ViciousAssassin: You're right about Slayer and August. The Dinning room was a blast to write. The New Mutants will be there at the final battle, you'll see what Selene wants with it soon.
Kaliann: Yep about Scott and Mystique lol. Jack's eye has a mind of its own now and then, plus he can't use it all the time there is only so much he can take. Thanks I wasn't sure about that fight scene.
Mark C: Yep, the New Mutants learned their lesson. August and Mystique will help out much more in this fic don't worry. They'll find out what's wrong with Emma soon, but first up is Jean.
IvyZoe: Well you'll see what happens to Jean, but let just say I did see the original Exorcist. Yeah, that bit with Rogue at breakfast was too good to pass up. As for Emma well everyone knows she can't have kids in the story.
Aaron: Well this is kind of a 'Phoenix' thing with Jean as you know she's got a habit of being taken over by other beings. Yeah I love those types of grand entrances and it was perfect for August. As for the other questions, just wait and see.
Coldqueen: Yeah, I know. Aren't we evil? Everyone loved that breakfast bit. Sorry, I just don't want to spoil things for you or anyone that actually reads the responses. August will hook up with one of the people at the mansion.
Jenskott: Yeah, that part at the start was just too good not to put in there. Hey, I strive to do the unexpected and original thanks for commenting on that part. Well, you'll see how they handle Jean in this one.
RogueBHS: Glad you like it, yeah I know about he Romy but we're making up for it. Really? I've thought of Jamie/Rahne a few times. We really tried with our OCs and we both used our best one for this fic.
The Uncanny R-Man: Yeah I know, but she needed to be knocked out for the plot to move along. Plus she's got super strength but not invulnerable as you said. Consider it a lucky shot, but don't worry she's still a tough girl.
GothikStrawberry: Well, it's a nod to the Phoenix, but not totally. I'm glad that scene with Rogue's crush was funny I thought so. The Exorcism I hope to have you all on the edge of your seat.
Sparky Genocide: Yeah, the scene with Scott telling that he knew about her crush was too good and yeah she will get it. Yeah, I heard about that comic, the fact that Gambit flirted with a student it just wrong why she stays with him when he does stuff like that I don't know.
Thanks to: X00001, morring star, Quillian, Wen1,
Hellfire and Brimstone
CHAPTER 65: THE EXORCISM OF JEAN GREY
-Scott and Jean's Room-
Slayer and Scott carried in Jean's body into their room and placed her on the bed. "Alright I don't think that enchantment will hold much longer so we need to tie her up while I placed a few things around here for protection," slayer told Scott.
Scott couldn't believe this was happening, Jean looked pale and her face was looked like it was contorted in either anger or pain…Maybe even both. Scott found some sheets that he ripped up to tie her arms to the post, Slayer told him to get the legs too. "Why do we need to tie her up?"
Slayer had pulled out a vile of salt as he was making a circle around the bed in it. He just hoped he had enough, "It's so she isn't harmed and we aren't either."
"What's with the salt?"
"Salt is a symbol of purity. It will hold it back as long as the circle isn't broken so please watch your step," He finished and thought of something else, "Who is the most religious person here? I mean faith wise?"
Scott thought about it, "I would have to guess Kurt, why?"
"Get him and tell him to bring anything he puts faith in here. We can use him to help weaken it. I'm going to place an enchantment on her so it can't access her powers again. We really don't want her to do that."
Scott didn't waste time in going to find Kurt as Slayer went to work on placing a seal of protection over the room and also a temporary binding spell on the girl as well. He hated these possessions. They were never easy and he preferred fighting an enemy he could see and strike at, not using a human vessel to hide behind like a shield. He could easy burn the dark creature back into the Pit, but that would kill Jean. No…He had to do this the hard way.
Meanwhile Jean herself was trapped in darkness. She felt like she was floating around in a black ocean, only she didn't need to breath and it was cold here. It wasn't like in winter cold…No, this cold seemed to chill her in a way she had never experienced before.
"Scott? Where are you? Where am I?" she called out into the darkness and only heard an inhuman laughter there.
She felt her feet hit something solid and looked down to see herself set slowly onto a flat piece of rock floating in the nothingness. Soon, the darkness gave way to a long pit she was over. She felt as though on a small rocked that was like an island over this empty pit of darkness.
"Where am I?" she asked herself trying to see down into it, but couldn't see the bottom. Then suddenly, flames exploded out of the pit, she was lucky she wasn't burned.
Then the from out of the rock hands and arms grew and grabbed her wrists and ankles. She struggled, but the rock limbs were stronger and hoisted her up in the air. "Struggle all you want…But your body is mind and soon your soul will be mine as well!"
Jean looked around, but couldn't see where it was coming from. She felt the heat of the fire, but was also cold inside like icy fingertips were slowly making their way into her, "Just give in, no one will save you. You are dammed for eternity!"
"No! I won't!" Jean cried out and with all her will power fought the presence growing in her mind, "I won't be used again! I won't be a victim again! You will not have me!"
