New Blood III: Triumph of Darkness

New Blood
Chapter 5: Ignorant Vengeance

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Jean’s Quarters

Jean Grey had never been so anxious before in her life. Here she was, lying in her bed staring at the ceiling, while the love of her life was spending the night with a cold, manipulative bitch that seemed bent on stealing him from her. It had always been a challenge, having such an open relationship with Scott. Having sex with other people was normal around the Hellfire Club, but it tested their level of commitment for one another. For nearly five years they were able to work through it. They both thought they were at a point where it didn’t bother them anymore. Then Logan came along and it became an issue again. Now Emma was in the mix and everything seemed to be coming to ahead.

It was agonizing. Scott assured her many times that it was going to be okay. He asked for her trust like she did for him with Logan. And she gave it to him just as he had done with her. She trusted him to do this and yet it was still so hard. Who knows what Emma Frost would pull? For all she knew she could mind rape him into loving her. Emma had always been unpredictable and she wasn’t above playing dirty. And if what she saw from her earlier was any indication, she had something in mind. All she could really do was hope Scott kept his promise.

By far, the hardest part now was the waiting. Scott and Emma planned to be gone all night, leaving her plenty of time to worry. She had an off night. Many of the younger pawns were working at Club Hellfire. James, Piotr, Bobby, Kitty, Warren, Roberto, and Rogue were on assignment in Hong Kong. Pietro was still recovering from his injuries with the help of Hank. Laura and Julian were off, but were occupying themselves by having sex again. Alex, Tabitha, Sam, and Lorna were out with Rahne and Sage for a lesson and an assignment on the West Coast. Wanda and Kurt were on some mission in the Balkans. And Moria and Lord Xavier was having another one of his secretive meetings. It left her with little to do other than lay around and mope.

She tried sleeping, but that was next to impossible. She thought about getting a massage, but she couldn’t really get in the mood for that. She thought about studying her magic a little, but with Julian and Laura going at it in the library occupied that was out. She tried reading in her room, but that didn’t help either. She couldn’t even get past one page without her mind wandering.

‘Damn it, why can’t this night be over with already?! There’s got to be some way to make it move faster!’

As Jean shifted anxiously in her bed, her mind lamenting every other second, she heard a knock at her door. It startled her at first, but when she heard the voice on the other end her mood shifted.

“Jeannie? It’s me. We need to talk,” said Logan in his gruff tone.

Sighing to herself, Jean slipped off the bed and made her way over her door. Given her current situation, Logan was the last person she wanted to see. But she needed something to distract her from this. When she opened the door she saw Logan standing before her, looking almost as anxious as her.

“What is it, Logan?” she asked in an exasperated.

“I know. But I really need to tell you something. Can I come in?”

He seemed serious and he was giving her that desperate look again. It was the look that always seemed to affect her. She just couldn’t say no to it. So despite her mood she opened the door and let him in.

“What’s this about, Logan?” she said as she closed the door and leaned against the wall, “This isn’t a good time so forgive me if I can’t give you the usual attention.”

“I understand, darlin’,” he said, not looking her in the eye, “But this can’t wait. And you deserve to know this.”

“Know what? And why aren’t you looking at me?” she asked suspiciously.

“Because I know you ain’t gonna like what I’m about to say,” he said, still turned away, “It has to do with Emma.”

Jean’s demeanor shifted and her expression became graver. She walked up closer to Logan, who was still looking away from her. But she could sense from him a great deal of anguish and anger. It gave her a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach that only got her more worked up.

“Emma?! What about her? Does it have to do with her and Scott?” said Jean intently.

“Yeah…to some extent,” he said.

Now Jean was really fuming. Logan took a deep breath and turned around to face her. She looked pretty upset, not to mention angry. This was going to be harder than he thought. He never feared the wrath of anybody, but Jean Grey was a special case. And as much as he didn’t want her to hate him, he couldn’t avoid this.

“Look Jeannie, you know how I feel about you,” he told her, “You know you mean a lot to me and I’d do damn near anything for you. And the last thing I’d ever want to do is hurt you.”

“I know, Logan. Get to the point already!” said Jean impatiently, “You’re hiding something!”

“I’m trying, damn it! It just ain’t easy, okay? I don’t know how to tell you this because I know you’ll hate me for it!”

Jean tried to calm down, knowing Logan was never easy to deal with when he was angry.

“Let me be the judge of that,” she said in a calmer tone.

Logan froze for a moment, preparing to tell her the cold hard truth. But as much as he went over this, he couldn’t get a single word out. It was as if his brain was freezing up on him. The more he looked into her beautiful green eyes, the harder it was. He wanted to tell her, but he didn’t want to lose her either. But he wasn’t going to leave this room until she knew the truth.

“Fuck, I don’t even know where to begin!” he grunted in frustration, “Could you just…look into my mind? I don’t even want to say it.”

“Could you at least try and tell me?” asked Jean intently.

“Just look into my head already! You’ll see what I mean,” he said in a grim tone.

Jean sighed in frustration, but did as he asked. She felt him lower his mental shields. His mind was now open on all levels for the first time, allowing her to enter with ease. Logan was always guarded his mind so well so for him to just let down all his defenses like this was pretty extreme. When Jean entered, she saw more than he had ever shown her before. She had been in his mind before, but not like this. Everything was open to her. She saw traces of his broken memory, she saw the extent of his feelings for her, and she saw how much he hated seeing her and Scott together. It was those feelings that led her to what Logan was trying to tell her. And when she saw it, her eyes widened and she pulled away from Logan in anger.

“You…you knew?!” she exclaimed.

“Yeah,” was all Logan said.

“You knew and you even contemplated helping her?!”

“Yeah…but I didn’t,” he told her, “I’m sorry.”

“For nine months, Logan?!” she exclaimed again.

“Yeah…for nine months.”

Now it was Jean’s turn to look away. She had been anxious before, but now she was just upset. He knew Emma was planning this. He knew she had strong feelings for Scott and was planning to make a move on him. This man, who she opened herself up to and gave herself to, knew this and kept it from her for nine months. It was a major breach of her trust and their friendship.

For a moment she just stood there, looking at him with a mix of anger and disgust. Logan’s expression remained stoic, hiding the guilt he felt for what he had done.

“But…why?” asked Jean intently.

“You know why, Jeannie,” said Logan, moving in closer to her, “I can’t help how I feel about you. And seein’ you with Scott just tore me the fuck up inside! So when Emma came along, saying she could change that, I listened. And I guess…I wanted it to be a possibility.”

“You thought helping Emma Frost would make me love you?!” exclaimed Jean.

“Hell no, I figured out pretty quickly how that bitch would screw me over,” said Logan quickly, “You can thank Raven for that.”

“But you still didn’t tell me?!” she repeated, “If I had known, Scott and I could have done something!”

“I know,” said Logan in a low tone.

“And now it’s too late! There’s no telling what Emma might do now!”

“I know,” Logan said again, making it clear he felt guilty about this, “I just…didn’t want to lose you, Jeannie.”

Jean couldn’t believe it. This man was so obsessed with her he was willing to lie like this to be with her. That wasn’t love that was madness. And Logan knew it. She wasn’t sure what to make of this. She ended up hugging her shoulders and turning away, not knowing whether to be angry at him or just angry at herself. It was bad enough he just confirmed her fears about Emma. But for him to keep this from her for so long was just too much.

Logan never saw her so angry at him before. He tried to put his hand on her shoulder, but he stopped himself. He didn’t deserve to comfort her. He didn’t even deserve to be close to her like this. Most people (normal people) would never do this to someone they claimed to love. He had to do something about this to salvage whatever friendship he could have with this woman.

“Jeannie…” he said, “I’m so sorry. I know I messed up. But I just…I love you, Jeannie. I can’t help it.”

Jean turned around and looked him in the eye, this time with less anger.

