Chapter Fifteen:
It was still searching...nearly ravenous...needing to feed...searching...
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Storm walked toward the pew where Kurt was sitting, and paused a few rows away. He was wearing his long jacket, a hood pulled over his head, which was bowed deeply against his chest. She took another step forward, the click of her shoes echoing through the silent church. She could see that Kurt had his arms tucked against his chest.
He's praying, Storm thought, a soft smile touching her face. She did not want to interrupt his meditations, but as she came close to him, she heard him taking ragged breaths. At first, Storm thought his quiet gasps were because of his injury, but then she realized...they were soft sobs.
Kurt did not react as she sat down next to him. Storm watched him sadly for a moment, waves of compassion for her friend dissipating any lingering anger she had been feeling.
As people walked past them, a few gave the two mutants curious stares, but none held hostility. Storm did not pay any mind to them; all of her focus right now was solely on Kurt. Her friend...her teammate...who had so cautiously asked her to dinner tonight...when she had been the one who was a little frightened of his kind attentions...
Storm reached over and put a gentle hand on his shoulder.
Kurt started in surprise, and jerked his head quickly up at her. The expression on his face was anxious, almost as if he expected the person to his left to be hostile, but it faded immediately when he saw Storm.
"Hi," she said, "I thought this was where you went. Whenever I need to find you, it always seems to be in church."
Kurt laughed softly through his tears and wiped his eyes before speaking.
"Ya," he replied, offering her an apologetic smile, "It is just where I like to go when...when I need to..."
Storm nodded and then sighed, "The Professor told us what happened. And when Rogue said you teleported out of the medical bay..."
Kurt chuckled again, "I hope she is not too angry with me about that."
Storm smirked, "I think the little bit of Logan in her should have calmed down by the time we get back. Although, I'm sure Henry will still be concerned that you left before he could tend to your wound."
"It's nothing..." Kurt replied, and then stared forward, and continued in a low voice, "It's nothing...really..."
Storm watched him closely, as Kurt touched his middle and shifted with discomfort. His eyes, however, remained locked on the altar in front of him. They seemed distant again, lost, and Storm worried that he was hurting from more than the bruise on his chest.
"You know she was wrong...don't you?" Storm suddenly asked, her voice becoming more forceful.
Kurt glanced at her again, "What do you mean?"
"Faith," Storm replied firmly, "She was wrong about you. You know that, right?"
Kurt looked at if he was about to reply...and then paused and stared downward. He seemed to draw further into his hood, as if he was trying to hide from her unyielding gaze.
"Kurt?" Storm asked, her voice softer, and she touched his arm again, "As soon as she found out we were mutants, she knew you weren't the thing she was hunting. She was tired and frustrated, and that's the only reason she would believe that..."
"What do you believe, Ororo?" Kurt asked, almost bitterly, still staring at the floor.
"It doesn't matter what I believe," she said and Kurt shook his head.
"Yes..." he said, "Yes...it does..."
Storm narrowed her eyes, her gaze becoming stern again, the glare of the goddess. She felt new anger spark in her heart, both at the Slayer for hurting Kurt...and a little at Kurt for doubting himself over the young woman's thoughtless mistake.
"I believe..." she began, "You...are a mutant."
She stressed the last word so resentfully that Kurt looked up at her with shock. She folded her arms and repeated her words again, making no effort to keep her voice low.
"You are a mutant," she said, "I am a mutant. You want to know what I believe in? That is what I believe in. I am not a god. I am not a monster. I am a mutant. And do you know what a mutant is, Kurt? I'm not talking about what the world thinks we are, I'm asking do you know what a mutant is?"
Kurt stared at her with wide eyes and did not interrupt. He had never heard her talk like this, with such conviction, about who she was before.
"A mutant..." Storm said, "...is a human being. Not ordinary, not normal, whatever that has ever meant. Just...a human being with a few genes that have been changed...by God or whatever else. Humans with gifts. Some people are born being geniuses, or great athletes, or talented artists. Our gifts are simply a little more obvious than theirs..."
She tilted her head slightly and a challenging grin formed on her face.
"You're not a demon, Kurt" Storm said, "We're mutants...and that's what I have faith in. I guess now it's just a question of...who you believe you are. No one else. Just you."
He stared at her for another moment and then shifted his gaze away. She did not understand. How could be believe in himself when so many people in his past have doubted him?
Kurt felt a warm hand curl around his own and he glanced up at her again.
"I still have faith in you, Kurt Wagner," she said and then added with a grin, "The Amazing Nightcrawler. We all do. Even when you're doubting yourself, never doubt that."
He took her hand in both of his, and felt fresh tears begin to course down his face.
Kurt looked up at her and smiled. His eyes widened with simple happiness as his friend's words drew him out of his darkness. Storm smiled back, and for a moment, they did not see anything but each other.
Kurt turned toward her, wanting to thank her a hundred times, and wanting to tell her a thousand things he had tried to in the nine months since Alkalai Lake...
But, their moment was suddenly interrupted by a terrified scream.
