DISCLAIMER:
As you should know, I do not own the X-Men. They are the sole property of Marvel Comics Group. However, I do claim assorted OC's and will generally share if asked politely.

Lost, Then Found
by Dizi

Chapter 5

The large cat slitted her eyes as the X-Men approached, Logan in the lead. It was an effort for him not to release his claws and fight the predator. However, he knew it was he invading her territory, not the other way around. Besides which, though he sensed she was very aware of him, the cat wasn't acting threatened or threatening.

Until he started climbing the steps following Dayne and the 'guides'. Then the cat let out a low snarl causing all the five visitors to freeze in place.

In the act of opening the door, Dayne paused and ran a hand over her head, murmuring reassuringly, "They are invited, Keara."

Keara instantly stopped growling but watched them closely as they entered the house, preceded by the cats and followed by Dayne.

Inside was both expected and unexpected. Like the exterior, it was full of light and cheerful. In and of itself, that was a surprise as they had thought it would be gloomy and 'mysterious'. Rather than appearing mystical in any way, the house was homey. Homemade doilies were on an end table and pictures were in antique frames. It felt like someone's grandmother's house.

But the inside did not match the outside precisely. The hall they found themselves in was larger than the entire house had looked to be and the windows were not in the same place. The house's location was not the only part of it affected by magic.

The cats had not paused once inside but continued down that large hall, turning at a T-juncture. Dayne again gestured for them to follow the cats. But when they came to the turn, there was a closed door.

Nowhere in sight were the cats. The door was the only way to go. Even Logan had not heard it open or close.

A loud creak was clearly audible when Dayne stepped past them and opened it himself. Now revealed was the conservatory he had mentioned earlier.

About the size of one of the mansion's bedrooms, the room wasn't very big. However, it was crammed full of plants. Flowers, ferns, ivies, miniature trees and bushes, plants of all kinds, exotic and mundane, were in three rows on top of each other; the floor, standard waist high tables, and hanging from the ceiling. Three walls were windows in light wood frames. A large skylight, held in place by the same light wood, covered the ceiling. The way the room was built it was obvious it was set out from the main part of the building. It should have been visible from the outside, as they had seen all but the back of the house easily. But it hadn't been.

Centered was a worn work table, a shelf underneath with bottles and jars. In a place of prominence, a very large handwritten book lay beside a stone mortar and pestle set. Otherwise, the table held only various gardening tools and soil.

If you didn't count the marmalade tabby cat. In whatever manner they had gotten inside, the cats were now ranged around the room, on the floor and between the plants, in various states of relaxation. They had an air of satisfaction about them from a job well done.

Before he closed the door behind them, Dayne announced, "Your visitors are here."

Not seeing anyone and feeling very nervous, Emma projected to the group, 'I don't care how pleasant it is, this place is spooky.'

"That was not polite."

Far to the left of the doorway, a woman was on a stool carefully watering a hanging plant. She looked young, maybe early twenties, and dressed in jean shorts and a plain white t-shirt. Her dark brown hair was in a bun, partially falling down around her face. They could only assume this was Morgan.

"It's not nice to whisper behind someone's back." Though her voice was irritated, her face was calm. "Which is exactly what telepathy is best known for."

"She won't do it again." Scott glared at Emma.

"You should not speak for others." She stepped down, facing them. "I am Morgan, as you can guess. And the White Queen is not so easily stopped from doing as she wishes by harshly spoken words."

"If you know who I am," Emma said, walking towards her, "then you know there is no need for this show. Don't use knowledge given to you by Dr. Strange to pretend you know more about us than you do."

"First, I don't need Stephen to tell me things. Second, knowing who you are is not necessary to be able to see the kind of person you are." Morgan met each of their eyes. Not with any sign of power or for dominance, simply to acknowledge them. "I would have to say you are the one reading more into me. You were brought here in the most efficient manner, not to show my power. That would be a waste. My home is the way it is because this is the way I like it. Nothing has been changed for your benefit. You may accept that or not, your choice."

"If I might ask, fraulien, vhy are ve here?" Kurt asked.

"Now, that was said politely. I like you." She smiled at him, lighting up her face. "You four are here so Logan will be more comfortable. Friendly faces and all that. I thought your minds would be more open after watching Stephen."

"So why did ya want me here, lady?" Logan asked bluntly. The smells in this room were confusing, not quite what they should be. He didn't like confusing. "Why not come where Melody's been seen?"

"That is both easily answered and understood." Morgan walked to the center table, petting the tabby while a pure white cat lovingly wound around her bare feet. "Stephen explained his spells would not benefit you. This is because they are very strong, something more subtle is needed for your situation. Many times, spells of that nature are more difficult. They are best performed in a seat of power. My home is that for me. And Melody is not tied to the school."

"I know it is off subject," Ororo began. She had been listening and genuinely wanted to help both Logan and Melody, but she was drawn by the plants. Many were varieties she had never seen before. One in particular was a dainty five-petaled yellow and lavender flower which she couldn't take her eyes off of. "What is this? It is quite beautiful."

Gesturing, her fingertips almost touched it. Hissing, the black and white cat she had petted a short time ago leaped toward her, making Ororo jump back.

"Thank you for the sentiment, but you don't want to touch it." Morgan hurriedly walked over and moved the flower further back. "Beautiful it is, however it is also poisonous. The flower is not exactly a plant, more of a parasite. Pollen would have entered your bloodstream and in a couple days your entire body would have become covered with them. If you were lucky you would have died first, but many are not."

