Disclaimer: I do not own the X-men or anything associated with them…
A/N: Sorry for the delay...I couldn't seem to get the document to upload yesterday for some reason! By the way,I'm altering some of the history of Cat Island and the size of Mt. Alvernia. It's really not very tall, but it is the tallest spot in the Bahamas.
Thanks to all those who reviewed!
Chapter 8: Cat Island
Piotr led Kitty back through the winding alleys and lantern-lit streets to the harbor. He took her by the hand helping her ascend the slippery gangplank of the Anna Marie and pulled her to the upper decks. The only sounds that could be heard were the gentle lapping of waves against the hull and the distant squawks of gulls overhead. He blew out the lanterns and pointed to a small a blanket stretched along the quarterdeck.
"I wanted to share zis with you, Katja." Piotr whispered as sat down on the blanket and pointed to the sky.
Following the line of his hand, Kitty looked up and gasped. Above her head a thousand stars twinkled, but more surprising than that was the shower of sparks in the sky. It was as if the heavens themselves lost hold of their treasure sending hundreds of stars falling at once. Never in her life had she seen anything so miraculous.
"It's incredible," she said breathlessly.
"I thought you would enjoy it." Piotr smiled and extended his hand to her.
Kitty took his hand in hers and sat down beside him, leaning into his embrace. "What is it?"
"Old sailors in mother Russia call it a star dance. It doesn't happen often, but when it does… it is amazing."
"Oh, thank you, Piotr!" Kitty said, smiling up at her gentle pirate captain.
Piotr's smile widened and he pulled her closer to him, resting his chin on her head. He raised one hand up and gently stroked her cheek. Never in her life had anything felt so wonderful. The sight of the stars dancing, the gentle rippling of waves, and the music of the wind caressing her body in time with his hand created an enchanted moment in time.
He tilted her face toward him and splayed his fingers along her neck. Over her shoulder she looked up at him, and the intensity and need in his eyes took her breath. Never had a man looked at her with such raw, unbridled longing.
"I love you, Katja."
She bit her quivering lip. A thousand thoughts and emotions tumbled through her simultaneously: joy, happiness, but mostly love. Never in her wildest imaginings had she envisioned this perfect man confessing his love for her.
"I love you, too." Kitty whispered.
Piotr leaned over and gently claimed her lips with his. Kitty felt his arms tighten around her waist. Surrounded by the scent of man and ocean, and the feel of hard muscles flexing beneath her hands, she was entranced. That one kiss went deeper than just her lips, her mouth. The heat of it spread through her body, setting a fire to her soul.
When the kiss finally broke, Piotr and Kitty reclined back onto the blanket and stared up at the fires in the sky. Silence hung between them for several minutes, and when he spoke, his voice was quiet and held an awed tone to it. "You are ze most amazing woman I have ever met, Katja. What did I ever do to deserve such a treasure?"
"Kiss me, Piotr."
He reached out and touched her tiny hand. It was so small in comparison to his and yet she possessed strength of spirit that could crush him as easily as he could crush her fingers with his grip and her power over him was unquestionable. He could no more deny any of her requests than he could if the arch angel Michael himself appeared before him with flaming sword in hand demanding his service.
Once again he kissed her, slowly, tenderly. They remained in each others arms for the remainder of the night, enjoying the cool evening air and nature's beautiful show. Kurt found them hours later when he returned from the Wolverine's Den, snuggled closely together and asleep on the quarterdeck.
Meanwhile, back at the Wolverine's Den…
The merriment of the evening was winding down and most of the rugged sea dogs had long departed to other areas of the island to find better pleasures. Wanda and John were engaging themselves in a drinking game, one which John was quickly losing, while Logan was busily closing down the bar for the night. Ororo, throwing a dishrag over her shoulder, walked over to a corner table to join Rogue who was still enjoying a tankard of ale.
"How many of those have you had tonight, love?" Ororo asked quirking a regal brow.
"Eight." Rogue answered and brought her now emptied tankard down hard to the table.
"Is something bothering you, dear? This isn't like you. I don't believe I've seen you this down since Joseph. What is it?"
"Nothing…" Rogue sighed.