"Pathetic mortal! You think you can fight me? I have lived longer then your kind and I will not be beaten by some human girl! You think you can stop me? You couldn't stop other mortals from breaking your will, or from them taking pleasure in your body."
Jean felt a cold rage build in her, "I may have been defeated once…BUT NEVER AGAIN! I'm a stronger person then I was then! I will fight you until my last breath! I also know the others will help me! They will come and save me! Scott will come for me!"
"We shall see…"
-Infirmary-
Vince carried in Emma and laid her down on a bed while Warren came in with Betsy and the other girl they had found, placing her on another bed. Vince sat down next to Emma worried, for she was really out of it. He tried to wake her a few times, but nothing worked. He even tried the link, but she wasn't responding.
Hank walked in with Sage. As she went to the mysterious young woman, Hank then moved to Emma, "What happened? Was she injured?"
"I don't know," he shook his head taking hold of her hand in his gloved hands, "She was doing great. She didn't seemed to be hurt since she was in her diamond form, but then all of a second a felt her in pain and looked to see her fall to the floor as she was changing back. I pulled her out of the way, but I haven't been able to wake her."
Hank placed a hand on the young man's shoulder. He could easily see the worry on the young man's scared face. And beyond the pain in the light blue eyes, he also saw his deep concern that something was seriously wrong with the woman he loved.
"God what a bloody damn mess," Betsy sighed leaning against Warren as he wrapped an arm around her waist. "Selene sent those…Demons and monsters against us, Emma goes down, they got that thing, and now Jean's possessed."
"Jean's what?" Hank asked her hearing that.
"Apparently possessed by a demon," Warren clarified.
Hank was about to ask how that could possibly be. He was man of science after all. Surely there had to be a logical explanation for it all. It was true that Slayer had certain abilities, but those could simply be other mutant gifts the same with Selene's. Then, he felt a hand on his shoulder and saw it was Sage.
"Hank trust me, I didn't believe in magic or demons or any of that stuff. You know me, you know the kind of woman that I am, but when I joined the Hellfire Club, I saw Selene do things that defied everything that I knew," she said with a sigh as she remember those awful days, "You remember what Shakespeare once said, correct? There are more things in heaven and Earth then is dreamt of in your philosophy. Trust me Henry, darling, these things do go against science, but they also exist."
Hank looked at her seriously. Sage was an intelligent woman or reason and if she believed in this then he would have to consider the possibilities at least. Then there was a small groaning sound as August started to wake up, "Oh god…What hit my head?"
Hank moved to her, "Are you alright miss?"
August eyes opened and blinked a few times seeing the blue furry man over her, but she had seen things much more shocking then him. She sensed no malice in him either and sat up and looked around, "The name's August and yeah, I think so…Where am I?"
"You're at the Xavier Institute for the Gifted," Warren told her.
"That mutant school right?" she asked as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. She had heard about that place on the news…Then again, who the hell hadn't by then?
"Yes it is. How is it you were at the museum?" Betsy asked the dark haired girl, she looked kind of familiar in a way almost like she might have met her someplace. She was sure she hadn't maybe the young woman just had one of those faces. She looked partially like her family, which was somewhere in the Mediterranean or at least in part.
"I was hunting Selene down and-"
"Wait a minute," Sage stopped her, "Hunting her?"
"Yeah, let's just say she and I have 'issues' to work out with her," August said in a dark tone. Sage could see the hate in her eyes let along the emotions rolling off of her. Betsy felt it too and both women knew that this August girl was no friend of Selene's.
"Well we've had our own run ins with that bitch as well," Betsy sighed, thinking about what that woman had done to the others while in the company of the Hellfire Club. She had seen the abuse Vincent had suffered and she cast him a look. His jaw was clenched a bit, indicating that he was remembering the things she did to him, Emma, Rogue and probably countless others. Betsy could see him scratch that scar on his cheek…One of the permanent marks from Selene's cruelty.
"And you're still alive? Impressive," August smirked. "Anyway, I heard through the spiritual grape vine that she was looking for certain artefacts. Now as far as I know, she got a couple and I heard one was in New York. I was on my way when I sensed someone using magic there, and before you ask, yes I know some magic, but only a little bit. I sensed the glamour and figured they were using it to steal the item. So I rammed through it. I didn't expect to walk into a battle."
The lights suddenly flickered and a chill was felt through the air. "What the bloody hell?" Betsy asked out loud to herself.
August's eyes widened, "Shit! I forget that red head is fucking possessed!" She bolted up from her bed, she may not know much of these people but she sure as hell was going to let one of them keep a demon in them. Those things could cause who knows what kind of damage, "Where's my stuff? My bike and gear?"
"We took it with us, it's in the hanger," Warren told her.
"Take me there and then to the red head's room! And I mean NOW wing-boy, unless you want your friend to have her soul sucked dry by a demon!"
-Jean's Room-
So far the exorcism was pretty much going as usual by Slayers knowledge. In other words, it was still fucked up in fifty different ways. The paper on her forehead had to be removed so they could pull the demon out. As soon as it was off Jean's body, it thrashed around as her voice was now in a darker and deeper tone. She yelled at them, screamed, but they knew it wasn't her…Although for Scott, this was the worst moment of his life seeing her like this.
