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 08: The Dark Path

HOME OF THE NECK'T FAMILY, MONDAY EVENING, 8:00 PM

I finish my homework, and begin to go over the notes on mutants, that I have collected so far. There are a few things that I need to work on, and try out, before I can tackle the Xavier Institute. This 'Cerebro thingy' still has me spooked. I need to find out about it, but their security is likely very, very good! I do not have the training to disable alarms. I can pick very simple locks, like the cheapest padlocks, but that's NOT what they'll have in my way.

BAYVILLE STREETS, MONDAY NIGHT, 11:54 PM

Alone, and outside at last! My Father checked on me at almost forty minutes past ten! This has made me wait until almost eleven before being able to slip out! I unlocked the window, and lay upon the bed. I am all dressed for my nightly outing.

Thinking hard about my target is beginning to be a drag. I let the sensations of the last time I fell into the Darkness wash over me. The room is still bright, to my eyes. No change. Throwing myself into a seriously emotional re-enactment of almost being caught at the Institute, albeit silently, I fall out of this world, and into Darkness!

There is NOTHING here! No sound. No light. No wind. No up. No down. Oh my Gods! I fight back against the panic as hard as I can. I think hard about the Brotherhood house's backyard. I WANT to go there! I need to SEE again!

The Darkness is gone! I can see a tree right in front of my face! I look around, and see the back of a house that is somewhat familiar. Then I know! It's the Brotherhood house! I'm behind it! I made it! Calming down, I check out the immediate area, and notice the lack of activity out here.

Sneaking around sounds like fun, but I need to master this new ability! Just like gymnastics, I need to master this, or it may get me hurt, or trapped, just when I need to escape the most. Steeling my spine, and taking a few breaths, I think about the Town Park. It has a stand of trees that should hide my arrival.

Taking upon myself the NEED to leave, I fall into Darkness again! This time, I am not quite so eager to leave it. Not yet. It's actually kinda cozy here. No noise. No wind. No annoying Mothers. Peaceful as the grave. Oh. I did NOT need that image!

Concentrating on the tiny clearing, in the stand of trees, at the Town Park. I NEED to go! NOW! NOW! I MEAN IT! NOW! NOW! NOW! NOW! NOW!

LIGHT! I am back in the regular world! Nearly falling over with relief, I lean against a tree. Looking around, I am exactly where I 'NEEDED' to be. I wonder if I can do this anywhere? Slipping away from the Town Park, I put the heels to the pavement. Walking to clear my head, I am soon back outside The Brotherhood house. I recall the basement there. It must be empty now.

My trying to fall into Darkness is met by a BARRIER! Huh! I am being *BLOCKED* from connecting with Darkness. I look frantically around! I see nothing dangerous. I don't otherwise feel constrained! I see nothing generating a force field, or somesuch nonsense! The only difference is just an upstairs light is on, and I am standing in it's beam, through the window.

I think to myself #Hmmm. Darkness. Light. Perhaps I need to avoid light to get to the Darkness. I guess that makes sense.# Stepping away from the shaft of light, I try to fall into Darkness, again. I AM FREE! I am not constrained here! In Darkness I am FREE! I enjoy the sensation of floating weightless. after a while, I'm not sure what time it is, and I've had enough snooping for now, so I head back to my bedroom.

HOME OF THE NECK'T FAMILY, TUESDAY MORNING, 3:22 AM

Arriving back in my bedroom, I carefully, and quietly change for bed. Fortunately, there is no sign that I have been missed. Noticing the time, I can guess that my 'timeless time' in the Darkness was about an hour. Snuggling into the bed, I am struck, by how tired I am this time. Last night was easy. I guess falling into Darkness, and staying there tires me out. I don't even remember falling asleep.

BAYVILLE HIGH, LUNCH PERIOD, TUESDAY

I had Drama Club business to attend to. Mrs. Gannon allowed me back into the props room, and I began cataloging all the fabrics. I had a sandwich as I worked, and I was very careful not to spill upon the fabrics. My fabric issue has been solved. There is very little black fabrics, so more needs to be purchased. I can now get to work. Taking a ballpark figure of what is needed, I make the list for Mrs. Gannon.

Handing the list over to Mrs. Gannon, I said "Here you go. That;s everything. Right down to the scraps of green felt, from last years 'Holiday' Play." Mrs. Gannon thanked me for my work, and was about to walk off, when I asked her "Mrs. Gannon? Is the budget going to be enough to get it all? I have fifty dollars that I *want* to help out with. It's the least that I can do, really. I'll even hand in all receipts, so the School Department doesn't flip out. Heck, I'll even go buy it myself!"

Mrs. Gannon, the Drama Club Teacher, was smiling, and happy. "Of course you can help out! I just wish more students were like you, Janice!" I smiled my best smile, and let her talk me through the fabric situation. In the end, I had to get a hall pass, because she and I spent too much time on the Play.

BAYVILLE HIGH, LUNCH PERIOD, WEDNESDAY, 12:07 PM

I was having serious trouble staying awake. I didn't even sneak out last night. I guess it all just caught up with me. Heck, I even went to bed as soon as my homework was done. I do NOT recall my head even hitting the pillow, last night. Fortunately, as a secret mutant, I may slip out for a moment.

Going over to a closet, I find the area deserted, and no sounds coming from the closet. Opening the door is easy. This is the infamous 'Make-Out' closet. couples love to sneak in here for a few hot kisses. Going inside, I close the door behind me, and immediately try to fall into Darkness.

Once there, I take myself to the ladies room, in the gas station next door to the Bavyille Bean Shack. You need a key to get in, but not to get out. Slipping out, I chalk the door open with a small stone, so that I can return. A few minutes later, I have a medium coffee, with lots of caffeine. Getting back was just as easy.

