New Blood III: Triumph of Darkness

New Blood
Chapter 6: Falling Apart

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Club Hellfire

A couple weeks had passed since the incident with Jean, Scott, and Emma. For Logan, it seemed like a lifetime. It affected him so deeply and left him questioning many things and reexamining how he felt. It wasn’t easy, but it had to be done. In many respects it was good for him. His feelings for Jean had always been a source of confusion and distress. After the incident with Emma he came to realize that maybe they really weren’t right for each other and it was best if moved on from those old feelings. But he needed to do it right this time. And the best way he knew to deal with this sort of thing was to sit back, get drunk, and spend a little time at the strip club.

With a glass of his favorite whiskey in hand he sat back in one of the VIP booths with a couple of half naked women serving him new drinks whenever he asked for one. As he drank he watched beautiful women perform provocative and alluring sex acts that titillated and seduced the high paying clientele who watched so intently. As a Hellfire pawn, he got special attention. The women playfully pressed their breasts up against him, teased him, and offered him private shows back stage. He turned them down for now. At the moment he just needed to clear his head. And thankfully, he wouldn’t have to do it alone. Raven was sitting next to him.

She was drinking as well, watching with the same intent as him and everybody else. He was glad to have her with him during these strange times. She really helped him get through this. It was mostly her advice that kept him from helping Emma, which given how things turned out would have been much worse. She was also a good drinking partner. She was one of the only girls who could keep up with him. He liked that about her along with so many other things. And now that he was moving on from his feelings for Jean, he could focus on something more important like how much he was going to out-drink Raven.

“So this is how a man deals with realizing he can’t have the woman he wants,” said Mystique as she held up her glass, “It’s clichéd, but understandable.”

“Glad you approve, Misty,” grinned Logan as he finished his glass, “But I this ain’t about dealin’ with it. I’ve already accepted it. Being here is just my way of moving on.”

“Well given that you’ve been practically living here these past few weeks, I say you’ve done plenty of moving on already.”

“Says you,” snickered Logan, “It also helps to unwind.”

“I’m sure it does.”

A scantily dressed woman handed Logan another drink while Raven finished hers. The shape shifter, who had watched this whole ordeal unfold from afar, was amazed at how it unfolded. She didn’t expect to get involved, but she did and she found herself relieved in some ways that Logan worked things out with Jean and was trying to move on. She wasn’t right for him anyways. And maybe now that he wasn’t obsessing over her so much, he would have more time to go out drinking with her.

“So what are you going to do now?” she asked him, “What’s going to happen with you and Jean?”

“Well we already cleared the air so the hardest part is over,” said Logan, not taking his eyes off the two women going at it on stage, “There’s still some stuff we gotta work out. Just because I ain’t goin’ after her anymore doesn’t mean I want to lose her friendship.”

“I’m sure that’ll be awkward.”

“At first, it’ll be awkward as hell. But we’ll adapt. I like Jeannie and I like what she’s done for me. I don’t want to avoid her just because nothing happened between us. Plus, she’s still great in bed.”

“Yeah, can’t lose that,” said Mystique wryly.

“But humpin’ aside, she’s one of the few friends I got in this world. And I don’t want to lose that.”

“I don’t blame you,” said the shape shifter distantly.

They slammed back more drinks, letting the alcohol do its thing to help relax them. It was such a relief that this whole affair was over with. Logan really did seem to want to move on from it. But Raven still had questions.

“So…is it official? Are you no longer in love with Jean?”

Logan gulped down the rest of his drink and sighed.

“Yeah, I’d say so,” he said distantly, “It’s taken me all week to wrap my head around it, but I think I finally understand that Jeannie and I just aren’t meant to be. Don’t get me wrong. What I felt for her was real. But it just wasn’t the kind of love I thought it was.”

“What do you mean? When did there become more than one kind of love?” asked the shape shifter curiously.

Logan shook his head as he finally looked away from the girls on stage and turned his attention directly to Raven, who really seemed curious.

“You’re a merc. You ever hear people talk about combat instinct? You know, that feelin’ you have when you know something is there without seeing it?”

“Yeah, but what does that have to do with it?”

“With Jean it felt kind of like that instinct,” he explained, “When I was with her I just knew it without really thinking about it. I didn’t care that she loved Summers or that she didn’t understand me in some ways. I just had an instinct and went with it. But after this whole mess with Emma, I finally started thinking about it. And the more I thought about it, the more I realize that what I felt for her wasn’t really love. It was…hell, I don’t know what it was.”

His gaze grew distant as he looked away, not staring at her or the stage. Raven was silent for a moment and found herself moving in closer to him. It sounded like he just needed to be close to someone and it might be best if it was her than some nameless stripper.

“I think I understand,” she told him.

“Thanks,” he sighed, “At least one of us does.”

“You were caught up in your feelings for her because they felt right. It probably felt pretty good too. But no matter how right it feels or how good it feels, that doesn’t make it true. The hard part is realizing it isn’t true.”

“I hear that,” said Logan, taking another drink, “But how do you know so much about this stuff anyways? You ever fall in love with someone you thought was right?”

Raven’s expression grew solemn, which pretty much gave it away to Logan. But to her relief, he didn’t call her out on it. He just kept looking at her, with a rare aura of understanding that she hadn’t felt in a long time.

“I’d…rather not get into that,” she told him, “But in my experience, as time goes on you come to accept the truth and move onto your next big heartbreak.”

“That sure sounds optimistic,” he said dryly, “Is that all I’m in for? More heartbreak?”

“For people like us, it’s a curse. We think we know we’re in love and we’re dead wrong. Then when the real thing comes along, we don’t even know its there and it just passes us by.”

“You think it’s passed us by?”

The alcohol was clearly starting to get to the shape shifter, but she was still coherent enough to muse over it and sigh.

“I don’t know about either of us. But given our luck and our line of work, I’m not getting my hopes up.”

“I don’t blame you,” said Logan as he got another drink, “But hey…you never know.”

Another silence fell over them as they just sat there staring at each other for a moment. Mystique was clearly a little drunk and Logan was still lost in thought. But they still ended up smiling at each other. As sad as their respective situations seemed, at least they didn’t have to deal with it alone. They took comfort in each others’ company. And while it may have been the alcohol talking, they may have taken a little more.

“So…” said Logan, finally breaking the awkward silence, “That all the advice you have for me?”

“For now I guess,” shrugged Raven, “But mind changing the subject? I think we’ve dwelled on this enough.”

“Sure thing. Part of movin’ on is knowing when to stop dwelling on it like an idiot.”

“And what better way than to get a couple more rounds and see what we can get these women to do to us backstage,” said Raven with a slurred grin.

“You always gotta get dirty when you’re drunk,” snickered Logan.

“You don’t like it find another drinking buddy.”

“Did I say I minded? You’re my kind of company, Raven.”

“Hey, call me Misty. I like it when you call me that,” said the shape shifter, now sounding really drunk.

Logan laughed to himself as he poured himself another while Raven summoned a few nearby women to discuss ‘business’ with. Getting over Jean Grey was hard enough, but Raven Darkholme had a way of making it seem so much easier. Their friendship started here in this very club. It was fitting that this is where they would have such good times together. But as she started leaning over him in a drunken daze, Logan couldn’t help but wonder if that was all they shared. But given how he was still getting over Jean Grey, he set that idea aside for now. That was a whole other issue best left for another day.

Hellfire Manor Library

Jean Grey had endured a rough couple of weeks. First there was the attack on Xavier by the Hand. Then there was whole affair with Emma. Then there was that fight she had with Logan over her knowing about the affair in the first place. Needless to say she had been pretty stressed emotionally, but now those messes were over and she was beginning to move on.

After that tumultuous night with Scott, Emma, and Logan she and Scott woke up together and spent much of the morning talking out what had happened. First Scott told her all about what happened with Emma. He gave some fairly graphic descriptions of the ‘surprise’ she tried to pull on him. Jean fumed at the idea of Emma trying to literally mind wipe him into loving her. But she calmed down when she heard how Scott overcame it. Then she told him about what Logan said. And he got pretty mad too, but when she told him he was giving up on pursuing her he calmed down. He was a little put off when he heard how she had Logan ‘distract’ her while he was out, but given what he did with Emma it seemed only fair.

After talking through things, they shared a nice moment together. Their love had survived another great challenge, further helping to set aside any lingering concerns about the nature of their open relationship. It felt as though they were finally maturing together and even with other lovers, their relationship could become more stable. It was a good thing too because they would need to support each other. It seemed as though things in the Hellfire Club were becoming increasingly chaotic with the Hand situation. And Jean was doing her part by studying the materials Enchantress gave her.

After a night like last night, she needed something to keep her busy and studying in the library helped a great deal. Rogue was also with her, who was all too curious about what happened with her, Scott, Emma, and Logan.

“So Logan’s really giving up the chase, huh?” said Rogue as she lounged about on a nearby couch, “Somehow Ah find that hard to believe.”

“Believe it, Rogue. He really is trying to move on,” said Jean as she looked over her books, “I think it’s good for him. It’s good for both of this. This whole mess has been too emotionally draining.”

“Heck if Ah know anything about that,” she shrugged, “Ah haven’t been in a serous relationship since Ah got here, let alone some crazy love triangle.”

“Well it is pretty hard to understand for someone who constantly blurs the line between relationship and fuck buddy,” joked Jean, “No offence.”

“None taken,” said Rogue, rolling her eyes, “So what do you think is gonna happen with Emma? You know how temperamental that gal can be. Ah’m sure she’ll be holding a grudge from now until doomsday.”

