. It’s too soon.”

“Sorry, I couldn’t help myself!” she laughed, “But don’t worry. I’ll make it up to you.”

“I’m sure you will,” smiled Piotr.

She gave him a deep kiss to reassure him. He also put a little extra passion into it to let her know just how much he appreciated her support. The love they shared was really strengthened through this affair and it was sure to grant them more strength as they built a new future in the Hellfire Club together.

As they kissed Warpath, who kept his distance to give them some privacy, smiled at the sight of Piotr sharing a moment with his sister. He wasn’t sure why he agreed to tag along for this, but years ago he once told Piotr to be careful with his sister. He warned him how many forces could come between them and encouraged him to stay strong and work through them, not letting Illyana slip away. And he appeared to succeed. The relationship he had with Illyana was much better than the one he had with John in the years that led up to their rift. And after witnessing such a scene even the proud Apache warrior couldn’t help but get a little emotional as he remembered his lost brother. They could have done a lot together had fate been on their side. But his spirit was still with him and would surely guide him as he continued his journey with the Hellfire Club.

“You did good with her, Peter,” said Warpath as he watched him and Kitty part.

“Thank you, comrade,” said Piotr, “And thanks for all your advice. I promise I’ll remember it for the future.”

“I’m sure you two will be fine. If you guys can work through Selene’s meddling, then you can work through anything.”

“Truer words were never spoken!” said Kitty.

They all had reason to be optimistic. Surviving Selene’s wrath had given them all a new strength and resolve. Without her dark presence looming over them, they were free to grow and expand their power in the Hellfire Club. Lord Xavier said it himself. A new order was on the horizon. Just what that order was and how it would take shape remained to be seen.

Condominium Ruins

A lot happens to someone who loses their home and possessions. For many it is a time of despair and sorrow. Everything they worked for was now in ruin and the idea of rebuilding seemed so daunting. But for some, such loss wasn’t purely sorrow. For some there was hope. The destruction of one home just meant the creation of another. And for Remy and Ororo, who had to blow up their own homes during the elaborate plan to deceive Selene, it was a new beginning with plenty to be hopeful about.

Standing on a nearby rooftop looking over the ruins that had once been their upscale condominiums, Remy and Ororo watched as workers and officials sifted through the rubble. Deadpool was with them, but only because had nowhere else better to be and insisted he tag along. They were all in a similar situation. For so long now they had just been hired thieves for Xavier and the Hellfire Club. They never got involved in their affairs or wielded any influence. They never had any desire to. But after fighting alongside Xavier and his pawns against Selene, their mindset had changed. Living lavish lives as master thieves was nice and all, but now they felt they were capable of more.

“So much for all our stuff,” sighed Remy.

“It’s just stuff,” said Ororo, “We can always get more. It’s not like we can’t afford it.”

“Oui, but you know as well as I do that when that building blew up it took with it the good old times. And there ain’t no going back.”

“Yes, I’ve been thinking about that a lot too,” said Ororo as she looked at the rubble in a daze, “But I believe this is a good thing. It may very well have been inevitable that we would find ourselves in a situation like this. We became so close to Xavier and he trusted us a great deal. And you know as well as I do the first rule of thumb for any master thief.”

“Never get too close to a client,” mused the Cajun, “Guess we broke that rule.”

“That’s not entirely a bad thing, Remy,” said Ororo, moving in closer to him, “Had we not been so close to Xavier he never would have trusted us enough to help him. And chances are Sinister and Selene would have killed us once we outlived our usefulness.”

Remy shook his head and sighed. In the grand scheme of things, they made the right decision. But it still crossed a number of lines that carried with it a number of consequences.

“I guess it was inevitable,” the Cajun mutant conceded, “So what now? You and I are master thieves, tried and true. And Xavier’s already talkin’ about us joining the Inner Circle. Think we can manage that? Is we even ready for it?”

Ororo turned away from the rubble and looked her lover in the eye. She had a mix of optimism and uncertainty written on her face. But she still managed a warm smile as she pulled him into an embrace.

“I’ve been thinking about that a lot too, Remy. And thieves or not, we are who we are. You and I are products of the Hellfire Club just by working for them. And after helping Xavier with this, taking down a woman like Selene, I think it’s time we stop avoiding it.”

“So what do we do? Stop bein’ thieves and start being kings?” said Remy, managing a slight smile as well.

“Like I said, we are who we are,” said Ororo, “We’re just going to have to work with the circumstances we’re given. And I think after everything we’ve been through, we belong with the Hellfire Club. We’ll still always be thieves. Only now we’ll just be stealing more than just gold. We’ll be stealing power, wealth, and influence.”