"Nothing? Phew! That, my child, is a lie and well you know it. Tell me what's on your mind."
Rogue looked up into the caring eyes of the older woman and found herself losing her will to fight any longer. After all, no one knew her tormentor better than the beautiful African sitting across from her. Maybe talking would help?
"Alright," Rogue relented, "it's Captain LeBeau, if ya must know."
A knowing smile curved Ororo's lips. "He makes you insane, doesn't he?"
"Absolutely!"
"And you love to irritate him? Live for it, in fact?"
Now Rogue frowned. Ororo must possess second sight. "How did you know?"
Her smile widened and she gave a slight laugh. "I saw it in the way you looked at each other, the way you each act when the other approaches. I feel the same way about Logan. It was love at first sight for us."
"No..." Rogue shook her head in steadfast denial. "Ya imagine too much, 'Ro. None of it matters anyway. Ah don't believe in love anymore. My mother taught meh that love is nothin' more than the lie men invented ta woo women ta their beds without guilt. Ah've found the truth in that lesson."
Ororo frowned now. "My dear, you mustn't lose hope so easily. Do you not believe that Logan loves me? Look at him. He's harsh and demanding to most, but he only shows me the gentler side of his nature. I see the real Logan everyday. We don't choose whom we love with our heads, we choose with our hearts. We love in spite of faults and sometimes…" she paused and looked to her husband, "…because of them."
Ororo leaned over the table and forced Rogue to see the bright eagerness of her gaze. "I've never seen Remy stare at a woman the way he does you. You must admit he's as handsome and charming as sin itself, and Remy cares for you, even if he won't admit it to himself. Correct me if I'm wrong, Rogue, but when you're around my dear Remy, do you feel breathless?"
"Yes," she admitted and lowered her head to the table.
"Oh, sweet, it's too late for you." Ororo smiled brightly. "You're in love, my dear. The next question is what are you planning to do about it?"
"You are insane!" Rogue said annunciating each word for emphasis.
"And you are a stubborn, stubborn woman, Rogue. I pity the two of you." With that, Ororo stood, patted Rogue on the shoulder, and helped Logan clean the tavern.
Rogue sat at her table, stunned and speechless. What could she say? She wasn't in love, especially not with that…that… no good Swamp Rat! How could she be? No, Ororo was dreaming, lost in her fantasies of true love and destiny. Well, she was going to have no part in it!
The only customers left in the tavern were gathered around the spectacle created by John and Wanda. The two were still attempting to best the other in an absurd drinking game. Rogue stood and made her way over to the small group and watched as the scene played out.
John watched wide-eyed as Wanda tossed back yet another shot of strong brandy and brought the glass slamming down onto the tabletop. With a smile of triumph, she looked over to her drunken Aussie and laughed. "Your turn, Johnny-boy!"
John slowly reached for his twelfth glass. He shot the brandy back in one quick gulp, the hard liquor burning the back of his throat as it went down. When he placed the glass back on the table, he smiled at Wanda, and then fell sideways out of his chair right into one of the barmaids.
The men near Wanda gave a cheer and started collecting the money won in their wager, while those behind John sneered and left the bar mumbling various things about the shortcomings of Australian sailors. The barmaid who had caught John in his fall was still holding him tightly against her generous bosom and whispering encouraging words into his ear. Wanda cast a cold glare and roughly pulled the unconscious man from her grasp. "Thanks for watching him for me. Now, I'll just be taking what's mine!"
Rogue laughed as she watched Wanda pull John by his shirtfront and drag him over to the bar. Logan handed her a pitcher of ice water, which she quickly splashed over John's face. He woke up with a start. "Sweet Morgan's Blood! What did you do that for?"
"I was saving you from yourself. Now get up and walk me back to the Anna Marie, darling!"
"Ah, Wanda…Don't be bloody angry." Moaning, John stumbled slightly.
"Johnny-boy, we'll have to work on your tolerance. Here, let me help you." Wanda offered him her shoulder. "Lean on me."
John draped his arm around her shoulder and leaned against her. As they made their way to the exit, he looked over his shoulder and winked at Rogue with an impish smile.
