Chapter 50

Hellfire Club, New York...

The Hellions had been teleported here along with Selene when they left China and had been shown to some rooms and basically told to wait until Ms Frost came to collect them.

Tarot was finding it extremely dull but that wasn't the thought that is her main occupation at the moment. It is her girlfriend who is sitting at the window, staring out that concerns her. Claire had been quiet since they arrived. Ok sure Claire isn't the most talkative person ever but this is more quiet than usual.

Marie decides to take action and slides in next to her girlfriend. "You're troubled."

Claire turns her head and gives Marie a look. "I'm always troubled."

"More than usual," Marie says with a soft smile.

Oh god that smile. That makes Claire's heart skip a beat. "It's nothing. You shouldn't concern yourself."

"Um, hello. Girlfriend. Kinda in the job description to worry."

"You've spent too much time watching American tv," Claire lightly criticises her girlfriend for where she picks up this sort of language.

"Blame Jen."

"I do."

Marie snorts out a giggle at that one.

Claire smiles a little. "Why are you here?"

"Here?" Marie asks, confused by what Claire is referring to.

"With the Hellions," Claire clarifies. "You're far too nice and sweet to be involved with any of this," she says softly as she reaches up and gently brushes a lock of Marie's hair back affectionately. It is true what she is saying. Marie isn't like most of the others who, frankly, are total tools apart from perhaps one or two other exceptions. Heck Marie is far nicer than Claire herself is which does leave the fiery redhead a little confused about what it is Marie sees in her.

Marie shrugs as she tries to explain how she ended up attending the Academy. "I had powers I didn't understand. Ms Frost offered to teach me. It's really that simple." Marie studies Claire closely. "What's bothering you? Please tell me."

Claire sighs. "Superman. We're just letting that Selene woman do what she wants with him." And Claire has heard stuff spoken about Selene. Stuff even she, with her rough life, would end up getting nightmares about.

"Nobody crosses Selene," Marie speaks in a whisper, as if afraid of being heard by the very woman whose name she is speaking. "Not even the Black King dares challenge her."

"Doesn't make it right to let her have her way with Superman," Claire argues and for some reason that is really bothering her. Following Ms Frost's belief in being more aggressive against mutantkind's enemies is one thing. Leaving Superman at Selene's mercies is totally another. From what she can recall of meeting and talking to him he was a nice guy. No-one Claire had any grudge against...although she can't help but think there is something she can't remember about him. It's frustrating as hell.

"If you want a truth I agree with you but what is there to do? We have our orders."

"There are some people who deserve what Selene can do to them but Superman isn't one of them. I...I'm not a good person but I'm not just some cold hearted bitch who doesn't care."

"You're wrong. You are a good person," Marie argues.

"No. Marie. I'm not. I'm done...things. Bad things." Claire's head drops so Marie can't see into her face.

Marie puts her arms around Claire and hugs her. "We have all done bad things."

"There's so much you don't know," Claire says in a strained whisper as she struggles to keep her emotions in check.

"Maybe...but I do know bad people don't feel guilt."

"I don't feel guilt."

"Liar," Marie accuses.

"It's the truth," Claire insists.

"Then why can't you look me in the eye and say it?"

Claire is caught because she can't look Marie in the eye and say it. She couldn't look Amara in the eye either. She took the coward's way out and wrote a letter instead but she did the right thing. Those MRD guys deserved it. She totally believes that. Claire raises her arms and hugs Marie back, burying her head into the petite French girl's shoulder. At least Marie's company makes it all a little easier to bear her burdens.

Marie doesn't know what Claire is talking about precisely but there is obviously something profound that bothers her girlfriend. Claire from the start has been closed off and for some people that might be off-putting. Marie was the opposite. She found it something she wanted to discover. What was under the very attractive surface appearance of Claire Selton...and Claire sure was attractive. Marie must admit to being a tad shallow in that regard.

Loud coughing interrupts the two girls who, upon seeing who it is, spring instantly to their feet.

"My King," Marie murmurs.

"Forgive the intrusion," Sebastian Shaw apologises before he enters the room. "I am just coming round to congratulate you on a job well done in China."

"Uh...thank you," Marie says, a little befuddled to be in the Black King's presence. She had never met him before but you work for the Hellfire Club long enough and you hear stories.

