Author's Note: Here I am, with a new chapter (finally). I've had a pretty hectic past couple of months and my writing was lost in the shuffle. But I'm determined to finish this story, so expect a new chapter in a couple of weeks or so! Who knows, if I get enough reviews, it might come out sooner!

The Vampire Pandora

Chapter 20

Remy knew ways of torture that would astound those who knew him. He knew ways of hurting human beings in such a way that they cried for mercy, wished for death, squirmed under his words and his technique. Of course the X-Men were not aware of his less than saintly training in the Guild, they would never have been so trusting. Not that they had been overly so, but if Charles Xavier knew just how Remy LeBeau was planning to exact revenge, Remy did not doubt the telepathic professor would forever lose his mind.

Gripping the handlebars of Scott's bike even tighter and ignoring the ache in his white knuckles, Remy leaned forward, urging the motorcycle to even greater speeds. The cold wind tore through his hair and made his eyes sting, and the bitter Maine weather made his skin burn, but the desperate young man had surpassed all human feeling. The numbness he felt was intense, complete, and not completely caused by the miserable temperature.

Rielle, Gabrielle, she was gone. Kidnapped, abducted and stolen away, and by whom? Only God really knew, but Remy had a gut feeling about the identity of the perpetrators. Did they believe they were going to get away with it? Did they think he would just forget about her, and leave the woman he loved within their grasp? Obviously, Magneto did not know Remy as well as he thought.

Ou peut-être, Remy thought, He knows me better than I think...

Gabrielle sighed happily as she wrapped her woolen shawl tighter around her shoulders. Her breath released a small cloud of fog into the air, making her smile. It was a beautiful morning, and she was here, with her family, safe once more. Tenderly she placed a hand on her swollen middle. Soon enough, there would be a little one to share all of this with. Gabrielle stroked the stretched flesh of her stomach, imagining in her heart the small being that waited within. She couldn't wait to meet her child, she had waited so long...

But therein lay the problem. As far as she could remember, she had no recollection of her pregnancy, the first or second trimester, the morning sickness, the nausea that accompanied the smell of food, all the things that usually accompanied a pregnancy. In fact, she could barely remember the night of her baby's conception.

Until Magneto, Eric, her father had brought back all the terrible memories. The dirty man who had been so coarse with her, pushing her up against the wall of an alley where the stench of dead fish was terrible. The disgusting muttering he grunted to her in french, and the fear of her re-emerging powers.

But, try as she might, she could not picture the man with the glowing eyes, the one Magneto claimed was responsible for all of this, for all of her pain. It was not his face that she saw shoved into her own piggishly against the light of the crescent moon. It was not him that she remembered.

And gloves, she distinctly remembered gloves, and a duster, a brown one. And a scent, not like any she had encountered before. The delightful aroma of spice and sweat, musting together as calloused fingers carefully held her own. But it seemed that as quickly as she remembered these things, they disappeared once more into the recesses of her broken mind.

These memories, her father had explained as everyday Gabrielle returned to him, demanding explanations or begging for answers, were lies implanted in her mind by the chair-bound psychic that had kept her in captivity amongst his villainous assassins. Simply images placed there to reassure her, and to keep her from running away. This was, at least, what her father had told her. He would have no reason to lie to her, what possible motive could he have? Men who were not your family did not take you in to care for you and your unborn baby. This man loved her, as she loved him and the brothers she seemed to have forgotten as well. And today, today Magneto had promised her another welcome surprise.

"Your sister is returning to us", Eric had said kindly as he stood behind Gabrielle, placing the shawl over her trembling shoulders. "She will arrive shortly. I know how she longs to see you once more."

"Do you think I will remember her?", Gabrielle had whispered into the wind. "I would give anything to remember my life here before."

"You will in time", he had assured her. "In time, all will be revealed to you."

