Chapter 3

"Aw in your case I think you can call me Patricia, Kal-El," the mutated daughter of Virgil Swann says in flirty tones. "After all we went through so much together."

Clark snorts with complete derision. "You put me through hell. Literally."

"And you came out stronger for it," Black Swan believes completely.

"There a reason you're here, lady?" Wolverine questions her.

"Yes. I need to borrow Clark for a little bit," Black Swan answers honestly.

"I don't think so," Cyclops says.

"You're under the mistaken impression I was asking...or can actually stop me," Black Swan says, a hint of menace replacing her previous playful tone. "Toodles!" she waves and before anyone can stop her she vanishes into a crack in space-time.

It takes everyone about 10 seconds to realise Superman is missing as well.


Clark blinks and looks around. Where on Earth…?

Actually giving the very unusual and alien plant life around him he's not even sure he's on Earth any more.

"There now. That's better. Just the two of us."

Clark turns round to find Black Swan, adjusting her outfit. "Patricia is there any reason we shouldn't skip right to the ass-kicking?" he asks her.

"I would really hate to kick an ass as fine as yours Clark," Black Swan teases with a smirk.

Clark folds his arms across his chest.

Black Swan mocks him by imitating his stance. "Ooh this does make you feel powerful doesn't it. I can see why you like this pose. Of course on me it's just a chance to emphasise my cleavage," she teases playfully, lightly flirting.

Clark is sure his eye is twitching in annoyance. "You know stopping you is on my list."

"Of course I know Clark. It's my job to know everything about you so I can protect you," Patricia lays out her mission as she sees it.

"Why are you showing up now?" Clark asks.

"The same reason you were at Strange's place."

Clark frowns. "Illyana?"

"Exactly."

"You want to help?"

"Well I must admit when it comes to you and her you did take me by surprise. I never saw you two hooking up."

"You were the one who put us together in the first place," Clark argues. After all Patricia arranged for them to meet and battle in Limbo. She arranged for their minds to be stored in Yana's snowflake necklace and then when they were returned to their bodies to have their minds linked together, seeing each other's memories and thoughts and feelings which is what created the initial connection between them that caused them to start dating...unless Patricia didn't mean for it to happen like that.

"Hnn," Black Swan shrugs. "It's not important really. You can roll in the hay with whoever you want. What is important, in this case, is the fact Illyana has the power to destroy you so I can't let Darkchylde take her over. While I can see most things the outcome of a battle between the two of you is nearly impossible to determine so I need to intervene. I will give you the means to enter Limbo and to do your hero thing."

"My hero thing?"

"You know, seeing the good in people, saving them...unless you're still getting over Apocalypse. What month is it again?"

"November."

"Ah right. You're still in your mopey, worried you've been forever tainted, can't be the hero I'm suppose to be phase. You'll get over that...eventually."

Clark would ask how she knows that, that yes those things do worry him but why just give himself a headache. "Patricia, if you want to help Illyana return her damn soul!"

Patricia smirks. "Knew you'd figure out I had it but sorry, no. There's a time and a place. I have plans for that. Besides even if I was inclined to hand it over to you it's not on me and once I leave we won't see each other for awhile...I think."

"You think?"

"Well I travel through time and space Clark. My days are like crazy paving, nothing is ever in the right order and that's before I add in how I can see the pattern of the universe. I get a little mixed up now and again. Sue me."

Yep. There's that headache.

Patricia pulls off a little bracelet on a chain that she wearing on her wrist. "This is what you need to get into Limbo."

"A tiny axe?" Clark queries what it is shaped as.

"Oh ye of little faith," Black Swan mocks him. She lays it in the palm of her hand...where it expands into a full sized double axe.

Clark peers closer. That axe looks familiar. "Isn't that..."

"Your weapon of choice from your stay in Limbo?"

Clark nods. He hasn't see that since he left.

"It is," Black Swan confirms. "I borrowed it that 1st time when Illyana and you were...phew if Hell wasn't hot enough already!" she smirks, fanning herself.

Clark blushes. He clear his throat. "How does this help me?"

"I enchanted it," Black Swan informs him as she grasps it in both hands and swings it vertically in the air...where it seems to cut the very fabric of space itself. "This will allow you to bypass Illyana's blocks around her realm," she explains before she tosses it to him.