“Logan…what you feel for me isn’t love,” she said strongly, “You don’t do this sort of thing to people you love. To be willing to lie and keep secrets from someone just so they won’t hate you isn’t love. That’s just…obsession.”

Logan’s expression fell. He didn’t want to believe that what he felt wasn’t love, but this woman had just been in his head. And unlike him, she hadn’t betrayed his trust. He knew she wouldn’t lie to him on matters such as this.

“You’re a complicated man, Logan. You really don’t understand love. You just think you do because it’s like an instinct. But you of all people should know that instincts aren’t always right. To really love someone is to go beyond instinct. Do you understand?”

“Yeah…I understand,” he muttered.

Jean moved in closer, still keeping a fair distance from him, but there was less anger in her tone now.

“Logan, I like you. I really do. But this…you have to stop this. I love Scott. I don’t love you. I don’t want to hurt you, but you can’t let it go this far. You have to understand that what you feel for me isn’t what you think.”

“I know…I know,” he said in defeat, “I still got a lot to learn. I know that’s not an excuse for what I did.”

“It isn’t,” said Jean.

“But I am what I am, Jeannie. I know I messed up, but I don’t want you to hate me, okay? I don’t want us to grow apart just because I can’t handle feelings I don’t understand.”

Jean was silent, not sure if she could keep from resenting this man on some levels. But she didn’t turn away from him. She watched as he moved in closer with a determined look on his face. He really did want to make this better.

“What do I have to do to make it up to you?” he asked her, “I know I can’t undo what I did. But there’s gotta be something I can do! At least give me a chance.”

Jean’s eyes diverted from his for a moment as she contemplated this situation. So much of this could have been prevented had Logan just told her from the beginning. It would save her from all this anxiety she was feeling. But it was too late to change anything. The damage had been done. She resented Logan for what he did. She didn’t hide how angry she was at him. But she believed him when he said he was sorry. It wasn’t his fault that he couldn’t make sense of these feelings. She was also to blame for not settling this sooner. But there was no time to dwell on the mistakes. They had enough to deal with as it is.

Then Jean got an idea. It wasn’t the most rational idea, but it seemed appropriate for their situation. She looked back at Logan and leaned in closer, the look in her eyes not waning.

“There’s nothing you can do to make me completely forget what you did,” she told him, “But there is one thing that may help me get through this.”

“Name it,” said Logan strongly.

What happened next caught him completely off guard. Jean lunged at him, wildly throwing her arms around him and pulling him into a deep, hungry kiss. It wasn’t like the kisses they normally shared. This was full of intent and a hint of frustration, as if to make a point that there was only lust between them and not love. Logan never saw her do something like this before, but given the situation it seemed appropriate.

“So long as Scott and Emma are out, I need a distraction,” she said upon abruptly parting, “So if you really want to make it up to me, fuck me long and hard so I stop thinking about it. And don’t stop fucking me until I tell you or I pass out. Understand?”

It was a hell of a way to make up for what he did. There was still a touch of anger in her tone. But she seemed dead serious. And he was in no condition to refuse.

“If that’s what you want, Jeannie…” he told her.

“It’s what I need,” she said strongly, “Now please, just do this for me so I can get through this.”

Without another word, Logan began complying with her requested. They kissed again with the same forceful vigor. Only now Logan was kissing back, letting his feral side take over. Jean’s hands wildly and lustfully trailed over his upper body, more so than even Logan and he was supposed to be feral one. She wasn’t playful or affectionate. She just started leading him towards the bed, shedding her clothes in the process. She slipped her shirt off over her head and quickly removed her pants, underwear and all. Once completely naked, she literally ripped Logan’s shirt off with a touch of telekinesis and attacked his manly chest with her hands and lips. Logan let out a lustful grunt as he felt this, falling back onto her bed in the process. She continued her assault, promptly undoing his pants and roughly tugging them off along with his boxers. She tossed them across the room along with his boots, not caring that she knocked over a stack of books while doing so. Then she led him to the head of the bed, crawled on top of him, and continued to fervently kiss him in a heat of frantic lust.

Logan had never seen her so worked up before. The way she was kissing and touching him was so heated, as if she was trying to let out all the anger and tension she felt over this situation. She was so rough with him he barely had time to get aroused. Jean sensed this and began hungrily kissing down his body, grasping his stiffening cock in her hand and rubbing it hard. He grunted at the feeling, but he wasn’t getting erect for her fast enough. It seemed she wanted him inside her right now and was in no mood to wait.

With his dick firmly in her grasp, Jean chanted a couple of strange, incoherent phases. Then her eyes flashed a fiery red/orange color, indicating she cast a spell of sorts. Suddenly Logan felt his member come to life, becoming fully erect in the span of three seconds. It was a little uncomfortable, but he had experienced it before during sex rituals. Once he was hard, Jean hungrily stroked him off with one hand while fingering herself with the other. The spell also seemed to get her aroused as well. Anxiety and tension had a negative effect on the libido, but a little magic did a way with that. Soon she was so wet and aroused she couldn’t stand it.

She crawled back on top of him, propping herself up on her knees with her hips hovering just over Logan’s erect cock. She maintained a firm grip on the base, guiding it to her opening. She didn’t tease or play with him like she normally did. She held on and plunged her hips down onto his, feeling his erect penis penetrate her soft vaginal walls.

“Ohhhhh fuck!” she moaned out, “Yes! That’s what I want!”

“Jeannie…” said Logan, already feeling her move her hips.

“Please, no more talking Logan! Just fuck me and don’t stop!”

Logan fell silent and they began humping vigorously. Jean leaned forward slightly, her hands resting strongly on his chest as she began bouncing her hips up and down his length. Her eyes were closed and her expression was seething with lust and desire. She worked it hard and fast, practically slamming her pelvis down against his. The wet slapping sounds of their flesh mixed with her frantic moans. Logan grabbed her hips and guided her every motion, watching her face contort to the sensations. Usually she was the one that had to keep up with him, but now he was the one struggling. At one point he didn’t even have to add any extra force to her motions. He just slipped his hands down onto her butt and held on as she rode him to ecstasy.

There was no dragging it out or savoring the feeling. Jean just kept riding him harder and harder, her nails digging into his chest as her pussy slid up and down his ridged length. She was soon on the brink of orgasm. As the pressure built up, she leaned back slightly and began working her hips back and forth. This allowed Logan’s dick to really hit those deep sensitive areas for her. She closed her eyes and started rubbing her breasts, moaning blissfully as the feeling overtook her and she got her release.

“Uh-uh-uh-oh fuck-uh-oh-oh-ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” she moaned.

Her inner muscles throbbed around Logan’s cock as her feminine fluids coated his member. Waves of pleasure surged through her. It was just the feeling she needed to get over this anxiety. It was a purely superficial way to deal with this, but it helped. And she craved more. After only a brief pause in the action, she began moving her hips again in the same back and forth motion. Logan was a bit surprised that she was ready for another round so soon, even with magic, but she continued to beckon him.

“Don’t stop, Logan!” she urged him, “Please keep fucking me!”

“Uh-uh-uh-damn Jeannie-uh-what’s gotten into you?” Logan grunted through the motions.

“No questions! Just fuck me!”

Logan gave up trying to reason this and just went along with it. If this is what he needed to do to make it up to her, so be it.

As Jean began riding him again, he rose up slightly so he could better contribute. He moved his hands up from her butt to her hips and planted both feet firmly on the bed. Then with a fury of hard grunts, he began thrusting upward hard into Jean’s tight cunt. He went hard and fast just as she asked. He watched as her face contorted even more to the sensations. She let go of her breasts and held onto his torso, moving her hips along with his to supplement each motion. All the tension and frustration Jean felt and the guilt and remorse Logan felt came gushing out, fueling an intense, heated romp that rocked the bed and filled the room with grunts and moans.

