Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh MY!

by Leonaria Dragonbane

The plight of mutants just got worse, with the legal recognition of Vampires and Lycanthropes as protected classes in the United States and the European Union, Mutants aren’t even third class citizens – they have no status at all.

10. Chapter 10

Title: Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh MY! (10/?)

Author: Leonaria

Genre: Action/Adventure/Romance/Family

Rating: M (entire story, I'm not going to be careful, this is Creed we are talking about here)

Summary: The plight of mutants just got worse, with the legal recognition of Vampires and Lycanthropes as protected classes in the United States and the European Union, Mutants aren't even third class citizens – they have no status at all. One young mutant becomes active in this new world, and turns to the only haven of safety, the Brotherhood, however the Brotherhood is having growing pains of its own. She turns to the one person who can protect her from the rival factions, but is she safe, or will his claws and fangs rip her to pieces.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

She was relaxing. The back office had his and hers showers and she just let the hot water wash the blood off her body and clothes. She'd started wearing treated leather, she'd actually cut down Victor's old shirt, the first one he'd sent, for her working clothes, and made a trip up to Oklahoma to one of the tribes up there to get a good pair of leather pants made. The modern treatments just didn't work as well. She was lucky, the pants were buffalo hide, and would stand up to a whole lot of abuse. The second shirt he'd sent, she'd cut down and made into a jacket, for cold weather work. She was on the third shirt, and his scent was fading again. She'd sent a text message a week ago, but he hadn't replied. She was actually starting to get worried about him.

She stripped out of the wet leather and hung it to dry. She was going to have to retreat it, and Angus was going to moan and complain about the smell, but she didn't care. The leathers worked, and cut down on the cost of her wardrobe. It had taken her two months of throwing away clothes to figure it out. Vampire blood NEVER came out of fabric. She was still trying to convince Angus to switch, but he was about as stubborn as a…well as a Scott. She'd been working with him for almost three years now, her twenty first birthday was fast approaching, and she wondered if Victor would remember this year.

She pulled on clean clothes. She always had a change at the office but she noticed the stash was getting low. She was going to have to do some laundry and bring some things back.

"RISA! Ye have a visitor." Angus yelled from the outer office. She took a quick scent and grinned. Gambit, what the hell was he doing here?

"Well – you son of a gun" she said as she pulled her shirt over her head and walked into the office, pulling her still damp hair from the collar "what are you doing here, did your girl finally get smart and kick you out?"

"No, Chere." His red and black eyes sent a shiver of alarm through her.

"What is it, Gambit?"

"We cain't fin' him."

"What?"

"It like he' dropped off de face of de Earth, even Xavier can' fin him." She just stared at him.

"He's still alive." She said reaching for her neck. She needed the reassurance of the ridges of the scar to believe it.

"Dat's why I came to you – you'd know for certain, Chere."

"He's alive. I sent him a message about a week ago, but he hasn't responded." She said.

"De las' time anyone saw him was about two week ago. He was goin' to meet with the Lycan's an never showed up." NOW she was really worried.

"Keep me informed, Gambit. I want to know where he is."

"I will."

The part time X-Man walked out the door, and she just dropped into the chair behind her desk. Angus looked over at her.

"Was that who I think it was, lass?"

"Yeah – Gambit of the X-Men."

"You run with a strange crowd." He muttered.

"He's nothing; I lived with the Brotherhood for a while." She laughed. This was the first time in three years he'd really asked about her background.

"You really met Magneto?"

"Not exactly – saw him a time or two. I've met Toad, Vic of course, and Mystique once."

"Vic – WAIT a minute, VICTOR CREED'S your mate? Sabretooth?"

"Yeah." She grinned, and felt it fade. He was missing, Victor was missing and she had NO clue where he was. She hadn't even felt a twinge from the scar, and that was the most frightening part of all.

"Lass, I'll help ya find him, but…I've heard rumors, from the Vamp side of things, that he's been cattin' around with The Bear up in Canada…and more than just an occasional thing. If I'da known he was yer man, I'da said somethin' sooner."

