It had been a while since she was last here.. and yet it had changed so little.
Mystique slowly travelled through the foliage at the back of the grounds, peering through the branches at the tall mansion up ahead. Slowly, her form changed into a short stature of a young teenage boy. She idly ran a hand through new messy black hair, a cruel smirk lingering unnaturally on the masculine lips. Slowly, she set off from the trees, making her way across the dark lawns. Her soft brown eyes watched the mansion as it came closer. She hadn't seen any of the X-Men for a long time..
She stepped quietly across a patio that was led out onto via double doors. Coming upon the doorway, she slowly settled her hand upon the handle and pulled a door open. She slowly stepped inside, closing the door to with a quiet click. She idly licked her lips slowly, a reptilian like blue tongue appearing.
Further down the corridor, she heard a sudden voice call, "Artie?"
Mystique quickly span round, her eyes finding Scott Summers walking towards her. Her eyes slowly trailed up his form, meeting his face and covered eyes. It had only been a year, but he had grown as much as she had. His body had filled out with a muscular build with his time leading the X-Men. His face tougher, more domineering and generally more handsome. He was far from the terrified blind teenager she had first met so long ago.
"Are you alright?"
"Fine," answered Mystique quickly as she stepped away, "I'm fine." She quickly turned, heading off through the dimly lit corridor.
Mystique disappeared around the corner, pausing as she thought over her first meeting with Scott since her own time at the mansion. She sighed quietly, pushing her thoughts aside as she slowly walked through the mansion. She needed to try and work out a way to get this girl out of the mansion. Further ahead, she could hear a television on in what she recalled to be the recreational room. She slowly made her way over; peering in through the door to see a small group of students sat watching a film. On the couch were three mutants, two of which she didn't recognise. But one of them was the girl she seeked.
"Hey, Bobby, would ya pass me the popcorn?" she asked a blond haired boy besides her. He glanced at her, before reaching forth and offering her the popcorn with a smile.
In the corridor, footsteps were heard, the repetitive click of heels. Swiftly, Mystique darted behind a bookcase against the corridor wall, remaining out of sight. The heels paused before heading to the open doorway Mystique had just been stood in.
"Come on you lot," said a gentle voice, "it's getting late now. You can continue watching the film tomorrow."
"Aw, Dr. Grey.." protested a voice.
"Sorry, Kitty. But it's a school day tomorrow and I don't want you falling asleep during my biology test, or had you forgotten about that?"
Mystique leant forth slowly; peering at the woman stood a short distance away. The tall feminine body was familiar, as was the long styled locks of red that hung down her back. An angry glare was quick to form on Mystique's face. Jean Grey. She quickly slipped back against the wall as the students filed out of the room. She watched them depart with the woman. Mystique's eyes followed Jean for a few moments before her eyes glared at the girl. A plan was forming..
Hours had passed as Mystique meandered the dark corridors. The mutants were all in bed, allowing Mystique to wander freely as she searched for information that could help her. From what she had seen so far, that boy who was with her might be a good person to change into if she needed to confront the girl. But then, suddenly, her musings were cut short as a horrific roar bellowed through the school; swiftly follow by a terrified scream. Quickly, Mystique ran to the landing. The sounds had come from the floor below. As she came upon the banister, she vaulted across the top, swiftly falling to land silently in a crouch. A move that the real boy she mimicked could never do. Once landed, she sprinted down the corridor, seeing several other mutants looking around curiously. Up ahead, Scott Summers was at one of the bedroom doors, pushing it open. The other X-Men gathered around him, including Storm and Jean.
Mystique slowly made her way forth, coming upon the curious crowd in the doorway. Getting nearer the front, she peered into the room, seeing Jean run inside. Stood in the bedroom, with her back to the door was the girl she had been hunting. The back of her nightdress had been cut loose and her bare back was marked by faint trickles of blood from a three quickly disappearing wounds. On the floor, at her feet was a body, shaking uncontrollably with widened eyes.
Mystique froze.
Wolverine.
"Scott, grab a pillow!" Jean's voice brought Mystique back to attention, eyes roaming the room to watch the sudden movement that ensued from the X-Men. The girl had turned round slowly, a distressed look on her face as she spoke quietly.
"It was an accident.."
Storm regarded her silently before the girl moved past. The crowd at the door backed away fearfully, moving Mystique with them. Slowly, Mystique pushed through the crowd, running after the girl who was still walking down the corridor, holding a hand against her face gently as she quietly began to cry.
"Hey.."
She stopped, turning to stare with tearful eyes down at the boy, "What?" she snapped, although her tone was shaky.
"What happened?"
"It was just an accident!" insisted the girl, her voice rising, "He didn't mean to stab me! An' I had to borrow his powers to heal my wounds!"
A genuine surprised tone came upon Mystique, "He stabbed you?"
"Yeah, y'know, the claws he's got? Those metals ones? I woke him up, an' musta startled him and he attacked me."
Mystique fell silent, staring up at the girl with a surprised face.
The girl shook her head slowly as she turned around. She began to walk away again, muttering to herself quietly, "Shoulda known it.. c'mon Rogue, what are ya doin'.."