Their bodies moved in such a heated bliss, it was hard to tell who the feral one was. As they worked it harder and harder, Jean leaned back a bit further and started bouncing her hips harder with his. All these fervent motions quickly built up and soon Logan was on the brink of climaxing. But he didn’t slow down or try and drag it out. He just clung to her harder, holding on tight as he released his load of cum inside her tight depths. He let out a sharp grunt as the pleasure consumed him. But the pace barely slowed. Jean kept moving her hips, bouncing up and down his cock, and urging him to fuck her more. It was tough after a climax, even for him. But his healing factor and the spell helped him keep going.

“Uh-uh-more-uh-don’t stop-uh-harder-uh-uh-harder!” she urged him.

Logan didn’t say a word. He just grunted lustfully as he kept fucking her. She told him to fuck her until she said to stop or passed out. He wasn’t sure which one would come first, but he would do what he had to for her. She deserved it after what he did.

Their fucking continued to devolve into a chaotic, uncontrolled romp. There was no effort at passion, intimacy, or closeness. There was just pleasure and lust. They resorted to instinct as Logan kept fucking Jean in many different positions. After she rode him for a good long while, he turned her over so that she was on her back with her legs hitched over his shoulders while he laterally thrust into her pussy. After going at it like this for a while, Jean reached up and grabbed onto his neck while Logan grabbed her by the butt and lifted her up so he could rhythmically bounce her up and down his ridged shaft. They did it in this position so hard and so frantically that Logan lost his balance and fell back, but Jean didn’t miss a beat. She tackled him onto his back, rose up again and straddled his pelvis, this time facing away while she rode his dick nice and hard. After enjoying this for a while, Logan gathered himself and lifted her up again. She was still facing away and he was holding her by her knees, but he was still able to work her up and down his length until they shared another round of orgasms.

They shared many orgasms. Jean climaxed almost twice as many times as Logan did. Every time she had one she would close her eyes and cry out in ecstasy. She never looked at him directly like she normally did. She just wanted to focus on the pleasure. Logan understood and tried to keep up with her, drowning his guilt and frustration in pleasure. They didn’t even slow down in between climaxes. The magic Jean used along with Logan’s healing factor kept them going. They had had many long, drawn out sex sessions like this before but this one was different. When they got to their normal limits, they just kept going.

“UH-UH-UH-MORE LOGAN-UH-MORE-UH-PLEASE KEEP FUCKING ME!” she cried out.

Already pushing his endurance, Logan kept doing it. They started moving off the bed and doing it around Jean’s room. They fell back on the floor near the foot of his bed where Jean pounced on him again, hooking her legs around his waist and grinding her hips hard against his. Logan did it with her, remaining in a sitting position the whole time until she had another orgasm. Then he lifted her up again and backed her against the wall where he kept on humping her, bouncing her up and down his ridged length until he got a climax of his own. Afterwards he let go of her and she turned around so her butt was now facing him. She leaned over slightly and beckoned him to fuck her and he did, grabbing her rump and thrusting up into her tight folds again. Her butt pounded against his pelvis as her nails raked down the wall. Her breasts swayed as she cried out, urging him to do it harder and harder. Then he felt her climax again, letting out another howl of euphoria. But when he slowed down to give her some time to take it in she beckoned him to do it more. This time she had him fuck her in the ass, giving her pussy a little rest. He hesitated at first, but then Jean practically shoved him into her with a little telekinesis and the fucking continued.

All over the room, Jean had Logan fuck her. He bent her over the desk, had her pressed up against the curtains, and even laid her down on a pile of her magic books. He kept alternating between fucking her pussy and ass. Each time he climaxed in one, he would switch to another and Jean would just keep on going. Her body was soon dripping with sweat and her voice was actually starting to get raspy from all the moaning. But she just kept begging for more, urging him not to stop. Even when it looked like she was at her limit, she kept pushing him and he kept doing it to her.

It must have gone on for hours. They kept going at it in a constant, vigorous pace. They rarely slowed down, even for catching their breath. It seemed as though Jean really did want to push herself until she passed out. Even for Logan, it was a test of endurance. He could handle it, but Jean didn’t have a healing factor. She was going on lust, magic, and emotions. But even that only took her so far.

Eventually, they found their way back over to the bed. Logan was panting hard and Jean’s body had weakened from so much exertion. Yet she kept urging him to fuck her. With little strength to do much else, she lay flat on her back with Logan on top of her, holding her legs apart while he thrust into her. Her expression was dazed, her eyes barely open as she watched Logan’s feral expression. She lightly held onto his shoulders, moaning as he worked his hips back and forth, driving into her wet pussy. She had never gone at it like this before with such reckless disregard. For both of them this wasn’t so much sex as it was just humping. Logan was so spent he had to slow the pace, but he kept going. Jean could feel one last orgasm in her. It was her last gasp before her body completely gave out.

“Uh-uh-uh-one more-uh-uh-one more-uh-I’m so close-uh-please Logan-uh-don’t stop!” she cried out in a raspy tone.

“Uh-uh-uh-ungh-uh-Jeannie-uh-you have to…”

“Please Logan!” she urged him, “Keep…keep going.”

Logan did as she asked, ignoring the distant look on her expression that was still wrought with so much anxiety and frustration. He grit his teeth as he pushed himself to finish the job, thrusting his hips harder. His hard cock slithered in and out of Jean’s vagina, pushing her closer and closer to the final peak. Then it hit her. Her body arched one last time and she let out a moan of bliss. It wasn’t as loud or euphoric as earlier. It wasn’t even the best one she had. But it still sent waves of pleasure through her body that helped relieve some of the stress and anxiety that had made this such a difficult night for her. And when the feeling faded, so did her ability to stay conscious. She passed out in a sweaty daze, leaving Logan to take in everything he just did on his own.

“Jean? Jeannie?” he said, touching her sweaty face.

But it was no use. She was out cold. She pushed herself so hard she didn’t have the strength to stay awake anymore. It was just as she requested. Logan did just as she asked and yet he still felt guilty about it.

Feeling pretty tired himself, he rose up off her in a daze. He was sore, tired, and in need of a shower. His dick was still hard and hypersensitive, but he ignored the discomfort for now. He sat down on the edge of the bed, looking down at Jean. She looked truly spent. Her hair was a mess, her body was covered in sweat, and her pussy and butt were dripping with trails of semen and feminine fluids. It was a surreal sight and he found his thoughts wander as he looked at her.

This woman had done so much for him. She connected with him in a way he hadn’t connected with anybody in a long time. He was so sure he had fallen for her. He was so sure they were meant to be. But after what he did to her, not telling her about Emma and keeping this from her until now, he wasn’t so sure. Mystique told him early on that if he really did love her, he would do whatever was necessary not to hurt her. But he failed. And it wasn’t because he was too emotionally distant or uncertain. He did it out of pure greed, not wanting to let go of any possibility that he could have her. And that wasn’t love. He didn’t even know what that was.

Sighing to himself, Logan gently ran his fingers through her sweaty hair. He didn’t get emotional very often, but as he looked at her now a hard lump formed in his throat. Maybe in another life or another time, he and Jeannie could have been together. But this was different. He couldn’t go on obsessing over this woman. It just wasn’t right and it wasn’t fair to her. And just like Raven said, he would have to make the most difficult decision possible. But at least it would be the right one.

“I’m sorry Jeannie,” he said softly to her unconscious form, “I shouldn’t have hurt you. You’re right to stay with Summers. I can’t love you like he can. I thought I could, but I was wrong. It just…isn’t there, I guess. But feelings or no feelings, just know you’ll always be special to me.”

He then leaned in and gave her a soft kiss on the forehead. Then slowly and carefully, he tucked her naked body under her bed sheets. He then gathered his clothes and got dressed. But before he left he looked back at her one last time and sighed. It took him a long time, but he was ready to accept that he and Jean Grey were not meant to be.