Feeling the child in her womb kick gently against her, Gabrielle smiled, although her eyes retained a little of their listlessness. She still could not understand why these sights, which to her should be as familiar as a home, brought on no feelings of security or happiness. In fact, she had lived with a heavy heart for days now, unable to shake the feeling of desperateness that heavied her heart and slowed her step.

I shall need to think of a name for him, or her, Gabrielle thought to herself, the idea momentarily bringing a small smile to her lips. I want a name that will be strong enough to protect him from all this, and all that is to come.

However, as soon as she had thought this, she wondered why, as her heart sunk lower into her chest. Whatever Magneto told her, she would not shake off this feeling of impending something. Perhaps it was just the fear of delivering her baby, perhaps the uncertainty she felt in her new home and family, but whatever it was, Gabrielle would be ready to face it.

"Gabrielle, are you out here?", a deep voice filtered in the wind over to where the girl stood, hugging herself against the wind. "Gabrielle?"

"Father, I'm here", she called out, turning to face the form emerging from the shadow. She watched as Magneto walked casually over to where she stood, his brisk walk covering the distance between them easily.

"My dear, perhaps it would be best if you remained inside", Magneto warned her gently. "You are in no condition to be catching a chill". And should any of Xavier's protege venture close, it would be a shame to kill them before I can put my plans in action, he thought to himself, smiling down at Gabrielle.

"Really, I'm fine", Gabrielle smiled back softly, "You don't need to treat me like a piece of glass Eri...Father." Gabrielle blushed slightly at her mistake. Part of her hoped she had not offended him, but another...

"Just humour me and make an old man happy", Magneto cajoled, taking her elbow gently into his grasp.

As quickly as he had touched her, Gabrielle jerked her arm away spastically, her violet eyes widening in sudden alarm. She carefully took a step back, away from him, and Magneto's teeth clenched tightly in his mouth.

No, no. He thought desperately. Stay with me girl, don't fight my instructions yet...

"Come child", Magneto said graciously, as if nothing had occurred. "There is someone here that I think you will love to see."

"Rogue, baby. It's been too long!", Toad cried enthusiastically as the slender brunette entered the main hall, John close by her side. "Did you find the rendez-vous point ok?"

"Ah found it fine sugah", Rogue replied wearily, looking around her with misty eyes.

"She was waiting exactly where I said I'd pick her up in the chopper", John answered Toad, dumping a bag of Rogue's at the amphibi-man's feet. "Now, you can stop pestering her with your goddamn questions and go throw her shit in a room."

"Do I look like the fucking help, Allerdyce?", Toad spat, insulted.

"Ah'm fine John, God. Ah can take mah own stuff if it's such a bother", Rogue sighed, already tired of the squabbling.

She leaned over to pick up the duffel bag that Pyro had dumped at her feet, as Toad, unbeknownst to her, caught an appreciative glance of her backside. Grasping the straps, she swung the bag up unto her shoulder, straightening up and took a step forward.

As the metal doors at the east side of the room slid open, Rogue's breath suddenly caught, and her bag dropped once more to the floor. Strolling comfortably at Magneto's side was a very pale, very pregnant Rielle! Rogue knew that Magneto had some use for the mutant, but hadn't given Rogue any indication as to what they might be. She was so big! When Rogue had last seen her, a few weeks ago at most, she had been as slim as ever. What did this mean? But more importantly...

Oh God, Rogue thought desperately, Is it Remy's?

As she stared in horror at Rielle's swollen middle, Magneto coughed gently, clearing his throat. Indicating to Rogue that she step closer, he put a protective arm around Rielle's shoulders. Rogue noticed the girl flinch slightly, but Rielle did no pull away. What had Magneto done to her? Did Rogue even want to know?

"Marie, you've finally returned!", Magneto called out warmly, an eerie smile pasted over his ashen features. "And you're just in time! Come in and reunite with your sister. She's been waiting for such a long time to see you again."

