Alone
Shadow Knight
Chapter 19: Devilish Mind
Disclaimer: Nope. I don't own the show.
~
-The most evil mind is always clever.-
~
W. . . where am I?
As the question ran through my mind, I felt something bitter in my mouth It had an odd metallic flavor to it as the foreign taste swirled about my tongue. I tried to open my mouth to spit it out. But my tongue felt heavy and thick, like dried cotton in my mouth.
Wh. . . What was going on?
I tried to open my eyes, but they felt puffy and sealed shut. Reaching up, I attempted to rub my eyes.
But I never felt my fingertips touch my face.
My heart suddenly beat a little faster against my chest. Wh. . Why couldn't I move my hands? As I tried again, I felt cold metal bite into the flesh of my wrists. Forcing my eyes open, I tried to focus in on the room I was being held in.
In my hazy vision, I could make out a pale light, flickering lightly in a corner. The erratic light illuminated a small metal tray atop a table. Several. . . interesting instruments lay organized neatly on its surface. I hadn't seen many blades like these before. I felt a shiver run down my spine as my eyes glazed over a particularly wicked looking one with a several small hooks.
This couldn't be good.
My head suddenly tipped forward involuntarily. Ivory locks, mingled with brunette tresses fell forward. With several strands sticking to my lipstick, I suddenly began to breath shallowly. I couldn't explain it, but I felt. . . so. . tired. Like I hadn't slept in years.
Why. . .was. . . I. . so tired?
"Hello, my dear Rogue."
The slick voice sent an unnerving chill through my body and brought me back to focus. Opening my heavy eyes, I focused on the son of a bitch. In the dancing light, I saw his thin lips curl into a sly grin.
"I hope your sleepiness is wearing off. We have many things to do and several ways to play the game. . ."
He was trying to intimidate me. . . and it was working. Shit. . . I couldn't let him see me like that though. . . If he did. . .
Well . . I wouldn't be in good condition for long.
"I'm wide awake, Shawn," I mumbled, somewhat slurring my words, "And I'm ready to play whatever game you intend. And just a warning, I don't lose easily."
Shawn grinned, casting his eyes toward mine. Reaching out a hand he laid it on my jaw. "Good," he murmured, stroking my jaw line with his finger, "That's just what I wanted to hear. . . ."
Oh damn.
Dropping his gaze from mine, I watched dizzily as he looked down at the instruments. Reaching out his long, pale fingers, he caressed the handles lightly, almost admiring each and every curve with careful scrutiny.
But the thing that scared me the most was the glint in his eyes. Something akin to the looks of an excited child with a new pleasure seeped into my vision.
"Do you like what you see?"
Jerking my head upward, I saw him watching me. "What?"
"Do you like my tools?"
What was I supposed to say to something like that? "I never preferred cutting tools myself. . . too messy."
Shawn looked a bit disappointed, his lips dipping into a false frown. "Really? That's too bad. . ."
His fingers suddenly curled around the handle of a scalpel. Holding it loosely by his side, he slowly approached me. I wasn't sure what I was attached to, but it felt like a metal gurney. Either way, I wasn't going to be getting away any time soon. There was only one way to stop him besides violence. . .
"Shawn. . . what are you doing?"
Shaking his head lightly, Shawn seemed to almost laugh as he twirled the knife playfully. "Oh my dear, dear Rogue . . . don't you know? You have become quite the fool in this mission. Is it because you have slowly regained some of your past? Or is it something else? A past friend?
Or perhaps something. . . more?"
He was suddenly by my side, his lips close to my ear.
"Perhaps. . . a lover?"
The knife blade tickled the flesh of my neck.
As an involuntary shiver ran through me, Shawn's lips pulled into a bemused, yet angry grin. Dragging the knife point lightly across my neck, he whispered huskily in my hair, "Yes. . . , I think that was it. You were. . . distracted. Let's just say. . .
The blade turned sharply upon the veins in my neck.
"I need to teach you a lesson. . . ."
His smile turned dark as the knife pierced lightly and drew some blood. Tipping forward he kissed the spot where I bled tenderly.
