Alright this is the new revised chapter two. Let's rock and roll. Story on!
Disclaimers: I do not own any of the marvel characters.
Chapter Two: Something Sinister?
Ororo's breaths were short and ragged as she stared at her reflection in front of her. She closed her eyes and concentrated on calming the wild weather, of her creation, outside. Once calmed, she fell back on her sweat drenched satin sky blue sheets glancing to the right at the clock that read 3:15 am. She grabbed two hands full of platinum hair as she thought
Why do I keep having this dream? And why do I wake up at the same time? For the past two weeks this has been going on, what's the matter with me? Just then she whipped her head around to see Logan bursting through the door of her room his claws unsheathed. He frowned slightly at the smell of sandalwood and exotic jasmine held so strongly in the air more so than usual tickling his nostrils. He tore through her room looking for an assailant but came up empty. His hazel eyes gazed upon her small frame lying back on the pillows,
"You okay Ro?" she remained quiet while rising up to see him in the dimly lit room. The only source light was from the moon that poured in through the opened balcony windows. He sighed sheathing his claws walking over to her; she brought her knees to her chest wrapping her arms around them to allow him a spot as he took a seat on the edge of the bed facing her. "You had that dream again?" She blew out in frustration while pushing her extremely long bangs of pure white out of her face. She kept her hair short stopping at her neck but let two locks grow to extreme lengths resting below her breast.
He cupped her chin making her look at him, "Ro we've gotten pass this quiet I can take care of myself bullshit. Tell me what has got you so bothered that the weather man doesn't know if he's coming or going." He peered into her sapphire colored eyes as a brow rose. I thought her eyes were brown?
"Something is wrong with me Logan. My powers. . ." she trailed off looking off into the now clear skies.
"Are out of control?"
"Yes, and they seem to be growing." she dropped her head before beginning again, "And yes, I did have the dream again."
"About the powerful goddess with the skunk colored hair?"
"Yes, but tonight I learned more. There was this child, she sort of reminded me of Marie and a merchant that kind of reminded me of you . . ." she trailed off looking into the hazel eyes she remembered from the dream. Turning her head back in front of her, she continued, "I know her name now." Logan waited for her to answer his eyes not able to hide his anticipation.
"So her name is . . .?" Ororo looked at Logan before rolling her eyes at his impatience.
"Her name was Oya . . . Goddess Oya. I think she had powers similar to my own. She was . . . never mind."
"No. What?" Ororo sighed shifting in the bed,
"She seemed to be very unstable, dangerous and . . . evil, but . . ."
"but what?"
"She was so gentle with the little girl and the other children. She even brought the little girl with her to live with her in the palace right before she was killed. I think that Marina was her real daughter."
"What makes you say that?"
"Well Marina's mother died in child birth and Oya's child died during child birth. And the way the god looked at the child it felt like he was hiding something. He even went as far as not wanting the child to stay with them."
"You think that maybe he was evil?"
"Yeah, I do. I think she was being controlled by her husband."
"Her husband, how? What makes you think that?"
"Well there was this ruby ring on her finger and he wanted her to calm down it flashed and she calmed down. I don't know Logan maybe I'm just reaching." Logan was silent as thoughts racked his brain as she talked,
"We might need to ask the fur ball about this. He's an egghead maybe he'll know something." She swatted Logan with her hand giggling as she tried to get up swinging her legs to dangle off of her bed, but was content to sit shoulder to shoulder with the handsome man beside her.
"Why do you speak of Hank like that? You give him such a hard time." Her smile faded a little, "Logan?"
"humph?" he grunted comfortable with their closeness. He inhaled deeply enjoying the natural yet lovely scent that oozed from her pours.
"I know the professor's been dead for two years but I can still feel him. Like, he is somewhere watching, guiding us from afar. I know it sounds silly but I don't think he's dead." Logan looked at her a small frown on his face.
"Ro, I saw him die, darlin."
"I know but I can feel him. That's sounds stupid doesn't it?"
"It really doesn't darlin'. You were really close to him. I suppose it's only natural to feel that way about him."
