An entire day passed and Azazel's condition only worsened. Hank's forceful injection of the serum didn't cause any cosmetic differences so he left Azazel on the floor in the weight room. Sean discovered him late that night and his friends moved him to the bed in his room. The team suspected he had been poisoned but no one accused Hank. No one thought him capable of sabotaging their own plans. Charles was unable to get through to Azazel's mind in his unconscious state so he wasn't able to determine what caused the sudden coma. They put him on an antibiotic drip and set up a heart rate monitor. Alex, Raven and Sean stayed by his bedside in rotating shifts while Charles and Erik compiled any medical information they could gather on treating mutants. To say there was a lack of information would be an understatement. Alex and Sean left to go get another bag of fluids for Azazel's IV. It wasn't helping but they didn't know what else to do for him. If this kept on they would have to consider putting him out of his suffering. Raven was sitting by the bed holding his hands when the heart monitor began beeping wildly. For a moment Raven thought he might wake up but then he began to convulse.

"Erik, Charles!" yelled Raven. They came running into the room to see what was wrong. As suddenly as it began the convulsing ended and Azazel's eyes opened.

"Azazel," said Charles "Can you hear us?"

The red mutant groaned and began mumbling in Russian. Only Raven was close enough to make out Hank's name in the jumbled Russian. Hank knew what was wrong with him and Raven had to squeeze it out of him before Azazel died. Charles lifted Azazel's arm and checked his pulse. It was barely there.

"He's dying," said Charles "What could have caused this?"

"Poison," said Erik "Someone poisoned him."

"That's ridiculous, Erik it's only us here," said Charles "Maybe he ingested it accidentally."

Erik scoffed and he squabbled with Charles about poisonous plants and spiders indigenous to the mansion's grounds. Azazel went quiet then he began to cough. Raven held a cloth to his mouth and gasped in surprise when she realized he was coughing blood. She showed it to Charles and Erik then she got up to go find Hank. Erik took her place in the chair by Azazel's bed. The coughing worsened after Raven left and they turned Azazel on his side so he wouldn't choke. Shortly after he began vomiting blood and Erik held a basin for him. He called out for Raven in Russian but was otherwise unaware of his surroundings.

Raven cornered Hank in his lab. He was denying that he had done anything to Azazel. Raven knew better.

"You need to fix what you've done," said Raven "This is wrong and you know it."

"All I've done is try to protect you from him. He's a monster why can't you see that?" said Hank.

"That monster switched sides to help us. Ever since he got here he's been working overtime to win our trust and now he's going to die because he joined us." Raven was going to save Azazel one-way or another even if it meant losing Hank forever.

"He's dying?" asked Hank. For a moment he looked guilty.

"Yes, Hank he's dying," said Raven "Now tell me what's wrong with him."

"Why him, Raven?" asked Hank.

"Why him what?" she snapped back at Hank.

"Why do you love him and not me," said Hank "Is it because he has more in common with you than I do?"

Raven was furious. She could see it all to well now. Hank had used Azazel as a lab rat for his serum. He was going to force Azazel to lose his power and his connection to Raven forever, not to mention his life. It was all because Hank was insecure.

"You are the monster, Hank," said Raven "What if you had tested the serum on me, I'd be the one dying!"

"But I would never hurt you." protested Hank. Raven curled her hands into fists and turned blue. She lost control of her shifting ability when she was really angry.

"You have hurt me," said Raven "Now give me the antidote before it's too late."

It was obvious Hank didn't want to but he got an empty syringe from a drawer and drew liquid from one of his test tubes up into it. He capped the syringe and gave it to Raven.

"I'm so sorry Raven. I was just trying to save you." Said Hank.

"I didn't need saving," Said Raven "You on the other hand will need saving when he wakes up."

"You have to promise you won't tell them." Said Hank. Raven shoved him out of her way and began to leave.

"I won't but I can't speak for Azazel." Raven slammed the door behind her. Hank didn't follow. Once he corrected what was wrong with the serum he wouldn't have to be a mutant anymore so he went back to work.

Raven slipped the antidote into Azazel's IV while everyone else was eating dinner. She sat by the bed and held his hands again, praying it wasn't too late. A short time later his breathing became normal and he was no longer bleeding internally. Raven almost cried when his ice blue eyes opened and looked at her.

"Devochka," said Azazel "What happened?"

