500 Miles – Hellfire
By Princess Alexandria
AUTHOR'S NOTE: rape, violence, language warnings. I tried to be as vague as I could and still get across what was happening, but this is a disturbing chapter. Again a darker version of this with less editing is available on the xmenfemslash yahoo group.
Christy was flanked by two women, one in white and the other in black, as they made their way down another hall. It could have felt like they were guarding her, like she was a prisoner being taken to interrogation, but the presence of these two comforted her, even though she was a prisoner and she wasn't in for a good night.
She was carefully doing her best to not appear afraid. She ran through memories she normally tried to forget, ones where she faced death, ones where she caused death. She was trying to keep her perspective. She would live, they both would, and she would eventually be free. She wouldn't leave until Raven was free.
"Raven, we don't both have to do this. I'm older, and I've seen hell. Let me spare you this." She thought loudly.
"No." The words came out her lips and Emma and Tessa looked at her. "Um, talking to myself." She gave them a weak smile. "Apparently I didn't like that plan."
She got nothing but a curious look from Emma and a slightly concerned one from Tessa. "Well, Selene has requested to skip the party tonight." Emma filled the silence. "So you are on your own until morning." Christy took a deep breath and nodded. She tried to not look at Tessa or Emma. She stared ahead at the door they were clearly going to. "Again, she has been told the rules, but you can't remind her. She isn't supposed to cause permanent damage or kill you." These people didn't think of the mental pain as permanent, but Christy was fully aware it was.
They stopped walking and a white glove reached up to knock on the door. Christy's jaw clenched as they waited, she kept her head down and submissive and fought with the urge to run instead of submit to yet more abuse. Tessa, she could do this for Tessa. It was just one night, one minute, one hour, she just had to focus on the now. Thinking of telling her Emma about this, or the look in Tessa's eyes tomorrow wouldn't help her.
The door opened and Christy caught a glimpse of the black cloak even though she stared at the ground.
"Well, delivery, how nice." Selene's accented voice was full of amusement. "Come now slave. I'll show you all sorts of new things."
Christy's head bowed a little further, for a moment wishing the two she'd been glad to have by her side a second ago weren't here. "Yes Mistress." It felt horrible to call this woman that.
"Oh little spider." Christy heard the fake sigh. "Don't look so stiff, I can practically smell your fear." The door closed and Christy risked looking up at Selene. The grin on Selene's face at her discomfort worried her. Christy tried to do what Tessa said, and looked at Selene more carefully. She took in the pale skin, the dark hair, the intelligent if cold eyes. Selene was beautiful. Maybe that would help.
"I'm sorry Mistress." Christy swallowed and watched the way Selene walked up to her with a slight sway in her hips.
Selene moved so close Christy felt the warmth of her. "Do I frighten you horribly little spider?" Selene whispered softly into Christy's ear. Christy struggled to not move as Selene ran a finger slowly and gently around Christy's ear. "Do I make you shake in fear little sister?" Selene's finger moved to slowly caress Christy's neck.
"Are you a vampire Mistress?" Christy asked a little nervously as she felt a kiss on her shoulder.
"Not the kind you're thinking about." Selene sounded amused as she moved back a little and into the space right in front of Christy. "No, I don't drink blood. You know what I feed on. You feed on it too." Selene leaned into her, again whispering in her ear. "You taste especially fine little sister, and with none of the baggage the other prey leaves me with."
Christy just swallowed, trying to manage with her tightened throat.
"Service me." Selene pulled back and smiled like a shark, before moving to sit on a chair in the large bedroom. "We have much to do tonight, but first, show me you can do better than you did the other night."
"Yes Mistress." And how wrong was this that Christy was grateful that was all Selene was asking for right now. Talk of feeding made her nervous. Christy moved forward to kneel between Selene's legs. She reached up to gently hook her fingers in the underwear Selene hadn't bothered to remove herself. "Mistress?" Selene raised her hips so that Christy could lower the black panties. Black like Tessa wore. Tessa.
"It's hard to believe you are such a weak creature, that you are prey, when I can see you shine like you do little spider." Selene spoke softly. "A predator wouldn't be on her knees right now would she?" Christy didn't think Selene was actually asking so she continued to service the woman, the far too unresponsive woman. Selene was more interested in talking than enjoying this humiliation Christy suffered for Selene's pleasure. "What do you feel when you feed, if you don't feel the beauty of a hunt complete?" That one sounded like an honest question. Not one Christy really wanted to answer either.
Christy leaned back from her work. "I feel…" Her eyes moved further down the stare at the ground. "Pleasure. It feels like death caresses me and it feels good." It was embarrassing, but if Selene suspected she was lying it could have been painful.
"Sexual?" Selene's voice grew a little louder and more curious.
"Yes, it's sexual." There was a red blush on her cheeks as Christy answered that.
"You are full of all sorts of interesting mysteries little sister." Selene's glove clad hand reached out, pulling Christy's face up to look at her. "Feed now, I want to see you. You can do that can't you? Cast your little web out and pull in lifeforce."
