Roxy and me got another part for you. PLEASE REVIEW!
Part III: "The Burning Dragon"
The next day I got up early to begin my search. I now had a little more information to work with. True, I was more confused than I had ever been, but nonetheless I had more information.
I had no problem finding the address that Todd had gave me, but when I found it, I was in shock. Would this Kitty girl really have lived in such an apartment? I mean, it was a dump! The whole complex was run down and shabby. Plus, the last few blocks had reeked of fish! She just had to live in Chinatown!
Making my way up the stairs I tried my best to hold my breath. The carpet of the hallway had been permanently penetrated by the smell of cigar smoke. Don't even get me started on how dark and claustrophobic it was! Hmm! This Kitty must have been really scared to be staying here!
I walked down till I found her apartment number A27. I knocked lightly, wait, knocked? What am I thinking? She probably left here along time ago. A few moments later, thanks to my lucky credit card, I had the door open.
Oh my goodness! It looked like a hurricane had swept through this place. Furniture, paper, pictures, and clothes were everywhere. Whatever they were looking for, I sure hope they didn't find it.
I 'quickly', and I mean quickly searched the house. I found nothing that seemed like any value. Well wait, out of the corner of my eye I saw something poking out from the bottom of a drawer. I went closer to inspect. Slid in between the wooden slats of the drawer was a picture. A little girl, who I assume was Kitty, sitting on her Dad's lap, and her mother stood next to them. They were on the porch of a small cabin, it must have been in the mountains or something, because the scenery was beautiful. Wow, she must have had great parents. This was something foreign to me.
I didn't know exactly why she would have hidden it, but I put it in my pocket for future reference anyway.
I left the apartment and headed down the street. Now, if I were Kitty, where would I go? It was useless, I had no idea where to go from here. Along the side of the street I saw an old Chinese woman selling jewelry. It was worth a try. I walked over to where she sat, and bent down. "Excuse me?"
"Yas?" She asked in a thick accent, "Oh, hallo! Do yu wan to buy som jewelry, pretty rings, fo a pretty lady? Yas?"
"No, no. Not at the moment, I am looking for this girl, have you seen her around here?" I questioned as I pulled out the picture of Kitty.
"Ah, yu los your girlfriend? Ahaha, can find her?" She laughed at me.
"Hah, no. I am just wondering if you have seen her around here?" I repeated, a little bit annoyed.
"Hmm, lem me see" She held the picture close to her face, "Yas, pretty girl. She come round here. Na fo while though."
I took the picture back, "Where did she usually hang out?"
"Haang ou?" She repeated me and smiled. "She ea at da restaurant down dere. She h'aang ou' with da dragons. Yas, da dragons."
I looked at her with a puzzled expression. "O...K the dragons? Where are they?"
She cut me off, "You nosey boy! No mor questions. You go now, harting business. Go naw."
She shoed me away with her hands. 'Great, another confusing thing about dragons. Is that all they ever talk about down here?' Oh well, I kept walking anyway.
After another twenty minutes of walking around I was beginning to think that it was hopeless. I wanted to ask someone about "the dragons" but people seemed to be avoiding me, besides, they would probably all think I was crazy.
That's when I saw it. On the corner of the street, straight ahead, "Palace of the Red Dragons." A large sign hung over an oriental style building. It was a restaurant. Could this be what Kitty and the old women meant? And was J-Lee here? There was only one way to find out. Besides, I was getting pretty hungry. I just hope that it doesn't smell like fish inside!
I walked into the lobby of the restaurant. It was nice. Red carpets lined the floor, and two large gold statues of dragons hovered over the doorway to the dining room. Oriental looking flowers and plants were placed everywhere. And luckily for me, it smelled like vegetables, and chicken, and egg rolls, not fish!
"Welcome, to the Palace of the Red Dragons. How many in your group?" Asked a calm voice with a slight Chinese accent.
"Ah, its just me." I replied, suddenly feeling somewhat like a looser.
"Sure, right this way." She smiled, and bowed her head.
I followed her under the dragons, and into the dining room. The inside of the restaurant was just as fancy as the lobby. She sat me at a table by the window. I had a clear view of the foggy sky. I was definitely going to rain again.
Turning to my right I saw a large aquarium in the middle of the room. Wow. At least Kitty ate with taste.
I looked over the menu for a minute, and thought about the previous events of the day. The strange old woman, the torn up house. My thoughts were interrupted by a soft sweet voice.
"Can I get you anything to drink sir?" She asked and smiled.
