AUTHOR'S NOTE: PLEASE READ
Hi everyone, I am so sorry for not updating in three years. Loss of inspiration and motivation is such a bitch. But after reading other people's stories, I finally got a kickstart to continue. After rereading this story, I'm thinking about doing some revisions. Don't worry, I'm keeping the plotline, I just want to make some adjustments.
Without further ado, here's the chapter.
Erik sat in his seat aboard the Blackbird. Looking around the aircraft, he noticed how different it looked compared to the previous Blackbird he boarded when he faced off against Shaw. With a sigh, he leaned back in his seat, wishing that the outcome was different in that battle. How he should've heeded his brother's words and just stopped when he had the chance.
"Erik?"
The metal wielder turned his head to see Hank standing beside him with a near sour look on his face, no doubt recalling the last time they encountered each other. The genius has returned to his original human self, but still hold the strength and ferocity of a beast.
"Hello Hank." Erik greeted him with a nod, watch as the doctor took a seat in the pilot's chair he swiveled around to face the former.
"I never thought we'd see each other again so soon." Hank said, keeping his eyes locked on Erik's, being cautious of the man that has caused chaos for him and the professor.
"Neither did I. But under these circumstances, my help is required, as is yours." Erik said crossing leg over the other as he leaned back to observe the genius before him, "This is only temporary until the danger has subsided. Then we can go back to trying to kill each other to our heart's content." he said with a slight grin as Hank snorted out a laugh.
"This 'danger'...vampires...they're supposed to be myths." Hank said, having been told by Charles on what Erik showed him, yet was unable to believe it for himself.
Erik scoffed as his mind wandered off to his first encounter with a vampire, "Well, one of those 'myths' tried to bite my neck off. I didn't believe it either Hank, but they're real, and mutants have become their targets." he paused, reminding himself why he's here in the first place, "The Genoshans are organized though, they are able to anticipate their next move and bring the mutants to Genosha." Erik explained, watching Hank's intrigued expression before the latter opened his mouth.
"The island city of mutants and humans." Hank said, remembering what Charles briefly
told him about the place where Erik was taking shelter in, "Must've been quite a shock for you, being in a place where both species coexist...something which you've been fighting against." Hank couldn't help comment with narrowed eyes.
Erik didn't show anger for that jab, but it was evident evident in his voice, "It's not that I'm fighting against a peaceful coexistence between humanity and their evolved kin. You know as well as I do that the worst kind of humans are still out there taking innocent children who have their gifts. Charles and I want the same thing, for mutants to be safe in this world, but his way leaves his students vulnerable." He paused to take a breath, "I'm here as a favor to the woman who saved me from being eaten by those creatures. Had it not been for her, I would not be here saving your children." his eyes wandered as he thought of Elena.
Hank caught the look in Erik's eyes, one he's never seen before, "This woman, who is she?"
Erik smiled, "Elena Swan." he answered, her name rolling off his tongue felt right, "Her power is fire and has the ability to create portals." his smile faded, "She's hunted vampires her whole life. But the ones she's after are the people who killed her Mother. They're called the Volturi, they're the leaders of the vampire world." his mind wandered to the pictures on the boards that were in Elena's office, "They lure tourists into their city to feed upon them...they even took some of my people during the Holocaust." his eyes became sad as he imagined the terror each of them went through when those monsters got ahold of them.
Hank's eyes held sympathy as he regarded Erik who was lost in his memories, "Oh Erik, I'm so sorry." he said before the latter nodded in acknowledgement for his apology.
"But the worst thing about it is that their loved ones don't even know." He let out a breath, "How many families left wondering, how many people left not knowing what really happened to the ones they care about." he gripped the arm rest of his seat, feeling angry at the Volturi for their crimes against the living.
"I may not be fond of humans, but at least they have a pulse like us." Erik said, remembering what Elena said about what makes mutants and humans different from vampires, "Doesn't matter to those monsters because in reality, they're at the top of the food chain."