Christy almost did it, but then she remembered the collar she wore. "The inhibitor…"
"Oh yes." Selene moved to easily pull the collar off. The other woman then rested her hands on each of Christy's shoulders. "Feed. Show me." Selene's eyes seemed to glow red as she stared at Christy.
Christy felt horribly vulnerable as she lowered her shield. Her hands clenched as she started to feel her own power, and worried she'd quickly become the meal as she did this. She pulled her shield down further, faster, and started to pull power into her body. She'd need it when Selene pushed for the next step.
It felt good. She still had trouble accepting this part of her power, but she closed her eyes and let it wash over her. A sudden jolt, a sudden shock of it being closer had her body jerking. "Yes." She groaned.
"Is that good?" Selene was pulling on her arm and Christy moved to get up. "How about this?"
"Ahh." Christy felt it hit her again, so close.
"Is that good?" Selene was so close to her, whispering again and Christy felt the dark haired woman's hands caressing Christy's sides.
"Yes." Christy kept her eyes closed, knowing what had to be causing this. Selene could give some of her own away apparently. "Mistress." Christy let herself imagine someone else as she leaned down slowly and felt Selene caressing her hair.
She could feel Selene's breath on her cheek, before she was softly kissed on her forehead. "Keep your eyes closed little spider." There was another kiss on her temple, and combined with the onslaught of her powers Christy moaned. "Oh that's it little spider, weave your web."
Christy's breathing was erratic and her body arching into the villain in front of her. There was the sound of a door opening, dragging along with footsteps. Christy kept her eyes closed, but she didn't like not knowing what was behind her. There was gentle tugging and Christy moved to straddle Selene's leg like the woman wanted. Strong arms forced her hips to move, rubbing Christy's body against Selene's thigh. Christy slowly, hesitantly, moved to rest her hands on Selene's shoulders, her own hips moving how Selene wanted her to. "That's it little sister." Lips captured hers and suddenly she heard a loud noise, followed by a jolt of power.
"Yes." Christy jerked her head back from Selene, she pressed hard down on the thigh under her. "Oh God." Her body tensed and she came. She kept her eyes closed, not wanting Raven to see what she knew was behind them. Her body slumped a little against Selene, who was laughing and amused.
"Oh my, little spider you enjoy death more than I do. Not very heroic of you." Selene's voice rose. "Take that body out of here. I'm not done playing with the little spider yet."
Christy was glad Selene rarely used her name it made it easier to distance herself. The footsteps and dragging trailed across the floor and ended in the closing of a door. "You enjoyed that man's death. Perhaps there is hope for you little spider, hope for you becoming a predator." There was a shove on her body and Christy backed up. Selene's voice became colder and commanding again. "Remove your clothes and wait on my bed. I'll be with you in a moment."
"Yes Mistress." Christy opened her eyes and turned to large bed with apprehension. Not having been told she could remove them, Christy left her cuffs on as she removed shoes, panties and corset. She noticed Selene was in the bathroom, with the door cracked open just a little.
The bed was large. Christy took a deep breath before moving to crawl onto it so she could follow the last part of the order, to lay on it. There was little doubt to what came next. Christy laid on her back on top of the soft bedspread and stared up at the ceiling, trying to remember the frustrated needful feeling Tessa had built in her all day. Tessa, a woman she would have much preferred to be serving today. It was easy to see why Raven loved her, and after seeing the Emma of this world Christy couldn't say Raven had picked the wrong woman. This Emma was still so lost.
Tessa was pretty. Christy thought about what the woman had looked like with her hair down in the bathtub. Thinking about Tessa was probably something that would work for Raven as well, so Christy didn't add her memories of her own lover, or serving this Emma, things that she would undoubtedly find more pleasant than her double. She focused on Tessa.
"I noticed you weren't all that familiar with men the other night. I plan to remedy that tonight." The smile on Selene's face was sharklike and scary as she came out of the bathroom. "Get up, we have a party to go to."
"Party?" Christy's heart clenched. Emma said that Selene got permission to not go to the party with her tonight. Even though she was afraid of Selene, she had been comforted that there wouldn't be a party to deal with as well.
"I lost a lot of points betting on you, too many, and Tessa made too many. I had to come up with another way to make points. It's a stupid system, making that servant the highest bidder when she's got none of my wealth, but we deal with the hand we are dealt. After tonight I'll be ahead again."
Christy didn't like what she was hearing as she got off the bed. When she reached for her clothes Selene just shook her head. "Don't bother, you'll just have to take them off again. I wanted you naked as we walked there."
The march down a new hall naked had Christy using every last bit of her control to just be, to not show her shame as people looked at her. This wasn't the way to the room the party had always been in. She didn't hear the loud talking and other sounds that party held as they stepped up to a large door and then in.
"It's just a small intimate party." Selene whispered as Christy took in the Christmas tree in the corner and the subdued groups of men talking and drinking in various corners. Just men. "They paid to be here. You've just officially become a whore."