Shaw turns his gaze to Volcana. "You're Claire yes?"

"Yeah?" Claire says cautiously.

"Emma speaks of you highly. Says you have great potential. This pleases me," he says, almost with what sounds like a touch of...Claire would say almost pride. "You have a bright future ahead of you...both of you."

"Thank you my King," Marie says, beaming at the compliment. To get praise from the Black King can only mean good tidings for your future status.

Shaw gazes at Claire for longer than strictly necessary which makes her nervous as in what he is looking at that interests him about her. A strange smile comes to his lips and then he leaves without another word.

Marie exhales. "That was...good right? He said we had a bright future?"

"Yeah. He did," Claire confirms but she can't help shake the feeling that he didn't really come just to say that which leaves the question what was he here for?


At the Institute...

They all disembark from the x-jet, the weariness from the day's events starting to kick in. Kitty walks with Rogue, a little worried about her friend. Up on the Hellicarrier Rogue had looked like a caged tigress, ready to pounce. She doesn't look any less tense now. "Rogue. We'll get him back," Kitty tries to assure the Goth girl.

Rogue makes a low growl sound in the back of her throat.

"Speak to me, please," Kitty pleads.

Rogue pulls Kitty off to the side and let the others go by. "Kitty, ah...ah'm sick of it!" she says in a harsh whisper.

"Sick of it?" Kitty asks, puzzled.

"Of this! Of having mah heart be put through tha damn blender all tha freakin tahme! It hurts Kit. It really hurts."

Kitty's face morphs into one of deep sympathy. "I'm sure Clark felt the same way when Stryker kidnapped you. In fact I know he did."

"And ah felt it ovah tha summer. Ah almost didn't take him back because ah didn't want ta go through this again."

What are you saying? That you want to break up with him?" Kitty asks, totally shocked that Rogue might be thinking that. Clark seems to make Rogue so happy.

"No. Ah don't want that," Rogue says in a quiet voice. "It is just...how many freakin tahmes do we have ta go through this? Is this our life where Clark gets abducted or ah do or someone tries to fry mah brain ta get his secrets or ah get possessed and ah'm pretty certain that's only half tha things that have happened."

"You're frustrated and worried Rogue...and that's alright," Kitty assures her friend and hopes that is all that is behind Rogue's words. "As soon as we get Clark back I'm sure you'll think it's all worth it. Isn't love worth it?"

"Maybe...ah guess," Rogue says, not sounding 100% certain. She lets out a breath. "You're probably right. Ah'm just..."

"Worried?"

"Yeah...and angry. When ah get mah hands on that Frost lady ah'm kickin her ass!" Rogue swears, in what is basically revenge for the way Emma clocked her from behind.

Kitty watches Rogue rub her head where Emma clocked her. "Your head alright?"

"It's just a bump," Rogue casually dismisses the concern.

"You should probably have Mr McCoy look at it just to, you know, be safe," Kitty suggests.

"Nah."

"Rogue," Kitty says more seriously. "Don't make me nag you," she warns with her 'resolve' face.

Rogue wonders if she should point out Kitty's resolve face ain't all that scary. Then again she doesn't want to listen to Kitty's constant nagging. "Alright. Ah'll go. Ok?"

"Yep...and Rogue we'll get him back," Kitty repeats her assurance while she places a hand on her friend's shoulder.

Rogue smiles a little. "Thanks Kitty."


Jean was worried about Scott. She was walking beside him and therefore could strongly feel how personally he was taking this. "It'll be ok Scott. We'll find him."

Scott almost growls in a way Logan would be proud of. He was really pissed at himself. Clark is so powerful that you can almost take it for granted he can survive anything that is thrown at him and Scott therefore feels he let himself get complacent and let Clark go off and battle that Selene woman by himself and look what happened. He had been caught totally unprepared by the situation and failed to adapt sufficiently to what confronted them.

"Scott," Jean pleads quietly for him to talk to her. She hated it when he took all the blame on himself and worried one day he would take too much and it would break him which she was determined she would never let happen.

"You were right. About Emma. I'm sorry," he finally apologises for all the times he has been defending Emma lately during their arguments. "I just..." he ran his hand through his hair in frustration

"Just?"

"I don't know. I just...I know she could be a bit of a snob."

