Chapter Ten: Aftermath
Sabretooth returned to the lair by the first light of morning, covered with flaking dried blood. Slightly disappointed by the anti-climax of his battle, he was in high bad temper, storming round the cave, throwing things and bellowing at intervals. After a time, his rage was spent, and he set out looking for news.
He found Mystique in Magneto's room, holding a cool cloth to his head. He was lying on the bed, apparently unconscious.
" What happened?" he growled.
" Our attack went wrong," Mystique answered, not looking at him. "One of Xavier's little X-Men attacked him, more showed up- we were outnumbered. Eric was hit in the head, knocked out, but he'll be okay. Apparently some stayed behind when the others left to find you."
" They were all there," Sabretooth said, suspicion tinting his tone. " Every one."
Mystique looked vaguely surprised. " I guess there must be more than we thought," she said. " I didn't get a good look at any of them. The chaos was indescribable. It was a bad plan." Her eyes darkened for a moment, but Sabretooth did not notice. She looked up at him after a time.
" Go on, get out of here. He needs quiet, and I'm the only one allowed in here anyway. If he wakes up he'll be pissed off to see you in here, and we'll both get in trouble."
Sabretooth turned and left with a growl, leaving behind the metallic smell of blood. Mystique sighed.
* * *
Toad sat in one of the lesser known caves, sitting on the bank of a large freshwater pond that had remained untouched by sunlight, deep in the subterranean cavern, for millions of years. The oil lamp beside him spluttered, throwing its tawdry light over the dripping black walls, making his reflection flicker in the water like shimmering gold.
He had seen Jacob again, in this very cave, the night before. The boy's face in the water had smiled at him before dissolving, and Toad had smiled back. The plan had worked. No children had been harmed- he was free of bloodlust; the callus was gone. Jacob had led him out of the horror that had been his life for nearly a year.
Toad had the mission planned out, but not in the way Magneto had expected. He and Mystique had disappeared into the first room at the academy, but only frightened the children by shaking them awake. Their appearances had done the rest. Eric had been so caught up in the joy of his plan's fulfillment that he had not noticed Toad and Mystique sneaking up behind him; did not know what had happened when Toad's doubled fists had come down on the back of his head, dropping him with precision.
It was another X-Man, they would tell him. We became surrounded. We had no chance of retaliation, so we abandoned our attack to bring you to safety.
No children had been harmed. His hands were free of blood and fate, his head free of the screams of the dying, his heart free of the stabbing guilt.
Free.
* * *
Magneto came to by afternoon, and Mystique and Toad explained to him what had happened. He was angry, but took it in stride, as though he had been half-expecting failure. Both Toad and Mystique were relieved that he believed them, and as he dismissed them they indulged themselves in a faint but earnest smile.
Sabretooth was still in a bad mood, but he contented himself with remembering the carnage he had wrought upon both anti-mutant meetings, and had been soothed even more by Magneto's praise. He was thankful that Eric possessed the gift of great patience, and saw even small victories as important. Sabretooth had presented these two victories to him, and that did not go unrewarded. He was allowed, for the time being, to go where he pleased, to hunt what he liked. The sting of his fruitless hope to kill a few X-Men was dulled. Magneto had soothed the savage beast.
Now was time again to play the waiting game.