Emma Christy found herself calling out mentally, desperately, as she took in the dark eyes, over a dozen dark eyes, staring at her. There was no answer.
"Come" Selene grabbed her by the collar she'd put back on Christy and towards a bed. "Kneel."
"Looks like the shows about to start." Some man chuckled as Selene strong armed Christy into position. Christy fought but she wasn't strong enough and Selene was able to mentally control the ropes through the loops in Christy's cuffs, tying her into a position that left Christy on her knees.
Go to sleep Raven, go to sleep. Christy thought frantically. Just go to sleep.
EMMA! Her mind screamed. HELP ME!
Christy? Is that you? Emma's mental voice answered and Christy rushed her thoughts towards Emma, letting Emma see what was happening.
Blackness engulfed her. Emma's warmth surrounded her. Vaguely she heard laughter and felt something, but even that was pulled away from her. I was thinking of getting Tessa a new choker for Christmas. Emma's voice was soft, soothing. She likes them actually. I saw one at the store the other day with a cute stone that goes with her eyes. I don't normally buy people presents, but what do you think? Emma appeared in front of Christy, and Christy found that she could move, she could stand.
"Emma?" Christy's watery eyes stared into compassionate blue ones.
"I can't get you out of there Christy, but I can keep you in here." Emma held up a box and Christy saw a choker in it. "Do you think Tessa will like it?"
Christy heard a scream and her head turned away from the box. It sounded like her own. Emma's hand reached out to touch her face. "Stay here with me."
"Was that Raven?" Christy felt her face pale as she stepped away from Emma. Where was Raven?
"You reached out for me, something I was told you couldn't do." Emma set the box down on a table that suddenly appeared. The blackness was starting to look a little like a room. "Stay with me." It was a soft command.
"But where's Raven?" Christy's voice cracked, because she heard the scream again, and she knew Raven wasn't here with them.
"I can't reach her."
"No." Christy's body started to shake. "No. I can't leave her there."
"I tried, but she didn't reach out to me." Emma spoke so softly.
"I have to go back." Christy told Emma and voices started to fill the room.
"Bitch." Someone laughed.
"Stop screaming or I'll have to gag you."
"Don't." Emma's voice was firm. "What good does it do for you to be there? It will just hurt both of you instead of just her."
"She's a fucking hero!" Christy screamed. "I'm not… I'm not. It shouldn't be her. She's lost so much already, it shouldn't be her."
"Even if you go back, she will still feel it won't she? It isn't like you'll take her place, not really."
"TESSA!" A scream echoed in the room, full of pain and desperation, as Raven tried to call out to a telepath she'd never be able to reach. Christy's tears obscured her vision. Emma didn't even seem to hear that one.
"So, do you think Tessa would like a new choker, or should I get her something else?"
Christy took a painful step towards Emma and the box. She had to wipe the tears out of her eyes so she could see. "It is pretty." Her voice cracked. God, she'd never felt worse, hated herself more, than she did at that moment, not even when she shot the man that loved her to spare him a more painful death. The voices faded. Even if she went back, what could she do?
………………..
Pain. Horrible pain. It was the first thing she became aware of as Christy left the safe room Emma made in her mind. She groaned and tried to move. She wasn't tied down anymore. Christy sat up and kept from yelping at the cramping. There were a few men passed out on the ground and Selene was talking with someone in the corner. No one was watching her.
Was it over? Is that why Emma sent her back? Christy looked down at the scratches on her body, the sticky mess, the bruises, and every mark and bit of evidence painted a picture of a horrible evening. "Oh Raven." Her voice was a pained whisper.
Selene turned to her, she looked a little surprised. Christy wanted to kill her, to jump up and stab that bitch repeatedly. She wanted to feel that woman die. She wanted to dance while Selene's body burned. She wanted vengeance, but she wasn't sure she could even stand. "Mistress, may I go clean up before Mistress Emma comes for me?" Her voice was a painful raspy growl. She spit out the word Mistress like a curse.
"No." Selene smiled at her, but still was studying her. "I'm surprised you're talking again. I was sure you were broken. I underestimated you." Christy didn't speak she just clenched her fists, ones that ached and she noticed the cuts on her palm. She opened her hands to see where Raven had cut into her own hands with her nails.
The door slammed opened. Emma marched in, full of anger and glared at Selene. "Your time is up." Christy's heart clenched and she felt her body shake in relief as Emma came to save the body too.
She couldn't say anyone was saving Raven, because she couldn't even feel Raven anymore. Raven was in shock most likely, and Christy wasn't going to try and bring her out of it while still in this room.
Emma came up to her, and Christy noticed the blanket in Emma's arms. "I don't want Mistress Tessa to see me like this." Christy's voice cracked. "Please don't let her." It would haunt Tessa forever if she did.
"I won't let her." Emma spoke gently and wrapped Christy in the blanket, before picking Christy up. "We'll get you cleaned up first."
"I'll see you on the auction block dear. Thank you for helping me earn enough to buy you." Selene laughed.