Storm and Kurt glanced back toward the church's entrance, and saw a cloud of black smoke begin to billow through the open doors. The scattered candles in the hall grew dim, and the air around them became bitterly cold.
The few people seated near the back began running frantically toward the altar, searching for a way out and away from the horrid mist that began to shadow the back wall. From within the swirling mass, Kurt and Storm saw a pair of yellow eyes floating against a disembodied face. Tendrils of smoke reached out toward the screaming people, curling along the pews, forcing itself forward.
Storm grabbed Kurt by the arm and yanked him to the side of the church until they were hidden behind a tall column. As they peered around carefully, Kurt heard Storm speak softly.
"I think we found the Slayer's demon," she said, "I'm going to call out to the Professor..."
Kurt nodded, and stared in horror at the creature that was invading his church.
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Faith sighed with frustration as the X-Men talked about the best way to confront the demon when they found it. Their theorizing and strategizing was not only insanely boring...but it was really staring to piss her off.
"Where's the knife?" she heard the chick named Mary ask suddenly and Faith grinned.
"At least one of you has the right idea," Faith remarked angrily and then leaned forward with her hands on the table, "Look, Professor X...I know Giles probably told you all about the fun and nasty shit I did back in Sunnydale, right?"
"If you are referring to the incident at graduation, then yes, but..." Xavier replied, until she held a hand up to interrupt him.
"Fine...great...peachy..." Faith continued, "But don't think my part in it was strictly as one of the bad guys. I tried their little Scooby group in Sunnydale...but it really just wasn't my thing. What I did...I did for my own reasons..."
Faith stared at Xavier, expecting him to stop her or lecture her, but he simply nodded and allowed her to speak.
"But...I've been on my own for a long time now," Faith said, her fingers scraping against the table, "And what I've finally come to realize is...I'm a Slayer. No matter who I'm buddies with this week or who I try to pretend to be tomorrow, I will always be a Slayer first."
No one spoke as she glanced around at each of them. What she saw there was not what she had expected. They were looking at her with empathy...but not pity. Understanding... but not judgment. It was strange, confusing, but she also felt a strange measure of relief.
They're mutants, she thought as she regarded each of them curiously, They don't even have the Council to blame for who they are. They just have Nature...and that Mother can be a bitch...
Xavier smiled confidently at her as that thought reached his mind. He had not formed a telepathic link with her, she just thought at a very high volume.
"You wanna help me?" Faith asked them with finality, "Then let me help you."
The X-Men exchanged glances and then all eyes fell on the Professor as they waited for him to reply. Xavier mused for a moment, regarding her closely before he replied.
"Very well," he said, "What do think we need to do?"
Faith's angry expression suddenly fell into a grin, and she repeated the words Mary had said earlier.
"First...where's the knife?"
"I think that will be second," Cyclops added sternly.
Faith rolled her eyes, and muttered, "Spoil sport..."
"First," Cyclops continued, "Where's the demon?"
"It's going to head somewhere that has a lot of people," Faith replied, "That's why I thought it would be here. But...I don't sense it anywhere nearby. Is there any place else that you guys can think of that'll be crowded tonight?"
"The closest place is Rusty's," Bobby said, and then looked at little nervous when Cyclops and Henry gave him surprised, though amused, glances.
"Checked there," Faith said, "It would be easy pickins but I stabbed it when it was attacking the old guy...so I doubt it'll be back..."
As they discussed locations, Mary stared down at the picture of the demon in the Professor's volume of lore. She stared at the image and tried to focus her mind on the creature. She had never attempted to draw out her visions before. They had always just sort of happened, but she was at this school to learn about her powers, and this was the perfect opportunity to push herself. Besides, if she fainted, the infirmary was right down the hall...
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...Mary narrowed her eyes on those of the demon in the picture and focused...
God, there is such hate there
...She felt the cold first...the swirling masses of shadow and smoke...
Come on, vision, give me something I don't know
...She heard it next...a vicious shriek as it burst out into the sunlight...
...Another shriek as the Slayer's blade cut into its vague form...
Its voice? Is that its voice?
...Another scream...but this time the voice was not that of the demon...
...It was a human voice...screaming in terror...
Oh, no...it's found someone
...As the creature tore through the front door...
...But it paused...as it stared up at the altar...at the symbols of faith...
...It had to regroup before it could continue onward...
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"The church," Mary said and stumbled backward into a chair as the vision faded.
The others looked at her in surprise.
"There's a church?" Faith asked with a frown, "What church? Where?"
Xavier closed his eyes as Storm's voice called to his for assistance.
"Kurt's church," the Professor said, "It's about a mile away toward town."
"Would there be many people there now?" Cyclops asked.
"No, there are no services at this hour," Xavier said, and then frowned with concern, "But Storm says there are still about two dozen civilians, plus Kurt and herself."
"It's hungry...not choosy, and it'll take what it can get," Faith said, moving toward the conference room door. She paused at the exit and glanced back at the others.
"Come on, X-Men," she said with a wicked grin, "Let's see what you guys can do. Mary, you should bring that book along with us so we can finish the vamp geeks' ceremony...and will somebody please give me my knife!"