Flickering Souls

Chapter Sixteen: Kurt Confronts Jean

Kurt parked the motorcycle a few blocks away and approached stealthily, on foot.

When he was sure no one was watching, he scaled the wall, quickly, like an acrobat.

Once outside her window, he looked in. She was, like the rest of the neighborhood, asleep.

The window was locked. So he teleported in to the room, right on top of her, pinning her arms down and covering her mouth with one hand.

She woke up frantic and surprised, and although she struggled, she could not over come his vice-like grip.

"You're going to tell me vat you did to me." He said softly, close to her ear, seeing the recognition flicker in her eyes as she came fully awake. "You have no choice."

"Hmmm hmm hmmm hmmm hmmm?" She demanded.

He moved his hand. "Vat?" He asked.

"What's in it for me?" She raised an eyebrow at him and smiled. "I know you understand – Nothing's free."

He narrowed his eyes at her and she briefly wondered if she had gone too far. "I know vat you mean." He said softly. "But now, I may kill you before you tell me what I vant to know."

She swallowed hesitantly, then smiled, relaxing.

"I know how you can pay me." She laughed softly. "And you'll like it too."

She smiled, and explained. "I've been under lock and key since I got home. I haven't had any fun … at all."

And she kissed him, lightly on the lips, as she could barely reach him

"Are you insane?" He asked her, pushing her down. "Did you make me crazy too?" He demanded softly, exerting more pressure to keep her restrained.

She pursed her lips and pouted. "What about what I want?" She asked.

He closed his hand over her wrist tightly and squeezed until she thought he might break it.

"Okay." She winced in pain and he lessened his grip. "Mezmero – he saw something in me, something he called 'the dark phoenix potential'. You're the same person – but you're printed backwards – like a photograph negative."

He took a few quick breaths and looked incensed. "Vhy did you do this to me?"

"Isn't it obvious?" She asked, edging towards him again. "I'm here in negative too." She whispered.

"And the opposite of that prim and proper Boyscout ..." She wrinkled her nose distastefully, arching her back to press herself close to Kurt.

"Would be my very own … personal … demon." She whispered the last word with a husky, throaty tone.

Her hot breath caressed his bare throat.

"You're perfect now." She told him. "Your insides match your outsides." She ran her tongue over her teeth, tracing her upper lip.

"You're beautiful." She breathed. And even if you don't know it yet … She thought to herself. You're mine.

"And when I turned you, I made sure of one thing – above all others."

Kurt's face betrayed his anger and his outrage, but something else was there too – something he couldn't name – but he knew that she could.

"Vat?" He asked her, reveling in the soft heat of her skin.

She leaned up, stretching to whisper in his ear. "You want me," She whispered. "More than I want you."

She had kissed him twice, softly, before the moment took him, and he kissed her back, forcefully.

Several hours later Kurt found himself standing over her sleeping form. He didn't want to leave. But Xavier needed his help. That much was clear.

He made sure he had collected everything he had come with and vanished from the room only to appear in the street below.

He had a long ride ahead of him if he wanted to intercept Magneto before Magneto could ambush Xavier. And the ride promised him plenty of time to consider the truth that Jean had revealed to him; That he hasn't changed but he can never be the same again.

He pulled on his helmet and smiled as he wrapped himself once again around the motorcycle. He enjoyed the element of danger that the motorcycle provided. After all, there was no telling what Wolverine would do to him if he found out he had stolen his ride.

Kurt grinned wickedly as the bike kicked over. He looked back to see Jean. She stood silhouetted in the window, looking down at him.

He could almost feel her trying to rouse her absent powers and draw him back to the room.

He nodded once towards the room, twisted the throttle and rode on by without looking back.