All that was left now was to wait and see how Emma would fare. But he wasn’t that worried about that anymore. If Scott loved Jean as much as she said he did, she was in for just as hard a time as he was.

Xavier’s Office

It was a tense time for Charles Xavier. As powerful and strong as he had become, he was not immune to the pressures of having to deal with threats to his power. And lately they seemed to be coming from all fronts. Since the assassination attempt by the Hand, he mobilized much of his Hellfire forces into a counterattack. Nobody was supposed to strike against the Hellfire Club without consequences. And while at first he thought it would be easy to take down the Hand, he seriously underestimated them.

Despite their leader being dead and two of their top assassins, Elektra and Psylocke, no longer working for them, the Hand seemed as strong as ever. And not only were they strong, they were beginning to strike back against his operations. They attached his businesses, his financial assets, and his strongholds throughout Asia and the world. It shouldn’t have been possible without their leader and some form of organization. But somehow the Hand was able to mobilize and stay strong. Their forces remained unified and despite his vast network, they were leaving their mark.

“Are you sure you killed them all?” said Xavier over the phone to Warpath.

“I’m positive, Lord Xavier. I just had Sage do a sweep. There’s no one left.”

“What about their network? Was she able to hack in and find out who or where the Hand is getting their orders from now?”

“I’m sorry sir, but she hit another dead end. Every network keeps self destructing the second she starts probing. I haven’t been able to follow their trail either.”

Xavier cursed under his breath. This was getting more than annoying. It was getting downright suspicious. The Hand was good, but they couldn’t be this good without some kind of edge. And if he couldn’t find out where they were getting their support then he couldn’t stop them.

“What about the X-Industrial facilities they attacked? Were the other pawns able to repel them?”

“Yes, but not without taking some major damage. Sage also found out they hit some of our communication and banking networks. It’s nothing that can’t be repaired, but it’s still pretty serious.”

“Let me worry about rebuilding. Just find whatever else you can and tell the younger pawns to pull out and regroup. I’ll move some more of our mercenary forces into the area to clean up.”

“But what if the Hand attacks again? These guys just don’t quit! It’s like they have some sort of jump on us! Sage says we may have a spy!”

“If we do, I’ll find him. And heaven help him when I do,” said Xavier sternly, “Just clean up and report back to the manor. We’ll have to start making more ambitious plans if we’re to stop these attacks. I’ll fill you in later.”

“Yes, my lord. Over and out.”

Xavier hung up the phone and sighed in frustration. It wasn’t easy being Black King. The more power he wielded the bigger target he was. He knew he was taking a risk by going after secret societies like the Hand to further Hellfire’s power. But the risk was not paying off nearly as well as he hoped. The Hand was putting up a formidable fight. Their reliance and efficiency was increasingly disturbing. It may very well be possible that there was a spy feeding them information. If there was, he had to find him and make him pay. It was yet a major problem he didn’t need at the moment.

Despite the growing crisis with the Hand, he could not forget about his ongoing issues with Selene and Sinister. They had fallen unusually silent lately. And to him that was not a good thing. That could only mean one of two things. Either they were done planning and just biding their time or they were already making their move and he just didn’t notice. He wanted to dedicate more resources into spying on them, but his resources were stretched as a result of fighting the Hand. His spy network, manpower, and agents were all busy trying to stay a step ahead of the Hand. But staying a step ahead of one foe meant falling behind another. It was becoming increasingly evident that something was going to have to give. He just had to be ready to make the necessary choices.

As he tossed his phone aside, Charles turned his attention to the window where he gazed out over Manhattan. He always took a sense of comfort in such a view. Things were so much simpler when viewed from a distance. It was all a matter of perspective. He was a man of power in a world where power was everything. When he first became Black King, he believed he could wield his power better than any previous king before him. But there were some parts of having such power he wasn’t prepared for. This was just one of them, but he never expected it to be easy. He knew that if he was to accomplish the ambitious goals he set, he would have to work through such challenges. He would also have to make sure he had a contingency plan.

As he stood, lost in thought, the doors to his office opened and Moria stepped in.

“Charles? Is this a bad time?” she said, noticing his disposition.

“For you, Moria, it’s never a bad time,” he said in a monotone, “But forgive me if I’m not my usual charming self. It’s been a rough day.”

“It’s been a rough several days,” said Moria as she approached him, “Rahne told me the Hand hit some of our European strongholds. The losses weren’t catastrophic, but they were still costly.”

“We can afford to pay it for now. But if this keeps up, I’m not so sure,” Xavier lamented, “I’m beginning to fear this is the start of something much more serious.”

“Oh Charles, don’t be so negative,” she said, coming up behind him and slipping her arms around his waist, “I think I have something that will cheer you up.”

“I appreciate the thought, Moria. But I’m not really in the mood.”

“No, it’s not that!” she said, rolling her eyes, “It’s some news I got from Forge. He just called me half an hour ago.”

Xavier’s expression shifted from demoralized to hopeful. Forge didn’t often send them news, but when he did it was always important.

“What’s his status?” asked the Black King intently, “Did he finish the ‘project’ I gave him?”

“Oh he finished it alright,” grinned Moria, “I saw for myself. The prototype is ready and was successfully tested.”

“So it’s ready to use?”

“Ready and waiting. It’s not the final product, but it does deliver.”

“That’s all I need for now,” said Xavier intently, “How long before I can have it on my desk?”

“I’ve already paid to have a private courier ship it to us. It should be here tomorrow afternoon.”

The Black King’s spirits were immediately lifted.

“Excellent! And not a moment too soon it seems,” he said, “With the Hand causing so much trouble and Selene and Sinister becoming increasingly reclusive, we need to move forward. It seems as though we’ll be needing our backup plan sooner rather than later. Although I wish we didn’t.”

“So do I, Charles. But that’s the price we pay for being in positions of power. We must be ready for others to target us. One might say it is our only weakness.”

“Indeed, but what is that first rule about weaknesses I told you the day I offered you a chance to join me?” said Xavier as he smiled ominously at his long time love.

“Turn every weakness into a strength,” said Moria, “And I think we’ll have that covered soon.”

He always loved how Moria was able to brighten his day no matter how bad it seemed to be going. That was just part of what made her so special. Still standing in her affectionate embrace, Xavier turned around and embraced her back. Even during times like these, he stayed true to his goals. And Moria helped remind him. For that he gave her a tender kiss, letting her know just how important she was to him.

It was complicated yet cunning affair. But if Selene, Sinister, and the Hand could all operate in the shadows, why couldn’t they? If they were going to make plans behind their backs, they were going to make some plans of their own. Only their plan was going to have to be better than all of them. Their plan was going to have to be so solid that there was nothing any one of them could do to stop them. There were so few people in the loop, but that was how it was going to have to be for now. But as good as they felt their plan was, there were still some uncertainties.

“Glad to see your spirits up again,” smiled Moria, “But are ye sure about making Danielle such a big part of this operation? Not that I dislike the lass, but she’s young and still has a lot to learn.”

“I wouldn’t have let her in on this if I wasn’t completely sure she could handle it,” Xavier said confidently, “Danielle may have a certain amount of youthful naivety, but she is Hellfire through and through. I’ve made sure of that as I’ve been secretly working with her.”

“And what about Selene and Sinister? Do they know you’re working with her?”

“Oh come now, my dear. You know I’m more cunning that that,” he said coyly.

“Just making sure,” grinned Moria, “But as soon as that package arrives, she’s going to have to play guinea pig for a while.”

“I know. And so does she. But Danielle can handle it. I’m sure of it.”

“Let’s hope so because youth or no youth, that lass may be our only hope to defeat all our enemies in one stroke.”

