PURE PERFECTION

CHAPTER 21

A/N:

This chapter we learn more about who is behind all this ruckus. We make contact with some folks that we thought we lost and get reacquainted with some forgotten allies and enemies.

Thanks for the feedback on the previous chapters. Glad that you're enjoying my little world.

Read and review, please and thank you!

*Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight, Marvel owns X-Men, I own this storyline and an overactive imagination.

The squeaky cart wheels and clicking of heels echoed through the sterile hall. Stopping at the first door, a woman, dressed in an old fashioned nurses uniform, lifts the trap and slides the tray inside. Her index and middle fingers on her right had extend just inside the small trap door. A shudder rocks through her body as her fingers are gently caressed from behind the heavy door.

Just as soon as the contact takes place, it is over. The woman hangs her head and locks the trap securely behind her. She continues this activity nine more times, although she is more careful not to linger at the others. Finally she reaches a more secure area and leaves her cart behind.

The two imposing males figures flanking the door eye the woman hungrily. She swallows thickly and moves past them, producing a fiberglass skeleton key, unlocking a heavy Plexiglas door.

"Ah, good morning Zhanae. Will you be joining me for breakfast? Perhaps you could humor and old man with a game of chess."

"I'm sorry Mr. Lensherr, but I have been asked to complete my assignment quickly this morning. I don't have time to sit with you today. I'll ask Raquel to visit for a while during dinner."

"My dear child, I have asked you time and again to call me Erik." Magneto said with a kindly smile. Zhanae set his breakfast on the table, complete with plastic cutlery. Although Erik Lensherr was injected with the cure and seemed to have lost his mutant ability, his captors were taking no chances. Every few hundred feet of the holding level there were metal detectors and body scanners, ensuring that nothing could get through that may facilitate an escape by the powerful mutant. "I know my dear..., you have obligations. I won't keep you. I do look forward to seeing you tomorrow."

Zhanae, a statuesque middle-aged woman with coffee colored skin and a full salt and pepper afro with tight coils that bounced slightly, enjoyed her morning ritual with Magneto. It was a welcome departure from the brutality that constantly surrounded her. Her appearance was striking, drawing both adoration and ire from those who lived and worked at the compound with her. Her full lips were almost always upturned into a smile, showing perfect, bright white teeth masking her constant sadness. Erik Lensherr was taken with the young woman immediately. She was intelligent, kind hearted, and non-judgemental; Erik enjoyed her company immensely. "It's a date!" Zhanae said cheerfully as she made her way out of the plastic prison cell.

Making her way back to her rickety cart, Zhanae was met by Santiago, his dark red eyes raked over her body. "Ah, Zhanae," laying on his Spanish accent thickly as he stepped dangerously close to her, "I was sent to fetch you. They want you in the antechamber immediately." Santiago's breath was sickly sweet, like rotten meat but somehow not entirely unpleasant. Being near him always unnerved her.

Zhanae had been assigned as caretaker of the mutants in captivity, a position she reluctantly held for nearly 20 years. She was just as much a prisoner as her wards. Making her way to the main chamber of the compound. The large wooden doors were opened and Zhanae was urged to enter.

Those who held the mutants prisoner were gifted themselves. The Volturi's reasons for locating and holding so many mutants was obvious to most - Aro was a collector of only the most unique items, that includes living sentient beings. Above all else, Aro was curious. He'd been watching humans evolve for more than a millennia, picking out those with the most potential and turning them - building his Guard with those whose talents were retained and increased after the change.

After Alcatraz Magneto was brought to a secret compound and has been held there ever since. Once captured, interrogation was easy, Aro learned everything about a person through one touch. Magneto meant no harm to his beloved Schatzi, he had no choice but to reveal all to the ancient vampire. His heart broke for the child, afraid he'd doomed her to death, or worse.

Aro was giddy at the prospect of a perfect, immortal child. Ever the collector, Aro wanted her but the child's mother had been sure to keep any abilities the child may have had hidden from Magneto and any of the others in their camp. Magneto only witnessed a brief moment where the child healed instantaneously from her injuries. That alone was enough for Aro to seek her out, however, knowing that oftentimes puberty, and/or trauma may trigger the manifestation of abilities, he decided to simply observe the child. Waiting was no problem, vampires have limitless patience.

It was relatively easy to locate the girl, the police were sloppy and the government easy to crack. Aro learned that Bella, as the child was now called, was placed in the care of a young police officer, Charles Swan, and taken to Washington. The first party was sent out immediately after the Volturi located Bella; she and Charlie were just settling in in Forks. Santiago and Demetri discovered the child living peacefully in the tiny town. They reported that she showed no signs of any obvious mutations or talents, she appeared normal.

