Charles and I stood side by side on the edge of the water, staring out over the light waves.
"I'll call the Coast Guard," Moira said briskly, striding off.
My heart pounded in my chest, mine and my brother's nerves racketing around inside of me. I couldn't quite wrap my head around what we were doing. We were chasing down a mutant abusing the gift he had been born with. Well, at least as far as we knew.
Two hours later, we stood side by side at the ship's railing, icy wind cutting into our faces. Charles was trying to aid the Coast Guard with his mutation, and I, as usual, kept my mutation firmly locked away. I did not even feel true fear or anxiety. He suddenly stiffened with a loud groan of frustration.
"I've lost Shaw!" he shouted, banging on the rail. "I've lost Shaw! There's something blocking me."
I stared at him in confusion.
"Is that even possible?" I yelled over the clashing sounds around us.
He shook his head. "This has never happened to me before. I think there's someone else like me on that ship."
At that, I couldn't help but gape at him. We had always believed that there were other mutants in the world. I just hadn't envisioned other telepaths…or empaths.
"Like you?" Moira asked loudly.
"I'm sorry," Charles answered quickly, pulling himself back to his surroundings. "A telepath. This is incredible. I could actually feel her inside my mind. I'm very sorry, but I don't think I'm gonna be much help tonight. You're on your own."
My heart began to thud more poignantly in my chest. I turned quickly to gaze out at the yacht, now under fire.
Squaring my shoulders, I suddenly called loudly, "Maybe not! I doubt there's another one like ME on that yacht!"
Charles's head whipped around to stare at me with narrowed eyes.
"Not a chance!" he snapped. "It's too dangerous."
"It wasn't too dangerous for you!" I retorted sharply. "And we don't have time to argue."
Before he could protest further, I focused my eyes across the violent waves. With a single breath, the wards that contained my mutation dissolved. My entire body shuddered as pure emotion flooded my heart. The terror of the Coast Guard, the determination of the people around me, and the apprehension of my brother. Focusing my senses, I reached out with my mutation across the water, searching for the mutants' hearts.
"Three people left on board!" I shouted over the noise. "Two men and a woman. They're going below deck—frightened but determined. One of them, Shaw I think, is actually quite calm. He must have a plan of escape!"
My brow furrowed as a fourth presence tugged at my awareness. I fought to stay focused on Shaw and his companions, but Moira's frustration pouring into me from behind wasn't helping things either. Again, the other heart tugged at mine, drawing my senses toward the water. Succumbing to curiosity, I reached out to identify its source. An unrestrained, breathtaking hatred instantly seared through my open heart. I cried out in pain, and my hand clutched at my chest. Air seemed to be trapped in my lungs; I couldn't breathe.
"Jenny!" Charles shouted in a panic.
His arms quickly caught me before I could collapse. Even so, my legs trembled.
"I'm taking her inside. There's nothing more we can do for you now."
My breaths came in short rasps as I let my twin lead me to the stairs. But as we began the descent into the cramped space, my heart clenched painfully, a stinging shock rippling through my mutation.
"Charles!" I yelled.
Chapter 1We both stopped at the same moment, as each of our senses picked up on another presence in the water. Our eyes locked for a split second before we turned and ran back up the stairs.
"There's someone else out there!" Charles called to those around us.
We dashed to the ship's railing. The anger pouring from the water below was impossibly strong and had me longing for my wards. But right now, I couldn't block my gift. I needed it to find the source of the anger.
Charles' voice rang out in the night, "Let it go! Let it go!"
He had found the mutant in the water. I quickly identified the source of the anger streaking through the water after the submarine.
"What's he doing?" I yelled over the racket.
Charles merely shook his head, peeled off his jacket, and dove into the water.
"Charles!" I screamed, berating myself for not seeing that coming.
Quickly tossing my coat aside, I dove in after him, racing toward the drowning man. I reached them just as they surfaced. The stranger's anger was now directed at Charles. I quickly swam up next to him, placing my hand on his chest.
His name is Arik, Charles informed me with his mind.
Arik tried to jerk away from me, but using my ability to siphon some of his anger, I growled, "Calm yourself, Arik. Breathe. You must clear your mind and heart."
"My sister, Jennifer," Charles gasped by way of introduction.
"You were in my head," he gasped. "How did you do that?"
"You have your tricks I have mine. I'm like you. Just calm. your mind!"