“She’ll do what is necessary. That’s all we can ask of her,” said the Black King, “We just have to be ready for when Selene and Sinister make their move.”

“And just when do ye think that will happen?”

“Soon,” he said strongly, “I don’t know exactly when. I just know it’s going to happen soon. But when it does, we’ll make our move.”

The Black King sounded confident and poised as always. Moria always took comfort in how he handled himself in tough situations. It was part of what made him such a good Black King. But they had never faced a situation as tough as this. They had enemies bearing down on them from all sides it seemed and it wouldn’t be long before they all came together and struck them. And in the Hellfire Club, it was bound to get bloody. Historically, even the most solid reign in the organization ended with bloodshed. Charles hoped to end that, at least on his side. Those who opposed him, however, wouldn’t be so lucky.

With his spirits higher and with a new sense of excitement, Moira felt his hands slip lower onto her body. When she felt him squeeze her butt, a sultry expression formed. Even in times of great stress, Charles knew how to stay upbeat in more ways than one.

“Mmm…I thought ye weren’t in the mood, Charles.”

“I wasn’t. But moods are always subject to change,” he grinned wryly, “And you’re often responsible for changing them.”

“Guess that means I should make good use of it,” she purred softly, “It has been a while since we tested the legs of your desk.”

“It has, hasn’t it? Care to try them again?”

“Why not? It’s closer than the bedroom.”

Despite a war with the Hand, a growing threat from Sinister, and the ever present danger of sharing power with Selene, Charles Xavier and Moria MacTaggart still had time to enjoy themselves. They shared a series of heated kisses before backing towards his desk where the Black King laid his love down and made love. It was a difficult time indeed, but it was never too difficult for them to be together. And they had no intention of letting any one of their enemies take this from them. They would see to it no matter what.

Hellfire Manor Foyer – Later

Upon leaving the resort, Scott hailed a cab back to Hellfire Manor. His head was still throbbing and his mind was reeling, but he also had a strong sense of relief that this ordeal was over now. Emma Frost, someone he trusted and connected with, betrayed him in the worst possible way. She tried to mind rape him, forcing him to love her and reject Jean. He really didn’t see it coming despite the warnings Jean gave him early on. He didn’t want to believe that Emma would do something like that to him, but she did. The damage was done now. All that was left was to pick up the pieces.

When Scott got back to the manor he walked through the front door in a daze. There was only one thing left to do now. There was only one person he wanted to see. It was late so she was probably asleep. But whatever the case may be, he just had to be near her. He had to be with Jean.

He tiredly ascended the stairs, going over everything he knew he was going to have to say to this woman who he came so close to losing. Scott didn’t know what to expect, but he wasn’t about to shy away from this. Just as he got to the top of the stairs he was met by Logan, who had been casually leaning against the wall in a daze just as deep as his.

“You’re back early. What happened? Couldn’t keep up with her?” said Logan in his gruff tone.

Normally Scott would have scorned Logan for making such a crude comment like that, but tonight he wasn’t in the mood for it.

“Save the dirty comments for another time, Logan. I don’t have the energy to humor you.”

“Whatever, bub,” he shrugged, “So where’s Frost?”

“I don’t know. Probably still at the resort. There was some…unpleasantness. I had to leave.”

“Unpleasantness, huh? How bad was it?”

“What do you care?” scoffed Scott, “Let’s just say she took advantage of my trust and tried to use me for her own selfish reasons. If you consider that pretty bad, then yes…it was really bad.”

Logan was silent for a moment, contemplating what that woman could have done. She seemed so certain that she would succeed, yet here Scott was talking about it. That could only mean one thing.

“So you stopped her,” he stated plainly.

“I didn’t let it get too far. That’s all I’ll say. I don’t want to go into details so I won’t. It’s over now so I really don’t want to dwell on it.”

Logan wasn’t sure why, but he smiled at Scott’s response. As much as he resented him, he did the right thing when he had to. He fought back against Emma Frost and succeeded. That alone was worthy of at least some of his respect. But beyond him not giving into that bitch, it also meant that he wouldn’t be breaking Jean’s heart. He still loved her and wasn’t going back on those feelings anytime soon. It meant the secret he kept from Jean wouldn’t hurt her anymore and that was good for him. It also meant that he and Jean would probably never be together, but if that was the price he had to pay so be it.

“Why are you so interested anyways?” asked Scott suspiciously.

“Like I’d tell you,” he said with a wolfish grin, “But I don’t think you want to get into another fight with me tonight. Right now Jeannie needs you. She’s asleep in her bed waiting. And I’m not gonna keep you from her.”

Scott looked at Logan in bewilderment. Normally he would do anything and everything to keep him from Jean. But not this time. It was as if he wanted him to be with Jean right now. It didn’t seem very Logan-like, but the look on his face indicated he was dead serious.

“Don’t give me that look,” grumbled Logan, “I don’t want to dwell on it either. Just go to her already before I change my mind.”

Scott was silent for a moment, but then he smiled. He and Logan didn’t get along and probably never would. But there were still some attributes of his that were worthy of respect. He wasn’t going to praise him for it. He was content to just leave things as they were.

Without another word, he walked past Logan and towards Jean’s quarters. Logan didn’t move from where he was, still lost in thought. But before Scott got too far, he turned around and delivered one last comment.

“One more thing, bub,” he said, stopping Scott in his tracks, “There’s somethin’ we gotta get clear before we never speak of this again.”

“And what’s that, Logan?” asked Scott intently.

Logan took a deep breath. He was never good at humbling himself, but for the sake of getting this out of the way he swallowed his pride and said what he had to say.

“I love Jeannie. You love her too. But I can’t love her like you and she can’t love me like she loves you. I’m not gonna stop seeing her and I’m not gonna be any nicer to you because of it. But just remember of all the pricks out there, she chose you. I accept that now. And don’t you damn ever forget it.”

“I won’t,” said Scott with a half smile, “If I ever do, I expect you to be there to decapitate me.”

“Consider it done,” Logan grinned.

Scott still didn’t like Logan and he didn’t like him either. But they were slowly growing to respect one another. Logan accepted that Scott was the one for Jean and Scott accepted that Logan and Jean were close friends. They didn’t put it into words, but they didn’t have to. They silently agreed that this was how things were. It may not help them get along any better, but it would make everything easier.

With one long standing issue now out of the way, Scott turned his focus onto another. Jean was waiting for him and he needed to be with her now. They had to get this issue out of the way so they could move on.

Jean’s Quarters

Scott Summers entered Jean’s room with a mix of anxiety and anticipation. He still wasn’t sure what he was going to say, but he wasn’t going to leave until he said it. Upon entering he found her lying peacefully under the sheets of her bed. As he quietly moved in closer he found that she was naked. She also had all the signs of having had sex. From the looks of it she had a lot of sex. But he wasn’t about let that bother him. Given what he did with Emma, it was only fair and he couldn’t blame her. But none of that mattered anymore. All that mattered was being with her and laying this issue to rest.

Quietly and carefully, Scott sat down on the side of her bed. For a moment he just admired her peaceful form. He gently traced his fingers through her messy hair and face, smiling at her angelic appearance. Even in such a disheveled state, she was so beautiful. It was amazing to believe a man like him could have a woman like her in a place like this. Such a big part of their lives revolved around violence, murder, and deceit. Yet they were able to maintain that fragile balance between darkness and light. They were able to love in the face of so many other conflicting forces. That only proved how strong their bond was. Had they fallen in love in more normal, traditional circumstances it probably would never be this strong.

As he gently stroked her face, Jean stirred from her slumber. She let out a tired groan, clearly still sore from all her earlier activities. But when she opened her eyes and saw Scott sitting there on her bed, that passionate glow she always carried with her returned and she smiled warmly.

“Hey,” said Scott as he smiled back.