Several years later they looked in on Bella again, this time bringing Zhanae along. Aro hoped that, as the child grew, her powers would show themselves. "I believe it is time to send out another scouting party my dear ones." Zhanae's heart sank, it had been nearly ten years since Aro had dispatched a group to look in on the child.

They watched and listened as a now eight-year old Bella went about her days. The two vampires sent the human, Zhanae, to make contact with the child.

"Hello." Zhanae greeted cheerfully as she stepped forward to the counter at the diner. Bella was siting on one of the stools, sipping on a milkshake. It was an unusually warm day, Charlie thought his Bella needed a sweet treat to cool off after a long Sunday in LaPush.

Bella eyed the woman curiously, naturally un-trusting of strangers. "Hi," Bella responded crutly, silently examining the woman's mind. Bella's senses perked up - on high alert. This woman's mind was unsteady, Bella couldn't latch on to any one train of thought, then there was a strange scent about her. Something definitely was not right here.

Zhanae placed her order, to go, and sat beside Bella to wait for her food. "I do believe you have the prettiest hair I've ever seen, child." Zhanae said sweetly as she reached her hand out to stroke Bella's ponytail. Zhanae's heart rate increased, Bella could smell the adrenaline surge and snapped a tight shield around herself.

"What do you think you're doing? Don't touch my daughter." Charlie commanded, stilling Zhanae's hand mid-motion. Bella got up to stand behind her father willing Charlie to make the woman leave. "I should take you in."Charlie tightened his grip on the woman's arm, causing her to wince.

All eyes in the diner were on the two at the bar. "I'm sorry sir, I was just admiring the child's hair. I don't know what came over me. I'm just, I...I'm just passing through, stopping to grab a bite. I'm leaving, I promise." Zhanae pleaded as Charlie wrenched her arm behind her, pushing her toward the exit. A waitress passed Charlie Zhanae's order as he shoved her through the door.

"Do me a favor, next time you decide to pass through, don't," Charlie threatened with a murderous look on his face. "I never forget a face, lady. I don't ever want to see you in my town again. You got me?" Zhanae nodded quickly and raced away to the waiting car.

Zhanae had no desire to return to Forks or look in on Bella Swan. If she never saw Bella again, it would be too soon. A commotion behind the door broke Zhanae out of her musings. The mutant Mimic was thrust through the door. Zhanae's breath hitched at the sight of her love. She fought with all her might not to run to him. It had been months since she'd seen his face. His gentle caresses each morning were the only thing keeping her tethered to this life.

"Ah, Calvin. Thank you for joining us. I would like to make you an offer my dear boy," Aro said in a saccharine tone. Mimic's captors held him by the door, keeping him a good twenty or more feet away from the powerful vampires. "That is quite close enough." Mimic struggled as he was shackled to the wall cursing that he could not get closer to one of the gifted vampires to absorb their powers and turn it against them.

"Get on with it Aro," Mimic growled. "What do you want from me? Haven't you already taken enough?"

"Now, dear one, there's no need for such talk. As I explained before, you are with us just for a short time - until you fulfill your purpose. I have no intention of keeping you here against your will."

"Then release me, I do not wish to be here. Let Zhanae and I go free so we can live our lives in peace."

"But you haven't heard my offer child," Aro chuckled lightly. "You do this for me and we will discuss the terms of your release."

Laughing somewhat maniacally, "Discuss... that's a laugh. Let's not play games Aro. What is it that you want? You've been collecting us for generations and for what? Have you finally come across that one that you've coveted your entire existence?" Aro's eyes narrowed, annoyed that he is now being questioned. Losing control of this situation could be detrimental to the mission.

"Alec..." Aro said, out of range of the mutant's hearing. A gray mist moved across the floor, heading straight for Mimic, he attempted to hold his breath - he knew Alec's power would incapacitate him. He needed to remain lucid.

"Calvin, please baby," Zhanae pleaded. "Whatever it is, just do it. Maybe they'll let us leave." Fighting back the flood of emotions that threatened to overtake her, "Cal - I'll do anything to get us out of here. Anything."

"So, do we have an accord? " Aro asked. Mimic watched as Alec's mist stilled at his feet. His gaze moved to his broken love, who had fallen to her knees sobbing quietly.

"Yes, if we can leave once the task is complete," he said solemnly already regretting his decision, confident that he had just signed a death certificate. No good would come of this, Mimic was sure of that.

"I will leave Demetri and Santiago to brief you on the details. Our dear Zhanae is accustomed to the protocol." The three ancient vampires and the remaining members of the Guard exited the chamber in a flourish. "Bring me back my prize Calvin, then you and Zhanae may go free," Aro teased as he left the chamber.

A/N:

I used Mimic, a classic mutant, I thought he'd be great because he doesn't have to physically touch like Rogue, in order to absorb powers.

Aro is about to get in some mess. I love him because he's shameless. He's a great villain, in my opinion.