"Kill me first." Christy was barely aware of thinking as her voice whispered the words. She stared into Emma's eyes as the blonde walked out of the room with Christy in her arms. Christy could see the tense jaw and anger radiating off to the White Queen. "Just kill me, if she wins, just kill me."
Christy might survive Raven's death, it could happen, but she wasn't going to force Raven to live through that again.
"Shh." Emma spoke softly and moved carefully and quickly with Christy in her arms towards Emma's room. Christy kept her hiss of pain to herself with each small jarring of her body.
Raven was so broken.
Emma ordered a slave she found in the halls to come with her. Christy just stared at whatever moved in front of her eyes as she clung to her lover's double. She was aware that water was running, she felt herself being lowered into it.
"I'm so sorry Raven. I won't let her get you again. Never again." Christy spoke out loud, part of her noticed the soft caresses of the wash cloth pause. "Raven, Raven, where are you?" Christy's body shook as she waited for Raven to answer her, to take over. Nothing happened. "Raven…" Her body painfully bent forward as Christy started to cry.
Emma caressed her hair and Christy looked up into Emma's face. Her arms reached out to pull the White Queen to her, clinging to her desperately.
"I shouldn't have left her." Christy's voice cracks. "God, she looks like hell. I shouldn't have left her alone." She felt the weight of her selfishness now, she left Raven to be raped repeatedly alone. Tears were falling and she burrowed her head into Emma's shoulder. "Coward, I'm a fucking coward." Emma's arguments earlier seemed so convincing because Christy didn't want to be raped, not again. She knew it would be worse this time, and it sounded so logical, she couldn't help, why be there. Why put herself through that if she couldn't help? What good would she be doing? "I'm a murderer you know. I've tortured people for information and I've killed people to survive. I bet Raven can't say that. I bet she risks her life all the time for strangers" She felt like dirt. "I bet she wouldn't have got caught if it weren't for me." Her voice was a whisper. "She would have walked right out the front door of this club, and I don't even know where the front door is." Her voice got louder. "It's not right, it's just not right."
Emma's grip on her shoulders was strong and she shook Christy harshly. "You are being a fool." Christy glared at her. "Why should you have gone through that as well, because she's more innocent than you? What good would it do? You would have spared her that if you could, do you really think she's a monster? That she would have wanted you to suffer if she did? If she's so much better than you, then surely the hero would have wanted to save you at least, knowing how much you care about her."
"She was alone."
"And now you can take care of her." Emma stared into Christy's eyes. "She's in no shape to do it herself is she?" Yes, she couldn't. With a heavy sigh Christy let go of Emma and lowered her head back to wet her hair. Take care of the body now, deal with the rest later.
"Shampoo?"
"Let me get that for you. You're arms are most likely sore." Emma poured some of her own shampoo into her hand and lathered Christy's short hair. The scent of Emma filled the room. This Emma used the same shampoo as Christy's lover. Tears trailed down her cheeks silently as this Emma was finally gentle with her, tender, caring. Christy bowed her head forward and focused on the gentle caresses that went with the shampoo.
After they'd cleaned the residue of that horrible night off of her, Emma helped Christy put on actual clothes. Sweatpants that had to be rolled up because Emma was taller, and a baggy sweatshirt that didn't look like anything Emma would own. Christy smelled another woman's perfume on it, Tessa. Even now she belonged to both of these women, even her clothes reflected that.
"Tessa called a doctor to see you." Emma spoke very quietly, while running a hand along a mark on Christy's back. "She'd like to see you as well."
Christy's jaw clenched. She hadn't had the courage to look in the mirror yet, but just looking down at her body she could tell she wouldn't like her reflection. The clothes did cover a lot though. Christy took a hesitant step towards the mirror. She hadn't wanted to see the reflection when she was naked, she knew it was bad.
She stood in front of the mirror staring. There was a bruise on her temple, one eye was a little black. Like this, fully dressed for the first time since she got to this world, she looked like she could have just had a bad sparing experience. She was even dressed in gym clothes, white pants and a green top that covered her arms, even the bruises on her wrists. Her careful steps, the pain evident in her walk, told the rest of the story, but the damage was hidden.
Tessa had to be worried.
"I can see Tessa now." Christy looked at her reflection again and took a deep breath. She could pretend Raven wasn't still silent, that it hadn't killed a part of her double's soul. Emma stepped out for a moment and Christy took a step closer to the mirror, wondering if Raven would have run when she had the chance if she knew what she knew now.
"Never could do that to Tessy." A weak, pained whisper crossed her lips and Christy gave her reflection a watery smile. Raven was somewhere inside of her, she was coming around. "It's okay Christy. It's okay."
"What's okay?" She just thought it, afraid that if she spoke it out loud Raven would lose her control of the voice.