“Hey yourself,” she said tiredly as she rose up slightly, “What are you doing back so early? Is everything okay?”

Scott leaned in closer and gave her a soft kiss on the forehead, which said more to Jean than he ever could put into words.

“Yeah…everything’s fine now,” he said.

Jean’s smile widened as she rose up more and pulled Scott into another kiss. Even though she was naked and exhausted, she still had enough energy to embrace the man she loved. Tonight had been the first time she actually contemplated that they weren’t going to make it. She really believed that Emma Frost might take Scott from her. But whatever she tried, she clearly failed. It was a great relief and made the moment all the more special.

“Jean…” said Scott as they parted, “I’m so sorry I didn’t listen to you. You were right from the beginning about, Emma.”

“You don’t need to be sorry, Scott. You made a promise to me. And you kept that promise. That’s all that matters.”

Scott smiled warmly and embraced her closer. He was glad there was no bitterness or anger. It had definitely been a strain on both of them, but they were able to work through it. Their love was still strong and that was the biggest relief of all.

“So…what happened?” asked Jean curiously.

“It’s a long story,” muttered Scott, “She was pretty…pushy to say the least.”

“But not pushy enough to make you stop loving me?”

“Not even close,” he assured her, “But don’t worry about Emma now. That’s over. I made it clear you’re the one I love. She didn’t take it very well, but that’s something we’ll just have to work out later on.”

“With Emma? That’s going to be tricky.”

“I know. But that’s how it has to be.”

Jean smiled again, happy to have her lover in her arms like this after such a tumultuous night. This ordeal with Emma was over now. They could finally move on and their love could continue to blossom.

“I love you, Scott,” she said softly as she embraced him again.

“I love you too, Jean.”

“Please…stay with me tonight.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said, giving her another soft kiss to assure her.

Without another word, Scott curled up next to Jean. She was still under the sheets and he was still wearing the clothes he had been wearing earlier. But that didn’t matter. All that mattered was that they were together and in each others’ arms. Under normal circumstances they would have made love to reinforce the point. But after a night like this, they didn’t have the energy. They were content to just lie in each others arms and slip away into a peaceful sleep.

Their relationship had seen many challenges over the years and this had been by far the most daunting. But they got through it and their bond was stronger than ever. Now they could move on. There would no doubt be some fallout as a result of this night. But they would deal with that all in due time.

Emma’s Quarters

Emma Frost had never been so desolate before in her life. She thought there was nothing she couldn’t handle. She thought nobody could ever get under her skin. But she thought wrong. Her heart had been broken once and that was bad. Now it had been broken again and this was much worse.

She wasn’t sure how long she lingered in the suite at the resort. All she remembered was sitting as still as a statue on the bed, distant and dazed over what had transpired with Scott. It kept playing out in her mind again and again. From the moment they started having sex to the moment he said goodbye to her, she scrutinized every detail. After a while the harsh reality dawned on her. There was nothing more she could have done. She followed her plan to the letter and yet it didn’t work. Scott was able to reject her manipulation and reject her love. And his rejection, which hit so hard because of how it happened, hurt more than she ever could have imagined.

After a while she put her clothes back on and left, not even informing the resort she was doing so. She then called the limousine back up and it took her back to the manor. Once there she went straight up to her room where she sat in a cold, desolate silence. Her heart had been broken again. She reached out to someone, thinking she really connected with them, only to find out that it wasn’t real. The pain she felt was indescribable. And the worse part of all was this wasn’t the first time she suffered such heartache.

“Shanobi? Shanobi, what are you doing?!”

“Quiet, Emma! I’m not playing this game anymore!”

“What game?! What the hell is this?!”

“You know what this is, Emma. You were just too foolish not to see it coming.”

The memory played out vividly in her mind. She and Shanobi had just shared a romantic dinner and returned to his room to make love. They had just stripped down to their underwear. She remembered being so impassioned with him, as if she knew somehow that the night was going to be different. It turned out she was right, but it was for all the wrong reasons. Just as he had her pinned against a wall, her legs hooked around him, he hit some sort of button and these metal shackles came shooting out of the wall and restrained her. It all went downhill from there.

“Shanobi?! Darling…”

“Stop calling me that! I’m not your darling. I never was. Did you really think I was going to share my life, my wealth, and my power with you? Sorry, my dear, but that’s more love than I can ever give.”

Looking back on it, she should have known better. But she had been a naïve, gullible teenage girl who never had much love in her life to begin with. So when she thought she found it with Shanobi she was willing to let her guard down. And she paid the price for it. She was just another pawn in his game.

“You think I don’t see what’s going on? You think I haven’t noticed what your mentor, Charles Xavier, is doing? He’s been weakening the Inner Circle ever since he arrived! He and that idiot father of mine have been killing off the competition, positioning themselves to take even greater power! And you’ve been helping them! You think I don’t know how many men you’ve seduced to his will?”

“I was just doing what I had to do! I served this organization just like you have! And now you’re betraying it? And you’re betraying me too?!”

“I’m not betraying you or this organization. I am just taking what is rightfully mine. And that means taking out the competition.”

“You mean me don’t you?”

“You are one of Xavier’s favorite. You’re next in line to manage his major financial and business holdings. That’s a job I need if I am to position myself to take power. And you know what that means for you.”

Shanobi Shaw was a bastard of a man, every bit as cruel as his father. He didn’t care about anything other than taking more power for himself. She was just in the way. And what better way to take her out of the picture by tricking her into falling in love with him. It was pretty smart. While they were together she shared with him things she never would have shared with anybody else. She told him about what she was doing and what Xavier was grooming her for. She failed to remember that he lived perpetually in his father’s shadow and sought to work his way up in the Inner Circle, eventually usurping his father. To do that he had to position himself properly and she was the perfect target because of her unique relationship with Charles Xavier.

It was a page right out of the Hellfire Club tradition. The most common way people moved up was through assassination. She was in his way so he wanted to take her out of the picture. But he didn’t just kill her. That would actually be kinder of him. He had to do something much worse.

“So that’s it?! That’s all I am?! Just another obstacle for you to upstage your father? And they say I have daddy issues!”

“Shut up! You are in no position to criticize me, bitch!”

“Why not? You’re the one who was so desperate to get the love your father never gave you. At least I don’t hide it.”

“So then why didn’t you just kill me from the beginning? Why did you have to make me fall in love with you?! Why did you have to put me through this?!”

What Shanobi said next was forever scarred in her memory.

“You’re a predator, Emma, just like me. You of all people should know that some predators like to play with their prey before they kill it.”

His venomous words hurt. The look in his eyes was so dark and sadistic she couldn’t believe she once had such love for them. It hurt on a level that defied description. But as much as it hurt, she didn’t shed a tear or break down. She just stood there in a cold, desolate manner just as she was now. Shanobi could have killed her right then and there and it wouldn’t have bothered her in the slightest. She almost hoped for death because it would spare her of the pain of having to live this down. But fate had other plans.

“Goodbye my, dear. Thank you for being so naïve and giving yourself to me so willingly. But I have no room for competition in my new order.”

‘Neither do I, Shanobi.’

Just as Shanobi was about to kill her, they both heard the distinct telepathic voice of Charles Xavier in their heads. To Emma, it was a godsend. To Shanobi, it was the worst voice he could have heard. The door to his room burst open and Charles Xavier stepped in, looking none too happy about what he saw. And judging by the look on his face, he heard everything Shanobi said. That constituted betrayal of the highest order against the Hellfire Club. That meant he was due for a very severe punishment.

“Lord Xavier?! I thought you were…”

“You’re father sent me, Shanobi. He suspected you were being a very naughty boy. I guess he was. Now it seems you’re in need of a good spanking.”

“The hell I am!”

