Ch2

As they walked down the crowded streets littered with teenagers that reeked of coconut oil, Autumn continued to tell them more about her life.

"I've never heard of anyone having that many abilities. And I've been around a long time." said Logan as he dodged a drunk teenager dressed as cupid.

Autumn looked down at her feet as they stopped to wait for the light to change. The X-Men noticed that her shoulders sagged and trembled with suppressed emotions.

"When I was little even before my mutation was triggered I noticed that the smell or sight of blood would make me hungry. Unlike most children I was drawn to it rather than fearful or sickened" she paused as if to gather her thoughts. "When my mutation was triggered I found that I could manipulate blood. I was being attacked when they first presented themselves. I needed a weapon to defend myself and the blood that was flowing down my chest solidified into a knife. Later on I learned that when I drink from other mutants I take their powers."

Rogue was shocked to hear that someone else had powers similar to hers. She thought that she was alone in being a leech, taking others powers and memories but Autumn didn't seem to be telling them everything. Her rage and sadness were too strong to have been just a random attack.

"Autumn who attacked you?" Rogue asked moving closed to the grown woman. "It wasn't just some random attack was it? You knew that person?"

Rogue jumped back from Autumn as her eyes that had previously been icy blue changed to a deep pulsing blood red. Her fangs shot out and over her bottom lip and the wind that they had felt like a strong breeze in the office now became a hurricane focused only on her. People in the street stopped to look at the group that was being pushed around by the wind as they tried to reach Autumn.

"Chere you've got to calm down." Remy cried as he watched Autumn start to rise from the street pulled by her own twister. "Autumn please chere you have to calm down before you hurt someone or expose us as mutants."

Everyone watched as Remy's words set in and she took a deep breath. The glow died down and her fangs drew back. But her eyes were still a startling shade of purple, showing that she was still upset. She turned to each of them and gave a little nod of her head.

"Sorry 'bout that. Now where was I. Oh yeah? Like you Rogue I gain the abilities and memories of a person when I feed. So some of the powers I have aren't really my own. Like you I also wake up at night and can't really remember who I am. They stick; they are constantly fighting for control in my head. Do you know what I mean?"

"Yeah, how did you gain control? I always am afraid that they will take control. Some of them aren't very pleasant. I'm most afraid that they will hurt somebody if they take over me."

Autumn looked at Rogue and felt kinship.

"I'll help you learn to push them back. You can't really get rid of them. You basically have to suppress them. I'll help you to learn how."

"By the way how do you know what my powers are?"

At this everyone looked at her.

"I know because Logan knows. Now Logan don't go freaking out. I only know what you were feeling when you smelled Rogue. I only get what you were thinking at the time that I drank. I also will always know where you are."

"How chere?"

"Because he is now a part of me. His blood, which by the way Logan is very old and powerful, now runs through my veins will connect me to him for as long as his heart beats."

"So chere you said that you have super senses, what can you tell about me?"

"I can also smell your hormones, so get your mind out of the gutter. I also hear the kinetic energy around you and give that man back his wallet."

Logan and Rogue both looked at Remy and saw the look of shock on his face. Autumn stopped and turned to look back at them.

"How did you know?"

"I have good hearing. I also heard him hit the man as we passed him. I know the sound I'm a thief too and as an added bonus I'm an empath."

Now their jaws dropped. Autumn just shrugged, turned and continued to walk back to her place.

"Let's get moving guys. Don't be so surprised. I was a killer at the age twelve. There was no way I was going back into foster care so I became a thief and lived on the streets."

They began to follow her again. She led them to a nice apartment complex.

"We're almost there. I need to get out of my work clothes."

For the first time everyone looked at her outfit. I was a black shrug with a maroon high collar with long bell sleeves over a black corset top with maroon strings on the sides. It had maroon lacing on the top. White lace and a red jewel were also attached to the top. Black shorts with maroon pockets and an attached train that hit her calves with a black exterior and a maroon inner lining. All was embellished with sequins. She had on black fishnets with leather zip up combat boots. They reached her knees and had six buckles on them. Around her neck was a black lace choker with a silver gothic cross. In the center was a ruby. Her hair was in an intricate bun. All but a skunk stripe of blood red that framed her face was coal black and in small braids. They all gathered in the back to wrap around the crown of her head in a swirl design.