Ororo always had a way of putting things into a way that made them seem less daunting. It was one of the many attributes he loved about her. This was no different. His whole life he had been a thief only stealing power and influence for others. Now he and Ororo had a chance to wield that power for themselves. It carried a lot of appeal. Even though they had little experience in such dealing, fighting alongside Xavier showed them they could handle it.

“You always know how to say the right thing, cherè,” said the Cajun with a wry grin.

“Isn’t that why you’re in love with me?” said Ororo, snaking her arms around his neck and pulling him closer.

“It’s one of the reasons. We work so well together. Guess it shouldn’t be too much a stretch to rule together. If nothing else we can spice things up a bit.”

“I’m sure we can,” grinned Ororo.

With new confidence and hope, the two thieves shared a warm smile. Then in each others arms in the shadow of the ruins of their old home, they drew closer for a kiss. It seemed the most fitting way to usher in this new part of their lives. But just as their lips were about to make contact, an obnixous tone interrupted them.

“Hey love birds! Ain’t you gonna come down and do some savaging?” said Deadpool as he popped up from a fire ladder near the side of the building, “There’s a lot of goodies down there! I already found a huge stash of DVDs and pronos!”

Ororo and Remy were forced to part. Remy laughed while Ororo was annoyed. Just when they were having a moment, Deadpool had to step in.

“Wade, do you always have to do that?” she groaned.

“Of course! It just wouldn’t be me if I didn’t,” said Deadpool as he climbed up and joined them at the edge.

Then in an obnoxious show of his offbeat brand of humor and madness, he got between and pulled them both into a hug.

“Just think, soon the three of us will be living in style! Doing real damage in this crazy world! We’ll be one big happy family! I can be the crazy uncle who likes to shoot things and kill people for a price! It’s like a sitcom but with more blood! Hell, we can do our own reality show and sell it to HBO!”

Ororo and Remy could only groan and laugh as Deadpool went on. Even though this was a time of great change in their lives, there were a number of things that were sure to stay the same. No matter what they endured or how much the world changed, at least there would always be one constant. Deadpool would never shut up.

It was somewhat comforting in a ways. They both came from the lowest rungs of the thieving world and now they were poised to wield power in a whole new way. There were sure to be challenges along the way. And no matter what they had to overcome, they would be there to help one another. One of the cardinal rules of thieving was to not fall in love with a partner. They broke that rule just as they had the rule about clients, but Remy and Ororo had no regrets. They were ready to move forward. And they were going to do it together.

X-Industrial – Sinister’s Lab

There was an old saying in the Hellfire Club. Kings and empires fall, but Hellfire burns forever. It was a motto the organization followed since its inception. And despite a long tradition of backstabbing, assassination, murder, and overthrows the Hellfire Club persisted and prospered. But because of these traditions it was never able to expand its power beyond certain limits. Charles Xavier fought his way into this organization with hopes of changing that. And with Selene, the last vestige of the old order, defeated he finally had a chance to finish what he started.

The Hellfire Club had been shaken by Selene’s betrayal, but not broken. The process of rebuilding had already begun. Charles Xavier was already in the process of re-establishing the vast array of connections between the commercial, political, and economic entities that the Hellfire Club controlled. It was a bit tedious, but with Selene no longer in his way it was only a matter of time before he had total control over all of the Hellfire Club’s resources. But beyond just re-establishing power, Charles Xavier had great plans for the future. The Hellfire Club was going to be expanding and it was going to need a new generation of Inner Circle to carry it out.

But building a new Inner Circle wasn’t just about getting his pawns more involved. It wasn’t about expanding his level of control either. It was also about setting up a base to build the Hellfire Club up for the long term. He had his young pawns and he had his allies. But the defeat of Selene and Sinister lent other opportunities. Selene may be a slave and Sinister a lifeless statue, but some of their effects remained. The most obvious were the infants Sinister created using DNA of his pawns.

Standing in Sinister’s lab with Moria, Danielle, and Rahne the Black King watched over the sleeping infants, who were now resting in a number of incubators that Forge built. Since their return Moria had been looking after the children, giving them physicals and caring for them with Rahne’s assistance. Her studies revealed that they all had great potential. And in their infant forms they held so much promise for this illustrious organization.

“So young and innocent,” he mused as he walked amongst the sleeping infants, “They’re quite beautiful, aren’t they.”