"Rogue.." whispered Mystique quietly before a slight smile crafted across her lips, "How suitable." He looked behind her slowly, seeing Storm ordering the students back to bed. Wolverine, the same man who had killed her cousin had claws? Were they the same claws he had stabbed her cousin with..? A lot of information had been revealed in those short few minutes. Including the vital factor that Rogue could use someone else's powers..
The next day, Rogue had been wandering alone for more of the day, watched as she passed through the corridors by Mystique. Eventually, she had settled herself on a bench at the bottom of the grounds, presumably to get away from the furious whisperings about her. Rumours were flying thick and fast about the incident last night. Some going as far as to say she had intended to hurt him, others saying that Wolverine had purposely stabbed her. Behind, in the undergrowth, stood Mystique in her usual form. Her bright yellow eyes glared around slowly before meeting the back of the girl's head once more. It was ideal. No, it was perfect. The incident last night could be cruelly twisted into a method of getting Rogue to leave the school, and all it needed was convincing. And Mystique knew who could do that.
Slowly, her naked form shifted. Shortening her height and filling out her curves into a masculine figure. A boyish face appeared, topped by fashionably spiked hair of blond. Mystique pushed through the trees quietly, "Rogue!"
Rogue turned quickly, initially surprised, but a pleased smile came upon her face, "Bobby!"
"Rogue, what did you do?" Mystique sat down slowly besides her, face taking on a cold and disapproving look, "They say you're stealing other mutants' powers."
But Rogue looked concerned, "No, no. I borrowed his power." she quickly insisted.
"You never use your power against another mutant." Mystique laughed inside. It was quite ironic.
Rogue stared at the boy for a moment before she said in a finalising manner, "I had no choice." Mystique glowered at her, continuing to keep up the visual unhappiness. Seeing this, Rogue leant forth, "No, you have to understand – "
"If I were you I'd get myself outta here," interrupted Mystique, fastening steely eyes upon the girl.
Rogue watched him for a moment, looking unsure, "What do you mean?"
And so, Mystique continued, keeping her tone stern, "Listen, the students are freaked. Professor Xavier's furious, I don't know what he'll do with you."
Tears were forming in Rogue's eyes, despite her clear fight against them as she breathed shakily. She looked away from the boy, eyes worried.
"I think it'll be easier on your own," suggested Mystique, a flicker of a smile coming across the boys face. Rogue swallowed slowly, closing her eyes against the forming tears. "You should go," concluded Mystique in a finalising tone. Rogue slowly glanced back at Mystique before her face consorted with a silent sob as she angrily pushed to her feet, promptly walking away. She paused however, glancing over to shoulder to see the cold eyes glaring at her. She quickly turned with a quiet sob, running towards the mansion. Mystique smirked to herself slowly as she watched the girl go. She stood to her feet slowly, glancing about the area before she casually made her way towards the mansion.
Mystique exited one of the lifts, stepping out into the corridor. She glanced to her right to see the real life form of Bobby walk by, talking concernedly to his friends about the disappearance of Rogue. She turned to walk the opposite way, pausing as she saw Scott and Storm walk down the corridor.
"I wonder what made her take off like that?" asked Scott quietly as he walked.
"I wouldn't be surprised if it is related to what happened last night," replied Storm in a thoughtful tone, "Perhaps she feels that we don't want her here.."
Their voices faded out as the pair descended down a staircase and Mystique swiftly turned, seeking the corridor wall for the lift that would take them down into the underground levels. Walking up to it, she opened the doors, stepping inside. Within, she descended down quickly, the doors opening out onto the brightly lit corridors. Her eyes trailed the metallic walls slowly. Memories of this place hadn't been fond. She pushed her reminiscing aside, quietly walking towards the large circular door at the end of the corridor. She stopped as she reached it, crouching down slowly so that she was at height that the Professor would be in his wheelchair. Slowly, the boyish face changed into the elderly, wizened face of the Professor. A blue beam came from the circular centre of the door, reading the Right eye of Mystique's transformed body.
Welcome Professor.
Mystique straightened slowly, walking towards the opening doors of Cerebro. Her form shifted with a series of crackling that revealed her usual blue skin. She casually strolled inside, luminous eyes shifting upwards to gaze around the large spherical room. She came towards the headset, recalling the important information Magneto had told her the previous morning. She crouched down at the edge of the walkway, pulling out a drawer that slotted into the metal frame. She glanced slowly at the vial in her hand, then the connection of wires and tubes inside the machine. She unplugged one wire, connecting it to her vial and then back into the machine. Instantly, the dark colour gas of the vial began to pump into the machine's power source.
Poisoned.
Swiftly, she pulled the drawer closed, getting to her feet and sprinting back out onto the corridor and towards the lifts. Reverting back into the form of Bobby, she entered the lift. Magneto would be setting off for Rogue now, and she had to be there with the helicopter as planned.
Please review! And if you're interested, I have started a new story called 'All I Have.'
I also have a new story planning, focused on Rogue. The good news is, I only have one more week at work, so I'll have time for all this new writing!