Author´s note: I think I never updated this story so quickly. Don´t know how I managed to write another chapter that quickly. Maybe, because the idea for it was ghosting through my brain for about 1 or 2 weeks and I just had to put it down on paper? Or maybe because it feels really nice to write a bit of fanfiction after having spent three hours or so writing an exam paper? Might have been that... however. Sing and rejoyce as another chapter is on now.

AngelofSnow: Somehow I knew you´d like my desciption of his living room :-) Sophisticated... yes, that would fit Erik somehow. Don´t know why, it simply does.

Oh yes, the betrayal... which I am sure was not intended as one. Possibly the poor guy was telling the press how Erik had saved his kid, but... Magneto´s bad reputation and the bloodsucking nature of the media got the better of it.

KumaDaPuma: Never heard of the Grateful Dead but.. thanks :-) Oh, I love foreshadowing so... wait and see. Glad the tension I intended to be between the two of them came out. It was rather difficult to make clear because they don´t really talk much, so I´m happy you felt it :-)

Sorry to tell you I can´t drop that paper. But anyways, I hope this quick update makes up for the long wait before.

Chapter 17

Shadow of a sun

Later, Erik could not say how long their eyes had been locked, but although it appeared longer, it must have only been seconds until Mystique broke the eye contact and left the room. She left him with the odd feeling that although he had resisted her gaze, he had not won this round in their private battle. It felt strange even to consider things that way. A battle. When had the tide turned? When had the world become a place that had turned his most loyal companion, the only one he had ever trusted, against him? A little, mocking voice inside his head insisted on him being guilty in this as well and for a moment his mind flashed back on the dark eyes of the battered, desperate young naked woman on the floor of the convoy... until he swept it away. Mystique should know better than that, he thought with a hint of anger entering his thoughts. She should know better, she, of all people should be able to draw the line between homo sapiens and homo superior. Draw the line... it only increased his anger that he very well knew he had not been sticking to that very line too well only hours ago.

He did not follow her. His anger against her, against himself, prevented him from doing so, so he forced himself to finish his coffee although he very much felt like simply pouring it away. Standing alone in that kitchen he knew so well only reminded him of how alone he had become. In this moment he learned a lesson Magneto had never learned so far. He had always known that being a mutant isolated him, made him an outcast. This very knowledge had been the main force and drive behind what he was doing... but now he began to understand that regaining his powers was not all it took to mend old wounds. He was alone. And still, his pride kept him from following the blue shape shifter. His pride made him sip on that already cooling black coffee pretending he was strong enough to endure whatever might cross his way.

Finally he placed the cup on the counter and put his hands into the pockets of his black trousers. He had already set his mind to retire to his study to... he had not decided on that yet, when his fingers found a small metal objects. He closed his hand around it, knowing in an instant what it was, but for a moment did nothing but sense the small vibrant humming the metal that was trailing through his mind. In his time as a homo sapiens this had been what he had missed most. The pure presence of metal. He took out the necklace and balanced it on his open palm, turning the pendant with his thumb, scowling slightly while doing so. He had lifted the small item without thinking. It obviously had had some personal meaning to its former owner and he wondered what that might have been. Maybe it had been a present from an ordinary teenager admirer he mused with a disapproving smirk. Stupid girl whose emotions had made her act foolish enough to appear near him showing off her mutancy and yet twice betraying her presence by that little thing around her neck.

It looked rather simple. The chain was glittering silvery as was the pendant which was shaped in the likeness of a small sun with slithering rays. He wondered whether it had a meaning... probably not. She might have chosen it for its pretty look.

Without giving it another thought, he put it back into his pocket and went into his study, trying to think about something more pleasant than nightmares and the recent animosity with Mystique.

Peace had not been granted for long. He had been sitting in his study, the room which felt best for him right now with all the metal around him assuring him the loyalty his former allies were no longer willing to offer. He had switched on the stereo and fetched one of his favourite books from the small library, he had enjoyed some simple moments of near drowsiness his mind nearly distracted from current troubles by soft classical music pouring silently into the room... when without knocking the door opened. Mystique stepped in, her gaze as repellent as before. From a reflex he closed the book with a snap and found his powers focus on metal objects close him, his every muscle becoming tense.