"He's FUCKING a God DAMNED VAMP!" She roared – a roar that would do him proud. "I'll cut it off and FEED it to him, that lousy son of a bitch."

"Now lass, it's just a rumor…." Angus said.

"He's gonna think RUMOR!" She snarled, and remembered the scar. She reached back, and dug her claws in, deep, ripping the skin, her shirt, all the way to the bone. Let him FEEL that – and know she was going to KILL him when she got her hands on him.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

He groaned, and tried to shift his arms. He felt her touch her scar, and his only relief in this prison, that she was safe, and unknown, washed over him. The chains wouldn't allow him to move. The sudden searing pain from his neck frightened him more than anything, and he couldn't even reach the scar to reassure her he was alright. He was trapped – and good – and it was all Predator's doing.

He'd been called to a meeting with Bruce and Vashid. SHE wanted him to do something, and he wasn't obliging her. He knew she wanted him, The Bear, but he wasn't going to give in…it was nearly time to go find his mate, and he wasn't going to her with the dead scent of a Vampire on his skin.

He'd been putting the alliance in jeopardy, but he didn't care, Risa was more important. He knew he was going to have to put on the show again, go with her to some function or other, pretend to be her consort, and he knew she was just waiting for him to give in, to allow the pretense to become the reality. The pretense was all he'd give her, and she was growing tired. The only thing that had saved him, up until last week, was her love of games, and the chase. She was a huntress, a predator in her own right, and she was stalking him like prey. He was allowing it to a point, to keep the alliance secure.

He'd seen something in the headlights of his truck, and suddenly Predator was in the road in front of him. He'd been tempted to just run the little fucker over, but something about the way he was waving him down had him concerned. The shit worked for Fountain – which meant he had news from the States.

"Creed, I'm glad I caught you. It's Risa, she's in trouble. Fountain found out about her – about you. He has her." Victor didn't trust the shit – but he smelled scared, really scared, and Victor knew the shit wanted revenge against Risa, but if Fountain had her, Predator wouldn't get his chance. He'd been TOO damned TRUSTING, and allowed the shit into the truck. He'd followed the weaker feral's directions, and walked right into a trap. It had taken eight high powered Vamps to take him down, and they'd bound him tight, with steel cables so he couldn't escape.

The first week had been bad, with dozens of Vamps feeding off of him daily. He hated their mouths on his body, but worse he HATED that Persian fucker that was in charge. Fountain – Xerxes as he insisted on being called – taunted him, not only when he came to feed, but in his mind.

Victor had figured out quickly that his animal, his feral nature could keep the Vampire Head at bay in his mind, but every time the fucker got in there, he took a little more, a little more information to taunt him with, a little more of his memories to torment him with. At least once a day Xerxes would come in, and play around in Victor's mind.

Victor was trying to keep control, trying to force feed the Vamp what HE wanted him to have, and keep certain things – one major thing in particular – hidden in the animal part of his brain.

"Good Morning, my pet." Xerxes said his voice cool and without inflection.

"Go to hell." Victor snapped back.

"I will break you, Sabretooth, don't think I won't. I have broken greater men than you." The former king walked around his suspended prey. Victor groaned. They had him hung from chains in the middle of the room, his feet just inches off the floor. His shoulders had dislocated within the first two days, from supporting his own weight and he was in constant pain. He ignored it – pain was his friend, it kept him focused, kept him sane, kept his mind clear so that he could protect what he needed to protect.

"And what is that? What do you protect so fiercely?" The black eyes of the Vampire looked into his.

"You'll never find out." Victor muttered.

"You think your poor animal can keep ME at bay for long. I will find out what it is you are so fiercely protective of – although I have an idea." He gestured to the door, and Predator walked in, grinning at Victor's discomfort, salivating at another chance to use the blood soaked whip on the table.