"A lesson. . . indeed. . ."
~
Another P.O.V.
I hated this place.
It drove me up the wall that I was reduced to asking help from them. . . the X-Men.
Damn it! Damn it!
As I hit the button on the gates, I felt my pride ripped from me. . . . but. . . this was for Rogue. . .
"Zz. . . Who is it?. . .Zz"
"Don't screw with me, Xavier. You know who it is."
The intercom responded after a pause. "Zz. . . What do you want, Mr. Maximoff? . . . Zz"
"I would. . . I need your. . I need your help."
If he asked me one more question I think I would just have to run in there and hit him. This was degrading and aggravating.
"Are you going to help me or not, old man?"
The gates opened with a click.
I prayed that I'd be able to stay calm and get through this.
~
"AaA. . Aa. . . AgGHh!"
Another scream ripped through me as another blade ripped through my flesh.
My breathing grew shallow as I glared at Shawn. The knife he held was dripping with scarlet. My blood.
Shit. . . this was starting to hurt.
"So. . .," Shawn smiled behind a wolfish grin, "How do you like my game, Roguey?"
I felt the blood in my mouth seep to my lips.
He stepped closer and let me take a closer look at his wicked tool. "Do you wish to stop this foolishness now? Don't you want to be part of my team once again? Don't you want to forget your past and be here. . with me?
His eyes locked with mine in a challenging grin, "Don't you wish be an assassin again. . . my favorite?"
I felt the revulsion reach its limit and I spat the blood in my mouth at him.
Pausing, he rose a hand and wiped it away calmly. Behind his mask of crimson, I saw a demon smiling at me.
"Now that wasn't very nice," he whispered as he picked up another tool.
~
Pietro P.O.V.
My steps faltered as I grew closer to the mansion doors. This was. . . too strange for me. The doors swung open and pulled me in like two wooden arms. They slammed behind me with a slam and I felt myself nearly jump.
Constraining the urge to run out, I swallowed the lump in my throat and turned as I detected movement from the stairs. My eyes watched as two legs steadily made their way down the stairs.
Cyclops.
"What are you doing here, Maximoff?!" he yelled, raising a hand to his glasses.
Suddenly a voice rang through my head, with such a force that it rattled my teeth in my skull.
^He came here asking for help, Scott. Do not attack him.^
I watched with narrowed eyes as the professor made his way toward us, his chair silently strolling across the marble floors. His steely eyes met mine with an even stare as I returned it fully. Wrinkles appeared lightly in his forehead as he raised his hands to form a fleshly arch.
"And what aid do you need exactly, Mr. Maximoff?"
I let my fingernails dig into the flesh of my palm as I took a sigh. Come on Pietro, I thought, you have to do this. . .
I opened my eyes and looked at Xavier.
. . . For Rogue.
"I. . . I need to save Rogue. . ."
Xavier's hardened stare suddenly crumbled away into a surprised compassion. He leaned forward in his wheelchair and seemed to concentrate on me. He fell back in a stunned stupor.
"So. . . . he's. . .back. . ."
I shot a glance at Xavier. "Who's back," I demanded sharply.
He reached a hand up to his forehead and braced himself lightly, staring into the space of the floor. "A man. . . I. . .I met him before. . . Just a while ago. . ."
"Who are you talking about?!" I ran over to his chair and clutched his shirt in my fist, forcing him to look at me.
"Professor!" I heard Cyclops shout, but I was to bothered by the look on Xavier's face.
It was twisted in a sort of pitying and half horrified manner. I dropped him back in his chair before Summers reached me, his eyes still on mine.
"I'm sorry Pietro. . . I. . . I don't know if I can help you. . ."
"What do you mean," I shouted, throwing my hands in the air in exasperation, "You have a school of mutants! How could you not help me?!"
He turned his glance from mine. "They. . they wouldn't be able to deal with his power. . He's too strong."
"Who are you talking about?! Answer me!"
Xavier cast his eyes toward mine gravely. "His name is Shawn Screouy. He. . . he came here a few years ago. . Just before Rogue left in fact. . . To. . to collect some of our students. He said that he would take care of them, he just wanted to somewhat 'adopt' them for a little while. I didn't trust him and tried to scan his mind but. . .