Rogue's wide eyes looked over at Rielle, catching the girl's hesitant stare. A slow smile broke out upon Rielle's lips, and she looked back shyly at Rogue. Rogue willed herself to move, to remain calm but no reaction came to her. She stood frozen, staring at Magneto and then to the girl beside him. What was he playing at? She didn't want to adopt Rielle, she wanted Magneto to send her back to where she had come from.

"Marie, come now", Magneto said, a little more forcefully. "Come and greet your sister."

Without her help it seemed, Rogue's feet shuffled slowly across the floor, bringing her even closer to where Magneto and Rielle stood, smiling. Looking desperately at Magneto for help, Rogue kept her face void of emotion as Rielle took a step away from Magneto, and towards her.

"I'm, I'm glad you've come home", Rielle said softly, carefully taking Rogue's gloved hand within her own. Rielle took Rogue's hand and placed it gently on her middle. Rogue could only stare back in shock as she felt the strange bumping beneath Rielle's taught shirt. "I don't think I could do this without you."

"Don't, don't worry", Rogue stuttered, hoping to look more assured than she felt. "Ah'm here now."

Rielle's bright smile illuminated her tanned face as she suddenly reached out and grasped Rogue tightly. She wound her arms around the frightened mutant, and Rogue did her best to hug back. This was wrong, all of this was wrong. As Rielle pulled away and Rogue looked once more upon her smiling features, she couldn't help but picture Remy's tortured face when he had learned that she had given Rielle to Magneto. The way his eyes had cried out in his pain. They were all so worried about Rielle, and here she was, perfectly safe, perfectly fine, about thirty pounds heavier, but alive. And smiling!

"Come on", Rielle said happily as she slowly bent over to grasp Rogue's bag. "I think you'll be sharing a room with me, if you don't mind."

"No, of, of course Ah don't mind..."Rogue mumbled, unable to tear her face away from Rielle's happy one.

"Don't worry so much Marie, you're home now, with family", Rielle said kindly. "We're all here for you. This is a good place, they'll take care of you, like they have of me."

Magneto watched as the two girls left the room arm in arm. As the metal doors to the hallway closed behind them with a soft hiss, he quickly mentioned for John to approach him. John nudged Toad, who had been staring along with John at the somewhat awkward encounter they had just witnessed. Barely nodding, Toad walked towards another exit, shaking his head and mumbling something about brainwash and babies.

John waited for Toad to be gone before walking over to where Magneto stood, waiting. The elderly man's smile still played upon his thin lips, but it suddenly seemed so cold. As John looked back at his leader, he couldn't help but remember Xavier's smiling eyes. And seeing how Rielle had welcomed Rogue had been almost comforting, a memory of the place he had abandoned for good.

"John, warn Sabertooth", Magneto said suddenly, cutting through John's thoughts. "Tell him everything will be starting tonight."

"Magneto", John said warily, his voice betraying him. "This was supposed to be a simple kidnap mission. Nab the kid, dump her on some other continent. This, this was never part of the plan. Don't you think that maybe, maybe you've gone to far brining Rogue here, and the baby and all..."

"I think that you concern yourself too much with things that don't concern you", Magneto's deep voice snapped, all semblance of a smile erased. "Give Sabertooth the message and be done with it. Now go!"

Sighing, John walked quickly away, not bothering to look back at Magneto, who stood quietly in the chilly room, gazing out the window at the snow falling.

"Rogue? Can you, remember anything about me?", Rielle's voice asked suddenly, cutting through the darkness of the bedroom.

"What's wrong Sugah?", Rogue mumbled in her sleep from her bed across the room. "You need something for the baby?"

"No, I think he's sleeping", Rielle said, her voice clearly portraying the thoughts pressing her.

"You sure it's a boy dahlin'?", Rogue asked, groggily pinning herself up on one elbow.

"I think so", Rielle replied carelessly. "But Rogue, can you remember anything about the last few years? Months even? It's just that, I can't remember a thing and I've been trying so hard to make sense of it all. Father says it's because he had to wipe my mind of all the lies my captors told me."