Bella and Julien had left the bar shortly after Remy's departure. They followed him for a short time trying to stay in the shadows out of sight, but Remy knew he was not alone. He had sensed a stealthy movement around him in the unpaved streets almost immediately. At the corner of Royal Street and King James, Remy stopped and leaned up against the side of a building. "Y' can come out. Remy knows y're dere."
From the shadows of a nearby alley emerged two figures. Remy had expected Belladonna. He could smell her thick perfume on the air, but the man who stood beside her came as a bit of a shock. He was tall and lanky, his eyes had a half-mad gleam as they stared out from his long, thin face, and his body seemed infested with the plagues of dissipation. And the rot had clearly claimed his soul as well.
"Why are y' followin' Remy, chere?" He asked, lighting up a smoke.
Bella stepped forward, moistened her lips, and locked eyes with him. "I need t' talk wit' y', mon amour."
The slight flicker in his eyes was the only betrayal to his nonchalant appearance. "Got nothin' t' talk about, Bella. Did all our talkin' back at Port-au-Prince, non?"
She glanced to Julien with a wicked smile. "Non, amour, we need t' talk 'bout dis job. We're two o' a kind. We should be workin' together." She moved with a soft feminine stride contrary to her predatory nature, and placed a hand on each of Remy's shoulders pushing him back harder into the wall. "What do y' say, mon cœur? We're good together…f'r each other."
"Non," Remy said as he pushed Bella away forcibly. Julien stepped forward and glared, but Bella held her hand up, stopping him mid-stride.
Remy pushed himself away from the wall and cast his own glare at the pair before continuing. "We're through, Bella. Y' need t' find another playt'ing, 'cause Remy's done." Sparing one last glance to Julien, Remy turned and strode hard for the Devil's Lust.
"Let 'im go…for now."
It was nearly three in the morning before Rogue returned to her cabin aboard the Anna Marie. When she first arrived at the docks, she saw Kurt climbing up into the crow's nest to sleep, one of his habits from youth. Piotr and Kitty were nowhere to be seen, but the soft light that radiated from underneath the door to his temporary quarters confirmed their presence onboard. Rogue entered her cabin and lit a small lantern on the wall, illuminating the room in an amber glow. As she undressed and prepared to get a few hours of much needed rest before lifting anchor in the morning, something caught her eye. Resting on her pillow was a single rose next to piece of sealed parchment.
Rogue lifted the small rose to her nose, and allowed a slight smile to grace her lips. Looking back to the note, her attention was on the quick, clean strokes of Remy's writing. He never ceased to amaze her. Being orphaned from birth and never formally schooled, it was a wonder that Remy was literate, but he was even beyond that skill. He was well read and could easily quote the classics without hesitation. She broke the seal.
'The course of true love never did run smooth',
Or so a great man once said
How I wish all your pains to soothe,
But please, chere, accept this rose instead.
Yours,
Remy
She traced the flowing letters with the tip of her finger and couldn't suppress a smile. What was it about such a tiny note that made her breathless? Stay away from him! Her mind warned and she crumpled the note and made to throw it out the open window. Her arm drawn back, she watched the sea and faltered. No one had ever written such to her before. Never. It was the type of note most women waited a lifetime to receive. How could she toss it away? Before she could stop herself, she opened her hand and did her best to straighten out the wrinkles. After all, what would it hurt for her to keep it?
The next morning, the three vessels set sail. Their two day's course was to take them northwest, straight through the heart of the Devil's Triangle and onward to Cat Island. According to the other sailors at the tavern, the journey should be smooth, but the unexpected could always be expected in this part of the world.
Wanda and Kurt were sharing the duties of quartermaster while Piotr and his crew were sailing with the Anna Marie, and Rogue was taking the helm of the ship for the morning shift. Piotr would assist in captaining the vessel when needed, but was currently still asleep in his cabin.
Kitty gently knocked on the wooden door. At Piotr's answer, she opened it and stepped into his room. She could only see his long legs, as he was lying in the center of his bed and thick drapes obscured his upper body from her view. He was lying on his side, reading one of Wanda's books. His white, loose-fitting shirt was unlaced and hanging open, showing his well-muscled chest. It was the most casual, natural pose she'd ever seen him assume.