He cast his eyes up at me.
. . . there was something different about him. He had a mental block and seemed to realize my scan. He grew angry and left, promising I would be sorry. . . . A few months later. . Rogue left. I suppose that's what he meant. . ."
I felt my insides twist into knots. That's who Rogue was with. . right now? That's who took her?
"What exactly is his power?"
Xavier shuddered for a moment and looked at me. "His power is like mine, mind control in some ways, but to a further limit. He controls every fiber of the person he has in his power. I may be able to make people move or do what I want, but. . . . Shawn is different. . . .
. . . He takes over them. . and almost becomes them. He slowly obliterates all memories, all thing of the past, wiping them out to leave an empty shell, a soul less corpse who is. . . in a sense. . . another vessel for Shawn to dominate and thrive in.
He consumes their entire being and destroys it."
My breath froze on my lips.
Rogue. . . was being controlled by him? She was his prisoner? I turned toward Xavier deftly. His expression was hard and serious. I could tell he was contemplating something.
"Maximoff. . . Pietro. . .Do you. . . do you have true feelings for Rogue?"
I felt a brush of anger slather my face in a hot blush.
"Of course! Not that it's any of your business, but yes! Yes, I do."
He turned toward me.
"Then you may be the only hope for Rogue's last shred of humanity she has left to hold onto our world."
~
YeaH! Done at last. I PROMISE I'm finishing this story. It has been aggravating for ages and I will end this FINALLY. For those of you (who number few apparently. . . ah well) who continue to read this, I THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH!
I appreciate with all my heart. I do hope that you will be nice enough to review. I appreciate all criticism, comments, or just plain reviews. But if you are going to complain, please tell me what you thought I did wrong and how I might improve. Improvement is always needed. ^_^
Anywho, in the next chapter, Pietro and the X-Men crew will find Shawn and (hopefully, if I get there) combat!
Until then,
Ciao. ^_~
Shadow Knight
Chapter 19: Devilish Mind
Disclaimer: Nope. I don't own the show.
~
-The most evil mind is always clever.-
~
W. . . where am I?
As the question ran through my mind, I felt something bitter in my mouth It had an odd metallic flavor to it as the foreign taste swirled about my tongue. I tried to open my mouth to spit it out. But my tongue felt heavy and thick, like dried cotton in my mouth.
Wh. . . What was going on?
I tried to open my eyes, but they felt puffy and sealed shut. Reaching up, I attempted to rub my eyes.
But I never felt my fingertips touch my face.
My heart suddenly beat a little faster against my chest. Wh. . Why couldn't I move my hands? As I tried again, I felt cold metal bite into the flesh of my wrists. Forcing my eyes open, I tried to focus in on the room I was being held in.
In my hazy vision, I could make out a pale light, flickering lightly in a corner. The erratic light illuminated a small metal tray atop a table. Several. . . interesting instruments lay organized neatly on its surface. I hadn't seen many blades like these before. I felt a shiver run down my spine as my eyes glazed over a particularly wicked looking one with a several small hooks.
This couldn't be good.
My head suddenly tipped forward involuntarily. Ivory locks, mingled with brunette tresses fell forward. With several strands sticking to my lipstick, I suddenly began to breath shallowly. I couldn't explain it, but I felt. . . so. . tired. Like I hadn't slept in years.
Why. . .was. . . I. . so tired?
"Hello, my dear Rogue."
The slick voice sent an unnerving chill through my body and brought me back to focus. Opening my heavy eyes, I focused on the son of a bitch. In the dancing light, I saw his thin lips curl into a sly grin.
"I hope your sleepiness is wearing off. We have many things to do and several ways to play the game. . ."
He was trying to intimidate me. . . and it was working. Shit. . . I couldn't let him see me like that though. . . If he did. . .
Well . . I wouldn't be in good condition for long.
"I'm wide awake, Shawn," I mumbled, somewhat slurring my words, "And I'm ready to play whatever game you intend. And just a warning, I don't lose easily."
