Author's note: Well, I must say that I do not know why I am even attempting this, but I am determined to finish this fic. I had it up but after a much too long period between updates, I took it down to finish more chapters. Well, I did receive some encouraging reviews, so I will finish! Also, I must apologize for the french to English translations. They sound less elegant in English.
The Vampire Pandora
Chapter 2
"Bohémienne, nul ne sait le pays d'où je viens..."1
"Rielle, tu es si belle, mais tu le sais bien. Tu es ma perle, ma saphire, mon diamand écarlate. Bien sur, c'est sous entendu que tu me donnes des chocs et des frissons..."2
" Zephyr..."
Lights everywhere, multicoloured and shining in her eyes. Gabrielle was grateful for the blinding light. It kept her from seeing the frightening, disgusting men who whistled at her while she danced...
She traced the grain of the wood with her fingertips, the tabletop feeling smooth under her skin. Lost in her thoughts, Gabrielle hummed under her breath. Her fingers danced lightly over the table, her memories of Paris flooding back to her...
"Rielle? Are you still in here?"
Startled and angry at being caught unawares, Gabrielle quickly jumped to her feet, knocking over her chair in the process. Quickly righting herself, she tried to look casual as Scott stuck his head into the kitchen.
Gabrielle looked down at her feet so she would not have to look at the pity in his gaze. Why was it that sympathy from others did far from comfort you? For Gabrielle, it did nothing but make her feel dramatic and weak.
Quickly remembering the chair she had knocked over, Gabrielle quickly bent over to right it. She heard Scott's footsteps enter the kitchen, sliding across the linoleum floor. Standing straight to face him head-on, Gabrielle knew she was blushing from embarrassment and hated it.
" Hey! The professor was wondering if you could come meet the team now."
"Oh", Gabrielle said, suddenly remembering. "Oh, of course."
"You don't have to right away". Scott Summer's smile was kind.
"No, I said I would. I don't mind", Gabrielle said as strongly as she could, making herself sound confident.
Smiling, Scott swept his arm in the direction of the door. Gabrielle smiled at him, and walked ahead. She walked with his out of the kitchen, and back into the immense hallways. Laughing children and chatting teenagers made their way past them, only a few looking back at her.
This place was huge! How would she ever remember how to get anywhere? She would only get lost and have to get help to go where she wanted to...
Wait, why was she even thinking like this? It wasn't as if Gabrielle was planning on staying. No, she couldn't stay. She had to keep moving. Staying put too long was dangerous.
" I know it seems intimidating but it's actually not that bad. Everyone thinks they'll get lost, but few actually do", Scott's voice landed her abruptly back on earth.
"Oh, yes, I was just thinking that", Gabrielle offered, trying to participate in the struggling conversation.
The walls were all painted the same colour, and the tile floor gave the place a gallant look. Gabrielle subconsciously wiped her hands on her jeans. Everything looked so clean, nothing like the filth of the show she had travelled with for so long. She felt so out of place here, like a stain on the rug or a scuff on your fanciest shoe.
Although there was much of her past that ashamed her, she had never felt like this. Back home she was as dirty as the others, but no one else could see that. Back home, in the show, she had been the star, La Riella Delaluna. Men had flocked to see her dance. Everyone had found her beautiful, desirable. And Zephyr more than anyone. Oh God, Zehpyr...
"Here we are", Scott announced.
Darting a quick look around, Gabrielle was furious that she had not paid more attention to the journey. She had no idea where she was.
Scott had lead her to a solid, wall? They were standing in a dead end, a bust of Shakespeare to her left and Van Gogh's Starry Night hanging before her. Gabrielle looked around her, perhaps she had missed the door?
"There is no door", Scott smiled at her obvious confusion. "Well, not the kind you expect."
Reaching by her to the marble statue , Scott rested his hand on the bard's grey head, and pulled it back off its pedestal.