"That you left. It's okay. I'm glad you're okay." Another tear trailed down Christy's cheek. Hero, Raven was a hero. "You didn't deserve it more, no one deserved that." There was a pause, "And you would have done it for me." It was barely whispered and then Christy found herself alone again. Raven didn't have more to give, the fact that she'd used up what little energy she had to reassure Christy made Christy feel pained, hurt. She was the one that should be reassuring and she'd broken down. She'd been weak yet again, and Raven, the real victim, had to do the equivalent of holding her as she broke down.
Christy stood taller, ignoring the pain of it, and took a deep breath. She used to be a leader, and it was time she acted like it again. She still had responsibilities and she'd take care of them. It felt like something that was dying inside of her came back to life with her renewed determination to take care of Raven. She hadn't even noticed these people winning, they'd taken her down bit by bit, but not anymore. She did her best to push her own pain away, box it up and compartmentalize it so that it didn't bother Raven.
Multiple personality disorder seemed so simple to understand now that she was essentially sharing a body with someone, not stealing it. The slice of the teacher she played in the last world wondered if she'd be able to teach Abnormal Psychology better because of that.
Christy heard the door open and she took another deep breath, while pulling the sleeves of the shirt down over black and blue skin on her wrists. It was testament to the fact that Raven obviously didn't stop struggling for a long time. It took Selene and those bastards a long time to break the Xman, the evidence pointed to that. She didn't want Tessa knowing that. She didn't want Tessa knowing how much her Raven suffered. She wished she could also hide that she'd run instead of facing it, but somehow her lack of information would make it clear she had.
"Christy?" Tessa's voice filled the bathroom and Christy turned away from the mirror to see Tessa stepping into the room. She could see Tessa's intelligent eyes taking in Christy's black eye and Christy saw the glance at her clothes.
"Hi Tessa." Christy worked damn hard to not let her voice crack. She watched as Tessa walked up to her, caught the slight hesitation of Tessa's hand as Tessa obviously wanted to touch her, but wasn't sure it would be welcome. Did Tessa think the reason Christy hadn't wanted to see her was because she blamed her? Christy took a step forward and pulled Tessa into a hug. She hadn't even considered that Tessa might take it that way.
How was she so able to read Tessa's body language? She didn't know her like she knew Emma. "Tessy." The whisper she hadn't initiated answered that.
"Raven, I brought a doctor." Tessa gently held her, while petting her hair. Christy did her best to stop the flinch she felt as that hand moved over her back, and the scratches she didn't want to admit to Tessa were there. "She might seem a little out of it, but the Hellfire club…" Tessa's words trailed off a moment. "She'll be mind wiped of this memory, and Emma might wipe out a thought or two as she sees you so that she doesn't get… I'm sorry. I did get you a woman though."
"Thank you." Christy felt the ache of cramping again and it almost made her want to bend over, to try and find some position that stopped it, but she just gritted her teeth and stayed standing. Taking care of the body included not avoiding the doctor.
"Raven, Christy." Tessa stared into her eyes like she sometimes did when she was trying to see Raven in them. "I've left several messages with the Professor." And Tessa finally said it out loud. Christy glanced towards the door hoping Emma didn't hear that. "I can only guess that they've been away, but I'm still trying to get you help. They'll come, they will, but until they do I'm not letting Selene near you again."
"You can't promise that Tessa." Christy reached out and wiped the tears off of Tessa's cheeks. The woman that normally tried not to show her emotions had tears streaming down her face. "I won't make you promise that. I want you alive, and she's so dangerous." Christy's voice cracked. It would be nice to believe that Tessa could protect her, but clearly she couldn't.
Tessa stepped back and then moved to wet her face from the sink, to cover up the tears. Christy watched how Tessa pulled her pain inside. "The doctor is waiting for you in Emma's bedroom."
"Tessa." Christy took a deep breath. "I don't know if you should see…"
"You're my slave." Tessa spoke, but the woman's eyes said something more tender. It made Christy think maybe they had an audience now. "I want to know what happened."
"No you don't." Christy looked away and down. "You really don't."
"Christy." Tessa moved a little closer. "Emma told me you called for help, that she pulled you away. It was Raven wasn't it?"
"I'm sorry." Christy started to clench her fists, but the cuts Raven had put in the palms hurt and she stopped.
"So you can't tell me what happened to her." It was partly a question.
"No." Christy had a very good idea of what happened, but she just couldn't tell Tessa, not quite what Tessa meant, but still the truth.
"But you're all covered up." Tessa gently touched the sleeve of the shirt and Christy carefully pulled the arm away before Tessa decided to pull the sleeve up and see the bruises. "Emma let you cover up. What are you hiding?"
"Tessa, you didn't stay when I was forced to… the dice… you said you didn't want to always remember." Christy wrapped her own arms around her body carefully. "You don't want to always remember this. You don't want to see what they… You just don't."
"Don't tell me what I want." Tessa stared at her with little emotion showing. "I have other people that do that, I won't take it from you. I want to know what happened to my Raven."
It hurt. Tessa's affection was never so clearly just for Raven as in that moment. "They tied her down and raped her. Selene made points off of it, charged men to be there…" Christy stopped talking when she saw the glassy eyes. She wouldn't tell Tessa everything she knew. Her voice became soft and gentle. "Still Raven told me she was glad it wasn't you. That she didn't let you take her place." The silence that got was tense.
