Out of the Darkness
I don't own him, but I am beginning to join the can I chain him in my basement set….Marvel owns him, much to my regret at this point.
Where was Victor Creed from the end of X one to the end of X Three?
Chapter 4
Things had been quiet the last few months – if you didn't count the damned dog issues. That damned dog hated him. She had bit him a dozen times, and if it hadn't been for his healing factor, Ashe would have found out. He was going to kill that damned dog one of these days.
She was barking at him now – they were sitting out on Maryanne's lawn – keeping an eye on things at her yard sale. There had been a few things bothering him the last couple days – the number of strange cars parked on the street and men walking in front of Ashe and Maryanne's houses for one. It was strange – the completely ignored him – and he was the one who was wanted.
"Tilly – STILL – I don't know what's wrong with her, Victor. I thought she would have settled down by now."
"Baby – I told you not to worry about it – sometimes dogs just hate me. I'm used to it, and she ain't done anything but bark." That she knew about.
"It bothers me – she's trained to bark like that at something she senses as dangerous."
"Maybe she thinks I am – since my scent is all over ya." He grinned, kissing her cheek, Tilly barked even louder. "See. She'd jealous." They both laughed, and he bit back the urge to growl at the dog. He even liked the damned pooch – and what she did for Ashe's independence. He couldn't leave a pair of shoes at Ashley's house anymore; the she had destroyed his good Italian leather loafers. There were times he was actually grateful Ashley couldn't see, so he could cover for the damned dog.
Maryanne came out of the house with big glasses of iced tea for everyone.
"I had hoped to make a little more money on this thing – oh well – I can send the rest to Goodwill tomorrow." She said as she got ready to sit down.
"Mar – would you take Tilly and put her in the back yard. She is going nuts." Ashley asked.
"Sure – that dog HATES you Vic."
"No joke."
It was about an hour later when Tilly finally settled down – something that immediately made the hackles on the back of his neck stand up. That dog didn't shut up for anything.
"Is Tilly okay?" Ashley was worried too.
"I'll go check." Maryanne stood up, but Victor knocked her to the ground, just as the bullet hit the tree behind her.
"DOWN!" He shouted pulling Ashley down to the ground, someone with a silencer had just taken a shot at them. He let out a low growl, and felt Ashley tense, and Maryanne look at him strangely.
"What was that?"
"Bullet."
"How did you…?" Ashley grunted at him.
"I heard it."
Another one hit the table above them. Someone was shooting but not to kill – just to keep them contained. He pointed toward the steps of Maryanne's house and grabbed Ashley, throwing her over his shoulder and running for the door, Maryanne right in front of him.
"Call the cops." He shouted at her.
"I can't the phone's dead."
"SHIT! Here use my cell." He threw it at her.
"There's no signal."
"WHAT!?"
"There's no signal."
Okay – now he was getting pissed. Who was out there – and why were they blocking cell reception. They had to be well financed for that kind of tech. He heard a sound from the back of the house.
"You two stay here – I'm going to check the house." He said.
"Victor – be careful." Ashe said. He pulled her against him and kissed her.
"I will." The less she knew the better. He slipped down the hallway; he could smell two of them in the back of the house – probably to keep them from running out the back. Well, they were in for a surprise. The first one was quick and easy, snapped neck and thrown out the door by the still breathing body of the dog. At least they hadn't killed her – it smelled like a sedative.
The second man wasn't as easy – he decided to pick a fight – wrong move. That one went through the window, glass slicing his jugular open and bleeding out on the lawn outside. He ran back to the front of the house, two more men were trying to get in the front door. Maryanne looked at him in shock, he looked down, there was blood spatter on his shirt, he'd explain later.
He took a position on one side of the door and waited. He signaled Maryanne to take Ashe into the living room – he didn't want her to see what he was going to do. Who were these bastards and why were they doing this in broad daylight?
The door came crashing in – and Victor grabbed arm of the first man as he came in swinging him into the wall and knocking him cold. The second man had the gun – and fired several rounds right into Vic's chest. He just grinned, and held his hands up, letting the man watch his claws extend from his fingertips. No one messed with his girl. The man dropped the gun and turned to run, but Vic grabbed him by the back of the collar and slammed him into the door – a little too hard, he heard his neck snap. Well – they had at least one person to question before he killed him.
