CHAPTER FOUR

Ah tink we see de boss now" Remy said, his voice although still contained that sardonic tone now had a worried under current. Pyro laughed merrily.

"No shit mate. 'E ain't gonna be happy you hid the sh-diamond" Pyro walked out and Daphine looked at Gambit, her silver pupils wide.

"Wha' appen Remy. If ah sen' away ah don' kno' what t'do" For all her cockiness Daphine was truly worried. She'd left the home she'd always known in search of the only person she trusted. If she was banished, well lets say that she wouldn't be happy.

"'e ain't gonna sen' cho away petit. Yo' tres useful for de team non"

"GAMBIT...NOW"

"Uh oh"

After Magneto's firm summon, Gambit rolled his ebony ruby eyes.

"Com' on chere. I' time dat we announce yo' presence non?" Remy sighed and dragged a protesting Daphine to meet 'de boss'. Poor Remy tried his best to be kind and nice to his worried cousin but Daphine had heard it all before.

"Don' try an tell moi dat de Magneto is let me stay. Ah kno ' 'e might send me away Remy. Don't baby me" As Gambit let go, Daphine stormed out and slammed the door in his face.

"Ah wou'nt dream of I' chere." Gambit muttered irritably under his breath as he rubbed a bruised nose. Opening the door, ready to pursue his errant cousin he beheld her standing outside the door. An embarrassed look on her face.

"Ah don' kno where t'go" As Gambit laughed and teased his cousin, he led her down the magnificent stairs of Asteroid M. Turning into the writhing corridors of the great mansion Daphine hurried to remember the directions.
'Left'
'Right'
'Right again'
'Left' and then they reached a dimly lit corridor, the metal walls reflecting whatever light penetrated the gloom.

"Ah yo' ready petite?"

"Ah'm rea'y Remy" Although Daphine's words were strong Remy noticed a slight greenish tinge to her face.

"'ere we go"
Gambit pushed both doors open, Daphine breathed in at the majesty of the room. And those assembled.
She'd never seen such an impassive group of mutants. Each seemed to scream power and danger.

There was John aka Pyro. His red locks gleaming in the light and his continual playing with his lighter. Up..Down...Up..Down. The lid of the lighter should of been broken by now. Daphine thought wryly.

Against a wall next to him, a giant stood rigid and firm. Daphine craned her neck to look at his closed impassive face. Something flickered behind those close blue eyes. Piotr Rasputin aka Colossus seemed unhappy.

From the shadows, a growl came forth. Another heavily muscled man stepped forward, his face surrounded by a tangle of brown hair. Growling at Daphine, his pointed fangs glinted in the moonlight. Victor Creed aka Sabretooth stalked out of the assembly room, but his team 'mates' didn't bat an eyelid. It seemed that this Kitty Kat wasn't popular with his fellow acolytes.

Daphine blinked rapidly. A silver blur flew past her. "HowyadoingmynamesQuicksilverhopeyoucanstayyou'rehot" ((How ya doing, My name's Quicksilver. I hope you can stay, you're hot))Daphine caught the last part of the statement and stuck her foot out as Quicksilver aka Piotro Maximoff ran round her again. The speed demon reeled and then ran next to his father. The great shadow with glinting eyes in the centre of the room.

"I believe you are the one that destroyed my security system to the west of this mansion" Magneto said sternly, although mirth glittered in his eyes.

"Oui" Daphine wasn't sure what to do in the master of magnetism's presence. It was now obvious why so many followed him now. His mere presence was overwhelming. How was she to match up to that?

"And you are a relation of Gambit"

"Cousin" This single syllable replies, crafty words dried up in her throat.

"And you are here, wishing to join my merry band of freedom fighters" Magneto stepped out of the shadows in full battle regalia. His white hair was held back by that helmet dubbed by so many as 'bucket head'

Daphine nodded, unable of speech. Why now would she be speechless?

"Why"

"Ah'm a strong figh'er, A tief, loyal. Ah 'ave strong powers and Ah 'ate humans" Daphine replied with feeling. The treatment given to her on her journey here had put her off humans for life.

"Your powers are"
Daphine gulped, hoping that he wouldn't be angry for what she was about to do. She pulled out a card from her pocket, the queen of diamonds.
Concentrating, the card began to resemble a crystal. Its surface glittered. Hurling it at a chair in the corner, the furniture exploded in a shower of razor sharp crystals. Daphine ducked as Pietro ran away, Piotr became metal and Pyro created a wall of flame to protect himself. Magneto raised a brow as Daphine held up her hand, the crystals falling to the ground.

"You'll do very well here. Very well. Your name is" Magneto smiled as Daphine hugged Remy who had stepped behind her during the shower. "Diamond."