“I don’t care if she does,” said Jean strongly, “She should have known better than to try a stunt like that! She deserves the pain of rejection.”

“Doesn’t mean she’ll take it. This is Emma we’re talkin’ about here,” said Rogue, “Have you even seen her since it happened?”

Jean thought about it for a moment. Since this ordeal happened she had seen Logan, but she hadn’t come across Emma at all. She planned to avoid her, but it turned out she didn’t have to.

“Actually, I haven’t,” said Jean, “I haven’t even sensed her in the manor. I’m guessing she had to get away or something.”

“Guess so, but sooner or later you’ll have to confront her,” Rogue warned.

“I know,” sighed Jean, “But I’d rather it be later.”

It was a touchy subject. She and Emma had never been the best of friends. They were practically rivals at times, but as fellow pawns they never considered one another enemies. This incident with Scott could really change that, but for now she didn’t want to think about it. She and the rest of the Inner Circle had enough to worry about.

“Fair enough,” said Rogue, “What about Logan? You think he can really move on?”

“Oh he definitely can,” said Jean confidently, “He’s much more emotionally mature than Emma will ever be. Plus he has more friends to lean on. Laura’s been a good influence on him.”

“So has Mystique,” said Rogue wryly, “You notice how he’s been hangin’ around her lately? They seem to be getting a little close if ya know what I mean.”

“That, I don’t know about,” laughed Jean, “With everything that’s been going on lately it’s been hard to keep up with these things. But friendship and maturity aside, Logan just needs to get a better handle on the whole concept of love. I don’t think he knows what it truly is.”

“Who does? But look whose talking,” she joked, “Ah still can’t believe how you and Scott have made it work all these years with all the sex, power, and temptation. Heck, Ah’ve been a part of it.”

“I know. You’ve sleep with Scott almost as often as Emma used to,” Jean snickered.

“Yeah, Ah know. But that’s mah point. Ah sleep with Scott and you sleep with other guys like Logan. And Ah’m sure you enjoy it and so does he. Hell, Ah ain’t afraid to admit Ah enjoy it…not that Ah’d pull something like Emma did.”

“You won’t. You’ve got too much pride in yourself to do anything Emma does,” said Jean bitterly, “But you’re right. It always has been a challenge getting around the ‘promiscuous’ nature of our relationship. But Scott and I have been able to make it work. There have been some bumps, don’t get me wrong. But I still love him with all my heart and he loves me back. That’s really all that matters.”

Rogue wasn’t keen on romantic love. She was too much an individual to really explore it. It was probably something she picked up from her mother. But she wasn’t so cynical to believe it was impossible, even in the Hellfire Club. That look in Jean’s eyes was proof enough.

“Good for you, sugah,” grinned Rogue, “Ah’m happy for you, really Ah am.”

“Thanks,” said Jean with a smile, “I hope one day you’ll find love too.”

“Nah, Ah don’t think it’s for meh,” she scoffed, “Ah’m too happy keepin’ things casual.”

“Hey, whatever works for you,” Jean shrugged.

The two women shared a good laugh. Rogue may not be the best person to get advice and opinions on love, but she was still a good listener and that’s what mattered most to Jean. Friendship was a fickle thing in the Hellfire Club. Yesterdays allies could easily become today’s enemies. There were a lot of unsavory characters Jean had to deal with in her time within the Inner Circle, but Rogue wasn’t one of them. She was as good a friend as she could have hoped for and in times like this she needed her.

“So what’s gonna happen now?” asked Rogue as she lounged about on the couch, “You and Scott gonna take things a bit easier after this mess?”

“I wish I could, but with the Hand becoming such a big problem that’s not possible. Plus, I’ve got this extra training I have to catch up on. Since the whole Emma ordeal I’ve fallen behind.”

“Extra trainin’ huh?” sighed Rogue, “That the magic stuff Xavier has you do on the side that you can’t tell anyone about, including meh?”

“I’m afraid so,” said Jean as she opened up another book Enchantress had given her, “But you know why it has to be that way.”

“Yeah, Ah know the drill,” she muttered, “Ya can’t talk about it because that way when someone like Selene asks, Ah won’t have to lie.”

“Exactly,” affirmed Jean.

“Even for a friend?”

“Come on, Rogue. You know the drill. We all have our little side projects.”

“But no one makes as big a deal about it as you,” Rogue chided, “Do you keep it from Scott?”

“Well…he’s sort of a part of it. I can’t really keep it from him,” said Jean.

“How the heck does that work?” said Rogue strangely, “Ah don’t mean to push ya Jean, but with everybody scheming about everybody lately it’s startin’ to get to meh.”

Jean shifted awkwardly. Rogue was right to be concerned. Everybody was concerned, even Lord Xavier. It wasn’t just the Hand or Selene or Sinister. It was a combination of many things. As a student of the mystic arts she could feel it too, the ominous presence of something looming in the near future. But like everyone in the Hellfire Club, she was trying to be prepared. Only her preparations were a little bit different.

“I know what you mean, Rogue,” said Jean in an understanding tone, “But it’s not going to be like this forever. It will all get sorted out.”

“How do you know? Is Lord Xavier telling you something he’s not telling everybody else?”

“No, but he’s helped me in ways that will help the rest of the Inner Circle. I can’t tell you everything, but I can tell you my mystic potential took a big step last night. I can’t explain it, but I think my emotions are the key. It’s like the more passionate I get, the more this power inside me grows.”

“And what exactly is this power? Ain’t being a psychic enough?” asked Rogue, who never had much interest in magic.

“That’s just it. Being psychic may be just another reason why I can’t let go of this,” said Jean distantly, “It’s like…I don’t know, there’s something I’m supposed to do with all my power. I just don’t know what.”

Rogue rose up off the couch and looked at her friend. She looked genuinely convinced that there was more she could aspire to. It was something she always admired about Jean. That drive was part of what made her so good at her role in the Inner Circle. But she wasn’t content to just leave things as they were. She had to push herself. And judging by all these books and study materials she was going over, she was pushing herself pretty hard.

“Well whatever it is, Ah hope you find it sugah,” said Rogue as she rose up, “And Ah hope everything with Logan and Emma settles down.”

“Thanks Rogue,” smiled Jean, “If only I could take things as easy as you.”

“Guess we all can’t be rogues,” she shrugged as she got up and headed towards the door.

“So what are you going to do now? Are you going to do extra training with the rest of the pawns?”

“Heck no! Ah figure since Pietro’s healed up Ah’ll pay him a vist,” she said with a sultry grin, “Somebody’s gotta take the edge off this place and Ah figure Ah might as well help.”

“You think sex helps more than lending that extra muscle of yours?” teased Jean.

“You stick to what you’re good at, sugah. Ah’ll stick to what Ah’m good at.”

Jean shook her head and smiled as Rogue walked off, leaving her with her books. There really were times she wished she could take things as casually as Rogue. But she had her role and she had to do what was best for her and the Inner Circle. Enchantress once told her that all great mystics follow their passion. And that seemed to apply even beyond the mystic arts. Rogue had her own way of doing things and she had hers. This ordeal with Emma, Logan, and Scott helped remind her of that. And after last night she would need all the spiritual and emotional strength she could muster.

As she turned the pages in her mentor’s old book she came across another image of the mythical bird, Phoenix. It always sent chills up and down her spine, but it wasn’t out of fear or uncertainty. It was out of anticipation. It reminded her of those fateful dreams she had as a little girl, soaring through space consumed by fire and passion. Perhaps she would get a chance to know that power one day. And perhaps that power would allow her to prove Selene and everyone who doubted her wrong.

Downtown Manhattan – Remy’s Apartment

Remy Lebeau was going on his fourth hour of nonstop laboring. Since early this morning he had been at it, carrying out the necessary ‘renovations’ to his upscale downtown apartment that Xavier and Moria ordered. His usually clean and well-kempt quarters were littered with tools and assorted hardware, some of which were no less uncommon than anything from a local hardware store and some a bit more exotic. But it was all for a purpose and he wasn’t going it alone.

“Hey Stormy! Bring Remy dat monkey wrench from the other room,” he called out from under his sink, “Some of these bolts is a bit rusted!”

“Hold on, I’m still working on the bathroom!” she called out from across the apartment, “I swear, this would go a lot quicker if you cleaned out your cabinets every once in a while!”

“I got better things to do than clean,” he replied innocently, “Just get that wrench. I’m almost done.”

Ororo sighed and got up from what she was doing to get Remy what he needed. She wiped the sweat off her brow as she had been working just as hard as him these past few hours. Normally, hard work like this didn’t bother her. Being a professional thief, she was used to it. But these circumstances were unlike anything she or Remy had ever dealt with before. This wasn’t just some task for a job or some preliminary planning. This was major and the stakes were much higher.

After getting the wrench and handing it to Remy, Ororo found herself taking a break and leaning back against the kitchen counter. She watched as her partner in crime and frequent lover finished up. Nine months of secret planning and side-projects were nearing an end. It was a relief in some ways because it felt as though work was all she had been doing lately. Between this job and the normal jobs Xavier had her do there was little time in between. She understood why it had to be this way and she trusted Xavier in the utmost, but everything she was doing was on a scale unlike anything she had ever been a part of. Being a master thief, she never got too deeply involved in Hellfire affairs. Now such involvement seemed unavoidable.

“There! That ought to do it,” grunted Remy as he made the final adjustment.

“Are we officially done in here?” asked Ororo as she watched the Cajun emerge from under the sink.

“I think so. We just gotta get the last few parts from Deadpool and we’ll be ready.”

“Good, because if the last call I got from Xavier is any indication we may have to use all this stuff sooner rather than later.”

“With all the work we put into it, we better,” said Remy with a coy grin.

