It was a rather warm winter in Vologda, Russia considering it was December. It had snowed seven inches the previous night so the temperature was five degrees Celsius. The snow was to be expected though the temperature was higher than any of its residents could have imagined. Thick fur coats and thick-soled boots were the standard fashion accessories, whether it was day or night. Dark gray clouds covered the sky and prevented the sun's rays from shining through but its warmth could still be faintly felt.
A young fair skinned woman gazed through the glass window that overlooked the street below her, exhaling a soft sigh before pulling her white fur coat tighter around herself. She turned around abruptly at the sound of a startled gasp, her long auburn hair brushing against the small of her back whilst the curls seemed to fold into themselves more. Her piercing emerald eyes locked on to the small child who stood frozen behind her. Her small arms were limp at her sides and head tilted back. Her eyes had rolled back into her head and her small mouth was open. It was as if she were witnessing some horror that was visible only to her but the woman knew better. She waited patiently with arms folded across her chest. Two minutes later the child inhaled a sharp breath before blinking several times. Her dark brown eyes met the woman's emerald ones before tears clouded her vision.
She threw her arms out towards the woman, embracing her as tightly as she could manage. The woman began to gently run her fingers through the child's dark blonde hair to comfort her. The child sniffled and buried her face more against the woman's stomach. The woman gently pried the child from herself and knelt down to meet her gaze, eye to eye. Her left hand gently wiped her tears away before she gave her the kind of smile a mother would give her frightened child. Her voice came out very soft, barely above a whisper, which partially hid her Russian accent in her English.
"Klara, tell me, what did you see?" The woman inquired before tucking a loose strand of Klara's hair behind her ear.
"Svetlana! They're coming for you! They're coming to get you!" The child shrieked as fresh tears brimmed her eyes.
"Who is coming for me? Who are they? Tell me what you saw, Klara."
Klara sucked in a deep breath and held it before slowly exhaling it. She tugged her coat tighter around her tiny body and cast her gaze to the floor. Her dark brown eyes focused on her boots as she tried to sort it out. Svetlana was used to Klara's "gift", it was a rather unique ability that allowed her to see visions of the future but the length of them varied immensely. She had no control over when she witnessed them but she'd grown used to them. It was thanks to her gift that she'd met Svetlana. She'd foreseen their meeting and had gone to great lengths to ensure their paths met. Klara had grown to trust Svetlana with her life within three years of meeting each other. She slowly tilted her head up to face Svetlana, deciding that the sooner she told her about the vision, the longer they would have to alter the future.
"Two men want you to join them. One man is in a wheelchair and he will bring company. The other man wears a helmet and cape but he will send a woman to speak to you. I don't know what they want but they will be here for you within five hours, maybe sooner. They want to take you with them."
"Is that all you were able to see, Klara?"
Klara nodded and a frown creased Svetlana's forehead. She was sure they'd come for her soon. She placed her hands on her cheeks and smiled at her, though her emerald eyes showed sorrow. Klara sniffled as she could already tell what was going to happen. She started shaking her head and Svetlana's smile faltered before she managed to whisper to her in an attempt to comfort her.
"Klara… You know I have to do this. I don't want to but it's necessary."
"But I don't want to forget you! I want to keep my memories! And I don't want you to go away!" Klara shrieked and stared at Svetlana with sorrowful yet hopeful dark brown eyes, as if silently pleading her to find another solution.
"Klara, if they're coming after me, I'm sure they will bring a telepath to try to subdue me or gather information about me. Even if you don't want to tell them about me, they'll find out. They'll read your mind and find out everything. I can't let that happen for either of our sakes. You understand that, don't you, Klara?" Svetlana whispered as she stroke her dark blonde hair, wishing she could do something to help her.
"I know but… I'll miss you… Even if I don't remember you… I promise I'll miss you…" Klara choked out and sniffled more, wiping her eyes with the back of her sleeve as she tried to show Svetlana she was strong enough to face what was to come.
"I know, darling, I know. I'll miss you too, Klara." She whispered as she met her gaze, feeling proud of her for putting her best "big girl" face as Klara called it.
Svetlana's lips curled into a warm smile before she kissed the young girl's forehead. She gently caressed his cheeks as she hummed a lullaby to her to calm her down. She wanted Klara to relax before she proceeded with altering her memories. Klara relaxed but a minute later, her body tensed and her jaw locked. Svetlana hummed louder now as she worked on deleting herself from Klara's memories. Every single moment they had spent together whizzed by in a flurry of color flooded with emotions. She could feel only happiness, happiness Klara had felt when she spent time with Svetlana. She'd grown to see her as a mother figure, something that made tears of her own well up in her eyes.
