Of Hearth and Home

Chapter Eight: You Can't Always Get What You Want.

Wanda took long, slow steps as she wandered the halls of Bayville High. Vaguely, she felt as though she were in trouble. Of course, she was not. But when word came via Pietro to call her father immediately, she did think that something was wrong.

But, short of asking what she had been doing and if she was comfortable at the brotherhood house, the conversation left her with the impression that he was extremely pleased with her.

She smiled a small guilty pout of a smile.

One of the taller and more slender seniors stepped out of her locker and cocked an eyebrow at Wanda. "Shouldn't you be in class?" She asked in Mystique's voice.

Wanda glanced quickly around the hall. No one else was around.

"Mystique?" She asked. "What are you doing here?"

"Keeping my eye on things, as usual." She replied coldly. "I don't know what you're doing here if you're not going to class. You might as well be at home."

"You mean under lock and key." Wanda shot back.

Mystique sighed. "I promise you that once he's gone …"

"You'll throw us out for a week, I know. I remember. But what if this guy isn't leaving?" Or isn't real?

"He has to leave. He can't sit still." Mystique looked distractedly down the hall behind her.

Wanda raised an eyebrow and Mystique set her fists to her hips. "Listen, I know him. He'll stick around until he's finished what he came for, but then he's got plans to move on to and things to do elsewhere. He's like that. Forever in motion."

"Who is he?" Wanda asked, suddenly curious if this mystery mutant might have something to do with her fathers non-emergency phone call today.

"He's a musician." Mystique said quietly.

Wanda shook her head in disbelief. "What?"

"A musician." Mystique said again softly. "And he shouldn't have ever been anything else. But I tried to make him something more, once. And it was a mistake."

Mystique's eyes narrowed. "Imagine your father." Mystique told her. "With all his power, strength and determination. It's a proud picture, isn't it?"

Wanda nodded hesitantly.

"Now imagine him turning on us." Mystique swallowed hard. "At close range."

Wanda suddenly understood. "It's a grudge, isn't it? Whatever it is that you did – he's still angry."

Mystique shook her head. "No. It's just still … important to him. And he's been warning me to stay away – but that goes for all of you as well. He'll be able to see that we're connected, it's a part of his gift. And if he thinks, even for an instant that attacking one of you is actually attacking me …"

Her voice shook and wavered.

"He'll do it." Wanda understood and the hair stood up on the back of her neck. "Just like … if he wanted to hurt you … he might hurt Rogue, or Nightcrawler?"

Mystique almost laughed. "With Xavier around? I doubt he could get close enough. I even considered sending the Brotherhood to the mansion if he attacks before Magneto can get here tonight."

"Mystique." Wanda breathed. "Rogue just told me, he's at the mansion. He's been there all week. She just called home and told Logan that the guy was dangerous."

Mystique's eyes were wide and her jaw went slack.

"But .. I think it's okay. Rogue just warned them. A few periods ago. They'll know now." She was trying to sound comforting when the bell rang.

The hall seemed to explode with noise as an ocean of people suddenly surrounded and separated them. Wanda lost Mystique in the rush.

A moment later a slight Hispanic boy emerged at Wanda's elbow. "Come on." He said in Mystique's voice. "I just called your father. He's contacting Xavier. I'm supposed to get the rest of you home."

Mystique shoved her out the door and herded her over towards her car. A few moments later the car was packed full and they were slipping out of the parking lot and in to traffic.

Wanda sat, pressed up against the door, with Todd pressed up against her on the other side.

Pietro was running his mouth about seatbelts as they slipped out past the suburbs.

Suddenly, Wanda began to feel a piercing headache behind her nose.

She pressed her fingers to her face over the pain but it only got worse. Soon it seemed to be accompanied by a high pitched whine that sounded like dolphin chatter.

"Ahhh, cuddle-bumps?" Todd prodded. "Are you all right?"

A voice rose out of the Dolphin Chatter. It was her voice, but angry. "Do I look all right you insect?" She heard herself ask.

Pietro was looking back over the seat now, and Lance, who was pressed between Pietro and Mystique, had turned his attention backward as well.

'Whoa." Todd said. "You haven't called me that since …" But his thought was lost.

"What is it?" Mystique demanded. "What's wrong?"

The headache was echoing and banging about inside her head now. It was as though someone had taken her mind and filled it with static or stereo feedback.

"I DON'T KNOW." She admitted through clenched teeth. "But it's getting worse!" She hissed.

Mystique slammed on the gas. "Don't worry, we'll be home in a minute."

Todd glanced worriedly at Wanda and laid a hand comfortingly on her shoulder. He glanced out the window to see a car with flat, black windows creeping slowly up a shady driveway.

A moment later, as the sped away, the effect seemed to subside, and by the time they stepped out of the car, it was nothing more than a residual headache.

"I don't understand it." Wanda shook her head. "It was so bad that I couldn't see for a few minutes there."

"Just lie down for a while." Mystique told her. "We'll discuss it tonight."

Wanda turned to go upstairs but was stopped by Todd. He shrugged apathetically and offered her a bottle of Tylenol.

"Todd." She said softly. "And I'm sorry about before. In the car." She said. "I was way out of line."

Todd smiled an odd little grin. "No problemo." He assured her. "Just feel better, okay?"

"Okay." She smiled slightly and took the bottle from him. "Thanks."

But back in town, up a shady drive, another Wanda stood, her hands braced on either side of the sink, her teeth set and her jaw locked in place.

It was everything she could do to keep her focus and not pass out.

Agatha smiled in to the mirror from over her shoulder. "Not very pleasant, is it?" Agatha asked.

Wanda's glare seemed to demand answers.

"Oh, my dear, don't you know? That's your father's secret weapon." She smiled. "And it's no coincidence that it will strike you down faster than anyone else who stands in his way." She smiled sweetly. "And I believe that it means he will be coming tonight!"

Wanda was breathing heavily and her eyes were wide and wild. "Then, tonight, one of us will die." Wanda hissed.

"Oh, my yes." Agatha smiled as she nodded. "Quite possible, indeed."