"No, it's more than that Logan. I can feel him . . . in my mind, sometimes." She glanced back at Logan before continuing. "I just want him to be proud of how far we've come. I don't want him to be disappointed in me." she looked down at her and Logan's feet. His boots seemed gigantic in comparison to her small feet.
"Ro, I don't think one-eye could've done a better job darlin'"
"You think?"
"I know." she smiled at him wrapping her arms around his shoulders he pulled her into him embracing her tightly. He stood bringing her with him. She sighed in contentment while she hung a good foot off of the ground. She looked into his hazel eyes as he peered into her sapphires. Their foreheads touched as they gazed into the others eyes mentally debating whether or not to take the next step, but the moment passed when he placed her bare feet on the floor grinning at her.
"Thank you Logan."
"You're welcome darlin'" Ororo stepped out of his embrace. She looked to the balcony windows. The moon seemed to call to her, she looked to Logan,
"Let's go for a flight." Logan gave her a sideways glance and she looked like an excited kid about to get into mischief.
"I don't know Ro. I'm pretty heavy with the metal on my bones and all."
"It's adamantium, a light metal."
"Still it adds about 50 plus pounds to me."
"If I can lift Colossus in full metal form you should be a breeze, and I do mean that in a very literal term. You seemed to have forgotten that it was I, who lifted you at Liberty Island to save Rogue. Are you afraid?" Ororo taunted him a challenging smirk on her full lips.
"Ro" Logan said with a serious look on his face. She couldn't help but giggle at him.
"Come with me. I promise you will not regret it." He looked into her eyes and felt himself trust her,
"Alright, let's do it." Ororo took his hand into her own leading him to the balcony. The moonlight washed over the two of them casting their shadows on the bricks of the mansion. Ororo placed Logan's hands around her waist, stood on his booted feet, and she tucked her arms under his own her hands looped around to rest on his shoulders. Logan grunted at their close proximity,
"Are you ready, Logan?" she asked her African accent undeniably thick as it graced each word. He gave a nod and as quickly as she asked the question her eyes became white with her elemental powers. The wind played with their hair as it began to build and small smile appeared on Ororo's face as she noticed how tightly Logan was holding her. They lifted off of the balcony hanging in the air before she took them higher allowing them to spin in small circles close to the night clouds. Ororo looked at Logan to see his eyes closed tightly, she brushed her nose against his to get his attention. His eyes snapped open at her. "You really don't like heights do you?" He shook his head no looking at the ground beneath them. "Its okay, Logan. I got you and I'll never let you fall." he relaxed at that notion and began to explore the starry skies. In the distance coyotes could be heard howling at the full moon. Ororo began to laugh,
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing, have you ever howled at the moon Logan?"
"Yeah, why?" She threw back her head,
"OOOWWWWW!" Ororo howled startling Logan slightly her white eyes smiling as they came to look at him.
"Come on Logan, howl with me." The ice queen is certainly out of character tonight. Who knew Ororo had a sense of adventure? Logan thought smiling at her.
"You're crazy darlin'" he joked looking off.
"Come on Logan. It's liberating. OOOOOWWWW!" he smiled at her, "You know you want to Logan."
"Ok. Okay. This is so stupid. OOOOWWWW!"
"OOOOWWW."
"OWWWOOOW!" the both of them howled in unison. The coyotes began to howl back. They burst into a loud laughter,
"Sorry for stealing the show boys!" Logan shouted to them. Ororo laughed even harder. It sure is good to hear you laugh darlin'
"It feels good to laugh, Logan."
"Huh?"
"I said it feels good to laugh again."
"I know what you said, but . . . I didn't say that out loud. I was thinking it."
"That's preposterous Logan." Logan's face was serious,
"I think you should have a talk with Emma Frost in the morning."
"There's nothing the matter with me. So just drop it please." she looked to the sky above her emotional shields rising back up to protect her. I'm just worried darlin' something strange is going on with you.
"You're worried for no reason. I'm fine."
"See! I didn't say anything!"
"Logan!" authority crept into her voice. There was thunder in the distance, "I'm sorry. I'm just under a lot of stress lately. With the visits to Washington D.C. and running the school and teaching I'm just tired I guess."
"It's alright, for now." Still think that you should see Emma.
I will Logan. He looked at her strangely,
"You said that in my head?" she nodded slowly "So you knew the whole time." she sighed tiredly, "how long have you known."