He looked up to see Kitty standing timidly at the foot of the bed. "To what do I owe ze pleasure of zis visit, Katja?" he asked, removing a pair of small reading glasses. His hands looked so large compared to the dainty glasses as he carefully folded them and placed them on the chest beside his bed.
"I wanted to thank you again for last night, and bring you a little gift. I hope you like it. I know you lost so much with the loss of the Neptune's Pearl, and I thought you might be missing something." A slight blush crept over Kitty's face as she placed a crate on the bed.
Piotr looked over the contents and smiled. "Why, Katja, where did all zis come from?"
"Pierre, one of our gunners, paints and I asked if he had any canvas or supplies to spare. He let me take the extras he had laying around on the third deck." Kitty went back to the door and pulled in an easel. "Is there anything else you would need? You do paint, right?"
Laughing, Piotr stood and took Kitty's face into his hands. "Da, Katja, I love to paint. It's one of my greatest joys." He placed a gentle kiss on her lips and then looked over the supplies once again. There were brushes and paints, jars and charcoal, sketch pads, conti, turpentine- everything he could possibly need. Without a doubt, it was the greatest gift he had ever received. "I could not possibly ask for more, love."
"Would you paint me?" Kitty's eyes were lowered as she asked. "I mean…I would be honored if you would."
"Very well," he smiled, crossing the room. Taking her arms, he led her over to a yellow stuffed chair near the windows. "Sit here."
Kitty did as asked. Piotr stared at her for a few minutes, then moved around the room looking at him from different angles. His brows were furrowed in thought. "Zat won't do."
"What's wrong?"
"You do not look natural enough. I want to capture you, Katja." Piotr closed his eyes and tried to imagine the young woman in his mind. After a short moment, he opened his eyes and smiled.
"Come. Stand by ze window, looking out to ze sea." Piotr took her by the hand and led her to the large open window. Her hair blew in the breeze as the ship sailed through the Caribbean waters. "Perfect!"
Seizing up his palette and paint, he began mixing the colors to see if he had any talent for the human form. Most of his paintings were landscapes, depicting the rolling plains of the Russian countryside he missed so much. He had never attempted anything like this.
And so the afternoon went. Kitty stood beside the open window watching the sea and stealing glances to her Russian lover while he attempted to portray her personality on canvas. Another soft breeze whispered through the cabin while the sounds of the sea and crew echoed through the room. It was strangely peaceful and soothing.
After several hours, Piotr put his brush down and smiled. "I believe it is finished."
Kitty approached his easel and paused to look at his work. "It's beautiful. Do I really look like that to you?"
Piotr wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into a tight embrace. "Da, you're so beautiful." Her portrait was better than he had hoped, except for her eyes. He couldn't quite get the shade right. That sparkle and fire was almost impossible to portray. Never mind the innocence and raw intelligence that flickered deep within her gaze.
Kitty and Piotr remained in his cabin for most of the day, and Wanda was quick to mention Kitty's neglect to Rogue, who only laughed. "Wanda, you're just jealous 'cause Piotr's here and John's not. If he was aboard right now, would ya be doin' your rounds?"
"Hmph…" Wanda stomped off to the mess hall, refusing to answer.
The rest of the voyage to Cat Island went much the same. They were blessed with gentle weather and strong winds that sped the ships along their course. The Dark Ruby and the Devil's Lust were always within sight of the Anna Marie, and all were careful to monitor the colors of any vessel that crossed their path. Fortunately, no captain was fool enough to attempt an attack on the three as they sailed through rival pirate territory. Cat Island came into view shortly before sunset on the second day of the journey.
Cat Island would be an ideal location for a getaway. With over fifty miles of rolling hills and empty beaches, it is easily one of the most tranquil spots in the Caribbean, and boasts the highest peak in the Bahamas, Mt. Alvernia. The pirate, Arthur Catt, made the island his home for a while among the peaceful Arawak people, and a great monastery was built near New Bight in the 1600's. The captains had decided that their best course of action would be to sail around the Devil's Point and dock in the protected cove near the foot of the mountain. From here, they could hike to the monastery and search for the next artifact in their quest.
