Chapter Fourteen

"No, I will never leave your side again."

"I need to go alone. I will return, I swear it."

Drip.

'I swore once I would never leave you, that I would protect you and I failed. I will not leave you again, not now, not ever."

Drip.

"Sarah, I tell you now, I have loved you more then life itself and have lived in the knowledge that I failed you. I will not let that happen again."

Drip.

"I've missed you."

Pain.

"So have I."

"I'll never leave."

Painful tears.

"Never."

A sudden coolness washed over her as Sarah jerked awake, finding tears on her cheeks and cold dark surroundings, the faint sound of dripping water somewhere in the darkness. Bringing a hand to her cheek, she wiped the tears away, only to find more falling and a terrible ache filling her heart. Without thought, she cupped her face in her hands and wept silent tears.

This pain. It grew more each day, with each dream.

After a while, she finally looked at her surroundings. It was hard to see in the dark but from some dim light coming in somewhere, it looked like a… bedroom?

Blinking, Sarah rose from what seemed like a large bed and walked around. The dripping came from a smaller room that proved to be a bathroom. (AN: hehe had you thinking dungeon, didn't I?)

The room itself was large, like one in a small manor and the light came in through a small crack in large curtains. Running to the source, she flung open the curtains and found barred pains, the light coming from the rising moon. Night, she'd only left the school that morning. How long had she been here? Would the others be worried, maybe looking for her?

"I thought you believed they feared you now? Why ever would they be looking then?"

Sarah spun around, finding a red hared… blue woman? Wearing a white outfit of sorts, with golden eyes. Her grin was less then friendly.

Who are you? Why have you brought me here? What is this place?

"So many questions. I thought we'd be able to trust one another. Seeing as I save you from those so called friends of yours, I'd have thought you'd be grateful."

I'd be more grateful if you left me alone.

"Um, no. Sorry, can't do that. But I'll tell you what I can do. Let's take a walk through your mind, shall we? By the way, nice little mad house you have there. I don't suppose you could explain that little maze obsession thing, could you?"

Sarah was between feeling shocked and upset, but submitted to her own feelings of confusion. No, they've never made sense. But how would you know about this? You don't strike me as a telepath. I don't feel it there.

"Mmmm, no, I don't suppose you would. Normally, no, I don't hold the ability. Let's just call it special circumstance. But you yourself don't strike me the same. Too many variables. Definitely signs of an empath, if nothing else. But still very strange. Tell me, when were you aware of your mutant abilities?"

Sarah frowned, turning away. I don't see how that's any of your business. Now, why am I here?

"I really don't see how I should have to repeat myself. But if you want to be difficult about it, fine. I'll play along." It almost seemed like her body shifted and suddenly someone else stood before Sarah, causing her to gasp. Karen!

The woman smirked, her arms crossed, even sounding like Karen. "I don't suppose you'd tell me anything, would you dear? You know, we are so close and all. I do try but you keep pushing me away. I'm just never good enough for you, am I?"

Sarah swallowed, turning away, refusing to believe this was Karen, even if it seemed so real. It was too uncanny, even for her.

"Come on, Sarah, I'm father. You've got to speak to me one of these days. Stop holding it all in and acting like a child."

Sarah swallowed hard, refusing to see the false form of her father. How did this – person – do this? It was nothing liked she'd seen before.

"Sarah, why won't you talk to me?" Sarah blinked and turned seeing the one person she'd grown to like after she'd come out of the hospital, the one she would even call her brother though she remembered nothing else. He was so important to her, though she may not understand why.

His sweet smile and tousled blond hair. He grinned, "You trust me, don't you Sarah? I've always known you were special. Couldn't you do a little trick for me? Just once, please? I promise I won't tell."

Sarah could only stare sadly, shaking her head slowly. Toby… But when she looked up again, another stood before her, one she'd only seen in pictures she'd found in her room on her return from the hospital. This person was very, very important, she felt it. Her smile was serene, her face perfect, her soft brown curls and for some reason Sarah felt tears well up.

