Chapter 3
"Wait for me here," she ordered them.
Logan's head snapped over to look at her. "What?"
"I need to see Jean alone," she said and turned away from him to see— Erik. He smiled to her. "You were right, Charlotte," he said cordially. "This one is special."
"What are you doing here?" Pietro said, edging protectively close to him, as if to place himself in between Erik and his mother and sister.
Erik smirked to his son. "Same as the Professor, here: visiting an old friend."
She glanced at the magnetokinetic in warning. "I don't want trouble here, Erik."
"Nor do I, Liebling" he agreed. "So, shall we go inside?"
They went, together, toward the door. "I came to bring Jean home, love," she warned him. "I don't want you to interfere."
"Just like old times, eh?" he chuckled.
She shook her head. "Jean is not well. She needs help."
Erik sighed. "Funny…you sound just like her parents." He paused and murmured something to his brawny new follower.
"I just want to bring her home, Erik," she said quietly as they went up the sidewalk alone. "The Phoenix already killed Scott—the man she loves. What might she do to someone she cares less for if I do not help calm her and make the Phoenix dormant once more?"
He sighed. "Charlotte, the woman in this house is not the Jean you know. She is dangerous. She will kill you if you provoke her. Which, knowing you, will happen. I would almost prefer bring her with me if only so she would not be near you."
"And if she can help the Brotherhood, well, that's an advantage as well?" Charlotte replied, not quite bitter. Merely resigned.
The magnetokinetic inclined his head but did not deny it.
At the front door, Erik unlocked the door and they both went in silently until they found the redhead in the sitting room.
"I knew you'd come in," she said lowly.
Charlotte nodded. "Of course. I've come to bring you home."
"I have no home."
"Yes, you do," the professor replied. "You have a home and a family."
Erik decided to speak up then. "You know she thinks your power is too great for you to control. She's thought that ever since we came to fetch you from this place, twenty years ago."
"Erik," she hissed.
"I don't believe your mind games are going to work anymore, Liebling," he replied and stepped past her.
"Is that how you want to control me?" The Phoenix hissed.
"No," Charlotte replied sincerely. "I want to help you."
She stared at the professor impassively. "Help me," she repeated. "What's wrong with me?"
"Absolutely nothing," Erik cut in.
"Erik stop!" she snapped. If he persisted, there was no telling how Jean's volatile dual personality would lash out…
"No, Charlotte, not this time." He looked to the Phoenix. "She's always held you back."
Charlotte shook her head. "For your own good, Jean," she said, reaching for the woman's mind subtly…
A lamp behind them was flung abruptly at the wall. "Stay out of my head," Phoenix spat, madness in her eyes as other objects rattled. The doors slammed shut loudly behind Charlotte but she did not look back.
"Look at me, Jean," she urged. "I can help you. Look at me."
"Get out of my head!" she said, pushing Charlotte's wheelchair back suddenly.
Erik watched on. "Perhaps you should listen to her, Charlotte," he remarked with genuine concern in his warning tone.
"You must trust me," she pushed on. "You're a danger to everyone around you and yourself! I can help you—"
"I think you want to give her the cure," Erik said.
She ignored him. "—Look at what happened to Scott!" the professor said. "You killed the man you love because you can't control your powers!"
"NO!" she shrieked. "Stop it!" The windows shattered and objects were taking flight around the room, including the sofa. Erik was sent flying back across the room.
"Jean, let me in!" she said over the din. She heard fighting in the other room…Logan hadn't listened. Outside, Storm, Wanda, and Pietro were fighting as well. She had to focus.
And now it was beginning to hurt, Jean—Phoenix's—work until—
She lifted Charlotte from her wheelchair, which flew back in the wind. Erik had been pushed back to the far wall across from Phoenix. His helmet was nearly blown from his head, but he managed to hold on to it with his powers, clutching it in his hand. The feel of his mental presence gave her strength as she fought Phoenix psychically.
"Charlotte!" Erik yelled. She could hear him, too. Don't—mein gott—bitte— Charlotte, stop. You have to get away from her now before—
But she could still help her—if Jean would let her in, she could—
Her skin began to burn. "No, Jean!" she exclaimed.
Erik's shout of "Jean!" had his urgency bleeding into it.
She could feel it, could feel her cells dying under Jean—Phoenix's—powers. So this is what it feels like…
His thoughts were loud in her head, a comforting presence that she had long missed. Charlotte, don't you dare die, don't you dare let her kill you. Don't you dare, Liebling—
"Don't let it control you," she told Jean calmly before turning to see Logan in the doorway, watching with horrified eyes. "No—" he yelled.
She turned further to meet Erik's gaze with a gentle smile despite the pain ripping through her.
Stop her, Erik. You must. Don't let my school be attacked, please. Nor the twins.
His thoughts were frantic as he stared at her in fear and premature grief. Charlotte, I'm the one who is supposed to die first, not you. Don't you dare, Liebling. Not before I—
I'm sorry, she thought to him gently and sent him the memory of kissing him for the first time, so very long ago. I'm sorry, mein liebe. You know I love you, I've always loved you, and continue to love you still, Erik…
"CHARLOTTE!" he screamed, reaching for her—