A/N: Big huge thank yous to bluemist and darkshadows. I am so happy that you are liking the story and that you like my pairings!

A/N #2: In this chapter, the Saint Catherine of Alexandria is mentioned. For those of you who don't know who this saint is, go to this link: to find out more about her and what she is the patron saint of. No offense to those of you readers who are non-Catholic by the way.

Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men or it's characters. Only a few people here and there are mine.

Chapter Seven Magneto's Prisoner

Theo opened her eyes slowly, her head throbbing and her body cold. She

slowly lifted up her head and looked around her. She was inside a cold metal cell. She had been kidnapped.

"Prof-" she started to scream in her mind. Her head snapped back and she could feel blood dribbling out of her nose and mouth.

"I wouldn't try to call anyone," a voice from the other side of the cell said.

Theo looked over and saw a tall man with gray hair standing in front of

her.

"You see, I was able to study those mind controllers that Stryker had and it's obvious that they work," he said motioning to the band of metal on top

of her head. "Although I suppose yours is meant for a telepathic a touch more powerful than you are."

"Who are you?" Theo asked sullenly. Whatever the mind control thing was, it was preventing her from getting into this man's mind.

"I'm sure Charles has told you about me," the man answered. "I am Magneto."

"What is it you want from me?" Theo then asked.

"You'll find out in good time Ms. O'Malley," Magneto said. "Now I would advise you to get some rest. You have a daunting task ahead of you." With

that he turned and left the room.

~~~

Xavier placed the helmet that connected him to Cerebro on his head. It

was Jean's idea for him to try and look for Theo. As he pressed a few buttons on the panel in front of him, Xavier knew already that he would not be able to find Theo. Wherever Magneto was holding her, he had something that was keeping her from using her powers.

Closing his eyes, and concentrating deeply, Xavier activated Cerebro, and began the search for Theo.

In the hallway outside of Cerebro, Jean, Ororo and Scott were waiting for Xavier.

"Do you think he'll find her?" Jean asked Scott, a worried edge to her voice.

Scott shrugged his shoulders in response and then he started pacing the

hallway. "What is it about her powers that Magneto would use her in his plans?"

"That's true, he could have just as easily taken me," Jean said. "We technically have the same powers except for the fact that she can heal people."

The door to Cerebro opened and Xavier came out.

"Any luck?" Ororo asked anxiously.

"I'm afraid not," Xavier said. "Where ever she is, Erik is blocking her from using her powers."

"What will we do?" Jean asked.

"We will have to wait for him to make the next move," Xavier said.

~~~

"I don't see what's so special about this girl," a voice said.

Theo opened her eyes and got off the cot in her cell. She walked over to the metal bars, and peered out into the darkness. "Is anyone out there?" she called out.

A figure stepped into the single light shinning in front of the cell. It was a tall man who had cropped black hair and piercing black eyes. There seemed to be an ancient pattern tattooed on his forehead.

"W-who are you?" Theo asked.

"My name is Mesmero," the man answered.

"What's your real name?" Theo asked.

"That is my real name," Mesmero answered. He looked Theo up and down and smirked.

"Hey Mes, don't get too attached to her," someone said, coming up from behind Mesmero. "She'll probably be dead by the end of this." The figure then stepped next to Mesmero, and Theo could see who he was.

"John," she gasped.

"What the hell?" Pyro said angrily. "How'd you know my name?"

"I remember seeing you in Bobby's mind," Theo answered, wrapping her bound hands around the bars in front of her.

Pyro's expression seemed to sadden for a moment before he shook his head and said, "Whatever."

"Pyro, Mesmero," Magneto said from the entrance to the room. "I believe that I gave the both of you tasks to do. I would like to seem them finished before we start."

"Yes sir," Pyro said. He started to walk out but noticed that Mesmero was sitting in front of the cell, looking at Theo. "Hey Mes," he said, walking over to the man and pushing him. "Didn't you hear Magneto? Let's go."

Mesmero straightned up and then turned to walk out. "Sorry sir," he said as he passed Magneto.

"You know," Magneto said, walking up to Theo. "I can see why Charles and Mesmero find you attractive."

Theo looked at Magneto, her face expressionless.

"Oh I do know all about your infatuation with Charles," Magneto said. "But I can tell you now that his heart belongs to another woman."

"What are you talking about?" Theo asked, surprised.

~~~

Xavier was sitting behind his desk, with his chair facing the window, and he was looking out.

"Professor," a voice said behind him.

"What is it Scott?" Xavier asked without turning.

"I... I just wanted to say that I was sorry for doubting Theo's reasons

for being here," Scott said.

"Thank you Scott," Xavier said, turning his chair. "But you should tell Eleanor that, not me."

Scott looked down at his hands for a moment and then said, "Good night sir."

"Good night Scott," Xavier answered wearily. Once Scott was gone, Xavier sighed and picked up a red pen and started to read the essays he had assigned some of his students. He only spent a few moments doing this when he set down the pen and sat back in his chair. He was happy that Scott had finally trusted Eleanor, but what good did it do now that she was gone?

Xavier was pondering over this question when there was a light tapping at the study door. "Come in," he called.

"I'm sorry to disturb you sir," Ororo said, opening the door wide enough to stick her head in. "But I noticed that Atar was here at the door and I think he wants to come inside."

"Let him in," Xavier said.

Ororo opened the door and the wolfhound walked inside and over to Xavier's desk.

"If you don't need anything else sir-" Ororo started to say.

"Professor!" Jean cried, running into the office. "There's a robbery in New York City, they say it's mutants."

"The Brotherhood," Xavier murmured to himself. "Phoenix, Storm, get Cyclops and Wolverine and get up there as soon as you can."

