Shadowed Hearts
Chapter Two: Plans
* ~ *
Rogue watched the collar dangle from Mystique's indigo fingertips. She suddenly felt sick- trapped. The simple, harmless necklace rendered her completely helpless when Trask and his men had placed it on her neck; now, even without physical contact, it had the same effect. "The collar..."
Yellow eyes studied her face with curiosity. "What's wrong, Rogue?"
Her lips parted slightly, trying to find the words to describe what that collar had allowed them to do. "Stripped away mah powers... so vunerable... ah-" She couldn't finish it. She had tried to bury the memories, just like Raven had taught her to do with the psyches in her head. But like Carol, the little bitch kept screaming in her ear. It just added to the many memories that ate away at her conscious, and more importantly, her soul.
Raven dropped the collar, realization striking her like a cold blade into her stomach. "Rogue... did they-?" The woman didn't want to finish the sentence anymore than her daughter did. Steeling herself for what she was about to say, the shape-shifter sucked in a breath of air and continued. "...Rape you?"
The girl slowly shook her head and Mystique let out a sigh of relief. "Thank God."
"The guards tried t'," Rogue said softly. "Ah tried t' fight at first, but ah was too weak. They just kept messin' with mah head, an ah just... sunk deeper int' mah mind..."
"Rogue, why didn't you tell me?" Raven asked. "I could've-"
"Helped me?" she finished. "Look, Mystique. Ya already helped me. When ah was in that cell, the psyches in mah head were th' only thangs that kept me goin'. You, everyone in this house, even, suprisin'ly, the X-Men- y'all made me fight when ah would've given up on mah own."
"You still should've told me..." she said. "If I would've known it would be better for both of us. You need some one to talk to."
"No offense, Momma, but who am ah gonna talk t'? You? Some thangs are best left untouched, even by mothers. Lance an ah used t' talk... before the whole Sentinel attack. Besides, it's over now. Ah'd just rather do mah job than waste time with irrelevant chit chat."
Mystique winced at how much Rogue was beginning to sound like her. She could already see her teachings and examples reflecting in her daughter's stony green eyes. "But-" She sighed, defeated, and picked up the collar as though the simple action could fix the damage.
"Dr. Moreau is residing here at Bayville- for the moment. He's apparently being taken care of by Magneto and his Acolytes. It seems they are very interested in using Dr. Moreau's invention for an island called Genosha."
"What's Genosha?"
She made a face. "Well, it's rumored to be a haven for mutants, but my research has uncovered dark secrets under its paradise-like guise. It seems to actually be a slave camp for mutants."
Rogue wasn't too surprised at this revelation, but she still didn't understand why Magneto was funding this project. "So why's ol' Maggie so interested in a modern day concentration f'r mutants?"
"He isn't," she replied simply. Raven wound the collar around her fingers, deep in thought. "Magneto was handed over the country. He began ruling it a couple months ago, and only God knows what the man has up his sleeve."
"What does he gain by rulin' that place?" Rogue asked, obviously disgusted by Magneto's plan.
Mystique shrugged. "Mutant superiority, I assume. Although, the booming economy would provide ample funds for his weapons and bases."
"Ah just don't get Magneto," she snapped. "What do ya want me t' do? Kill Moreau?"
"Yes, but not quite and definitely not yet..." she answered. "I'm more worried about what Magneto is really planning behind all of this. I need to know more about Genosha and what he has planned, but most importantly, I want Magnus out of the picture for good. I want you to infiltrate his base and kill him, along with any Acolyte who gets in the way. He's provided enough problems for our cause. We're getting close to our dream, Rogue, I can feel it."
Rogue couldn't ignore the feeling over fear creep over her. Magneto was a very powerful mutant, and definitely not one who could be killed so easily. "Wouldn't you be a bettah candidate f'r the job, Mystique?"
She shook her head. "Magneto would know, just as you would know, that any form I took was still me. You both know me well enough to sense my presence, even if I am taking another form."
"Ah dunno. Are ya sure ah'm fit t' do this?"
Raven smiled slightly. "Dear, I wouldn't have entrusted just anyone with a job like this I know you can handle it."
She still was wary. "But won't he get suspicious. After all, ah am y'r daughter."
Mystique tossed the collar to her daughter who captured it in her right palm. She crossed over to Rogue's dresser and frowned at the picture laying on top of it. It was a family portrait of she, Irene, and Rogue a few years ago. The smiling faces in the picture reminded Raven of the innocent carefree lives the family once led. It was such a pity that is had to be ripped away from them.
"Well?" Rogue asked whilst drumming her fingers along the bedspread impatiently.
"Don't worry about Erik," she said, turning to face the girl. "We'll have him wrapped around you little finger- given the right incentive."
