Through Hellfire and Back,
Part 7
Disclaimer: X-men Evolution is the property of Marvel and Kids WB. All the characters in this story are the property of Marvel, not mine!
Enjoy!
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There's a saying that there's nothing so horrifying as approaching
the demon's lair. Oh certainly, depending on the demon it might look
harmless, it might even look pleasant, but the simple knowledge that
whatever lurks inside may just decided to rip out your bones and burn
your soul is enough to send shivers down your spine as you approach.
Fear, apprehension, terror; many a being will encounter these foes as
they slip near the entrance. For some, the heart is strong enough to
ignore these perils, and so they go on to their destiny.
However, that still doesn't make it any easier. Particularly, as one
former Shadowcat might have pointed, set demon's lair was the office
of an ice-cold woman by the name of Emma Frost; Headmistress Emma
Frost.
Kitty gulped as she opened the Headmistress's door. "Ms. Frost?" Her
eyes scanned the room to rest at the figure behind the desk, her back
to Kitty and her gaze at the closed blinds behind her. Upon hearing
Kitty's voice, Ms. Frost stood up and turned, a smile of genuine
delight on her face.
"Ah Miss Pryde, so good to see you again. I trust you've settled in
nicely?"
"Well, um, yeah, mostly." Kitty coughed on her response. Was that
what this was all about? Was Ms. Frost simply checking up on her?
"Excellent! Now don't just stand there young lady, come in, come in!"
At an instant, Ms. Frost was at Kitty's side, bidding her into the
room and closing the door soundly behind her. Kitty was far to
nervous to hear the resounding click of the lock.
"Now Kitty......" Emma Frost ushered the girl into her seat. "I've
been watching you for quite some time since you entered our fair
establishment."
"Oh?" The hackles were raised on Kitty Pryde's neck. Danger.
Something wasn't right with this meeting.
"Indeed." Ms. Frost's eyes never left Kitty's. "You see, it's come to
my attention that you are more of a proper young lady then you first
appear. That you posses skills and talents far beyond the levels of
most students at this school. Far beyond....."
~Does she know?~ Kitty tried to hide her sudden anxiety. A cold chill
ran down her spine as Ms. Frost continued to observe her, fixated on
her sitting form. "Um, like, what do you mean Ms. Frost? Is this
about that A+ I got on my last chemistry test?"
Ms. Frost continued on as if she hadn't heard her.
"There is much we can do for each other Kitty." Ms. Frost reached
down and fingered one of Kitty's bangs. "I have some...... friends,
who would like very much to meet you."
"Yeah?" Kitty narrowed her eyes, the edge of her tongue slightly
sharp. She didn't like where this conversation was going, she didn't
like the feelings she was getting from Emma Frost. If this kept up,
she was going to phase through the floor, the heck with her secret
identity!
Emma Frost didn't blink at Kitty's tone. Rather, leaned back on her
desk, her eyes locked with Kitty's, as a smile played upon her pink
lips. For a split second, Kitty was reminded once more of one of her
former principles: Mystique, Miss Darkhome
"Good friends, who understand exactly what you've been going
through." Her voice switched from that of a sensuous snake charmer to
a more sympathetic beat. "We can help you, hide you, keep you safe."
Kitty's guard lowered slightly. "In return, I believe you could be a
great asset to us." The headmistress seemingly took delight in
Kitty's growing discomfort. "Your phasing abilities..." a predatory
glint entered her eyes as Kitty's face paled, " would be most useful
to our cause. If...." A solitary finger reached down and caught
Shadowcat's chin, bringing her eye to eye with the White Queen, "you
join us."
Kitty brushed away the finger, standing up with a force that the
chair behind was completely knocked over. All her instincts were
crying out for her to leave, to flee, to do anything _but_ trust Emma
Frost. Those instincts had saved her life before. They had taught her
to run when being chased by Wolverine, to stay when he needed her the
most. To fight Lance when he used her, to believe him when he changed
his ways. When she trusted them, they hadn't let her down. Could she
ignore them now?
"Why should I?" She would turn away and march right out of here. Ms.
Frost was probably unprepared, talking to her at school instead of
somewhere more secluded. And unless the woman had soundproof walls,
one scream would alert everyone on campus of the problem.
The icy glare she received from Emma Frost suddenly filled her mind
with a world of doubts. "Because...." the headmistress stated curtly,
"you don't have a choice."
Kitty's eyes grew wide as she felt something in the back of her mind.
A dizziness, a familiar cloud over her thoughts, too fast to let her
utter a word. No! Oh no! How could she have been so blind! How else
could Ms. Frost know she was a mutant, unless........
She attempted to fight it. She failed, the onslaught simply to strong
for her to bear. Her mind closed down, caged by Emma Frost's
telepathic probes.
The world went black, and Kitty Pryde slipped into unconsciousness.