Scott was trying his link with Jean to help her while holding a cross from Kurt, who was in the back with a rosary reciting prayers that he knew and ones that Slayer had told him to say. For, Kurt who was a very religious person, it was a strange feeling coming face to face with the type or evil that many had accused him of being. All those years people had called him demon and here he was facing one to help save the life of a good friend. So he did what he did best, he prayed and hoped his words would help weaken the demon.
"Depart, zhen, transgressor. Depart, seducer, full of lies and cunning, foe of virtue, persecutor of zhe innocent. Give place, abominable creature, give vay, you monster, give vay to Christ, in whom you found none of your vorks. For he has already stripped you of your powers and laid vaste your kingdom, bound you prisoner and plundered your weapons. He has cast you forth into zhe outer darkness, vhere everlasting ruin awaits you and your abettors."
"Save it you miserable half-breed!" Jean yelled at Kurt and he froze for a moment wondering what she meant, "You didn't know did you? You mother, that blue skinned whore of a woman has slept around in her day. Men, women, and even demons!"
Jean grinned at Kurt's expression, "That's right boy, you're half-demon! You think your God will save you? You think you have a soul? Please, when you die you'll be embraced by the darkness that gave you birth!" Kurt shook his head, he wasn't a demon or even partially. He was a mutant he only looked like one…Right?
"Kurt!" Slayer snapped at him, "Don't listen to it! It's just using lies to poison your mind! Keep at it!"
Kurt regained his composure and started up again, "May the Holy Cross be mien light, Let not zhe dragon lead me, step back Satan, never tempt me vith vain things, vhat you offer me is evil, Drink zhe poison yourself," The demon hissed at Kurt's words so he kept it up.
"Fight this Jean I know you can do it!" Scott said to her and for a moment he thought he felt something, for a moment he was sure he touched Jean's mind, "That's it! Fight it!"
Jean turned to Scott with a sneer on her face, "Please! You think she loves you? Do you know how big a whore she was? She put out for Duncan so many times that she broke his dick! Why do you think she broke up with him anyhow! Hell she spread her legs for anyone! She fucked half the football team before she dated you!"
Scott gritted his teeth and shoved the cross in her face as Slayer had a hand on her chest reciting some type of ancient words. He had also taken a vile of vinegar and olive oil and was rubbing some of it on her skin to help purify her body.
"That's a lie! I know Jean!" he shouted.
"You only think you know!" the demon snarled as the cross was shoved into its face, "You know when she was captured by the Hellfire Club and she was begging for you to save her?" At this Scott's face slackened remembering how powerless he had been.
"You know how Shaw took her with your image? Well, she knew it wasn't you the entire time! She let him 'rape' her over and over again because she loved it. Shaw was a real man for her! She loved getting fucked by him because you simply couldn't satisfy her! Why do you think she broke? She let herself become corrupted because that's the real Jean. She loved being Shaw's little fuck toy!" she laughed in Scott's face seeing the pain there.
Before he could say anything August burst through the door and slammed it shut, "Sorry I'm late heard you got a demon problem think you guys could use a hand?"
"Sure," Slayer said still trying to draw the demon out and yet it was really in there deep. He need to weaken it further but had an idea, "Scott I need you to try the link again you have with her. I'm going to try and boost it so you will be there with her but it could jump into you or even kill you in her mind…You want to try it?"
Looking back into the hate filled eyes of his possessed love, Scott didn't even think about it, "Do it."
-Jean's Mind-
Scott found himself in a dark wasteland and then looked around trying to find Jean. Then, he heard it…Jean wailing cries. He wasn't sure if it was in pain, but he ran towards it and soon found her surrounded in fire.
"Jean!" he called out to her seeing her struggle in the grasps of stone arms. She looked like she was in pain, but still fighting off whatever was attacking her.
She looked over and her heart leaped at the sight of her love, "Scott!" she yelled back in her voice as she gritted her teeth against another wave of pain stabbing her body in various places. She had no idea how long she had been here, but she had been trying to fight this thing off. He kept at her sending pain into her body even showing her images of her worst moments of her life. The death of her best friend Anne, the times Scott was hurt or missing, when she thought he was killed, Shaw having his way with her, her nearly killing Scott…There was also the physical pain, but she was stronger then this thing and she wouldn't give in…Not this time.
Scott, still in his uniform aimed and fired at the stone arms smashing them. A loud roar was heard as Jean slumped to the ground. The fires and the pit died down and was replaced by a desolate wasteland of black sand. Scott ran to Jean and knelt down wrapping his arms around her. She rested her head on his chest.
"I knew you would come," she told him as he stroked her hair.
"You know it baby…I'd go to hell and back for you Jean," he told her tenderly.
"Then you shall see hell mortal! You both will be trapped here!"
Both Jean and Scott stood up defiantly at the darkness.
"Just try it!" Jean told it glaring at the darkness around them, "Together, I know Scott and myself can beat you!"
"And we will send you back to whatever hell you came from," Scott added in.