“Be serious, Remy,” the African woman scorned, “He said Selene and Sinister have been unusually quiet lately. And with those two that is never a good thing. Either they’re getting ready to pounce or they’re doing something so secret that even the Hellfire spies can’t pick up on it.”

“Dang, tough choice,” said the Cajun, “But so long as the man knows what he’s doing, Remy ain’t worried.”

“I wish I could say the same,” said Ororo distantly.

Ororo hugged her shoulders and turned away. She started walking back to the bathroom where she had yet to finish the job she was working on. It was her usual reaction to being in a torn state of mind. Remy had been working with her long enough to pick up on it. She was normally very keen on keeping her emotional and mental state to herself. But around him she let her guard down a little. It sort of came with being partners for this long. And as such Remy couldn’t keep himself from going after her.

“Hey, you gonna be okay, cherè?” he said, putting a hand on her shoulder and stopping her before she got to the bathroom.

Ororo stopped, knowing full well something like this was probably going to happen. It was annoying in many ways, but rather than push him away she found herself talk it out.

“Remy, how long have we been working together?” she asked him.

“4 years, nine months, and fifteen days,” he answered.

“You’ve been keeping track?”

“Of course. Haven’t you?” said the Cajun light heartedly.

Ororo laughed somewhat and turned around to face him.

“No, but I’m glad one of us is. I only ask because I think it’s worth pointing out that you and I have been working together long enough to know how ‘different’ it is working for the Hellfire Club. It’s not like stealing for the mob or being a pickpocket. It’s not even like being a real professional. There are entirely different sets of rules that are nearly impossible to follow. And to make it even more challenging, the rules are always changing.”

“But we’ve kept up, haven’t we?” retorted Remy, “Just look at everything we’ve gained. How many other thieves out there can say they’ve been this successful for this long?”

“I’m not arguing that we haven’t kept up. But that’s my point. By keeping up with everything we’re getting in pretty deep. You know as well as I do that one of the cardinal rules of thieving is to never get too involved with any one organization. I know we’ve been exclusive to the Hellfire Club for years now, but before this mess we never got too deeply involved in their affairs. Now look at what we’re doing to our apartments. Can you honestly tell me it doesn’t have you the least bit concerned?”

Ororo had a point. She was always good at thinking about the big picture, which was something Remy had always lacked. It was a distressing thought in many ways. He hadn’t been this caught up in an organization since he was in the Thieves Guild and he remembered vividly how badly that turned out. Working this closely with Charles Xavier and becoming this big a part of his plans was a major gamble. They knew that the second they agreed to them. But unlike other plans, this wasn’t just about money or loyalty. It was about survival.

“Stormy, Remy is a lot of things, but he ain’t stupid,” he said, putting on a more serious demeanor, “I know how big this is. And I know we be playin’ without a full deck of cards.”

“Do you think making card puns will reassure me of that?” said Ororo dryly.

“Does Remy look like he’s tryin’ to be funny?” said the Cajun, maintaining his serious tone.

He then moved in closer and put both hands on her shoulders in an affectionate gesture.

“I’ll prove to you that Remy understands,” he told her, “Years ago, back when I was in the Thieves Guild, my perè Jean Luc got shot three times in a foolhardy raid on an Assassins stronghold. He tried to steal one of their most prized relics, one that was said to give the Assassins a mystical edge.”

“I didn’t know the Guilds were into magic,” said Ororo, taking him a little more seriously now.

“Why do you think Remy wasn’t surprised when you told him about the power the Hellfire Club wields?” he retorted, “And we could have used that magic on that night. I literally had to drag ma perè out of that den and take him to a safe house where I listened to him cry out in pain for two hours while they pried the bullets out of him. I was fifteen at the time and that was the first time I ever saw any of my family suffer like that.”

Ororo was silent for a moment. She looked away from him before looking him in the eye again. She could see the haunted look that such an experience surely left. She knew that look well from personal experience. But that wasn’t all.

“That must have been terrible,” she said to him.

“It was,” said Remy, “But that wasn’t what I remember most about it. What always stuck out was what he told me after it was over.”

“Why? What did he tell you?” Ororo asked curiously.

Remy paused for a moment, collecting himself as the difficult memories came rushing back to him. He didn’t usually share this with anybody, but Ororo was one few individuals in the world he trusted enough to tell her.

“He told me that it didn’t matter that the job was a failure. It didn’t even matter that we didn’t steal their relic. To him, all that mattered was upholding the so called ‘honor of thieves.’ Even if it meant going head first into a job that hurt us not nearly as much as it hurt the Assassins, he said honor was more important. And usually, I would have believed him. But then I asked him ‘What’s so honorable about being so damned foolhardy?’ And he just laughed it off as if I was makin’ a joke, took out a cigarette, and said ‘You worry too much, son.’”

Ororo digested that for a moment. It was somewhat ironic because she was kind of in the same position Remy was that day with his father. He rarely ever talked about any events in his past, but when he did he was always very serious about them. It made him vulnerable in a way most thieves would never dare. But Remy Lebeau wasn’t most thieves.

“Is that why you moved away from them? Because you questioned their merits like that?” Ororo asked him.

“Non,” he answered, “It wasn’t Remy’s questioning that got him out. It was doubt. Because after that night, I started really doubting everything Jean Luc had taught me about thieving and loyalty. And doubt in a thieves guild is a dangerous thing. It can get you killed and it can make you a lot of enemies. I was lucky enough to just be ignored. And that didn’t bother me so long as I didn’t have too get too involved again. That’s when the headaches started. And that’s also where you came in. You and the Hellfire Club got me out while the rest of the guilds went to hell.”

Remy’s expression lightened a bit and he smiled at her again, still remembering vividly that day he first encountered her and got a second chance. She smiled back, returning his gestures with one of her own. She could tell this wasn’t easy for him, but it was all for a good reason.

“The point Remy’s making with this is…I know how tough it is to start questioning things you never usually question before. Xavier and the Hellfire Club have been good to us and now we’re caught up with them in a way that could really bite us.”

“So what do we do?” she asked him, “You moved away from the Thieves Guild. Does that mean we should move away from this?”

“Non, because this is different than the Thieves Guild, the Assassins Guild, or any thieving organization for that matter,” said Remy strongly, “This ain’t about glorified vengeance or meaningless battles in the streets. This is about survival and trusting people in people you know won’t turn their back on you. Because if any one of us walks away, we all suffer. But if we stand together, the payoff could be bigger than any thief could ever hope to steal.”

It was a grave predicament. They were relying on each other as much as they were relying on Xavier. There were never any guarantees in this line of work. Someone’s word was only as strong as the trust they had in them. It was all they really had to go on in dealing with an organization notorious for betrayal. It was daunting, yet comforting at the same time. Ororo hadn’t placed her trust in many people over the years. Now she would need that trust more than ever and so would Remy.

The African thief smiled warmly and placed her hands on Remy’s, who was still holding onto her shoulders. He smiled back, assuring him that she took his words to heart.

“You really trust me that much to take another risk like this?” she asked him.

“You know the old saying. Once bitten, twice shy,” he told her, “Remy’s trusted people before, but never like he’s trusted you.”

“Then I suppose it’s only fair that I trust you as well. We’ve helped each other this far, haven’t we?”

“So why not go a little further?” said Remy with a sly grin.

“Was that serious or another one of your playful remarks?” said Ororo coyly.

“Can it be both?”

“I don’t know. But at this point I suppose it doesn’t really matter.”

They both smiled again and slowly moved in close for a kiss. It seemed a fitting way to reassure one another of the trust they would have to have in one another if they were to pull this off. Their lips met and they felt the comforting warmth that they had become so fond of. It was a nice shift given the tension that had been lingering since Xavier first came to them. It was also a nice reminder of what they were working to save. There were still many boundaries they hadn’t crossed in the years they had been working together and this affair with the Hellfire Club may finally give them a good reason to. But they had to get through it first.

The kiss, which started as a simple gesture, began to deepen. Remy’s hands slipped from her shoulder down to her hips and Ororo was beginning to kiss harder, letting her body press up against his. It was beginning to get heated when suddenly, the door burst open and an annoyingly familiar voice halted their moment.

“Honey! I’m home! And I bought the napalm!” said Deadpool as he stormed inside proudly holding up a couple of black briefcases.

Then the merc with a mouth, who was in street clothes, saw the position Remy and Ororo were in and snickered.

“Am I interrupting something?” he snickered, “Don’t stop on account of me! I don’t mind watching! Heck, I’ll join in!”

“Nice to see you too, Wade,” muttered Remy as he and Ororo reluctantly parted, “Just get the stuff out. We’ll show you where it needs to go.”

“Ah, you’re no fun!” scoffed Deadpool.

Remy and Ororo rolled their eyes as they got back to work. As much as they hated being interrupted during such a pleasant moment, it was probably a good thing Deadpool arrived when he did. They had to stay focused if they were to get this job done as soon as possible. Chances were they would need to be ready sooner rather than later. Xavier trusted them enough to bring them in on this plan and they weren’t going to let him down. He trusted them and they trusted him back. And they would all need that trust in order to get through this.

Academy of Tomorrow

“Peter? Peter! Are you still with me?” said the concerned voice of Kitty Pryde.

“Yes, I’m fine, Kayta,” said Piotr in a low tone as he walked with her closely, “I’m just…anxious, that’s all.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” she said, “Try and take a few deep breaths. It’ll be okay. I’m sure it’s nothing serious.”

“I hope you’re right, Katya. But I just have a bad feeling, that’s all.”