"I thought," he gasped for air. "I thought I was alone."
"You are not alone," Charles said, fighting to keep his head above water. "Arik, You're not alone."
We were soon pulled back on board the ship.
Freezing, I turned to Charles and immediately growled, "Not even a warning?! Of all the stupid, reckless things you could've done, and you couldn't even flash me your plan?"
Someone wrapped a blanket around my shoulders, but I was too busy lecturing my brother to care to see who, or thank them. I kept up a steady stream of admonishments as the three of us were led down to the lower levels and a majestic space heater. I stopped talking as we gathered round it, trying to fight the chill in our bones. I could feel Charles' relief from next to me. Arik settled down across from us; he hadn't said a word since the water. We huddled around the heater for a few minutes in silence, swathed in layers of blankets. Eventually, I decided to break the silence.
"I've never met anyone with anger as potent as yours."
The stranger narrowed his eyes and looked from Charles to myself
"Do you two have the same..." he began uncertainly.
I chuckled. "No. My ability has to do with emotions, a person's heart. It's why you were able to think clearly in the water. I extracted a portion of your anger. Charles' ability, though, is linked with the mind. You could say we're two sides of the same coin." I grinned. "It's quite fascinating actually that sharing a uterus created such linked abilities, but not the same one."
His eyebrows shot upwards. "Twins?"
I grinned mischievously. "Since birth!"
Charles rolled his eyes and began a brief explanation of our arrangement with the CIA and how we had found Shaw. I stayed quiet, watching the newcomer's face. Miraculously, it revealed none of the anger and turmoil that dominated his heart. Strength emanated from the determined set of his chin. His eyes were haunted by visions of his past. I knew Charles had seen these visions already in Arik's mind, but he would not share his insight unless absolutely necessary. I flinched as Arik's anger flared at something Charles said. With a yelp, I hurriedly reconstructed the walls around my heart to block the conflagration of emotions on the ship.
Charles' voice sounded in my head. You forgot to isolate yourself.
"Shut up," I growled out loud.
The effort to project my thoughts was simply too great while expelling emotions that were not my own. Arik looked startled at my pain-streaked face.
Charles murmured in his most serious voice, "It's a side-effect of her ability. When you're filled with the emotions of everyone around, your heart will ache for whose pain you share."
Wrapping myself tightly with the blankets, my eyes screwed up, I continued reconstructing my wards. A sigh of relief escaped me as I felt the tumult of emotions dull in my consciousness. I loosed a weak smile.
"Do not fear, Arik. It is something I have lived with all my life. I am well. Though it would help if you would clear your mind, as Charles has said. Your anger is quite potent and particularly difficult to block."
"So it works both ways? Your...ability? You can obviously feel others emotions, but you can also...?" He looked uncomfortable, as though trying to find the right words.
"You mean can I affect other people's emotions?"
He had obviously forgotten what had happened in the water.
With a sigh, I replied, "Yes, in a way. The emotion has to already exist within a person for me to manipulate it. Just as metal has to be present in order for you to use your ability." I paused and glanced at Charles before continuing, "And the emotion has to go somewhere. It doesn't just fade into the air."
"Which usually means," Charles put in tensely. "That she ends up pulling it into herself."
"I'm sorry about earlier," I said quickly, returning my attention to Arik. Charles always hated when this came up. "But I had to calm you down to save your life. It's not really a skill I have taken the time to develop. Our emotions tell us who we are. If I interfere with that, I distort who a person could become."
As he nodded thoughtfully, footsteps echoed down the narrow stairwell.
"Mr. Xavier, Agent MacTaggert has requested that you join her on deck."
With a sigh, Charles pushed himself to his feet but when I made to follow, he said, "No, that's alright. You stay and warm up. If I need you, I'll let you know."
I nodded and settled back down, privately thankful for the added time for warmth. Arik was silent, staring into space. The air was thick with awkwardness, something I could never stand.
"So..." I began awkwardly. "Where did you grow up?"
"I don't talk about it," he answered flatly.
A sharp lance of anger stabbed through my heart. Startled, I gasped softly and turned away. I shouldn't have been able to feel that. I stared wonderingly at him.
"What are you Arik?" I whispered.
Before he could respond, Charles' voice rang in my head.
We're going to be heading to the facility the agent suggested back at headquarters.
Alright. I responded.
What's wrong? He immediately demanded.
I glanced at Arik before answering uncertainly, I don't know.