HIHI! another chapter! hope you like...Thanks to all the readers and to MirrorFlower and Darkwind for reviewing. translation is" May you live to see the dawn of the day. Please Enjoy!
"Good morning."
"Umhabjig…" Kurt mumbled cracking his eyes open and flinching at the bright sunlight streaming into the room. Lily was sitting at a small table looking at a calendar and then counting on her fingers.
"How long haff you been avake?" He asked sitting up and rubbing his eyes.
"Not long. I'm going to go train with D'Gard today, Logan already said he'd come with me. If you wanna come too I could use a second sparring partner." She replied looking up with a smile as she rolled up the calendar.
"Vhat are you doing?" He asked looking adorably confused.
"Counting the days till Christmas. There's about 270." She replied instantly. "So…Wanna come?"
"Why do you need to train?" He asked throwing his legs over the side of the bed to stand and stretch.
"Oh…I forgot, I didn't tell you. I'm fighting Callisto at sundown for control of the guild." She answered standing up to go to the door.
"What?"
"We'll be in the gym I showed you last night when you're ready to come."
"You are going to be the death of me woman." Kurt said as he pulled on a shirt. A few minutes later he walked into the large room to see Lily with a blindfold and sword standing in the middle of the room as Logan circled around her.
"Listen to your surroundings, Onslaught. Feel the changes and hear your opponent." D'Gard said from the sidelines as he beckoned Kurt forward.
"Hold on for a few minutes, I'll work you in." He whispered to the teleporter.
"Glad you came." Lily said as she followed Logan with the point of her sword.
"Concentrate, Onslaught!" D'Gard shouted. "Now!"
Logan sprang forward unsheathing his claws and they began to fight. Kurt watched as she moved smoothly like she was dancing, until…
"God damn it!" Logan shouted as she pressed the tip of the blade against his neck.
"Do you yield?" Lily asked with a smile.
"Yes." He grumbled pushing the sword away. Lily laughed as she twirled the weapon expertly in her hand, sheathing it before offering him a hand up. D'Gard nodded to Kurt, who switched places with Logan as he limped off to the side.
"Good luck." He said to Kurt. The blue man nodded silently before taking a crouching stance in front of her.
"Your turn then?" She said the blindfold still on.
"Of course, Mien Engel…who else vould be able to beat you?"
"You'd be surprised…" She said before leaping forwards.
An hour later they sprang apart dripping with sweat and gasping for air.
"They've been going at it like machines." Logan said shaking his head as Kurt lunged forward again.
"I haven't seen a fight like this since Onslaught and Callisto fought, years ago." D'Gard said watching with excitement. "They perfectly complement each other. He attacks, she defends, she attacks, he counters, it's amazing. Callisto and her had almost five years of training together before they could do that without killing each other."
"Is she ready?"
"Maybe…If she remembers her powers aren't off limits."
"She fights fair."
"She'll fight to her death if she's not careful. That's enough!..." D'Gard shouted halting the fight as he strode forwards. They continued to fight even as he stepped between them and held Lily back.
"I said enough!" He said ripping her blindfold off. Her eyes flashed white at him before he slapped her across the face.
"Hey!" Kurt yelled grabbing him by the arm.
"And you! Letting her go on like that!"
"I'll let you go on alright…"
"Stop, he's right." Lily said breathing heavily. "It's enough."
The three men stared at her as she sat down on the floor with her sword.
"Well that was fun." She said after a moment.
"Do you think you can beat her?" Logan asked.
"Doesn't matter, either way no one will follow her in her war now…At least not a significant number." She replied.
"Vhat do you mean?" Kurt asked sitting beside her.
"Does that mean you have Caliban's support?" D'Gard asked over him as Kurt glared up.
"As it so happens." She said.
"What does that mean though?" Logan asked before Kurt could say anything.
"She has a majority of the guild backing her with Caliban and my votes. Leech and the other apprentices also follow her so even if she dies, the guild won't follow Callisto into a war." D'Gard replied.
"Vait…if she dies?" Kurt exclaimed. "Vhat is she? A martyr or cattle being led for slaughter? She's not going to do it."
"Hold on don't I get a say?" Lily said with a laugh.
"Do you really want to die?"
"No… but if I must then I must."
Kurt looked at her in frustration.
"You know…you may haff a great respect for ozhers lives, but you don't give a shit about yourself do you?" Kurt said standing up and storming off. Lily quickly stood up to follow him.
"Could she really die?" Logan asked D'Gard as they watched the two run off.
"Yes…Are they…?"
"Yes."
Lily caught up to Kurt before he could slam his bedroom door in her face.
"Hey…" She said gently, taking his hand.
"You don't care about anyone but yourself. You don't even consider the people who love you and how they need you in their lives." He said pulling her in close and tucking her underneath his chin.
"I do care…" She said her voice muffled as he pressed her into his chest.
"Then why are you doing this?"
"Because…whether by my life or death if I can prevent a useless war that will only end with death and pain, I will. I have to…if I don't, if I run away again instead of standing my ground…then I'm no better than her."
Kurt just shook his head and held her tighter.
"You're impossible to reason with."
"I love you too."
Hours later, as Lily stood before the doors leading into the ballroom wearing a large black cloak, she took a deep breath.
"You don't have to do this, mien Engel." Kurt said quietly to her as he, D'Gard, Logan, and Caliban stood behind her. She looked at him with a weak smile.
"Yes I do, mien Dämon. If I win I can turn the guild over to D'Gard."
"But if you lose?"
"A majority of the guild won't stand for her being leader anymore. No matter what happens to me, no one will fight in her war."
"No one?" Caliban said with a raised eyebrow.
"Not enough to make a difference." Lily amended.
"You can shut up." Logan said in a low voice to the red eyed mutant who rolled his eyes.
"Mistress?" A voice said.
"Yes, Runner?" Lily asked as the young man came up to the small group.
"She's ready for you."
"Thank you Sweetie." She replied as he made a small bow.
"Your welcome, Mistress." He said before turning to leave. "Videre lucem, ut vivatis diebus novorum."
Lily smiled sadly before turning back to the doors and placing her hands on the handles.
"Showtime." She said before pushing the doors open.