-Back in the room-
August had been busy placing in crystal in four corners and making a small incantation as Scott was in a trance while in Jean's mind. After that she pulled a small red ruby out of a bag, "Alright I got something that just might work. It's a soul stone and it can keep that damn parasite trapped inside of it."
"You think the spawn of evil can fight her own?" Jean asked August and the dark hair woman just gave a nasty glare at her.
"What does she mean?" Kurt asked.
"Nothing just keep it up fuzzy man," August said taking out something that looked like water and threw onto Jean's body. There was a sizzling sound as Jean cried out in pain, "Holy water, ain't it a bitch? I hear it burns like battery acid to you things."
"You think you can wash away the evil that runs in your blood?" Jean snarled at her, "Both mother and father tainted in evil, you know that someday you will turn to the dark path, you will end up just like your mother!"
"No…I won't because I'm NOT HER!" August shouted out those last words in anger and placed the red jem on Jean's chest as she started chanting.
Jean tried to move to get away, but her body was too tightly tied up. Knowing she had to fight these minions of light, she turned towards Slayer.
"She's with us you know…" she said in a taunting tone. Slayer immediately froze, wondering who it was talking about now. "Layla is with us…" she spat, grinning when she saw the expression on his face, it was pure shock with a touch of unspeakable horror.
"You remember how she died? Well, we make sure she keeps dying like that all the time! Over and over and over again for eternity!" Jean laughed at his face. "It's pathetic really…She keeps crying out to you, even in death asking why didn't you save her? Why don't you help her? It's sad really…After all these years she still calls out to you…You know I had my own fun with her as well and let me tell, you that little thing has got the sweetest little screams. I swear killing, her like that over and over never gets old and it's all your fault for letting her die like that in the first place!"
Those venomous words hit Slayer in a way not even Selene could have ever hoped to match. They struck him down to his very core…Touching on the one thing he could never bear to manage. His greatest weakness…His ultimate failure…His worst nightmare. And it was just too much for him to take.
"YOU FUCKING MONSTER!" Slayer yelled in rage and pulled his sword free making like he was about to slay the demon and kill Jean in the process.
August gripped his arm in both hands, "Are you fucking out of your mind! It's just messing with your head! Think you idiot! You want to kill an innocent with the demon?"
Slayer struggled with the girl but her words managed to reach the more rational part of his mind. He tore his arm from the strong woman's grip and turned to face a wall. He wanted to rip that demon's head off, but he didn't want to hurt Jean. Kurt stood there wide eyed and shocked. He had never seen Slayer so angry before. He looked as though he was really going to kill Jean just to get at the demon and he couldn't believe he had been so blinded by rage.
"Okay that's it! Your ass is gone!" August yelled and started to work up again. Jean struggled, she cried, she yelled…But in the end it was nothing. August finished her spell and with a horrible scream that seemed to be heard right in their own heads a darkness came out of Jean's chest and into the jewel turning it black.
August sat down and took it. She was very tired from that to say the least. Jean's color returned to normal as she moan and opened her eyes. She looked around confused, wondering why she was in her room, tired up in her uniform with all these people. "What…What's going on?"
"Jean?" She turned to head to see Scott there, quickly sensing his worry.
"Scott? What happened?" she asked him.
But all Scott did was hug her tightly. That alone seemed to say enough and she was quick to return his embrace, feeling waves of relief and jubilation through their link. There was so much love, happiness, and emotion…For they had just gone face to face with a demon and won. And just like before, the love they shared had helped them triumph in the end. From this, a slight tear escaped Scott's eyes as he held the woman he loved in his arms…A tear that seemed to speak volumes to Jean as she sent her love thorugh their link, letting her know that she was here and everything was okay.
Upon seeing this, Kurt just sat down smiling at the scene, glad to see them back like this. Slayer, however, took little comfort in the sight. If anything…He tried to look away. Such a sight was just too painful for him to see.
"Well now I just have to find a place for this asshole," August said looking at the black jewel.
"Give it to me," Slayer said in a dark and cold voice. She placed it into his palm as he gripped it tightly, his knuckles turning white with intensity. If he held that any harder, he was going to have it start to cut into his skin. But he didn't care…He was beyond caring at this point.
"Slayer…Jack…Are you alright?" Kurt asked him. He didn't answer, he just turned his back to them and vanished into smoke again. Only this time, they all could see there was something very wrong with him…Something that, from the looks of it, was beyond anything they could have even begun to comprehend.
Junkyard
In a desolate area secluded from prying eyes and abandoned from secluded onlookers, several deafening bangs echoed throughout the area. Metal was being warped, rocks were being shattered, and cries of anguish and pain were echoing throughout the air. It was an old junkyard…The same that the X-men had been in when Kurt found out about Mystique being his mother. Only this time…There was only one figure that dominated the surrounding area…There was only figure making all the noise and disturbing what should have been an area wrought with silence. This figure was none other than the mutant warrior known as Slayer…And it was his cries, his actions, his anguish that was fuelling the destruction around him.
"GOD DAMN IT!" he yelled as he grabbed an old rested car and smashed it into pieces with his bare hands, "MOTHER FUCKER!"
