X-Men: The Winds of Change

By Ldynwaiting

Chapter Eleven

The Tiger Reveals its Claws

"Charles," Erik was squatting in front of him. "Are you all right?"

Charles saw Erik looking very concerned, he had a right to be, he was nearly lost. If not for Peter's touch bringing him back, he felt he would have gone mad. "I'm fine," he breathed. "Just need to catch my breath."

He slowly breathed in, his nose ticked as the most wonderful scent drifting towards him. He smelled eggs, bacon, and sausages, and most importantly, tea. But not just any tea, peppermint tea. Rolling into the room, he found this one to be just as bright as the foyer.

Bay windows lined one wall. A long table sat in the center of the room. The dominate color in this room was peach. Erik was already sitting at the table. Charles moved his chair to the end of a table covered in a peach colored tablecloth. Peach napkins lay next to porcelain plates.

"Dare I say it?" Erik asked.

"Don't," Charles chastised him.

Grinning widely Erik said, "Isn't this room just peachy."

Rolling his eyes, Charles saw platters filled with eggs cooked every way imaginable. High stacks of bacon and ham were piled on the plates. He sighed in relief as he saw a small teapot. Picking it up, he smiled as he smelled peppermint. He quickly poured a cup, taking a sip the storm in his mind finally began to subside. He took a few more sips before starting his breakfast. As he was getting a second cup of tea, Nathaniel walked in.

"I see that you've already started, I hope you found the food to your liking."

Charles nodded his head, "Very," he happily replied.

"Good," Nathaniel cooed. He quickly sat at a chair next to Charles, it happened to be the same chair Erik was sitting in. Charles suppressed a grin as he saw Erik moving out of Nathaniel, throwing him a nasty look. He quickly moved to sit on another chair. Nathaniel began to eat his breakfast. The room was quiet as they consumed their morning meal.

Charles noticed a chess set sitting on a small table next to the bay window. He pointed to it, "Do you play?"

Sinister smiled, "Yes, I love chess. To me life is like a chess game, little and big battles play out every day."

"I've always enjoyed playing, it calms my mind."

"Perhaps we can play a game, before you leave."

"Perhaps," Charles said.

Charles noticed Sinister looking as if he had something weighing on his mind. Finished eating, Sinister sat back in his chair. "I have to confess something to you, Professor. I've been following your career for many years now." Seeing a look of surprise, he quickly added, "But only because I've always been interested in the same field."

"Oh, do you study mutations?"

Nathaniel sat forward, he cupped his hands on the table. "Yes, that and many other things, you see I've always had a cluttered mind. There is so much in there that I need to feed. But my biggest love has always been Charles Darwin's theory on evolution. Environment is a key factor on mutations."

"Yes," Charles said, with a grin. "Nature adapts life to the environment, creating mutations by natural selection."

Erik slumped in his chair. "If I wasn't a figment of your imagination, Charles, I'd be dying of boredom from this scintillating conversation."
"Yes," Nathaniel sighed, "as in my mutation."

"Achromatosis?" Charles asked. "I see that you lack any pigment in your skin."

"Yes," Nathaniel closed his eyes in ecstasy, a large grin was set on his face. "You don't know how long I've waited to find someone who has the same fervor for a subject that I hold very dear to my heart. I've searched for many years, but so many just don't understand, just don't have the same passion that I do."

"Darwin was a man that had to endure much ridicule," Charles said. "But he persevered."

"As have I," Nathaniel said. "As have I." He suddenly grew very silent.

"Please change the subject," Erik pleaded. "Or I just may commit figment suicide." Charles felt the time was right now, to start asking questions.

"Can you tell me where I am right now?"

"My home," Nathaniel simply replied.

Charles politely laughed, "Yes, I know that. I just would like to know where exactly home is located? As I said before, I really do need to contact my people, I'm sure they're very worried about me."

Charles saw a small smile curve Nathaniel's pale lips. "Are you not happy here?"

"Perfectly," Charles said. "Your home is opulent to say the least, and I could become very lazy living here. But I need to return to my home. Find what damage was done, and get in contact with my…"

Charles stopped talking, his mind was suddenly flooded with an emotion that he felt many times before. It was a feeling of flight, to flee, run away from here, that he was in danger, the greatest of danger.

Erik jumped out of his chair, "Something is wrong, something is not right here, Charles."

The feeling of danger became stronger, until Charles was having a hard time blocking it out. He felt his heart begin beating faster in his chest.

"Is something wrong, Professor?" Charles faintly heard Nathaniel ask.

"You need to get out of here," Erik shouted. "Out of here fast, it is not safe." Charles slowly began to wheel his chair back. "I...if you don't mind, I'd really like to go now. I appreciate all that you've done, but I need to get back to my friends."

"No, Professor, you don't." Charles felt his chair being held, Nathaniel was tightly gripping it. Leaning over, he stared into Charles face. "You appear to be ill again."

Charles strained on keeping the emotions of fear away, sweat began to pour down his face. He had to find a way to stop it, he screamed inside of his mind, Erik shouted at the same time, 'Stop it, you're hurting me!'

As quickly as it started, it stopped. Charles leaned over in the chair, gasping for breath. He shivered as he felt a hand patting him on the back.

Nathaniel said under his breath. "I underestimated you."

Charles raised his head, "Wha…what did you say?"

