Wings of Ember
Chapter Two
Forgotten
A/n: cause you need to read this before reading the chapter because it's kinda important. I made the timeline after that whole Cuban missile crisis and stuff, and just because I am the writer and have some creativity leverage, Charles can still walk. Just look at the flashback in The Last Stand movie when Erik and Charles go to recruit Jean, he can still walk, plus, the x-men series' timeline is sorta messed up so I don't wanna hear any griping about changing the original stuff. Yeah, so, that's what you should know, happy reading! :3
'There are two kinds of light - the glow that illumines, and the glare that obscures.' – James Thurber
"And this is the lab, it's not really a professional lab though, more like a makeshift one," Charles finished his tour of his, well, massive home. Novalei's favorite room by far was the one she was standing before.
"Honestly, it looks better than any college lab I've been in," she said in awe causing a smile to appear on Charles' face.
"Well, I'm glad you like it," he stated and began to lead her through the rather large lab room. At every turn he noticed Novalei's golden eyes light up with joy. That was another thing Charles noticed about her unique appearance -aside from her dark red hair color-, her eyes were the lightest brown that they seemed to glow with gold like color.
"If you don't mind me asking, how were you able to study such an advanced subject?" Charles asked and Novalei turned to him, unperturbed by his question knowing it was odd for a woman to have such a 'difficult' major.
"My father was the dean of the university I went to in Ireland, I of course applied and got in like all other students, but he was the one in the end that allowed me to study subject matter that would usually be limited to men," she explained and Charles nodded as he listened. Soon Novalei was back to admiring the lab equipment.
As he turned away from her he noticed the other scientist walk into the room, obviously curious about the new comer.
"Ah, Novalei, this is the other scientist I was speaking about," He spoke up and Novalei turned to see who Charles was talking about.
"This is Hank McCoy," he stated and Novalei smiled towards the new comer. Of course she was caught off guard when she turned to see a rather blue and furry man standing not far from Charles, but she knew that it was his, how Charles had put it, mutation.
"Hi, I'm Novalei," she introduced shyly and offered him her hand. His surprise about her reaction didn't go unnoticed, but he soon regained his composure and shook her hand gently.
"I offered Novalei that teaching job, and suggested she work with you here until we have enough students, she has a degree in molecular physics," Charles explained cause Novalei to smile sheepishly, the way he talked about her was like a proud father speaking of his child. Though, she was sure he was only happy to be gaining a new…acquaintance?
She wasn't entirely sure what to call it.
"So I assume she accepted," Hank said with a nervous laugh while rubbing the back of his neck. Charles chuckled and nodded.
"I actually saved the lab for last because I wanted to discuss the extent of your abilities Novalei," Charles stated, now serious, Novalei returned the serious expression and nodded letting him know she was okay on discussing the topic.
"Of course, but, may I ask why?" she just wasn't going to start splurging about what she can do without a proper explanation.
"If you wanted, I would help you get a handle of your ability, I sensed that you couldn't control it as much as you could," she was about to ask what he meant by 'sensed' then remembered how he explained the way he found her.
"Sounds good to me,"
"When I was about seven, my brother locked me in the closet knowing that I feared the dark, unscrewed the light bulb and let me hold it, as some sort of way to taunt me farther, after my fear peaked I felt my hands burning and noticed that it was lit," She was explaining how she first discovered her ability, she thought it proper to start there.
"After that I could turn on lights without flipping a switch, as well as expel a candle's flame after some experimenting. I once thought I could control electricity, but whenever I was afraid of the dark was when I could control it the best, so I started experimenting with light sources," The two men nodded listening intently, but Hank couldn't help but make his own inquiries.
"It seems a bit extreme for your brother to lock you in a dark closet," he stated and Novalei's expression changed slightly to sorrow.
"Later we figured out he wasn't mentally stable, he always bullied me and claimed that I was cursed by the devil, he lost it when he found me turning an unplugged light bulb on and off, he was convinced I was possessed. It didn't help that my mother was extremely religious," she answered and Hank regretted making that statement.
"But he's fine now, being treated in a mental hospital in Ireland," she added, a small smile of relief forming on her lips. "But any who, back to the subject."
"How far have you gotten in using your powers?" Charles queried.
"I haven't really experimented with it recently, I can only turn on and off certain amount of lights, but once I was able to emit light from my palm, haven't been able to again though," Charles raised an eyebrow at this.
"How did that happen?" Novalei slanted her lips trying to remember the exact situation she was in to cause such an occurrence.
"It happened when I found out about…being pregnant, but it was more like, a liquid looking light that spilled from it," she answered touching her left palm. "I don't think I have been more scared before, that was probably why I was able to do that." she concluded.
"So, our goal would be to get you to use that ability and be your own light source," Hank stated as Charles nodded in agreement.
"Uhm, could I get a DNA sample? You know, so I could analyze your mutation?" Hank asked timidly but Novalei smiled warmly and nodded in compliance giving him a few strands of her long red hair.
Now, all they had to do was wait.
It would be a lie if Novalei said she wasn't surprised when she met Hank, though, when she saw how timid he was all she could do was smile and be kind towards the young looking man. She was still slightly reluctant about being dependant on another, but she had no other options and she couldn't live on the streets. She had herself and her baby to take care of.
Now, she was once again following Charles through the halls to where he said she could stay, and soon they were standing outside a door which she presumed to lead to her room.
"Well, this is where you will be staying, there should be some female clothes in the wardrobe and bathroom products in the bathroom," Charles said, his tone saddening as he continued the sentence. Novalei had half a mind to ask what was wrong but decided she would find out in time why he frowned upon talking about it.
How sad could female clothing and bathroom products be? She didn't know, but upon opening the door she was met with the sight of an average sized bedroom. A cherry wood looking wardrobe sat in the corner of the room as well as a double sized bed sitting inside a depression in the wall with blue covers.
To say it was nice was an understatement, even though it was simple it was bigger than any room she had in Ireland, even the dorm room she stayed in was less as extravagant. Novalei turned to Charles with a small smile and thanked him.
After he had left and closed the door behind him Novalei couldn't help but collapse onto the bed and let her tired body rest and begin to think of everything that just happened to her.
In only a day she went from being the most miserable in her life to having a stroke of luck and gaining a place to stay, a job, and food provided for her. It seemed almost too good to be and she pinched herself to test out the theory that she was dreaming, but of course she felt the slight twinge of pain that told her she was in the realm reality.
Now was the matter of getting some sort of identification back. All of the papers she had like social security card and her birth certificate were back at home, she certainly couldn't ask to go there, and she already owed Charles so much. Hopefully, if she went back in a year or so it would still be there, but for now she let her eyes flutter close and drift asleep, trying to dream of even brighter days.
Just another note, if you didn't read the one above do it! But thank you to the two awesome people that reviewed and I know this chapter was short but I hope to update soon with a longer chapter. (And finish this before classes start. Ha! Right, I can hope right?)