She could see the brief moment when they met, Klara smiling up brightly at the beautiful stranger and offering to aid her with anything if she could provide her with food and shelter. She saw herself through Klara's eyes, an angel amidst chaos that radiated warmth and protection. She saw her greatest fears, witnessing scenarios of the possible deaths of people, even Svetlana's own death scenarios. She could see how nothing else mattered so long as she could spend time with Svetlana, her mother figure and guardian. Every memory Klara treasured was wiped out in an instant, rewritten so Svetlana was never a part of any of them. Once she was done, she left in a suggestion that she'd leave their home and take shelter in the streets for a week before returning home. The child went limp and collapsed into Svetlana, who scooped her up with ease and walked to the bedroom with her.
She took the stairs one at a time so Klara wouldn't be disturbed. She knew she'd be unconscious for several hours, a side effect of having her memory rewritten. She reached Klara's bedroom and stepped inside, laying her down and slowly pulling the thick comforter and blankets over her. She ensured she was wrapped in tightly in the warmth her bed provided. She kissed her forehead one last time before she walked out of the room, gently closing the door behind herself. She walked into her own room and grabbed a violet suitcase from her closet and set it up on her bed, opening it up and preparing to gather her things.
It had been a while since she'd traveled but she knew what she needed without even looking for it. She pulled two pair of black jeans, one pair of dark wash jeans and four pairs of light blue jeans from her bottom drawer. She walked into the closet and grabbed a gray pullover off a hanger then wrestled a purple zip up hoodie from its hanger. She walked over to the suitcase and folded the clothes she'd gathered so far and placed them neatly into it. She walked back to her closet and tugged four black long sleeved shirts from their hangers then two gray t-shirts. She threw them over her head onto her bed and picked up her only pair of sneakers. She threw them on to the bed as well then walked out of the closet, quietly shutting the door. She sauntered over to her dresser again and yanked seven black bras and panties.
"Hmmm… I thought I'd upgraded from black a while ago." Svetlana mused to herself before she resumed folding and packing her clothes into the suitcase.
She exhaled a soft sigh and checked the clock on the opposite wall. She'd counted that it had been five minutes but the clock stated it was seven minutes. She'd grown slow in packing and that wasn't good. She rushed to her nightstand and yanked out the secret compartment. She pulled out five different passports and grabbed one that claimed she was Russian. She tucked that one into the inner pocket of her fur coat and hid the rest in her suitcase. She then grabbed her silver purse from under the bed and shook it to feel its weight. There was enough cash there for her to be well off for a year, more or less. She decided she'd have to be careful with her money until she could make it to one of her havens. She sat on the edge of the bed and began to buckle in her boots, adjusting her thermal jeans to fit in nicely behind the leather boots. She then stood up and grabbed her suitcase, leaving her room in quick strides and bounding down the stairs three at a time.
She reached the last step and turned back, gazing up in the direction of Klara's room and feeling guilt bubbling inside her chest. She was abandoning a young mutant girl who had come to see her as a mother simply because she feared being caught. She knew the world was a cruel place that tortured anything it didn't understand but Klara was too young to see that. She knew Klara would be fine, she'd lived in the streets of Russia for the entirety of the life she could recall. Svetlana inhaled a sharp breath and rushed to the door, swinging it open, only to be greeted with a cold wind that caressed her fair skin. She closed the door quickly but quietly then began to make her walk due east to catch a ride to the airport.
It had taken no longer than five minutes of walking before a driver pulled up to her side and offered her a ride. She had thanked him and entered the green vehicle, setting her suitcase on her lap and relaxing as the warm heat blew against her face. The man had tried striking conversation but she'd offered to pay him double if he ceased. She wanted to be alone with her thoughts. She sensed a force trying to rush her and her brows creased slightly as she drove the force away. The barrier in her mind was always active, blocking any psychic attack upon it but she could still feel how it tried to force itself in. A few seconds of struggle was all the force could give before it vanished, letting Svetlana relax into the seat again. There was nothing more annoying than someone trying to read her mind, as if that could ever happen but the attempts were always pathetic. If they put up a challenge, she might be amused or even try to welcome it.
Seconds quickly became minutes and before she knew it, Svetlana had arrived at the airport. She had paid the driver and rushed to try to purchase a ticket immediately. She practically ran through the small crowds as she tried to keep appearances but outrun her pursuers. She managed to purchase a first class ticket on a flight that was just about to take off. Her influence was grand given the name she presented as well as the sum of cash. She boarded the plane quickly and soon found herself soaring above the sky. She felt herself smiling as the woman beside her stared at her intently. She casually turned around and extended her hand to introduce herself. The blonde haired woman accepted her hand and shook it delicately before slowly releasing it. Svetlana's lips pursed together before a small giggle escaped her lips before her hands folded on her lap.
"Hello, my name is Svetlana Alkaev. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise, Miss Alkaev. My name is Vanessa Jenkins." The blonde woman replied and her lashes fluttered once, obscuring her hazel eyes for a brief moment.