Maryanne was standing in the living room door, her eyes wide with shock.
"Are you two okay?"
"Yeah – are YOU?" She was pointing to the holes in his shirt.
"Yeah – I heal."
"What?"
"My mutation – I heal."
"Oh."
"What happened – what do you mean you HEAL!" Ashley said from behind her.
"He got shot, Ashe."
"VICTOR!" She tried to push past Maryanne.
"Stay there – I don't want to guide you around bodies."
"BODIES!"
"Yeah – bodies. I killed three of them – one's still breathin."
"THREE!"
"There were two in the kitchen."
"Why didn't you kill all of them?" Even he was surprised by the tone in Ashley's voice.
"I have a few questions I want answered first, Baby." He heard a groan from the one that was still breathing. "And if you don't mind – I am gonna get them answered. Mar – you might want ta go into the living room, I don't want you to watch this."
"Its okay – I have seen it before." He was surprised by the cool tone in her voice. He looked at both of them and for the first time registered that neither one of them were surprised – or afraid, just angry.
"Do you mind explainin' that?"
"I lost my eyesight because of men like this, Vic." Ashley said quietly.
"Why?"
"My dad."
"What?"
"He used to – well he used to do contract work – mostly mercenary stuff – down in South America, anyway he got on the wrong side of some guys – and they found out about me. They grabbed me and Mar from the park down the street – they already had my dad – made him watch them torture me until he agreed to do what they wanted."
Victor let out a loud growl, making both women jump.
"Well – let's see if they are after you – or me."
"You?" They both asked.
"I'll explain later."
He grabbed the man from the floor and carried him to the kitchen, both women followed him.
"I don't work well with an audience." He shouted.
"Is Tilly alright?" Mar asked, noticing the dog on the lawn.
"She's just sedated."
"Did you hurt her?" Ashley asked, angry.
"No – she was out when I got here – SHIT woman the dog hates me not the other way around. NOW get the hell out – I have work ta do." Maryanne led Ashley back to the front of the house.
XXXXXXXXX
"What kind of work?" Ashe asked Maryanne – then the first scream came, answering that question.
"How do you think he knows how to do that?" Maryanne asked.
"I don't know – but for now I am not arguing." Ashe said.
She remembered what happened to her clearly – sometimes too clearly. Victor kept the nightmares away, something she was grateful for. He was safe – he'd never hurt her, she knew that. Knowing he could take care of something like this didn't make her afraid – it made her feel even safer with him. She had tried to escape the world her father lived in – barely spoke to him, avoided anything to do with him, and still things like this happened. At least she had someone who was willing and able to take care of it.
Maryanne gripped her hand tightly as another scream ripped through the house.
"El Diablo – that is all I know – he paid – well – for us to take the women – something about a debt owed or something. That's all I know, PLEASE JUST KILL ME!" The man screamed.
Ashley felt Maryanne's hand go cold in hers. El Diablo – what did he want now?
"We are getting the hell out of here, don't pack, just get the hell in to the SUV, I have the damned dog." Victor said from the door.
Maryanne led her to the car, and helped her into the backseat; she felt Victor's hand as he placed it on Tilly's head. She wanted to let him know she understood – that she accepted him for what he was, but he pulled his hand away quickly. She stroked the unconscious dog's head as he started the car and drove off.
They sat in silence; the only sounds were the blinkers when he turned, and the sound of the tires on the pavement.
"Someone want to explain this shit." He finally said.
"My dad is Howard Case – he owns HardCase's over in Salem Center – it's a bar."
"I KNOW what it is – I've busted the place up a few times."
"WHAT?!"
"I know the bar – okay."
"He used to do mercenary work – ran a merc team that did some work for the Government – anyway he got on the bad side of one of the Cartels in Columbia. That was right before he and my mom split. After that I didn't know much about what he was doing – but one day a bunch of guys grabbed me and Mar from the park – Dad had moved out of the house – so they didn't know which one of us was his kid." She was tracing her fingers through Tilly's fur.