I looked up to her ready to give my order, and tell her I wanted a Cola, when I saw her named tag. I stopped short. It read "J Lee." Could I be any luckier? I must have stared at her for a moment, because she gave me a weird look.
"Ah, yes, can I get you anything to drink?" She asked again.
"Oh," I said blushing, "Yes, I'll just take a Coke."
"Sure." She eyed me curiously. "I'll bring one right out."
'What should I do next?' I could just ask her if she knew where Kitty was, but she might not tell me, if she thinks I'll hurt Kitty. I remember how Todd reacted. No I had to be, careful, tactful' she came back.
"Do you know Kitty Pryde?" I blurted out, without even thinking. So much for tactful.
Her hand slipped and she spilled my drink. That meant she was nervous, she had to know something. She looked up at me quickly with a shocked yet scared expression. Like a rabbit that just realized it was in front of a fox.
"Ahhh sorry about the drink." She mumbled quickly, "I be right back."
Stupid, stupid, stupid! What was I thinking! Now she'd never tell me. At least, not without some forcing. Wait! The necklace! Kitty's necklace, I knew it would come in handy, I just had to show her the necklace. Ha. I smiled to myself gloating about my quick thinking. I turned to look out the window. I wonder if it was raining yet? I looked outside with shock! Hey, that girl looks just like J-Lee, wait! That girl is J-Lee! She was walking fast out the front door, and heading past my window to the alley. She must have sensed someone watching her, for she looked up and met my confused look. She wasted no time. Moving with haste, she took off running. Yes, she was fast, but not as fast as me. I leaped from my seat and sped out of the restaurant. Just in time to see her turn the corner. I followed her.
The sky now crackled with the threat of a storm. Little drops of rain began to sprinkle from the sky.
I sped down the street, and around the alley so quickly, that I caught up with her. With just enough time to stop and think to myself, 'How come I am meeting all of Kitty's friends in an alley?' Oh well, back to the chase.
"Stop!" I said loudly. "There is now way you can out run me!"
She turned towards me, her yellow raincoat hung from her shoulders, and she gave me an evil look. "Out run you no, slow you down, yes!" She then thrust her hands out toward me, and before I knew it, a large beam of heat and sparks was flying at me!
I jumped out the way, and moved around in front of her. She wiped her head around and looked at me, ready to shoot again.
"Wait, now listen" I began. "I just want to talk, I'm not going to hurt you."
"Oh ya?" Was her sarcastic, yet serious reply, "Well talk to this!"
Could she really be that insensible? Apparently yes! I hadn't expected her to try and shoot me again. I moved to the side, but not quick enough. The beam hit my side, and burned.
I dropped to my knees in pain. And I thought woman loved to talk! Boy was I wrong! Her hand glowed with heat, and she reached down to grab my neck! I moved like the speed of light, and shoved the necklace in her face.
I waited for the feel of intense heat on my neck. But it never came. She stopped dead in her tracks, and looked at the necklace. I let out a sigh of relief.
"That's Kitty's necklace." She said in a surprised tone of voice.
"Duh!" I replied, still holding my side. It hurt bad to move.
"Where did you get that?" She demanded, her defenses went up again.
"I got it from Todd, Kitty's friend. I am looking for Kitty for him and Wolverine!" There, that answer should shut her up! I was still mad that she hit me.
"So, you're not trying to hurt her." She was still surprised.
I followed her astonished remark up with another "Duh!"
"Hey! Watch it buddy! I'm just trying to look out for Kitty. I wouldn't be a friend if I didn't do that!" She looked at my side. "Sorry about that. The burning should go away in a couple hours."
"A couple hours? Did you have to hit me that hard!" Now I was just irritated. She sooo better have something good to tell me!
"Here." She said taking my arm, "Let me help you. You can come up to my apartment and dry off, then we can talk."
I pulled my arm away from her. "I'm okay. I can get up myself." As I tried, I winced with pain. "Your apartment isn't far from here is it?" I asked, feeling a little better about her.
She shook her head and offered her hand. Taking her hand she pulled me up.
"Hi." She said, for the first time, in a pleasant voice. "I'm Jubilee, or J- Lee, whatever you want to call me."
I smiled back and shook her hand. "Hi I'm Pietro, or Master, whatever you want to call me."
This was the beginning of our truce. We both turned and walked back out of the alley. The streets were now clear, and the rain poured. The only light we had was the lightening that streaked the sky. Finally, I felt like the whole day had not been a waste. I was that much closer to finding Pryde.
