The Sound of My Vendetta
Chapter Seven: Guns and Horses
If you were to ask Evelyn what she thought she would be doing when she saw Amanda that morning, you would not have gotten the current situation as an answer. No matter how many times you asked or how many scenarios you provided. The situation she was in definitely could be used as the liable definition for 'awkward'.
Three still-warm cups of tea were sitting on the quaint, ebony coffee table between them. Evelyn and Kurt sat on the couch while their blonde and blue eyed guest sat on the recliner. The demonic mutant had his arm around his fiancee's slim waist, a tense look about him. He was highly uncomfortable in this circumstance. Silently, the Romanian could sense that Ms. Sefton took a silent delight in making her lover uncomfortable.
It unnerved her a bit. However, she remained silent and polite. This was an important meeting.
Finally, the German female spoke. "I'm more than positive that I can help you delve into the mysteries of your father's book, Evelyn. As much as Kurt thinks I can't," she mused with what seemed like a hint of jest toward the blue man, "Seriously, though, I would be more than happy to help. You are going to be a part of this family, Evelyn. No man, no matter how powerful, is going to stop that from happening on my watch."
"I am shocked at your eagerness, Amanda." Kurt's tone held a bit of a defensiveness that both shocked and amused the black-haired woman. He really was bothered by ex girlfriend being around her.
"I thought you would be."
Kurt did not really look amused. Evelyn just looked very confused, bothered even. Her expression had formed into a thoughtful scowl as she looked at the woman who used to be with her mate.
"You said that I'm going to be a part of your family. I'm marrying into Kurt's family."
A bell of laughter left the woman before she seemed to look at Kurt in blatant disbelief. The expression on his face was priceless, then.
"You haven't told her? What would mom think, Kurtis Bartholomew Wagner?" She then turned to face the ice-woman with a calmer expression. "We're foster siblings. My mother adopted him into the family when she found him abandoned. We may not be related by blood, but he's family. So... welcome to the family, sweetheart."
"..."
"Mein Gott in Himmel, Amanda..."
"Your middle name is Bartholomew?"
The two females in the room shared a laugh at the blue one's expense. Evelyn was indeed shocked at the fact of Amanda being Kurt's foster sister Jimaine Szardos from his life in the traveling circus before he had arrived at the mansion. She didn't voice her surprise, however, allowing it to be settled in the back of her mind for the moment.
It did bother her to a certain level, admittedly. How many more things about Kurt's past did she not know anything about? Was he purposely keeping secrets from her? Did he simply believe that they were not important things to speak of? Did Kurt bear any regrets?
She snapped out of her daze as she heard the soft chime of the tea cup hitting the saucer after Amanda finished drinking. "I should be going, then. I need to get things ready to begin your training, Evelyn. I do hope you'll rest tonight. Tomorrow is when we will begin."
"I'll let you out, Amanda," offered the Romanian lady as she stood from sitting next to her blue and very tense fiancee.
The tone seemed to drop, temperature chilling around them when they reached the front door. This was the time for bad news. The two women shared a weary glance at the doorway, their expressions taking on a more somber visage.
"I know you'll become strong enough to win this," began the lovely German woman who Evelyn had a chance of calling 'sister' one day. "I have just as much faith in you as Kurt does, and you know how much faith he can carry in that beating heart."
"I know, Amanda. The only one lacking faith seems to be me."
It seemed the taller of the two had something more to say, but faltered at first, her mouth closing slowly as she averted her eyes. These were heavy words she carried. If they were spoken, what kind of can of worms would burst open just at the utterance of them? How would the pale girl react to such a bombshell of a realization?
"To be honest, I have something to warn you about besides the obvious, I'm afraid. This man, Marcelli, may have turned to a common enemy for information on you and your father." Those damned words were very difficult for her to even think, let alone say. "After looking into how in the world he could have even known where the school was... I happened upon something ghastly. Marcelli had met with Erik Lensherr not too long before these events began."
Evelyn recognized that name in no time at all. Any X-Man did.
"Magneto?"
"Yes, sadly. It seems to me that he had no guilt in disclosing this information to your enemy. Maybe the death of Charles Xavier rattled him into thinking that no such formality was in play. Who knows? All that matters is that this is what happened and you need to decide what you're going to do with this knowledge."
The recently orphaned woman had many choices. She could exact revenge on the man who let out the location. But would she really try and fight Magneto himself? No. The pale girl in front of Amanda was no fool in the least. But she was angry.
"It is because of Magneto that Marcelli found your father. I'm sorry."
Her fists clenched, mostly from the pure frustration of just not being able to do anything. She had not been alert to save her father from death, and it haunted her severely. And now knowing than an old enemy who she believed to have settled for the moment arises as the cause for her distress? What else could go wrong in such a short time?
Bloody fuck, she cursed in her mind, don't jinx it!
