Authors Note: hello every one. It took me weeks before I finished this chapter. I was doing my classroom based research and my brain is a little bit out of whacked right now. I hope you'll continue reading my work even if Emma is not in the casting anymore. She is still my favorite character. I am planning to write a fiction that is set right after the first episode of the third season. Emma still lives in my heart. She would never die… never. Sorry for that dramatic expression. Anyways I still what to extend my warmest gratitude to all of my readers specially:
La-angele321: hi! To your question about why Brennan called out Shalimar. Well, if you were Brennan and you knew that Gabriel is somewhere and you know how powerful he is, would you not be worried if you didn't find Shalimar in her room? He was just a bit jumpy especially after what had happen to all of them, you know what I mean?
Aur: thanks for the compliment. You always have the right words.
Maddy: thanks for reading the other chapters and for posting your review. I really appreciate it.
Goldstranger: hey there girl. I haven't sent you any emails yet. That's because I'm quite busy. Anyway, you don't have to worry cause I don't have any plan of leaving the story hanging.
Emma453: good suggestion there. It gave me and idea. Thanks
Bjvision: thanks for your review dear. I hope you'll keep on reading my stuff even if Emma is not in the show anymore.
Bri: sorry for not updating soon. I promise to try updating sooner next time. Mwuah!
Underestimated
~Thought ~
Memory
/Sounds/
"Conversation"
Chapter 24
Shalimar allowed her body to drop on her bed. ~What was that? Why did Brennan kiss me? ~ she asked herself as she pulled her towel tighter around her curves. She closed her eyes and sighed. She could still feel Brennan outside her door. ~Maybe he wanted us to talk ~ she thought. She stood up and walked to her closet, yanking the cover open. She grabbed a comfortable pedal pusher and a wrap around tops.
She tossed her towel away to her bed and hurriedly put on her clothes. She took a brush and started combing her golden locks. She walked over to the mirror and faced herself. She wiped away her tears and smiled. Maybe the kiss was really for her. Maybe, Brennan is really over Emma.
At last, after waiting like forever, Brennan finally noticed her—not just because of her feral charms but because she is herself. She walked to her shoe cabinet and picked a nice pair sandals. Usually, she would lay under her cover after prowling at night but this night is different. She could still feel Brennan outside and she knew Brennan wanted them to talk. She looked at the mirror again and decided to change her tops. She grabbed a white clean spaghetti strapped tops and she slid into it. ~better ~ she thought.
"Getting ready for me, my dear?"
Shalimar heard the voice that she abhors. Whipping around, she found her worst nightmare right in front of her. "Ashlocke!" her eyes widened in shock.
Gabriel smiled sinisterly. His eyes traveled at her glorious body, feasting at her curves, drinking her in. "Didn't Adam told you to lock you window?"
Shalimar looked at her pane. She forgot to close it but still, how could Gabriel have found them? ~This isn't real ~ she chanted in her mind.
"Oh but this is real!" Gabriel insisted.
"Why are you here?" Shalimar demanded. Her flesh was shaking in disgust. She couldn't believe her eyes. Shouldn't Gabriel be dead? Yes, she saw him after he died but she thought that it was just an illusion. Okay, she even told Adam that she saw Gabriel. She tried to recall if Adam was surprised… ~no, he isn't… ~ does this means that she was not imagining him this time? That this is real? But why is he here?
Gabriel looked at the floor, sighed and then stared at her. "To get you, my love."
"In your dreams!" she yelled and she jumped on him. Shalimar was a bit stunned when she came through Gabriel's body. "What the…"
Gabriel laughed and shook his head. "You're wasting our time, dear."
Shalimar smirked. What had happened? Why did she went through him? Is this some kind of a dream? Vision?
"Try astral projection" Gabriel suggested.
Shalimar started to panic. She was scared that she could not do anything to run away from this monster. "Brennan!" she screamed. "Brennan!" she repeated.
