(Authors note: In case you're interested – the upcoming song is called Naked in Black Grass by Aliens In Yo' Rivah – and is available through mp3.com at –
- I used it without permission and I am in no way affiliated with said Aliens.)
Sure enough, Jared had come to collect her. As soon as she saw him she could swear that she could hear that music again. It was insatiable and slow and threatened to devour her. Worse yet, she didn't care.
She led him like a child in to her garden in the darkness.
And again, there was no mistaking the chemistry between them.
He was as stately and refined as she was regal. Together, it felt as though they could rule the world.
There was laughter, good humor and suggestive innuendo.
Jared leaned in towards her. "May I?" He asked, reaching with one hand toward her face, his lips rising towards hers.
Storm sighed her permission and moved towards him.
Jared reached out and caressed her face. Again, his touch was electric and sent some form of energy through her. It seemed to be pleasantly lulling her in to a physical catatonia.
He cupped her head from the back and suddenly, it was a telepathic contact. No more the simple physical ecstasy she had been experiencing, now it was intimate and revealing. He drew her in and wrapped his arms around her.
Finally, she understood what he was and what he could do.
He could make them a family, connected by blood. He could make Xavier walk and end her nights of solitude.
She saw what he intended and already began doing.
First Xavier, then Scott. She realized. And then Jean, through Scott.
She could see that he wanted Kurt and Kitty as well.
So that's why Scott wanted to double with Kitty and Kurt … He and Jean would have …
But he was hesitant about Rogue and Logan. He thought he might have to kill them.
Storm turned her head slowly. It took all her effort to look him in the face, over her right shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her from behind.
And she could hear the music again as he held her tight.
"Naked in the field."
He opened his mouth in to a slow smile.
"She lays down on black grass."
He was bearing a set of snake-like fangs.
"Eyes on the moon"
He sank his teeth deep in to her throat and she knew the love of the lamb for the lion.
"She's looking through its mask."
A bonfire sprang to life in her mind.
"She's dreaming of the angles."
And images of the X-Men – as Jared's vampire children – danced in time with the music – around the fire.
"With bodies made of glass."
Then she then saw herself … As Jared's Queen.
"Lightning in the distance."
And she surrendered to him …
"Sends thunder up."
Because she could not bear the thought of fighting him.
"Up and down"
Not while he was offering her everything she ever wanted.
"Her back!"
The song exploded around her in to an orchestral frenzy for a moment, and she realized, he was draining her.
Then - she felt her life flicker, as her heart and the song slowed - close to a stop.
"Naked in the black grass,
The sky is falling
The sky is calling – down to you."
She threw back her head in utter delight and the sweet embrace of death.
"Naked in the black grass,
The sky is falling
The sky is coming – down to you."
And suddenly, he moved in short, choppy and fragmented motions around her to stand in front of her. And he took her hand in his.
"Naked in the black grass"
His piercing blue eyes seemed to cut through the space between them.
"The sky is falling."
And a soft flicker of light erupted off to her left.
"The sky is … over-"
And they were standing, very quietly, by the light of a single candle.
"- Coming you."