"A bit?" Jean questions with an arched eyebrow.

"Ok a lot of a snob but she wasn't a completely bad person. I don't think even you thought that."

Well maybe Jean might give him that one. Then again Jean doesn't really think anyone is completely bad.

"I just wish I knew what happened to her after she left that turned her into what we saw today. It's like the Professor said about wishing somehow to have reached her."

"Scott, you can't help someone who doesn't want to be helped. Emma has made her choice. We have made ours."

"You're right. I know. I just..."

"Scott thinking about what ifs will make you crazy and as your telepathic girlfriend let me tell you that isn't fun."

Scott lets out a breath. Jean's right...as she usually is. He will drive himself crazy if he isn't careful. He's so lucky to have her. "I wonder how they knew where we were," Scott changes topic slightly.

"Hmm?"

"Fury, I can guess, followed us since we know he spies on us but how did Magneto and Emma know where we were and what we were doing?"

"Huh? Never thought of that," Jean has to confess. It doesn't make sense. "So what will we do now?" she asks.

"Like the Professor said we get Clark's location and then we go rescue him and we go through anyone and everyone who stands in our way," Scott says with utter determination.

"What about Emma? I guess the whole playing game of deceiving each other is over."

"Perhaps that is for the better. Now we know just clearly she and her Hellions are our enemies and we don't have to pretend otherwise," Scott states coldly, overly coldly perhaps, as he tries to push any lingering emotional fondness for Emma out of his mind. By taking Clark she had made herself his foe and now Scott's only intention is to take her down. Emma will learn to regret the day she crossed Scott Summers.

Scott feels Jean wrap an arm around his waist and lean her head on his shoulder. His anger lessens almost immediately. "Love you," he hears her send the telepathic thought to him and can feel the emotion behind it.

Scott returns the feeling in kind. "Love you more," he sends back to her.


Magneto's base...

Magneto had retreated to the sanctity of his private quarters to brood over their failure. It was not good...but it wasn't a hopeless cause yet. He wasn't happy the Hellfire Club had one stone but that meant no-one had 2 of them. One had been in Superman's possession. At a guess Magneto will say Charles is making sure it is safe now that Superman has been taken. It is what Magneto would do as it is only prudent.

The Hellfire Club. Magneto's anger rises up at the memory of them. They have much to pay for...especially the one who betrayed him and Charles all those years ago. One of these days Angel's reckoning will come. She can't hide from him forever.

Magneto rubs his brow as he ponders his next action. He can't know where the Hellfire Club took the stone or Superman and attacking Charles' Institute would be a waste of time. Charles would not keep it within the building. Magneto is certain.

The priority must be finding and gaining possession of the 3rd stone. That would put him in a stronger position because to get it his rivals would have to come through him. Once he has that stone then he can contemplate the harder course that would be required to get possession of the other 2. To get them will mean fighting the Hellfire Club and eventually Charles.

Magneto has no wish to fight his old friend but needs must. He will ready himself and prepare his Acolytes for the fight but first where is the 3rd stone? He hadn't had much luck in finding it. He knows it was in Rome until the Western Empire collapsed but where is it now?

He may have to hope Blindfold has a vision.

For now he and his Acolytes need to rest and recover before he launches into another campaign.

"Dad?" a softly spoken, tentative voice queries.

A soft smile comes to Magneto's lips. He raises his head to see the girl with green hair standing there. "Lorna," he warmly speaks her name.

"Are you alright?" Lorna asks with worry over her father.

"I am fine. Is that what brings you here?"

Lorna nods. "I was worried. I mean with mom...and what if you had been hurt," she says, sniffling slightly.

"Come here," Magneto says to her. Lorna does so and Magneto takes her in his arms and embraces her. He should have thought more on how this might affect her. She is so young still. "It's alright. Nothing shall happen to me. You have my word but I have many responsibilities to our kind I must fulfil."

"I know," Lorna accepts. "But that doesn't mean I don't worry."

Magneto smiles. Such a caring child he has discovered Lorna is.

"I wish I could have been there," Lorna expresses a desire.

"No," Magneto says gently but firmly. "Far too dangerous."

Lorna pulls back so she can look her father in the eye. "But I can help!" she insists strongly.

"I have no doubt you can...one day but you must learn mastery of your powers first."