Kitty tried to boost his spirits with a warm smile. She took his hand and leaned in closer to him, holding onto his muscular arms as they made their way down the halls of the Academy of Tomorrow. It helped a little, earning her a slight smile from the Russian mutant. But he was still clearly distressed. He always was when it involved his sister, Illyana.

An hour ago Piotr got a call from Ameila, who ran the Academy, saying Illyana had fallen ill. She was running a fever, she wasn’t eating, and she was sweating uncontrollably. But those weren’t the worst symptoms. What made it really unusual was that these symptoms were occurring in conjunction with a very bad nightmare, one that left her screaming and crying out as if something or someone was torturing her. As soon as Piotr heard about that he dropped what he was doing and ran over to the Academy. Kitty had been with him at the time and offered to tag along. At first he resisted since she had a lesson with Moria scheduled and this was a family affair. But she wouldn’t let him do this alone. And he figured he might need her support for something like this.

When they reached the door to Illyana’s room, Ameila was waiting. She looked worried, but not gravely. And when she saw Piotr she let out a sigh of relief.

“Peter, I’m glad you’re here,” she told him, “I’m sorry for calling you like this in the middle of the day. I’m sure you’re busy, but…”

“Do not apologize, Amelia. Please just tell me what’s wrong with my sister,” said the Russian mutant strongly.

Ameila sighed and turned towards the door.

“I think you should see for yourself,” she told him.

Ameila took a deep breath and led Piotr into her room. But as soon as she opened the door they were all met with an ominous feeling. First off, they noticed it was very hot in the room. It was like walking into a sauna. But near as they could tell there was no source of heating. They also noticed how all the curtains had been draped over the windows and how every light was flickering. And at the center of it all was Illyana, who was lying on top of her bed wearing an oversized white shirt thrashing about, crying out in agony as something unseen was tormenting her.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhh! No! NO! NOOOOO! THE FIRE! THE POWER!” she howled in a voice that didn’t sound human.

“Illyana!” exclaimed Piotr as he ran over towards her.

Suddenly, one of the lamps shot up from her night stand and was flung right at him by an unseen force. Piotr didn’t have time metal up so Kitty ran in and phased it through him.

“Whoa! I think we need an exorcist!” said Kitty as she stuck close to Piotr.

“No! We just need to wake her up!” said Piotr in a determined tone.

Piotr formed his metal outer skin, armoring himself against any other projectiles. He then braved the heat and the pained cries of his sister and grabbed hold of her by the shoulders. Using his imposing strength, Piotr tried to hold her down. But she kept thrashing and despite her petite stature, which was just a bit less than Kitty’s, she showed some force.

“ARRRGGHHHHH! STOP! YOU MUST STOP THE DARKNESS!” Illyana howled in an inhuman voice.

“Illyana?! Illyana, wake up! It’s me, your brother!” Piotr exclaimed.

“NO! YOU MUST LET GO! OR YOU WILL BURN! ALL WILL BURN!”

“Illyana, snap out of it! You’re having a nightmare! Wake up! Fight it! Please…”

She continued struggling, but the desperate urging of her brother’s strong tone seemed to reach the young woman. She continued to groan and howl, speaking in a tone that was a far cry from the sweet accented voice she usually spoke with. It was like she was talking through some sort of medium. She kept on struggling, testing Piotr’s strength more than he expected. Even Kitty and Amelia were amazed at how someone who could lift a dump truck was struggling against a girl of Illyana’s stature. But strength aside, she seemed to be calming down under her brother’s touch.

“That’s it, Illyana. Come back to me,” he said in a calmer tone, “I’m here now.”

“Piotr…”

She sounded familiar this time. Then she opened her eyes, but to the shock of Piotr, Kitty, and Amelia they were glowing bright yellow. It was an ominous feeling. They had all been around magic in the Hellfire Club long enough to know it when they saw it. And there was something very macabre about those eyes. But like the howling, the glowing didn’t last. It soon faded and the young Russian girl let out a pained gasp as she finally emerged from her nightmare.

“Ugh!” she groaned as she collapsed in Piotr’s arms.

“Shh…it’s okay, Snowflake. It’s okay,” said Piotr softly as he reverted to his flesh form.

“Piotr…I don’t feel very good,” she groaned.

“You’ll be okay. Trust me. Just take deep breaths and relax,” said Kitty, who came in to help, offering Illyana a comforting smile.

“Who…who are you?” she asked.

“A very close friend of your brothers,” she answered with a smile, “I promised I’d come here to help.”

Illyana smiled lightly as she clung to her brother’s embrace. She hadn’t had a chance to meet many of his friends from the Hellfire Club. But she was glad he brought someone along for this, even if the circumstances were somewhat grim.

While Kitty and Amelia stood back and let out a sigh of relief, Piotr let his sister go a bit and wiped some of the cold sweat off her brow. She still looked pretty sick. After a nightmare like that nobody could blame her. But this didn’t seem like a normal flu or something. It felt like something much worse and Piotr still had that bad feeling.

“Illyana…what happened?” asked Piotr, “What was happening to you? You were crying and screaming in a voice that I barely recognized.”

Illyana hugged her shoulders and looked away. Even her brother, who she loved and trusted with all her heart, couldn’t understand something like this.

“I don’t know,” she said, “I really don’t remember.”

“Are you sure?” he asked intently, “Surely there is something that…”

“There was nothing, big brother,” said the young Russian girl in a troubled tone, “I really don’t know what happened. These past few weeks I haven’t been feeling well. And it all started with these…these dreams.”

“Dreams? What kind of dreams?”

“I don’t know!” she cried, “They’re so confusing and hard! I see fire, demons, monsters, and these dark eyes that just keep staring at me! I don’t know why or what it means, but the more I have it the more I feel it! It’s as if something is…”

But before she could go on she broke down again. Piotr caught her, allowing her to cry into his chest. He was at an utter loss. He had seen plenty of haunting things at the Hellfire Club. He had seen death, magic, and deviance on a scale he never imagined. It hardened him to many things, but no amount of darkness could harden him to the cries of his sister. It was part of what helped keep him grounded in this difficult life and when she was in pain like this, he was in pain as well.

Piotr didn’t say a word. He just sat there and hugged her, letting her cling to him. He turned towards Kitty, who cast him a sympathetic look. She didn’t have any siblings so she didn’t know what it was like to deal with this. But her presence helped keep him calm. He was tempted to ask more in order to uncover more about these dreams. But Kitty knowingly shook her head, telling him that now wasn’t the time. And despite his reservations, he listened and focused his attention on comforting his sister.

As Piotr helped Illyana get through this, Kitty gave them some space and turned towards Amelia. She looked relieved to see Illyana awake and well again, but she still had a hardened look of concern.

“What’s going on? Do you have any idea what’s wrong with her?” Kitty asked.

“I wish I did,” sighed Amelia, “But it’s a bit outside my expertise, I’m afraid. I deal in mutants, not magic. And this has all the signs of something mystical involved.”

“Yeah, the demon voice and flying lamp is proof enough of that. But what kind of magic? Have you talked to Xavier about this?”

“No, he’s been preoccupied to say the least. And like she said it just started a few weeks ago,” said Amelia, “At first I thought she just caught the flu or food poisoning. But when her eyes started glowing I grew more concerned.”

“Well isn’t there some kind of magic doctor or something you can call? Surely, Xavier has people who deal in stuff like this.”

“I’ve made only one call so far to an old acquaintance of mine, Baron Mordu. He’s a bit of an ass, but based on what I told him he says symptoms like this are definitely mystical based. He wouldn’t fly in to see for himself, but he was pretty confident it wasn’t some sort of demonic possession or curse.”

“And you trust him?” said Kitty suspiciously.

“Believe me, Miss Pryde, the people I deal with are not dumb enough to lead us on. They know the consequences if they do.”

Kitty didn’t need to be convinced of that. She knew how tough the Hellfire Club was when it came to getting the truth out of people. She knew because she had been a part of it. But that only made this matter more complicated.

“So if it isn’t some normal magic stuff (which I’m not sure is possible), what could it be?”

“Like I said, magic is not my expertise,” said Amelia, “But I will keep an eye on her. And I will find answers.”

“How? Are you going to bring her to Mistress Selene?” asked Kitty warily.

“Believe me, that’s the last thing I’d want to do. Those nightmares she has are bad enough,” muttered Amelia, “But I’ll figure something out. I’ll make some more calls and see what I can come up with. Because magic or not, something about this is definitely off. Illyana has always been a special case.”

“She has? How do you figure?” asked Kitty.

Amelia paused for a moment as she watched the young Russian girl, who was quickly developing into a young woman. She spent a lot of time with her these past five years or so. A lot had changed. She dealt with many young mutants in her life, but Illyana was someone she had a special affinity for. And in her line of work that was rare.

“I can’t put it into words, but let’s just say Illyana Rasputin has always had a special way about her. She’s charming and tough, just like her brother. But it’s how she handles her abilities that makes her truly remarkable.”

“Her abilities? You mean her teleporting?”

“Yes…teleporting,” said Amelia, saying that word with a bit of uncertainty, “Some young mutants take to their powers as any other skill or talent. Some just exercise it as if it were a muscle. Others just take it for granted. But Illyana is different. She rarely uses her abilities, but when she does she used them with a level of care and reservation I’ve never seen before. It’s as if she believes her powers are fragile and subconsciously holds herself back from her true potential.”

“Maybe that’s the cause of all this,” Kitty suggested, “Holding powers back has been known to do that. I’ve seen it.”

“It’s possible,” Amelia conceded, “But I’m just not sure.”