Shawn grinned, casting his eyes toward mine. Reaching out a hand he laid it on my jaw. "Good," he murmured, stroking my jaw line with his finger, "That's just what I wanted to hear. . . ."
Oh damn.
Dropping his gaze from mine, I watched dizzily as he looked down at the instruments. Reaching out his long, pale fingers, he caressed the handles lightly, almost admiring each and every curve with careful scrutiny.
But the thing that scared me the most was the glint in his eyes. Something akin to the looks of an excited child with a new pleasure seeped into my vision.
"Do you like what you see?"
Jerking my head upward, I saw him watching me. "What?"
"Do you like my tools?"
What was I supposed to say to something like that? "I never preferred cutting tools myself. . . too messy."
Shawn looked a bit disappointed, his lips dipping into a false frown. "Really? That's too bad. . ."
His fingers suddenly curled around the handle of a scalpel. Holding it loosely by his side, he slowly approached me. I wasn't sure what I was attached to, but it felt like a metal gurney. Either way, I wasn't going to be getting away any time soon. There was only one way to stop him besides violence. . .
"Shawn. . . what are you doing?"
Shaking his head lightly, Shawn seemed to almost laugh as he twirled the knife playfully. "Oh my dear, dear Rogue . . . don't you know? You have become quite the fool in this mission. Is it because you have slowly regained some of your past? Or is it something else? A past friend?
Or perhaps something. . . more?"
He was suddenly by my side, his lips close to my ear.
"Perhaps. . . a lover?"
The knife blade tickled the flesh of my neck.
As an involuntary shiver ran through me, Shawn's lips pulled into a bemused, yet angry grin. Dragging the knife point lightly across my neck, he whispered huskily in my hair, "Yes. . . , I think that was it. You were. . . distracted. Let's just say. . .
The blade turned sharply upon the veins in my neck.
"I need to teach you a lesson. . . ."
His smile turned dark as the knife pierced lightly and drew some blood. Tipping forward he kissed the spot where I bled tenderly.
"A lesson. . . indeed. . ."
~
Another P.O.V.
I hated this place.
It drove me up the wall that I was reduced to asking help from them. . . the X-Men.
Damn it! Damn it!
As I hit the button on the gates, I felt my pride ripped from me. . . . but. . . this was for Rogue. . .
"Zz. . . Who is it?. . .Zz"
"Don't screw with me, Xavier. You know who it is."
The intercom responded after a pause. "Zz. . . What do you want, Mr. Maximoff? . . . Zz"
"I would. . . I need your. . I need your help."
If he asked me one more question I think I would just have to run in there and hit him. This was degrading and aggravating.
"Are you going to help me or not, old man?"
The gates opened with a click.
I prayed that I'd be able to stay calm and get through this.
~
"AaA. . Aa. . . AgGHh!"
Another scream ripped through me as another blade ripped through my flesh.
My breathing grew shallow as I glared at Shawn. The knife he held was dripping with scarlet. My blood.
Shit. . . this was starting to hurt.
"So. . .," Shawn smiled behind a wolfish grin, "How do you like my game, Roguey?"
I felt the blood in my mouth seep to my lips.
He stepped closer and let me take a closer look at his wicked tool. "Do you wish to stop this foolishness now? Don't you want to be part of my team once again? Don't you want to forget your past and be here. . with me?
His eyes locked with mine in a challenging grin, "Don't you wish be an assassin again. . . my favorite?"
I felt the revulsion reach its limit and I spat the blood in my mouth at him.
Pausing, he rose a hand and wiped it away calmly. Behind his mask of crimson, I saw a demon smiling at me.
"Now that wasn't very nice," he whispered as he picked up another tool.
~
Pietro P.O.V.
My steps faltered as I grew closer to the mansion doors. This was. . . too strange for me. The doors swung open and pulled me in like two wooden arms. They slammed behind me with a slam and I felt myself nearly jump.
Constraining the urge to run out, I swallowed the lump in my throat and turned as I detected movement from the stairs. My eyes watched as two legs steadily made their way down the stairs.