Mystique only gave him a glance that mirrored both anger and amusement because of his anxiety before she crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"Although I can not say I am sorry for startling you... I had to."

He scowled.

"There is someone who asked to see you." Without asking whether he was even willing to welcome a visitor, let alone talk to one, she turned and left. A moment later another mutant stepped in. Slender, dark haired. It was Shade.

Her sudden appearance surprised him, yet he merely quirked an eyebrow.

"Mystique?" He knew she was just round the corner and he ignored the presence of the girl until a few moments later she was back, giving him a glance that spoke all too clearly she would not have answered to him calling her back if she herself had not agreed to it.

She just looked at him, saying nothing.

Erik´s lips curved into a smirk. "Oh. That´s all. I just wanted to be sure." Mystique spun around and left. He was sure she would have snorted in anger had it not been for her pride to prevent her from doing so. He had known the girl was Shade, not Mystique; it had simply nagged him to show he was not willing to accept all of Mystique´s grudges. He had had enough of power plays these days.

Somehow he managed to veil his surprise, set the already closed book aside and moved a second chair from the corner towards the girl till it almost knocked the teenagers knees from behind. "No attempts of another masquerade this time?" he asked with a slight, superior smirk. "St. John might have send you here, if I presume correctly?"

She gave the metal chair a short look and sat down, trying to demonstrate self-confidence by looking him directly into the eyes. She was courageous for someone who so far had preferred to hide, he thought with slight amusement.

"No." she said and it sounded insecure, her voice raised by the end of the word making it sound rather like a question than a comment. "I came her by myself."

"Indeed."

He stood up, feigning disinterest, walking over to a cupboard where he kept a bottle of whine, helping himself to a glass of it, not offering any to her. She ignored his lack of hospitality.

"I..." No, Erik was sure of it. Her selfconfidence was show, nothing more. She had her hands clasped together and avoided his gaze when he searched hers.

"Yes?

"I think you might have something that belongs to me."

He placed the glass of wine down and leaned against the table, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"You think so?"

"Yes." Now she met his gaze. "I lost it last night. I think you took it, as when I came back it was gone."

Without shifting his arms he used his powers to extract the necklace from his pocket, letting it hover between them. "You might be right then, Miss Shade." He smiled slightly, careful not to let this smile enter his eyes.

"Can I... can I have it back, then?"

Erik couldn´t bite back a chuckle. "I am no thief, young lady." He released his mental grip on it and the chain fell into the girl´s outstretched had. "Still, allow me to wonder why you would have this little traitor back? I doubt St. John would be happy to learn his accomplice keeps carrying around objects that make her so easy to detect to the mutant he has, overestimating his abilities, declared his enemy."

For a moment she was at a loss of words. She had prepared to him denying her the necklace, he could tell from her reaction. Finally she answered.

"It was a... gift. It means a lot to me."

So he had been true. Young people.

"A gift then." He raised his eyebrows. "Anything else I can do for you?" It was a dismissal and she knew it was and got to her feet. When she was nearing the door, she stopped and turned.

"Yes?"

"I... I didn´t come on Pyro´s orders." she said.

"So I thought. And?"

"I came here because..." Her eyes trailed around nervously which confused him. She had appeared like a self confident young girl not to be troubled easily. He could tell by the glow in her eyes that she was a strong, tough kid.

"I suggest you go ahead speaking in whole sentences, Miss Shade. I´m not a friend of riddles and your manner of speaking begins to slightly annoy me."

"I didn´t tell Pyro, but... I need your help."

This time it was harder to conceal his surprise.

"And how should you think I might help you?"

"I joined Pyro´s gang some two weeks ago." she said, speaking fast, her voice slightly quivering. "I met him right after I escaped them and hoped he could help me, but he doesn´t even know what he´s doing. When first I joined him he kept talking of you. Of the great mutant you had been, he talked of your power, of the admiration he had had for you... he doesn´t any more, but ... I think John would not even listen."

"To me this sounds pretty much like another riddle" Erik gave back and with a softer note to his voice added. "Take a seat."

Something about what the girl had said had aroused his interest. "...after I escaped them..."

She did as she was asked.

"And now, tell this without riddles. And right from the beginning."