Chapter Six

A powerful thrill of fear shocked Charles Xavier out of a restless sleep, overpowering his senses and flooding his mind with thoughts, memories, and emotions that were not his. A tall oak tree overlooking Ororo's garden; a shadowy form falling, its deep red cloak billowing out behind it; a glowing energy net; a rush of panic at the realization that the man who had fallen—a stranger with red skin and horns—was not moving.

Xavier's eyes shot open, his breath coming in short gasps. That face he had just seen - the man with the horns... It was not the face of a stranger.

The old man swallowed, and reached for the intercom switch by his bed. He could have contacted Scott through a direct telepathic link, but this late at night he was most likely asleep. Besides, Scott's wife, Jean, was away at a conference so he wouldn't have to worry about the intercom signal waking her as well.

Flicking the switch, Xavier dragged himself up into a sitting position and leaned his back against the headboard.

"Scott," he said. "Scott, I'm sorry to disturb your sleep but please respond."

There was a brief pause, then Scott's sleep-thickened voice filled the room.

"Professor?" He yawned. "What's the problem?"

"I fear we may have an emergency on our hands," Xavier explained. "Will you please wake Hank and Ororo? And locate Anna Dvorkin and Paul Carter. I would like to have a talk with them."

"Of course, Charles," Scott said, though his tone was wary. "Just what is the nature of this emergency?"

Xavier sighed.

"I believe Belasco has been stalking the mansion," he said softly. "Anna and Paul had the misfortune of running into him tonight on the grounds."

A muffled hiss that sounded remarkably like a swear came over the intercom, and Xavier frowned.

"Scott," he said sharply, "would you know anything about this?"

Scott sighed deeply.

"I— You remember Ororo's accident some three nights ago?"

"Yes, of course. She had to wear a neck brace for two days."

"Well, it wasn't an accident." Scott admitted. "It was Belasco. Ororo went to see him that night. I'm not sure, but it's possible that's the reason he's come here now."

Xavier straightened, his lips tightening in anger.

"Why wasn't I told," he demanded.

"Well, we—"

"Belasco is a cruel, calculating demon, one of the few enemies we X-Men have left!" Xavier snapped. "If you knew about this, you should have stopped her, Scott! You should have known Belasco would see her overtures as a weakness on our part, a weakness he could manipulate! And now he's come here to this school, threatening our students! I can't believe you would be so short-sighted, so—"

"I know!" Scott cut him off. "You're right! I should have stopped her. But I didn't. I couldn't! And you know why as well as I do."

Xavier closed his eyes, unable to quite swallow back the painful lump in his throat.

"Kurt is dead, Scott," he said at last, his voice hoarse and quiet. "He's not coming back. I know it's hard to accept, but—"

"I know," Scott said. "Belasco can use our hope against us. It's just...it's so unfair, Professor! Why Kurt? He doesn't deserve this."

"No," Xavier agreed softly. "He doesn't. But there's nothing we can do about it. If we accept that, Belasco will no longer hold any power over us. Now, go wake the others - and be sure to keep this quiet. I don't want to start a panic among the students. I'll meet you at the oak tree by Ororo's garden in five minutes. Be prepared. We might have to be rather...aggressive...in our approach."

"Yes, sir," Scott acknowledged. "I understand."

Xavier cut the transmission, then leaned back against the headboard, his shoulders sagging and his head lowered.

He had known this would happen sooner or later, that Belasco would return. His hatred for the X-Men, and for Xavier in particular, was too deep-seated to lie dormant for long. Xavier just hadn't expected the prospect of seeing him again would hurt this much.

Xavier hoisted himself into his electric wheelchair and headed for the door. Based on the impressions he'd gathered from the terrified students, he presumed Belasco was unconscious. If they worked fast, they could have him securely contained in the sub-basement before dawn. Then...

Then, the demon's reactions would determine their next move.


The instant she got Scott's call, Ororo pulled on her long robe and called up a wind to lift her from her balcony window, determined to reach Kurt first. She arrived at the oak tree and knelt by the fallen man's side, quickly brushing the blood-red cloak aside and taking his wrist, feeling for a pulse.

After a breathless moment, she found one. It was weak, but steady.

Ororo closed her eyes, running a hand through her silvery hair as a confusing swell of emotions washed over her. Was it her fault he was lying there? What had happened to him? Why had he come?

"Kurt?" she whispered into his pointed ear, glancing up warily to keep track of the others' progress across the lawn. "Kurt, can you hear me?"

There was no response. Biting her lip, Ororo took his clawed, red hand in hers, noting his fingers were still tied together in twos. The bandages were filthy, blackened and frayed at the edges and covered with stains, and his fingers seemed swollen, the bandages probably affecting his circulation. Gently, she started to undo the knots...