"Hello Sarah. You know who I am, don't you? You've known all along. Why do you fight this? Your ability, it is a gift from me. I gave it to you when you were born. It apart of me as it will always be in you. We're connected, forever. Don't deny it and hide it. Let it breathe. You know you have to."

Sarah turned away again, brushing away her tears and trying to get away but the window was still there, bars and all.

No. You are an illusion. You can't be real.

"Shhh, darling it's all right. You're safe here. Just trust me."

Sarah could feel the woman's hands touch her shoulder but she moved away, backing away. No, I don't believe it.

For a moment the woman's face was hurt, but then she smirked, returning to her original form. "Well then, if you're going to be that way, let's bring out the big guns, shall we?"

Sarah suddenly felt a piercing in the back of her head and jerked back, suddenly staring upward, the world spinning. After a moment or two, she reached out for balance, catching something soft. Blinking she couldn't see the room anymore, but instead just dim light… and a shirt on which she was gripping. Pulling herself up, she came face to face with another.

Trevor! How did you…

He just stared at her, no emotion. Sarah didn't know what to really think. Was it possible what she'd seen before had just been a dream and she was now waking up, safe and sound back at the mansion? Trevor made no sign of saying anything to her. Only stared, his eyes cold.

Trevor, what happened? Won't you tell me? I thought… I don't know what I thought. I didn't know it was you. But you're all right now, right?

He stepped away from her, his look almost dark, his eyes colder still.

"You never really wanted our help, did you Sarah?" Sarah turned to see Jean standing near her, her eyes equally cold. "What good were we to you? It's obvious you've wanted to be alone from the beginning."

"But then you've proven it to us time and again, haven't you?" At her other side Scott and then Kitty. "Even tried to get me in trouble. Didn't like seeing others around you happy."

"Always dismal, never wanting to really hang with us." Kitty mouthed in contempt.

"We're just freaks to you. And you want nothing to do with, do you? You said so yourself." Kurt and Spyke (AN: Does anyone know if Spyke has another name on the show? Let me know thanks!) appeared behind her.

"Can't accept it yourself, can you? So you blame us and keep to yourself."

"Man," Rogue popped out of no where, "Even I wasn't so cold."

"Sarah."

Sarah turned and saw Professor Xavier before her with Ororo and she felt hope. Professor!

"Sarah, I've completed my diagnoses of you and my conclusion is this. You have no hope."

She could feel her heart wrenching at these words, so cold and dropped like a careless needle.

"But then you knew that, Sarah."

"You've always known nothing would save you. Why did you try?"

"You wanted us to believe you? That you were with us, that you trusted us?" Jean asked incredulously.

"That's a joke. We couldn't get near enough, not with all her quills."

"Face it, she doesn't need us so why do we need her?"

Her mind was spinning. It had to be a lie yet her mind rang true. These thoughts had crossed her mind but how could they know.

"I was a joke, wasn't I?" Sarah couldn't face him, his words as sharp as blades and as cold as ice. Her eyes were welling.

No. Her throat choke, trying desperately to say in words.

"I opened my mind and you shoved me away. I tried to embrace you and lashed at me with thorns. I offered my friendship and you tossed it like a disease."

Her eyes filled and she choked in silent sobs.

"Typical. All the signs she blinded herself with lies." Rogue commented to Kitty who nodded.

"I mean, we all saw it. It have to take a very blind and deaf person not to see it."

"But for an apparent empath not to feel it?" Jean shook her head.

"Pretty sad, " Scott agreed, "But then I guess loners like it that way."

"Just pretend it wasn't there." Kurt laughed, "Maybe it'll go away."

"Maybe she'll go away." Spyke smirked.

"Think she's got the hint yet."

Sarah stared in confusion, utterly unknown to what they spoke of.