But before Brennan could come to the rescue, Gabriel shot a psionic blast to Shalimar's way, rendering her unconscious. Gabriel's astral projection lifted the feral's body with his telekinesis and was ready to take her away.
*************
Brennan heard Shalimar's voice as if she was talking to someone. He cringed his forehead. ~do girls talk to themselves while getting dress? ~ he asked himself then he heard her again.
"Brennan!" she screamed. "Brennan!" she repeated.
Brennan's heart started thumping hard and fast. What is happening inside? What is happening to Shalimar? He turned around and crammed "Shalimar!" he called out as he hurriedly keyed in the door combination. When the door slid open he saw Shalimar being lifted in the air.
For a couple of second there, Brennan lost all his reflexes and he couldn't move. He was so stunned that he even forgot to breathe. Then he snapped back when he got a glimpse of Shalimar's abductor.
~Ashlocke? ~ his brain taunted? ~How did he got here? ~ Brennan didn't say another word. He just needed to save Shalimar. His hands move in a circular movement and he created a huge Electric ball. When have created enough, he threw it off towards Ashlocke.
Gabriel's essence lifted its hand and the electricity that Brennan threw stopped and died out right in front of the elemental's eyes. Gabriel shook his head. "Brennan, Brennan!" he uttered. "Don't insult me." His eyes smirked at the elemental. "I'm not your match…you will never be my match." He laughed at Brennan as he lifted him up and threw his body away with his telekinesis.
Brennan's body collided against the wall of Shalimar's room causing a loud thumping sound. The poor elemental fell unconscious as Shalimar's was brought outside the Sanctuary.
***********
***moments earlier***
~This is the best plan ~ Adam told himself. He would make them forget about Emma then maybe they could move on. He lifted the vial and looked at it. He made enough potions for each of them and he already made a note on his desk that each of them needed to drink it in case he forgets after drinking the 'forgetting-potion'. He has no one to test it to so he decided to take the first batch of potion. If his calculations were right, it would only take away sad memories of Emma. He inhaled as he gathered his wits… ~I should do this ~ he thought when a sudden scream from Brennan made him stop.
"Shalimar!"
Adam heard Brennan's voice he placed the vial down and run out off the lab to wherever Brennan is. ~What now? ~ He asked himself. He could not afford to lose another child. His heart beat like a drum… ~please don't make anything happen to her ~ he begged to his lucky stars. He left the vial on his table and run outside then he heard a loud thumping sound and then silence followed.
"Oh my God!" he uttered. "Brennan!" Adam called at his COM link hoping against hope that Brennan would answer him. "Brennan!" He repeated but there was no reply. He had to run faster for he didn't want to be to late. Losing another child and teammate is the least that he wished to happen.
Adam came ten minutes late in the scene, Brennan is lying unconscious in the floor and Shalimar was nowhere to be found. Adam knelt down to attend to his elemental child. He stretched his hand out to feel Brennan's pulse.
~Thank God! ~ Adam thought when he felt a strong pulse. He nudged Brennan while he calls his name. "Brennan! Brennan!"
Brennan moved and opened his eyes. "Shal!" he whispered. He tried moving again when Adam stopped him.
"Don't move." Adam told him. "You hit your head very badly." He willed Brennan to lie still.
"Shalimar…" Brennan tried talking. "Ashlocke had her."
Adam cringed his forehead. "That is impossible." He uttered. He knew that Ashlocke was revived after he died with his sickness but he refused to tell his creation especially to Shalimar but he built the Sanctuary in a way that no one could enter it without him knowing. It is a mutant proof building. No mutant could sneak in, not even the most powerful one, not even Ashlocke.
"Well, you better believe it. Shalimar's gone." A voice from behind spoke.
Adam turned around to see the man. ~Ashlocke? How did you… ~
"Well, I really didn't need to sneak in, do I?" Gabriel's essence replied.
"Where's Shalimar?" Adam demanded. His eyes burned in exquisite anger and dismay at the same time. "Where is she?" he repeated.
"Somewhere where you and your teammates cannot take her away." He said with serious eyes.