“Aye,” said Moria as she finished cataloguing the last of the data, “I never had much affinity for anything Sinister created, but I think we can take exception to these little wonders. They all have so much potential, both physically and in terms of their mutation. They’ll be quite the little marvels when they grow up.”

“I’m sure they will,” said Xavier.

As he and Moria looked over the children, Danielle and Rahne sat off to the side. Rahne was still adjusting to the feeling of this place without Hank in it. But she was learning to cope. And Danielle helped as well. Having played such a huge part in defeating Selene, she was given many privileges during this process. She had earned the trust of the Black King and shown how strong she can be.

“So what’s going to happen to them?” asked Danielle as her eyes fell upon a child that appeared to be hers.

“Fear not, Danielle. They’ll be in good hands,” assured the Black King, “The new order of the Hellfire Club is just beginning, but it’s never too early to start planning for the future. Like you and every other pawn, we will take these children into our care and begin molding them in the spirit of the Inner Circle.”

“It’ll be glorious,” Moria went on, looking at the children with such deep affection, “For the first time in the organization’s history, an entire class of mutants will be trained from birth to serve us. And with our combined power we can ensure they’ll be strong and loyal, continuing our power for centuries to come.”

“So they’ll be pawns from the cradle?” said Rahne.

“It would be a gross oversimplification of their roles,” said Xavier, “They are the true sons and daughters of the Hellfire Club. And they will be raised as such.”

It sounded like an appropriate title. These children represented a new generation entirely spawned from the Hellfire Club. And they couldn’t have emerged at a better time. Unlike the other pawns they wouldn’t know or be prone to the darkness of Selene and her ways. They could be molded in their own image, embracing the new ideals that Xavier worked so hard to establish.

As he looked over the children, Charles Xavier made his way over to Moria. She was still caught up in the spirit of motherhood. Losing her own child left her with plenty of maternal love to go around. And the idea of her acting as a mother again to this new breed of Hellfire Elite had a great deal of appeal for Xavier and the Inner Circle.

“Looks like you’ll get your chance to be a mother figure once more, Moria,” said Xavier.

“Aye, I look forward to it, Charles,” said Moria with a warm smile, “I promise ye I’ll see to it that they embrace the Hellfire spirit. They’ll be like the children I never got to have myself.”

“I guess that makes me a big sister?” commented Rahne.

“Of course, lass. I wouldn’t trust anybody else to teach them how to hunt and stalk their prey,” said Moria.

“I hope I’ll get the chance to spend time with my child too,” said Danielle, “I know none of us prepared for this. But I think everybody would embrace the chance to raise this new generation.”

“And I assure you, you’ll get your chance. Everybody will,” said Xavier strongly, “You and every other pawn that stood against Selene will get your reward. I am not like the Black Kings before me. I do not forget those who serve this organization with such loyalty. Everybody will have a chance to establish their place in this new order.”

“But what kind of order will it be?” asked Danielle.

Xavier smiled as he looked at Moria and then back at the children. For so long now he dreamed of establishing a new order that would crush the chaos that consumed this world. Ever since that fateful day killed his monster of a step-father he had walked this path, seeking power to overcome the irrational lies and deceit of a dishonest world. Now after years of planning and fighting, he had his chance and he was going to make good use of it.

“I can’t say what exactly the new order will be. But let’s just say I have grand ambitions,” grinned the Black King, “There will be a new Inner Circle, one run by those voiced in the new ideals that I have pursued since the beginning. And together we will expand our power to every corner of the world, instilling order in every man, woman, and child. No mind or power will be too great. No force will be above us. We will reign supreme!”

Xavier then walked around the incubators holding the children and placed his hand over the glass, smiling intently as he contemplated the endless possibilities. He and his loyal followers had fought long and hard for this. Now they were ready to assume their rightful place atop the hierarchy of power. At long last order will reign over chaos.

“Selene thought this world was too sick to go on. She thought the only way to lay it all to rest was to burn in a sea of Hellfire. But she was wrong. This world is not sick, just corrupt. Only in the presence of order, enforced by power and fear, can civilization be set upon the right path. For those that help establish this order, they will be rewarded. For those that opposed it like Selene and her minions, they will be punished.”

“So this is really it?” said Rahne with growing excitement, “This is going to be everything we’ve worked for from the beginning?”

“That and so much more, my dear,” said the Black King with an ominous grin, “And it shall all come together very soon. We still must re-establish our connections and regain all our assets. We must also build a new manor for ourselves where we can begin our reign. Then there will be no force on this planet that can stop us. Hellfire will truly burn forever!”

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Up next: A new Inner Circle emerges and the world succumbs to Hellfire.