Shanobi tried to attack Charles, but he didn’t get far. Right behind him was Sage, who was wielding a special paralyzing gun that Sinister made. She emerged from behind him and shot him point blank before he could even get close enough to deliver a blow. His pained screams still echoed in her mind, but they were bittersweet. Shanobi may not have succeeded in his plans, but he still hurt her in ways she had never been hurt before. And that pain lingered for a long time.

The aftermath of Shanobi’s betrayal was a blur to her. She remembered watching as Shaw tortured his own son to death, yelling at him and humiliating him for his betrayal. The kinds of things he did to Shanobi were so horrific even Selene was surprised. Even after he was killed, Emma felt the pain. Even though she was comforted in a ways to see Shanobi dead, the damage was done. Xavier was the only one who consoled her, but even with his help she shut herself off. She became even more cold and isolated. Before, she had just been a determined girl looking to work her way up into the Inner Circle. But whatever capacity for connecting with people she had was forever shattered by Shanobi.

Then Scott came along. He reached her on a level she hadn’t been reached since Shanobi. He got her to feel something again that she hadn’t felt in a long time. He broke through that cold shell of hers and brought out a new person in her. She was still no angel, but she felt better for it. And ironically enough, she only let him get under her skin because Jean suggested she open up. Taking her advice more or less sealed her fate. For all she knew Jean planned for this to happen. But whatever the case may be, she had been hurt again. And this time it was much worse.

Standing alone in her darkened room she walked up to a mirror and looked at herself. What few tears she shed when Scott rejected her had long since tried up. Now all that she saw was an angry, bitter woman. It wasn’t a raging, burning anger she felt. It was cold and desolate, reflecting not only her demeanor but her very personality. And as this anger surged through her she had only one desire left…the desire for vengeance.

Suddenly a voice broke her from her thoughts.

“I take it your night didn’t go as planned.”

Emma turned around to see Monet casually leaning against her wall. She had been so lost in thought she forgot to lock her door and didn’t even notice Monet enter. It showed just how distant she was, but was in no mood to talk about it.

“Go out of my room, Monet!” she demanded, “Make one more comment and I’ll make your brain explode and your eyes fall out!”

“Oh please,” she scoffed, “Dispense with the empty threats and hear me out. I didn’t come here to mock your misfortune.”

“If you don’t leave in the next ten seconds I’ll show you just how empty my threats are!”

“No you won’t,” said Monet confidently as she approached the volatile blonde.

“Oh? How do you figure?” scoffed Emma.

“Because if you do then you’ll miss out on an opportunity to make everything right.”

Emma cast Monet a suspicious look. This woman made quite a splash upon joining the Hellfire Club. Even though she was new and officially on the very low end of the Inner Circle hierarchy, she carried herself as if she were the Black Queen or something. She also took strongly to some of Hellfire’s ruthless tactics, almost too strongly. But even before her arrival, she had a reputation for being serious. And when she talked about making everything right, it struck a chord.

Emma didn’t say anything at first. She didn’t do anything either. She just kept her cold gaze on Monet, studying her closely. She was clearly not in the mood to play around. If Monet was going to do what she had to do she had no room for error. Luckily, she had a knack for doing anything without error.

“I won’t make light of what you’re going through,” said Monet, “I’m a telepath too you know. I can sense how upset you are. And I don’t blame you. A broken heart is a terrible thing.”

“Are you trying to be sympathetic? Because you’re doing a piss poor job of it,” said Emma.

“I’m trying to reinforce a point, Emma,” said Monet, maintaining a reasonable tone, “What happened to you was wrong. Even you do not deserve this. And if you want, I can help you get back at Scott and even Jean. That is, of course, if that’s what you want.”

“Of course that’s what I want!” Emma exclaimed, “Scott broke my fucking heart and just walked away without so much as an apology and Jean’s the one who got me into this mess to begin with! If I hadn’t taken her bloody advice I…”

Emma had to stop herself from going off on a full blown tantrum. She was still seething with anger and resentment. But Monet just kept smiling. It was as if she wanted her to be like this.

“It’s not your fault,” said Monet, “But regardless of what happened, you have a chance to do something about it. And I can help.”

“Yeah right,” scoffed Emma, “What could you do to help me? And moreover, why do you care?”

“Who said I cared?” said Monet, “What I propose is a deal. You help me do one thing and I’ll help you do something else. It’s as simple as that.”

“Simple…right,” said Emma dryly, “What can you do to Scott and Jean that I can’t do on my own?”

“Well for one, I can call in a few favors from some old friends of mine who can not only hurt them better than you can ever hope to, but I can also give you a few resources in case you want to give seducing Scott another chance.”

“And what kind of resources might that be?”

“The exceedingly rare kind that only the daughter of a rich and powerful ambassador could acquire.”

Emma didn’t want to believe her. Her instinct told her that this woman was just messing with her. But Monet was nothing if not a serious woman. She knew about her background. Xavier had her research her before she was recruited. She was capable of a lot given the resources her family had. They were impressive even by the standards of her own rich family. And if Monet really was serious, then maybe she could provide her with an edge that Scott won’t be able to overcome this time around. But she was still skeptical and Monet clearly sensed this.

“I can’t go into details, but if you deliver for me and I promise I’ll deliver for you. Just imagine it…Jean Grey will suffer just as you suffered. You said it was her fault you got into this mess. Isn’t it only fair that she pay some kind of penalty?”

“She should! She must!” said Emma strongly.

“And what about Scott? A man shouldn’t be allowed to just break a woman’s heart like that. Sure the men in the Hellfire Club are hardened souls, but that doesn’t make them immune to justice now does it? Imagine making him pay not just by making him suffer, but by finishing what you started. You can show him just how big a mistake he made by rejecting you. Isn’t that worth taking a risk?”

It was tempting, but as angry as Emma was at Scott and Jean she was still cautious.

“That depends. If you do this for me what will I have to do for you?” she asked intently.

“Oh it’s nothing too serious, I assure you. But it is something only someone of your power and resolve can do. The catch is that this ‘task’ as it were, may require you to do things that Lord Xavier wouldn’t necessarily approve of.”

“That sounds pretty serious to me. I’m mad as hell right now, but not mad enough to betray Charles Xavier.”

“Oh you wouldn’t be betraying him,” Monet assured her, “You would just be doing something he won’t like. But don’t worry. If you do it right he won’t even know you did it. And you’ll have a chance to enjoy the sweet satisfaction of watching Scott and Jean suffer for what they did to you.”

Emma thought about this for a moment. It sounded like a good deal. She did something for Monet and Monet did something for her. She wanted Scott and Jean to pay for making her go through this heartache again. It wasn’t fair that they got to enjoy all the love and happiness she had been denied after they lured her into it. But the idea of going against Xavier in any way didn’t sit well. She had few limits in her life, but one of them was to never cross Charles Xavier. Not only was he one of the few men she respected and admired, she knew the kind of punishment he could inflict if she got caught. It was a risky proposition, but she was so angry and bitter at what she just experienced it was hard to turn away from it.

Looking at Monet, she saw just how serious she was about this. She seemed to sense from the beginning that her plan wouldn’t work out. Emma, of course, didn’t listen but Monet was a smart woman. If she was right about her first plan then that gave her some credibility. But was she credible enough to trust with this very personal matter? The memories of what happened to Shanobi came rushing back to her. Then her mind drifted to what happened with Scott. She struggled between her anger and her reason. In the end, however, her anger won out.

“Are you really sure you can make Scott and Jean pay for my pain?” asked Emma intently.

“As sure as night follows day,” said Monet, “So are you in or not?”

“I’m in,” said Emma, “But if I sense for once second that you’re going to screw me over…”

“Relax, Emma, I know the drill,” grinned Monet, “I’m a businesswoman just like you. I know how to deliver. I just need you to deliver first. And above all else, tell no one of this deal.”

“Fine, but you keep me in the loop the whole time, understand? I want to know everything!”

