The Queen of Darkness

Disclaimer: I do not own any Marvel Properties. I make no money, please do not sue me! Please review, and enjoy. I only claim Jance Neck't and other Original Characters.

" " = Talking

' ' = Thinking

# # = Special Action or Sound

Chapter 04: Surprises!

THURSDAY NIGHT, BROTHERHOOD HOUSE, 8: 17 PM

I crept up to the Brotherhoodlum's house, and watched it for at least ten minutes. The binoculars came in handy! It seems that my night vision works through them as well. That was at seven after eight. Now I am confidant, that I will not be caught. Keeping to the places that are not lit by artificial light, I get close to the house. Sneaking until I am underneath the window on the side of the living room, I get settled on my haunches and listen.

Pietro, it has to be him. Only he can be such an arrogant sounding priss! Pietro was saying "-at my Dad wants to start looking for new recruits! Can you believe it?"

Lance's voice is distinctive, in it's bad boy quality. I hear him answer the white haired priss. "Of course I can. It's obvious. Your Daddy isn't going to really make nice with the flatscans. He just wants to fool Baldy into thinking that he would. In the mean time, it's obvious that he wants us to keep our eyes open! Any mutant will do. We need to let 'em know that they can have a place here, in the Brotherhood."

The next voice was not familiar to me. It was oddly, but lightly, accented. I guess from the South. "Hey, Lance. Is Magneto paying for stuff again? I mean, we need more food."

I wrote down the important conversation that I had missed the start of, and remembered to use quotation marks, as appropriate. Still listening, I acted like a secret secretary, and took their dictation, without their knowing it.

Lance had answered the Southern guy. "Yes, Fred. Magneto is going to start giving us a helping hand, but he expects us to shape up. So we're going to have to start keeping the house clean enough, to at least see the floors in here. That's just for starters. We'll need to start training soon."

Another voice, squeaky and with a strong New York City accent piped up. "Hey, Lance. Whatcha gonna do about your Pretty Kitty? I mean she'll find out about us havin' recruitin' drive sooner or later, yo."

Lance probably sighed, but I don't have super hearing to find out. Still , Lance went on. "How I handle Kitty is my responsibility, Todd. You just keep doing what you've been doing. Pietro? Let your Dad know that we 'Get It' and will keep our eyes and ears open."

The prissy one answered back "OK. Will do. I'm going to go and call him back tomorrow, at lunch. In the mean time, I think we can go prank the Principle! How does a TP party sound?"

Todd called out "Yo, Speedy? Where are we gonna get the TP from? We ain't gots no money, 'member?"

After this the conversation devolved into a discussion of tactics on stealing toilet paper, and then using it in a prank. Boys are so stupid. I waited until they left, and had driven away. Then I waited for another few minutes. Good thing for me that I did.

I heard a female voice call out from upstairs "Pietro? *PAUSE* Toad? *PAUSE* Lance? *PAUSE* Hello?" I could hear her clumping down the stairs, and I recalled how this crazy girl dresses. Total Emo/Goth garbage. Just like the girl wearing it. Her boots must weigh almost as much as her fat bum! Gods of my Ancestors, but them make enough noise at every step!

Soon the sounds of her ugly boots clumping back up the stairs could be heard.

Finally, it was quiet again, and I snuck over to the back door. Finding it open was a sign. Either I am in real favor from On High, or it means that this group of teenage delinquents are too stupid to lock their back door. Hmmm. Perhaps too arrogant, may be a better description.

No matter. I sneak in on light feet with a gymnast's grace. That's because I AM a gymnast. Silently moving around the house, I could not find anything resembling an office in use. Careful to keep my gloves on, I still looked around for bit. Finding the place to be a pig sty, does not surprise me. After all, they even admitted it before. Fearing discovery, I avoided going upstairs, this time. I still made sure that I became familiar with the lay out. I even found the door to the cellar. It, too, was unlocked! Morons! Slipping down into the cellar, I did not need any artificial lights to see.

After just a few minutes, it became obvious that it held NOTHING useful to me, except the location of the circuit breakers, and telephone wires. I memorized this, and crept up the stairs. Keeping an ear out, I easily avoided detection, and slipped into the cloak of night, safe from all discovery…

THE GREEN FAMILY HOUSE, 9:45 PM, THURSDAY NIGHT

I arrived to Suzy's surprise, but I needed to cover my tracks by seeming to have been a good girl. It would never do to be caught lying to Father. As long as I have his trust, he remains my strongest Minion. After just a few minutes, the phone rang in her room. Picking up, Suzy answered it. Then she held the phone to me saying "It's your Mother."