Clark catches it with much practised skill and ease of handling the weapon. "How do I…?" he starts to ask how he uses it.

"Just concentrate on your destination and swing. The magic in the axe will do the rest. Now I do recommend you hurry. If you don't stop what she is planning then the goodness that remains inside her will be truly extinguished."

"What is she plann...Patricia! Wait!" he yells but she's gone, into the tear she cut open which seals up immediately afterwards.

"Thanks a bunch Patricia," Clark grumbles. "Protecting me my shapely butt," he carries on griping. He looks at the axe. Concentrate on where he wants to go. As much as he wants to go after Illyana he needs to get back to his friends. He agreed they would come along and he won't break his word no matter how much he thinks it a bad idea they come. He closes his eyes and recalls them back in the Sanctum Sanctorum. He slices the axe downward. He opens his eyes to see he has cut a tear open. "Here goes nothing," he mumbles to himself as he steps through…

...and appears exactly where he was.

"Huh?" Jean queries at seeing him

"How long was I gone?" Clark asks.

"Mere moments," Stephen answers,

Clark shakes his head. "Right. Ok. Fine. Well Patricia and I had a chat and she's given me a way into Limbo...which we should only try after Dr Strange has examined this," he request, holding the axe up. Like he was just going to trust Patricia. If he did that he would need his head examined.


"So what's in it for her?" Wolverine is asking Superman after he had explained his little trip and while Dr Strange examined the axe.

"Patricia has come to see herself as some master...chess player of a sort. Moving pieces around to get what she thinks is best for me."

"For you?" Jean questions.

"It's her belief she is carrying on her father's work in protecting me. As I've said before I'm afraid whatever she's been through, wherever she's been, has affected the way she thinks."

"You mean she's gone psycho," Wolverine lays it out in his usual blunt, gruff manner.

"This Black Swan, she is responsible for taking Illyana to this Limbo, yes?" Colossus seeks to make clear.

"Short answer, yes," Superman confirms. "Long answer is like I was saying before. Limbo is where Illyana's stepping disks always take her. Patricia accelerated the process...and while trusting her is not something I would recommend if Dr Strange will confirm that that axe will allow us to get into Limbo, on this occasion I'm just going to have to go with we accept her help."

"Clark," Cyclops raises. "From what you said she seemed a little more..." he reaches for the right word.

"Scattered-brained?" Superman suggests.

"That wasn't the word I was reaching for but yeah."

"If she truly does jump around in time and space then there is no way to know what order along her timeline we're meeting her. Scattered-brained could be simply the state this version of her is in currently."

"That's makin' my head hurt," Wolverine says in reflection of trying to wrap his brain around that.

"Yeah, Patricia has a habit of that," Superman mutters.

"That matches stories I've heard," Dr Strange interrupts as he returns, axe in hand.

"Stories?" Cyclops queries.

"Myths, rumours really about the Black Swan. That's all she is. Myth and rumour."

"Aren't we all," Superman quips.

Stephen chuckles. "Indeed," he concedes.

"So what's the story doc?" Wolverine asks, pointing at the axe.

"Some very interesting charms and spells have been cast upon it," Stephen answers. "From what I can tell it's been charmed so only two people can use it."

"Let me guess, myself and Patricia," Superman assumes grimly.

"That would be my assumption. Since time is a pressing issue there wasn't enough for me to know fully what Ms Swann has done but for now I do believe it can safely get us into Limbo."

"Then what are we waitin' for," Wolverine says impatiently.

Clark looks to Cyclops since he is the leader here.

"Well we didn't get dressed up for nothing," Cyclops drawls dryly.

True enough. Superman raises a hand out..and the axe flies out of Dr Strange's hand into his.

"What was that?" Jean asks. It almost looked like telekinesis...which Clark can't do...well except when he was War.

Which is what is troubling Clark because he's having the same thought. In Limbo...the place strengthened his Horseman alter-ego so much his abilities, separate from Clark returned. It seems Patricia chose to enchant the axe to mimic them Clark is guessing.

"It's one of the enchantments," Stephen answers, confirming Clark's thinking.