What? What signs? What are you talking about?

"Ha! We have a winner! Let's show her what's she won, folks!" Kurt chortled.

Grinning, they stepped away, vanishing into the dark and leaving only Trevor. Sarah blinked at her tears, confused even as he glared.

Trevor? What do they mean?

He turned his face away. "If you don't know, then I don't have to explain. Why should I put myself on the line again."

Aren't we friends? Family even?

He gave a grunt of disgust. "Yeah, whatever." He looked her in the eye. "I don't know what I ever saw in you." Just like that he turned and walked away.

All Sarah heard as he vanished was his voice fading.

"Good bye, Sarah."

For a few moments, she was still, then fell to her knees in tears. What had she done? Of coarse, she had been distant. It was all her fault, her mind did not deny it. And now she was truly alone.

"Now doesn't that feel better? Getting rid of all that tension, the pretense that you actually wanted to be close to these people is gone. Don't you feel relieved?"

Sarah looked up at the same woman of before, her heart still angry at her previous attempts. But instead of the self-satisfaction of what she'd shown Sarah, she knelt before her, her face understanding.

"I know how it feels to be alone and I know how to deal with it. Let me help you the way I learned. I promise you it will be more rewarding than you can possibly imagine."

Sarah was thoughtful, even as she wiped her eyes. She glanced up, seeing the woman's outstretched hands, like a sign of friendship… or maybe partnership?

She smiled, "We'll right the wrong done to you. And you will finally be able to release the power you've so desired. And it will be wonderful."

Sarah looked down a moment even as the woman spoke softly, almost like a tempting whisper.

"Join me. Join Mystique! Imagine what we can accomplish together."

With a sudden grim smirk, Sarah looked up, taking Mystique hand, a sudden glow and crackle emanating from that hold. It almost seemed a change took over Sarah, her hair growing darker, black and her eyes a full rich brown, making it hard to differentiate from her black pupils. Her skin even paler and her lips a blood red. Her grin widened even as her lips formed words like a hiss.

"Yes. I can already see it."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Trevor was a frustrated mess and it was making Ororo more frustrated still.

"Trevor, if you don't stay in bed you'll only slow the healing."

"I don't need to be here, Ororo. I need to be out there. I can't lie here and do nothing!"

She gave a restrained sigh, eyeing him dangerously, "I believe the others will manage fine without you."

"But," his face growing angry, even as he was wincing with restrained pain, "You don't understand!"

"I understand perfectly," Ororo gave a steely stare, even causing Trevor to pause, "But you'll be no good in your current condition. The best thing you can do for now is stay still and heal. The sooner you do that, the sooner you can leave."

He was quiet, even somber as he looked away, a disgruntle sigh emanating. "Fine."

"Good." At that Ororo continued her work near his bedside as he stared off grumpily. With a cautious look, he turned back to her.

"I don't suppose you could update me, could you?"

She glanced his way, even looking sympathetic. "Before I came to check up on you, the others discovered Sarah had gone. I don't know where but the professor has been using Cerebro to try and track her. Only problem is she not emitting any of her powers so it's making it difficult. It's possible she's run away, probably because of yesterday."

Trevor groaned, "This is all my fault. I shouldn't have pushed her. I was feeling upset but I didn't needed to use it on her."

"If it helps, Scott and Jean have a lead their checking on."

He glanced at her in curiosity, "You mean they made up?"

Ororo shrugged, "I tend to mind my own business around those two. You should too."

This caused him to turn a bit red. "I suppose I needed have said anything. I guess, maybe I was, well, a little…"

"Jealous?" she suggested, causing him to flinch, "Don't bother hiding it, Trevor. It's pretty obvious. I know you really care about Sarah. So, why don't you tell her?"

"I don't know. Well, maybe I do. It's complicated, that all."

"Sorry if I find that hard to believe."

He glared at her from the corner of his eye, "You wouldn't understand."