"Yah captors? Wipe your mind?", Rogue repeated, suddenly very much awake. "Sugah, did Mag... I mean, Father tell you where it is you've been foh awhile?"

"Not all of it, he said he didn't want to upset me in case it hurt the baby", Rielle said hesitantly. "But, there's just so many questions that I have. Like, I can't remember being pregnant for very long. I barely remember the people I was with and I barely remember, the one who, the one father told me did this to me. The baby, I mean."

"Do you...", Rogue's words caught in her throat as she struggled to contain her tears. "Do you remember who's it is?"

"The baby? Who's but mine?" Rielle kidded weakly.

"The father ah mean", Rogue pressed hoarsely. "Do you remember him at all?"

"A little", Rielle answered uncertainly. "I just remember certain little things, like, for example, I remember that he did it to me outside, against a wall or something. Well, I don't actually remember the act, but he tried to..."

"Anythin' else Rielle?", Rogue pressed gently, disgust and horror creeping into her heart. "Anythin' perticulah maybe, lahke, his eyes?"

"He smelt like fish", came Rielle's soft reply. "His eyes, his eyes..."

"He had a great smell, like, spice and sunshine mixed into a summer day", Rogue said slowly, tears brimming the corners of her eyes. "And his eyes were incredible, red on black..."

Rogue heard Rielle sit up slowly in her bed, and she clenched her eyes shut. How could she be so stupid! The last thing she should be doing is telling Rielle anything that could spark her memory and yet... Rogue couldn't help but feel terrible. It was her fault, after all, that Rielle was here in this mess. And as much as she had hated Rielle, Rogue couldn't let the other girl go on hating Remy, even if she couldn't remember him. But to hate the faint memory she had, Rogue knew it would kill Remy. And although it wasn't much, Rogue was at least going to keep him alive for Rielle. It was the least she could do.

"Red on black?", Rielle said uncertainly. "Spice, I don't...I can't..."

"Ah'm sorry to bring it up Rielle", Rogue said, suddenly sincere. "But Ah just wanted you to know somethin'. He, he loved yah. Very much."

"He loved me?", Rielle repeated, sounding almost frightened. "But Father said, Father said it was a rape."

Rogue closed her eyes once more, punching herself inwardly for all of this. Remy, a rapist? How could Magneto twist all this around? How could he an innocent girl suffer so much pain? Really, Rielle had done nothing to him. He was just supposed to get rid of her, not keep her locked away in order to warp her mind.What had she done?

"No, he loved you sugah", Rogue said, exhausted. "He never would have, but..." Rogue's mind scrambled frantically, looking for a way out. "But the people who brainwashed you did it tah him too. He never meant tah hurt you Rielle. He just got caught up in his own pain and couldn't fing his way through. So the evil mutant posed an easy way out. That's what happened Rogue. Remy would never have hurt you."

"Remy?", Rielle repeated. "Remy..." Her words trailed off into the dark, and Rogue heard her fumble around on her nightstand and pick up the glass of water there. Rogue heard her drink the liquid down. For a pregnant woman, Rogue couldn't help but notice, she drank a lot of water, but never seemed to have to relieve herself. Unless...

"Rogue? Rogue!", Rielle's terrified voice suddenly called out. "I think, I think the baby's coming!"

Rogue snatched the gloves that lay on the stand next to her bed and quickly slapped them on. She leapt from her bed and scrambled to find her way to Rielle's bedside in the dark. Finding Rielle's hand and squeezing it firmly in her gloved one, she held on as Rielle's heavy breathing suddenly filled the room.

"Don't be afraid, Ah won't leave you", Rogue said fiercely. "Ah'll be here with you the whole time Rielle. Ah won't leave, Ah won't leave you alone."

"Rogue", Rielle sobbed softly. "I'm so scared. I wish, I wish my mother were here."

Rogue could only hold Rielle's hand in her own as she screamed for Magneto.