Everything around him was being warped into unrecognizable hunks of debris. Something within him was burning like the very fires of hell that he so often fought against. His whole body was glowing and simmering with intense energy as he shot at anything he saw, destroying whatever remained intact. His cries echoed throughout the air, wrought with so much pain and sorrow that he couldn't stop himself…There was just no way after what he had just been though.
"FUCK YOU SELENE! FUCK YOU HELL! FUCK EVERYTHING! FUCK, FUCK, FUCK!"
More hapless debris shattered under the sheer force of his power, turning even huge piles of scrap metal into charred remains. The mutant warrior couldn't stop himself…Even he didn't have the power to escape something like this. Through his all seeing eye, he kept seeing it…That one horrid scene that had haunted him so much throughout the course of his tormented life. He had so many painful memories of his past…But there was one that superceded them all…One that forever burned within his soul, forever shattering his heart into countless pieces.
Sorrow…Loss…Despair…Anger…It was all too much for him to handle. The memories were all so clearly before him…His all seeing eye revealing every last detail, every last agonizing emotion, and every last feeling of intense pain. That demon had pulled an unexpected punch on him…One that hit him harder than Selene or any dark minion ever could have. Even after he disposed of the demon in a paradimensional rift, it still stung…It still hurt in a way no other physical pain could ever hope to muster. And because of that, he had to vent…He couldn't hold this end.
"ERRAAHHHHHHHHHH! WHY!" he yelled as he unleashed a massive energy blast that turned an old rusted crane into scrap metal, "WHY, DAMN IT! WHY!"
He just couldn't stop himself…He couldn't control himself. This was something he had been trying to cope with for years…But he just couldn't do it after what had happened. He just couldn't manage it anymore. All he could do now was vent…All he could do now was unleash his rage, sorrow, and loss upon the surrounding area…Destroying everything as if it was a manifestation of everything he hated about himself.
But eventually, after pretty much destroying everything in sight…The mutant warrior who had faced incomprehensible forces of evil broke down. He just couldn't take it anymore…It hurt so much. And at the center of it all was a single name…A name that he was forever cursed and blessed to remember.
"LAYLA! LAYLA! NOOOOOOOOO! NO…No…"
His body was no longer glowing…His powers were no longer inflicting such great destruction. All he could feel now was the most intense kind of sorrow that any mortal being could ever feel. His legs refused to carry him any longer as he collapsed onto the ground…Unable bear it any longer. Nothing could ever erase this feeling…He could never escape this pain. He had already suffered so much in his life…But this was by far the worst. Nobody understood…Nobody could have possibly known how it feels. The pain…The loss…The sorrow…It was all Jack Robinson had known. It was his worst fear…His greatest weakness. And no matter what he did or how much he wept for the pain of his past…It could never be undone.
"Layla…I'm sorry…I'm so…So…Sorry…"
Scott & Jean's room
With the demon's successful extraction from Jean's body, both she and Scott were left feeling quite drained from the whole ordeal. It was a very trying experience for the both of them…An experience that was a true testament to their bond and how powerful it truly was. They had beaten a demon…A real demon from the bowls of hell itself. Yet they had come so close to losing one another that it left them both very much dazed from it all. Nevertheless, they had survived together.
Although Jean didn't have any clear memories of what had happened other than the fuzzy images of her and Scott in her mind during the fight, she knew well enough to know that she had been close…Very close to going over the edge. She was so close she could practically reach out and touch it…Yet if it hadn't been for Scott, Slayer, and August, there was no doubt that she wouldn't have made it through. It was quite possibly the scariest experience she had ever had…Even more so than when her powers went haywire. It was definitely something she wouldn't soon forget…And neither would Scott for that matter, for he was just as much a part of it as her.
After the demon was extracted and disposed of, Hank gave her a quick check up to ensure that she had suffered no physical harm from her possession. Scott had wanted to stay with her, but he was so drained from it all that the Professor urged him to return to his and Jean's room and get some rest. And while he was very reluctant to do so, eventually Jean managed to convince him that she would be all right and she'd be up to join him soon enough.
Luckily, the checkup went off without a hitch. Hank and Sage determined that the demon had not done any physical damage and Xavier made certain that there was no trace of the demon within her mind. Once they were satisfied, they allowed her to return to her room where she would get some much needed rest. And after having come face to face with a demon and survived, the young redhead was definitely tired to say the least…Yet at the same time, she remained in a somewhat restless state as she reflected upon what had just happened and just how close she had come to the brink.
Upon entering the room she and Scott shared, she was quick to sense through their link that he was still awake and as restless as ever. He was no longer in his uniform, just in a pair of black cotton pants. He was sitting motionlessly at the edge of the bed resting his head upon his hands. She could sense a wave of emotions coming from him…Emotions like anxiety, distress, and relief. But at the center of it all was her and the deep love he had for her…The same love that had been truly tested with incidents like this and that of Hellfire. Yet despite such challenges, it always came out stronger in the end…But that didn't seem to be what was truly on Scott's mind. No…There was definitely something much, much more.