Superman shakes his head. "Lets just get on with this," he decides, concentrating on where he wants to go and bringing the axe down in a vertical strike, slicing open reality.

Dr Strange takes a moment to examine the tear, interested in witnessing the effect of the axe.

"Superman, you lead," Cyclops decides since Clark knows better the terrain they are about to enter.

Superman takes a breath and then leaps through, closely followed by the others, one after the other.


At the Institute...

"Mrs Kent?" comes the groggy question.

"Lana?!" the older woman exclaims slightly in return. Martha had taken up the vigil by Lana's bedside and now the brunette girl's eyes were slowly blinking awake.

Lana takes a moment to focus her eyes and look around. "Where am I?" she asks, her voice going croaky.

"You're in Bayville. At the Xavier Institute. Do you remember it?"

Lana's brow furrows. "You, Mr Kent and Clark moved here last year."

Last year? Oh dear. Martha doesn't correct her that it was 2 years ago now. They had all wondered what she'd remember, if anything. "I know you'll have questions but let me get Hank...Dr McCoy first so he can examine you. Once that is done I'll answer anything you want to know, ok?"

Lana nods, her mind too fuzzy to really put up an objection.

Martha hurries off to find Hank. Nell wasn't here yet but the Kent matriarch had spoken to Lana's closest living relative and she was on the way but Smallville is not just around the corner so until then Lana's care lied with herself and the other staff here at the Institute. Course if Lana really cannot remember anything from her time possessed that means they'll have to tell her. That won't be fun but it is necessary. Lana has to know why she has lost 18months of her life.


Limbo…

"It's just as I remember it," Superman remarks dryly as he gazes around the twisted hellscape of Illyana's domain.

Jean shivers. "You spent 2 months, here?!" she cries. She's been here 2 seconds and she feels revolted.

Superman shrugs. "Pretty much. Oh that unpleasant feeling like you want to rip your skin off...that never goes away so try and ignore it," he advises.

Dr Strange, who has much experience with dimensions like this, adapts the quickest. "Considering the negative effect a place like this has on the psyche it is best we hurry. Which way Superman?"

"One second," the alien teen requests as he orientates himself. "I was aiming for Illyana's Fortress. Guess I missed."

"Fortress?" Colossus inquires. His sister has a Fortress?

"Your sister rules this place and the one who sits on the Throne of Limbo claims all its power. There isn't a demon here that wouldn't try to usurp her given half a chance...which is why she took the throne in the first place. She couldn't allow something worse than her to rule here," Superman adds, having not mentioned it before but he thinks it shows the brave, courageous and most importantly heroic side of Illyana.

"How difficult will it be to get inside?" Cyclops wonders.

"Very. Her Fortress is protected by those she deems...loyal is the wrong word. What's the one I'm looking for?" he asks out-loud.

"Afraid of her?" Stephen suggests.

"Yeah. That's it. They're afraid of her. More than us and knowing Illyana she no doubt expected us to get in somehow so...doesn't matter. I broke in once. I can do it again. Admittedly I was War at the time and he had a whole army with him..."

"Space Boy you're rambling!" Wolverine snaps at him.

"Watcha know. So I am," Superman realises. "I've got it. Her Fortress is just over that ridge," he points at it.

"Let us assess the situation first and see if we can find a way to sneak in," Stephen suggests.

Cyclops nods his agreement. If they can avoid a fight, great. They're here to find Illyana. Not wage a war.

The group keep low and climb the ridge, peering over the top to look at the stone Fortress with demon guards keeping watch.

"They're on alert," Wolverine can tell.

"It's possible Illyana sensed our entrance into her realm," Stephen theorises.

"Look even the best castle has a weak spot. Ways in and out," Wolverine points out.

"We're trying to sneak in, Logan," Jean reminds him.

"Well it may be unpleasant but does this place have sewers?"

Everyone looks at him in dismay.

"That is a terrible idea," Superman tells him. "They're demons. Do you know that kinda things they expel from their bodies? I'll give you a hint and say it's nothing like what humans do."

"Superman is correct," Stephen confirms. "It would not only be more unpleasant but quite dangerous."

"More dangerous than fighting our way in?" Wolverine poses the question.