Hank couldn't help but agree with Erik, since vampires need blood, and mutants and humans are their only food source. A thought suddenly occurred to Hank and asked, "Erik these vampires your friend fought, how does she kill them?" he asked, leaning forward in his seat, the scientist within him seeking knowledge and ways to exterminate these creatures.
Erik snorted out a laugh, "If you're thinking crosses, holy water, club of garlic and wooden stake. Sad to say those things don't work on such species. All the legends you heard or read about regarding vampires are lies. All you need to know is that they have advanced speed, strength, senses, they're immortal and apparently they sparkle in sunlight." At Hank's incredulous expression, Erik quickly answered his unasked question, "I don't know how that's possible either, but it must be the main reason why they don't go out in sunlight."
"You're sure about this?" Hank had to ask since every superstition about vampires stems from Dracula legends.
"I trust the words of a seasoned vampire hunter over the books that tell the story of these creatures." Erik answered before stating, "One vampire is hard to kill considering the fact that they're practically indestructible unless you're also a vampire, or a mutant with the right kind of power to destroy them." Erik finished, his mind flashing back to that moment where Elena incinerated the vampire from the inside out.
"Which is why I'm coming along as well."
Erik turned his head to look behind him to see Charles rolling up the ramp with Alex Summers behind him and Peter appearing in the seat behind Erik, "Areweleavingyet?" he said speaking rapidly that it was hard for Erik to understand.
"Patience Quicksilver, we're just about ready to take off." Charles said as he wheeled over to the copilot seat, his wheels being locked in place as he pressed the button to close the ramp.
Erik stared at the blonde mutant that he and Charles recruited years ago, "Not that I'm unhappy to see you, but what are you doing here?" he asked as Alex took his seat across the aisle behind Charles.
"Do you really think I'm gonna leave Charles with you of all people?" Alex replied rhetorically, not trusting the metal bender who shrugged, "Fair enough. Though I must admit, your company is more welcome than Coffee Overload." he said, tilting his head to Peter who watched their exchange.
"Idon'tdrinkcoffee." Peter said, making Erik mutter, "Could've fooled me." this in turn made Alex smirk before the Blackbird came to life and rose up from the ground before taking off into the sky.
"So, what kind of power do you need in order to exterminate a vampire?" Hank asked, continuing their conversion as he piloted the Blackbird.
"Vampires don't like fire, or anything that causes fire. You were right to come along, but the tricky part is causing minimal damage and drawing attention to ourselves." Erik said, turning his attention to Alex who nodded before asking, "So what's the plan? Save this Logan dude and lure the vampires out into a clearing to fricase their asses to hell and back?"
"That's one way to look at it. But trying to kill at least one is no easy task. They're faster and stronger, exceeding even mutants with such abilities. I was barely able to survive against two. The most I could do was immobilized them before Elena delivered the finishing blow." Erik explained, thinking back to his first fight with vampires.
"And we'll be facing a whole group of them." Alex said in disbelief as he turned his attention to Charles who responded, "Coven, Alex, it's a coven."
"Whatever. How long until we get there?" Alex asked, leaning back in his chair as Hank read the coordinates for Logan's location before answering, "We'll be there in approximately three hours." Hank said after a brief calculation.
"Three hours?" Peter whined in his seat, not liking long rides since he's faster than most.
"Patience boy, good things come to those who wait. Not to those who talk first and think later." Erik scolded, leaning back in his seat to get comfortable for the ride.
The silver haired mutant made a face at the back of Erik's head in retaliation, "Please refrain from making those faces." Erik said, not turning his head, making Peter's expression quickly morph into a shocked one while Alex chuckled into his fist.
The rest of the flight was spent in relative silence.
Three hours later, the Blackbird touched down onto the ground in the clearing within the forest that was at a good distance from the population. "Cloaking shields up." Hank announced after he activated the Blackbird's camouflage before pressing the button that opens the ramp.