"And then can I help?" Lorna asks, an expectant, pleading, doe-eyed look on her face.

Magneto remembers that look. Pietro and Wanda would try it on him when they were little and wanted something. He sighs. "How about I'll think upon it when you have mastered your powers," he compromises.

Lorna bursts out into a grin. "Thanks dad!" she says cheerfully and then hugs him.

Magneto must admit this is nice. He had almost forgotten the nice aspects of being a parent. He pats Lorna gently on her back. "Have you visited your mother?"

Lorna pulls back and nods. Her features become sad. "I just came from her side."

"Good. I'm sure she appreciates your visits."

"So, uh, what was it you were after exactly in China?" Lorna asks, curiously.

"The future born from the past."

"Wow. Way to be cryptic dad," Lorna teases.

Magneto decides to relent a little. After all she is his daughter. "A magic stone," he tells her.

"Seriously?" Lorna asks as if she can't believe she heard him right.

"Perhaps. I haven't decided on its true nature yet. As the ancient stories go it is one of 3 that when united grants you the power of the Gods," he says with a sort of mysterious air to play it up.

"And you would use this power to defend our kind right?"

"Precisely."

"You really think they're real and not just some stories?"

"All myths have a basis in fact. There are other factors I have taken into account which makes me suspect what they truly are."

"What factors?"

"Ah. I don't think you're ready to suspend your disbelief that much today."

"Try me," Lorna dares him.

"Nice try," Magneto compliments his daughter's attempt to goad him. "But it is best if my theories remain private. It is not because I wish to keep secrets from you Lorna. It is just I lack proof either way as things stand."

Lorna pouts and tries a puppy-eyes routine on her father.

"That doesn't work on me. Your brother and sister tried that one when they were little. I'm immune."

Lorna pouts more. "I can cry you know. You wouldn't be able to take that," she threatens to unleash her secret weapon.

"Then you seriously underestimate your father," he counters.

Lorna throws her hands up. "Alright you win."

"Of course I do. I'm your father."

Lorna raises something now her dad mentioned it. "What do we do about Wanda? I mean it isn't right she's not here with us," she argues. She means her father told her how, in his grief over his wife's death, he hadn't been attentive enough to Wanda and her grief. That grief turned to anger and eventually Wanda walked out on him and yeah, ok, Lorna can see why Wanda might be angry, she isn't blaming her sister for that but if they sat down and talked Lorna is certain they could make Wanda understand and then they could all be reunited as a family.

"Wanda must choose to return of her own volition. She can't be forced."

"I could give it a go," Lorna offers, half-joking.

"Lorna," Magneto says in a sterner tone.

"Alright. Alright. Forgive me for wanting to meet and get to know my sister."

"In time I'm certain Wanda will see sense and you two can...bond. Until then I think it best we let her be. I keep an eye on her from a distance so I know she is safe," Magneto tells a white lie. Lorna doesn't need to know the absolute truth. In time Wanda may indeed see sense. Her residence at Charles' is mostly out of her anger at him but no-one can stay angry forever. One day Wanda will calm down and common sense and the bond of family will prevail on her. Call it a belief Magneto has.

"So can I ask a question?"

"Anything you wish."

"What happened to that Sinister guy? Haven't seen him around lately."

"Which no doubt you're glad about."

"Well...he does have this rather whole creepy mad scientist vibe going for him. You have to admit." Lorna had been in his lab once. The place gave her the shivers. So all mad scientist. Like clichéd movie type.

"He is taking care of a few tasks. Tracking down some mutants." More of Stryker's lost 'children'. "And then he is going to secure a new home for us."

"Home?" Lorna queries.

"As I told you Lorna, when you arrived, this base and the others are not our future. It is a temporary measure. I have plans to secure a place...a homeland of our own. A place in which to build the future for all mutantkind, safe from the persecution of humanity."

"I...wow! Really?" Lorna says in total astonishment at that idea.

Magneto smiles and rises to his feet off his throne. "Come with me. I'll show you."

Magneto guides Lorna to the computer console at the far end of the room and brings up a satellite image of the Earth from space.

"Is that the South Pole?" Lorna asks.

"Indeed. Even in this age there are many secrets and wonders this Earth has to behold." Magneto highlights a part of the Antarctic continent. It shows a deep valley hidden completely by clouds with only the tips of the mountain peaks visible. "I discovered it many years ago."