"How dare you…" Adam exclaimed. He stood up and jumped towards Gabriel when he went through him just like Shalimar did.
Gabriel gave off an insulting laughter. "You're wasting your time. Good-bye Adam!" He bid him. "See you…hmmm…never? …" Gabriel laughed as his essence slowly faded away.
**********
***meanwhile***
Jesse allowed his head to rest on the lawn. He didn't have to be beaten to come to his senses. He knew his powers are no match with that of Gabriel's but he couldn't let Emma alone. He just couldn't. He loves her so much and he would give up anything for her.
"I don't care anymore, Meg." He uttered. "Her absence is killing me…it's killing all of us. I would like to think that she's just another woman that have passed by my life but she isn't." Jesse tried to sit down forcing Meg to move away from him. He covered his face with his hands and he sighed. "She's everything I live for. If she's happy with Cole…" Jesse paused for a part of him rebelled on that thought. "God knows that I would let her but something inside me keep on telling me that she isn't so I have to get her back."
"I know what you're trying to say but rushing wouldn't make Emma come back with you. We need to plan our moves. We need to think about everything."
Jesse looked at Meg and nodded. Maybe she's right… Maybe they should plan for it. He breathed out and closed his eyes. "What do you think should we do?"
Meg looked at him. "I'm not trying to say anything here, Jesse but I need to know everything that you remembered."
"Remember…about what?" Jesse cringed his forehead.
"You know… um… the scene between you and…"
Meg didn't need to continue before Jesse got what she meant. Jesse stood up and tried to calm himself. "Meg, I told you that I don't really know what happen…" he placed his hands across his chest while trying to control his irritation.
"I know you've said that but don't you remember anything like before you block out?" Meg willed Jesse to open up.
Jesse thought for awhile and then he looked at Meg. "Okay.." he started. He was about to tell her everything when Adam spoke at the other line of the comlink.
"Jesse, come back in the Sanctuary. Quick!" Adam commanded.
"What happened?" Jesse asked with concern.
"Shalimar… Gabriel has her." Was Adam's short reply.
"How did he…"
"Don't ask anymore, just come here!" with that, Adam was gone on the other line.
Jesse didn't wait for another minute. He just rushed to Meg's car and got in. "I'll borrow your car…" he yelled but he was surprised to see Meg in the passenger's seat. "What are you doing?" he asked her and an irritated voice.
"I'm coming with you." Meg was not asking for permission. It was a sentence. She was telling him that she is coming. She sat there and fastened her seat belt. "Besides, this is my car. Right?"
There was nothing Jesse could do so he drove the Meg's car in haste.
**************
Emma felt a sting in her heart. She could her Shalimar in her head. The feral was asking for help. Was it her imagination or was it caused by her deep connection with the feral which she tried to severe. Instinctively, she lifted her hand over her mouth to activate her comlink only to be reminded that she left the ring in the Double Helix when she left the Sanctuary.
"Damn!" she uttered. ~how am I supposed to know what had happened to Shalimar when I can't ask them? ~
That same thought slammed into Cole's wits. He could feel Shalimar's mind near Emma. He could feel the feral calling for help. He shook his head and got out of bed. He focused all his power to Emma's mind as he tried and temporarily severe her connection with the Mutant X.
~Are you sure this is the right thing? ~ his conscience bombarded his mind. At this point, he doesn't care anymore. He has gone this far and he knew that there is no way Emma would understand his intention.
Power surged through his body as he finished blocking the connection.
Emma held her position for awhile and then… there was nothing. She couldn't feel Shalimar's presence anymore. ~must have been an imagination ~ she thought and then she went back to bed with the sweet thought of her and Jesse together again. ~at least I could be with him even if it's only in my dreams. ~ tears appeared in her eyes.