Now I begin to feel better. Caffeine, it makes the day bearable! My day gets better, as the caffeine gets going in my system. Soon, I have my plans, my money, and my minions. Turning to my Drama Club designs, I enjoy my day at last.

HOME OF THE NECK'T FAMILY, WEDNESDAY EVENING, 9:41 PM

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. No school. I can get a lot done tomorrow. Jamal said that he has plans with his school friends. Mother and Father are coming home early. I can use the day to rest, after I go out again. Tonight, I have a specific destination in mind. Father checked on me eleven minutes ago, and I was able to fool him again. He took his time, though, and I admit that Father's presence is a calming one.

By ten fifteen, when I could hear the others get into bed, I began my fall into Darkness. The silence. The peace. The freedom! After a moment, I emerged from Darkness in the basement of the Brotherhood house. Taking my little notepad, and mechanical pencil, I wait for something useful. After a minute, The sounds above me began to slack off. I was beginning to realize that the opportunity to eavesdrop had passed here.

Unhappy, but practical, I decided to wait a little longer, just in case. Nope, no joy. I could hear them going upstairs for bedtime. After a few minutes, I snuck upstairs, and had a look around. The place was just as I remembered it. These are serious slobs!

Using my power, I re-appeared at the top of the stairs, to avoid making any noise upon it. Looking at the bottoms of doors, I could see that most of the light were out. The last door is so well built, that I am not sure if there is light on the other side, or not. Deciding that I should return another night, perhaps after everyone has left…

HOME OF THE NECK'T FAMILY, THURSDAY MORNING, 12:03 AM

Having gotten next to nothing from my trip, I simply went to bed. I have plenty to do tomorrow. After about an hour, I began to drift off to sleep. Then I heard it. The window was opening. I had forgotten to lock the stupid thing! Holding still, I opened one eye, and had a good look. My intruder was Mystique again. Good thing that I can see perfectly well in this gloom!

I do not want her to discover that I am, in fact, a Power-Positive Person. With that in mind, I refrain from doing anything, beyond shifting in my 'sleep'. Mystique froze. I admired her self control. Silently she began looking through the one section that she had missed the last time: My school work. An idea popped into my head-obviously I am so clever!

Moaning a bit, I sit up and ask "Mommy? That you?" Mystique took the opportunity to change her shape in that of Mother.

"Yes, dear." She answered with a kindness, that actually hurt me. Mother, herself, had not been so kindly towards me in years. The pain in my heart notwithstanding, I asked her a question, in my best 'I'm a sleepy-head' voice. "Mommy? Please bring me a glass of OJ? I'm thirsty."

Stymied for the moment, 'Mommy' agreed and went down stairs. Seeing my chance, I snuck out of the bed, and took the FOH files, and my special notebooks, and put them under my mattress. The job done, I slipped into bed, quiet as a mouse, and sat up, remembering to look sleepy. Hearing Mystique come back, I waited patiently and sure enough, 'Mommy' brought me a medium sized glass of OJ.

Drinking it all down, fairly quickly, I said to Mystique "Thanks Mom. Tired. G'night." With that I handed Mystique my empty glass, turned over and pretended to sleep. I had quickly gone 'bonelessly' relaxed. That is I did my best to simulate being unconscious. Mystique checked all of my school work, and of course, found nothing incriminating. Safe for another night, I let myself begin to drift off to sleep, just as Mystique left empty handed.

HOME OF THE NECK'T FAMILY, THURSDAY MORNING, 7:30 AM

Having stayed in bed for an extra two hours, I felt pretty good. As nobody was in the room with me, I quietly made sure that the FOH files and special notebooks were safely under my mattress. Getting ready for Turkey Day isn't bad at all!

Starting the kitchen up, I made darn sure that everything was ready. By the time Mother and Father come home, the turkey will be in the oven, and other food will be started upon. I am so good in the kitchen. Then again, I am good anywhere! After all, I AM Janice Neck't!

Mr. Smiley, our cat has not come near me in days. I wonder if he's sick? Oh, well. No treats for you, Mr. Smiley. I only reward good behavior, not for ignoring me. Seeing the cat stay away from me, I am beginning to wonder what is wrong with him.

HOME OF THE NECK'T FAMILY, THURSDAY AFTERNOON, 12:43 PM

Jamal was still not home. Mother and Father were not due back for another quarter hour. Still, I have the turkey in the oven, and am making the rest of the food preparations. Despite our Old Faith, we still celebrate this holiday, mostly as intended. That's because it is more like the Fourth of July. That is, it's more a Celebration of the Nation, than any one Faith. Many other Faiths still observe this Holiday in America. We are simply one family of many who do.

HOME OF THE NECK'T FAMILY, THURSDAY AFTERNOON, 4:03 PM

We were all gathered around the living room. The main meal finished, and even the desserts are gone. Now we feel stuffed as the turkey once was, and we were happy. Jamal was sprawled on the couch, Father and Mother inhabited their recliners, and I got rocking chair. Clean up can wait. Food coma now, clean up later...I had to get up, though. I realized that I Could no longer see shadows. The last thing I need is for anyone to see my eyes like this.

Everyone else was still watching the television. My exit went unremarked upon. Going to the bathroom, I used the time to deal with both my eyes and my other needs. As soon as I was done, I was in need of a nap. Unfortunately, I needed to assist in the clean up. Biting the bullet, I simply got started.

As soon as the table was clear, and washed. I started the dishes. Using the sink's built in power wash sprayer, I got the worst of it over with. Done with my assigned chore, I sweetly called out to Father "Dishes are ready for the machine, and the table is finished."

Father sleepily answered me "OK, Princess."

I started going up stairs, I called out "Going to my room. I might crash early tonight. G'night!"

Father answered me "Good night, my Princess."