She smirked if but a little, folding her arms, "No, I don't suppose I do. But why should I care? None of my business, right?"

He didn't answer that, as she walked away, only stared in front of him. He did care, cared very much. And it angered him to be trapped here like an invalid. But try and take off would only bring the storm out of Ororo.

Something quite suddenly caught his eye from beside him. Something poked out from under his bed, the side Ororo had not stood. Looking under he pulled out a long jacket. Curious he turned it over.

It was a bit damp, as if ridden through wet air. But why was it under his bed and how did it get there?

Dropping it again, he lay back, deciding once and for all he had to rest or Ororo would give him no peace and it was true, the sooner he was well, the sooner he could be out helping the others. He'd found Sarah once, he could do it again.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"I fear trouble has arisen, noble Hoggle." Felara appeared suddenly, walking as if she'd just strolled in through a door, rather then out of thin air, and up to the large mirror hanging in the great hall.

Hoggle jumped at her voice, turning sharply, "I'd wish you'd 'ad more consideration, Lady Felara. My's heart can't take much more."

She waved it off even as she touched the glass and it rippled.

"Take a look for yourself," Hoggle glanced at the mirror and saw nothing but rippling darkness.

"I see's nothing."

"Exactly." Felara turned away, a worried expression on her face, "Sarah has disappeared and I fear a darkness has entered her mind. I sought her out, this is all I could find. Hoggle, I believe she's in danger."

"Then we's got to do something! You's not expecting I be sitting 'round and do not'ing, do's you?"

She gave a sigh, "I know, but still, we can not interfere. The old law…"

"Ta 'ell wit' the old law! What good its being 'ere? Nothing in my mind. Let me take c're of it."

Shaking her head, she looked sadly at the mirror, "No, if I should do so, I could rip the fabric of time itself. The price is too great. Already your own charge has grown restless. He must be careful. A test is coming and both must be ready."

"Please, can't you tell what it might be?"

Felara's face became overcome with a sudden calmness, like one growing distant, even as she spoke.

The challenge be great

Be it life's fate

But know this if not

The memory thus sought

Hoggle only grew more confused, "These blasted riddles won't 'elp!"

For one so yet dear

Must thee feel great fear

To save such from vice

Doth demand sacrifice

At this last word Felara blinked, sitting down quickly and feeling weak. Hoggle was aghast, even pale.

"W-watcha mean? Sacrifice? I don'ts like the sound of that."

Felara shook her head, "I can't explain what they mean," she said tiredly, " These things only come now and then. And should I explain, all would be lost."

Hoggle could only stomp a foot in frustration and walk away, sitting near the window, being silent for a while.

"Underground can't last too long wit'out its King. If something doesn't change soon…"

She took his meaning, "I know. And Hoggle, I do care. But there are things here that not even you can help with. Something else will be expected of our charges and we have to be ready."

He could only nod, but his look was worry none the less as he looked out over the saddening land of Labyrinth.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Hey all, I know, forever is taking forever! Hehe, funny, aren't I? ducks flying debris Okay, point taken. Well, working full time, getting ready for my sister's wedding. Yep that's right. My little sister is getting married!! I'm siked, I think. Now, here's a little question, something my mom wanted me to try. My sis and her fiancé are just starting out and are a little low on doe. My mom suggested I try fundraising for them on my web page. But since I rarely visit it, and I'm more here anyhow, I thought I'd ask you guys. Even 5$ is great. Maybe it might even get me to write sooner for you or perhaps give free previews.

More flying objects, duck flies by Okay, so I should be writing sooner anyway. Well, if you guys feel you'd like to help out, that's awesome, but no worries if you can't. Just thought I'd try her suggestion. And hey if you do, just email me and I'll let you know what to do. If you hadn't seen it in my profile, it's also adnama@telusplanet.net. So anywho, have yourselves a great weekend. Cha!

*~FaerieStar~*