Cole saw the dream Emma had created for herself and as much as he wanted to block it, he couldn't for it was Emma who is in control. It took all his strength not to cry as well. Why does it hurt? Why does it hurt him to see Emma in pain? Why does it hurt him to see Emma in other man's arm? ~Love is not supposed to be this way. It is supposed to be a good feeling. Why then does this hurt me? ~
~Because it is too much. ~
Cole heard a familiar voice his head. "Who are you?" he asked in the emptiness. He looked around hoping to see someone but to his dismay.
~Cole! Brother! ~
"Meg?" Cole couldn't believe it. "How did you—"?
~Cole… I'm your sister. I should know things about you. ~ Meg whispered into his wits. ~Stop these things now. This won't lead to anything. Emma would not be yours in this way. ~
Cole wept in silence and he shook his head. "It's easy for you to say. You are not in the situation." Cole declared. "I love Emma and I can't give her up now."
~You won't give her up. You won't give her up 'cause she's not yours and she will never be. Her heart belongs to some one else and you know that. ~ Meg insisted.
"She will be mine. You'll see."
~How? By lying to her every moment of everyday? ~ Meg taunted.
~That's none of your business. ~ Cole yelled in his mind and then he severed the connection from his sister.
**************
"Damn it!" Meg cursed as she allowed her body to bounce in the cushion of her car.
"What is it?" Jesse asked as he drove fast enough.
"Cole. He won't listen to me." Meg complained. She looked outside as she tried to hold her tears. She feels real sorry for her brother but she couldn't let him do this bad things. She loves her brother but Emma is also her friend. She bit her lips.
"Sorry dear but I have to get you into this." Jesse said as she placed something on Meg's temple which blocked her sense of sight.
"What are these for?" Meg asked.
"Just a protocol…" Jesse replied.
**************
Shalimar slowly opened her eyes as her head still hurts. ~What happened? ~ she asked herself.
"Good morning my love!"
Shalimar heard a familiar voice. Her heart started beating faster. "NO! No! No!" she chanted to herself. "This is not happening to me."
"Oh but it is." Gabriel stepped out of the dark showing his face to Shalimar.
"NO!" Shalimar's breathing became constricted as her brain bleed with pain. "You…you were dead! A…A…Adam…" Shalimar stuttered. "Adam… he didn't cure you… You are dead." Tears started rushing from the feral's eyes.
Gabriel smiled and stopped for a moment. "Well," he paused. "I was." He laughed.
"How…how did…" Shalimar didn't know what to say. Then someone came in.
"Oh, I'd like you to meet…my son…he revived me."
Shalimar shook her head. ~this is just a dream…a nightmare…soon I would wake up and everything would be over. ~
"Oh but you won't." Gabriel told her. "You would be staying here…with us…or let me say, with me." Gabriel's son looked at him in shocked. What did he meant?
"Dad?" his son's voice was frightened.
"You are of no use anymore." Gabriel said and killed his own son.
Shalimar couldn't believe what she just saw. How ruthless could this man be to kill his own son? What should she do? who could help her? …Emma… she remembered. Emma protects her from Gabriel. ~Emma! ~ she called.
"Don't waste your time. She won't come." Gabriel smiled. "She's still mad at you for sleeping with Jesse."
"How did you know?
"How did I know? Oh Shal," Gabriel reached out to touch Shalimar but the feral moved back. Gabriel let our a single laugh and he allowed his hand to drop on his side. "How did I know? Well, I made you do that." He grinned.
"What?" Shalimar's mind blurred and he wanted to kill Gabriel right there and then. She jumped off and was planning to pin Gabriel down when Gabriel did his magic again.
"There is no sense in fighting me off… You are mine!" and with that the feral was under his spell…
MUTANT-X-MUTANT-X-MUTANT-X-MUTANT-X-MUTANT-X-MUTANT-
***Lyza***
okay. It took me that long to finish this chapter…. My brain has started bleeding as well… tell me what you think…Please please…pretty please…. And I remembered, a character was added (Gabriel's son) just to make sense to the story but he is not realy important…Thanks for the post and keep it coming… mwuahhh…. Hoped you all enjoyed…. We are almost over….
