Wagers
The sun was shining brightly on a small town in Florida when the towns newest inhabitant known as Theresa Shade stopped her Harley Davidson on the driveway to her newly bought house. It's previous owner had never been there and the house had stood empty for some time. She had bought the house fully furnished.
The strange thing was that no one had known that the house was for sale until it had already been sold. At least it's new inhabitant would not get any strange looks because of her odd facial tattoos, the inhabitants had become use to all kinds of people, from punks to rich businessmen.
The woman looked up at her house. She sentiently didn't look like the kind of person that one would expect to live in a condo like the one she owned. It had a beige facade, two floors, a garage and a roofed porch on the backside with a fantastic view of the ocean and beach belove the slope. It was a place for a rich family living the American dream and not for some one like her.
Palm treas moved slowly in the breeze as Tessa entered the house.
~o~
Life in Florida was a pleasant one, but the fact that all days was so like the previous one and the next made it slightly boring. Everything followed the same pattern. Nothing changed, and if something happened everyone fell back in there old ways after just a few days. Most of the inhabitants were like sleepwalkers, walking around doing there chores with out really paying attention to anything.
~o~
Late one night, a few months after her arrival, Tessa was in the small biker bar. She often came there and observed while slowly sipping on a glass of red wine, something that got most to give her a strange glare.
This night she decided that she would need some entertainment. The bikers was constantly challenging etch other in pool. Up till then Tessa had simply looked an analyzed everyone's skills. One man was way better than the others and had won every game he'd played since her arrival. Would be time for him to lose one.
He was a very big bald man with tattoos covering his arms and a confident air about him. Tessa put down her glass on the counter before she walked over to him.
"I bet 300 dollars that I can beat you in pool."
The man looked down at Tessa in disbelief. For a second he hesitated, then he accepted.
"Your on. Consider that money lost."
"Oh, we will see about that."
~o~
Tessa stretched out her hand towards him, palm up. She had outclassed him, against her analytic ability he had been chance less.
"I believe that you ow me some money."
He grunted and slapped down the bills into her hand.
"Thank you." Tessa picked up her glass of red wine again and slid the money into her pocket. Once again he grunted displeased and so did the many in the crowd that had watched. There had been many bets going on between the onlookers and most had lost there money. Tessa was very aware of this and satisfied with herself. The odds was large that events would evolve to something interesting. A grin spread across her face.
~o~
What a stiff woman. Drinking wine! Here! Does she think she's better than the rest of us?
Damn, I'm out of money.
How the heck could I lose too someone like her?
She got a sweet ass.
I hate this town, it's so dame perfect, life ain't supposed to be perfect.
Perhaps I should by another drink.
You're gonna pay for this honey, I want my money back...
Tessa frowned. She wasn't using her telepathy, but why could she hear everyone's thoughts? She had never been able to scan so many minds at one time before and she had always been in control of it. Something like this had never happened to her. Closing her eyes Tessa focused on pulling her self inwards. The thoughts grew fewer, but didn't disappear. She concentrated harder and they where all gone.
She emptied her glass and started walking towards the exit. One of the bikers that had lost money said something to a few of the others, nodding against the door, then he followed. When he got out Tessa was leaning against her black and chrome bike.
"Honey, I think you ow me some money."
"I do not think so. We didn't have a wager."
"But you made me lose."
"Perhaps you learned a lesson. Do not underestimate women."
"I want my money." He grabbed Tessa's arm.
"You lost it. Deal with it."
"I'm gonna have it even if I would have to take it."
"You lowering yourself to robbery?"
"Why not. I bet we could have fun together."
"You should learn not to make bets."
"Well, ain't someone cocky."
"Yes, I have to agree that you are."
An other bike drove up to the bar and a man that didn't wore a helmet stepped of. He was short and stocky with big sideburns.
"I there a problem?" His voice had a Canadian accent.
"Go about your own business, don't stick yer neb were it doesn't belong." the biker snapped and tugged at Tessa's arm, trying to pull her farther into the shadows. For Tessa's vision he multiplied, becoming many different persons that all was different, but still the same.
"Hey, leave the lady alone."
"I can take care of my self." Tessa told the other man, sick of people thinking that she was weak and in need of help. She keeled the biker in his groin. He doubled over in pain and released her arm. It would have been easy to take him down with moves that was far flashier, but the simplest way was often just as effective.
"So what brings you here?" she asked the new arriver when she had walked over to him.
"Me and some others are looking for a Elias Bogan. Got a lead that took us here. You know anything 'bout him?"
Tessa stiffened. "I recently moved here so I don't know what connections he got to this town, but otherwise I do know a bit about him..."
"Please tell me, it would help a lot. We barely know anything about him."
Tessa's bright eyes meet his dark blue ones. "Why do you want to learn about Bogan. It is a sure bet to get you in trouble."
"One thing that we know is that he is evil."
"He is a monster."
"What makes you think so?"
"Unfortunately we have had our encounters."
"Sounds like you know him."
"So you are one of Xavier's students. Wolverine, right?" Tessa said changing the subject.
"Um, yes. How would you know that?"
"There is very few things that I do not know."
"How can he be stopped?"
"That would be one of the things that I do not know, but if you intend to try I will try to help you."
"I cant help to wonder what your intentions to help us can be. What did he do to you?"
"You can keep wondering that."
"Okey, would you know somewhere we could crash for the night?"
"Come to my place. I am sure all of you can fit in there. I have more space than I need."
"Good. By the way, what's your name? You never told me what it was."
"I'm most commonly known as Tessa."
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Author's Note: So I'm back from the ski trip and brings you the first of the two chapters I promised you before I left. Next one will be up on Thursday as usual. Big thanks to those of you who have reviewed. So glad that you like this story.
