Chapter 1
A warehouse in the wilderness of Russia
Athena Lennox was lead by a guard into a small room with a metal table and two chairs. Her father, Enzo Lennox, sat in one of the chairs with a cream colored folder in front of him. Looking up at her with steel-gray eyes, he motioned for her to sit across from him. She crossed the room as the guard closed the door and took a seat. Her father placed two profiles down in front of her.
"These are your targets," he said.
She picked up the first one and looked over it. Charles Francis Xavier, in his mid twenties with brown hair and blue eyes. He recently became a professor in genetic mutation. Mutant power is telepathy. Athena had to admit that he was quite good looking; even a little over confident.
Putting that one down, he picked up the second profile. Erik Lensherr, in his early to mid thirties with black hair and cold gray eyes. He was a mutant that Sebastian Shaw had come across when he worked with the Nazis in Poland. Mutant power is generating and manipulating electromagnetic fields. The look in his eye sent a shiver down Athena's spine.
"These two men have been recruiting young mutants," her father explained when she looked up from the profiles. "A very good client has asked for our help in eliminating them. I am assigning you to this."
Athena nodded. She knew better than to speak out against or reject a mission from someone she didn't know the name of. Besides, she had an idea of who the "very good client" was anyway.
"There is, however, one problem," he continued. "Erik Lensherr is very proficient at killing and might prove to be a problem. So, I want you to focus on killing the telepath."
"Because without him, they won't be able to recruit anymore," Athena finished in a monotone voice.
Enzo nodded. "A private plane will take you to Washington, D.C. in one hour. Pack everything you will need. You are dismissed."
"Yes father." Athena stood, bowed slightly, and left the room. As she walked down the hallway to her room, she wondered if they would let her join. But she quickly shoved that thought away. No one would help her.
Charles sighed as he moved the chess piece on the board next to him. He and Erik were waiting on the steps of a deserted Lincoln memorial; waiting for another mutant.
"Are you sure this is where they'll be?" Erik asked. Charles had been very vague about this latest mutant, so he wasn't too keen about it. "All you have about them is that they're powerful, experienced and that you can't read their mind."
"No, I can't," Charles admitted. He was about to go on, but a presence caught his attention. He looked behind him and sat up straight.
Erik looked at him with slight concern. "What is it?" His question was answered when Charles met his eyes, telling him that the mutant was there.
'Behind the second to last pillar on the right.' Came Charles' voice in his head.
They both got up and approached the pillar from both sides. The sound of sniffing was heard before they lunged forward. Erik caught the person as they tried to run and pinned them against the pillar.
The two were shocked by who was in front of them. A young girl who looked to be about 19 years old; they couldn't see her hair because it was tucked under a black, wide brimmed fedora. She wore a light green sweater, a faded pair of argyle jeans with a cross belt, and a pair of tennis shoes. She held her head down, so they couldn't see her eyes. However, Erik saw her smirk.
"And just what are you smirking at, brat?" he growled. Charles put a hand on his shoulder to try and calm his friend.
"My, my, what a temper," the girl commented mockingly. She still didn't look at either of them. "If you want to kill me, go ahead, Erik Lensherr."
The two men couldn't believe what they just heard. Not only did she know Erik's name, but she was almost asking for him to kill her. Erik looked at Charles, for the first time not knowing what to do. Charles looked equally surprised, but quickly recovered upon seeing Erik look at him.
"Why would we do that?" he asked.
The girl only scoffed. "If you don't, my father will be furious with me or will eventually give me to Shaw to use me for his own purposes," she paused to take a deep shaky breath, like she was trying to hold back tears. "And I want nothing to do with either of them."
Erik's hold on her loosened on hearing Shaw would use her. She was scared of what he might do to her, and he could understand that. He had been scared of the man at one point as well.
"We can protect you from him," Charles stated. "We want to stop Shaw, and you could help us. If you'll let us, we can protect you."
'I think that protecting yourself and your mind should take first priority, Charles Francis Xavier,' the girl's voice snapped in his mind. He was in utter shock; she could read minds!
"It's only a limited form of telepathy actually," the girl corrected him out loud.
"So, that's why I can't read your mind, you've created a barrier." He had to admit that he was very impressed. "Would you let me through your barriers?"
She scoffed and shook her head, still keeping her eyes from view.
"We only want to help you," Erik told her. "If you'll let us." Charles couldn't believe his ears, yet he could hear Erik's thoughts and knew he was sincere with his words.
Slowly, the girl raised her head and looked at them for the first time. The men's breath caught in their throats at the sight of her eyes. Her eyes were an eerie silver color and had an almost predatory look to them.
She looked into Erik's eyes, gazing at him, before locking eyes with Charles. As soon as their eyes met, he could hear her thoughts, see her memories, and feel her emotions. He saw her whole past, what powers she had, and what she really wanted; someone to care about her and not see her as an object.
When everything stopped, Charles lost his balance for a second. Luckily, Erik grabbed his arm to hold him steady. "You going to be alright?" he asked, worried for his friend. Charles nodded in response and took a few deep breaths to slow his heart rate.
Once Charles was able to stand on his own, Erik let go of his arm and looked back at the girl. "So, I know Charles knows, but I would like you to tell me. What's your name?" he asked kindly.
The girl blinked a few times and looked at Charles, who nodded. Looking back at Erik, she answered with a small smile on her lips. "Athena. Athena Lennox."