"So who were THESE guys?"
"They work for the same guy that took us fifteen years ago." Maryanne said. "El Diablo – he runs a drug cartel out of Columbia."
"HOW do I get mixed up in this SHIT?" He grumbled.
"What do you mean by that?" Ashley said, afraid of what he might say.
"I can't even relax for two months without SOMEONE around me getting shot at with a laser – stabbed – dropped off a damned building – electrocuted by lightning, and THAT was all in one day." He grumbled.
"What the hell?" Maryanne sounded cautious – something that put Ashe immediately on edge. "Just who the HELL are you – and where the HELL are we going?"
"I told you – my name's Victor Creed – and we are GOING to get help and get the hell away from whatever idiot is after the two of you – and when I get you both safe – I am going after this El Diablo and cutting his damned balls off and feeding them to him." Ashley blanched at that image. He certainly could be descriptive.
She heard a click – and then music through the speakers. He had evidently heard all he wanted to hear. The music played a few minutes, and then was interrupted.
"Sorry for the interruption – folks – but this just came in. There has been an attack on the President. It appears that a mutant organization was behind the attack. The individual wanted for the attack is described as blue – with tattoos over his face and body and with a…holy crap…uhh sorry folks…a long tail. He has three fingers on each hand – and is considered armed and deadly. Also wanted for questioning are known mutant terrorists, Mystique, AKA Raven Darkholm, Toad, AKA Mortimer Toynbee, and Sabretooth, AKA…" The radio clicked.
"What – why did you turn it off?" Maryanne said.
"Sabretooth, AKA Victor Creed." He said quietly. "SHIT! We need ta get out of sight quick."
"YOU'RE Sabretooth?"
"Yeah – well I notice you two keeping more than a few secrets too."
"Mar – it's ok – really." Ashley said.
"NO it isn't – Ashley, with your dad's 'friends' and now THIS! This isn't OKAY!"
"Yes it is."
"He's a murderer – for starters."
"Don't you two think you should be having the conversation without ME here to hear it?" He growled.
"Vic – SHUT UP!" Ashley snapped at him. She heard his sharp intake of breath. "I figured it out a while ago – exactly who you were – to be honest MY DAD figured it out about a week after the funeral. His exact words 'at least I don't have to worry about you – you are in good hands.'"
"YOUR DAD said that."
"Yes – evidently he went to some guy that runs a school there – and had him check you out. He gave you the all clear – that you wouldn't hurt either of us, unless really provoked, so Dad figured you could take care of us."
"FUCK – Damned Egg Head and his damned mind reading – WHAT else did your DAD say. I don't like people prying around in my head." He was growling again.
"He didn't say anything else much – just to be careful – you know – about getting pregnant."
The silence was deafening. She was waiting for a reaction. Finally Maryanne gave up and started laughing.
"Well – I guess it COULD be worse – Diablo's men could have us." She said finally. Victor was still growling in the driver's seat. Ashley felt Tilly stir a bit under her fingers; she was coming out of it.
"Victor – what are we going to do about Tilly – she can't stay with us, she hates you." Ashley said.
"She stays – cuz you need her. The damned dog will get used ta me or not." He grumbled. Ashely felt the car leave pavement and drive down a dirt road. The bumps finished the job and the dog woke up, growling.
"TILLY – NEIN!" The dog settled down, still growling toward the front seat.
"I hope to hell that damned dog can fly well."
"Why do you say that?" Ashley asked.
"Because we are flying out of here." She heard the snap of his cell phone opening.
"Hey – need a pick up at the rendezvous."
"NO I don't expect YOU to do it. Send frog boy."
"I can't wait for long – yes the mess in White Plains is mine."
"NO – I ain't explainin' just get the damned bird here NOW!"
"NO – not the damned two seater – I got two people and a dog with me."
"Yes – DOG – shut the hell up, Myst – you cackle like a hyena."
"FINE – I don't care who flies the damned thing – as long as they know what they are doing. Janos is fine – SHIT! Can ya get it here before the cops show up – they are lookin for my ass."