"I'd rather fight my way in," Superman replies. Better than going through the sewers...he shudders at the thought. "Plus also there is no sun here. I'm on the clock before my powers drain," he points out.

In the end the decision is Cyclops' as leader. "We're not here to fight unless we have to," he says, in essence making the decision. "Do you know where to go Superman?"

The red and blue clad hero nods. "This way," he says, leading the way, all of them keeping low and trying to remain unseen.

The group make their way round to the bottom of the castle, to the entrance to its sewers, blocked off by a metal grid.

Wolverine moves to slice it open…

CLANG!

To everyone's surprise the metal does not cut.

"What the hell?!" Wolverine exclaims.

"It's Limbo metal," Superman responds. "It's magical in nature," he gives the explanation as to why Logan's claws could not cut it. "It's possible even I cannot break it. Illyana tends to plan ahead on all situations. I did warn you this would not be easy."

"I suggest you try your axe, Superman," Stephen intervenes.

Superman looks at it. Illyana isn't the only one who plans ahead. So does Patricia. He swings it down and the meal slices open. A couple more swings and there is an opening to squeeze through.

And so they do into the foul smelling and worse looking sewer.

"Lets never talk of this again," Superman requests.

"I don't think that needs said," Jean says, trying mighty hard not to empty the contents of her stomach.

The group wade through the horribleness.

Colossus nearly trips and places his hand against the wall to prevent himself falling over. What he notices is that the wall is soft, squidgy. "This is not stonework," he comments.

They all look at him and then the wall.

"Ah. This is not good," Stephen says as he figures it out.

"What's not good?" Cyclops wonders.

"Demons do not die as humans die. Even when their bodies are fatally wounded their cells keep trying to live on. Trying to cling on."

"And when they wash down here they cling on to the walls...essentially meaning this sewer is possessed and alive," Superman finishes. "I knew this was a bad idea. In this Hell nothing is ever what it seems. I should show you the forests sometime," he remarks.

"I am truly amazed you survived as long as you did," Stephen says back in admiration.

"Yeah, lets save that for when we get out of here before..."

Superman's words are cut off by the walls making a strange inhuman sound, and then start to convulse and pulse. "Oh crap," he sums it up nicely.

The walls around them spring to life, twisting and contorting.

Dr Strange creates a protective barrier around them.

"We should run!" Stephen yells. "They will try to possess us and gain new bodies for themselves. I can only shield us for so long."

The group run as tentacles rip out from the wall trying to grab them, bouncing off Dr Strange's shield until they collapse the tunnel ahead.

"Ok. Plan B," Superman says as he bends his knees and launches himself upward, blowing a hole in the ceiling.

"Plan B. Plan B is always good," Wolverine says as Jean, not needing asked, telekinetically throws him upward where Superman catches him. She does that one by one while Dr Strange holds the demonic refuse back. Once Jean has levitated herself he follows, before chanting a spell and sealing the hole behind him.

Once that is done they look around a hallway.

"Welcome to the dungeons," Superman sarcastically drawls. "I don't recommend hanging around here either."

"Where do we head to?" Cyclops asks.

"The Throne Room," Superman answers. "Even if she's not there one of her minions will be and we can ask real nicely as to her whereabouts."

"Lead the way," Cyclops says once again, needing to rely on Clark's knowledge.

The group sneak their way through the castle.

"Is this too easy?" Wolverine asks at one point because they've met few guards.

"Easy?" Jean asks him incredulously. They were in Hell...of a sort. How is any of this easy?

"No, Wolverine's correct," Superman says.

"Is that good or bad?" Cyclops wonders.

"At this point it could be either. I can't say which until I know more. We're almost there," he says as they turn a corner to face the large double doors, with a few guards...or there were guards in the few seconds before Superman reacted and took them down. They gather outside the doors, ready to charge in.

"What's inside?" Cyclops asks, wondering what they will face.

"Don't know," Superman answers. "The Throne is the nexus of Limbo's power. There's too much magic around for my vision or any of my other senses to work."

"Just do it," Wolverine gives his view.

Cyclops sighs. "Might as well," he agrees.

