Flickering Souls

Chapter Eleven: Treachery

Rogue closed the door behind her.

Ah can't believe they took off! She thought to herself. Xavier gets called away to New York, Hank's gone until tomorrow night, and Scott and Kurt just ditch me!

She shook it off. She understood that it probably wasn't anything personal.

And Xavier will be back before Christmas. So I have one night alone in the mansion. Some times I'd have killed for this much privacy. She reminded herself.

The mansion was cold and quiet despite the festive decorations.

Rogue couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched.

She found herself a comfortable chair and set herself down to channel surf for Christmas specials on the tube.

Little did she know that an evil had begun to permeate the world around her.

"You're sure?" Mystique demanded of Mezmero. "You're sure that Rogue is the key to opening the last door?"

"Quite." Mezmero's tattooed face smiled carefully. "And this simple task shall assure your survival … Both of you." He hissed.

Mystique swallowed hard. She didn't rust Mezmero any more than she trusted Magneto. But if Apocalypse rises … she considered.

"All right." She said. "As soon as you can establish your control over her, do it. Let's get this over with." She told him.

"Oh, I quite agree." He smiled again, an oily smile – like that of a lizard. "The sooner, the better."

"Once she is asleep she will be mine." He said, staring toward the mansion.

Mystique cringed slightly. So help me … If you hurt her …

Many hours later, Rogue sighed. She was tired and she wanted to sleep. The t.v. had long been turned off and the mansion long since locked. Dang it! Where are they? I hope they're okay …

She felt like she was out of the loop and it made her feel weak. Instead she tried to focus on the good things in her life.

Ah didn't mean to absorb Jean's powers for keeps … she reminded herself.

But .. all the same …

She thought about Xavier's explanation.

"You've internalized her telekinetics." He had explained. "I've seen this in one other telekinetic. He was deathly ill with a fatal virus. Science could find no cure. And although he never managed to produce a single telekinetic episode – that energy was constantly in use. It held the virus at bay and allowed him a normal life. "

A normal life … She smiled. It was now possible.

That and more … she reminded herself. Because not only had her newfound telekinetics brought her control over her powers but also the ability to shunt out the powers she absorbed. No longer did she suffer from the abuse of mind to mind contact – so long as she allows the powers to discharge shortly after absorbing them.

She smiled. Discharging other peoples powers made it look like she had control over them too. She didn't. Not like the original owners.

Oh sure, when she absorbed Bobby she could make it cold. But she couldn't form his ice bridges or manipulate the ice she did form. That took practice. She just made it cold.

Or when she absorbed Jubilee she could make fireworks, but their shape and size seemed to be completely based on her emotions at the moment.

Rogue sighed deeply and her mind turned, sheepishly, towards those first days she had spent walking the halls of Bayville high when she was sure of her control over her powers.

She felt like a kid in a candy store as she would idly touch an arm or brush skin to skin as she walked the halls. Her wardrobe had expanded to include tee shirts, tank tops and even one pair of rarely used cut-off shorts.

But … still … Her mind wandered. She felt like she was missing something, or more specifically someone … and she couldn't place exactly who.

But Ah will know him when I see him. She told herself. Ah know it.

And briefly, her mind turned to Scott. Once upon a time she would have beaten Jean senseless for a chance with Scott. But she had grown since then. And while there was no doubt that she cared deeply for Scott and that they had grown very close over the last year … It just didn't seem like he was the man she was waiting for.

Not that he couldn't be. She told herself with a gentle yet guilty grin.

"Blast!" Mezmero cast his eyes to the mansion.

"What is it?" Mystique demanded.

"She's strong and wily. I'm having trouble even detecting her let alone latching on." He shook his head. "It's as though that other one, Jean, was here and trying to fight me for control!"

Mystique sat back. "She absorbed Jeans powers earlier this year." Mystique informed him. "Is she aware of you?" She asked, concerned.

"I don't think so." He grimaced. Unless she's trying to convince me that the guy in the glasses looks good in tight shorts …

Just then a set of headlights appeared in the distance. "Quickly, Mezmero, back to the car." She whispered.

But the headlights were coming fast and furious down the road. There was no time to move.

"Duck!" Mystique commanded him as the car approached.

They both hunkered low and tried not to be seen.

Just then, Kurt flew by driving Scott's car and kicking up a minor dust storm behind them. The radio was blaring The Rolling Stones – Sympathy for the Devil.

"Punk kids." Mezmero tried to dust himself off after he stood up.

"Watch yourself." She told him. "He's mine too."

Mezmero looked at her, and then at Kurt, driving ridiculously fast down the dirt covered access road and singing off key with the blaring music.

"That figures." He told her, his arms extended to his sides and his robe full of dust.. "It just … figures."