"Scott…" she said in a concerned tone, "Scott, are you alright?"
Upon seeing the woman he loved enter their room, Scott was brought out of his state as his gaze met with hers. A wave of relief came over him as he saw her…Relief that Jean clearly sensed as it brought a slight smile to her face. She then proceeded to enter the room, closing the door behind her and leaving the room illuminated only by the bright moonlight shining in through the window.
"You're not asleep…" she said as she made her way over towards his side and sat beside him on the bed.
"I wasn't tired…" he told her in response as he slowly snaked his arms around her and drew her into a warm embrace, "I don't think I could have slept if I tried…Not without you by my side."
His tender words caused her to sink into his embrace as she hugged him tightly for his seemingly endless love for her, but there was more to it than that…A lot more.
"Scott…" she said, resting her head against his warm body, "It's okay now…I'm here. I'm all right."
"Yeah…I know," he said, giving her a warm smile, "But…I guess it's just…I mean…Jean, you were possessed by a demon. Your body…Your mind…Your soul…It was all being controlled. And when I looked into your eyes…It was like seeing hatred incarnate…Evil in it's purest form."
"But it's gone now Scott…We beat it. Because of you and the others, we beat it."
"I know…But it's not just that."
"Then…What is it?"
Scott was silent for a moment, simply holding Jean tightly in his arms, almost as if he was afraid to let go because it meant he could possibly lose her again. She could sense his heightened emotions radiating off of him in a way she hadn't felt before. The way he held her, the way he embraced her, the way he loved her…It was definitely something different. It was deep…Really deep.
"Jean…You know I love you more than anything on the face of this planet, right?" he told her as he took her face in his hands, looking directly into her beautiful eyes.
"Of course I do Scott…I love you too. But…"
"Jean…I almost lost you for crying out loud!" he exclaimed, his tone on the verge of hysteria, "I almost felt you die right then and there! For a moment…I couldn't feel you in my head anymore. I couldn't even sense your existence. I wasn't there for you when you were abducted by the Hellfire Club and I nearly failed you again…I nearly let you die."
"Scott, don't…Don't you dare say that…" she said to him, holding him closer as she felt the strain in his voice, "You saved my life…Again. I would have been dead if you hadn't been there."
"I know, I know…It's just…Jean, I felt you slipping away. And I just…I thought I was going to lose you. I honestly thought I was going to feel you die right in my head. I've seen my parents die right before my eyes…I've watched my little brother fall away into blackness…And I've had my eyes taken away from me. But with everything I've lost…Jean, I don't think could ever stand to lose you. I don't think I could manage without you. And I…That's not something I could ever bear…Not now…Not ever."
Scott was in a rare state of tears…A state he so often went out of his way to suppress because he had never liked showing weakness. But when it came to Jean, there was just no suppressing something like this…There was no holding it in. He kept clinging to her as if she was the only thing keeping him from falling, trying desperately to hold back his sobs. Jean could feel how deeply it affected him…How deeply it hurt him to nearly watch her die. And having been down that road before with Annie, she knew it was something very hard, if not impossible, to live with.
But unlike Annie, she hadn't died…She had only come very, very close. And for Scott, that was just too close.
"Shh…It's okay, Scott…It's okay," she choked out, soon taken by the emotions she felt, "I'm here…I'm alive…And I'm not going anywhere."
"I don't want to lose you, Jean…I don't ever want to lose you."
"Don't worry…You won't. I'll always be here for you, Scott…Always."
Looking back into those eyes that he couldn't clearly see because of his ruby quartz glasses, there was no denying the tenderness and love in her words. Scott had been sent on an emotional rollercoaster by this whole ordeal…For he thought he was going to lose yet another loved one. But in the end…Here she was, resting comfortably in his arms with a reassuring smile on her face. It brought out feelings within them that so often went beyond words…Yet that didn't matter, for the link they shared seemed to say it all.
"Jean…" he said, feeling his heart swell as he looked back at that warm expression on her face that had so often helped him pull through.
"I'm here, Scott…I'm here…"
No more words needed to be spoken as their faces slowly drifted closer together. Then, as their lips met in a deep, passionate kiss…The influence of the demon seemed to wash away as if it was merely dust in the wind. There was nothing left but their emotions, feelings, and thoughts for one another. It seemed all the more surreal to them, for they had once again overcome the odds together. And that in and of itself was a true sign that their love was strong enough to overcome anything.
For an unknown amount of time they simply remained locked in a deep kiss, but with each moment that passed it became more and more passionate. Their heightened emotions seemed to fuel a deep desire within them…A desire to cement the bond that had saved them both through the horrors of the Hellfire Club to the possession of a demon. They could both feel it growing within them…So strong and so passionate…And this time, they didn't want to hold back.
"Mmm…Scott…Please," she gasped, her hands starting to roam around the warm skin of his exposed upper body, "Take me…"
"Jean…" he said in response, running his hands down the sweet curves of her body, "Oh God…So much…Want you…So much."
