Chapter 3

Damon entered his room and walked to where Anna and Remy sat. They were trying to remember the events of that afternoon, particularly details of anyone that was in the lobby. After Anna opened the mysterious black envelope, the two mutants walked across the hall to show Damon its contents. Damon had immediately gone to hotel security, hoping to get a glimpse of who it was in the lobby that snapped this picture. Unfortunately, it was as if the stranger knew exactly where the cameras were angled. He or she had carefully walked about in a way that never revealed a face.

"We can't stay here, chere," Remy spoke honestly. "If this has anything to do with Pierre's death, we can't risk our safety."

Anna knew that he was right, although she didn't want to leave the luxurious hotel. "What do you recommend then? A different hotel?" She sat back in one of the plush cushions of the sofa, waiting for his response. She savored the feel of the fabric, since she may have to be parting ways with it soon.

"Non. Not a hotel."

Anna immediately recognized the gleam in his eyes when he came up with an idea that she would protest. And, she knew exactly what he was getting at. "Oh, no LeBeau. There's no way we can pull that off."

Damon, unaware of what it was Remy was planning wanted clarification. "What am I missing here?" His eyes shot back and forth between his companions, waiting for a response. They merely ignored him, as Anna became increasingly annoyed with Remy.

"You're family thinks that I'm just tagging along for a vacation while you look into Pierre. How do you expect Damon and me to do our own investigation while living in your father's manor?" Anna stood and walked over to Damon. "Plus, how are we going to explain him?" She placed one hand on her hip while the other pointed at her partner.

"I could be a fellow X-Man," Damon replied casually.

Anna rolled her eyes at his nonsensical explanation. "And how exactly are you going to do that? You ain't got any powers, remember?"

"Right." Damon nodded. "But, they don't know that, right? Just because I don't have any obvious physical mutations doesn't mean I'm not a mutant. Besides, I could always try to fake it."

"How exactly can you fake," Rogue shook her head. "Forget it. I can't believe I even entertained this conversation for this long." She turned back to Remy who sat slouched back in his chair. The wheels were definitely spinning. "No way, Remy. You don't actually think this is a good idea, do you?"

Anna forced a smile as the car came to pick them up from the hotel. She handed her luggage over to the driver that Jean-Luc hand sent for them. She cursed inwardly at the way she had been out voted by Remy and Damon. She liked it so much better when they were at each other's throats.

"Merci, Marcel," Remy said as he stepped into the limousine.

"I've got to admit LeBeau," Damon stated, admiring the pearl plated bar in limo, "your family has class."

Remy only smiled, returning his attention to his still very annoyed girlfriend. "Trust me, cherie."

Anna turned her head slightly and raised an eyebrow. "This better not blow up in my face Swamp Rat."

In less than a half-hour, the car pulled up in front of one of the many residences of Jean-Luc LeBeau. Anna always took for granted the amount of money Remy and his family actually had. Seeing this manor, which was located on the outskirts of New Orleans, was a blatant display of their wealth. Despite his resources, Remy never acted like he was better than others, unlike Warren would tend to do from time to time. It was one of the qualities that she loved the most about him.

Damon's eyes widened at the site of the large home that was situated in the middle of the former plantation. The white columns ran all the way around the exterior. He felt as if he were on the set of Gone With the Wind. Damon half expected a greeting by Scarlet O'Hara herself.

Damon, instead, saw a tall, bald man open the doors to greet them. He was about Remy's height, with a dark mustache. "Mon frère. So good to see you again!" He walked right up to Remy, giving him a solid hug. Next, he turned his attention to Anna, who beamed a smile. She offered her hand to him, as he placed it in his own to give it a kiss. "And Rogue. You're as radiant as ever. Don't know why you keep taking my dog of a brother back, though. Especially, when you could have your pick of anyone in the family!" He gave her a wink. Damon knew definitively that Remy was related to this man.

"Henri," Anna called him, "Mercy would kill you if she ever heard you talking in such a way."

Damon surmised from Anna's response that she was quite familiar with Remy's family. Finally, Henri turned his attention to Damon. "And you must be their friend." Henri extended a hand out to greet his brother's new friend.

"I'm…" Damon started to answer, but was completely interrupted by Remy.

"Damon Taylor." Remy stepped forward, placing his arm over his brother's shoulder. "Where are my manners? Henri, Damon here's one of the new teachers at the mansion."

Damon smiled and finished their handshake. He understood why Remy had interjected himself so abruptly. They had never thought of an alias for him. Surely, his family would be suspicious of any new faces. They would never have been able to explain why he had the same name as an FBI agent.

"That so?" Henri smiled. "Well, welcome to our humble abode, Monsieur Taylor."

"Thanks," Damon flashed a smile.

They followed Henri into the mansion's ornate parlor. The walls were painted a deep burgundy color, with contrasting curtains weaved from a luminous golden fiber. Damon would not have been surprised if it were in fact made of real gold. Judging by the vast collection of artwork, the curtains were the least expensive items in the whole room.

"The staff will bring you bags up to your rooms," Henri explained as he poured himself a drink. "Can I offer you anything?"

"No thanks, sugar," replied Anna. Damon refused the offer as well. Remy on the other hand, accepted the glass of bourbon. Henri would certainly of found it peculiar if he hadn't. Sharing a drink was, after all, somewhat of a ritual for them whenever Remy returned to town.

