Comfort and Friends
After people started clearing away the Festival booths and junk, Amanda snuck into the cathedral. It was stunningly beautiful and gave off a feeling of reverence.
She was just admiring the stain glass windows and statues when she heard someone coming up behind her. Quickly, she grabbed the man's weapon, flipped the man over her shoulder and was about to attack further when she saw the man's face.
"Forge?" said Amanda. She put down the weapon and helped him to stand. "Don't scare me like that. What're you doing here?"
"Nice to see you too, Amanda. I came to warn you," said Forge.
"About what?" asked Amanda. "If you're trying to protect me, that's sweet, but I can handle myself."
"I know that, but you should know that Graydon's looking for you. The old laws are still intact, so if you claim sanctuary here, he can't harm you."
"What? But—"
Just then, Graydon and his men burst in.
"Good work, Captain," said Graydon. "Arrest her."
Forge shook his head. "I'm sorry, sir, but the old laws state that if someone claims sanctuary, then there's nothing I can do."
"Then drag her out and—"
"Graydon!" shouted Azazel. He was in his disguised form of the Archdeacon. "You will not touch her." He turned to Amanda. "Don't worry, Graydon Creed learned years ago to respect the sanctity of the church and of the consequences of his ruthless actions."
Graydon looked furious, but had his men leave the church before hiding behind a pillar. When his men and Forge had left, he snuck up behind Amanda and held her in arm lock.
"You think you've outwitted me, but I'm a patient man and mutants don't do well inside stone walls," said Graydon. He released her arm and then began to leave. "You've chosen a magnificent prison, but it is a prison nonetheless. If you set one foot outside or attack my men with your powers, Mutant, and you're mine."
The door slammed shut and Amanda realized she was trapped. She peered outside and heard Graydon order his men to keep a guard at every door. She shut the door again in anger.
"He can't do this to me," she muttered.
"On the contrary, my dear, Graydon has the power to do as he wishes," said Azazel. "You caused quite a stir at the Festival and aroused Graydon's anger."
"I had to do something!" said Amanda. "He was letting that poor man be tortured by those people just because he was different. Why can't anyone be more understanding of mutants anyway?"
"You must have patience. Your anger gives you great strength, but if you let it, it'll corrupt you."
"Anger's corrupted Graydon, that's for sure," said Amanda. "Even with the X-Men and Professor Xavier, nothing's changed for my kind."
"Well, perhaps there's someone here who can help," said Azazel.
He left Amanda alone to her thoughts.
Amanda sighed and stood in front of a statue. Her people needed help and she'd probably just made things worse. Feeling upset and desperate, she began to pray.
Amanda: God help the outcasts
I don't know if You can hear me
Or if You're even there
I don't know if You would listen
To a mutant's prayer
Yes, I know I'm just an outcast
I shouldn't speak to you
Still I see Your face and wonder
Were You once an outcast too?
Hungry from birth
Show them the mercy
They don't find on earth
God help my people
We look to You still
God help the outcasts
Or nobody will
Amanda walked around the cathedral. She wanted to do something for her people to help them escape this pointless persecution. She wanted Xavier's dream to come true and she wanted there to be peace. But with people like Graydon Creed, could that even happen?
She didn't notice Kurt, who'd heard her and was watching her as he clung to a pillar. But she could hear the prayers of the other people in the church.
Parishioners:
I ask for wealth
I ask for fame
I ask for glory to shine on my name
I ask for love I can possess
I ask for God and His angels to bless me
Wealth, fame, glory and all of that were meaningless to Amanda. They would do little good for her or her people. These people who were asking for those things were so blind. They were more blessed than they knew. Didn't they realize that?
Amanda:
I ask for nothing
I can get by
But I know so many
Less lucky than I
Please help my people
The poor and down trod
I thought we all were
The children of God
God help the outcasts
Children of God
Not every mutant was as lucky as her to be raised by a family of traveling gypsies or was found and cared for by Xavier. She wanted nothing for herself, but she would gladly surrender all she had if there could be a peaceful co-existence between mutants and humans and a better life for the mutants who were in need of basic necessities.
She came to a very large stain glass window and sighed again. When there was a clatter, she spun around to see Kurt had knocked over a candlestick and someone was shouting at him.
"You! Bell-ringer, what're you doing down here? Haven't you caused enough trouble already?"
Amanda saw Kurt leap away down a corridor. "Wait!" she shouted. But Kurt didn't respond as there was a puff of smoke and the smell of brimstone.