What could she do now? There was no way to bring her father back. None. She was not an idiot. But she could, in fact, confront Magneto with a team. Push him for any information, maybe. She wasn't sure just then. Her mind was a squall of worry and anger.
Because of Magneto, her entire family was in danger.
Ask Emma, her mind screamed. Beg on your damned knees if you have to do it. But you need to find some sort of leverage against Marcelli. Who else besides the man who may be in cahoots with him right now?
"Thank you for telling me. I am upset, but I prefer knowing the truth. For that... I am extremely grateful." It was the honest truth.
"Just make sure not to die. I will not shy away from haunting you in the afterlife if you abandon my brother here without a wife. You two are a match made in... well... proverbial heaven. So give it your all during your training and do what you need to do before three weeks' time. Prepare yourself to the fullest. And then," she paused, pulling the Romanian into a quick embrace.
"Murder him."
A grin came on her features.
"I plan to."
No, it was not a very 'heroic' thought. Evelyn knew it too. However, she was also highly aware that this needed to end—either with her death or Marcelli's. She had a man to come home to. A family. She was not going to let them suffer because of her cowardice, and she was not going to abandon them by dying.
Amanda bids her future sibling goodbye, an understanding sympathy in her eyes as she walks down the path away from the house. Evelyn feels herself starting to register just how deep things are becoming inside of her own mind now. All of these thought processes and plans that she now has to mull over more than ever had begun to eat away at her nerves. The female could feel the beginnings of anxiety and stress start to crawl amongst her nerves like unseen parasites. It felt unsettling in her gut, being so unsure and afraid.
She shut the front door and leaned her forehead against it for a good, long moment. Evelyn needed some calm in her life after hearing such horrifying news.
Kurt was already at the hall leading to where she was, an unreadable expression reflecting in those golden orbs.
Walking up to his little love, he wasted no time in moving his arms around her and pulling that body to his. Her sobs after that gesture tore at his heartstrings in the worst ways possible. It was at times like these that the mutant known as Nightcrawler hated most.
He could not ease her pain.
Sure, he could help her forget for a moment with jokes and flirtatious actions... but how long could he manage to discern her brain from thinking those terrible thoughts? Not for a very long time at all. He knew that. It didn't make the useless feeling settle any more.
So he did what he could do at the moment. Kurt lifted her chin and melded his lips to hers in a heated kiss, smirking as the littlest of blissful sighs came from her.
By God, he would do his best to ease any stress she had. Not that it bothered him at all to make her blush and laugh.
"I'm joining you in going to the school tomorrow." "Oh? And to what do I owe the honor, my beautiful love?"
She rolled those blue eyes indignantly. He just grinned.
"A somber topic, actually, but I need to speak to Emma. I know—gross."
"Something tells me that she would honestly be so appalled by some of the things you think of her that she might actually curl up and shrivel from the intensity."
His little Romanian fiancee smiled at the imagery, earning her a chiding look and an accusing scowl from the blue mutant.
"Now that's an entertaining notion."
.:: The Sound of My Vendetta ::.
The former White Queen of the Hellfire Club stared down Evelyn with an inquisitive look in her cold, blue eyes. This young, Romanian native was alone in the room with her. Kurt was at work, teaching young students in his drama class. She had no one to defend her but herself. It was unnerving to stand alone against the older blonde.
"And you're positive that Magneto told this man where we're located?" "Magik sensed it, so yes. It explains how he knew but it also means that the school might have become a target. However, he has promised not to hurt any of you if I comply. If I fight him and by chance lose, he will stop all advances whatsoever. But if I win... I will feel much safer. For both the school and I. For all of us."
Emma's eyes seemed to harden at the first sign of danger for the students. No matter how cold of a woman she acted the part of, Miss Frost had a warmth for every single young one she grew to meet in her line of work. She was like the watchful and distant caretaker with the heart of a withdrawn mother, much to Evelyn's bemusement.
Now she left the decision of what to do to this woman.
"You bring up a good point, like always, Tundra," she finally said with a hint of hidden pride. The angular-faced woman shot her sharp gaze to the pale female and sighed.
"I agree with your statement. But I also know that I cannot exactly allow Magneto to just think he can get away with this. Your father was the one who paid the ultimate price—and for that I am very sorry..." Her tone was sincere. "This also means that the students have a chance of being exposed. You are correct. So, I will comply. What is your plan?"
It had actually gone well? Emma agreed? Evelyn sat there in shock, nervously scratching at the wood armrest with the tips of her nails.
You knew you were in danger and in need of assistance when you went to your much-despised ex-boss and pleaded for her own help to avenge your family... and she agrees.
"Contact Magneto. Somehow, I don't know. Tell him a team is going to speak with him on neutral territory. There will be no fighting. This is a confrontation of diplomacy."
"And you think he'll agree to such a thing? Magneto?"
Evelyn let out a sigh from her nose, closing those blue eyes with a chilling sense of fear and self-doubt that seemed to always loom amongst her thoughts.
"Beg if you have to."
