The day after Dante had arrived, Professor Xavier had gathered everyone on the hallway stairs for a special announcement. Everyone sat on the heavily carpeted stairs, looking down on the tall wheelchair-bound man, talking about honesty and sincerity, flanked by Storm and Wolverine. Dante hung back, as he knew that the meeting was solely about him. He thought about trying to warn his Uncle that he was making a fool out of himself, but he didn't have the heart to interrupt him.
"Look if he is going to try and tell us that there is a new kid, he could at least be direct," muttered Boom Boom to Kitty.
"Tell me about it. This has gone on long enough," decided Shadowcat. Kitty Morris had the ability to faze through solid matter, making her highly useful for theft. She started to faze through the pine stairs, when Charles Xavier, finally got to the point.
"… And so, it is with great pleasure that I introduce, Elemental," indicating Dante, who stepped out, smiled a toothless smile, did a nervous wave, and continued looking at the floor.
"He will be taking over from me as one of your teachers. Dante, is adept at controlling mutant abilities, after seeing most of the world's mutants, and their powers. He is much more qualified than me to teach you how to control yours. If you wish to learn more about his powers, ask him. I don't want to go into details, and yes Magma, he is my Nephew." Magma blushed a deep scarlet and looked away from Dante's face.
Ten minutes later, the meeting was over, and Dante made his way to the kitchen, to get a drink. Bobby followed him as the rest of the mutants went back to their basketball games, colouring books and computer games.
"So, erm, what are your 'mutant abilities'." Questioned Bobby.
"I can create and control the Greek elements," replied Dante, looking up from his pink cherry-ade.
"Greek elements?"
"You know, fire, water, wind and earth. They are what the Ancient Greeks thought of as the elements of nature. I can control them in much the same way that Pyro can. I just don't need a zippo to do it." Dante returned his gaze to the drink in his hand.
"Then why carry a lighter?"
"Why do you think?" smiled Dante.
"But doesn't smoking kill you…?"
"To a normal person, it would," interrupted Dante, " but for me, smoke does little more than Carbon Dioxide does to you. I do it more for the enjoyment more than anything."
"Carbon Dioxide?" replied Bobby, confusedly. HE thought about it for a minute. "Got a girlfriend?" enquired Bobby, as he pulled open the frosted drink's compartment of the towering fridge.
"There is someone I was involved with, but they are back in England. And I don't want to talk about it," said Dante. Bobby's mouth opened and closed again, in the same way a goldfish would. With the game of twenty questions over, he departed from the room and narrowly missed Logan walking in.
"What, you want to talk to me as well?" laughed Dante as he pulled up a stool at the tiled breakfast bar. Complete with bowl of fruit.
"What makes you think that?" replied Logan, as he plucked a banana from the bowl and sat opposite Dante. Dante sat there as he watched Logan peeling the bright yellow banana.
"Fine then, I'm going out," said Dante as he finished his drink. Logan started putting the banana in his mouth. Head first. Dante put the glass he had been using, in the chrome dishwasher, and strode out of the sparkling kitchen. Logan bit down on his banana as Dante stopped, stared and continued on the way to his chambre. Half way up the stairs, he met Aurora, who asked him whether or not he was going into the local town.
"Yeah, I am. I feel suffocated here, so I'm going to find the local lake, and scare some fish."
"You want a ride?"
"Actually I was going to ask Scott if I could borrow his sports car."
"I wouldn't bother if I were you," said Storm, making her way down the stairs as she talked, "he hasn't ever lent his car out to anyone. Ever. And since you're new, you haven't got a chance. Good luck anyway."
"Fine. I'll have a go anyway," he shouted after her, "but if he doesn't, can I have a ride?" She turned towards to him. She smiled a shiny, bright toothed smile and said, "No." Dante sighed and continued up the stairs. He wandered down the corridor and stopped at a door with a violent red aura around it. Bright white light shone from around the sky blue painted door. Dante went to touch the doorknob, when he started to hear music coming from inside the room…
Sing for absolution, I will be singing…
The music echoed round the dusty corridor. He grasped the doorknob firmly in his right hand and twisted. The door was flung open and inside was a 19-year old reading a collection of magazines through red tinted glasses, the kind a dyslexic would wear. He looked up from the print and picture to see a tall Hispano at his door. His shoulder length dark brown hair fell over a leather jacket that screamed rebel. His pale blue shirt showing half a crescent moon and the words, 'In the dark', with his scarlet and ebony necklace, swinging over it at his throat. A bronze belt held up a pair of black Levi's, with a buckle made from black gold. His midnight Doc. Martins laced at his feet, making him three inches taller than normal. His earth-brown eyes settled on the teen reading the magazine.
"Can I borrow your car?" asked Dante as he lent on the doorframe.
"What for?"
"To run over bunny rabbits," shot Dante.
"Then yes." A smile crept to the lips of the seated teen. The first smile since the death of his beloved. A flash of silver as a set of keys with a red owl key ring landed in Dante's creased palm.
"It's the blue Lamborghini in the garage. Don't get it muddy, or there will be hell to pay."
"Got it, no mud," smiled Dante, "and thanks. Aurora said you never loan your car."
"What?" shouted Scott, "I lent it to her last week!" the disheartened youth marched out of the room, leaving Dante to peruse his magazine collection. Dante got closer to the pile of magazines. Red porches and golden Jaguars leapt out at him as he turned the magazines into another pile. The last magazine in the stack was different, however. There was an image of a man in just his Y-Fronts, being shaved by a semi-naked woman. The title of the magazine said 'Attitude'. Dante flicked through to see pictures of naked men come roaring at him. He closed the magazine, returned order to the stack, and walked out of the room, slamming the light door behind him. The CD player had changed track and the words
Hopelessly, I'll love you endlessly…
He listened at the door as
But I won't give you up, I won't let you down
He moved closer to the door.
But the moment never comes.
-------------------fin-------------------------------------------------
Ok. Songs are – Absolution, and, Endlessly. Both by Muse and on the album Absolution. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed this story and who waited for this chapter. One of my friends told me this story, is really good. Considering she is one of the best authors I know (FreakLikeMe. Her stories are great!!!), I felt kind of embarrassed. There is also another author's work I would like you to read. Black Tinged With Pink's story is really good because of the subject matter involved. At least it made me think. Ok. Done. Review this story or hellish fury will rain upon your miserable sex life. Toodles.