The Hermitage, built for Father Jerome, sits at the summit of the mountain and can only be reached by going through the thick forest that covers the peak. According to the necklace stolen from Conoway, the artifact they seek must be located near that site, but they would need to wait until morning to begin their hike. It would far too dangerous at night.
Dawn came. A high yellow sun shredded the mist and ominous clouds began rolling in over the horizon. Nature in the Triangle was a wicked and fickle creature, changing moods as quickly as a spoiled child. They storm would most likely hold off until evening, but they wouldn't be able to waste time on the trek to the Hermitage.
The captains and their officers all met on the beach shortly after sunrise and started making their way through the thick forest that covered the slopes of Mt. Alvernia. Remy and Piotr led the group, slashing their way through the overgrowth and creating a path for the others. On all sides, they were surrounded by lush vegetation and could see rocky steep-sided cliffs in the distance through the heavy leaves. Streams and waterfalls spilled down their steep sides and bright flowing water glittered in the sunlight as it fell. Sometime after midday, Kurt stumbled upon a stone marker with an image of a monk burdened by a cross. Behind this marker, a small dirt path stretched out and climbed toward the summit. The group changed course and followed the trail until it ended, suddenly revealing a large open expanse overlooking the entire island.
The rays of the sun were skimming over the old stonework of the monastery, and giving the structure an aura, centuries older than its actual date. It was magnificent. Rising up from the rocky cliff, the towering ruins and masonry walls dominated the visage. Looking over the edge, the three vessels could be seen docked below but they appeared no larger than mere pebbles from the height of the mountain. Bella spotted a short inscription carved over an archway that led down into the catacombs deep into the underground. It read, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.'
"Here is de entrance t' de catacombs. Who wants t' go first?" Bella said placing a hand on her hip and looking over to the others.
Kitty looked down into the tunnel and frowned. "It's awfully dark down there. Does anyone have a lantern or a match?"
"Let Remy look, petite. His eyes can see bein in de dark." Remy stepped into the entrance and reached for a torch suspended on the wall. Stepping back out into the light, he gave Rogue a devilish smile and reached out to her. "Je suis desole, mon chere, but Remy needs some cloth." With that, he grasped the end of Rogue's linen shirt and ripped a strip of the material from the bottom, exposing some of her skin. Rogue recovered from her initial shock and narrowed her eyes, while Kurt nearly pounced on the Cajun's back. Remy smirked as he wrapped the fabric around the end of the torch and pulled a matchbox from his leather pouch, lighting the material and handing it over to John.
"Thanks, mate! Let's get a move on! Daylight's a wastin' away!" John shouted happily, glad to be the one in charge of the torch.
Remy led everyone into the dark tunnels, while John followed closely behind, lighting the path ahead. Rogue, Wanda, and Kurt were next, keeping close to the others. Piotr and Kitty agreed to wait outside and watch for any trouble, while Bella and Julien took up the end.
They worked their way through the dark and narrow passages, running their hands over the filthy walls searching for any markings or some clue as to what they were seeking. Niches lined the tunnels, filled with the bodies and bones of those buried beneath the monastery. After what seemed like an eternity, they came to a crossroads. Two separate tunnels leading in opposite directions stood before them, neither marked.
"Vhat now?" Kurt asked
"We split up." Rogue answered matter-of-factly.
Wanda grabbed onto John's arm and looked to Rogue. "But we only have the one torch? How can we split up?"
Remy reached into a nearby niche and pulled out what appeared to be a femur. Then, he tore the sleeve off of his owe shirt and wrapped the material around the end, creating another torch. John used the fire from his own to light the other, and smiled. "Which of you lovely sheilas will be comin' with Johnny?"
Wanda rolled her eyes and elbowed him in the side.
"Wanda, John, and Ah will take the left tunnel. Kurt, Bella, and Julien, follow Remy down the right. Let's agree ta meet with Piotr and Kitty when we've finished our search, alright?" Rogue said. The others nodded in agreement and the group split into two. No one noticed the sinister smile shared between Bella and Julien in the darkness.
The two tunnels stretched deeper into the mountain. Rogue, Wanda, and John weren't having any luck, and John took to humming and singing the bar song from the Wolverine's Den until he happened upon a snake and leaped into Wanda's arms screaming.