“Agreed,” said Monet, “And don’t worry. You won’t have to wait long to get what you want.”

Monet extended her hand in a gesture to seal the deal. Emma still hesitated, not taking her eyes off her. But eventually she shook her hand, making it official. It was just as Monet had hoped. Emma’s anger proved decisive, just as she hoped. Now she and Mistress Selene had yet another tool they could use. It was the first time the truly manipulated someone like this. And she had to admit she liked it. Mistress Selene would be proud. But she would be even more proud when she got Emma to help them in the most critical hour of her ultimate plan.

Sinister’s Secret Lab

Selene had never been a fan of science or technology. In the context of her immortal lifespan it was still new to her. She always found it bland and uninspiring. To her, magic was far more enchanting. While science was about understanding the rules and working within them, magic broke the rules to make the impossible real. But for the first time in her life, Selene found herself appreciating the fruits of science. Ironically enough, it would be science that provided the key to unlocking the vast power she craved.

In Sinister’s secret lab across the city, she was paying a surprise visit to her tenuous ally. These past nine months had been painfully long to her. Every waking hour was a test of her patience. While Wanda kept her minions in check, developing them into champions of darkness, she laid low for a while to bide her time and wait for the right moment. She couldn’t make her move until all the right pieces were in place. One of those pieces relied heavily on Sinister’s secret project to breed a special generation of mutants from which he would construct his new species. This generation, which he called his base, had been developing for the last nine months. They started as small embryos which were partially grown in the wombs of the female pawns, but now they had matured into fully viable infants. And at the moment, Selene was holding one in her arms.

“So beautiful,” she said as she looked down at the little bundle of flesh in her arms, “They’re so boisterous and healthy. I have to say I’m impressed, Essex. And that is no small feat.”

“Glad to hear you appreciate my work,” said Sinister, “But do be careful with that child. It just got out of the bio tank.”

“Oh don’t worry. I’m very good with infants,” grinned the Black Queen.

Sinister couldn’t help but be a little unnerved. And for him that was quite a feat. Selene was one of the most sadistic and cruel individuals he had ever come across in his 150 years of life. And yet here she was affectionately holding an infant. If he didn’t know any better, he would think she was actually being maternal. But it wasn’t the kind of maternal nurturing anyone would consider normal. Even when she was being careful with an infant, she still had this sadistic look in her eye as if the infant was a victim in waiting for her wrath.

“So what’s the next step?” she asked, not taking her eyes off the infant, “I assume you’re not just going to play nursery.”

“Not quite,” said Sinister, “Unless you want to exercise your maternal instinct.”

“Maybe later,” grinned Selene.

“Well before you decide, I’ll be running a few more critical tests. Once complete, these twelve infants should give me all the information I need to make my new species.”

Sinister then walked over to a special refrigeration unit that was chilled with liquid nitrogen. Upon opening the top, he pulled out a special slide of tissue he had preserved years ago.

“But if I am to get the most advanced genetics possible, I need to their mutant genes to be active. Normally, mutant powers do not manifest until puberty. And even if they do, they don’t always manifest fully. So I will have to accelerate the process.”

“And just how do you plan on doing that?” asked Selene, seeming only vaguely interested.

“With the material provided by this,” he said, holding up the slide, “It’s a piece of brain tissue I extracted from Remy Lebeau years ago. It contains a unique combination of genetic anomalies that cause mutant powers to grow at an exponential rate. In it’s natural state it is dangerous and destructive to the specimen. But for these children I have taken a few precautions.”

“You damn well better,” said Selene, “I am not keen on giving second chances.”

“I’m sure,” said Sinister, rolling his eyes as he put the sample away, “But that is where Norman Osborn’s goblin gas comes in. You see, Charles originally gave it to me as a means to develop enhancement drugs for his mercenary army. I delivered that, but only in part. On the side, I was able to refine the unique properties of the gas into a stabilizing agent that would not only trigger advanced mutant genes, but accelerate their development.”

“So these infants could conceivably be wielding mutant powers even in their young, vulnerable state,” said Selene with a strange smile.

“Precisely! And with those powers, I can finally create my new species! And from there, evolution will take its course.”

Sinister’s voice was last with intent and anticipation. He had been waiting for this for many years and only now in this late hour was it finally within his grasp. It took endless hours of toil and many resources from the Hellfire Club, but he was finally nearing his ultimate goal. His goal, however, was now tied to Selene, as he seemed to be relying on her a great deal to make this happen.

For Selene, she could care less about Sinister’s grand vision for a new species. As far as she was concerned, it was just as ridiculous as Xavier’s goal or anybody’s goal for that matter. While she appreciated some of his tastes for weeding out the weak, his approach was too bland. It wouldn’t matter in the long run though. Even his ambitious plans would eventually cede to hers. She had already seen to it.

“Evolution, you say? I suppose I can appreciate that,” she said as she set the infant down in a small bed next to the others, “But bear in mind, Essex, you will have to divide your attention between your plan and helping me with mine.”

“Yes, that I haven’t forgotten,” he said bitterly, “And as promised, I will deliver.”

“Good, and I expect you to deliver soon,” she said, “Now that these infants are ready, I am preparing to move ahead in my plan. And I’ll need you to do your part if we’re to overcome a significant obstacle.”

“Are you referring to Charles Xavier?”

“Can you think of any other?”

Sinister’s expression hardened. For a long time he had worked under Xavier’s thumb. At first he thought he was the one with the power because he had all the knowledge. But over the years Xavier began pulling the strings more because he had the money, resources, and power he needed to do his work. He longed for the day when he could finally break free and if Selene could give it to him then he was willing to help her.

“I’m sure you’ve heard, but he’s been a little busy lately,” said the Black Queen as she continued to admire the sleeping infants, “His little stunt with the Hand has caused quite the ruccous.”

“Indeed it has. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?” said Sinister with a suspicious grin.

“I might, but I’m not telling you,” quipped Selene, “So long as he and his pawns are busy, we will position ourselves to strike. We’ll have to be swift and cunning. And you’ll have to be ready to act as well.”

“Just tell me what you need and I’ll take care of it,” said Sinister, “It is only fair seeing as how you’ve done such a good job at keeping him off my back these past nine months.”

“I’ll let you know when the time is right. But be warned, once I move in we’ll have to pack up and move our operations to another location. And if you wish to continue your work, you will have to move with us.”

“Why do I have to move?” scoffed Sinister, “I have everything I need here in this lab.”

“Trust me, it’s going to get messy,” she said ominously, “You and these little wonders you created will have to get out of here before it all comes together. And if you want continued access to Hellfire’s resources, you’ll do as I say. Because even with Xavier out of the picture, you still need what he can provide to carry out your plan.”

Sinister muttered a curse. This sadistic woman was right. He still needed the Hellfire Club’s resources if he was to effectively develop his new creatures. If Xavier was taken out of the picture that would mean Selene was the de facto ruler. It didn’t sit well with him, but for his work he was willing to assist her. And if she did try to screw him over, he always had a failsafe.

“Very well,” he said, “I’ll begin making plans to move my equipment.”

“See that you do,” said Selene as she affectionately caressed another one of the infants.

“And just out of curiosity, what will you do once Xavier’s out of the picture? He does have loyal followers. They may not go down without a fight.”

The Black Queen just grinned sadistically. That was one issue that really didn’t concern her. If anything, she was looking forward to it. But it was something Sinister didn’t need to know the details on. He could never appreciate it anyways. This was still her plan and it was going to go just as she wanted it to go. The time was drawing near. Her ultimate goal was within reach. It was just a matter of weeding out all those who stood in her way.

“Oh don’t worry about them,” she said ominously, “I know they won’t go down easily. But they will fall. Everyone shall fall. And when they do…well, let’s just say I have plans!”

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Up next: The final pieces come into place as Selene prepares to make her move.