"Ok then. Knock knock," Superman quips as he kicks the doors open and the gang charge in, ready for anything...only to find nothing apart from said throne sitting on the skulls of the slain. One of them being Belasco himself. Illyana thought it a fitting fate and a warning to any one who thought to challenge her power.

"There is nothing," Colossus comments at the obvious.

"This I don't get," Superman admits. "By the way don't touch the throne. It's protected."

"Yes. I can see the protection runes and charms. It is very clever spell work," Stephen praises it.

"Hmm, well those keep anyone else from usurping it for as long as Illyana is alive."

"She connected them to her own life-force," Stephen assumes.

"Oh the Mistress is clever in many ways," a voice interrupts them.

They spin round to find hey have been joined by a vaguely gargoyle like demon.

"N'astirh," Superman names him. "Now the ease with which we got in here makes sense. You arranged it."

"Always so clever Star Child. I can see why the Mistress desires you so," N'astirh chuckles.

Well no, it's more why else would N'astirh be here alone with them.

"State your business demon," Stephen commands the creature.

"None with you Sorcerer," N'astirh hisses back at Earth's Sorcerer Supreme, the nemesis of so many of his kin.

"We're here for Illyana. Tell us where she is N'astirh," Superman takes charge.

"The Mistress knew you would come but alas she is busy."

"Doing what?"

"N'astirh is forbidden to say just like he is forbidden to enter her room."

Superman notes that statement. It's a clue. "Tell me how she is?"

"Oh the Mistress is well. Embraced her darkness she has. Finally she is fitting to rule."

"We're going to stop her. Whatever it takes."

"As the Mistress' Consort you are still under her protection...for now but don't expect that to last Star Child. You are her doom and she is yours. Soon she will remember this truth. One of you must destroy the other."

"Or we'll end up destroying each other," Superman puts forward the other possibility. "That'll be an interesting day...for you I'm guessing," he can already see that as an outcome N'astirh would favour.

"N'astirh could not say what you mean by that but I suggest you leave now. The Mistress will not see you."

"Uh huh," Superman says through narrowed eyes. "Well if the Mistress is not here we shall be going," he says, signalling for the others to follow him.

They don't say anything until they're clear of the throne room.

"What was that about?" Jean asks.

"N'astirh seeks the throne. It's in his interest to see us defeat Illyana."

"Does my sister know this?" Colossus asks.

"Of course she does but she's using that old adage about keeping your enemies closer. For as long as N'astirh is close by her she can keep an eye on him."

"So what now?" Cyclops asks.

"What N'astirh told us to do."

"Which was what?" Wolverine would like to know.

"We check her room."

And that is where they head next. Course getting there is the easy part. Getting in is quite another. Illyana's room is protected.

Guess that's why they brought Earth's Sorcerer Supreme along.

"This will take some time," Stephen warns as he takes to the task of stripping back the multiple layers of protections on the door.


At the Institute…

Martha had been watching carefully as Hank examined Lana, asking her questions. Particularly over the last thing she can remember.

Paris.

That's the last thing she remembers. Being in the church which from what Martha can recall is when and where Isobel possessed the young woman.

Martha still hasn't worked out how to begin to explain what has happened.

"Well Ms Lang," Hank interrupts the Kent Matriarch's thoughts. "You seem to be in fine shape," he says. Perfect health, no. Slightly malnourished but nothing serious.

"Uh...thank you," Lana says, off-put by the man's appearance but trying not to show it. After all from her perspective mutants were a brand new thing, only recently revealed after that battle in New York.

Martha smiles at Hank and prepares herself for what comes next.

"So...how am I here?" Lana asks. "And why can't I remember coming here?"

Yep. That is what comes next. Martha grabs herself a seat next to Lana's bed. "Lana. This will come as a bit of a shock to you but Paris was a year and a half ago."

A bit of a shock?! That doesn't even come close. How the hell can she have lost 18months of her life?!

"What happened? Nell? Lex?" she stumbles from one question to the next rapidly.

"Calm down Lana," Martha tries to get the young woman to. "I'll explain...as best I can. You may have trouble believing what I am about to say but I promise it is the truth. Now lets us start at the church. You were studying a tomb, yes?"

Lana nods. Yes, she remembers that...just about.

"That tomb belonged to the Countess Margaret Isobel Thoreaux...your distant ancestor and also a witch."

