NOTE: The thing about Moira and Charles mentioned in this chapter was in the deleted scenes. Sorry this is so short that's just how it turned out. :\

Anyway, enjoy


Chapter XI: New Alliances

Erik stumbled forward once released from Charles' telepathic hold. The first thing he noticed was Charles was missing; he was no longer wrapped in his arms or in the room at all. The next thing he noticed was that Shaw was also missing but Emma remained standing in the doorway, an angry, confused expression written all over her face.

"Where's Charles?" Erik cringed at the desperate sound of Raven's worried voice. "Erik? Where's my brother?" He'd just gotten Charles back, just him in his grasp and just like that he was taken from him again. He was taken for the second time Erik couldn't do a thing to save him. "He left with Shaw." Emma answered smugly from her position at the door, "Looks like your little telepath would rather be with him."

"And Shaw would rather have the professor over you."

Emma's smile fell and her cold glare locked on the blond boy standing over by the bed in a defensive position in front of the others. She knew he was right but she also knew where Shaw would be, when and also what his plan was, there had to have been a reason why he had chosen to leave her here. Shaw wasn't careless like this. There was always a reason but at the moment subtle anger simmered inside her gut distracting her from thinking about what that reason might be. She was out numbered but she could kill them all if she wanted. Though if she was sure about anything at the moment it was that that wasn't why she was left behind. "Shaw has his reasons."

"Yeah, he got bored of you and got a new telepath." Sean grinned at his little insult but quickly frowned and lowered his head when he remembered the other telepath was their beloved professor.

"Your little telepath is powerless against Shaw. Shaw likes fight in a person he'll get bored of your telepath and ditch his body in a gutter very soon. Oh and might I add Shaw has a rather big appetite for bedroom activities…" Emma's gaze shifted to Erik as she projected images of Charles arching and moaning and begging for more of whatever Shaw would give him to everyone in the room. "I'm sure your little professor will make the perfect slut for Shaw's amusement." She laughed seeing anger and a faint blush spread over Erik's face and the horror on the faces of the others at the images.

What shocked everyone was that the one to attack Emma first was not Erik or Raven or even Alex but Hank. The anger of the beast inside of him that he had managed to keep contained had unleashed itself and tackled Emma, who turned into her diamond form just in time, to the ground as he growled. He couldn't stand her speaking bad about a man he so deeply respected as a friend and colleague in the scientific field. "The professor would never sink to your level!" Beast was punching Emma's face left and right but due to her diamond form he was only doing damage to his fists.

"Hank!"

He growled but turned to look at the others. Raven had been the one to scream his name but Alex was the one walking closer with his hands held up as if to calm an animal. "Hank, calm down. We need her to help us get the professor back." Hank looked from the blond boy to the diamond telepath below him. He looked back to Alex, locking eyes with him this time. Hank could feel the anger of the beast slowly dying down and his more rational mind taking over. "Hank step back here with me, let Moira and Erik take care of her." Alex slowly set his hands on the blue furry shoulders and pulled Hank away as Moira moved in with her gun and Erik hauled Emma to her feet.

"That wasn't very nice. I was going to offer my help." Emma hissed glaring at Hank then looking up at Erik. "Good, then there won't be any more problems." Moira said glancing to Hank before back at Emma as she slowly lowered her gun. "Tut, tut, tut. I said I was going to offer my help." Emma pulled herself away from Erik as she turned back into her normal form and straightened her white outfit. "I have to think about it now."

She turned to Erik and leaned close whispering something against his ear before she vanished before their eyes. "Where did she go?" Sean jumped and stepped forward beside Raven and Alex. "She's just using her telepathy, Charles did the same thing to me. She might still be here even." Everyone's eyes were fixed on Moira when she mentioned Charles had done this to her, waiting for the full story. "Some other time." She dismissed before looking at Erik who was already leaving the room.

"Where are you going?"

"Out. Stay here."


Erik walked into the dimly lit bar and easily spotted the platinum halo of curls. Suddenly he began to feel like he had somehow slipped back into the life he had before he met Charles, the life of informants and hideouts all in search of Shaw. This time the informant he was meeting was Emma. When she had whispered to him she told him to meet her in this place and buy her a drink. He hated these types of run around games the most. If he did as she asked there was no guarantee that she would do as he wanted.

When Erik sat beside her she grinned and looked over. "A very large glass of white wine," Erik ordered after grabbing the bartender's attention. "How'd you know?" Emma asked giggling softly as she pat Erik lightly on the arm. He glared at her. She had projected it to him, had made him order it for her. "Are you going to tell me what I need to know?"

When the glass was set down in front of her Emma picked it up, completely ignoring Erik and sipped at the sweet alcohol. Erik grew annoyed and cleared his throat impatiently earning nothing more than a smile. "Emma." He slammed his fist down on the table making her jump and showing his boiling anger. "Okay…" She sighed dramatically setting her drink down.

"Shaw is going to start World War III whether you or your little telepath want him to or not. The only thing you have control over is if you get him back and kill Shaw."

"Why are you so willing to share this?"

"Like your little friend back in the house said Shaw left me and took your telepath. He's done with me. So I'm done with him and like they say Hell hath no fury."

Emma grinned and tore her gaze away from Erik's as she stared into the wine glass. To anyone else she would appear cold, as if she really didn't care that she just wanted payback but to Erik he could see the loss in her eyes and the force behind that grin. He knew what that loss looked like, it was the loss someone experienced when left by a loved one. Could it be that she really did love that monster?

"So how do you suggest we do that?"

"Like I said, you can't stop the coming war."

"I wasn't planning on stopping it. I want Charles back and my revenge."

"Oh. Well then… Shaw would be in America first. He loved the idea of making the Americans the ones to start the end." She laughed almost bitterly as she took a final sip and set the glass down in front of Erik who signaled the bartender to pour another one. "Without Azazel beating Shaw in Washington is pointless, we'll still be on the plane by the time he's in Russia then getting your little Charles back will next to impossible. The best bet is to head him off in Russia."

"We?"

"You didn't think I was going to let you and your little team have all the fun in taking him down, did you?"

Erik had been hoping that she would give him what he needed and leave, not tag along with them. He had enough to deal with with the kids and the human. Emma was staring at him with almost comical shock written on her face. "You're kidding! You were? Erik, you need me. Charles won't be fighting for your side when you find him."

"Why do you think that? Charles is a lot stronger than you make him out to be."

Emma laughed as she thanked the bartender for the new glass of wine. "Oh honey, that little show I put on for you all was nothing compared to what Shaw did and probably is doing to him right now." She shook her head and looked at Erik, her smiled wiped completely off her face seeing his anger. "My point is you'll need someone who can contain Shaw long enough for your little revenge to happen. Charles won't do that for you. Your only option is to take me with you."

"I don't trust you."

"I really don't expect you to but how else are you going to kill Shaw?"