Realizing he was headed for the bell tower, she began to chase after him.
XXX
Kurt teleported up to one of the paths that led to his room and then began running to his room. He only stopped when he ran into Victor, Laverne and Hugo.
"Hey, Kurt, what's the rush?" asked Hugo.
"You mustn't run too fast or teleport or she'll get away," said Victor.
"Yeah, just give her some slack and reel her in, and then give her some slack and reel her in and—"
Hugo was cut off when Laverne hit him on the head. "Knock it off, Hugo. She's a girl, not a mackerel!"
"Ach! I don't have time for this!" said Kurt.
He was about to leave when Amanda caught up with him, sounding breathless. "Here you are. I was afraid I'd lost you."
"Yes, vell, I have vork to do," said Kurt. "It-it vas nice seeing you again." He clutched his head, thinking of how stupid he sounded. "Ach!" he said, before teleporting away.
He teleported to a dark corner of his room and hid there as he listened to her talk.
"No, wait!" she said. "I'm really sorry about this afternoon. I didn't know who you were. I would never in my life have pulled you up on the…stage." She gazed at Kurt's work and belongings in amazement. "What is this place?"
Kurt slowly crept out of the shadows as he said, "This is vhere I live."
"Did you make all these things yourself?" she asked.
"Yes."
"These are beautiful. If I could do this, you wouldn't find me peddling fortunes and dancing for money."
"But you're vonderful at vhat you do," said Kurt.
Amanda smiled. "Well, it helps pay the bills." Then she noticed a cloth was covering some models on the table. "What's this?"
"Ach, no, please, don't—"
"It's Stefan," she said. Her voice grew to soft and gentle whisper as she said, "And me." She turned to Kurt, smiling again. "You're a surprising person, Kurt Wagner. Not to mention lucky, all this room to yourself?"
Kurt smiled and nearly blushed. "Vell, it's not just me. There's the gargoyles and the bells. Vould-vould you like to see them?"
"Yes, of course," said Amanda.
Kurt took her hand and led her up some stairs to the many bells. "There's Little Sophia, Jean-Marie, Anne-Marie, Louise-Marie, and this is Big Marie."
Amanda stood underneath an enormous bell and shouted, "Hello!" and chuckled when she heard the echo.
"Vould you like to see more?" asked Kurt.
"I'd love to," said Amanda.
"Good, because I've saved the best for last," said Kurt.
He led her to the very top of the cathedral just as the sun was setting. There was a beautiful explosion of violet, gold and pink. The view was simply gorgeous.
Amanda sighed in enjoyment. "I'll bet no one in the entire world has a view like this. I could stay up here forever."
"Vould you?" asked Kurt.
Amanda nodded, but then shook her head. "I'd love to, but I can't. I have sanctuary, not freedom. And mutants don't do well inside stone walls."
"Who told you that?" asked Kurt.
"Graydon Creed," said Amanda.
"Vell, my master has his views about the vorld and its people," said Kurt.
"Your master?" Amanda repeated.
"Yes. Graydon raised me from my infancy."
Amanda stared at him in disbelief. "How could such a cruel man have raised someone like you?"
"Cruel? Oh, no, my master is misguided and can be a little strict, but I owe him my life. Like yourself, I am a mutant, but unlike most mutants my condition vas obvious from the moment I vas born. My mother abandoned me and Graydon vas the only one vho vould care for me. I'm a monster, you know," he added, sadly.
"He told you that?"
"Look at me," said Kurt.
Amanda frowned. "Give me your hand," she said. "Just let me see it." She held his hand in hers and pretended to read his palm. "A long lifeline, this one means your shy. Hmm, I don't see any."
"Any vhat?" asked Kurt.
"Monster lines," said Amanda. "Not a single one."
Kurt stared at his palm in surprise.
"So maybe Graydon's wrong about you, about all of us."
"Perhaps," said Kurt.
Amanda smiled, but then turned her gaze back to the horizon. Kurt put his hand on her shoulder.
"You helped me, now I vill help you," he said. "Graydon may have the church guarded, but I can still get out of here."
"You can teleport us out of here?" asked Amanda.
"Not quite. Two miles is my limit, but I'm still agile and I can get us both down. Let me carry you."
Amanda looked a little frightened, but climbed onto Kurt's back.
"Don't be afraid," said Kurt.
"I'm not afraid," said Amanda.
When Kurt began leaping down the walls of the cathedral and Amanda looked down, she said, "Now, I'm afraid."
"It is all right, Amanda. Just don't look down."