Svetlana leaned back a bit, taking in the sight of the blonde haired woman, whose hair was tightly held up in a bun and lips colored a deep blue. Her hazel eyes showed warmth but there was no such thing in "Vanessa's" heart. She was trying to pass herself off as a business executive but she was nowhere close to being that. Heck, even her fake mannerisms needed serious work and even she knew that. She reached up to toy with a loose strand of her auburn hair, twisting the end of it more so the curl became more prominent. The woman was silent, observing her as well, as if they were weighing each other's strengths and weaknesses. She couldn't take knowing so much and pretending she was a fool so Svetlana decided to take the initiative.
"Well, Miss Jenkins or should I say… Miss Darkhölme?" Svetlana whispered the last two words but she knew that the woman had heard her. She'd seen her eyes widened and brows furrow in anger at being discovered. "Maybe I should address you as… Now what was it again? Mystique?"
The woman glanced around to make sure no one was within earshot of their conversation before her eyes narrowed at her. "How do you know that?"
"Oh, don't you know? I'd assume since you were sent here to find me that you'd know what you're getting yourself into, Miss Darkhölme." Svetlana retorted as her lips curled into a mischievous little smile.
She narrowed her eyes more at Svetlana, as if such an act would make her read her mind. Svetlana knew she wasn't a telepath. She knew she could shapeshift so such an ability wouldn't help her in a battle of wits. She could almost feel her growing anger and anxiety radiating off of her like a flame. She hadn't expected this to be so fun but here she was, winning a battle without even trying. She placed her index finger to her chin thoughtfully and began to muse her knowledge aloud to see what else she could accomplish.
"Hmm… I wonder what Erik would say if he found out you failed in bringing me back? Would he strike you? I think he would. He isn't exactly tolerating of failure, remember?" Svetlana taunted and she could see the horrified expression on "Vanessa's" face.
"If you know who I am, you'd be wise to stop talking." She whispered to her through gritted teeth.
"And if I don't? What could you to me?" Svetlana snapped back, her pride too grand at the control she was feeling over this woman's psyche.
Vanessa slowly leaned in close, gripping the arm rest tightly as her jaw locked. She could see her struggling to keep her self control. Her eyes shouted she wanted to tear her to pieces but her tense muscles indicated she knew better than to disappoint Erik. Her body was visibly shaking by now as she fought to subdue her anger. Svetlana couldn't help but giggle, thoroughly amused at how easy it had been to get her temper boiling. Her giggles only added to the woman's fury and Svetlana found this boring now. If she wasn't going to fight her, she should stop her taunts and get straight to business. She flicked her auburn hair over her shoulder and propped a hand under her chin, leaning in close so their faces were inches away.
"Alright, Raven, I know Erik sent you here for me. Are you going to ask me what you're supposed to ask or sit there and glare at me the whole flight?"
She slowly leaned back and kept her glare on her, refusing to back down and seem weak. "Erik, no… Magneto wants you to join the Brotherhood."
"Now… What would be in it for me to join you?" She inquired as she thought about the possibilities.
"A chance to really test your skills. You're tired of not having a challenge, right? You want to do something with your powers? Something that'll cause big changes, right?" Raven asked as she was now the one pushing Svetlana's buttons, getting right under her skin.
Svetlana's brows furrowed and lips pursed together before she replied. "Well that may be true. How do you intend that to happen? Fight me?"
"How about fight other mutants who get in our way? Show them why you're better." She hissed the last part and it struck Svetlana's ego, fueling it in a way she couldn't have predicted.
"Okay… Now I'm listening. If I get to test my powers on some mutants, then I'm in. Just give me a new identity and place to stay. I'll do anything you need me to so long as I'm guaranteed fighting." Svetlana whispered and her mischievous smile returned. She extended her hand to "Vanessa" again, this time her emerald eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"We have a deal then. Welcome to the Brotherhood, Svetlana~" Raven cooed as she took her hand and shook it, slowly releasing it.
Svetlana smiled more before settling back into her seat and gazing out the window. She hadn't imagined she'd be meeting one of the ones who came for her so soon, let alone touch them. She's learned quite a bit and she was intrigued to find out more. This woman knew those who were coming for her and now she was prepared. She couldn't wait to face them for trying to force themselves into her mind. It was unwanted filth that would pay dearly for such an insult upon her. She caught her reflection in the window, her long auburn hair that curled at the tips and piercing emerald eyes with a small nose to keep symmetry upon her complexion. Her lips were full and seemed to always be pouting though their color was a very faint pink. She closed her eyes and leaned back, already feeling her sore muscles loosening up at the thought of confrontations to come. A challenge finally worthy of someone of her special talents.
Author's Note
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