Amelia and Kitty fell silent as Piotr settled Illyana down. She was still weak and tired, despite having just woken up. She also looked as though she was going to throw up or something so Piotr brought over a trash can just in case. He tended to her with such care, which was surprising given some of the things Kitty had seen him do. She saw him literally rip a man’s head off. She saw him walk into a building and literally tear it down with his bear hands with people inside it. He was no pushover. He was as tough as they came and yet he cared so much for his sister. Everything about that made her smile.

“I don’t want to go back to sleep,” said Illyana weakly.

“You need to rest, Illyana,” Piotr coaxed, “If it helps, I’ll stay as long as I can. If you start having another nightmare, I’ll be here to wake you up.”

“But what if it keeps getting worse?” she dreaded, “What if it gets so bad that you can’t wake me up?”

“It won’t get that bad. I won’t let it,” said the Russian mutant strongly, “I’ll always be there to bring you back. You have my word, Snowflake.”

His promise brought a smile to her face as he tucked her in and sat by her bedside. She was still sickly, but beautiful in his eyes. He then turned towards Kitty and Amelia.

“She’ll be okay. I’ll stay with her,” he said.

“Good, I’ll leave you then,” said Amelia, “If you need anything, give me a call. I’ll keep looking into this. I’ll let you know if I find anything.”

“Thank you,” said Piotr graciously, “Please find out soon. I hate seeing her like this.”

“I’ll do what I can. You have my word.”

Piotr nodded in affirmation and Ameila nodded back. She then left him to care for his sister while she went off to make more calls. It was probably going to be a long, tedious task. But given she was now bound to this girl and her family, she would get the answers she promised. She just had a bad feeling of where they might lead her.

After she was gone Kitty lingered. She walked up to Piotr and gave him a comforting hug, which helped set his mind at ease a bit. This man had gone out of his way for her since the day he recruited her. It was only fitting that she do the same for him. There was so much about him she came to admire. Moments like this only reinforced that point. It was all the more proof to her that she may be falling for this man.

“You’re a good brother, Piotr,” she told him.

“Thank you, Katya,” he said in a low tone, “I just hope that’s enough to help her through this.”

“You’ll find a way. You always do,” she assured him.

“I hope so. But I still have a bad feeling about this.”

“Yeah…I’m beginning to get that feeling too,” said Kitty, thinking back to what Amelia told her, “But she’s still in the best of hands.”

Piotr placed his hand on hers, taking what comfort from her words as he could. He wished he had Kitty’s spirit. She was so much stronger than anybody ever gave her credit for. It was part of what gave her the strength to do so well in the Hellfire Club. Xavier saw it and so did he. During times like this they all had to be strong, but sometimes that wasn’t enough. Sometimes others had to be stronger. Kitty was someone who could do that when he couldn’t. It was just one of the many things he admired about her and it meant more to him than he could ever articulate. He had a feeling both he and Illyana would need her strength because as is often the case in the Hellfire Club, things get worse before they get better.

Betsy’s Quarters

Elizabeth Braddock’s life had taken many bad turns lately. At one point she was an aspiring model in rich family with a superhero brother whom she helped out with her mutant abilities. Then it started going downhill. She got into a fight with the Hand, had her body destroyed, and her mind placed in the body of an assassin who she mind wiped. Not that the body was bad or anything, but she ended up being a slave to the Hand. She had to take up the role of an assassin and killer and when she resisted, the Hand tormented her with magic and physical abuse that damaged her ability to exercise free will. It was pretty bad. There was nobody in the Hand she ever met that she came close to liking, except for Elektra. But after the Hand leader, Kirigi, was assassinated it got even worse.

The death of Kirigi was supposed to be a good thing. Kirigi was the man who forced her into this body in the first place. She thought that since he was dead, maybe now she could escape. But they kept a firm hold on her and had her lead the attack against Xavier. She figured they knew she wanted out and sent her on a suicide mission so they wouldn’t have to put up with her anymore. And she wouldn’t have minded being killed in the heat of battle. But the Hellfire Club had other ideas.

Now here she was, lying in her restricted quarters, having just undergone more ‘conditioning’ from Selene. It was becoming routine. Ever since that woman broke her will to resist she had been a docile little pet for the Inner Circle to exploit. She didn’t say much or do much beyond what she was told. Her humanity and free will were hanging by a thread. She was beginning to forget what it meant to be in control of herself. But inside, she was still fuming. She was tired of being used, abused, and manipulated. But the Hellfire Club’s hold on her was strong and for now there was nothing she could do.

Her days were long and arduous. So far much of her job involved working double shifts at Club Hellfire. There she stripped naked on a stage and let gangs of wealthy men do whatever they wanted to her for a price. Some of the things she did were so vile and deviant that even the normal girls who worked there who weren’t part of the Inner Circle were put off. But she had no choice. She had to do it because the other pawns still working the clubs kept a close eye on her. When she wasn’t doing sex work she was undergoing more ‘conditioning’ by Selene and Charles Xavier. Selene used magic in ways that even the Hand could never muster. She used her in rituals meant not only to punish her, but to ensure her loyalty. They were often brutal, especially when she got that apprentice of hers, Wanda, involved. Charles Xavier wasn’t nearly as bad. The worst he did was probe her mind harshly to get whatever secrets of the Hand he could. He also wanted to use her as an assassin, which she wouldn’t mind since it would be no different than the Hand. But she still resented it. And yet she endured it. She had no choice in the matter.

As she lay in her bed, wearing only the purple thong she was allowed to wear after sessions Selene, she mused on her sorry state. Ever since the first fight with the Hand, all she ever did was fail herself and anybody she worked for. And more failure led to more suffering. How much more of this would she have to endure? What could she possibly do to make it all stop? It was hard to think when her humanity and free will was damaged at best. But so long as she had it there was still a ray of hope.

“Betsy? Betsy, I know you’re in there. Please open the door,” came a voice.

Betsy rose up and turned towards her door. She didn’t recognize the voice as coming from Selene or Xavier. It sounded like someone else. Obediently, she got up from her bed and walked over to the door. When she opened it, she saw Warren standing before her.

“Hello Betsy. You’re looking well,” said Warren, admiring her topless form, “Would you mind letting me in?”

“Sure,” said Betsy indifferently as she let him inside her room.

Warren entered, laughing somewhat at the dilapidated state of her room. Betsy’s room wasn’t like those of the other pawns. It was smaller, less opulent, and it had no windows. It still had carpeting, closets, and a decent sized bed, but it still carried the ambience of a fancy prison cell. She didn’t seem to mind it though. Knowing the Hand, it was probably a step up from what she used to have.

Once Betsy closed the door he casually removed his fancy Victorian blazer and set it aside. He then turned towards Betsy, who still had an indifferent look as she always did. She didn’t talk much, which was okay with him. Most of the other female pawns talked too much anyways. And he didn’t need her to talk much for this.

“Mistress Selene told me how some your ‘sessions’ with her have been going,” he began, “She says you don’t talk back anymore. You don’t even yell or scream that much anymore.”

“Is that a problem?” she asked.

“No, it’s just unusual,” said Warren with a bemused grin, “Given what Mistress Selene is capable of I’m a bit surprised you’re in as good a state as you are. You’re every bit as tough as I would expect for someone trained by the Hand.”

Betsy’s face hardened at the mention of the Hand, but she didn’t say anything. She hated the Hellfire Club for what they were doing to her, but her hatred for the Hand remained stronger given how they started this mess.

“I have to say, you intrigue me, Miss Braddock. And given my attention span when it comes to women, that’s quite a feat,” said Warren as he moved in closer to her, “Tell me, how do our accommodations at the Hellfire Club compare to that of the Hand? And go ahead and be honest. I promise I won’t tell.”

Betsy studied him for a moment, making sure he was being truthful. It was always hard with people in the Hellfire Club, but near as she could tell this man meant what he said.

“They’re a bit better,” she answered, “The Hand had me live out of a cell not much bigger than my closet and the bed I slept in wasn’t much of a bed. The only activity they ever let me do was train and read books. And when I went out on a mission, there was always someone watching me ready to take me out if I slipped up.”

“Since you’re still alive I’ll assume you never did,” said Warren, “What about Club Hellfire? How has your new role there been going?”

“I get through it,” she shrugged, “Men pay me to take my clothes off and fuck them. That’s all there is to it. The Hand never had me do anything like that. They’re a bit repressive in such matters.”

“Given the uniform they had you wear I’m surprised,” joked Warren.

“Some men did come after me though. It never got too far though. At least here they give me drugs and magic so I can still enjoy it.”

“Yes, we feel girls do better in their jobs when they can get something out of it,” smirked Warren, “So it doesn’t bother you?”

“No, not really,” she said, her tone still indifferent.

“And the sessions with Selene? You don’t seem to be responding much to them either?”

“She’s done all she wants to do. She broke my will. She uses me for her little side-activities. It’s no big deal.”

“So that doesn’t bother you either?”

“I’ve been used to a point where nothing really bothers me anymore,” said Betsy, “At least Selene uses pleasure in addition to pain. The Hand just used pain. But like I said, it doesn’t really bother me.”

Warren’s sinister smile widened. He found himself moving in closer to the half naked woman. She didn’t back away or cringe at his imposing form. She didn’t even look intimidated. She was tougher than her mental state would indicate. Either Mistress Selene conditioned that out of her as well or there was something else at work.

“You see, that’s what I find so intriguing,” he told her, “You’ve been manipulated and abused to a point that you say it doesn’t bother you. And I’m not entirely sure that’s the case. Tell me, if being used doesn’t bother you so much anymore what does? Because surely there’s something. Otherwise you wouldn’t have that look in your eye.”