"You need to see the doctor." Tessa moved to open the bathroom door again. "I got one that's a low level healer as well."
"Okay." Christy moved past Tessa into the large bedroom, where Emma was sitting with another woman in front of the fireplace.
Tessa stood off by the fireplace, staring into the flames and looking a little miserable. Emma patted Tessa's hand and moved to help Christy take off the clothes she'd helped her put on, so that the doctor could see it all.
"You really shouldn't have showered after the attack." Dr. Martin said gently.
"There's nothing I can do." Christy laid down on the bed. "Even if I had proof they'd get away with it." She stared up at the ceiling, her sore fists clenching as Dr. Martin touched her sex, causing more pain.
"There's tearing." Dr. Martin spoke very softly and gently to her. "It's extensive. What do you want to do? I can try to gather evidence for the police, or I can heal you."
"Just heal the body." Christy looked away from where Emma was resting a comforting hand on Tessa's shoulder. Tessa said she wanted to be here. Christy didn't like the way Tessa looked at all the scratches and didn't want to see it anymore. "Maybe I'll get a bomb and deal with the justice later." Her voice was weary and her idea only a fantasy. She wasn't sure she'd be able to risk taking Raven back here when they finally get free. Getting her caught a second time was just too much.
Her body jerked and she whimpered when the doctor touched her more intimately. Tessa was by her side holding her hand rather quickly after that. "It's okay. She's just healing you."
After the doctor left Christy still laid on the bed. Her sex no longer hurt, the pill she took should take care of pregnancy, and most of her scratches were healing, but not healed. Dr. Martin was a very low level healer, and she'd focused what energy she had on the more serious problems. The bruises that showed Raven's struggle were left to heal naturally. From the way Christy had trouble keeping her eyes opened, she suspected she'd been giving a tranquilizer as well.
Tessa tucked her in gently, before moving to the table with Emma. They were both going to watch over her as she slept. It did make Christy feel a little safer.
………………….
"Take care of her." Christy heard Tessa's voice. "What no talk about being too attached Emma?" Tessa asked and Christy opened her eyes to stare at the two women, watching the gentle hug.
"You were out of it." Emma whispered and Christy had to enhance her hearing to catch it.
"I know." Tessa sighed. "If she has nightmares, please, just hold her." Tessa stepped out of the room and Christy struggled to understand why Emma's shoulders slumped a little after closing the door.
Christy had to swallow a few times, her throat was that dry. "Emma?"
Emma straightened up immediately and turned to look at her. "Oh, so you're waking up now." As Christy struggled to sit, her muscles protesting any motion, because now she could feel how much of a beating Raven's body had taken. Emma moved to the side of the bed.
"Tessa, where did she go?"
"She had some business to deal with." Emma sat on the side of the bed, and faced her. "I can get you some water if you aren't able to get it yourself."
"No, no I can…" Christy didn't hear sympathy in Emma's voice now, but she didn't hear cruelty either. Christy moved to push the sheets off her herself and got out of bed. She was actually a little grateful Emma wasn't acting like she was broken. Christy poured a glass of water, both the glass and the pitcher had been on the nightstand. She took long drinks, trying to cure her dry mouth.
Her big yawn as she set the glass down reminded her of sick days as a kid, of laying on the couch in the living room as her mother made her soup to make her feel better. Maybe it was the combination of the drugged feeling, the yawn and the softness in Emma's eyes.
She missed the days when a bowl of soup and some cartoons made her feel better. Hell, she missed her mother. Christy sighed heavily and moved to lay back down. It did no good to remember the past, it only hurt.
"I've got reports to read." Emma spoke as she moved to pick up a briefcase, which looked a little odd in her hand, since the White Queen was still dressed in her corset and all.
"Do you go to board room meetings dressed like that?" Christy teased weakly. It earned her a small hint of a smile on Emma's lips.
"No, I wear a business suit, and I don't even wear this under it."
"Okay, just wondered." Christy turned onto her side gingerly, trying to keep from hurting. Too bad they couldn't find a more powerful healer, the muscle strain Raven had wasn't something Dr. Martin spent time working with, since she was so busy with tears and gouges.
"Hurting?" Emma set the briefcase down on the foot of the bed and looked up at her.
"Yeah, I'm sore, my back."
"Need some pills?"
"No." She'd had more than enough pills. With just Emma here Christy felt a little better being aware, awake. Selene wouldn't try to take her back would she? Not until the auction at least. Christy rested her head on the pillow and worried. How many points did Selene get by letting people rape her? Did Tessa even have a chance of outbidding her?
Emma's getting into bed beside her and turning on the lamp on that side so she could read reports was so very familiar. Christy had had to learn to sleep with the soft sounds of pages turning and the light on when she started staying the night in her Emma's room. It was comforting now.
