Two

Bright red slashed violently across a black and grey background, dropping his brush Piotr picked up a second one and jabbed it into the pool of yellow on his palette.  The brutal process continued as a face began to take shape on the canvas, eyes of pure black, lips set in a twisted parody of a smile. The mocking face that had been laughing at Piotr in his dreams every night since the attack on the Morlocks. Each stroke of the brush was the quiet Russian's way of flagellating himself-punishment for believing even for a second that Asli was alive somewhere within that monster.  That somehow the simple intensity of his love could bring her back. That he had meant more to Asli than a burden to be pushed aside.

With a grunt he twisted around to reach for another brush, the feeling of several fresh stitches pulling served as another reminder of what his foolish romantic notions had gotten him.  Placing one hand gently over his side and the small blooming of blood appearing there, "All she has given me is pain."

"She also gave you back your family," a soft voice intruded from the door of his studio.

There was no need to turn around; the only person who had come near Piotr in the last two weeks was Rogue.  The Goth was one of the few who fully understood what Piotr had lost when Asli had died-the shared loss had created a deep friendship between them.  Her foot steps where as soft as ever as she moved closer, "You know that wasn't her down there Sugah, don't you?"

"For a minute it was," Piotr kept his eyes on the canvas but let his hands fall to his sides in futility, "She used that…used me to hurt the others…to hurt Katya. And still all I can think of was how it felt to hold her again. It is selfish."

"Maybe," Rogue sat herself cross legged on the old couch Xavier had donated to fill the space, "But it was also human Pete. You know that Asli would have wanted…"

Spinning Piotr frowned at his friend, "Do I Rogue? Did I ever know her? I loved her but Asli never let me know her.  Perhaps she didn't love me enough."

Rogue jumped from her seat and glared up at Piotr pushing her white bangs away as they drifted into her eyes, "Don't say that Pete, loving you ate her up inside.  Trust me," she tapped her forehead with one gloved finger, "I've had a front row seat for her happiest and saddest memories-all of the good ones were about you."

"If she had loved me she wouldn't have hidden things from me the way she did," Piotr shook his head.

As he tried to turn away Rogue grabbed his arm and used her strength to bring him back to face her, "That's bull shit Pete.  Asli kept things from you to protect you-it didn't mean she didn't love you."

"Like Remy kept things from you?" Piotr's voice grew cold as he pulled free of his friend's grip.

Rogue's emerald eyes darkened then to Piotr's surprise began to cloud with tears, she swallowed a few times as if trying to regain control and when she spoke it was laboured, "Yeah like Remy kept things from me."

"I'm sorry Rogue…" Piotr shook his head all of the anger he felt slipping away-he had never dealt well with crying women, "I should not have…"

"Save it Pete," Rogue smiled thinly but the tears still stalked her expressive eyes, "You're right. I earned that one. I was just so mad at everything and I couldn't help myself.  All he needed was me to support him and I turned my back; even pointed the most accusing finger."

Without thinking Piotr shifted into his metallic form and pulled Rogue into a hug as her tears finally overwhelmed her, "I'm sure you could apologise, Remy loves you very much he would forget it."

"I wouldn't." Rogue's voice was muffled, "I can't get the look he had on his face when I screamed at him in front of everyone out of my mind.  It killed a piece of Remy when I did that…and I can't take it back.  Nothing I do will make me forgive myself for that."

Piotr smoothed her two toned hair gently as he held his crying friend, "Perhaps you should leave that with Remy to decide.  If possible I think he is more depressed than I am."

Despite herself Rogue laughed-she had been avoiding Remy carefully but it was obvious he could out brood even the stoic Russian when he wanted to.  A feat not often accomplished.  "The how is it he hasn't run for the razor blades yet Sugah? Or is he paintin' twisted pictures of me in his room?"

"If it was Remy," the barest of smiles appeared on Piotr's face as he glanced at the dark, swirling mass that was Asli's face, "I would think he would paint you nude."

Rogue blushed to the tips of her ears at the comment and tightened her grip on Piotr, "I'll get her back for you somehow Pete, I can't think of a better way to punish Malice than to take Asli back from her." The Goth smiled lightly as she floated upwards to meet Piotr on eye level, "But thank you."

Softly she brushed her lips on Piotr's slivery cheek, revelling in the fact that his metal skin kept him protected from her powers.  The friends smiled at each other and hugged once more; neither noticed the twin red orbs blazing in the shadows just outside the window.

**************************

"Sweet Jesus Bets," a pair of worried blue eyes peeked out from behind Brian Braddock's untrimmed blonde hair as he touched the purple bruises on his sister's neck, "This loon almost killed you."