Betsy paused for a moment. The man was perceptive for someone without telepathy. She wasn’t sure what to say given the wrong answer could only lead to more suffering. But at this point she was beyond caring.

“Failure,” she told him.

“Failure?” said Warren, surprised by her answer, “Why failure?”

Betsy looked away for a moment, but remained stern. She couldn’t afford to show weakness with this man.

“Because…it was failure that led me to be captured by the Hand. It was failure that led me to become their puppet. And it was failure that led me here. The more I fail, the more a puppet I become. And given where I’m at now, I’m not sure I can afford to fail again.”

Warren thought about that for a moment. It was an unusual answer from an unusual woman. But it made sense to him. If nothing else truly mattered after so much of her will had been broken, the one thing that would still stand out would be how it began. It started with failure and led her down this path. It was a dark and dangerous path, but one he knew well. And he found himself relating to it in ways he didn’t often relate.

“I suppose I can understand that,” he told her, “Failure is somewhat a sore subject for me too. It was failure that led me here in the first place. I failed my father and my family. I didn’t live up to their expectations. But as you can see, I got a second chance and I’ve become so much stronger. I’ve found that as bad as failing can be, it can spur you into bigger and better things.”

Warren began walking around the half naked Betsy, admiring her now even more than he had before. But now it wasn’t just her beautiful, shapely body he admired. It was something more that he hadn’t found in any of the other women he came across.

“Tell me, Betsy, what would you do if you were given the chance to succeed where you once failed,” he asked.

“What do you mean?” she inquired.

“Say you agreed to follow along with us on a little plan of ours. And say that plan would lead you to rectifying your first failure…the one that led you to wear you are now.”

“You mean the one with the Hand?” she surmised.

“Yes,” said Warren with a smile of intent, “Imagine being able to turn the tide. Imagine you could help make them the puppets and put them through what they did to you. Wouldn’t that be fulfilling? Wouldn’t that be something worth bothering about?”

Despite her broken state of mind, a part of that did resonate with Betsy. She longed for a chance to get back at the Hand. Not a day went by when she didn’t wish she could just strike them down in cold blood. They deserved it for everything they put her through. But he wasn’t sure what this would mean for her. She got the feeling Warren was implying more than he let on. But she didn’t have the capacity to dwell on it.

“I would appreciate any chance at getting back at them,” she said strongly, “But why are you offering this to me? Is it something for Selene?”

“Not quite,” he grinned as he reached forth and caressed her face, “This is more personal, you see. I’ve been serving Mistress Selene for years. She instilled in me the same darkness that now flows through you. And each time I embrace that darkness bigger and better things follow. But one thing that has yet to follow is a certain level of…companionship.”

Warren then cupped her chin with one hand and trailed his other hand down her voluptuous curves. His gestures were soft yet commanding, a key sign of the darkness in his eyes. It made Betsy uneasy in some ways, but it intrigued her in others.

“Betsy, I see in you a woman who I can relate to…someone who might be willing to take part in certain plans Mistress Selene is preparing. She’s already promised those who assist her with treasures beyond description. You could enjoy some of those treasures as well, provided you agree to work with us…specifically at my side.”

It was a tempting offer and one Betsy didn’t have to think too hard about. She didn’t want to be relegated to any more degrading servitude. She may not have much free will or spirit left in her, but she would be damned if whatever humanity remained would go to waste. She had been brought into this world of darkness and Selene made her embrace it. She might as well see where it took her, even if it meant risking another failure.

“What do you need me to do?” she answered intently.

Warren smiled affectionately. This woman was more than he expected. She was quiet, obedient, and tough. She would fit nicely into Selene’s plans and his as well.

“Come with me and Mistress Selene to Osaka tomorrow. There you’ll get a taste of what we’re preparing. There, you’ll have a chance to prove yourself. And if it goes along well, you’ll have other chances. You just have to trust me and the words of Mistress Selene. Do you think you can do that?”

“Yes. I can do whatever you need me to do,” she said without hesitation.

“Always good to hear, especially from a beautiful woman,” he smiled, “But understand that once you begin, there’s no turning back. You are in this with me until the very end.”

“I understand,” she said.

Warren was pleased. This was turning out better than he could have hoped. Mistress Selene gave the others a chance at side-projects. Monet had her little plan with Emma and Wanda had her little affair with Kurt. His chance at some extra bonus was long overdue. And he believed that this woman was just what he was looking for.

“Then it’s settled. You are officially on the side of darkness,” he said proudly, “And since you’re going to be at my side through this, why don’t we get a little more…acquainted?”

Warren began unbuttoning his shirt, indicating to her what he had in mind. Her expression didn’t change as she watched him slip out of his shirt, allowing his wings to spring free so that he was now shirtless with his manly upper body bare for her to see. Such a sight stirred her libido. All those sex spells Selene and Jean had cast on her in order to help her with sessions and her sex work at Club Hellfire gave her a highly charged and sensitive sex drive. Like many other women in the Hellfire Club, she had acquired a heavy appetite for pleasure. And because of the darkness inside her, that insatiable feeling was difficult to quench.

“Okay Mr. Worthington. Let’s do this,” she said in a deeper tone.

“Please, call me Warren,” he said as he moved in closer, “As long as we’re to be relating so well, we might as well be on a first name basis.”

“Very well…Warren.”

Betsy then casually slid out of her thong, leaving her completely naked. Warren smiled at such a sight. She looked so beautiful with her well-toned athletic frame that had just the right amount of voluptuous curves. She was the epitome of strength and beauty, a combination that he found utterly perfect.

“Beautiful…” he said in a deep lustful tone as he traced his hands over her breasts and down onto her hips.

He then pulled her into his powerful arms and captured her lips in a deep, hungry kiss. Betsy didn’t resist, giving into her basic desires and kissing back with equal lust and longing. He was aggressive and fervent, shoving his tongue into her mouth and squeezing her womanly frame. It was typical of anyone touched by darkness. She felt a bulge in his pants pressing up against her. She was also getting very aroused, her vaginal folds moistening with anticipation. He groped her breasts and fondled her butt while she hungrily raked her hands over his well-built upper body. He started leading her to the bed, stepping out of his shoes in the process. Betsy obediently followed him, matching his every lustful gesture along the way.

Once at the side of the bed, Warren stopped and parted from her. Then in a dominating manner he pushed her down onto the floor so that she was on her knees facing the bulge in his pants. He then flashed her a lustful look as if to say “you know what to do.” Betsy didn’t need to respond and quickly went to work, undoing his pants and tugging them down to the floor. His erect member was now free and still growing harder. Licking her lips hungrily she grabbed it by the base and devoured it whole.

“Ohhhhhhh fuck!” grunted Warren, “That’s it, Betsy! Show me what a dark little bitch you can be!”

Betsy closed her eyes and let her instincts take over. She hungrily bobbed her head back and forth along the length of his member, licking and slurping with more fervor and care than she normally did when a man made her do this. She held the base firmly with one hand while cradling and teasing his balls with the other, evoking deep pleasured grunts from the winged mutant. As she sucked him he grabbed her head and helped guide her along, running his fingers through her exotic purple hair. Warren’s expression seethed with lust and desire for this woman. She was just the companion he wanted for his dark journey.

“Uh-uh-yeah-uh-oh right there, Betsy! Uh-oh I’m gonna cum-uh-oh I want to cum all over your face!” he grunted.

Flashing him a lustful look, Betsy stopped sucking him off and took a firm hold of his ridged shaft. Then using both hands, she stroked him off nice and hard until he let out a sharp grunt as he climaxed. His face tensed as he shot out several streams of thick cum, spraying it all over her face and a little onto her breasts. Betsy closed her eyes and moaned softly at the feeling. Then in a show of dark lust she gathered it up with her fingers and licked it up. It was a sign of just how deep Selene’s conditioning had gotten to her, but Warren didn’t mind. If anything, it got him going even more.

“Yeah…you like that, don’t you?” he grinned with lustful intent, “Want me to fuck you now?”

“Yes,” Betsy answered intently.

“Say you want me to fuck you.”

“I want you to fuck me.”

Grinning hungrily, Warren pulled her up from the floor and grabbed her by her butt. He then lifted her off the floor and laid her down onto her bed, stepping out of his pants in the process. Now looming over her in a dominating manner, he used his wings to encase her in a feathery grip. She seemed to really like it too. Her face was awash with lust and intense desire. Her folds were so moist and red with arousal. As was often the case with those who were conditioned with Selene’s sex magic, her rational higher functions had shut down and her only drive now was to fuck.

With a firm grip on the naked Betsy Braddock, Warren positioned himself in between her legs and guided his still erect dick to her entrance. He then firmly grasped her hips and thrust into her, driving his member into her tight, wet pussy. She closed her eyes and let out a sharp gasp upon feeling him inside her. She then arched her body a bit, hooking her legs around his waist and holding on as the feeling consumed her. It was intoxicating and overwhelming, just as the darkness was when it first overtook her. Warren saw it in her eyes and grunted hungrily as he began working his hips back and forth, rhythmically thrusting his dick in and out of her tight folds.

“Uh-uh-uh-oh fuck-uh-oh fuck Betsy-uh-uh-oh you’re so fucking hot!” grunted Warren.

Betsy clung to him and gasped blissfully each time he entered her. Her grip on him tightened as he stepped up the pace, fucking her harder and faster in a heated fury. His ripped manly flesh glided against her womanly skin smoothly and his wings fluttered, the feathers further teasing her naked form. It added a special exotic touch to the feeling, making it all the more intense for Betsy. It wasn’t like the usual rough feeling she got when she slept with other men. This had something extra to it and it drove her wild with pleasure.