She readjusted, trying to find a position that didn't make her back hurt. The soft petting after she'd laid back down was distracted, but gentle. Christy could hear a page turning and then the hand returned to her hair. Fingers gently combed through the short light brown hair and tickled her scalp in a nice way. Eventually Christy fell back asleep, her body relaxing more than it had the first time.
………………
Christy stared at her breakfast while sitting at the table with Emma. Her fork listlessly moved the egg around on the plate. She had this horrible feeling that something was wrong, aside from all the things that were wrong, she just felt like she wasn't catching something she should, something important.
She'd been in Emma's rooms for a day now, not having to leave. The thought of leaving and seeing any of the people that had been in that room sickened her. Would she even recognize who had and who hadn't hurt Raven? Was there a member of the Hellfire club left that hadn't?
"Are you really going to buy that choker for her?" Christy asked just to fill the silence. She didn't bother to look up from her eggs to see the woman reading the business section of the newspaper.
"I plan to."
"I wish," Christy's words trailed off for a moment. What harm could it do? "I wish I could get the two of you something, but I can honestly say this is the worst Christmas I ever had." And taking into consideration the two she'd spent while her world was falling apart, that was saying something. "When I get out of here there is no way in hell I'm coming back to deliver gifts."
"I don't suppose you would." Emma lowered her newspaper. "Feeling like you're getting away soon?"
"One way or another." Christy's eyes were cold, dead, as she looked into Emma's blue eyes. "One way or another, I'm leaving." She looked down at her eggs again. "If it's the other way, you'll take care of Tessa for me?"
"I don't understand why you're so attached to her." Emma's paper was set aside. "From what I heard you were in love with an Emma, but here you cling to Tessa."
"You aren't exactly my Emma." Christy set her fork down and looked up. "My Emma never demanded oral sex before sending me to the corner like a dog. Tessa's never used me, not once. She's touched me, but that wasn't rape, it was never bad, I never felt dirty or used. She never used me, it got to the point where I wanted her to." Christy watched Emma's poker face and sighed. "I know you aren't bad. You don't belong here. What is this place doing to you? My Emma left the Hellfire club. Maybe you should think about it."
"Don't start lecturing me slave." Christy flinched at Emma's use of that title. The sudden rumble in her stomach came with a nauseous feeling she hadn't felt in a long time. Christy was up and moving to the bathroom in a flash, just making it to the toilet in time to throw up.
Once she finished she rested her forehead on the vanity, not getting up from her place kneeling near the toilet. Raven really didn't like being called that anymore.
"Here." A white boot moved into her field of vision. Emma squatted beside her and held out a glass of water.
"They don't count trauma as permanent do they?" She whispered before drinking. "Please don't call us slave again, not here at least. Raven can't take it."
"You're starting to sound a little insane."
"Well, then you haven't been listening hard enough, I've been sounding insane for a while now." Christy set the glass down and worked to get up. It wasn't as easy as getting down. Emma reached out to help her.
…………….
Tessa didn't come back until lunch time. Christy watched as Tessa crossed the room to her and sat on the couch with Christy. Christy set the magazine Emma had given her aside and moved closer to Tessa, studying her face for some hint to where she'd been. "Hi." They still hadn't talked about a lot. Tessa just gave her a slight smile, probably at the very poor ice breaker. "I missed you. Are you okay?"
"I didn't tell her anything." Emma said while pouring herself a drink already. It was just noon and Emma was drinking. "But I think your…" Emma stopped talking and glanced at Christy again. "Well, Christy, has been waiting for you." Emma didn't call her a slave.
"I just had some things I had to do. I'm fine." Tessa's voice was a little rough sounding, and she seemed to be talking softer to try and disguise it. Christy gave her a questioning look, but she didn't ask, instead she glanced at Emma, who apparently didn't tell her something. Emma was making her way into the bathroom and closed the door behind her.
"I'm sorry I didn't protect her better." Christy whispered, hoping for forgiveness, even if she wasn't sure she deserved it better.
"Oh Christy." Tessa spoke softly and pulled Christy into a hug. "I don't blame you. I should have…"
"No, one thing we both agreed on was that we didn't want anyone hurting you, using you, ever again." Christy talked in a firm whisper. She moved carefully to get closer. Her hand moved to caress Tessa's cheek. "I think Raven loves you." She whispered as if she were a high school student sharing a friend's secret crush. She smiled, but when it didn't get a smile back hers faded.
"After what Selene did I couldn't…" Tessa stared her in the eye and Christy's eyes fell to a slight bruise she hadn't noticed on Tessa's neck. She stared at it a moment then back into Tessa's eyes. She didn't like what she saw there. "You might hear about it. I…"
"No." Christy protested in a whisper. "No, Tessa… you didn't…"
"It was Sebastian's night for you last night. I've serviced him before, so it was nothing new to me." Christy felt like her heart had been stomped on.
"Not for me. Tessa, never for me." Her eyes hardened, Sebastian and his fucking parties. She reached out to move the cloak that Tessa had draped across her lap, and took in the bruises on her thighs. "Oh God Tessa."