"Rogue," Henri said as he walked back toward them. "I'm so glad you were able to talk mon frère into staying here at the mansion with us."

"It wasn't anything." Anna smiled at Henri, wondering if she should tell him to call her by Anna. She thought the wiser against it. If she were still with the X-Men, like Henri was led to believe, then she would have had no problem with his use of her former moniker. "Henri, how's Mercy doing?"

"She's doing real good, Rogue." A smile came to Henri's face as soon as Anna mention his wife's name. Anna had always admired the true love that Remy's brother shared with his wife. "She's out running an errand right now. But, she should be in time for supper."

They sat in the parlor for about another hour, exchanging small talk about their lives. Finally, one of the servants entered the room, announcing that dinner was ready. They all relocated into the dining room and took their seats. Henri and Remy walked over to the seats on either side of the main chair, where Jean-Luc normally sat. Anna walked over and sat beside Remy, with Damon on the other side of her. A setting had been placed for Mercy, next to where Henri sat. Jean-Luc soon entered the room smiling, although Anna could see the pain he felt in his eyes.

"Mon fils," Jean-Luc said, "How wonderful of you to come."

"Father," Remy replied sternly. Their relationship was not the best between a father and his son, but there was an unspoken love between them that would never be broken.

"How nice to see you again, Rogue," Jean-Luc continued. "You grow lovelier every time I see you, my dear."

"Thank you, sir," Anna blushed.

"And, M'sieur Taylor. I apologize for the inconvenience of having to rearrange your accommodations. But, you see we just insisted on having Remy and his friends stay with us." Apparently, Remy had led Jean-Luc to believe that it was his idea for them to stay at the LeBeau manor. Remy had not divulged the information regarding the black envelope.

"Not a problem at all," Damon replied. "Thank you for putting us up in your gorgeous home."

They ate in relative silence, with Mercy joining the meal just after they finished their soup. Tante Mattie, a life long employee of the LeBeau family and the closest thing Remy had to a mother, was in the kitchen preparing the delicious meal. Tonight's menu consisted of crab bisque, crawfish etouffee, and beignets for dessert. Anna felt as if her stomach was going to explode as she down the last of the sugar covered dough.

By the end of the meal, Jean-Luc had requested to speak to Remy privately about some family affairs, which Anna and Damon respected. Remy gave her a gentle kiss before she and Damon followed one of the house's servants to their chambers. Unlike the hotel, Damon's room was on the other end of the long hall. Damon had no doubt that this was Remy's doing.

Jean-Luc sat in silence until he was sure that his houseguests were well out of earshot. He laced his fingers and brought his hands up to his jaw as he waited. When he could no longer hear their footsteps, he turned to his youngest son.

"Pierre's funeral will be the day after tomorrow. Arrangements have been made, the Guild will take care of his mother now." There was flatness in his tone, as if he were trying to suppress his emotions.

"Even though you and Pierre's mother were only second cousins, he was like a brother," Henri chimed in. "It's the least we can do. Especially now that our tante is ill."

Remy nodded in silence. He thought back to days in their youth, when Pierre would follow them around like a little puppy. Remy was five years his elder. It had been Remy that taught him how to pick his first lock. Remy remembered being impressed by his little cousin's skills. It had been years since he had last seen Pierre. A pang of guilt struck Remy. Pierre's funeral should not have been how Remy saw his little cousin again.

"What do we know of his murderer," Remy spoke, breaking his silence. His mood had made a sudden dark turn.

"Nothing as of yet," Jean-Luc replied. "We have our best men looking into it though. You'll be the first person to know once we find out."

"Bien." Remy pushed his chair out and stood. "If you all don't mind, I'd like to turn in for the night. It's been quite a long day for me."

"Of course," they all replied.

"Good night, Remy," Jean-Luc spoke last.

By the time Remy walked into his room, Anna had already changed into her nightgown and was fast asleep. He took a second to marvel at her beauty; she truly was his angel. Remy quickly changed into a pair of pajama pants and climbed under the blankets. He gently brushed away the hair from her eyes and kissed her forehead. She sighed in response to his touch and weakly fluttered her eyelids.

"Hey, sugar. Is everything okay?" she whispered, half asleep.

"Oui, mon bel ange," Remy replied. "Go back to sleep."

Anna gave him a small smile and nodded. Remy watched her sleep for a few more minutes before dozing off in a slumber.

Only Jean-Luc and Henri sat in the parlor now, both with drinks in hand.

"Why didn't you tell him what the scouts reported earlier?" Henri rarely questioned his father, but he had been dying to ask this since Remy left the dining room that evening.

"There are too many questions left unanswered, mon fils. We still need more information." The patriarch of the Thieves Guild was nothing but careful. He would never have gotten to be such if he weren't. The truth was, this information that he learned that afternoon scared him to his inner most core. He thanked the lord that Remy had decided to stay at the manor during his visit. Right now, New Orleans was not a safe place for mutants.

Translation:

Oui, mon bel ange - Yes, my beautiful angel.

Author's Note:

tenchi: Thank you so much for leaving a review. You are a loyal reader, and I greatly appreciate your support! I'm just glad to know that someone out there is actually enjoying my story! :)