The passion in their kissing resumed, growing increasingly fervent as the desire within them continued to grow. Soon, Jean could feel a hard bulge forming in his pants, pressing up against her body and further sending her into a state of arousal. Her entire body was soon crying for his touch…And his love. They couldn't take it anymore. They had come so close to losing one another that they needed this…They needed to grasp the closeness that had bound them for so long.
Jean was still in her uniform, but it didn't stay that way for long. Upon freeing her hair from the overhead band, she guided Scott's hand around to the back of her uniform. There, he grabbed the zipper and slowly slid it down…Removing the tight fitting uniform in the process. Jean helped him out with this by laying back onto their bed and adjusting her body so that he could get it off, her body practically crying a sexual feel the whole way, showing just how much she wanted him.
She was now only in her bra and panties as Scott tossed the garment off to the side and resumed his fervent kissing. The heat between them continued to grow, their lips moving with greater passion and hands roaming with increasing want.
'Oh Scott…' she sent through their link, which was now blowing wide open as a result of all the passion and emotion, 'Please…'
'Don't worry Jean…I won't stop.'
Then, with their desires becoming too great to bear, Scott went on to remove her bra and slide off her panties…Leaving her completely naked and exposed before him. The passion and heat between them had made her very wet and her body was now crying for his…Begging for the love and contentment that only he could bring her.
Scott began trailing his lips down her nude body, stopping along the way at her breasts and working his way towards her most sensitive areas. This caused Jean's breathing to turn to pants as she felt warm sensations inundate her mind from his teasing. She had been consumed by such great darkness that he was determined to please her in a way that would forever wash over it. And from this, her moans quickly began to fill the room and it soon became unbearable for her to deal with any longer.
"Scott! Please! No more! I want you now! I need you now!" she begged him.
"Then you'll have me Jean…I promise you…You'll always have me."
And from the simmering passion between them, Jean captured his lips in another kiss and went to work on his pants, swiftly removing them and freeing his hard arousal from it's contents.
They were now completely naked…Kissing, touching, and gasping for one another in a maze of passion, love, and contentment. A slight layer of sweat had already broken out upon their bodies as they stool poised to make love and reaffirm that which had nearly been lost.
Then, with Scott's warm body atop hers, Jean eagerly wrapped her legs around his torso, allowing him to enter her. Both their bodies contorted in delight as they tightly embraced one another, feeling the warm bliss of being so close to one another.
"Scott…" gasped Jean as she felt his hard length so deep inside her, "Make love to me."
"Jean…" gasped Scott in a dazed, smiling back at the woman he loved with such passion and joy, "Oh god…So beautiful…So amazing."
And from there, Scott Summers and Jean Grey met in a deep, passionate kiss as their bodies began to move together in unison. It didn't take long for their movements to become increasingly fervent and passionate, filling the rooms with deep moans of contentment. Their energetic movements were fueled by their passion and heightened emotions, making love with a great deal of both vigor and tenderness.
Into the night, they drew out their lovemaking to new heights…Driven by the desire to capture this feeling that they had come so close to losing. From each earth shattering climax to the each mind numbing sensation of bliss, both Scott and Jean found themselves savoring this moment in a way few others could match. So much passion…So much emotion…So much energy…It kept driving them into the night as they made love in as many positions as they could, taking each other to their own world of ecstasy and euphoria. Their physical and emotional limits seemed to go out the window, for nothing was in the way now…Nothing.
Their link blew wide open, the blissful pleasure going both ways for each of them and further fueling their passionate lovemaking. The sound of their wet flesh clashing against one another, the mantra of their sweet moans, and the powerful link of both their bodies and minds drew carried them into the night. Eventually, however, their energy soon reached it's peak. After many mind blowing climaxes and many wonderful sensations, they eventually were forced to succumb to fatigue…But not after one last blissful peak.
With their energy nearly at it's limits, Jean was on top of her lover, straddling his waist and riding him to one final climax. Her movements were fervent and passionate as Scott moved with her, drawing themselves closer and closer to one last wonderful orgasm together. Their bodies were now covered with sweat, their breathing was now nothing but pants, and the dam within them was just about to burst.
Then, with one last passionate movement of their bodies, they both interlocked their hands and held on tight, letting out one final cry into the night as they climaxed together one last time.
"OH SCOTT!"
"OH JEAN!"
With no more energy spare, Jean collapsed atop her lover in a sweaty, naked heap. They were both breathing heavily, trying to catch their breath…But they still had enough energy to pull each other into a powerful embrace. And even though they had worn themselves out, they managed to cast one another a warm smile…For they had truly captured something special tonight…Something worth hanging onto now and forever more.
"I love you, Scott…I love you so much," said Jean, her tone sounding so tired and exhausted, yet so happy and blissful.
"I love you too Jean…I don't ever want to lose you," he said as he gazed loving at her angelic face, holding her naked body warmly in his powerful arms.
"You'll never lose me, Scott. You and I…We've overcome so much together. But through it all…Our bond has remained so strong. And I honestly don't know what the future has in store for us…But I do know this though…We'll face it together."
"Together…" repeated Scott as he gently stroked her fiery red hair.