"What do you remember?" asked Raven.

"Hank, he stabbed me with something." Said Azazel.

"Please don't tell the others," said Raven "I exchanged covering the truth for your life."

"I could never tell them Hank bested me, it is shameful." He said after a moment. Raven laughed, she was glad Azazel would make a full recovery. He pulled her into his arms and held her against his chest. It reminded Raven of the night he carried her to bed.

"You saved my life, Devochka so now I pledge it to you. I am yours." He said into her ear. Raven closed her eyes and pressed her face into his skin.

"You were already mine." Said Raven. Azazel laughed at this and tightened his arms around her.

"I suppose I am." He replied.

They fell asleep curled around each other. Charles wasn't even mad when he came by later. He covered them with a blanket and left to go tell the others Azazel was all right.

Angel was caught between a handsome Spanish mutant and an equally handsome American one. Tensions on the sub erupted as Janos and Wade warred for her attention. It grew worse with every passing moment. She knew she couldn't have feelings for both of them but she couldn't choose. Janos was so sweet to her when she first joined Shaw. She happily remembered their trip to the Gucci store in Miami. But Wade was so charming and funny. Both of them came to her defense when Victor attacked her. If she hadn't foolishly challenged Victor the entire skirmish the day before could have been avoided. He made her so angry though. She didn't tell anyone that Victor cornered her in the hall outside of her room when he first arrived. He grabbed her and for a moment she was afraid he would drag her into her room and have his way with her. Luckily Wade came out of nowhere and shoved Victor away from her. Her hands were shaking and her wings popped out during the struggle with Victor.

"Stay away from her. This is your last warning." Wade said. Then he put his arm around her and walked her to the common room where she would be safe. It didn't help that Shaw was intent on putting her in Emma's place either. He would invite her into his private chambers and drink champagne with her while he spoke of his new world and how he'd make her queen of it. In truth Shaw scared Angel and she wished she'd never gone with him. Once again he'd separated her from Wade and Janos and he was yattering about pawns and queens. Like the coming war was nothing more than a chess game.

"Wade and Janos are both in love with you, but I suppose you already knew that." Said Shaw.

"I don't think so." Said Angel. Her heart began hammering in fear for both men.

"Your modesty is positively charming," Said Shaw "But we both know distracted men make terrible soldiers."

"They aren't distracted." Protested Angel.

"Well I'm bored," said Shaw "So we're going to have a little match to determine who is stronger."

Shaw was going to make them fight to the death like dogs. If she didn't intervene they would both die.

"Please, Sebastian," said Angel "Shouldn't we focus on our mission?"

"If you want them to live, choose me," said Shaw "You are to be mine. Be my queen and I will let them live."

Angel didn't know how to respond to Shaw's proposal so she just stared.

"What about Emma?" she asked. She didn't know the white queen at all but she knew she'd be pissed if she came back to find Angel with Shaw.

"Emma is not coming back," said Shaw "You have until sundown tomorrow to decide. Now get out."

Angel practically ran from Shaw's rooms. She bumped into Wade in the hall he'd been waiting for her. He caught her in his arms but she pushed him back.

"Get away from me." She said then she continued on her path. It was time to start making a plan for Shaw. She would never be free as long as he was breathing. She came to Bradley, the technopath for help. He was the only one with means of communication that Shaw didn't have access to. He couldn't communicate mind-to-mind like a telepath but he could talk to machines. He was surprised to find Angel at his door.

"What can I do for you, my dear?" he asked in his British accent.

"I need you to find someone for me and get a message to them." Said Angel.

"What's their name?" asked Bradley.

"Charles Xavier," said Angel "He used this machine at the CIA base in Virginia to find me."

"Perhaps this machine can tell me where he went, then it's just a matter of me talking to his phone or a walkie talkie. What should I tell him?" Bradley asked.

"Tell him its Angel," said Angel "Tell him I'm in trouble and I need his help."

"I presume I'm not to tell Shaw about this." Said Bradley.

"You presumed right." Said Angel.

"Smashing," said Bradley "Get back to Shaw before he smells a mutiny."

Angel turned and left to give Shaw her answer. Even if it meant breaking their hearts Angel would protect Wade and Janos. She'd protect them even if she got killed in the process.

Author's note: sorry it took so long to update! Thanks for all the reviews. Especially knightrunner and crocpop!