"It's alright. It was just the one night, and he's hardly as savage as Selene."
"No." Christy shook her head. "It's not alright. It's never alright." She pulled Tessa into a hug, holding her desperately while trying to control her own anger. "Never for me Tessy. I'd rather die then have you hurt for me, hurt at all." Christy didn't fight it when she found herself unable to control any movement or the words coming out her mouth. "Come home. Screw your mission and come home."
"I can't do that Raven." Tessa whispered so quietly. "Don't ask me that. I wish I could, but I can't."
"Then buy me and keep me." Christy felt Raven pulling Tessa to her tightly, it hurt to do it. "Don't send me away. I'm so tired of being away from you."
"I can't protect you here. You have to go home. I'm sorry." Tessa ran her hand over Raven's hair and Christy knew her double's heart had to be breaking. She had to really love Tessa to offer to stay in this hell for her.
Christy found herself in control suddenly. Raven retreated rather than cry most likely. She opened her mouth to say something, but the bathroom door opened again and Emma was there. Christy just pulled back from Tessa and stared at the carpet. "I'm gonna take a shower." She muttered as she got up. She needed some privacy, some space. God, she needed to scream, and yell, and beat on something, but she was going to be lucky to get a private moment in the shower.
She would have serviced Sebastian so that Tessa didn't have to. Her abuse was so recent and for Tessa she would have. The Professor sent this poor woman into this hell and Christy wanted to scream that the old man didn't deserve Tessa's loyalty.
She walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind her without looking at either of the other women in the room. She took off the full clothes she was now allowed to wear, putting the pants and shirt close to the shower stall.
Her glance into the mirror made her wish she had thought of another way to be alone. Raven's body was still bruised and some of the cuts were still there. Christy stepped into the stall. "Not her lover." She whispered and shook her head. That looked like an outright lie now.
"I never made love to her." A sorrowful whisper escaped her lips and Christy reached for the soap as Raven spoke. "We wanted to, but we never got a chance and then the Professor sent her on a mission. She's been gone for years."
"I'm so sorry." Christy thought as she lathered up. She was sorry for a lot of things. Raven deserved better than she was getting in this life. She found herself alone again. Raven needed someone to talk to so badly she exhausted herself just so she could say a few words here and there.
…………………
Things were a little awkward when she came back out of the bathroom after far too long. The water apparently never gets cold in this building. Her skin was pruning and hot from the shower, her hair slicked back rather than drying it. Christy saw Emma and Tessa playing chess yet again.
Tessa let herself get raped for Christy and Raven. It was hard to accept, but she couldn't ignore it. Christy moved to sit on the floor by Tessa's feet and rested her head on Tessa's thigh.
"You're wet." Tessa looked down at her with a slight smile.
"No, more like damp." Christy kissed Tessa's leg while staring up at the woman. "I'll dry soon, short hair and all." She leaned her head back on Tessa's leg. "My hair is actually much longer, comes to between my shoulder blades. I have it colored, added blonde and red. Of course I don't have to let it dry, there are ways around that if you're a shapeshifter." She was just rambling. Tessa's soft touch slowed her words. "I'm sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry for." Tessa spoke gently and Christy heard the chess piece move. Tessa really could do anything and still play chess. "And you're mine tonight. We'll be moving you to my room later."
"Okay, Mistress." Christy wrapped an arm around Tessa's leg and held her. She knew she would probably be allowed to sit in a chair, but she needed to hold Tessa right now.
Tessa always let her sleep in the bed, and that night Christy cuddled for all she was worth.
………………….
One week. Christy stood in front of the mirror, staring at her black clad form. The bruises and some cuts still showed, but she had to wear the corset and all tonight. It was hard to believe she'd only been in this world one week. It felt like a year.
She took a deep breath and shaky hands moved to comb her hair. It was auction night, and Tessa had turned down her request for a poison pill. Tessa said to trust her, that Selene wouldn't get her, but Christy knew Selene had a lot more points.
They walked towards the party and weren't even there when she heard the door slam open. A few screams, and a very butch looking Storm was standing in the hallway glaring at Tessa and Sebastian. "I believe you have one of ours." Storm's voice was cold and dangerous.
"Go." Tessa whispered quietly in her ear, as a strange assortment of Xmen came to stand by Storm. It was so anticlimactic how Nightcrawler grabbed her and teleported away. Christy didn't even see the fight and she worried about the two women in that building she cared about, but Logan, a very young teenager that had to be Kitty, Storm and a large young man joined them not too long after, making Christy think it hadn't been a hard fight. God, after everything she went through it was nothing for these Xmen to come get her, easy. Somehow she might have felt better if it were hard to do, she might have felt like less of a failure for not being able to do it herself.
"We heard you got captured kid." Logan moved into the car beside her. "You okay?"
"Yeah." Christy lied and moved to stare out the window as Storm got in to drive. She sighed. She'd tell them who they'd really saved once they were away from here. She didn't want to stick around long enough for anyone to decide to give chase.