Part 6
Alexandra hurried home, trying to push image of what happened out of her mind. She had wanted a change, something out of the ordinary to happen, but that...*that* was just too much. Unexplained fires? And her being the cause of them?
~No~ she thought, pushing open the door to her family mansion.
"What happened to you? You look like hell warmed over." Her step-mother was standing in the foyer, fluffing her golden hair in front of an ivory flamed mirror.
"Oh." Alexandra caught a glimpse of her reflection. Her raven hair was dishevelled, she was limping having walked much further in heels than she'd have thought and rubbed blisters on her feet. Her cheeks were streaked with dried tears, her mascara smudged.
Any other mother, even step-mother might have seen the state of her and come running over to ask if she was okay. But no, her step-mother Liza had to come up with "You look like hell warmed over."
The butler, Nigel, was walking across the marble floor with two of Liza's expensive suitcases. "I'm off to the Hampton's for a few weeks. Your father will be meeting me there. Don't blow up the house." After putting on a very red lipstick Liza practically sauntered out.
"Good riddance," Alexandra muttered, taking off her high heels.
She sighed miserably, heading up to her private bathroom, and turning on the water in the deep sinking coral coloured tub. About half an hour later she was feeling much better, having soaked in hot water and essential oils. Wrapped in a pink silk bathrobe she was sticking her head in the fridge in the kitchen when she heard a shattering sound from near by. Angry, muffled voices followed with harsh sounding words.
Alexandra froze. She knew she should be the only one in the house, her older brother Darren was away at University, her parents were off at the Hampton's. Who would be stupid enough to risk breaking into their high security mansion?
Nigel always set the alarm before leaving. The cook had gone home early when Liza had left, so had the maid. No one else knew the security code except Nigel.
Breath caught in her throat, she crept back to the stairs, thinking get to her room, get to her room and call the police. Tears were beginning to creep down her cheeks as her heart raced.
Backing up the stairs, she didn't see anyone coming down until strong hands fell on her shoulders. She screamed, waving her hands frantically as she tried to struggle away, The next thing she knew, the curtains over the kitchen sink were on fire.
Alexandra ran, not sure where she was going. Smoke from the growing flames was thick. Something in the kitchen exploded. Heat seared out with a bellow of flames, an acrid scent cloying at her nostrils, stinging her eyes.
There were more shouts and swearing. She ran into several people in black clothing, ski masks covering their faces. Hands tried to grab at her. Alexandra lashed out with her hands, this time even she saw the flames bursting forth.
* * *
Half an hour later the police and fire department were everywhere. News reporters had gathered outside the smoking house as well. Alexandra sat with a blanket around her shoulders, watching the whole movie-like scene through glassy eyes.
She answered questions when asked, feeling strange and empty. She didn't feel any emotion when she was told Nigel the butler's body had been found, shot dead.
Someone had set this up, Alexandra was pretty sure of that. Someone who knew she'd be alone in the house. Of course she hadn't voiced that out loud to anyone yet. It wasn't like she had proof of any sort.
Her parents actually weren't at the Hampton's when the police had tried locating them.
"You're really having a time of it today."
Alexandra turned at the unexpected voice, more than a little surprised to see the same boy who'd helped her out that afternoon. "Who are you?"
"Joel," he answered. "My name is Joel. Let's just say I've had similar - experiences."
Alexandra sniffed. "What, black-clad figures breaking into your house?"
Joel smiled. "The other thing." He nodded at one of the fire engines.
She stared at him, curious. "What do you do?"
He didn't answer. A female officer was approaching them. "Considering the state of the house it's unsafe for you to return at the moment, Miss Rhodes-Prince" the cop said, eyeing Joel doubtfully. "And since we're having difficulty locating your parents, is there somewhere you can stay for the time being?"
"Yeah, she's staying with me," Joel answered before Alexandra could say anything.
The female cop stared at him blankly for a minute or so, then nodded. "Okay...we...we packed some clothes for you." She handed Alexandra a small suitcase.
Alexandra stared at Joel, somewhere between surprise, confusion and disbelief. Joel was smiling sheepishly. She followed him away from the crowd to a non-descript Ford across the street.
"So you control *minds*?"
"Sort of." He stared ahead. "How'd you feel like meeting other psychics?"
"Psychics?"
"People with paranormal abilities. We live in a place called the Zetes Institute, we learn how to handle what we do."
Alexandra stared at him. "And you're going to introduce me to the X-Men too?"
Joel laughed. "I wish, but we're not *that* powerful."
"Is that why you came back? To talk me into going to this Institute place?"
"Kind of. Our boss lady Joyce was very eager to meet you after I called to inform her of your talents." He hadn't started the car yet.
Alexandra glanced out the window at the media circus outside her house, at the smoking ruins. Could she really control *fire*? It seemed so...unreal. What had happened that night was very real. She couldn't deny that.
"Okay," she said. "Let's go see this Zetes Institute thing."
