Alistaire went home, fed his cat, made a few phone calls, arranged his schedule, found a Mutant Affairs case to begin with in the morning, had two TV dinners and went rather blessedly – to sleep.
Kurt on the other hand had run himself ragged in to the night cleaning himself and Kitty someplace to sleep.
It really wasn't too terribly bad. Both he and Kitty had their own rooms, and with the heat cranking you barely noticed the drafts.
Kitty had made a point to him. Something about the building was a little spooky. It was furnished, and still had the last occupant's personal belongings in the rooms, but covered in dust.
Very quietly, and respectfully, Kurt had packed these things in to one of the wardrobes with the intention of finding them their proper home as soon as he could.
And with the cleaning, not to mention the day now behind him, he lay his head down for his first night in his new home.
His head had barely hit the old, worn pillow when he started to dream.
In the dream he had been swimming on the beach – and that explained the soreness of his limbs and his exhaustion. He dove in to the waves and swum deep for a moment before a shadow passed overhead. It was an inner-tube style float, and sticking off one side was the sexiest pair of legs he'd ever seen.
Well, hello there! He thought as he swam upwards to get a better look. He broke through the surface and began to float on his back in the water next to her.
"Hello Kurt." She purred coyly over her umbrella-clad drink. "I've been waiting for you."
Kurt smiled. Vhat a great dream!
She laughed. "Are you going to ask my name or just admire the view?" She asked.
"I've got plenty of time to do both properly." He said casually. "Now don't rush me miss…"
Clever. She thought. "Miss Frost. Miss Emma Frost."
"I am quite pleased to meet you Miss Frost… " He cut her a dashing smile. "Emma."
She shivered slightly in delight. "I love the way you say my name. Maybe it's the accent. I hope I'll get to hear you say it for real. Over and over again."
And suddenly Kurt had a realization.
"You… You're real, aren't you?" He asked.
"Of course I am." She tossed her drink aside and dove in to the water, tackling him in to an embrace and entwining their bodies together.
Kurt was taken aback and yet swept along in the fluid and passionate exchange.
She ran her fingers through his hair and drew him close. Her mouth met his in hunger and she seemed to feed off his desire for her. She broke off the kiss roughly.
"I just wanted to welcome you to England." She whispered harshly, and with that Kurt sat bolt upright in bed – half-shocked and yet, fully awake.
Across town Emma laughed. "Oooo… Mister Wagner…" She shivered in delight.
"Was he agreeable my Queen?" The young blonde woman asked the older.
"Quite Illyana. Quite. He's got an honesty in his desire. It's delightful."
Illyana smiled. "He'd make a great pet when we're finished with him." She smiled.
"I shall know in time." Emma turned an almost angry eye on her protégé and it became obvious that Emma thought of Kurt as her toy and was unwilling to share him.
Illyana smiled at the thought. "It's a shame that he'll be going to waste the way he will."
Emma's eyes narrowed. "Now is not the time."
Illyana smiled. "Another shame." She winked at Emma, turned and walked out of the room.
I curse the day Belasco turned you to evil. Emma thought. You're insufferable this way Illyana and if I thought I could get away with it, I'd gladly set you free just to be rid of you!
She shivered at the thought. The truth was that Illyana was quickly rising in popularity and influence within the Hellfire Club. She could very shortly challenge for the title of White Queen – and perhaps win – a death sentence for Emma at it's worst and an inexcusable disgrace at best. Not a pretty picture.
Illyana slowly passed the mirror in the hall and she tried to – but couldn't look away.
A magic seal glowed upon her forehead. Of course it was invisible to anyone without magical training. But she saw it.
Long had she thought that she was a ruthless, cut-throat woman with a gift for evil.
Now, after researching the mark she's learned that that's not who she is. This mark curses the innocent and creates a very different soul from the one she was born with.
And now, she lives in fear. Because if this secret were known, most assuredly, someone, somewhere would do the unthinkable – and set her free.
The idea terrified her and she went to great lengths to conceal the fact from anyone who might make use of it. But she was unsure about Emma. Did she know or not? It made a world of difference to Illyana. It was the difference between remaining loyal, and challenging for the position. It was the one variable she couldn't account for. And it was driving her mad.
I'll find some way to bind myself to evil without this cursed mark. And then Emma… I will destroy you! She gritted her teeth and stalked away from the mirror.
Madness was threatening Kitty as well back in the loft at the lighthouse.
"Creak." Went the something.
"Creak!" In insisted.
Kitty took several short breaths. "Creak." She agreed softly.
"CREE…" It began – and she leapt nimbly from her bed in to the hallway.
The noise stooped as it had so many times before – just as she passed through the door and in to the hall. And she knew from experience that it would not creak again until she went back in to her room.
She turned and stepped back in to the room, her back barely clearing the door when.
"…EEEK!" It finished.
"Aaaaarg!" She moaned. Then she spun on the door. "I am going to bed." She insisted. "You have to let me sleep. I'M A FRICKIN DIPLOMAT!"
"Creak?" It offered softly.
"That's right. A diplomat." She stamped her foot indignantly. "I'll explain it all in the morning." She told the noise. "Now good night."
"Creak, Creak." It replied softly.
And slowly Kitty relaxed… But then, it was the silence that began to scare her. Because somewhere out there, in that silence, she was sure that some creaky thing was being quiet – just because she told it too.
Something that might well be expecting her to explain herself – come morning.
But whatever it was, she knew one thing for certain: It failed to creak again, all night long.