Part III: "The Burning Dragon"
The next day I got up early to begin my search. I now had a little more information to work with. True, I was more confused than I had ever been, but nonetheless I had more information.
I had no problem finding the address that Todd had gave me, but when I found it, I was in shock. Would this Kitty girl really have lived in such an apartment? I mean, it was a dump! The whole complex was run down and shabby. Plus, the last few blocks had reeked of fish! She just had to live in Chinatown!
Making my way up the stairs I tried my best to hold my breath. The carpet of the hallway had been permanently penetrated by the smell of cigar smoke. Don't even get me started on how dark and claustrophobic it was! Hmm! This Kitty must have been really scared to be staying here!
I walked down till I found her apartment number A27. I knocked lightly, wait, knocked? What am I thinking? She probably left here along time ago. A few moments later, thanks to my lucky credit card, I had the door open.
Oh my goodness! It looked like a hurricane had swept through this place. Furniture, paper, pictures, and clothes were everywhere. Whatever they were looking for, I sure hope they didn't find it.
I 'quickly', and I mean quickly searched the house. I found nothing that seemed like any value. Well wait, out of the corner of my eye I saw something poking out from the bottom of a drawer. I went closer to inspect. Slid in between the wooden slats of the drawer was a picture. A little girl, who I assume was Kitty, sitting on her Dad's lap, and her mother stood next to them. They were on the porch of a small cabin, it must have been in the mountains or something, because the scenery was beautiful. Wow, she must have had great parents. This was something foreign to me.
I didn't know exactly why she would have hidden it, but I put it in my pocket for future reference anyway.
I left the apartment and headed down the street. Now, if I were Kitty, where would I go? It was useless, I had no idea where to go from here. Along the side of the street I saw an old Chinese woman selling jewelry. It was worth a try. I walked over to where she sat, and bent down. "Excuse me?"
"Yas?" She asked in a thick accent, "Oh, hallo! Do yu wan to buy som jewelry, pretty rings, fo a pretty lady? Yas?"
"No, no. Not at the moment, I am looking for this girl, have you seen her around here?" I questioned as I pulled out the picture of Kitty.
"Ah, yu los your girlfriend? Ahaha, can find her?" She laughed at me.
"Hah, no. I am just wondering if you have seen her around here?" I repeated, a little bit annoyed.
"Hmm, lem me see" She held the picture close to her face, "Yas, pretty girl. She come round here. Na fo while though."
I took the picture back, "Where did she usually hang out?"
"Haang ou?" She repeated me and smiled. "She ea at da restaurant down dere. She h'aang ou' with da dragons. Yas, da dragons."
I looked at her with a puzzled expression. "O...K the dragons? Where are they?"
She cut me off, "You nosey boy! No mor questions. You go now, harting business. Go naw."
She shoed me away with her hands. 'Great, another confusing thing about dragons. Is that all they ever talk about down here?' Oh well, I kept walking anyway.
After another twenty minutes of walking around I was beginning to think that it was hopeless. I wanted to ask someone about "the dragons" but people seemed to be avoiding me, besides, they would probably all think I was crazy.
That's when I saw it. On the corner of the street, straight ahead, "Palace of the Red Dragons." A large sign hung over an oriental style building. It was a restaurant. Could this be what Kitty and the old women meant? And was J-Lee here? There was only one way to find out. Besides, I was getting pretty hungry. I just hope that it doesn't smell like fish inside!
I walked into the lobby of the restaurant. It was nice. Red carpets lined the floor, and two large gold statues of dragons hovered over the doorway to the dining room. Oriental looking flowers and plants were placed everywhere. And luckily for me, it smelled like vegetables, and chicken, and egg rolls, not fish!
"Welcome, to the Palace of the Red Dragons. How many in your group?" Asked a calm voice with a slight Chinese accent.
"Ah, its just me." I replied, suddenly feeling somewhat like a looser.
"Sure, right this way." She smiled, and bowed her head.
I followed her under the dragons, and into the dining room. The inside of the restaurant was just as fancy as the lobby. She sat me at a table by the window. I had a clear view of the foggy sky. I was definitely going to rain again.
Turning to my right I saw a large aquarium in the middle of the room. Wow. At least Kitty ate with taste.
I looked over the menu for a minute, and thought about the previous events of the day. The strange old woman, the torn up house. My thoughts were interrupted by a soft sweet voice.
"Can I get you anything to drink sir?" She asked and smiled.