"I told him about your little girl – he's looking for her as we speak." Predator grinned, as he caressed the handle of the whip. "I get first crack at her – when he finds her, and I intend to fuck her right here, on this table – maybe I'll even use this whip, soaked in your blood." Victor snarled, but was unable to do more than that, as the whip cracked across his chest. He let the animal take over, let the pain feed its anger. It had been the same routine for two weeks, and he knew they didn't have her – yet.

The thirty lashes were over quickly and the Vampire forced his minion out of the room. Now the real torture started.

"Her name is Risa, that was all he knew, and that she was from somewhere down south. You have hidden her from me, in your mind, but, my friend, your body will betray you." He felt cold fingers trace the almost hidden scar. The chains had allowed him to keep it undetected until now.

"I wonder if she will feel –THIS!" He felt the brush of the fangs before they bit deep into the scar, his entire body thrashed with the agonizing pain, not only his own, but the knowledge that SHE was feeling this, and he couldn't do anything to stop it.

"I wonder if that was as pleasurable for her as it was for me." He heard the Vampire's soft whisper against his ear. "Your blood is so strong, so sweet, Sabretooth, I wonder if hers will be as well. From what my little friend tells me, she's so meek and quiet, without your strength, I wonder if she will just fold. I do look forward to having her – I might even have to disappoint my little friend and take her first."

Victor just growled low, not letting the Vampire have the satisfaction of knowing exactly how gut wrenching that thought was. He shook his head – just as the last of the mouths lifted from his body. As usual, it had all been in his head. Fountain would never allow Predator to spill his blood, it was too valuable to the Vampire, and he'd NEVER allow anyone to get close to the scar on his neck, he didn't want Risa to know – to know he was in danger or in pain, and so Fountain was very careful to not allow any harm to come to the scar itself.

"You will betray her yet." Fountain said, glaring at him from across the room. The lesser Vampires filed out slowly, each touching the hem of his robes before moving out to their assigned tasks. Fountain ran a tight organization, and kept his offspring under his iron control. "It isn't like I'll hurt her. If she is like you – her blood as powerful, your offspring will feed my empire for centuries, with the two of you, and your progeny, I can take control of Hydra – and the world."

The ancient Vampire turned and with a billow of his robes walked from the room. Victor growled low, allowing the animal to take control, and keep control of his body. He knew what was coming next. They would feed him, much the way his father had, by throwing live animals at him. He killed what he had to, to survive, and to keep his strength up, because there was no way in HELL he was giving Risa to Fountain.

The door opened and he glared, expecting his 'meal' but it was the last person he'd expected to see – the Runt.

"Well – just the way I've always wanted to see you, too bad Xavier wants you out of here." The metal claws came out of the black leather gloves and sliced through the chains. He dropped to the ground, and popped his shoulders back into place with a roar of pain and anger. Not only was he damned Vampire food, now he had to OWE the damned RUNT for his rescue. He let the pain and anger fuel him.

"Come on, Gambit's outside, holding them back. Xavier wants us to bring you to the mansion, and then we can contact Risa, and get you home." Victor snarled, and lunged at Logan. The pain in his shoulders as he jerked against the chains brought him back to reality. The damned Vampire was still playing in his head.

He was grateful for one thing, something the Runt had done, with those damned new claws of his, on the top of that damned statue had scrambled something in his brain. It made it hard to force his mind, telepathically; it also made him hard to track with telepathy, two things that he was counting on. Xerxes couldn't keep the mental torture up for long, it took too much energy to force his mind to focus on the thoughts the Vampire was trying to create, and Xavier couldn't track him, couldn't tell Risa where he was, which was keeping her safe and alive and out of this sadistic bastard's hands.

XXXXXXXXXXX

She was going to KILL him. She was fuming; she'd called his phone five times, but no answer. She was waiting for the sixth roll to voicemail, when a familiar voice picked up.

"Hallo?"

"Toad?"

"Risa?"