His eyes shot open, glowing dark gold in the nighttime dimness. Ororo gasped and jumped into a defensive crouch, but he cried out in pain, pressing his hand to his chest and curling himself up into a protective ball on the grass.

"Ach, Gott," he gasped, his faintly accented voice hoarse and strained. "It hurts. Ach, Gott, Ororo, it hurts!"

Ororo stared, her heart pounding in her chest, barely daring to believe... Belasco had tricked them so many times in the past...

"Kurt?" she whispered. "Kurt, is that you, my friend?"

"Storm!" Scott yelled, running up beside her with Hank and the Professor close behind. "What's wrong with you? Get away from him!"

"Oh, my stars and garters," Hank gasped, staring wide-eyed at the sight before him. "We must get him to the medbay," the doctor said, shooting Xavier a look that dared the old man to object. "You can question him when he's in good enough shape to answer, but until then this man is in obvious pain and it is our duty to provide assistance. Scott," he ordered, crouching down beside the demon, "help me carry him inside."

Before Scott could protest, the demon lurched up and staggered to his feet, cradling his one arm against his chest as he backed menacingly into the shadows under the tree.

"Kurt," Ororo said, trying to keep her voice as gentle as possible, "they're only trying to—"

"No," the demon growled, baring his sharp fangs. His glowing eyes burned with a dark flame as he lashed his spaded tail back and forth like a whip.

"Don't you touch me," he snarled at Scott, his russet features tight with pain. "Don't any of you dare touch me!"

"Fine then," Scott snapped back, his own visor glowing dangerously. "If you don't want our help, then go away. Go back to that slum you came from, and leave us alone."

The demon glared at him for a moment, his pointed teeth gleaming in the moonlight. Then, to the surprise of all four X-Men, he began to laugh. It was a low, angry sound, completely devoid of humor.

Scott and the others found they were backing away despite themselves.

The demon's laughter grew louder, swelling until it began to sound slightly deranged. Then, as suddenly and as unexpectedly as it had begun, it stopped. Storm, Cyclops, Beast, and Xavier shared uncomfortable looks as the demon stepped forward, a terrifying figure despite the awkward way he held his arm.

"Fool!" he spat, his narrow lips curling. "I was such a fool. To think it would be so simple, to...to think..."

He tilted his head back, the bone-chilling laughter starting up again. But this time, it was different. This time, the maniacal cackle sounded choked, more like an anguished sob than a laugh. The demon swayed on his feet, the laughter fading as he started to fall.

Without thinking, Hank reached out a powerful, blue-furred arm and caught the slender man before he hit the grass.

"Oh my," the large mutant said, looking down at the demon's narrow face. "I do believe he's fainted."

Xavier closed his eyes, reaching out with his mind to make sure that Hank's diagnosis was correct and that the demon wasn't merely feigning unconsciousness.

"Hank is right," Xavier said, opening his eyes once more. "Get him down to the medbay and give him whatever treatment he requires. Remove whatever weapons he may be carrying and put up a forcefield around his bed. I want to be notified the moment he regains consciousness."

Hank nodded, scooping the unconscious Belasco into his thick, furry arms and loping his way back to the mansion.

Scott stared after them for a moment, then turned to the Professor.

"What about the kids?" he asked. "Anna and Paul. I told them to wait for you in the foyer."

Xavier sighed.

"I'll talk to them, Scott," he said. "You go down to the medbay. Make certain Belasco is safely contained. It's not that I don't trust Hank, but sometimes he gets so wrapped up in treating the patient..."

"That he forgets the danger he can pose, I know," Scott said, already turning to follow Hank. "I'll see to it."

"Good," Xavier said. Then, he turned to Ororo. "Storm, I'd like you to—"

"Charles," Ororo interrupted, her expression firm. "I'm going down to the medbay as well. I, too, want to be there when Kurt wakes up."

"Ororo," Xavier said, his cultured voice just a shade short of condescending. "You know, even better than I, that the man we just encountered is not the Kurt Wagner we knew—"

"That goes without saying," Ororo snapped, her crystal eyes clouding angrily as her silvery hair began to rise from her shoulders. "And he never will be again, not after all he's been through. But he is still Kurt Wagner, nonetheless. And despite everything, I refuse to give up on him. He's been abandoned too many times by the people he's cared about most. By people who should have cared for him! I'm not about to add my name to the list."

"Storm," Xavier said sternly, clenching his fist in frustration as she summoned a wind to lift her into the air. "Storm!"

But his shouts were futile. Ororo had already gone, leaving him alone to wheel his way back to the mansion.

To Be Continued...