 Sighing Betsy curled her feet underneath her snuggling deeper into the blanket she had wrapped around herself to stave off the cold penetrating her bones, "But she didn't. It was fuzzy but it was like there were two personalities fighting for control.  The one wanted me dead and the other saved me.  She asked me to help her Bri…"

"And I hope to hell you're not going to touch this with a ten foot pole," the mutant known as Captain Britain glared at the determined light creeping into his twin sister's eyes, "Bets…this isn't your job…You're a model.  I thought after all that nonsense with the Foot that you wanted a quiet life."

Betsy's jaw tightened at her brother's mention of the events that had given her the skills of a highly trained Ninja and the flawless Asian face that greeted her instead of the wholesome English rose she had been born as.  Even in the comforts of her lavish penthouse, wrapped in warm wool from her family's estate, filled with whiskey the confusion and screams of the girl in the alley haunted Betsy.  "If not me who then Bri? You didn't see the pain in her eyes; she's counting on me to help her…to find this Xavier she mentioned. I know what it's like to be a prisoner in your own mind and I can't just leave the girl like that."

"I know Bets," Brian sighed and sat down next his sister, pulling her close to chase away her nightmares; "It's the right thing to do and I know you identify but I don't want to see you hurt."

"Then help me." Betsy's voice was calm and measured, "I don't think I could do it alone."

A frown marred Brian's even, handsome features; "Bets, this isn't like you're asking me to help you sneak out with some bloke you met at a club.  We couldn't even get you back into your own body…"

"This is different," Betsy put on her best puppy dog look as she lifted her purple eyes to her brother,  "We're just going to find this Xavier chap and get him to do all the work. We can get the others to help us."

This time Brian's smile was free of concern, "Isn't that a gross misuse of government resources Captain?"

"Not really love," Betsy lifted an eyebrow as a challenge to her twin, "Using defence databases to check out future girlfriends-is a gross misuse of government resources.  This is finding a way to stop a potential terrorist threat-she knew me as Psylocke which means she knows about the Excalibur project. We can't afford any leaks at S.T.R.I.K.E.  Besides things have been dull lately I'm sure Meggan and Pete Wisdom not to mention you could use something other than paperwork to do."

At the mention of his team-mates Brian threw up his hands-this was a challenge they would enjoy especially when Betsy got around to convincing them to see it her way.  Captain Britain knew when he was seriously outnumbered.  "Fine, where do we begin?"

Betsy jumped from the couch a smile wreathing her face as she picked up the phone, "I'm going to call Moria MacTaggart -I remember her mentioning the name Xavier once when I was up at Muir Island."

"Well I suppose that's a start." Brian ran a hand through his shaggy blonde hair and switched into battle mode, "Then we can try running a composite of the girl through the systems and see if she pops up."

"You're rather quick to help me in my foolish endeavour." Betsy narrowed her eyes at her brother.

Brian shrugged off the look that his sister used to intimidate even the largest of opponents-it hadn't changed much since they were six years old and she tried to prove herself tougher than he.  All it stirred within the heart of Brian Braddock was the intense love he felt for his twin, "If you can't beat em join em."

Betsy laughed lightly as she dialled the phone, "Muir Island Research Centre, Moria MacTaggart speaking."  A clipped Scottish accent answered on the second ring.

"Oy, Moria. It's Betsy Braddock," she twisted the phone cord around her finger as Brian watched; "I have a favour to ask you.  You know anyone by the name Xavier?"

**************************

The Void had disappeared in a wash of pain when the Keeper regained control.  Everything had changed; the womblike environment had become a cage with thick bars and even thicker shadows.  All pretence of safety had been abandoned and she knew now she was a prisoner in her own mind.  "If it's my mind," she tried to concentrate on a half formed memory, "Then I can influence it."

Focusing on her surroundings she closed her eyes and moulded them into an image of the room she could remember occupying before the Void, the one she had shared with the girl with white streaks in her hair.  It was one of the few solid memories she had of herself. The Keeper was repressing the others with an iron will.  Opening her eyes again she smiled at the small improvement she had made-even if the bars still stood at least this corner of her mind was her own again.  "One small step for me…"

"Talking to yourself is a sign of insanity," the Keeper's voice rang out through the walls of her prison.

Moving closer to the bars she frowned, "If you're here then I'm not talking to myself am I? Are you afraid to show yourself to me?"

From the shadows just outside the bars a figure materialized, a tall thin woman with black skin and long red hair flowing down her back, ruby eyes stood out in the sea of dark skin. "I never thought I'd live to see Hatred personified." She shrugged wearily-her early take over had taken most of her strength.

"Who said you were alive?" the Keeper grinned evilly and began to run her hands up and down the bars of the cage, "Maybe you're dead and this is hell? You certainly didn't deserve to go to Heaven."

She frowned not liking the way the Keeper knew everything about her past but hid the memories out of her reach, "I couldn't have been that bad a person."

"Oh really?" over the Keeper's shoulder an image appeared-she reigned in the excitement the glimpse of a memory caused her.