"This is not good," Erik said. He stood in front of Charles. "You are being attacked, Charles. This man, he is not what he appears to be."

Charles could feel his heart begin to beat normal. He looked up at Nathaniel, he heard a voice inside of his mind whisper, "Stay here."

Charles knitted his eyebrows, fisting his hands, he said, "I am fine, I'll recover quicker once I go home."

"Oh Xavier, and we were getting along so smashingly. You just had to spoil it all."

Nathaniel dug his hand into his pocket. "I must admit, I definitely underestimated you." He pulled out a small device from his pocket. Charles saw him place a thin halo of metal over his head. "For my protection, dear boy," he explained. "I was making one for Neale, before the fool decided to take you for his own."

"And the tiger reveals its claws," Erik said in a deep voice.

"Neale, he worked for you?" Charles was growing angry with this revelation.

"Oh he was just a pawn, in my little game. One of many pawns I've used, though I have to admit. He was the most ardent of my hunters. I think he was well ahead of the others." Charles recalled a memory he stole of Neale telling his daughter that he'd never seen anyone as crazy as that pasty faced, Mister Sinister.

"Sinister," Charles hissed.

"Ah, then you do know my name. Although I do prefer Mister Sinister, Nathaniel Essex was my birth name."

Suddenly the fear Charles felt before flooded his mind. Then he heard it. At first, it was just a small hissing sound. But it was not a hiss, it was the letter S drawn out. It began to grow louder and louder, until it screamed in his mind, 'Sssssinissster, Ssssssinissster!'

Charles struggled to put up a wall in his mind. Sinister shook his head, "I really didn't think they would be able to contact you so soon."

Charles wanted to answer Nathaniel but the pain was to intense. It was so overwhelming Erik's image was lost to him. He pressed his finger tightly to his forehead. Closing his eyes he tried to find the source of his pain. It was below him. Concentrating harder, he searched until he touched it, or them. He felt so many different minds sending him the same message. Warning him of Sinister, but it was too late.

Charles gasped for breath, as their warning was cut off. Opening his eyes, he saw Peter touching his head, "You hurt?" he mentally asked.

"Get away from him, Nob!" Sinister snarled. He slapped Peter, throwing him to the ground.

Erik instantly returned, he was dressed as Magneto, his face was a mask of rage. "I will not tolerate that."

Charles was panting hard, the pain lingered in his mind. It felt almost sore, if that was possible. "What were they?" he struggled to say. "What did I touch?"

"Curious aren't you. But then that's a necessity for many great scientists, or our burden to bear, our curiosity for the unknown."

Sinister kneeled in front of Charles. "Professor Xavier, I did not want our first meeting going this way. I had hoped that we could become great friends. We are equals, you and I. We both are obsessed with mutations." Looking thoughtful, he grabbed Charles hand. "I need you to see something. It's something that I've been working on for so very long. You'll find answers to all your questions there. Please, all I ask is that you look, just a small look."

Smiling sweetly he sung, "You won't be disappointed."

"Don't listen to him," Magneto warned him. "Fight him Charles, you must fight him." Charles had no idea where he was. But he knew that for now, Sinister was in control. Magneto was not by his side, he was not there to help him escape. He was just an anomaly created to help maintain his sanity. He would have to wait for a chance to escape, his only solace was that he was not as immobile as when he was held by Neale.

Charles pulled his hand out of Sinister's grip, "What choice do I have?"

Sinister jumped up, "None what so ever." He kicked Peter who was just getting up off the ground. "You, push him, we're going to the facility."

Peter rushed over to Charles. He gripped the wheelchair and began to push it. Sinister took the lead, his head held high as he led the way. Magneto was glued to Charles side. Charles began searching for any possible way to escape. Those thoughts were quickly gone as Sinister opened the door to the kitchen.

Inside Charles saw a huge man standing on the other side of the door. He was bald and stood at least seven foot tall. Sparsely clothed, he could see his muscular arms were huge. His face was human looking, but his skin was a pale color similar to Sinister's. But his eyes, they were totally different. They were a light gray, almost pearl in color. They glared hungrily at Charles.

"Mister Sinister," the name rolled deep up the creatures throat.

"Centurion, things have changed. You no longer need to hide."

The creature bowed its head, "New orders then?"

Sinister nonchalantly pointed to Charles, "You are to guard him with your life, but your most outstanding order, that will never be rescinded is, never, I mean you are not ever no matter what happens, to touch a hair on Charles Xavier's head, is that understood?"

"Understood," Centurion rumbled.

Sinister smiled at Charles, "He's not much of a talker, but he does have his redeeming qualities." He pointed ahead, "The facility is this way."

Centurion waited for Charles to be pushed past him before he followed them. Charles slowly placed a finger on his forehead, he gently touched the mind of the man behind him, but there was nothing there.

Looking back Charles noticed the creature was wearing the same halo that Sinister wore on his head. Giving up for now, he saw Sinister stopping in front of two large doors. Pushing a button, the doors opened, revealing a large elevator.

"After you," Sinister said with a bow. Peter pushed Charles into the elevator. Sinister and Centurion joined him. The large man just barely fit inside the elevator. Sinister pushed a single button on a panel in the wall. The doors closed and Charles felt them moving down. He had no idea where they were going, but he knew it was exactly where the attack to his mind came from. He had no idea what he was had gotten himself into, he just hoped he had enough strength to fight whatever was down there.