The white-clad X-Woman nodded somberly, excusing herself to continue with the paperwork piled neatly on her desk that she had been neglecting. Evelyn took this as her way of saying that she was dismissed from the headmistress's presence and took her leave with a silent nod in respect and thanks.
As she made her way down the hall and into the main path back to the foyer to perhaps take a quick trip to visit Kurt's classroom for old time's sake, her eyes caught a late student rushing down the same path she was headed toward. She called out to the brown-haired teen, his body tensing as if expecting to be reprimanded by the adult who had caught him.
"What's your name?"
"My... my name is Kevin Ford."
Wither. Evelyn had heard of this boy. The ability to literally decompose any organic substance he touched in a matter of seconds. He had no control. He was also a social outcast amongst his own peers, from her understanding. Kurt had told her about him.
She then decided to make his day easier.
"Where are you headed, Kevin?" The boy seemed startled, if not confused, by her kind tone. Her husky eyes did seem to put people into a defensive front. How startling.
"Drama class..." "Good, good. Come with me. I'm headed there too."
The expression on his face actually shifted from tense to that of a relative calm. He was a smart kid, indeed. Just because a kind adult was headed in the direction you were was not immediate proof that they would be your lifeline when you're late to class.
"I'll try and get him to go easy on you."
Now he looked relieved. "Thank you. This isn't a regular thing for me, I swear. I just... it took me a while getting ready this morning."
"And by that, you mean that you just didn't feel like spending the day out of your room knowing that whispers about your powers awaited you."
The teenaged male looked up, startled. "How did you know?"
A smile lit of her face as she placed a comforting hand on his covered shoulder. How painful it truly must be not to have human contact because of something you could not control. At least Rogue could touch for a moment and not harm... but him? He was worse off.
"I was your age once, too, Kevin. And while I will not stand here and say my experiences were as difficult as yours are and will be... they were not kind. I can sympathize and understand sometimes not wanting to be around people and just savoring that moment of solitude to just vent. But it is not a healthy thing to pursue. Humans are social creatures. Whether you believe it or not, the more time you spend around your peers, the better things will become. Some how, some way... it happens."
They were now standing in front of Kurt's classroom. Kevin looked apprehensive, at best. Her gaze softened at the tenseness of his shoulders, giving it a squeeze. She was here for him.
Easily now, Evelyn could understand why Emma had such a soft spot for these kids. They were the future. They were bright.
They knew pain.
.:: The Sound of My Vendetta ::.
When you stand in front of Magneto himself, you feel like an ant in an ant farm being watched over by your god—your owner telling you to lower your class and do what they want as a way of keeping yourself favored and alive. The man had a presence of pure power and certainty. A strong and disheartening feeling of surrender pulsed through your veins when he looked down on you, effectively turning you into a pile of dirt.
But Evelyn bit back all of those feelings. Right then, that man was no Magneto. He was Erik Lensherr, the man who was the reason for her father's untimely death.
"Charles Xavier was your friend, Lensherr. How could you just go and reveal the location of his sanctuary of a school to a man you knew was less than stable and willing to do whatever he needed to get what he desired? A mutant man died because of your actions!"
The woman sounded much more confident than she felt, even with a team of X-Men standing strong and unmoving behind her like a wall of friends she could always lean on even in this man's towering appearance.
Iceman was actually silent and carried a serious expression. Giorgio had been the sort of man to beat sense into the cocky young man, and had been a good person to chat with during break hours from their teaching jobs. Bobby had actually shed tears for the Romanian mutant.
Gambit admittedly did not know the middle-aged man as well as Bobby had... but he still carried an effect for the Cajun. Remy was a man of respect, and Giorgio demanded it. He was a strong and honest man who spoke his opinion even if the entire room disagreed. The red-eyed thief was one to respect such a gutsy individual.
Wolverine stood there almost as angry as the woman herself. That man was a tough being in every sense of the word. Watched his family die in front of him and kept fighting on in life, even if he thought all hope was gone. Then, his daughter found him. They found each other. Once he had the chance to leave all of the pain behind—Magneto ruined it. Logan was not a man to take such an act of sick betrayal lightly.
Erik Lensherr seemed to sneer at those words, as if they physically caused him harm.
"When will you fools realize that Xavier's dream died with him?" His voice was woven with anger and absolution. And with grief. Xavier had been his friend, after all. The man's death was not planned on either sides, and they knew this.
But Magneto had crossed a line.
"As long as there are X-Men, people who believe in what Charles Xavier spoke of, his dream will be in all of our hearts. It is not dead nor will it ever die!"
Mystique, Pyro, Toad, and Avalanche all tensed as the group of X-Men turned to the other way, entering the portal formed by Pixie.
After they disappeared back to their home, their school, the Brotherhood was left to meander away amongst themselves. Magneto bore an unreadable look in his eyes, his eyes fixed to where the young woman had just stood.
Xavier once carried that same look when he declared his dream.