I looked up to her ready to give my order, and tell her I wanted a Cola, when I saw her named tag. I stopped short. It read "J Lee." Could I be any luckier? I must have stared at her for a moment, because she gave me a weird look.
"Ah, yes, can I get you anything to drink?" She asked again.
"Oh," I said blushing, "Yes, I'll just take a Coke."
"Sure." She eyed me curiously. "I'll bring one right out."
'What should I do next?' I could just ask her if she knew where Kitty was, but she might not tell me, if she thinks I'll hurt Kitty. I remember how Todd reacted. No I had to be, careful, tactful' she came back.
"Do you know Kitty Pryde?" I blurted out, without even thinking. So much for tactful.
Her hand slipped and she spilled my drink. That meant she was nervous, she had to know something. She looked up at me quickly with a shocked yet scared expression. Like a rabbit that just realized it was in front of a fox.
"Ahhh sorry about the drink." She mumbled quickly, "I be right back."
Stupid, stupid, stupid! What was I thinking! Now she'd never tell me. At least, not without some forcing. Wait! The necklace! Kitty's necklace, I knew it would come in handy, I just had to show her the necklace. Ha. I smiled to myself gloating about my quick thinking. I turned to look out the window. I wonder if it was raining yet? I looked outside with shock! Hey, that girl looks just like J-Lee, wait! That girl is J-Lee! She was walking fast out the front door, and heading past my window to the alley. She must have sensed someone watching her, for she looked up and met my confused look. She wasted no time. Moving with haste, she took off running. Yes, she was fast, but not as fast as me. I leaped from my seat and sped out of the restaurant. Just in time to see her turn the corner. I followed her.
The sky now crackled with the threat of a storm. Little drops of rain began to sprinkle from the sky.
I sped down the street, and around the alley so quickly, that I caught up with her. With just enough time to stop and think to myself, 'How come I am meeting all of Kitty's friends in an alley?' Oh well, back to the chase.
"Stop!" I said loudly. "There is now way you can out run me!"
She turned towards me, her yellow raincoat hung from her shoulders, and she gave me an evil look. "Out run you no, slow you down, yes!" She then thrust her hands out toward me, and before I knew it, a large beam of heat and sparks was flying at me!
I jumped out the way, and moved around in front of her. She wiped her head around and looked at me, ready to shoot again.
"Wait, now listen" I began. "I just want to talk, I'm not going to hurt you."
"Oh ya?" Was her sarcastic, yet serious reply, "Well talk to this!"
Could she really be that insensible? Apparently yes! I hadn't expected her to try and shoot me again. I moved to the side, but not quick enough. The beam hit my side, and burned.
I dropped to my knees in pain. And I thought woman loved to talk! Boy was I wrong! Her hand glowed with heat, and she reached down to grab my neck! I moved like the speed of light, and shoved the necklace in her face.
I waited for the feel of intense heat on my neck. But it never came. She stopped dead in her tracks, and looked at the necklace. I let out a sigh of relief.
"That's Kitty's necklace." She said in a surprised tone of voice.
"Duh!" I replied, still holding my side. It hurt bad to move.
"Where did you get that?" She demanded, her defenses went up again.
"I got it from Todd, Kitty's friend. I am looking for Kitty for him and Wolverine!" There, that answer should shut her up! I was still mad that she hit me.
"So, you're not trying to hurt her." She was still surprised.
I followed her astonished remark up with another "Duh!"
"Hey! Watch it buddy! I'm just trying to look out for Kitty. I wouldn't be a friend if I didn't do that!" She looked at my side. "Sorry about that. The burning should go away in a couple hours."
"A couple hours? Did you have to hit me that hard!" Now I was just irritated. She sooo better have something good to tell me!
"Here." She said taking my arm, "Let me help you. You can come up to my apartment and dry off, then we can talk."
I pulled my arm away from her. "I'm okay. I can get up myself." As I tried, I winced with pain. "Your apartment isn't far from here is it?" I asked, feeling a little better about her.
She shook her head and offered her hand. Taking her hand she pulled me up.
"Hi." She said, for the first time, in a pleasant voice. "I'm Jubilee, or J- Lee, whatever you want to call me."
I smiled back and shook her hand. "Hi I'm Pietro, or Master, whatever you want to call me."
This was the beginning of our truce. We both turned and walked back out of the alley. The streets were now clear, and the rain poured. The only light we had was the lightening that streaked the sky. Finally, I felt like the whole day had not been a waste. I was that much closer to finding Pryde.