The wall was suddenly moving, opening across on a angle. As a crack appeared on the diagonal, the two pieces of wall disappeared into the corners. Gabrielle took a step back, amazed and frightened at once. What kind of technology was this? Well, it was to be expected, she supposed, after what she had witnessed in the medical lab downstairs. An opening wall was to be taken lightly, right?
Looking amused at her shocked expression, Scott shook his head and walked through the opening. Slightly less sure, Gabrielle followed him. A little way in, they came upon a solid, metal door. There was no door knob and no visible way of opening it, but Gabrielle did not doubt that some kind of trick would open it.
Scott walked up to a small, blinking screen next to it, and put his eye up to it. Well, he put up his covered eyes. A small, green light scanned it, and the door slid down. Backing up and turning to beckon her, Scott went ahead and stepped through. Refusing to appear frightened or intimidated, Gabrille followed casually.
"Ah, there you are. Please, take a seat Gabrielle."
Gabrielle found herself in a large, circular room. Plush chairs were placed in a half circle before a mahogany desk, and some of them were already taken. The only light came from a hanging chandelier and the flickering fireplace behind the desk.
The professor was seated behind the desk, and gestured towards the chairs. Scott had already seated himself next to a red-headed woman who was smiling kindly at Gabrielle. Gabrielle smiled back nervously, and the woman turned to Scott and kissed him quickly on the cheek.
The chair next to the couple was occupied by a woman with long, flowing white hair. Her tanned skin seemed all the darker against her fair coiffe, and a smile was also displayed on her gentle face. The seat next to her was empty.
Feeling a little shy and confused, Gabrielle took the initiative to sit next to this kindly woman. Immediately receiving a welcome motherly feeling from the older woman, Gabrielle smiled back tentatively.
The man now seated next to her gave off no such vibe. Hairy and scowling, a very muscular fellow sat at her left, not looking at her. Although he was intimidating and screamed touchy, she could not help but feel admiration for such a courageous character. He caught her staring and let out a humphf sound. Embarrassed, Gabrielle quickly looked at the professor seated across from her.
Charles Xavier smiled his reassuring smile, and glanced at his watch. Gabrielle could only guess at the time.
"Well, of course we are running a little late..."
"Kitty, Rogue, Bobby and the others are in their last classes Professor", the redhead offered. "And Kurt probably just lost track of time once more."
The professor nodded, apparently agreeing with her.
"Well, I suppose we could begin the introductions", he said. He put his hands together and crossed his fingers as he looked back at them. "This is Rielle Delalune, our newest, uh, student. She will be staying for a little while with us here at the Institute."
"Scott, Ororo and I know a little about you already", said the redhead warmly. "We were with the prof when he went to fetch you. Outside of Paris was it?"
Gabrielle could only nod stupidly.
The other girl seemed to sense her discomfort. She realised that Gabrielle was at a disadvantage in her unknowing.
"I'm Jean Grey", she told her, "And you've already met Scott?"
"We have been introduced yes", the man in the head-gear replied. "I gave her a quick tour of the ground floor."
The woman seated at Gabrielle's right took her hand into her own.
"I'm Ororo Munroe, and the charismatic hair-ball next to you is Logan."
The man only gave out another humphf. Gabrielle nodded her thanks and noticed the quick look the professor shot Logan. The hairy man grumbled under his breath and reached out to take Gabrielle's hand.
The moment Gabrielle took his hand, the door opened once more and a burst of students came into the room. Quickly settling into their own chairs, they looked upon her as she managed to electrocute the already touchy man.
"Jesus! What the hell!", Logan yelled in surprise as he nearly tumbled backwards. Shocks of electricity ran up through his arm and spiked his already thick hair. Gabrielle gasped in shock and pulled her hand away. Feeling the pairs of eyes upon her, she got up quickly and rushed to the door.
As she was about to breach it, the way was blocked by a furry, blue man who appeared out of nowhere. Gabrielle thudded into his chest as she collided with him. The sharp smell of sulphur hit her nose and made her gasp.
