The Torments of Trish
"Now Hank you have had time to consider my offer so what is your final answer?" purred Selene
"I'm sorry ma'am that I must decline your gracious offer. The answer is no,"
Hank immediately knew that he had made a mistake when Selene's eyes sparkled angrily. The nails caressing his cheek dug in deeply and drew rivulets of blood and there was energy gathering around her hand. Hank closed his eyes and hoped that the end would be quick although knowing Selene he was going to suffer a slow and torturous death. Reprieve came from an unsuspected quarter as Blackheart awoke and placed a restraining hand on Selene's arm.
"Oh magnificently scented mistress I believe he is merely overwhelmed by your generous offer and the astounding revelation of your love," said the demon.
"Yes that's true Selene, just give me more time to think things through and I'll think of a way to deal with this situation."
Selene smiled and slapped Hank playfully on the cheek. She wagged a finger at him as though chiding him for being cheeky and a mischievous smirk played on her lips.
"Why naughty Hank you are determined to play hard to get aren't you. It seems I will have to find a way to persuade you to accept my love. Still I love a good game and it will be worth it to win a prize like you. So long handsome," purred Selene before vanishing.
"You don't need to thank me for saving you Hank. I was repaying you for protecting me from that brutal monster," said Blackheart before he too teleported back to the Hellfire Club.
Hank sighed and decided to head back for his quarters to exchange his present Hellfire Club garb for one of his spare uniforms. A sobering thought came as he considered Selene's powers of molecular control. He would have to be very careful in playing this game or it might not be his clothes that got altered next time. He might end up a pile of dust at her feet. He was so lost in thought that he nearly bumped into Warren who stepped back and looked him over admiringly.
"Nice clothes Hank, they suit you. You know you look just like the romantic lead in "Beauty and the Beast," said Warren.
"Make that "She-devil and the Beast" and you would be right. Now if you will excuse me I will need a change of clothes and a shower," mumbled Hank.
Hellfire Club
Selene smiled at the thought of how delighted Hank would be by her next effort at pleasing him. After all Trish Tilby had hurt him badly with her rejection of him and she deserved to suffer for it. Also she would be getting rid of her biggest rival for the love of Hank and that would be a major bonus. She would start off with one of her best tortures, the feared Wheel of Nausea. The hideous device had been set up and a table laid out with cakes, ice cream, candy, and chocolate, Twinkies, cola and lots of other sugary snacks. A flash of light indicated the return of Blackheart with her prize, a shivering Trish wearing her nightgown.
"So sorry to have disturbed your beauty sleep Miss Tilby," sighed the demon apologetically.
"What the hell is going on here and what sort of place is this, some house of ill repute?" snapped Trish.
"Welcome to the Hellfire Club Trish where you will suffer all the torments of hell for your cruel dumping of darling, precious Hank. Now eat up or I will tear you apart on the molecular level. I'm Selene by the way."
"The Black Queen, I've heard of you sister. When Hank hears about this he will come after you,"
"That darling is the general idea. Now eat up," said Selene as a mental command forced Trish to start gulping down the sugary snacks washing them down with the cola.
"Do you really have to do this, it really is revolting," moaned Blackheart.
Selene ignored him and simply grinned wickedly once she saw that Trish had finished and was looking rather green around the gills. A clap of her hands brought two demons running and they quickly strapped Trish to the Wheel of Nausea. Selene laughed wickedly and pulled a lever causing the infernal device to start rotating rapidly with the already nauseous Trish strapped firmly to it.
"I'm afraid I can't stay and watch the fun dears. I'd better go and tell Hank the good news. I'm sure he will be thrilled to hear about it," purred Selene before vanishing.
"Oh I can hardly bare to look," sighed Blackheart turning quickly away as he heard the sound of retching. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his Prozac swallowing a large handful of the pills before running off to hug his teddy bear.
Xavier Institute, medical laboratory
Finding himself in urgent need of some aspirin, Hank had nipped into the infirmary to take some. Hopefully he wouldn't be seeing Selene again for a while and perhaps she might even lose interest and find another game to keep her entertained. These hopes were sadly dashed when he heard a familiar giggle and turning around he saw Selene stretched out on one of the beds wearing a rather risqué nurses uniform.
"Oh doctor McCoy, I need urgent medical attention," purred Selene.
"The only thing you're risking is a cold on your chest. If you want an answer I'm still thinking about it and in fact had nearly come to a decision before you distracted me," snapped Hank.
"Well you'll be pleased to know that I found Trish Tilby, your ex who cruelly dumped you and I'm going to teach her how a gentleman should properly be treated. Ah now that got your attention didn't it. I expect you'll want to come over to the Hellfire Club right away,"
She stretched languorously and blew Hank a kiss.
"I'll tell them to be expecting you and to treat you like the Black King you will be. Please wear the costume I made for you since I want you to look your best. Bye for now."
She blew another kiss and vanished. Hank certainly would be paying a visit to the Hellfire Club but not for the reason he thought. While he had been angry at Trish and he wasn't sure if he had forgiven her yet he certainly wasn't going to leave her in the hands of Selene.
"Well Selene you have just gone from being an annoyance to a threat. However powerful you may be I won't stand by while you threaten innocents. Perhaps then you will get the message and just leave me alone," growled Hank.
Hellfire Club
Trish had been released from the Wheel of Nausea and reluctantly accepted the spare little black dress that Blackheart handed her to replace her now ruined nightgown. She ended up feeling sorry for the poor demon that was obviously a nervous wreck even if his endless apologizing was getting on her nerves. When Selene reappeared Trish felled her with a quick right hook drawing a wail from Blackheart. Selene simply smiled and threw Trish a look of utter contempt.