~~~

Theo paced her cell, thinking over what Magneto had just told her and trying to decide if it was true or not.

Magneto had told her the story of when Xavier had gone to Egypt to find

some mutants for his Institute. While there, he had been given shelter by a rich merchant and his daughter.

This woman, who was named Etha, had been infatuated with Xavier and he with her, or so Magneto said. Eventually though, the girl had discovered that Xavier was a mutant and rejected him. Before leaving, Xavier had sworn to Etha that she would be the only woman she ever loved.

Theo groaned and shook her head, still pacing the floor. She did not want to believe the story, she wanted it to be herself that Xavier loved. But everything Magneto had told her seemed to be true. Doubt and confusion whirled inside her head, until finally she collapsed on her knees on the floor, crying.

"You shouldn't cry," a low voice said from the other side of the cell.

Theo looked up and saw a blue-skinned woman with yellow eyes looking at

her. "Who are you?" she asked, wiping her cheeks as best she could.

"My name is Mystique," she answered quietly.

"Why shouldn't I cry," Theo said, getting up and walking over to the bars.

"Because everything he told you was a lie," Mystique answered.

"So there was no girl named Etha?" Theo said, more to herself than to Mystique.

"No, there was an Etha," Mystique said. "And she did love Xavier, but he never returned the feelings."

Theo was silent for a few moments. Then she asked, "Why did you tell me this?"

Mystique didn't answer, and she turned and left the room.

~~~

Mesmero watched the X-Jet as it landed on a rooftop near the building they were on. "They're here," he whispered to Pyro, who was standing next to him.

"About time," Pyro muttered as he sent a stream of fire down towards the police who were outside the building.

"Just keep those guys away for now," Mesmero said. He then turned and went up towards the roof of their building to meet the X-Men.

*

"I can see flames on the sixth floor," Cyclops said, looking at the building that was next to them.

"That's Pyro," Wolverine said.

"Storm, go on over to the side where the flames are and get some water on them," Scott said. "The rest of us are going to to go over and try to sneak down to the sixth floor."

Storm's eyes turned white and she was lifted up into the air by a gust of wind.

"Ready you guys?" Phoenix asked. When the two men nodded, Phoenix closed her eyes and the three of them rose up into the air and over to the rooftop

of the other building.

When they had landed on the roof, Wolverine sniffed a few times and then withdrew his claws. "Someone's here," he snarled, looking at the door to the stairs.

"Welcome X-Men," a tall man said, walking into the light.

"Who're you?" Wolverine asked menacingly.

The man just smiled and held out something in his hand. "Phoenix, I believe your name is?" he asked. "Take this to your professor."

Phoenix held out her hand and a silver necklace floated into her palm.

"Well it was a pleasure to meet you all," the man said. "Tell your professor that he has what I want." With that, the man pressed his fingers to his temples and the three X-Men fell to the ground, unconscious.

*

Storm watched as the rain fell onto Pyro's flames, satisfied to hear the hissing noise as they went out. After a few minutes, it seemed that Pyro had given up and left the room, so she floated up to the room. "Phoenix, what's happened?" Storm asked as she stepped onto the rooftop.

Phoenix, who was rubbing her forehead, said, "A mutant, the same one who knocked out everyone in the mansion."

Cyclops and Wolverine picked themselves up off the ground.

"We better get out of here before the cops find us here," Cyclops said.

"Phoenix, are you up to getting us to the jet?"

"Of course," Phoenix answered.

And the three of them floated up and over to the jet, Storm following them by using her own power.

~~~

Xavier looked down at the necklace in his hand that was Theo's and ran a finger over the pendant hanging from it.

"What do you think he meant by you having what he wants?" Scott asked.

Xavier just shook his head and placed the necklace into his jacket pocket. "It has been a long, and tiring day," he said. "You should all get some rest."

"Yes of course," Ororo said. "Goodnight Professor."

"Goodnight Professor," Jean said.

"Night Sir," Scott said.

"Good night Chuck," Logan said.

With that the four left the study, leaving Xavier behind.

Taking the necklace back out of his pocket, Xavier looked at the small silver pendant with a raised engraving of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. He turned over the pendant and found that T was etched into it. Running his finger over the T, Xavier reached out with his mind and said telepathically, "I will find out what Magneto wants with you Eleanor. And the X-Men and I will bring you back here."