"Vell now, vat have ve here? Easy Fraulein, no need to panic."
Strong hands were suddenly on her shoulders and Gabrielle spun to find herself face to face with the kindly Ororo. Grasped by panic and embarrassed, Gabrielle struggled to free herself.
"Now, now child. Just calm down. Logan is fine, well, his hair has seen better days."
Gabrielle felt herself relax as she heard the others laughing. She dared a look around and found that those assembled were all chuckling at the afro that Logan was now sporting. Even the professor seemed amused.
"I am so sorry Rielle", Charles said sincerely, "I should have warned you about Logan's metallic skeleton. It seemed to conduct the, agitation, you were feeling very well."
Ororo smiled at her and Gabrielle let herself be led back to her chair. Although she felt a little better, she knew that everyone was certainly watching her now.
"Allow me to begin at the beginning, Rielle. Introductions are in order. You have already met most of us in this room. However, a everyday name basis will not suffice", Xavier stated simply. "We", he continued, "Are X-Men. Mutants who live here in security. We fight those who would do wrong and we try to help those who need it. You were such a case."
"You have already met him as Scott Summers, but he is also Cyclops, the leader of our, shall we say, group", Xavier explained. " Ororo goes by Storm and Logan is known as The Wolverine."
Logan shot her a look and Gabrielle looked down at her hands. She was not sure, however, if she truly heard the small chuckle of laughter from Logan.
"Kitty Pryde, a.k.a Shadowcat. Bobby Drake, Jubilee and Rogue you have also met. Mr. Drake is also called Iceman. Each of us..."
"Uh, professor?", called out the fuzzy one.
"Oh, my apologies Kurt", the prof exclaimed. "Rielle, meet Kurt Wagner, our Nightcrawler."
"Pleased to make your acquaintance", Kurt said enthusiastically.
"As I was saying", Xavier began, "Each of us is gifted with unique talents, be it telepathy to teleportation, from freezing to flying. Here we live in safety and security. We train our young scholars and help them with their budding powers. That's why we have brought you here. But please, Gabrielle, could you tell the team a little about yourself?"
"Please, professah, that is so grade-school", said the Rogue tiredly.
Gabrielle could not agree more.
"Gabrielle, please?", Xavier asked.
"Well, as most of you know I was living in France. I've been moving across Europe most of my life now, well, after my powers had manifested", she began in a quiet voice. She had to sound more strong than she felt. " I seem to be some kind of electrical outlet, a conductor. My body creates waves of it, electricity I mean, especially when I get too excited or", she swallowed, "nervous."
"So like, no more power-outages, right",Kitty yelled out giddily.
Gabrielle smiled at the welcome interruption. She glanced around her, trying to see what the others thought.
The professor smiled once more, giving her the welcome sign that she could sit. She did so promptly, trying to smile at the others.
"That's about it", she said finally.
"Well, then, I suppose we should arrange a room for you", Xavier said amicably. He signalled to the others his permission to leave but motioned to Kitty to stay back. The room emptied surprisingly quick, until only Kitty, Gabrielle and the prof remained.
" Kitty, your room is full, is it not?", Charles asked.
"Me, Jubs and Rogue", she answered happily.
"Well", said the professor after a thought, "We could give you Jean's old room. It's been empty since she moved into Scott's..."
"Professor, you have been so kind but", Gabrielle hesitated a little. "I don't think I can stay here. I really shouldn't, I'm not the kind of person who belongs in a place like this..."
"Nonsense", Xavier said brusquely. "There will be none of that Gabrielle. You would not be here if you were not welcome."
Kitty smiled at her and linked her arm with hers.
"Come on", she said. "I'll show you your room."
1Bohemian. No one knows from where I came...
2Rielle, you are so beautiful, but you know it. You're my pearl, my saphire, my sparkling diamond. Of course, I don't have to say how you make me shiver...