Meanwhile, the other group was having slightly better fortune. Remy spotted some strange pictographs along the walls depicting a human skull and an image that resembled the obsidian charm from Conoway's necklace. They continued following the passage until it opened up into a larger cavern with several stone sarcophagi. The four split up and examined each individually and moved about the room looking for another passage. Kurt was about thirty feet from the others when his right foot slipped out from under him and he landed on the seat of his breeches. The force of the fall opened a hole in the floor, and Kurt found himself sliding backwards down another passage. Scrambling to climb back up, he realized that the moss on the floor had become as slick as ice. It was no use. Kurt watched as the blocks in the wall slid past at an ever-increasing pace. He rolled to the left and attempted to grab the wall with his fingers, but succeeded in only breaking a fingernail, which made him curse. He was picking up speed and he knew that wherever the passage led, it couldn't be good.
Above him, Remy was yelling down into the abyss trying to confirm Kurt's safety, but he didn't answer. As he was kneeling over the hole, something hard struck him behind the head. He fought to remain conscious but lost the battle, falling into darkness.
Kurt was still falling, but then pulled his dagger from his belt. With Herculean effort, he drove the blade into a crack in the wall. It held, bringing him to a stop with a jerk. Carefully, working with one hand and holding onto life with the other, Kurt used the butt of his pistol to pound the dagger deeper into the wall. Looking around, he spotted a small hole in the left wall of the pit, approximately ten feet below him. He slowly and cautiously lowered himself down. Then, when he reached the opening, he pulled himself into it. It was a short lateral tunnel that connected to another passage that ran east and west.
Apparently, the catacombs were all interconnected in some intricate and macabre fashion. This tunnel also slanted down, but not as sharply as the first, and with none of the deadly moss. Kurt continued on, while the passage narrowed, continued downward, and narrowed again. Finally the tunnel began to climb again, and Kurt smiled. Then he looked down at his hands and discovered they were spotted with dark blotches. He tried to rub the spots away, but they were attached in a rather rude way to his skin. They were leeches.
Kurt plucked as many of them as he could from his hands and face, and grimly resolved to deal with the rest later. When the passage opened wide enough, Kurt stood. There were scores of skeletons around the small cavern, and most were concentrated in the area where Kurt stood. A shaft of light from above illuminated a small niche about three feet above his head that would otherwise have remained hidden in shadows. It struck a skull of pure crystal set on an altar. Shafts of spectrum-tinged light shot from the skull's eyes and mouth, burning so brightly that Kurt had to shut his eyes to adjust. This must be what they're looking for!
Kurt reached up and seized the skull. It was the size and shape of a genuine human skull, rendered chillingly lifelike by some long-dead artist's attention to detail, including the zygomatic arches of the upper cheeks and an articulated lower jaw with a perfect set of teeth.
A staircase drew Kurt's attention and he carried the skull up the narrow steps until he came to a stone cover. Pushing the obstruction away, Kurt found himself emerging from one of the sarcophagi discovered earlier before his fall. But where were the others?
Following the passage back to the surface, Kurt found Piotr, Kitty, and Rogue standing near the arched entrance. Wanda and John were sitting on a stone bench talking, but the rest of his group was missing.
"Did Remy ünd the others come out?" Kurt asked.
Rogue lifted a puzzled brow. "Weren't they with you? What happened?"
"Ja, they vere, but ve got separated. I fell down a shaft and found this skull, but vhen I climbed back out, they vere gone." Kurt explained, pulling the crystal skull from his side and showing the others. "They didn't come out?"
"No, we haven't seen them, and Piotr and I have been here the entire time. Should we go search for them? Do you think they got lost?" Kitty asked.
"Nein…there vas no other passage. Ours ended in a dead end, unless they vent into yours."
"Yo, mates! The Dark Ruby is liftin' anchor!" John yelled as he ran toward the archway with Wanda closely behind.
Everyone exchanged confused looks that quickly changed into those of worry. Something was wrong, and Bella was at the source. "Let's get back to the ships! We have to find Remy!" Rogue shouted as she ran down the trail to the shore.