Warren pounded into her long and hard, raking his hands up her hips and along her sides as he hammered into her. His expression seethed with lust and desire, savoring the sweet bliss of her womanly flesh. He drove into her long and hard, pushing all the way up to her cervix at times and drawing her closer to her climax. He was close to climaxing too, but he wanted to watch her cry out in ecstasy first. He wanted to see this woman become his before his eyes.

“Uh-uh-uh-Warren-uh-I-I-I’m cumming-uh-I’m cumming!” she cried out.

“Uh-uh-yeah-uh-oh yeah! Come on Betsy! Show me how dark you can be!”

Betsy arched her body, tensing her legs and lifting her hips up slightly each time he drove into her. She felt his thrusts slow a bit, allowing him to pound into her harder and really send her to the brink. Then she felt it wash over her, the orgasmic bliss of dark sensations of ecstasy. It was intense and powerful and just as she had been conditioned do, she embraced it.

“OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

Warren grinned at the look on her face. She looked so lost in the ecstasy. She was dazed yet intent, the signs of true darkness emanating from her naked being. She hadn’t completely crossed over as he and the others had, but she was well on her way.

“That’s right, Betsy…feel the darkness with me,” he seethed, “Let’s feel it together!”

Betsy opened her eyes and looked at him with a distant gaze. She was now lost in a state of lustful hunger, clinging to her winged lover longing for more. Warren was more than happy to oblige, ready to ravage her with darkness in his own way.

Driven by his dark lust and insatiable desire, Warren continued to fuck Betsy in the same, vigorous manner. He pulled her up from the bed so they were both in a sitting position with her legs draped over his waist. He then bounced her up and down his ridged length while she worked her hips back and forth, grinding and gyrating her hips as his dick thrashed about in her pussy. He bounced her like this until he climaxed inside her with another load. But he didn’t let up. With only minimal rest he turned Betsy around so that she was on her knees facing away. He then positioned himself behind her, grabbing her butt and lowering her back onto his dick while he encased her in his wings. He continued to hammer into her, his pelvis smacking against her butt in a rhythmic fury as she moaned and cried out blissfully. Just as she neared another orgasm he bent her over so that she was on her hands and knees and continued pounding into her until she climaxed again. But just as her inner muscles throbbed in another release, he pulled out of her and adjusted himself a bit and thrust up into her butt. She had already done plenty of anal while working Club Hellfire so it didn’t cause her too much discomfort. It just caught her off guard. But soon enough she was moaning again, rocking her body back and forth as Warren pounded into it.

It was rough yet mutual, intense yet subtle. It was the kind of dark sexual deviance that Warren knew so well and Betsy was just getting in to. It became chaotic, their naked bodies rolling around on the bed in a dizzying array of positions and bodily motions. Betsy lost count of how many orgasms she had and Warren kept pounding into her, keeping a tight hold on her naked flesh. The winged mutant seethed with every grunt while Betsy remained dazed in a world of dark bliss. Warren did most of the work and she just held on, embracing every blissful feeling that came her way. Warren relished being in control, having this woman in a way others didn’t. It was more exciting for him and the beginning of something that he hoped would grow.

Betsy was on the verge of passing out by the last round. Warren had her on her side, facing away from him while he held her leg up and thrust into her tight cunt from behind. Sweat dripped down their bodies as they pushed towards one last climax. This time they were going to share it together. As he thrust into her, Warren reached around and fondled her breasts. He drove into her harder and faster, pushing her to the edge until her cries grew more desperate.

“UH-UH-UH-WARREN-UH-I-I’M CUMMING AGAIN! OH I’M FUCKING CUMMING AGAIN!”

“UH-UH-AUGH-UH-YEAH-UH-THAT’S IT-UH-CUM WITH ME, BETSY! CUM WITH ME!” grunted Warren.

Using his feathered wings to tease her further, Warren rammed into her with all his might. His thrusting slowed as he felt her inner muscles tighten again, squeezing his cock mercilessly. Then Betsy let out one last cry of euphoria. Her whole body tensed and arched. He felt it too and climaxed soon afterwards, spraying her insides with one last load of cum. His fingers dug into her naked flesh, squeezing her until he filled her with every last drop.

When the feeling passed he pulled out and let her relax onto the bed. Her body almost went limp and the dazed look on her face still lingered. The darkness had worked her over well and Warren liked how easy she was making it for him. For a moment he just laid there next to her, grinned down at her in a dominating manner as he affectionately caressed her naked body. This was just what he wanted, a submissive companion with the same taste for darkness as him. With Mistress Selene’s plan drawing ever near, he yearned for someone to share the triumph with. And this woman who had already been broken was perfect.

“Just think, Betsy…this is just the beginning,” he whispered softly, “Soon, everybody will know true darkness. And you and me…we’ll relish it together with Mistress Selene. It will be beautiful. All you have to do is stand by me and it will all come together.”

Betsy didn’t say a word. She just gazed back at him and nodded before slipping away into blissful unconsciousness. From the Hand to the Hellfire Club, she had been used and manipulated. She had been broken down, bearing little free will or identity. The Hand just used her, but the Hellfire Club consumed her. They filled her with this darkness that now dominated her being. And now Warren was giving her a chance to follow that darkness with him. At this point she didn’t really have a choice. She was going to see this through now. Hopefully he would deliver on his promises of vengeance for her. And hopefully she wouldn’t fail this time. Because darkness or no darkness, one more failure was not an option.

Osaka, Japan – Seven Months Ago

“Uh-uh-uh-uh-ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

“Yes-yes-yes-can you feel it? Ohhhhhh yes! Let the pleasure fill you!”

Selene’s commanding cries of euphoria echoed through the palace bedroom of the Hand’s top leader, Kirigi. They were both naked lying in his spacious bed. She had him pinned on his back, his hands restrained by his side while the Black Queen rode him into ecstasy. They had been going at it for over two hours now. Selene was seething with sexual fervor, driven by her insatiable dark lusts. It was a lust that even Kirigi, the proud leader of the Hand, found difficult to keep up with. But he was in such a heightened state of ecstasy he could care less.

Selene’s eyes glowed dark red as they both reached another powerful climax. Kirigi’s expression was flushed with euphoria as he got his release and Selene got hers. He let the dominating woman keep him in her tight hold. As the leader of the Hand, he was not prone to be very submissive but for pleasure like this he was willing to make an exception.

When the feeling passed, Selene rose up off him and crawled atop his naked body. Her slithering, dominating aura was so sensual and seductive. Even the greatest of warriors would be foolish not to be seduced by her. She watched with satisfaction as the man relished the ecstasy. She had him right where she wanted him. She never thought she would end up making a deal like this with an organization that had been a thorn in Hellfire’s side for quite some time. But she was getting ready to make a move and she needed an organization like the Hand to aid her.

“Enjoying yourself, Kirigi?” she said seductively, “Does my little down payment satisfy you?”

“You have satisfied many things, Selene,” said the powerful assassin, “But this definitely helps make your case.”

“Does that mean you agree to my little deal?” she said, “I’ll help the Hand attack Xavier and in return you’ll help me take control of his network.”

“It sounds like a fair trade, my lady. We both benefit greatly, but you understand why I am skeptical of any aid from the Hellfire Club.”

“Oh come now, Kirigi. Don’t be so judgmental,” purred Selene as she playfully traced her fingernails down his chest, “The Hand has been harassed not by the Hellfire Club, but by the people who run it. Before it was Sebastian Shaw. Then it was Charles Xavier. Almost every other member of the Inner Circle, myself included, had nothing to do with moving in on your operations.”

“I’m willing to believe that, but you must also convince me that you are trustworthy,” he said, “After all, I have heard of your reputation. You’ve been known to leave people a little…dismembered to say the least.”

Selene grinned sadistically. This man was no fool, but he was still a man. He was bound by his honor and by his desires. And she was going to play off both.

“I won’t deny my reputation, but consider this…I would be losing more by betraying the Hand than I would if I kept our deal. And have I not proven by now that I am not a woman who likes to make things harder on myself?”

“In a manner of speaking,” grinned Kirigi, “But say I do agree. What happens if one of us is discovered? We would both be in quite a predicament.”

“Agreed,” said Selene, “Which is why I’ve planned a few fail-safes. Should something happen to you, I will make sure my forces keep the Hand together. Should something happen to me, you will be able to do the same. So no matter what happens to us, Charles Xavier still loses.”

“And how can I be sure you’ll handle my organization effectively?” he asked intently.

“I’ve handled you, haven’t I? Does that not by default make me capable of handling your organization?”

Before Kirigi could respond, Selene moved in for another kiss. When he felt her lips against his, his body tensed and his concerns eased. Selene’s eyes flashed red again and this time so did his. In him he felt her darkness penetrate his being. He had resisted at first, but after everything she just did to him it was impossible to hold back. He didn’t know if he could trust this woman or if this was in the best interests of the Hand. All he knew was the dark ecstasy this woman had filled him with. And that turned out to be decisive.

“So then…are we in agreement?” she purred hungrily.

“Yes…for now at least,” he said, “But I might need a little more ‘proof’ from you.”

“Oh don’t you worry about that, dear Kirigi,” grinned the Black Queen, “The night is young. I’ll be doing all the ‘proving’ you’ll need.”

Selene tightened her hold on him again and began a new round of heated sexual fervor. For the rest of the night she would work this man over. She would make sure he was completely under her spell. Then when the time was right she would move in and eliminate him. It wasn’t Kirigi she needed. It was the manpower and role of the Hand. With their assassins and their appreciation for magic, she could make her move against Xavier and take her plan to the next step. But before that could happen she needed to start a little tension. And with the Hand now on her side she would have plenty of opportunities to do so. Charles Xavier didn’t stand a chance. But for now, she just focused on enjoying herself and making this man yet another pawn in her master plan.