* ~ *
The white walls were just as he remembered it, and the scent of harsh cleaners and disinfectants only brought back painful memories. He didn't want to remember the first time he came here to see her. The first time she lay comatose in the starched linen he almost wanted to break down and cry... his student... a kid... had her entire life taken from her by one simple touch from an evil terrorist. In his all his life, he never thought anything like that would ever happen. He though his charges were untouchable- safe. What a fool he had been.
Today a short-haired nurse was checking up on the blonde sleeping beauty. There always was a new one. She changed the IV pack and turned to smile at him. "Are you here to see Miss Danvers?"
"Yeah," he replied gruffily. "She doin' any better?"
The nurse shook her head sadly. "Still no response. But like Susan said, talking to her will help her. Even though she can't respond to you consciously, she can still hear you."
"Yeah."
She smiled again. "Shall I leave you two alone, Mr...?" Her voice trailed at the question.
"Logan," he replied.
"Very, well, Mr. Logan. We'll be in to check on her progress in a few hours."
Wolverine watched the woman walk out of the room. The door shut softly behind her and she padded further down the hall. He sat by the bed and waited a few minutes before speaking.
"Hey, kid," he said. "How are ya doing?"
She didn't respond. He didn't expect her to, but somehow he wished she would say something. Holding a conversation with the sleeping beauty was like talking to the pillow her lovely head was resting on. In is mind, he imagined her at least moving her finger in response. When he checked, however, it was in the same place as it was before.
"I'm real sorry, kid. I know I can't do anything about it. But believe me, I would if I could. If I could get my hands on that bitch who did this to ya, I'd..."
Logan didn't finish his sentence. "I'd get your life back, Carol. And somehow, I will. I promise."
He squeezed her hand tightly, fighting back the feelings of hate and sorrow that surfaced in his throat. "You've got my word. I'll make everything right, Carol. For all of us."
* ~ *
"Can't beat a royal flush, homme," Remy LeBeau said as he laid down his hand of cards. Without even waiting for a response, he scooped up the dollar bills and change placed on the table. "Guess Gambit get all de loot."
St. John Allerdyce, or Pyro as he preferred, threw down his two pair with a sigh. "Damn it, I should've known not t' play poker with you. You always bloody win!"
"It's a gift," he replied with a grin. "An Gambit t'anks you for yo' generousity."
Piotr Rasputin placed down his full house with a shrug. He picked up his novel and got up. "This game is pointless. I'll be in my room reading. Tell me if you two have anything interesting to do."
"Ouch," Pietro said as he watched Colossus walk down the hall. He ran up to the remaining men. "Cards! Ha! Don't you have anything better to do?"
Pyro gave the speed demon an ugly look, one that Pietro did not miss. "Well, mate, since Maggie, the cat [A/N: Magneto and Sabretooth], and the rest of the adults are discussing some top-secret battle plans and it's storming like bloody hell outside... no."
Quicksilver smiled smugly. "Yeah, well, what would happen if I told Magneto that you guys were wasting time around here?"
Remy casually charged an ace with kinetic energy. "Don' t'ink he'll really care, tattle-tale. Mais but if ya wanna play dat way, 'll be more den happy t' rise t' de occasion."
"Is that a challenge?"
He smirked. "Non, it was a threat."
John walked the exchange carefully. Pietro clenched his fists and glared at the Cajun, who only smiled with complete confidence. Remy was obviously not sweating him.
"Just wait, Gumbo, I'll kick your ass."
He made a mock-pouty face. "What, you gonna tell ta papa your daddy an get him t' protect ya?"
Pietro charged at him in a flash, knocking the mutant down. "I'd like to hear you say that again."
Gambit pushed himself up from the floor and grinned. "What, you gonna tell ta papa an get him t' protect ya?" he repeated slowly, as though his competition was mentally deficient.
John smiled. "I bet five bucks on Gambit," he said as Wanda walked in.
She rolled her eyes. "Pietro's too fast. I'll put ten on my idiot brother."
A card flew out and landed at Pietro's feet, but he ran away before it exploded. He charged at Gambit again, who, with amazing reflexes, knocked his into a wall with his bo staff. "Not fast enough, homme."
A knock sounded from the heavy oak door in the living room. The fighting ceased, much to Wanda and John's dislike. No one moved. Annoyed, the Scarlet Witch rose from her seat. The click of black combat boots echoed through the room as Wanda walked to the door. She opened it, and was surprised to see a gothic-clad brunette beauty standing before her.
"Hi," the girl said softly.
The three men's eyes wandered to the door, studying the stranger. She apparently passed the inspection. Wanda looked over at the slack-jawed group with disgust. She glared once more at the girl in the doorway. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her low voice dripping with acid.
She wiped a drop of moisture from her brow. The rain was assaulting the girl, but she didn't seem to mind standing out on the porch, as she was completely soaked anyway. Her violet-tinted lips opened in response. "Ah need t' speak with Magneto," she rasped.
* ~ *
Dun-dun-dun! Dramatic reverse! Watch out for more! A title, a title. *Dances* REVIEW OR ELSE!
