Chapter two
Forget me not
Bang, bang. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing.
Another loud bang and the offending alarm was off, along with the clock that now lay smashed against the opposite wall.
Loud grumpling could be heard from the messy bed as a figure slowly rose, untangling itself from the dark sheets. The figure groaned noticing the open curtains that allowed the sickeningly cheerful rays of sun to enter the room. Something was terribly off with the picture. There was a reason those curtains were always drawn. It gave the room a comforting quality, making it resemble a dark, gloomy tomb more than a sleeping chamber. Just the way she liked it.
The girl shot up from her bed with new found vigour quickly drawing her black curtains covered in silverish spider webs. Still glaring at the spot that not so long ago was invaded by the evil sun she let grim thoughts overcome her.
' Well those damn curtains sure as hell didn't open on their own, so that must mean She's back... joy. Now unless I feel like a nice lil' family reunion filled with half assed excuses, which I most certaintly DON'T, I better figure out a quick way to get food and run for it before-'
" Hello Rogue."
' Damn, too late!' The girl slowly turned around trying to will the other woman's presence away. When she turned around completely the scowl on her face twiched comically as if showing her annoyance at the failure of her childlish tackticks.
" Hello mothah. "- she spit the words out as if she was fiering a poisoned arrow meant to struck the woman through the heart.
'Assuming of course the bitch has one..' Rogue humored herself letting a small laugh covered by a snort escape her.
" Happy to see me I see... Well I am. Dear, you know how sorry I am for leaving you on your own for so long again and I-"
" Save it." Rogue growled fierecly while deepening her scowl on the 'dear' part. The tall woman sighed deeply and leaned on her daughter's doorway deciding not to step into the girls 'sanctuary', knowing it would only result in aggravating the teen more. She run her fingers through her short auburn hair, a nervous habit she shared with the girl before her. She smirked silently thinking of all the similarities they shared, wether her child decided to accept it or not.
" Yes, well seeing as you don't seem to be in a mood for normal human interaction and common courtesy that I foolishly believed to have thought you, I'll just inform you that I have looked into your school record and to say the least, I am not pleased. Rogue you can do better and you will do better. No more running around on those stupid assingments for Mah. Right now you need to focus on graduating and getting into a decent college-"
" Irene thought meh."
" Excuse me?" The woman stopped her rant, a clueless and half annoyed expression crossing her face.
" Ah said Irene thought meh common courtesy, seeing as ya were nevah around ta do much of parenting. She also thought meh ta show it ta those who deserve it." Rogue hissed, her accent tickening in annoyance.
Her comment was rewarded with a cynical smirk from the older woman who seemed unphased and quite amused by her daughter's temper.
" Well that's nice. If I am undeserving of your courtesy and presence, you will not mind that I take my leave now. But know this, if I do you can say good bye to all your foolish dreams of running around digging up treasures because you'll be too busy repeating the last year of high school. Yes dear, I am aware of all those fake excuse notes you fed your school on my behalf, and if I inform your principal of that fact and my utmost concern for your education during our next meeting I'm sure he'll be more than pleased to take action in the matter ... Oh you know how dedicated to his work Mr. Kelly is, that and there's always the matter of you not being his favourite person. I do believe that has something to do with the incident last year..."
The girl tried to hold back her chuckle. Well so what if she smashed his car and nearly run him over in the process? Sheesh accidents happen. Especially around Bayville! Thankfully her 'dear mother' convinced him not to press charges. It really was a wonder how that woman had a way with people. Though Rogue's best guess was it had more to do with the precious resources her buisness required... whatever the hell it was her mother was doing. One thing was for sure, that lady could pull all the right strings to make Rogue's life a living hell.
" Ok, ok ya can stop terrorising meh now. Ah'm listening. Because there must be a real reason for you to come back and actually bother ta contact meh."
The tall woman smiled in satisfaction showing off her sharp fangs. Rogue always wondered about them...
'At least she's showing her true colors now. No more play pretend 'mommy' games. God she sucks at those!'
" Why yes there is. Besides the matter of me missing your charming ways of course. It has come to my attention that your friend is not quite... comfortable living in the Boarding house." – she paused, her brow twiching, as if remembering some unpleasant conversation she had on the matter with said friend. Rogue smirked to herself thinking of how bitchy the girl could be, and that of course always got her her way.
" Well seeing as I am the legal guardian of all of you, the best way to deal with the matter is simply moving her here. I can't really kick the boys out..."
' Funny... I coulda sworn I heard wistfulness in her voice' Rogue thought to herself in amusment.