Osaka, Japan – Present

The once powerful organization known as the Hand was a shell of its former self. Since the assassination of their leader, Kirigi, and the loss of some of their top assassins such as Psylocke and Elektra, they had been in a state of disarray. The order that traced it’s routes back to 16th century Japan was in danger of losing it’s pride and prestige. At one point it was one of the most feared organizations in the underworld of crime and secret societies. Now it’s power had waned considerably. And it was largely due to one rival, the Hellfire Club.

For decades the Hellfire Club and the Hand had never been particularly friendly with one another. The Hand saw the Hellfire Club as dishonorable collection of greedy businessmen who were all spiritually dead inside. Their philosophy of doing anything to gain more power and influence contrasted heavily with theirs, which emphasized the honor and prestige of the Hand above all else. There was also no unity to the Hellfire Club. They were all staunch individualists. The Hand thought differently. Like a hand itself, each finger is capable of moving on its own, but when clenched together in a fist they all become strong. That was the essence of their philosophy, but it was a philosophy that was losing its steam.

Since the death of Kirigi, the Hand had been waging a full blown war against the Hellfire Club. Their legions of loyal assassins and mystics, many of whom were mind controlled and conditioned to be absolutely obedient, were bent on fighting them to the death to avenge their treachery. The chief target was Charles Xavier, the man who they all believed was entirely responsible for the death of their leader. But they were not about to just grant him the mercy of death. That would be too easy. They had to strike at the heart of his organization and make him lose what he valued most just as they had. And so far, they were doing a good job of striking at him.

It wasn’t easy, but they had an edge. The Hand wasn’t the kind of organization that just blindly attacked their enemies. They used strategy, cunning, and stealth. To do this they needed intelligence, guidance, and above all information to carry out their attacks. That was no easy in the Hellfire Club because Charles Xavier kept a close watch on everybody. But thankfully, they got help from a very reliable source…one that was closer to Xavier than he realized.

At the moment, two of the Hand’s top lieutenants overlooked a large, spacious training area where over a hundred masked ninjas were practicing and sparring. They were all poised for their next mission, ready to die in the name of the Hand. The two lieutenants, despite the grim circumstances, were optimistic of their battle.

“I heard our latest mission in Sacramento did not succeed completely,” said one of the lieutenants.

“Yes, but it did not fail either,” he replied, “We hit their precious buildings. We caused them extensive damage that they cannot just fix by writing a check. We are stretching their resources and their limits. So long as the Hand continues to apply pressure in the necessary areas, Charles Xavier will eventually start to feel the loss,” said the other.

“Let us hope we can strike him soon. Our manpower may be great, but the Hellfire Club’s is greater.”

“Do not worry about that. Our new leader has provided us with all the information we need to hit them where it counts. And soon, I’m told, we will be able to strike not just Xavier, but all those who oppose us.”

“Speaking of the new leader,” said the lieutenant, “I hear she is paying us a visit. Do you have any idea why?”

“No, but I can only assume it is important. She would not have come if it was not necessary.”

“I would hope so. I still have reservations about trusting her so. But Lord Kirigi made it clear that should something happen to him, this is the one who will lead us to victory over our enemies!”

The two men watched as their Hand assassins continued to work and train. It was a beautiful sight, watching them all strive to be better warriors for the Hand. Their unity, obedience, and honor was part of what made them strong. But that strength was always being tested and Charles Xavier would regret the day he pushed them to this.

As they were watching, a door behind them opened and several of the Hand’s elite guards allowed three ominous figures to enter. One was Psylocke, the former Hand assassin who still bore a strong connection to them for her role in the first attempt on Xavier. Standing close by her was Warren Worthington III, the shrewd businessman whose company had provided them some of the resources they needed to compensate for the ones Charles Xavier froze. And last but not least was the leader Kirigi himself ordained as the one who would lead them all to salvation. They knew her only as the Empress. But others knew her as Selene.

“My Empress, welcome to our sanctuary,” said one of the top lieutenants with a respectful bow.

“Please, dispense with the formalities,” said Selene, “I have little time to work with and I don’t want to waste it with meaningless gestures.”

“Of course,” said the other lieutenant respectfully, “Please, tell us what the next step is. Our forces have been faring well against Charles Xavier’s network.”

“Thanks no doubt to the intelligence that I have provided,” said Selene proudly, “But rest assured, your forces are doing little more than annoying Charles. That alone isn’t going to take him down.”

“Then what must we do? Why are we continuing to sacrifice our brethren?” asked the second lieutenant anxiously.

“Watch your choice of words, pal. You don’t know who you’re talking to,” warned Warren.

“Easy Warren, he’s right to be concerned,” said Selene with a snide grin, “But don’t worry. Your warriors are not dying in vain. Even though they are not doing severe damage to Charles’s operations, they are forcing him to stretch his resources and divert his attention from more important matters. Soon he will be unable to fight back. And I assure you we’ll hit him hard.”

The two lieutenants grinned at the notion. Charles Xavier had thumbed their nose at them for too long. It was time that he and his dishonorable ways faced the wrath of the Hand. He and others like him could not be allowed to escape their vengeance.

“It sounds like a most ambitious and cunning plan, Empress,” said the lieutenant, “And once we take Xavier down, the Hand can be restored to its former glory! We will be able to take back that which is rightfully ours!”

Then a sinister grin formed on the Black Queen’s face. This was always her favorite part of her little visits.

“Yes, about that,” she said with a sneaky grin, “There has been a change in plans.”

“What?!” exclaimed the lieutenants.

“Yes, it seems as though this whole idea of helping the Hand get back their territory in exchange for getting an enemy of mine out of the way isn’t doing it for me anymore. I’ve decided to go a different route.”

The two lieutenants were shocked and enraged. Nobody went back on a deal made with the Hand, especially one made directly with their former leader, Kirigi. This woman had already been allowed enough control over their operations. For her to go back now was not only a grave insult, but a great dishonor to the spirit of the Hand.

“You…you cannot be serious!” exclaimed one of the lieutenants.

“Trust me, I’m serious,” she said in a deathly cold tone, “As far as I’m concerned your little Hand henchmen are nothing more than tools now. And as such, I need them to further my own plans. And since Kirigi gave me the necessary access to manage the Hand after his untimely death, I have every right to change the rules.”

That was it. The two lieutenants drew their swords in a fit of rage. It was insulting enough with Charles Xavier moved in on their territory. But for this woman to be in their midst and just take control over them after making a strong deal was beyond insulting. It was treason and they were not about to let it stand.

“You will NOT dishonor the Hand!” yelled the lieutenant as he gripped his blade firmly, “I will cut you down for your insolence!”

“Don’t be so sure about that,” grinned Selene, “Psylocke…”

Before the two lieutenants could strike, the purple haired mutant lunged into action. She formed two psionic blades and each hand and leapt in front of her Mistress. Then with lightning reflexes, which ironically enough were instilled in her by the Hand, she plunged both blades into the chests of the two men. It happened so fast they were not able to get any words out before they choked on their own blood. Their bodies fell limp to the floor and then in a show of pent up defiance, Psylocke kicked them over the banister and send them crashing down to the floor below where the Hand assassins were training.

“You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to do that,” said Betsy in a daze.

“Feels good doesn’t it?” grinned Warren, walking up behind her with a playful gesture.

“It feels very good,” she said, “What about the rest of the Hand’s leadership? Will I get to kill them too?”

“All in due time, Betsy,” said Selene as she walked up to the edge, “The Hand’s leadership is still with me, thanks to my little deal I made with Kirigi.”

“He gave you all this control? You must have worked him over pretty good,” grinned Warren.

“You have no idea,” said the Black Queen sadistically, “But enough about the Hand. This is about my plan.”

Down below the sudden impact of two bodies of their top lieutenants caused quite a stir. The usually stoic and focused assassins stopped their sparing to walk up to the bodies and observe what happened. They all moved carefully, but assertively. Then they their attention was turned to the woman now standing over them from several floors up. They all recognized her as the Empress of the Hand, the de facto leader in wake of the death of their previous leader. They didn’t know what happened, but as loyal Hand assassins they were compelled to comply.

“Attention all assassins, killers, and thugs!” Selene proclaimed, “The time for small talk is over! You and your brethren have been fighting hard against the forces of Charles Xavier, the man responsible for dishonoring your organization! But it isn’t hard enough! The time to deliver the final blow is at hand! And by the power left to me by the late honorable Kirigi, that blow shall be delivered through my plan! Let anyone who opposes step forth and face my wrath!”

Nobody dared step forward. This woman may not have been cut from the same honorable cloth as Kirigi, but she was a vicious, powerful woman who would not hesitate to strike even the slightest hints of disobedience. But if Kirigi willed it before his death, who were they to argue? So long as they had a chance to destroy the man who dishonored their organization, they would do whatever this woman needed them to do.

Betsy couldn’t help but smile. It was kind of nice seeing all those big, tough Hand assassins bow to the Black Queen. For so long she never had any power over any of them. They always controlled her and now she was part of the machine controlling them. It was sweet, vengeful irony. Warren saw the look on her face and smiled with her. The pleasure she took in controlling her former enemies was apparent. She had long endured the pain and humiliation of ailing everybody she tried to serve. This time she wouldn’t fail anybody.

“Good,” said Selene with a sadistic grin, “Now let’s get to work! The beginning of the end for Charles Xavier starts now!”

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Up next: Selene and Xavier have been positioning themselves to strike since the beginning. Now they enter the final step.