She watched as what she knew was a younger version of herself kill a man then coldly step over his body to reach the computer system he guarded.  "You were twelve when you killed him-he was the first.  Want to see the others?"

The image changed-this time she was roughly the same age as when she arrived in the Void.  The Man behind her was holding a knife to her neck, blood was trailing down her neck and once more she could feel it's warmth like it was happening again.  Her eyes darkened as power build up within her body, then she sent it screaming towards the man silencing the artificial beat of his heart.  "That was your father.  Do good people kill their parents?"

"There was a reason…" she shook her head confused as some of the emotions leaked back into her with the memory, "I know there was more to it…"

"Really?" The Keeper pressed her face to the bars bringing her red eyes sharply into focus and wiping away the hint of memory she had been chasing, "What makes you so sure?  Why can't you trust me? I've seen all of your memories and you're better off now.  Why are you fighting me all of a sudden?"

She lowered her eyes to hide the gleam that came to them-she remembered very well why she had started fighting.  The man with the silver skin and deep blue eyes.  The one who loved her. He wanted her to fight. That was what made her strong.  The Keeper's laughter broke into her thoughts, "HIM? You think he loves you? Not likely."

This time the image was of the large man holding a small younger woman.  The girl looked up at him with eyes brimming with love; slowly he lifted the small girl and kissed her lips gently and deeply.  His passion harmonized with his companion's making her feel dirty for intruding.  "That's not my memory." She regained some control of her emotions.

"No," the Keeper smiled, "It's his.  I found it in his mind when we fought him.  How could he have loved you if he's forgotten you so easily? Men were always such fickle creatures."

"But I felt…"

The Keeper shook her red head, "You don't know what you felt.  I do.  I don't want to hurt you but if you keep fighting me I will."

No more words were needed, the threat was clear enough.  She didn't doubt for a moment that the Keeper couldn't or wouldn't completely destroy her if she continued openly opposing the other entity. "Have it your way then."

The Keeper smiled and sank back into the darkness that had birthed her.  Waiting until that moment of weakness when the Keeper was occupied with leaving the Void she grasped at one of her fragile memories.  Asli.  Her name was Asli, and she would be free again.

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Muhahahahahaha.  The plot thickens once more.  Was it worth the wait?

I don't own the song "Black Black Hear" its David Usher's…man is this an eclectic mix of tunes…

David Usher – Black Black Heart

Something ugly this way comes
Through my fingers sliding inside
All these blessings all these burns
I'm godless underneath your cover
Search for pleasure search for pain
In this world now I am undying
I unfurl my flag my nation helpless

Black black heart why would you offer more
Why would you make it easier on me to satisfy
I'm on fire I'm rotting to the core
I'm eating all your kings and queens
All your sex and your diamonds

As I begin to lose my grip
On these realities your sending
Taste your mind and taste your sex
I'm naked underneath your cover
Covers lie and we will bend and borrow
With the coming sign
The tide will take the sea will rise and time will rape

Black black heart why would you offer more
Why would you make it easier on me to satisfy
I'm on fire I'm rotting to the core
I'm eating all your kings and queens
All your sex and your diamonds

Black black heart why would you offer more
Why would you make it easier on me to satisfy
I'm on fire I'm rotting to the core
I'm eating all your kings and queens
All your sex and your diamonds
All your sex and your diamonds
All your sex and your diamonds
All your sex and your diamonds
All your sex and your diamonds

And then there were responses.

Ish – Teehee beans to the max eh? Have I surpassed myself now with my evilness? Yep, I'm letting Malice play with Asli's mind while in control. IN case you haven't noticed she got holes like Swiss cheese in her mind. And Asli always was the type to play possum. I think Rogue used a crow bar to take her eyes off of Remy…man we need the real life version of him.  Ummm…does the opening for supreme jealousy and Rogue/Piotr bonding make up for it?? Please don't hunt me down.  Yeah, Kitty's got big, monstrous issues to deal with. She and Piotr really do have a relationship for the wrong reasons…I have to fix that.  But I like confusing you. A pissy Sinister means a creative Malice. I can't wait either.  *lol* I should have the first chap of 'Wild Horses' ready by the end of the week…or even tonight if I focus.

Pixie- Flyer – It's not that you're predicable…it's just that well…it was my favourite part too and like minded folks seem to be the ones reviewing me. But by all means Spunk up (That sounds so wrong…)  Yep, Bets is gonna heat things up a bit.  And did I give you enough Pouty, suffering, broody Piotr?

Star of Chaos – Yep, I think it would be hard to bring Betsy and Brian into the actual cartoon…too much history to explore there.  And I would stop writing if I got too predictable.  Damn, even I don't know exactly where this is all going.  Thanks I think I will use that song at some point…maybe a monstrously angsty chapter.

Ravyn Nyte – Just in case you did review and I didn't get it.  You know you can send them to my email directly if you wish.  Krac_babee@yahoo.ca