"You will regret such foolish action my dear. We shall now begin the next torture the worst I can think off. Demons chain her to the wall."
The command was swiftly obeyed and soon Trish was secured and Blackheart came in carrying a chalkboard which he set up in front of her. Selene smiled and held up her hands for all to see. Trish suddenly realized what was going to happen as she looked at those long tapering fingernails and the chalkboard. Selene laughed insanely as she saw the look of terror in her victim's eyes.
"Yes this torture is always the one that breaks them darling. After all who can withstand the sound of fingernails being scraped down a chalkboard?"
Hellfire Club Entrance
Hank had deliberately chosen to wear his X-Men uniform to let Selene know that he wasn't planning on tolerating her antics any longer. He stood glaring; arms folded representing a most formidable sight in his anger. Seven foot and six hundred pounds of muscle, fur, fang and claws with yellow eyes glinting with rage and his lips curved back in a fearsome snarl. Nobody was going to hurt Trish while he was around to prevent it. Pausing he realized that he was acting like Logan so he might as well do what Logan did. He drew back his arm and crashed his clawed fist into the door sending a vibration that shuddered through the whole building and nearly reducing the door to splinters.
The door slowly creaked open and a young man appeared with distinctive green hair nervously tugging on his beard. Trevor Fitzroy bowed deeply to the glowering feline figure and then threw himself at Hank's feet kissing his boots and generally groveling in a disgusting manner.
"Oh it's so wonderful of you to visit us Black King. I see you are not wearing your uniform but that's fine, whatever pleases you. Oh do come in sir and we'll make you comfortable. Is there anything I can do for you sir? Take your jacket to be dusted, polish your boots, brush your mane, get you some Twinkies or anything you want sir. I live to please my handsome, hirsute, Herculean, honorable, heroic Black King," said Fitzroy in the most obsequious of tones.
Hank nearly gagged at this rather nauseating display and sighed heavily. Reaching down he took hold of Fitzroy's shoulders and gently lifted him to his feet. Hank shook his head before speaking.
"Obviously Selene has told you that I'm your new lord and that you are to treat me with respect and obey my commands. Is that correct?"
"Indeed it is my luxuriantly, lustrously furred, leonine lord. You wish is my command. How may this unworthy one serve you?"
"Well please stop with the alliterative praise as it is rather annoying and just tell me where Selene is please."
Fitzroy smiled and clapped his hands. Roberto DeCosta appeared and went to kiss Hank's boots but stopped at a shake of Hank's head. Settling for kneeling at Hank's feet he gazed up into the feline eyes and spoke.
"Sir she is presently occupied with torturing Trish Tilby for your pleasure in her inner chambers. I will point the way for you if you will just follow me sir."
Hank smiled and nodded graciously. Successfully fending off Fitzroy's attempt to dust down his jacket he followed Sunspot to the entrance of the inner chambers. Opening the door his sensitive hearing was at once assaulted by an indescribably hideous sound. Gritting his teeth he followed the noise which he knew would lead him to Selene and the captive Trish.
Several torturous minutes later he finally arrived in the torture chamber to find Blackheart and the other demons huddled in a corner with their hands over their ears. Trish was tied to a chair while Selene was dragging her fingernails slowly down the chalkboard producing the insidious sound. She looked up and saw Hank and her face lit up with a radiant smile.
"Hank so nice to see you and you are looking as formidably lovely as ever. As you can see I am teaching Miss Tilby the errors of her ways. Yes Hank I did this just to please you and show you how much I care for you. What do you say to that," purred the evil External.
Hank's hearing had always been sensitive and was even more acute in his new feline form. The noise was grating on every nerve, making it almost impossible to think and it was literally driving him insane. Perhaps then Hank could be forgiven for once forgetting his usual gentlemanly conduct. Desperate to end the torment to his ears by any means possible he snatched up the chalkboard and broke it over Selene's head. The immortal sorceress went out like a light.
"Hank thank you so much for coming to my rescue," said Trish as Hank broke her chains.
"Please accept my sincere apologies," begged Blackheart.
"Just show me to the nearest exit and you can consider yourself forgiven," growled Hank.
Once safely outside and with Fitzroy telling his new Black King to call by any time Hank breathed a sigh of relief. He was feeling guilty about resorting to physical violence with Selene but perhaps she would hate him now and want nothing more to do with her. Noticing that Trish looked cold he removed his jacket and slung it over her shoulders to keep her warm. Trish looked admiringly at him thinking the T-shirt nicely showed off his muscles and gently stroked the blue fur on his arm.
"Hank I can't thank you enough for saving me from that. Here is a small token of my appreciation," said Trish as she kissed him.
Hank returned the kiss and gave her a gentle hug.
"Maybe we can start over again Hank," said Trish.
"Yes I believe we could Trish and I think I would like that. I'm afraid though that renewing our relationship will have to wait until I sort out the problem of my unwanted admirer," said Hank regretfully.
"Well I'll be waiting," said Trish and she waved him a fond farewell before walking off.
"Maybe my troubles will soon be over," purred Hank before beginning a steady stroll back to the mansion.
Selene's boudoir
Selene awoke with a groan to find she was on her bed, a concerned Blackheart hovering nearby.
"He hit me over the head," she exclaimed in disbelief.
"Indeed he did most voluptuous and beautiful one, perhaps the hirsute gentleman dislikes you," said Blackheart hoping this ridiculous charade would soon be over.
"No that was just a flirtation to show his affection for me. He really, really likes me Blackheart. In fact I think Henry McCoy is in love," purred Selene.
"With all due respect mistress are you sure you don't have a concussion," sighed Blackheart earning a slap for his troubles.