"Discovered what?" Lorna wonders.

"Let me show you images from beneath those clouds I took of the valley."

Magneto brings them up om screen but instead of an icy wasteland, which is what Lorna expected, it shows a tropical jungle. Her jaw drops. "But...but...that's impossible," she says in complete disbelief.

"The mountains are a ring of volcanoes that heat the valley making it a tropical paradise. It is referred to in a few ancient documents, mostly dismissed and discredited by the mainstream scientific community. I, however, have a much more open mind and decided to investigate and this is what I found."

"I...wow...ok. Is that a dinosaur?!" Lorna exclaims at one picture that suddenly comes up.

"Yes," Magneto says calmly. "There are also humans and mutants living there, in total isolation from the rest of the world."

"There's real life dinosaurs?" Lorna asks, her inner child threatening to explode with excitement.

"Yes," Magneto confirms. "They survived there when the rest of their kind went extinct. Obviously there are dangerous species and that's why I will send Sinister ahead to secure a space where we can settle...and no-one knows this valley is there. It is constantly shrouded by those clouds. That is why it is perfect for our new homeland."

"I'm...I'm in shock here, give me a minute," Lorna says as her mind reels from this.

Magneto smiles amused.

"Does this place have a name yet?" Lorna asks.

"Yes. It is called the Savage Land."


At the Institute...

Ororo hated to have to do this but there was no choice. Martha and Jonathan needed to be told. She finds them together and her face must instantly give it away.

Fear becomes etched into Martha's face. "Clark's missing isn't he?"

"I'm sorry Martha."

"How did it happen?" Jonathan asks, his stomach twisted, his heart seemingly feeling more than its usual slight twinge as worry for his son eats at him.

"He was taken."

"Clark?" Martha queries, unable to see how Clark of all people could be taken.

"Isobel was there...with her mother."

"Mother?" Jonathan asks, his confusion evident.

"You may want to sit," Ororo advises. "It is a bit of a story."

Martha and Jonathan do just that as Ororo retells what happened in China.


There were many things the Professor needed to do. Contact Sage. Contact Stephen. He had already left messages for both. Next immediate thing was that he needed information from any source he could get. Selene is a name he is familiar with. First from the history he knows of Nova Roma and second from what Sage passed onto him. What troubles him is that Sage never made mention of them being the same person. Surely she had to know which makes him a tad suspicious. Is the reason she hasn't been too forthcoming with information lately is that she is deliberately withholding it because, as Hank mentioned as a concern, she has been corrupted by spending too long in the Hellfire Club?

Charles can only pray that that is not the case. He will need to have words with Sage in person so he can judge for himself. That's for later when he can set up a meeting. For now he needs more on Selene from a certain Nova Roman princess. There is a knock on his office door where he retired to upon their return. "Come in Amara!" he beckons her.

Amara pops her head round the door. She wonders what this is about. Last time they came back from being away she got the revelation that Claire, whom she has...had...has...had strong feelings for, was now at this Emma Frost's Academy in Boston. Amara has often wondered what happened to Claire since she left. She wondered what the hell happened to Claire when Stryker kidnapped them that made her leave in the first place. It was frustrating not knowing. "You wanted to see me Professor," she says.

"Yes. Please sit," Charles says while holding his hand out at the chair.

Amara sits with a certain poise one might expect from a princess.

Charles steeples his hands together on his desk. "Amara I need to make a request of you and I need you to answer me as fully as you can."

"Of course Professor," Amara agrees without knowing quite what this is about.

"Tell me everything you know of Selene."

"S-S-Selene?" Amara stutters. She gulps. "Why?"

The Professor has little time so gets straight to it. "Because she has taken Clark."

"S-she's alive!" Amara gasps. "You met her?"

The Professor nods once.

Amara just looks at the Professor as total, utter and complete terror fills her features as if her worst nightmare possible had just come true. In fact, if Amara is being truthful, it just has.


Author's Note: Yes what is it that Shaw finds so interesting about Volcana? The answer is coming. Magneto's part in the hunt for the stones isn't over yet but I thought some father/daughter time would be fun. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews. Next up; Amara shares her knowledge of Selene and the X-Men get some volunteered help in the form of an old friend to battle the Inner Circle.