Amanda clung to him tighter and shut her eyes.
Kurt gracefully leapt from stone to stone before taking a giant leap across the sections of the cathedral. Then he gently climbed down a pillar and onto a lower roof. It was only then that Amanda opened her eyes and smiled.
"You're quite an acrobat," she said.
"Thanks, I—"
Suddenly, a shingle from the roof came loose and the two went sliding down and would've fallen down one of the water ports if Kurt hadn't teleported them to one of the statues down below. The shingle crashed into something and distracted Graydon's men, which proved quite helpful for them.
When they were on the ground, safe and sound, they both breathed huge sighs of relief.
"I hope I didn't scare you," said Kurt.
"Not for an instant," said Amanda. "Thank you so much."
"It vas my pleasure. I'll never forget you, Amanda."
Amanda touched his face and made him look at her. "Come with me."
"Vhat?"
"To the Court of Miracles. Once there, we could leave to New York and see Professor Xavier. I know he'd love to meet you."
"No," said Kurt, shaking his head. "No, I'm never leaving this place again. You saw how everyone reacted today. I scare people. This," he beckoned to the church. "—is vhere I belong."
"Alright then, I'll come to see you. I'll come after dark and sneak in."
"Vhat, but Graydon vill—"
He was cut off when Amanda kissed his cheek.
Then, without thinking, Kurt gently caressed her face and pulled her in closer as they shared a tender kiss. When they broke apart, they were still holding each other close.
Kurt used his tail to hand her the model of herself and a copy of his scriptures. "Keep these," he said.
"I will," said Amanda. She slipped a woven band off her neck. "Remember, if you ever need sanctuary, this will help you find it. When you wear this woven band, you hold the city in your hands."
Kurt took it and slipped it underneath his shirt.
Amanda kissed him once more and Kurt held her hand to his face before spotting one of Graydon's men in the distance.
"You must go. Quickly. But stay safe," he said.
She nodded and then disappeared into the darkness.
Kurt smiled and sighed in contentment before climbing back up. He'd just gotten to a railing when he came face-to-face with a man he didn't recognize.
"Hi, there, I'm looking for Amanda," he said.
Without thinking, Kurt used his tail to trip and disarm the man. "Vhat do you vant vith her?" he demanded.
"Easy, easy, I'm a friend of hers. My name's Forge. I just wanted see if she was all right," he said, holding up his hands. "I'm a mutant like she is and you are."
Kurt narrowed his eyes before handing him back his weapon and helping him to stand. "I believe she's fine. I helped her to escape."
"You did?" said Forge. "That's wonderful. Thank you. Oh, and if you see Amanda tell her she's lucky to have someone like you at her side."
"I vill," said Kurt. "Now please, go before Graydon finds you."
Forge nodded and disappeared down the stairs.
Kurt shook his head and finally made his way into his room. He ignored Laverne, Victor and Hugo who were cheering him on.
"You defeated that tin-plated buffoon with finesse," said Victor.
"The nerve of that guy, coming around here to steal your girl," said Hugo.
"The two of them are just friends, Hugo," said Kurt. "Besides, he doesn't seem that bad."
"Oh, don't be so modest, Kurt. You're a hero," said Laverne.
"Look, I appreciate what you all are doing, but please, let's just finish tonight's work," said Kurt.
He was about to go ring the bells again when he stopped at the sight of a couple out in the street.
Kurt:
So many times out here
I've vatched a happy pair
Of lovers valking in the night
They had a kind of glow around them
It almost looked like heaven's light
He sighed and then sat at his table. He picked up the model of himself and gazed at its misshapen form. I thought I'd never know
That warm and loving glow
Though I might vish with all my might
No face as hideous as my face
Vas ever meant for heaven's light
Before meeting Amanda, he'd thought there was nothing for him in his life except for his religion and bell-ringing work, but now everything was different. But suddenly an angel has smiled at me
And kissed my lips vithout a trace of fright
He accepted a block of wood from Laverne and made another model of Amanda, but this time it was more beautiful. He placed it beside his own as he recalled the kiss he and Amanda had shared. She was the only one outside of his friends and Graydon who was gentle and loving towards him. And now I see that she
Even cares for me
And as I ring these bells tonight
My cold dark tower seems so bright
I swear it must be heaven's light
Perhaps the fiasco that had occurred that afternoon was a blessing in disguise. Had it not happened, would he have even met Amanda or ever feel like this? He couldn't answer that question as he rang the evening bells and then got ready for bed.