Cyclops.
"What are you doing here, Maximoff?!" he yelled, raising a hand to his glasses.
Suddenly a voice rang through my head, with such a force that it rattled my teeth in my skull.
^He came here asking for help, Scott. Do not attack him.^
I watched with narrowed eyes as the professor made his way toward us, his chair silently strolling across the marble floors. His steely eyes met mine with an even stare as I returned it fully. Wrinkles appeared lightly in his forehead as he raised his hands to form a fleshly arch.
"And what aid do you need exactly, Mr. Maximoff?"
I let my fingernails dig into the flesh of my palm as I took a sigh. Come on Pietro, I thought, you have to do this. . .
I opened my eyes and looked at Xavier.
. . . For Rogue.
"I. . . I need to save Rogue. . ."
Xavier's hardened stare suddenly crumbled away into a surprised compassion. He leaned forward in his wheelchair and seemed to concentrate on me. He fell back in a stunned stupor.
"So. . . . he's. . .back. . ."
I shot a glance at Xavier. "Who's back," I demanded sharply.
He reached a hand up to his forehead and braced himself lightly, staring into the space of the floor. "A man. . . I. . .I met him before. . . Just a while ago. . ."
"Who are you talking about?!" I ran over to his chair and clutched his shirt in my fist, forcing him to look at me.
"Professor!" I heard Cyclops shout, but I was to bothered by the look on Xavier's face.
It was twisted in a sort of pitying and half horrified manner. I dropped him back in his chair before Summers reached me, his eyes still on mine.
"I'm sorry Pietro. . . I. . . I don't know if I can help you. . ."
"What do you mean," I shouted, throwing my hands in the air in exasperation, "You have a school of mutants! How could you not help me?!"
He turned his glance from mine. "They. . they wouldn't be able to deal with his power. . He's too strong."
"Who are you talking about?! Answer me!"
Xavier cast his eyes toward mine gravely. "His name is Shawn Screouy. He. . . he came here a few years ago. . Just before Rogue left in fact. . . To. . to collect some of our students. He said that he would take care of them, he just wanted to somewhat 'adopt' them for a little while. I didn't trust him and tried to scan his mind but. . .
He cast his eyes up at me.
. . . there was something different about him. He had a mental block and seemed to realize my scan. He grew angry and left, promising I would be sorry. . . . A few months later. . Rogue left. I suppose that's what he meant. . ."
I felt my insides twist into knots. That's who Rogue was with. . right now? That's who took her?
"What exactly is his power?"
Xavier shuddered for a moment and looked at me. "His power is like mine, mind control in some ways, but to a further limit. He controls every fiber of the person he has in his power. I may be able to make people move or do what I want, but. . . . Shawn is different. . . .
. . . He takes over them. . and almost becomes them. He slowly obliterates all memories, all thing of the past, wiping them out to leave an empty shell, a soul less corpse who is. . . in a sense. . . another vessel for Shawn to dominate and thrive in.
He consumes their entire being and destroys it."
My breath froze on my lips.
Rogue. . . was being controlled by him? She was his prisoner? I turned toward Xavier deftly. His expression was hard and serious. I could tell he was contemplating something.
"Maximoff. . . Pietro. . .Do you. . . do you have true feelings for Rogue?"
I felt a brush of anger slather my face in a hot blush.
"Of course! Not that it's any of your business, but yes! Yes, I do."
He turned toward me.
"Then you may be the only hope for Rogue's last shred of humanity she has left to hold onto our world."
~
YeaH! Done at last. I PROMISE I'm finishing this story. It has been aggravating for ages and I will end this FINALLY. For those of you (who number few apparently. . . ah well) who continue to read this, I THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH!
I appreciate with all my heart. I do hope that you will be nice enough to review. I appreciate all criticism, comments, or just plain reviews. But if you are going to complain, please tell me what you thought I did wrong and how I might improve. Improvement is always needed. ^_^
Anywho, in the next chapter, Pietro and the X-Men crew will find Shawn and (hopefully, if I get there) combat!
Until then,
Ciao. ^_~