"A witch?" Lana questions, understandably sceptical.

"Yes. Lana. This next part is important to believe so have an open mind. Magic is real...and it is responsible for what happened to you. From what I understand it started when you touched Isobel's tomb..."


Limbo…

Some time later...although that's a very relative concept in Limbo, Dr Strange manages to pull down the protections around Illyana's room.

"She's not here you know," Superman says, just before they prepare to enter. "If she was she would have reacted to Dr Strange."

"Then why did we just do this?" Wolverine wonders.

"Because there may still be something here we can use to figure out what state of mind she is in and where she is right now."

"Good enough reason," Cyclops says. After all that was the mission. To find Illyana.

"It is best I go first," Stephen suggests. "We don't know what other mystical enchantments may be triggered once we enter the room."

Cyclops accepts that.

Stephen pushes the door open slowly and carefully, on guard. He leads the group in, slow, careful steps.

They all look around. Piotr especially as he tries to get to grips with just who his sister really is.

To Superman her room looks more or less as he remembers...except. "There," he points at a wall.

"What?" Cyclops asks.

"There," Superman repeats.

"There where?" Wolverine asks.

"You don't see it?"

"No," Jean answers.

"There's a distortion. Might be a cloaking spell."

Dr Strange goes up to the wall and examines it. "I do believe you are correct Superman," he says. "Your eyes are sharp indeed if you can see the minute fluctuations."

"That and I have experience of them. When Illyana was hunting me through Limbo she often concealed her traps for me behind cloaking spells. I developed a 6th sense about them."

"Can you show us what is behind it?" Cyclops asks Dr Strange.

"I should be able to reveal it, yes," Stephen thinks as he goes to work dismantling it. There's a shimmer and what is revealed is a wooden door.

"That's new," Superman says, having never seen it before.

Stephen opens the door to reveal a hidden room.

"Guess she's been remodelling," Superman quips dryly as the group enter this room.

"This looks...familiar," Jean reflects, looking at Clark. She's looking at him because on the walls and pictures and papers with scrawled handwriting. Clark does the same sort of thing for his journalism and his superhero activities when he's trying to work something out.

Superman frowns as his eyes scan it in seconds.

"What is she doing?" Colossus wants to know.

"Oh no," Superman breathes as he puts it together.

"What?" the other 5 ask together.

"Piotr...look at the pictures," Superman requests. "What do those people have in common?"

Colossus looks closely. The pictures were of Magneto, Sabretooth, Gambit and Haze.

"What one event did they feature in?" Superman prompts the big Russian to piece it together.

It suddenly dawns on him. "The day Illyana was abducted. The day I was forced to work for Magneto."

"The day Illyana's life took its downward spiral," Superman says.

"Revenge. This is about revenge," Wolverine understands and he understands revenge all too well.

"Yes...and we must stop her...for her own sake."

"What do you mean?" Jean asks, thinking Clark is hinting at something more than just the simple revenge is a wrong a path to take.

"Jean, you're a telepath so I think you understand better than most the demons we all have to live with within our psyches, right?"

Jean nods.

"In Illyana's case those demons are literal. There is literally a demon inside her and if she gives in to it..."

"It will take her over completely," Stephen finishes, now understanding.

"And if that happens the Illyana we all know and love will be lost forever," Superman gives the dire warning he believes to be true. It only makes it all the more urgent they find her and that they stop her.


Author's Note: Ah Patricia ripping lines off Doctor Who. The crazy paving quote is what the 7th Doctor said when Mel left. Also being completely blunt about how Clark feels the legacy of Apocalypse is in leaving him tainted. But she was also surprisingly helpful in giving them the means to enter Limbo. And Lana's awake and can seemingly remember nothing. Well for now she can't but I would certainly leave the possibility open that one day she might remember and might even one day learn she can still do magic. On the show Lex made that vague promise to explore whether she still had the power but nothing about it was ever mentioned again, like it was a bad storyline they wished to drop. Yeah because the kryptonite sucking nanosuit made so much more sense...not. And Illyana seeks vengeance on those she deems responsible for her screwed up life. Well won't that be fun for all! Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews. Next up; the hunt for Illyana gathers pace.