* * *
Alexandra hurried home, trying to push image of what happened out of her mind. She had wanted a change, something out of the ordinary to happen, but that...*that* was just too much. Unexplained fires? And her being the cause of them?
~No~ she thought, pushing open the door to her family mansion.
"What happened to you? You look like hell warmed over." Her step-mother was standing in the foyer, fluffing her golden hair in front of an ivory flamed mirror.
"Oh." Alexandra caught a glimpse of her reflection. Her raven hair was dishevelled, she was limping having walked much further in heels than she'd have thought and rubbed blisters on her feet. Her cheeks were streaked with dried tears, her mascara smudged.
Any other mother, even step-mother might have seen the state of her and come running over to ask if she was okay. But no, her step-mother Liza had to come up with "You look like hell warmed over."
The butler, Nigel, was walking across the marble floor with two of Liza's expensive suitcases. "I'm off to the Hampton's for a few weeks. Your father will be meeting me there. Don't blow up the house." After putting on a very red lipstick Liza practically sauntered out.
"Good riddance," Alexandra muttered, taking off her high heels.
She sighed miserably, heading up to her private bathroom, and turning on the water in the deep sinking coral coloured tub. About half an hour later she was feeling much better, having soaked in hot water and essential oils. Wrapped in a pink silk bathrobe she was sticking her head in the fridge in the kitchen when she heard a shattering sound from near by. Angry, muffled voices followed with harsh sounding words.
Alexandra froze. She knew she should be the only one in the house, her older brother Darren was away at University, her parents were off at the Hampton's. Who would be stupid enough to risk breaking into their high security mansion?
Nigel always set the alarm before leaving. The cook had gone home early when Liza had left, so had the maid. No one else knew the security code except Nigel.
Breath caught in her throat, she crept back to the stairs, thinking get to her room, get to her room and call the police. Tears were beginning to creep down her cheeks as her heart raced.
Backing up the stairs, she didn't see anyone coming down until strong hands fell on her shoulders. She screamed, waving her hands frantically as she tried to struggle away, The next thing she knew, the curtains over the kitchen sink were on fire.
Alexandra ran, not sure where she was going. Smoke from the growing flames was thick. Something in the kitchen exploded. Heat seared out with a bellow of flames, an acrid scent cloying at her nostrils, stinging her eyes.
There were more shouts and swearing. She ran into several people in black clothing, ski masks covering their faces. Hands tried to grab at her. Alexandra lashed out with her hands, this time even she saw the flames bursting forth.
* * *
Half an hour later the police and fire department were everywhere. News reporters had gathered outside the smoking house as well. Alexandra sat with a blanket around her shoulders, watching the whole movie-like scene through glassy eyes.
She answered questions when asked, feeling strange and empty. She didn't feel any emotion when she was told Nigel the butler's body had been found, shot dead.
Someone had set this up, Alexandra was pretty sure of that. Someone who knew she'd be alone in the house. Of course she hadn't voiced that out loud to anyone yet. It wasn't like she had proof of any sort.
Her parents actually weren't at the Hampton's when the police had tried locating them.
"You're really having a time of it today."
Alexandra turned at the unexpected voice, more than a little surprised to see the same boy who'd helped her out that afternoon. "Who are you?"
"Joel," he answered. "My name is Joel. Let's just say I've had similar - experiences."
Alexandra sniffed. "What, black-clad figures breaking into your house?"
Joel smiled. "The other thing." He nodded at one of the fire engines.
She stared at him, curious. "What do you do?"
He didn't answer. A female officer was approaching them. "Considering the state of the house it's unsafe for you to return at the moment, Miss Rhodes-Prince" the cop said, eyeing Joel doubtfully. "And since we're having difficulty locating your parents, is there somewhere you can stay for the time being?"
"Yeah, she's staying with me," Joel answered before Alexandra could say anything.
The female cop stared at him blankly for a minute or so, then nodded. "Okay...we...we packed some clothes for you." She handed Alexandra a small suitcase.
Alexandra stared at Joel, somewhere between surprise, confusion and disbelief. Joel was smiling sheepishly. She followed him away from the crowd to a non-descript Ford across the street.
"So you control *minds*?"
"Sort of." He stared ahead. "How'd you feel like meeting other psychics?"
"Psychics?"
"People with paranormal abilities. We live in a place called the Zetes Institute, we learn how to handle what we do."
Alexandra stared at him. "And you're going to introduce me to the X-Men too?"
Joel laughed. "I wish, but we're not *that* powerful."
"Is that why you came back? To talk me into going to this Institute place?"
"Kind of. Our boss lady Joyce was very eager to meet you after I called to inform her of your talents." He hadn't started the car yet.
Alexandra glanced out the window at the media circus outside her house, at the smoking ruins. Could she really control *fire*? It seemed so...unreal. What had happened that night was very real. She couldn't deny that.
"Okay," she said. "Let's go see this Zetes Institute thing."
* * *