Chapter Six

**I know where you are, Vixen!** Chimera's sing-song call indicated she was coming to find her. Vixen had no choice but to abandon Kurt and trust that Chimera had what she already needed from the fuzzy, blue elf. Vixen darted in a swift circle around the ground floor of the mansion, wanting to check on her father. She suspected that Chimera only knew where she was when she interacted with one of the student-statues.

"Dad…" Vixen uttered. She rarely called her father that, but her heart felt so heavy when she saw him. He was so still; his eyes were like glass and his hand seemed to be reaching out for her. She wanted to try and break him out of it, wondered if the combined strengths of two telepaths could break the spell. But she also knew that the second she touched her father, Chimera would be drawn straight back to her, like a moth to a flame. It was no use, she had to risk it.

Taking another deep breath, Vixen took her father's outstretched hand, and was plunged into his delusion.

Charles Xavier was sat in his study, watching through the window as his wife played with his children. Ilehana threw the ball to Scott, forcing him to jump high. His fingertips grasped the ball, and he threw it to his adoptive mother. She caught it easily, then turned and tossed the ball gently to her younger son. It slipped through his young hands, landing at his feet. He picked it up and threw it wildly at Ilehana. She leapt to her left, just getting her hand on the ball. On and on, the four of them throwing and catching and laughing until David was too tired to continue. He went to sit with his mother as Ilehana and Scott played one on one basketball. Her natural agility and competitive nature, not to mention her extra years, allowed Ilehana to trounce Scott, but the boy took it good naturedly.

**Dad! Dad! Father!** Vixen tried to get his attention. She clattered her thoughts against his, but it was like trying to break down a wall.

Charles met them at the kitchen door when they came in for drinks and cookies. His wife bent to kiss him, and then went to the refrigerator to fetch the lemonade. As she poured five tall glasses and topped them with ice, Ilehana gave her father a big hug.

"Missed you." She told him…

**Dad! C'mon, Dad, you have to hear me!**

The scene changed. They were all gathered in the living room, with Charles' chair next to the sofa where his wife was sat. David was playing with cars on the rug in front of them, Scott reading a book on the far end of the sofa. Ilehana was sat on the floor, her head resting gently on her father's knee as he stroked her hair…

Vixen let go of her father's hand, hanging her head. It was true that she was not very tactile with her father. She found it hard to show affection to anyone, but especially him. They had been so close when she'd been very young, but ever since the death of her mother, Charles Xavier had been withdrawn and almost cold towards her. She understood now that it was not because of her exactly, but because of the choice he'd had to make. Save his wife, or his daughter. Seeing her every day reminded him daily of that choice. And once that gap had opened, she'd withdrawn more and more until their relationship was more broken than not.

She was also troubled that she'd not managed to interrupt the illusion at all. Despite battering at him with every ounce of her telepathy that she'd dared to use, she'd not even managed to attract his attention. Unlike Kurt, there seemed to be no downside to her father's desire. And, she figured, that was right. Without the tragedy of her mother's death, Charles Xavier had everything he wanted. There was no distance between the Professor and Ilehana, no gap in his soul that had been caused by the accident, no need to create the Institute and fill it with young mutants. There wasn't even any need for the X-Men.

"Hello Vixen."

Vixen spun towards the door. Chimera blocked the doorway, leaning on the doorframe, in what she probably considered an alluring manner. To Vixen, she just looked like a cheap slut. Vixen had automatically dropped into an attack posture, ready to spring if she was attacked. She growled, an inhuman sound, low and threatening. How dare this woman come into her home and attack her father? Worse, she'd attacked and harmed the cubs.

"Just you and me, now, Vixen." Chimera chuckled. "Are you stronger than your father? I think not. Will you challenge me anyway?"

"Why attack the children?" Vixen asked.

"Why not?" Chimera picked at her nails, watching Vixen furtively.

"They're just children. Let them go. You have what you want. I'm here, aren't I?"

"Yes, Vixen. I am pleased you are. My dragons will enjoy you, I have no doubt."

Vixen watched in horror as Chimera pointed her palms towards her. With a hiss and growl, a green stream of energy emerged from each hand, forming a dragon's head and long sinuous body. They came towards Vixen, who leapt to one side. The dragon's did not follow directly, instead forming a ring about Vixen, one that slowly constricted, like a python squeezing it's prey. Within moments, Vixen was frozen in time, her eyes glassing over…