' To think she sometimes treats them better then her own kid! Well serves her right to always have to deal with those losers. For the life of me I don't know what possesed that woman to take them all in! Ok, so the twins are technically family, but the rest? I swear she must be prepering a slave ring or something... That or she's after the support money. Nah, they don't pay shit. Why would a 'high 'n mighty' buisness woman decide to become the legal guardian and board a couple of useless teenagers-soon to be high school dropouts? I know her well enough to know the kindness of her heart had little to do with it...'
" Rogue are you listening to me? I was telling you that Wanda is moving into our house today and you are to help her settle in the guest room. I hope the two of you will know better then to do anything to damage this house as well as my trust."
Rogue snorted at that.
" In other words no funny buisness and don't go overboard with cutting school. You can carry on playing with Maharet for all I care as long as your school work doesn't suffer. And I will keep in contact with your principle and teachers so I will know. Besides, you are aware that I always know what you're up to..."
The smirk that appeared on her mother's face reminded Rogue of just how disturbing the lady could be. And what made her loathe her so. There was much more to it then the matter of how dysfunctional her 'family' was. No, Rogue was quite happy with the way things turned out. Here she was, seventeen and already basically on her own. True, she was provided with all the finances she may need, as well as a place to stay, but she was her own master. She decided where she went, what she did and at what time.
Her mother was never around much to begin with. The only time she could, vaguely, remember them being a normal family was when she was about four years old. The only fond memories of that time were however smothered by time, as well as hate and anger towards the lies and betreyals they brought on.
It all centered around one strong memory of her sitting on a swing, giggling happilly while trying to cradle her baby brother on her small lap.
'Wow... I used to giggle? Nope, I was born tough and angry, in my lil' shiny combat boots.'
Every time she tried to remember something more a painfull headache overcome her. The memory also triggered a strange melodic tune to appear in her mind. She could sometimes make out the words, but never understand the language they were in. All of this was frustrating and painfull, so soon enough she decided it wasn't worth the trouble and buried it along with other childhood dreams, however nightmarish they might seem.
Come to think of it she didn't remember that much of her childhood. Maharet always told her it was because of the accident she had when she was ten, but she didn't really want to believe that. How can you simply lose three years of your life? Impossible. What was even stranger, she had some memories from before that seemed as fresh to her mind as what she had for lunch the day before.
Remembering always was an issue for her. These days she obsesivly clung to the tiniest things just to make sure she didn't lose them too. Well excluding school of course. Most of the things they tried to teach her there she either alredy knew or didn't care to know. Pointles really. Her track of thought brought her back to her newest obsession. She absentmindedly fingered the twin fading wounds on her neck.
'Mosquito bites my ass! If they were, they'd be long gone by now. It's been two months damnit!'
Her cousin Pietro often made fun of her because of that story, most likely still getting back for all the cleaning she roped him into that day. Rogue was fascinated by the mysterious topic of vampirism for a long time now. After years spent with Maharet's archeology crew as her personal assistant she knew better than to just shrug it off as a crazy dream. Nor was she going to forget it, like she did her borther, her childhood...
She was most certainly not going to forget about what happend in New Orleans! She had evidance damnit and it was right there on her neck! Well right beneath her chocker anyway. Due to her gothic preferences she usually wore it, but these past months it became a must. People sure reacted strangely to those scars.
' Most likely thinking the freak goth girl made them herself' Rogue thought darkly and snorted, now rubbing her neck tenderly.
But Pietro, joking or not, had a point.
' If it really was a vampire that bit me that night then why the hell am I still a human? True I hate the sun, but it doesn't burn my skin, I'm a night owl and basicly live off negative human emotions but blood isn't exacly on my menu... God this is stupid! I should so get a new hobby...'
The troubled girl snapped back to reality and noticed her mother was still standing in her doorway watching her rub her neck. The expression on her face was almost unreadable but betrayed a trace of worry, or maybe suspicion. Whatever it was it annoyed Rogue further so she snapped a raspy "What!".
" Are you alright? You seem...off."
This new show of forced concern puzzled the girl.
' Well gee mom I've got this vampire bite on my neck and I'd like you to take a look at it... nope not likely.'
" Ah, uh forgot ta take mah chocker off and Ah guess it rubbed mah neck the wrong way."
The woman looked far from convinced and still eyed her neck suspiciously but for whatever reason accepted the answer.
" Well you shouldn't sleep in that thing. It's awful enough you wear it anyway, you look like a dog!"
" Gee thanks for boosting my self esteem so early in the morning mom ."
The woman just smirked at her and turned to leave. Rogue bit back the sigh of relief that was going to escape her, and started thanking the god she didn't believe in her mother was finally out of her hair and she was free to-
" Oh and another thing. I'm leaving again today to take care of some-"
" Buisness?" The girl snorted. ' Gee what a surprise.'
" Yes, but I'll be back in a couple of days so please try not to wreck the house."
And with that she was finally gone. The auburn haired teen was left to frantically search for a fitting turtle neck.