"Yes…Together…Now…And forever."
Jean pretty much passed out after those words, her exhaustion from her ordeal finally catching up with her. She remained in Scott's warm embrace, resting her body atop his and letting the soft beat of his heart lull her to sleep. He was still smiling down at her…Feeling so taken by her beauty and love. And as he covered their naked bodies with their soft bed sheets, he couldn't help but think about those last words she said…Together now and forever.
Thinking back to what they had just endured and how far they had come, Scott Summers had so many reasons to believe those words. Now more than ever, he was sure that this girl was the one…There was no other woman in the world for him. This was the woman he fell in love with…This was the woman he had given his heart to…And this was the woman he was going to spend the rest of his life with. And looking down at her peaceful form…Scott felt as though he had made his decision about cementing their future together. It was only a matter of making good use of the time that he and Jean had been blessed with…And he vowed that he would take the necessary measures to ensure that he and Jean would be together forever.
-Infirmary-
Emma had been waiting for Hank to finished with her results. She wanted to know what was going on with her and she wanted to know now. She never had anything like that happen to her before, one moment she was fine in that battle and the next she felt pain in her stomach and fainted! Her! Emma Frost, once the White Queen fainted! It was really galling her to say the least.
She had woken up to her beloved Vincent, looking over her and holding her hand. He smiled when she woke up and she could see the worry in he eyes. He told her what happened during the fight, the end of it, and the new girl August that was helping Jean. Emma's eyes widened at what happened to Jean, for she had seen Selene's black magic many times before, and once she had witnessed Selene putting a demon into a young man's body as a spy for the Hellfire Club. It was a chilling sight to say the least. She had never believed in magic, demons, or anything related to it before, but after the Hellfire Club nothing was the same again.
Vincent had gone to get her some clothing to wear so she could get out of her uniform. She had been alone with Sage for a little while and the two talked a bit about this. When the lights flickered and the air grew cold for a moment, they both knew what was happening upstairs. They both had been Selene and her dark forces at work, more so for Sage since as Tessa since she had been there longer and seen much more darker things that she admitted still haunted her.
No matter what was between the two women, they both were concerned for Jean. After Vince returned, she changed out of her uniform and into more comfortable clothing. She had also seen that he changed as well, still with a worried look on his face either for her, or Jean. But knowing him, it was most likely for both. He also looked tired. She told him to go and rest but he wouldn't leave her side until he knew she was alright.
She loved him, but he could be very stubborn at times like this. It took some effort on her part, but she finally convinced him to get some rest. He didn't like it at all, but he didn't want her to get angry or too stressed, not knowing her condition. So he reluctantly left her there.
Emma sighed when Jean had walked in, knowing that the danger was gone. Hank and Sage examined her and Jean and Emma talked about what happened. Emma was glad that Jean was alright, and that she had no real memories from her experience, which was certainly a blessing in Emma's mind.
Hank hadn't seen anything wrong with Jean, but wanted to see her regularly just in case. After Jean had left, Hank told her that he was going to see her final results. She was glad for this because the waiting was killing her. She laid back on the bed wishing she was in her bed with Vincent, his warm body pressed up against hers feeling his loving embrace. She never considered herself the romantic type, but then again meeting a man like him had changed her views on certain things.
Through their bond they touched minds and she felt him feel the same way wishing she was here with her. She relayed that Jean was okay and how she would be up soon to join him. It was then that Hank and Sage came in both with strange expressions on their faces. Emma sat up trying to read them, but Sage looked like she was in disbelief and Hank looked at a loss.
"Emma, I have to ask you a few things," Hank started off.
Emma composed herself, "Alright."
"Well…Have you been feeling tired lately?"
She nodded her head, "Yes I have, but then again given all the extra training I thought I just wasn't used to it like the others." She had been a little weak at times, but then again it was like she had said…Well, that and all the great sex she thought was also a factor. Sometimes she wondered where they got all the energy for it at times.
Hank nodded his head, "I also remember that you've been eating strange things."
Emma rolled her eyes, "Just experimenting, that's all."
"What about you getting sick in the morning? How many times?" This time it was Sage.
Now Emma was wondering where this was going, "Only twice."
Hank took a deep sigh not sure how to break the news to her, "I see…I don't know how to tell you this Emma but…"
Emma felt a chill through her. Was she sick? Did she have some type of terminal illness? She felt like giving a dark laugh at that moment, wouldn't that just be perfect for her life? After all the hell she had been through, she finds a real home, friends, love, and it's all taken from her. She wasn't surprised really…After all, this was her life and nothing good ever lasted long.
She felt for Vincent though…He had lived a life much like hers and then to die on him and leave him so alone in the world. She felt like she wanted to cry knowing the pain he would go through, but she didn't. Her face reminded neutral and she sat tall and proud. Pride was one of the few things she wouldn't let go easily. "Just spit it out Hank…I can take it."
She took a breath reading herself for the news. She just hoped whatever it was wasn't lethal and she there was a fighting chance to live.
"Emma…You're pregnant."
NEXT UP CHAPTER 66: BREAKING THE NEWS