Burning Fires

This meeting was not as formal as most were. Usually they gathered around a big table where everyone sat at there respective place. The room Bogan had arranged for them was not so formal, it was a sitting room where several cozy armchairs and a couple of fluffy couches had been arranged in front of the fireplace. The other Lords Cardinals had already gathered.

Emma Frost, who held the position of Withe Queen, leaned against the fireplace and was illuminated by the flames beside her. She was a telepath with the ability to read minds, project thoughts, plant illusions in the minds of others and release her astral form.

The Withe King, Donald Pierce sat in one of the armchairs legs crossed. He was a cyborg with adamantium implants to grant him superhuman strength, reflexes and durability.

The man planned for Withe Bishop sat in the corner of one couch. His name was Jason Wyngarde, but he called himself Mastermind. He could create illusions that stretched from seemingly making him invisible or changing his appearance to creating illusionary realities. He had very good looks, but Tessa suspected that it was an illusion as well; some times she could glimpse a thin, hollow eyed man with the skin of his face hanging loosely underneath his looks.

Emmanuel DaCosta, Withe Rook, was also present. He was merely a successful human that had managed his way into the Inner Circle.

The Black Rook was Freidrich von Roehem, originally human, but after Selene had altered his bloodline she could activate a semi-lycanthropic state, in other words making him a werewolf.

Harry Leland was the Black Bishop and had the ability to increase the mass of objects or persons weighting them down with gravitational pressure.

The only one absent was the Black Queen, Selene. She was pretty much immortal and had some of the most incredible powers. She was the worlds most powerful sorceress and could use all kinds of magic. She also had the ability to drain life force from other people, keeping her young and beautiful for centuries and she was exceptionally cruel.

Sebastian Shaw held the title of Black King, the highest position in the council of chosen ones. He could absorb kinetic or electrical energy making him stronger, faster and immune to most physical injuries. The only thing was that there was a limit to how much he could absorb and if that limit was past he would go into a coma.

Those were the members of the Inner Circle, with there positions named after chess pieces. It was customary that only the Lords Cardinals were present at their meetings, but all rules must have an exception. Tessa was that exception. As Shaw's personal aide she was with him on every meeting. She had abilities of her own, known by only a few and they didn't know the full extent of them. Not even Shaw knew. The power that most were aware of was that her mind functioned rather similar to a computer, only faster, better and without any limitations to the storage capacity. She possessed minor telepathic abilities, like scan and manipulate minds. The special thing about her telepathy was that it was turned inwards instead of outwards and if she didn't concentrate hard on others minds it would automatically go into her own, protecting it from others. If she was to concentrate on turning her telepathy inwards her mind would become literately impenetrable. The power that she keep secret was that she was able to analyze a person's genes and "jump start" their potential abilities.

~o~

Shaw took a seat in one of the armchairs.

"Remind me what the reason for this meeting was again."

Emma sighted. "For the last time will you get it into your head that we have found a power matrix that would be of great use to us."

"Aaa, yes. That was it. Have you been able to identify this matrix?"

"It is Jean Gray, one of Charles Xavier's students."

"So, have Mastermind put her in an illusion that makes her loyal to us. Miss Frost I'm sure that you can connect him to this Jean."

"It's not as simple as that. The plan still needs tweaking to become perfect."

They continued planning long into the night and it was almost 2 am before they returned to their quarters. Quite a lot of progress had been made and the plan was close to be put into action, there had even been time for a game of cards between Shaw and Bogan.

Tessa was slightly torn between her options, unknowingly to any one but herself and Xavier she had been one of his students. Still being a bit loyal to him she considered contacting him and giving him a warning. The only thing that stopped her from lowering her mental protections and reach out was the feeling of someone constantly trying to get into her mind. The sensation had been there ever since she met Oliver Ryland for the first time. At times it had been weaker or even gone, but these days in Alaska it had been stronger than ever and she kept defenses at maximum. It was simply nothing she could do to help Xavier. He would have to deal with it himself.

~o~

She didn't sleep that night. There was no need. Her brain was far more active than normal brains, so she did not require as much sleep as others. Before retreating to her room she had returned the necklace to Bogan and spent part of the night translating the script. When she was younger she had read about cuneiform and now she recalled that. The more that she translated the more stunned she was. It described the story and very detailed where this object could be found to be destroyed. The place it spoke of sent chills down Tessa's back. It had an uncanny similarity to the very cave on the Hindu Kusch where she had rescued Xavier after his legs had been crushed. The description of the wall paintings and the nature was absolutely perfect. Tessa couldn't doubt that if this artifact existed she knew where it was.

Right before the dawn she went out into the cold and crisp air. Frost glittered on everything in the fading light from the moon. In the east the sky slowly turned pink as the sun rise. The air was cold and refreshing, slightly nibbling Tessa's cheeks that had turned rosy from the cold. For hours she stood there facing the McKenna Glacier taking in the breathtaking beauty of the nearly untouched land. The Hindu Kusch had been just as beautiful and cold during winter, but her memories from then were some of those she wished she could forget. Now she took the time to go over the memories that took place around the cave. Even the one with the robed soldiers… That had been escorted by Shaw Industries!

Why had Shaw Industries been in Afghanistan on the Hindu Kusch fifteen years ago?

Perhaps Shaw had found one of the tablets and nearly discovered the correct cave. Perhaps it was just a coincident. She hated perhapses and didn't believe in coincidences, there was a reason for everything. She would have to ask Shaw.

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Author's Note: An other chapter for you to read. Still hoping that it is so good that you will want to continue reading. Would be nice to get a review were you told me your opinions on my work. Check back in a week for the next chapter.