' Well that damn chocker DID rub me the wrong way!'
On a different side of town another evil alarm clock got what was comming for it.
It however was not met by the same fate as it's comrade. Instead surrounded by a harmless looking blue glow it flew straight through the window and on it's way to doom knocked out an innocent postman. The owner of the late clock grumpled a few colorfull descriptions of the poor, now smashed, machine and untangled herself from her scarlet sheets.
' Another glorious day in Bayville! Now if only I could hex myself brainless so I'd fit in with the rest of it's community and live happily ever after.'
The raven haired girl rose from her messy bed and sniffed the air carefully.
' Thank god! Toad's not up yet so I can-'
" Snookums! I made breakfast!"
' ... why me?'
Mornings at the Bayville Boarding House, to a few chosen known as the Brootherhood, could only be described as one thing.
Chaos.
Pure, messy, smelly, and whenever the only resident girl felt like it, bloody chaos. Today was no different. Toad was standing in the middle of what looked like a cross between a dump, a pet shop cementary and a war zone. It used to be a kitchen but due to the activities in the house, well let's just say it's been through a lot. In the living room Fred sat in his teddy bear boxers stuffing his face with unimaginable amounts of food, his gaze glued to the morning toons on TV. In the corner a grumpy looking Lance was worshiping the goddes of morning vitality- coffe. The scene was completed by the blurry gust of wind weezing between the mirror and the closet.
" Come ON guys, the brown one or the blue one?"
" Doesn't matter, you look gay anyway..."
" Watsa matter quickie? Got a hot date with Daniels yo?"
" That's IT slime ball! You're gonna get it and this time it's not gonna be my sister pounding you into-a-bloody-insect-pulp!"
That's not exactly a scene an already annoyed Wanda was looking forward to.
' Might as well sneak out before the losers notice-'
" Babycakes! Thank god you're here! Pietro was trying to hurt me, tell him he can't beat your man, yo!"
'...me.'
Note to self: never, ever praise the goddamn day before Toad opens his wretched, fly vaccuming mouth.
" Listen here you scrawny bastard-"
" See you're a scrawny bastard Pietro!"
" She was talking to you Toad you moron."
By now Wanda was past the thin line between annoyed andpretty damn pissed so she decided to stop the insanity before she did hex herelf brainless.
" Firts off all you're not 'my man' because I'd never come near such a repulsive, disgusting insect."
" But babycakes, I took a shower today!"
"The whole town's happy!" Lance put in dryly.
" And second of all- " a familiar blue glow surrounded Wandas hands " – you're not a man at all." And with that Toad was sent through the wall screaming like a girl and landed right next to the still unconcious postman.
Wanda glared around the room and satisfied at the terrified looks she got from the remaining boys stormed out of the house.
However she froze right after exiting. There, heading straight for the door and stepping over the body of the postman like it was the most usual thing in the world, was the most gorgeous man she's ever seen. Judging by the smug look on his face he knew it too as he locked his dark gaze with her. Wanda was unable to look away.
' Well it's not often you get someone this good looking AND goth in this hell hole! Too bad he already looks too full of himself to fit his ego anywhere but his ass...'
The dark stranger scowled suddenly. Soon however the scowl was replaced by a teasing smirk.
" Well that's not a nice thing to be thinking my dear... However I'm sure there's more than one way you'd like to make that comment up to me."
Yet again Wanda felt herself boiling with rage, her response was cut short by a squeaky voice.
" Yo, Dracula! Lay off my girl!"
ZAP
AN: FINALLY! It really was tough writing the next chap! Well first of I'd like to thank all thsoe who reviewed, and abril4 if you've got questions go ahead and ask them cuz i'm pretty sure it's gonna be a while before they're answered in HERE. Heh I had some fun writing this but I just kept delating it and trying to fix sth. In the end I just sat and kept writing till I was moderately satisfied. I'm sure I've made plenty mistakes cuz I hurried so bare with me. Feel free to point 'em out though and again I appreciate all comments, flame or no! So REVIEW! Oh and a golden medieval bra to anyone who guesses who's the hottie Wanda was about to hex before Toad defended her virtue!
Disclaimer: Obiously I don't own XME because if I did I'd be too busy working on season 5 to bother writing this crap! I also have to say that sadly enough I don't own Maharet either. Her character wasn't introduced yet but she will play a key role in this story. Maharet belongs to one of my favourite writers and a genius: Anne Rice! And to everyone that hadn't done it already : GO AND READ " QUEEN OF THE DAMNED!" believe me the movie has NOTHING on the book! Another thing, those who are Rice freaks know Maharet is no archeologyst but she did hire that one Old Geezer... So yeah I'm gonna work with that, twist it a lil' et voila we've got ourselves a cover story!