Soon they reached the apartment complex called Sea Palace. They looked like beach houses. She led them to apartment twelve and unlocked it with a key from her around her wrist. When they entered they were greeted by a very warm feeling. In the living room was a large black couch and double chair with jewel tone cushions. The floor was a soft chocolate brown carpet. To the left was a nice sized kitchen that smelled like fresh baked cookies. To the right was a hallway with three doors.

"Have a seat. I'm going to go take a quick shower and pack a few things. There are peanut butter white chocolate chip cookies in the kitchen and beers in the fridge. Help yourselves." She said walking down the hall.

Logan and Remy went for the beers while Rogue went to grab a cookie and a soda.

"Oh My Gawd, you guys have to try these!" They both grabbed a cookie and were instantly in heaven.

About twenty minutes later Autumn walked back into the living room to find an empty cookie plate on the coffee table and started to laugh at the mutants on her couch. They started at the sudden noise.

"That good huh?" she asked giggling at their guilty expressions.

Remy was shocked when he saw her again. Gone was the slutty vampire costume. Now she was dressed in a pair of dark wash jeans that hugged her curves. A sapphire tank top with an open black leather jacket accentuated her small waist. Her feet were still covered by her platform boots. She had let her hair down with the red streak framing her face while the coal black cascaded to the middle of her back in waves. Her eyes wear lined in black with silver eye shadow making her pale blue eyes stand her feet was a large old military duffel and a black book bag. She looked ready to hit the road.

"Chere is that all you gonna take with you?"

"Yep. Don't need much. Just some clothes and a few mementos. I lived on the streets remember. My friend can keep or donate the rest. She'll probably take over the lease with her boyfriend." she smiled.

"Well we can leave now or do you need to do anything else?" Logan inquired.

"Nope. My boss is a scumbag anyway" she picked up her bag and dropped it." I need to get Sasha."

"Sasha?" Rogue said.

"He's my pet. I've had him for years. Can I bring him to the mansion?"

"Don't know let me call Chuck and ask him." Logan said pulling a cell phone from his pocket.

"Hey Chuck, we found her. Her names Autumn Muhn. She's willing to go but she wanted to know if she could bring a pet?" He listened in.

"What is it?" He asked Autumn.

"He's a timber wolf. He's good with kids too."

"You get that? Chuck says he's your responsibility but yeah."

"Yes! I'll be right back I need to get him from my neighbors." Autumn bolted out the door while Logan went back to his conversation with Charles.

"Yeah Chuck, she's nice. She said she would tell you in person her mutation. No not to bad. But it'll shock you."

As Logan hanging up the door walked back in with a large silver and white dog that closely resembled a wolf. He had big pale blue eyes and his tongue was hanging out.

"He didn't want to leave. My neighbors have kids. He loves it over there. They have him pull them around in a little red wagon."

Rogue got up to pet him and he moved into a defensive stance in front of his mistress.

"Before you come near me you need to let him smell you. So sit back on the couch and let him sniff you. Just call him over to you."

Rogue, Logan, and Remy all sat on the couch as Rogue called him over. Sasha looked at her then at Autumn. When she nodded he walked over to Rogue and sniffed her. Next was Remy. When he got to Logan though he stopped and stared directly into his eyes. They were having a silent battle of wills. Logan was very in touch with his beast and both were alphas so they had to come to an agreement. After a few minutes Sasha bumped Logan's hand as if to acknowledge his dominance while stating his own. Logan petted his head in agreement.

"Alright let's get going. I want to get there before the sun wakes up. By the way how are we getting there? Sasha doesn't do kennels or cages." Autumn got a bad feeling when she saw Remy's smile.