"Yeah – where's that two timing sack of shit I call a mate?"

"I don't know – he's been juggling so many things lately, but, what do you mean two timin'? He's held of a damned Vampire Head's attentions because he don't want to betray you, girly."

"What?"

"Yeah – Cleo…err The Bear wants him for her consort but he keeps sayin' no."

"Cleo…as in the last Pharaoh of Egypt Cleo?"

"Not sure about the last, but I know she had a thing with Julius."

"OH FUCK! He turned down Cleofuckingpatra?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, Toad, he's in trouble."

"What do you mean?"

"I sent him a message a week ago, didn't get any answer, and YOU know he'd answer me, if only to tell me to shut the fuck up. You guys haven't seen him in two weeks…and…" She looked up as the door opened and her nose curled at the scent of Vampire.

"I have to go…someone just walked in." She pressed the button cutting the connection. Angus was out on a kill, and this woman gave her the willies.

"You called." The woman said, as she sat gracefully down in one of the reception chairs, Risa had the strange feeling if it had been a throne it wouldn't have mattered.

"I didn't call anyone." She said.

"I believe your exact words were 'Cleofuckingpatra…a first for me." Risa reached for the extra knife she kept below the desk.

"Please – we are on the same side. You want Victor back, and I want Fountain dead."

"You keep your undead mitts off my mate." Risa snarled.

"I suppose that can be arranged, after all, if you two don't procreate, I won't have a chance to seduce your son."

"Reminder to self – have only girls." Risa muttered under her breath, but the Vampire heard and laughed.

"I like you – I like your mate, and not as food or a bed mate, although the last has crossed my mind a time or two, I do like virile men."

"What do you want?"

"You are the one who called me, and I am here at great personal risk to answer you."

"Do you know where he is?"

"No – I know Fountain has him, and has for two weeks. It would be best if you looked for areas with decreased Vampire attacks and activity, with a food source like Victor available to him, he will cut back on culling the human herd. I can also guarantee he WILL be looking for you, for the same reason I want you to find Victor. Your children will be a valuable resource for us – someday."

"Over my dead body." Risa growled.

"That CAN be arranged. You are nearly indestructible, but not fully, you CAN die, and so can Victor." The woman stood up, and suddenly was gone. Risa shook her head. There was no scent in the room; the woman had never been there.

"Just remember, we do have strong telepathic abilities – I put his name into your mind – his true name, but don't use it, until you are ready to face him in reality, or he will enter your mind like I did. We respond to our names, little one, just remember that." The voice was soothing in her mind and she shook her head again. She hated fucking telepaths.

Angus came in, bags from the local drive in gripped in one hand.

"A Vamp?"

"Yeah – mentally anyway."

"Feel's powerful."

"How would you know?"

"I've been around them, ya learn ta recognize the feel they leave in a room, even when they just project a mental image."

"I had a chat with The Bear." She said.

"The one yer man's been…"

"Hasn't been – according to her."

"Well – that musta been hard fer her ta admit, that a man coulda resisted her."

"You know who she is?"

"Aye. Jest don' like ta get her notice, if ye know what I mean."

'I do now; she offered to help find Victor."

"Then he's really in danger…did she say what kind?"

"Fountain."

"Hellfire and brimstone girl – that Vamp's outa our league."

"Not with help – and I THINK I can call in the help, once I know WHERE he is. She said to look for decreased vampire activity and attacks. She thinks that he's using Victor for food."

"Glory be…ye better hope yer man's as hard ta kill as you are…he's been vamp food for two weeks, I know Lycans that couldn't take that kind of punishment, and Fountain, he's a sick bastard, knowin' him he's playin in your boy's head."

"All the more reason to find him – NOW!" Risa said firmly.

"It's gonna take time, lass."

"I know." She looked up at him, and he blanched. She knew exactly what he saw in her eyes, she'd seen it once, in Victor's, when Predator tried to rape her. She was going to kill – and kill anything in her path until she found her mate.