Chapter Thirteen:
Early the following morning, just as the light of the rising sun appeared over the eastern horizon, a long, black car drove quickly toward the New York state line. Mystique had called ahead for a car to be prepared at a small air field not far from Newark, where they had landed in the Brotherhood's small silver jet. Their arrival had been discreet, and the owner of the airfield was well paid to keep it that way.
Pyro was sitting the in the front passenger seat, and stared ahead anxiously. He had never been to New York City before, even during his time at Xavier's school. Now, the thought of the large metropolitan area with millions of people around him made his months on the Island seem like solitary confinement. Magneto had not said if their stay in the city would be a matter of hours or days, so Pyro could only wonder how long this welcome sojourn would last.
Pyro reached into the front pocket of his coat and closed his hand around his lighter. He tapped his fingers against its metal surface, resisting the urge to begin snapping the cover on and off as he did when he was nervous. No one had spoken much since they transferred from the plane to the car. Rebecca had fallen asleep again, and Sid was staring blankly out his own window. Magneto and Mystique had been conversing quietly for a few scattered moments, and Toad seemed entirely focused on the road ahead of them, not really paying any attention to anything else.
As they entered the city, morning rush hour had not yet begun but the streets were still bustling with pedestrians. No one looked twice at the expensive looking black car that made its way through downtown Manhattan.
Pyro glanced upward out his window as the buildings became taller and more impressive. With so much steel and glass around him, he was reminded of the Island's vast chambers, but that was where any similarity ended. This place was not hollow, it was alive, and everywhere he looked there were more people to see.
With the Brotherhood, Pyro had his place and that would not change. But John Allerdyce was still a nineteen year old kid, who suddenly realized how lonely the past eight months had been.
As they passed over a bridge toward Long Island, Pyro glanced backward at the Manhattan skyline. Magneto regarded the boy for a moment before speaking.
"You look impressed," he said and Pyro shrugged.
"It's okay," he said, feigning indifference, "Just...never seen it before."
Magneto nodded, "Well, perhaps you'll get to see a few more sights before you leave."
Pyro glanced at him with surprise, and Magneto grinned.
"Though don't be surprised if some of us avoid one specific tourist attraction..." he continued in a low voice.
Pyro frowned in confusion until he heard Toad begin to chuckle quietly.
"Perhaps the Malloys would take you to Liberty Island if you've never seen it before..." Mystique offered with a coy smile. Magneto had Toad take the long route through the city on purpose. Just a glimpse for the boy, in hope that he may want to stay for a while...
"It hasn't opened to the public again yet," Sid suddenly said, flat and humorless.
"Then..." Mystique began as she glared at Sid, and then turned toward Pyro, "I suppose other arrangements will have to be made."
Pyro nodded and turned to stare out the front window. The streets around them were becoming quieter, less densely packed with people and buildings as they headed east.
"Thought you said this place was in the city?" Pyro asked back to Sid.
"Near enough," Sid replied, and gave the boy a small smile, "Were you expecting a penthouse in Manhattan?"
Pyro shrugged and Sid continued, "It's nice enough, and not too close to the Council's New York chapter. Just outside of Levittown..."
"Levittown?" Pyro asked.
"'S where Billy Joel's from..." Rebecca suddenly added with a yawn. She blinked heavily as she struggled out of sleep and muttered something inaudible as she shifted her injured arm.
"Neat," Pyro said sarcastically, a little disappointed they wouldn't be staying in a Manhattan penthouse. The rows of little homes they passed were much less impressive than the Big Apple itself, but they were also much less conspicuous.
After a short while, Sid directed Toad to pull down a small street that ended in a cul de sac. The roadway was nearly canopied by the long branches of a few tall trees, which would cast heavy shadows over the ground, even at high noon, once the small spring leaves filled out to their fullest.
There were several buildings around as they entered the circular dead end, and Toad pulled into the driveway of the largest. The numbers 8110 were painted black on the front brick wall, and were difficult to see, even the in growing morning light.
Rebecca grinned and leaned forward.