"No they weren't cops – it's a long assed story and I ain't got time – neither do you." Ashley had to chuckle quietly at the whole conversation. Myst had to be Mystique – the one mentioned on the radio.
He clicked the phone closed. "Damned blue pain in my ass." Even Maryanne was laughing at that. Tilly was still growling, even as Ashley tried to soothe her.
They sat there in silence, until Victor's seat creaked. "Let's go, chopper should be landing any time – and I don't want to waste time. Ashe – I wish the damned dog was sedated still – I am gonna have ta carry her to the bird – so if she bites me – I'm sorry."
"Bites you. Victor – has she been biting you?"
"It ain't her fault – her instincts pick me up, I told ya some dogs just hate me." He growled.
"I can't have her biting people."
"ASHE she's fine – she's doin what she's trained ta do – alright – QUIT WORRYIN!" He shouted.
"Well I can see why she growls all the time – quit SHOUTING at her." Maryanne shouted.
"BOTH of you quit shouting. Her collar is on – is the leash here somewhere?" Ashely asked.
"No – nor her harness, we didn't have time to grab either."
"Well – is there some rope I can use – she is leash trained and will obey if there is a leash attached to her collar." Ashley said.
"Hang on." She heard Victor's door open, the creak of his seat as he got up, and then the sound of the back of the SUV opening. There was a jingle of some sort and a strip of something landed across her shoulder.
"Laptop case strap – should work." He said.
She felt the hook on the end and hooked it to Tilly's collar. The dog settled down almost immediately – she was trained to serve first – and her training was excellent.
Ashley opened her door and Tilly jumped over her lap and stood at the ready waiting for her to climb down. She put her feet onto the uneven grass, the sound of an approaching chopper reaching her ears.
"We are flying in THAT!?" Maryanne said.
"What – never flown in a government chopper before."
"Not an official one – no. Tell me that's not the President's helicopter."
"Nope – just a senator's."
"Oh that's so much better."
"GET YOUR ASS in the bird – NOW!" Shouted a voice. Victor took her elbow and guided her toward the wall of air she could feel. She had ridden in helicopters before – but it wasn't a memory that was very clear. Tilly was growling but moving toward the air that was trying to force them back.
"SHIT! Ashe I am gonna have ta carry the dog." She heard Tilly's yip of surprise, and Victor's intake of breath.
"She bit you?"
"Don't worry about it woman. Stay here – I will give Tilly to Mar and come back for you."
She stood there – fighting against the force of the wind while she waited. All she could hear was the sound of the chopper. His hand on her arm was reassuring. He picked her up and carried her.
"I can walk." She shouted over the chopper.
"Ground's rough – don't want you falling." He shouted back. He set her in a seat and she felt the vehicle lurch a bit as he climbed in. She felt his reassuring presence next to her.
"Mystique – Avalanche – this is Maryanne and Ashley – Tilly is the dog."
"What the HELL!" Came a voice Ashley was familiar with – she had heard enough of his speeches against mutants – Senator Kelley.
"Myst – Ashley is blind so please use your own voice."
"BLIND!" Said a female voice in front of her. "Have you lost your ever loving mind, 'Tooth."
"No…It's a long story and we don't have time for it – so just get us someplace safe – okay."
"Janos – take them to the new fall back location, drop me in Washington – I have a meeting with the President in the morning, Toad can get them settled. I expect a full explanation next time I see you, Tooth."
"Fine – but shouldn't you be concentrating on getting Mags the hell out of that bubble he is in."
"I have a plan – as soon as I get the information I need – my meeting with the President is to request access to him."
"Good luck."
Ashley just closed her eyes. She didn't know where this was leading – but right now she had to depend on Victor and Maryanne and Tilly to get her through. She felt his arm around her shoulders as he gently nudged her to lean against his chest.
"Get some sleep, baby. We'll be safe soon." He whispered. She heard a snort across from her.
"Baby – at least tell me she's some kind of mutant?"
"Yes – not that it's any of your business."
Ashley went to sleep with Tilly's head on her lap, still growling at the man next to her, and Maryanne arguing with Victor and Mystique.