"I still can't believe we're going to see Logan again. Though I'm afraid he won't remember us since his mind went back to the future." Charles said as the ramp lowered itself to the ground.
"Better he doesn't remember considering the fact that I impaled him with pieces of metal and twisted them throughout his body before I sent him flying." Erik said as he followed Charles down the ramp with the rest of the team following behind them.
"That's another image I'll be happy to fall asleep to." Alex said sarcastically with a look of disgust as they entered the cold atmosphere of Canada, "From scorching Vietnam to frozen tundra. What has happened to my life?" he added as he crossed his arms to keep warm.
"Focus Alex, we'll be out of here soon. Logan's not to far from here." Charles said as he and Erik led the way with the latter lifting up the telepath's wheelchair whenever he needed to get over a log or rock.
"Can you feel him?" Erik asked as they caught sight of what looked to be a log house in the distance.
Charles lifted a finger to his temple and concentrated on the occupant inside before he gasped, making everyone tense up. "He's not alone...there are others with him...one of them's a telepath as well." he said, feeling said telepath sensing him as well.
"Vampires?" Hank asked everyone's question as the readied themselves for a fight.
"I think so. They're not alive, yet...there's something strange about them." Charles said, confusion written on his face as he read their minds.
Peter then said, "You know what, screw it, I'm going for it." "Wait, Peter don't!" Hank tried to stop him, but the speedster already put on his goggles before making a dash towards the house with incredible speed before anyone could stop him.
But they were surprised when Peter's feet was knocked out from under him before he landed on his back, leaving him winded as he stared up at the sky in bewilderment.
"Sorry about that, but we didn't want you trespassing." a southern accent came from their right to see a pale man with blonde hair and golden eye leaning against a tree with his arms crossed and a slightly amused look in his eyes.
"Let me try that again." Peter said, recovering from his equilibrium before speeding towards the blonde with the intent to bring him down. But he was once again thwarted as he was flipped onto his back with the blonde standing over him, "You sure you want to try that again?"
Alex raised a hand, ready to blast the blonde away from his teammate, but another voice stopped them, "What the fuck is going on?" Everyone turned their heads to see a man with sideburns and a cigar between his teeth. He was walking towards them, glaring at them in irritation before directing it at the blonde, "Friends of yours Whitlock?" he asked the blonde who stepped away from the speed demon.
"Nope, just met." he answered before he was joined by others who also had golden eyes, surrounding the newcomers.
Alex kept his stance up as he stared at the pale people, "Charles..." he enquired, before the telepath nodded, "That's right Alex, they're vampires...but you're different from the ones with red eyes." he said, a smile coming onto his face as he read all their minds, discovering that they don't drink from humans.
Another blonde, only this one looked a bit older, stepped forward, "Indeed we are." he confirmed, his voice sounding older and wiser than his outer appearance would suggest, "We are no threat to you, as long as you're not a threat us. We were only here for our friend, Logan." he said, looking to the man with the cigar who nodded in acknowledgement.
Charles read his mind and saw he was telling the truth, "Just as we are. Forgive me, I'm Charles Xavier." he introduced himself as he wheeled over to the leader who walked over to shake hands with him in greeting.
"Happy to meet you, I'm-" "Dr. Carlisle Cullen." Erik cut him off, his eyes widening upon recognition as the vampire looked up at the man in surprise.
"It's been many years. I never thought I'd see you again, let alone as a vampire." Erik said, rolling up his sleeve to show the vampire the numbers tattooed on his arm.
It was Carlisle's turn to widen his eyes, memories of the concentration camp survivors springing forth as the name and number connected, "Erik Lehnsherr." the latter rolled the sleeve back down, his eyes never leaving another one of his saviors.
I hope this was satisfying for you, because I spent this whole week trying to shit this one out. If you missed this, let me know. I'll update again this month or the first week of March. Either way, I'm back in the game. Thank you.