Hey all! Welcome to the revised edition of my story The Problem with Invisible Mutations. If you've been keeping up with the story thus far (and I hate to do this again), I'd suggest you re-read it. Some important changes have been made. These changes affect the development of the story as a whole. I really want to make sure I'm putting my best work out there, so that's why I keep revising. A massive thank you to all those who put in the time and effort to read my story. You all motivate me to keep writing.
Disclaimer: I don't own the X-men. I wish, but no.
Warning: There's a bit of strong language in this story.
"Stand with your back straight. Bad posture is unattractive."
A small girl, who looked to be no older than seven immediately straightened her posture as the words left the woman's mouth.
"Yes, Mother. I'm sorry," she mumbled looking down at her feet.
"Hmph. Next time, I will not provide you with a warning."
The girl nodded and kept her eyes averted from her mother's menacing glare. Seemingly satisfied with herself, the woman walked away, leaving the girl alone.
Now that her mother had left, some of the girl's confidence returned. She looked upward, gazing at the vast amount of people packed into her family's private gardens. It was truly a momentous occasion.
Her older brother had told her that the queen herself would be in attendance. The girl had been looking for the queen all morning, but had yet to spot her.
Mother is probably keeping her away from me, the girl thought to herself sadly. She doesn't want the crown to know we have a freak in the family.
Matter of factly, it seemed as though her mother didn't want anyone else to know either. The girl had been instructed to stay in the corner for the duration of the event and answer any questions directed to her with short, curt responses.
It's for the best, who knows what they'll do to us if someone finds out about me? Mother would never ever forgive me.
The girl walked over to a nearby bench and gracefully sat down making, sure to cross her hands in her lap.
"Josephine!" Came a voice to the left of her. "Why do you look so sad? It's like we're a funeral or something."
The girl bit back a smile. "Brother, we are at a funeral. Father's funeral to be exact."
"So what? I bet the old cod wouldn't want anyone mourning over his death anyway. He'd probably want a hunting expedition commemorating his life or something of the like."
"You shouldn't speak of anyone, let alone father, like that. Lucas, you know better!"Josephine shook her head.
"Not better than you sister," the man replied with a smile.
"Now let's say we go enjoy this funeral for all its worth, before the grand shebang is over, huh?"
I can't. Mother has forbidden me to leave this spot. She will be less than happy if she sees me anywhere else."
"C'mon sis, where's the fun in that?"
That's the point. Freaks aren't supposed to have fun.
"Sorry brother, but you know I can't. Do you want to me to be in trouble?"
She sincerely hoped that adding a playful note to the end of her response would get the eldest of her siblings to leave her be. She appreciated his efforts, but they always seemed to land her in some sort of discord with her mother.
"You can't honestly tell me you're content with Mandy feigning extreme pain over 'dear father's loss.' You should see everyone canoodling her. All the old birds are singing her praises. The worst part is though, that she loves it. The bitch really fu-"
"Brother! Such language is hardly acceptable for a family of our stature. You know better. Seriously! If mother had heard you!"
The man shook his head. "Little Saint Jo," he muttered lovingly under his breath.
"I heard that!"
"Of course you did. Now come enjoy this funeral. The old cod would have wanted you to."
He held out his hand expectantly to his sister.
"Fine," she replied smiling and unable to resist her brother's entreaties any longer.
As they began to walk toward the crowd, she halted abruptly.
"Lucas?" She asked timidly.
The man was shocked to hear her use his name so intimately (she rarely ever did unless she was scolding him).
"What will we say to mother, if she sees me?"
"She won't, I promise. On the event that she does however, I'll tell her you had to take a shit and I was simply directing you to the nearest washroom."
"She would never buy that. I've lived on the estate my entire life. By now, I should at least know where the washrooms are."
"You could always say you forgot. Nobody's perfect, Jo."
I most certainly am not, she thought. There's no way anyone like me could ever be considered per-
"Jojo! Lukie! You're here! Lets take a picture, shall we? Oh, it'll be the most darling thing! All the Princeton children in one photograph!"
The man fought not to roll his eyes at his sister. She was barely eleven years of age and she already acted like one of those brainless idiots who went parading around London, searching for lonely soldiers to flirt with. He much preferred the company of his youngest sibling. She would be the only family member he'd miss back home after he left for the royal air force.
"C'mon then, all together," called the photographer. "Big smiles, big smiles."
The girl called Mandy pushed herself between her siblings and flashed her shining white teeth. Her younger sister protested vehemently.
"No, mother will see me. I can't be in the picture!"
"Oh Josephine, don't be such a spoilsport. It's just one teensy photograph. Mummy won't mind at all."
Josephine's protests only grew louder. As usual, her siblings remained painfully oblivious to her mother's dislike of her.
"Jo, it's a photograph, it'll be fine. Why are you so worried? Mother won't even see it." The man also wanted a memento to remember his siblings by.
She began to plead with her siblings, but they still refused to listen.
"Alright," said the photographer getting into place. "Big smiles."
Just as the camera was about to go off, Josephine gave a blood curdling scream. A bright light flashed. The picture had been taken.
"See," said the man turning to his sister. That wasn't so-"
Lucas Princeton would have finished his sentence, if it wasn't fit the sight that greeted him (or rather lack thereof) where his sister had stood.
"She's gone," he said whipping around quickly to search for his youngest of kin. "She was here a second ago. I swear it!"
The people in the gardens who had also witnessed the event began talking. "Did you see that girl?"
"Was she even there before?"
"It's like she just vanished into thin air."
"That's impossible!"
"I always knew there was some fishy about those Princetons."
"Wasn't Richard a part of that biological warfare program?"
Abruptly, Josephine appeared in the spot she had been in, leaving everyone within a ten mile radius utterly speechless.
Finally one bystander recovered their voice long enough to exclaim, "She didn't run away, she really did disappear into thin air!"
This caused an uproar among the funeral guests. People began arguing, fighting, and even leaning toward more violent notions. The commotion had everyone distracted.
Amanda still stared open mouthed at her sister, forgetting the state of her "prized" photograph and Lucas was busy arguing with one of his old schoolmates.
In fact, he was so busy he didn't even see his mother walk over and motion for Josephine to follow her.
Josephine cast one last forlorn at him, realizing her brother would be of no help. She should have never listened to him, but then again the fault was her own. She should have really never listened to him.
Comments? Questions?