I smiled for Suzy's sake and took the phone. It seems that I may not make it home in time for curfew. Still, I was where i said that I would be. I needed to go home immediately, though. I agreed and let Suzy know. After a hug from my useful minion, I went home.

THURSDAY NIGHT, THE NECK'T FAMILY HOME, 10:10 PM

I had to go right to bed, but I didn't mind. I had gained so much useful information, that it was well worth the effort. Getting ready was quick and easy. I turned off the lights, lay down and stared at the ceiling.

My mind was busy with ideas and plans and information. I looked at the clock, and saw that it was after ten PM. I was restless, and still in need of information. Perhaps I needed to sneak over to the source. The Xavier Institute was not far off. I could easily get there by walking, in less than half an hour.

My door was opening for the usual bed check. As I often do, I feigned sleep. Father closed the door and went to bed. Waiting was not that bad, this time, as my mind was occupied with plans.

THURSDAY NIGHT, THE NECK'T FAMILY HOME, 11:50 PM

Confidant that everyone was asleep, I quietly re-dressed, and took additional precautions. In addition to my gloves, I took my Halloween costume faerie mask, and put this in my purse. Not the best disguise, but certainly better than nothing! Dressed in the a compromise between the darkest clothing I had, and the sort that I could physically sneak around in, I was ready.

FRIDAY MORNING, XAVIER INSTITUTE FOR GIFTED CHILDREN, 12: 23 AM

I arrived, with my mask on, and found out something else about my power! I could see the lawn and driveway criss-crossed with laser emitters. An Alarm System! It had to be! Checking carefully, I saw several cameras in strategic locations around the wall, at the gates and on the Mansion roof.

That's when I saw her. Floating above everything. The weather witch, who went before that Government Panel on Mutant Rights, even as the huge guy tried to destroy a dam. I didn't see the blue guy she was on TV with, but he could be on the other side of the building. I can see in darkness, but not through solid objects. Well, except glass, like everyone else. She would have been invisible up there if I didn't have my power. My gift, however, made it as bright as day, with the added lights of the stars.

So empowered, I could see the white haired, dark skinned woman flying above the place. Taking notes, I studied the place for about TWO WHOLE HOURS. Sneaking around the outside, looking for a way in. No good. Even being able to see the emitters, didn't guarantee that I could slip inside. Given how seriously they took their security, I didn't dare expose myself to them! That's defeating the whole purpose! I need to know what they know about me, and how to stop them from getting proof, or otherwise using the information on me!

The moonlight must have made me visible to the weather witch, because she called out to me. I guess she said either 'Halt' or 'Hold'. Doesn't matter! If I'm identified, I'm screwed! Running into the forest on one side of the mansion, I hid from everything as best as I could. I could see her floating on the wind, and coming directly towards me. That's when I realized that the moon was spotlighting me, through the trees! I dashed into the shadows.

Wishing that I was ANYWHERE but here, I tried to make myself as one with the darkness, so to speak. One moment, I could see everything, just like I have been for the last few nights. The next moment; BLACKNESS! Literally! Total absence of light! It is the first true blackness, the first absence of light for me in over a day. Sleep doesn't count. I felt like I was falling, or swimming, or perhaps on a waterbed! It was calm and peaceful, but scary for being unexpected. Wishing I was back in the light as hard as I could, I bent my whole will on being safe at home!

FRIDAY MORNING, THE NECK'T FAMILY HOME, 2:38 AM

I didn't even realise that I had my eyes closed at all, until I opened them. I WAS back at home. How, by the Gods, did this happen?! Unable to process this at the moment, I just lay there, on my bedroom floor. Exactly where I had re-appeared to.

I lay there in a mild state of shock. I recall feeling the Darkness take me into itself, right there, in the woods! Then floating, falling. I recall feeling At Home In The Darkness. Then I recall trying to get out of it. Trying to get to the home that I grew up in. Feeling myself connect with the Darkness in my bedroom. Then...Just being there, in my bedroom, upon my floor.

I thought to myself #That's it! I'm going to bed! I can't handle this, right now!# I got up, and quietly changed out for my nightgown. I climbed into bed. Just then I heard the toilet flush, and my Father walking out of the bathroom. All very normal stuff. I try to get comfortable, and fall asleep wondering if I have been Blessed, or Damned...