Picking up the cat, Morgan crooned to it. "You're a good kitty. Yes, you are. A very good kitty." Looking back to Ororo, she smiled again. "Spot likes you or she wouldn't have warned you so forcefully."

While Ororo pet the cat with a dazed expression, Logan lost his patience. "Yeah, yeah. Don't touch the plants an' be nice ta the cats. But when're we gonna get started?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot to tell you." Morgan went back to the center table, turned the page of the book, and made a notation. "I began the moment you entered the room."

"Huh? How's that? Ya ain't done nothin'."

"Nothing you can see. I have been studying your connection to the child." By her expression, she was highly amused, but she quickly turned serious. "Before I do more, you must be aware my services do not come free. Are you willing to pay the price?"

"Price?" he repeated suspiciously. "What kinda price?"

"A favor for a favor, not necessarily in kind. You will, in effect, be in my debt. Think carefully before you answer, even I do not know what may be required in the future."

"Lady, if ya can help me an' Melody, I'd be in yer debt either way." Logan responded, knowing it was true. When she held out her hand for a time-honored handshake, he took it without hesitation. Power flowed between them, an intense burning sensation neither flinched from. He had to resist the urge to shake it after she let go.

"Our bargain is sealed," Morgan pronounced. "Stephen told me some basics, but I do have some questions. How long have you been consciously seeing her?"

"'Bout a year now." He thought the others had been unusually quiet but chalked it up to the weird place.

"How interesting." Morgan's brows raised. "You must be very stubborn. I would say she's been with you for three years."

Blanching, Logan thought about all the gruesome missions he'd been on, the bars he'd gone to, and the women he'd... 'seen'.

"Doesn't that make their connection stronger?" Scott was sure that would be the case. Time and proximity always made a difference.

"Very good," she complimented. "Yes, it does. What's unusual is that Melody is attached to a person instead of a place. There are more ghosts around than people realize but they are mostly anchored to where they died or their grave. Logan most likely has been having strange occurrences since almost the beginning but his mind blocked them. Next question, what is she usually doing when you see her?"

"Usually?" His mind went blank for a moment, overwhelmed by the information he was getting. "Jus' school stuff. Melody plays with the other kids, sits in the cafeteria, an' I've even seen her studyin'."

"Hmm. There could be several reasons for that." Morgan again wrote in her book. "Is there anything she said more than once? Something recurring."

That was an easy question. "She said her mother don't talk ta her no more. Melody said it lotsa times. She misses her."

She blinked at him. "That's different."

Emma muttered under her breath, "Now she sounds like me."

Morgan ignored her. "Maybe she meant before she died?"

"Lady, how would I know?" Logan exploded. "I just found out she was dead a couple days ago!"

"Okay, how did you meet her originally?"

Becoming frustrated, Logan wondered why she was asking the same question again. "Originally? I already told ya."

"I don't mean as a ghost," she helpfully clarified. "Before she died, how did you meet her?"

"I don't understand ya. She was already dead when I met her." Logan could swear he'd said that.

"No, she wasn't. I'm talking about three years ago." Morgan tried again to be clear. "How did you come in contact with her?"

"I told ya, I saw her fer the first time a last year!" Angry, he didn't get why she was harping on the same damn question.

"That's not possible. You met her before she died, how?" she insisted.

"Ya ain't listenin'! I didn't meet her three years ago!" Logan shouted. "I saw Melody fer the first time after she was already dead!"

Morgan closed the book, saying coldly, "I think you should leave if you're not going to be honest with me. Our bargain will be nulled."

Seeing Logan's expression darken at the insult to his honor, Kurt decided to step in. "Please, fraulein. He is truly doing his best-"

"No, he is not!" Morgan rounded on him and Kurt took a step back at her sudden fury. "Do you think I brought strangers into my home for fun? That it is a thrill to put me and mine at risk? I did not agree to this lightly! It is not possible for her to have attached to him without Logan at some point coming in physical contact with her BEFORE she died! He did meet Melody! And I can do nothing if he won't speak of it!"

The room shook and the cats hissed with her words, her anger theirs.

Taking a deep breath, Morgan controlled herself. "I apologize for my outburst. But as I said, if you will not be honest with me, I must ask you to leave."

All for it, Emma volunteered, "Let's go!"

More pragmatic, Scott asked quietly, "And how do you expect to get back? She has to send us and she doesn't look like she's in a helpful mood."

Kurt and Ororo were torn, thinking they were both right.

Logan wasn't paying any attention to them. Whether it was really to Melody or himself, Logan had made a promise the night before and he NEVER broke a promise. This woman had angered him but it was because she had a higher understanding than they did. He believed she was the only one who could help Melody. Because of that, he could let it go. "Lady... Morgan. Not sure I understand all ya said, but ya don't know me an' don't know I ain't the kind ta lie. Let me say it again: I saw Melody fer the first time a year ago. I thought she was a student. She weren't cause nobody there's seen her but me. So Melody was already dead. That's all I know."

Now perfectly calm, Morgan met his eyes. Seeing his sincerity, power flared briefly and was quickly banked. "You are harder to read than the others. Perhaps I made assumptions too quickly. I apologize again for my anger. If you will all go out the door and straight through to the next, Dayne should have lunch ready for you. I have some preparations to make. We will need to speak directly to Melody for the answers I require."

to be continued.

note: So you finally get to see Morgan. I really like her and am thinking of a sequel based on her or at least using her again in the future.

Thanks for reading and the support,
Dizi