"That's it," she said and opened her door quickly, easing herself out of the car, and stretching. It was not as pretty to look at as their home in Chicago had been, but at least it was cozy. She glanced over the car and saw Pyro looking up at the building doubtfully.
"Does...anyone else live here?" he asked and Rebecca gave him a one-shouldered shrug.
"Sometimes," she said and winked at him mischievously.
The twins lead the Brotherhood around the side of the building and up a shallow ramp. At the top, a weathered wooden door was lit by a blinking overhead light. The door had no knob or handle, and Pyro watched curiously as Sid opened the metal cover of a power box to his right. Instead of two rows of power breakers, the dirty cover revealed a very intricate computer panel lined with green blinking buttons.
Sid pressed on one of the green button and the panel blinked to life.
"Unlock," Sid said once and the door clicked and opened inward.
Pyro laughed as he glanced at the hidden control panel.
"That's it?" he asked, "All that hardware, and all you gotta say is 'unlock?'"
Sid grinned, "Keeps burglars confused...most of the buttons just play music if you hit them..."
Rebecca leaned over and touched one random key. The air was suddenly filled with the tune to 'Piano Man.' Pyro laughed again and followed after the twins as they entered the building.
As they moved down the front hall, sensors catching their motion caused lights to flicker on. The condition of the hall stood in stark contrast to the building's plain brick exterior. The walls were painted a deep blue, and the floor was covered in dark wood panels. There were scattered pieces of furniture around, two coat racks and a few small tables and chairs. To their left was a large set of double doors and Sid hit a glowing button next to them to call for the elevator.
When they were all inside, Pyro watched Sid hit the button for the top floor. Pyro noticed that the controls to go down below the first floor had been removed. Pyro wondered why, considering how easy getting in the front door had been. The elevator opened out onto the third floor with a soft chime.
Pyro followed the others out of the elevator and looked around the flat with surprise. The rooms were very similar in décor to the Malloys' home in Chicago. Many shelves filled with books lined the walls, and in between an array of artwork ranging from old canvases to new color photographs in simple wooden frames.
The main living area was large, and separated from the other rooms by short sections of wall. There were no doors dividing the main room from the dining hall or the kitchen or any other 'public' room.
One darkened hall lead back away from the central area, and Rebecca walked toward it.
"I'm going to get changed," she said, a smile on her tired face, "And maybe sleep for a while. I'm sure Sebastian will have us up all night telling him what happened..."
She wandered off, leaving Sid to grudgingly attend to their guests.
"Feel free to use the kitchen or any other facility here," Sid said, "Guest rooms are down that hall...," he pointed in another direction, "...Sebastian probably won't be around until after sunset...and I have a few things to check up on back in Chicago. I'll be in the study making phone calls if you need anything..."
Magneto nodded at the young man in appreciation before Sid headed off down the hall after Rebecca. Mystique watched him go with surprise.
"He still mistrusts us," she said softly to Erik, "Why would he leave us here unattended?"
Magneto smiled at her, "I'm sure they've had more dangerous guests here before than us, my dear. Toad...Pyro...Why don't you bring our things up from the car?"
Mystique frowned and strolled around the room as the other two left. Magneto turned toward her.
"It's been a long time since our involvement with the Council," he said to her, "Demons and other creatures have a much less difficult time blending in today's society than in the past. Mutants have taken much of the public's attention from them...and modern technologies have made it easier for them to secure themselves from watchful eyes. There are some places in this city, especially for young people, where even a Watcher would have difficulty telling the mutants from other non-human beings."
Mystique nodded, looking at one of her blue-skinned hands thoughtfully.
"Much has changed then..." she said.
"And much has not," a voice suddenly spoke from the shadows. Mystique spun around in surprise, but Erik Lensherr simply turned and smiled.
From the outside, shutters began to cover the apartment's large windows, blocking out the morning sunlight. From one corner of the room, Sebastian Malloy stepped silently forward and met Magneto's gaze.
"Hello, Erik," the vampire said and Erik Lensherr stepped toward him without fear.
"Hello, Sebastian..." he replied pleasantly, "Nice to see you again..."