Disclaimer: I don't own the Xmen, and if I did I would make them all live in my attic.

Oh, and UberNekoChan, thank you for the chocolates *grin* I like chocolates. I also like making completely sane characters lose their marbles.

Still no accents because I'm lazy, y'see.

I'm mean. This is a mean chapter. Don't read if you're happy, it'll make you sad, lol.

------o(O)o------

It took Professor Xavier only minutes to place her location, as she was mentally screaming for help as loud as she possibly could. Logan, dispite Remy's protestations, had decided to assist them in any means possible.

"Now Logan, we will not harm Pietro," said Charles, narrowing his eyes slightly. "There will be no need for violence."

"There's always need for violence in these situations," snarled Logan. In the past three years he had become close to the little girl Salla and didn't want to see her mother harmed, however irresponsible and flighty she was. "Where's Salla?"

"Kurt has taken her out for the day with his friends."

"Can we contact him?"

"I can."

"Then do."

Xavier raised an eyebrow, then complied. There was a moment of silence as the Professor concentrated, locating Kurt's mind, then a flicker of recognition as he communicated telepathically with the boy. When he opened his eyes, there was a moment of silence which was suddenly dispersed with a loud sound in the corner. All three turned to look as Kurt with his holowatch appeared with a puff of smoke. Salla was in his arms, looking bemused with an ice cream in her hand and all round her face.

"It is urgent, Professor?" he asked.

As soon as Professor Xavier had explained the situation, his whole posture changed. His shoulders drew up angrily and his face set in resolve. "We shall get her."

"It is not as simple as that."

"Why not?" demanded Remy. "This is Siannagh we're discussing. I think that makes it simple. We get her back before he does anything to her."

The look on his face made it clear that there would be no questioning this. He looked so fierce, even Logan was impressed. After only a couple of seconds organising, they made their way to the X-van.

The rain had stopped a few minutes before, or rather had slowed to an almost-stop. There were still a few lazy drops here and there and the floor was soaking wet but at least it was possible to walk without drowning.

The air smelt damp, a smell Remy detested. He enjoyed the rain on occasions, but hated the stench it left behind. He couldn't understand how people could find it refreshing. It made him think of mould and cucumbers.

As he pondered this he realised with a sinking feeling that he was attempting to blot out the nasty thoughts swimming in his mind, telling him he would be too late to help Siannagh or that it was all his fault. He quickly tried to return to previous distractions, but to no avail. As they waited for the van to pass through the gate, he shut his eyes and buried his head in his hands.

------o(O)o------

Pietro's mind raced. This isn't hard compared to normal brains, but with his increased speed the thoughts were flickering so fast ever he had trouble registering them. He knew he was angry, though. That was undoubtedly true. As the bitch Siannagh glared at him through tear-drenched eyes, his stomach clenched repeatedly and he began to feel sickened. He had no idea what to do, but if he let her go she would harm him or get one of the stronger males from the Xavier's Institute to do it for her. He was stuck in a corner like a frightened hare.

"You know, if you're going to just sit there, it's really not worth having me here," Siannagh growled. "Let me go. Let me look after my child."

"You're child is in a mansion full of very protective idiots," he replied unkindly. "I'm sure she's fine. Shut your mouth."

"No. You can't gag me, that doesn't work remember?"

"Why not?"

"Because you come anywhere near my mouth and I'll bite your hand off," she threatened. "Why have you got me here?"

"We will be happy."

"We could never be happy, and there is no 'we'. I'm me, you're you, we're on different sides," she attempted to reason with him. "Come on. Let me go already."

"Are you in pain?" he asked, a sinister twang to his voice. She scowled and shook her head. Pietro's eyes sparkled darkly. "I am. My heart feels like it has been ripped out of it's place and chucked on the ground. My stomach feels like a thousand needles are piercing it. Do you know what that feels like?"

Again, she shook her head, but slower this time in fear as Pietro had approached her and was now only inches away. She shut her eyes to avoid the terrible eye contact. They stayed like this for many seconds, until a sudden motion and swift pain caused Siannagh to scream. Cold metal slid into her stomach, piercing the skin - it did not go deep, not deep enough to truly harm her straight away at least, but blood began a steady stream out of the injury. She tugged at her arms, trying to free them so she could grip at the wound as he pulled the knife back out. When she looked at him, her pupils were dilated.

"Let me go," she whispered, her breath coming in slow laboured bursts. He just laughed, tilted her head back, and slit her throat with one swift, fast motion before she could even register it. She was dead in an instant, the last life almost visibly leaving her body.

-----o(O)o-----

Pietro, of course, fled the scene of the murder leaving Siannagh with the bloody knife on her lifeless lap in the same position he had killed her. They didn't see him, but on the way out of town the speeding mutant passed Remy, Logan and Professor Xavier in their van headed in exactly the wrong position. He noticed Kurt in the back with Salla in his arms, the little girl, and terror racked through his body. He ran that little bit faster after that, desperate to be as far away from them as possible when they found the body.

Remy's stomach was rolling in dread. He wondered what that little bastard had done to his Siannagh, but was terrified to find out. He hoped against all the odds that she had been able to escape before he could lay his hands on her, escape to freedom so that when they returned to the mansion she would greet them with a smile on her sweet face. When Remy turned to look at the Professor who was concentrating on her mind, though, he found his hopes were soon to be dashed. A grimace passed the old man's face and his eyes opened.

"She is in pain," he said at exactly the moment when the knife pierced her stomach. No one spoke as Logan drove faster, completely ignoring traffic with some well practised skill. Xavier didn't dare search her mind again, for the pain in her body had overwhelmed her mind. They all dreaded to find what awaited them.

It didn't take long for them to reach the house where Pietro stayed. Remy was out of the car in a flash, fast enough so that no one would stop him although Logan did try. Kurt stayed in the car, hugging Salla tightly because the poor girl sensed the atmosphere and was extremely distressed. Xavier stayed where he was to try and help comfort the little girl, while Logan followed Remy.

What they saw caused a shock so deep, so terrible, that Remy had to lean against the doorframe.