"I have known for about a week now."
"And you haven't told anyone because?"
"Because, I didn't want anyone to worry, there are enough problems in this mansion as it is, I didn't want to be the cause of more stress."
"That is not just for you to decide. We care about you . . . I care about you."
"There is no need to worry, but if it would put your mind at ease I will visit Emma tomorrow after my classes."
"Tell me Ro, how you realized you had telepathy." She sighed tiredly clicking her teeth in aggravation,
"At first it started with a couple of words from various conversations. I thought that I was just hearing things but then I would hear people talking but their lips would not be moving. I thought that if I just denied it would go away but tonight really sealed the deal. I must look pathetic to you and I can't stand that feeling."
"Just because you need help Ro doesn't make ya weak darlin'" Ororo scuffed at him looking to the pale full moon,
"I get this, from the man who would rather die than to accept anyone's help. Yeah, that's rich." He frowned at her his eyes boring holes into the side of her face.
"Look at me Ro. Look at me damn it!" she reluctantly shift her irises-less gaze to favor him. "I wouldn't respect you if I thought you were weak and I sure as hell wouldn't be up here trusting you if that is what I thought." she smiled to him,
"Maybe you came because you knew if I dropped you, that you would be able to heal yourself." He chuckled at her,
"Maybe you're right." There was a silence between them a moment,
"Thank you."
"Yeah." Ororo got the sudden feeling that they were being watched and began glancing around. Logan looked at her strangely,
"What's the matter?"
"Nothing, I just got the strangest feeling that someone was watching us." He began to sniff the air but came up with nothing. He shook his head no, "Maybe I'm just tired. Let's go back inside." They drifted back down to the balcony, and Ororo's eyes went back to their bright royal blue color. Logan again was perplexed by the beauty of her eyes,
"Not that it's any of my business but aren't your eyes brown?"
"Nope, those are contacts. I was born with blue eyes."
"Why do you wear brown contacts?"
"For one I can't see, and I guess since I had such a hard time in Africa being black girl with white hair and blue eyes I kind of stood out. The children tortured me about it. I guess I never grew out of the fear that maybe I would get just as much grief in America as I did growing up. I even tried dyeing my hair but it won't take, and since I can't do anything about my hair I can do something about these eyes."
"Ro that is probably the dumbest thing I have ever heard." Ororo frowned at him, "Your eyes are stunning and I don't know a man alive who wouldn't get lost in 'em." her frown turned to a smile.
"For a minute there I thought I was going to have to strike you with lightning. I'll be right back." she left him on the balcony by himself as she disappeared into the darkness of her room. Logan turned his attention to down below his eyes landing on the tombstones in the distance, of the woman that once held his heart in the palm of her hand. He swallowed a lump in his throat his eyes stinging at the sudden tears that threaten to fall. Just to see her grave marker brought back emotions that he thought were gone.
"Jean . . ." his thoughts traveled to the island where it all went down. He missed her so much it hurt. Logan turned to see Ororo coming to join him on the balcony, she noticed what he was gawking at and jealousy reared its ugly head,
"You still miss her don't you?" Logan felt the tension in Ororo voice.
"Yeah." He said coldly walking off the balcony into the room. Ororo cursed herself silently before following him.
"I'm sorry." he stopped turning around to look at her,
"Me too darlin'" and with that he departed from her room. She walked over to her mirror looking at her reflection,
"Nice going weather witch." she stared at herself a long while then yawned tiredly suddenly becoming very sleepy. "Man where did this come from? What's that smell? What's happening?" she said with another yawn. Ororo tried to make it to her bed but found herself falling to the ground just inches away. Everything was going in slow motion as she made her descent to the unforgiving ground below. By the time she connected to the ground she was already unconscious. She lay sprawled on the floor her back rose and fell with every breath.
A figure withdrew itself from the shadows taking slow deliberate steps upon the sleeping woman. The figure towered over her before coming down to rest on one knee, one pale hand removed some platinum hair from her face. His red eyes gazed upon her beauty for a moment lingering on her full lips; he fought his urge to place his lips on hers.
"My, my how you live up to your name, Ororo the beautiful one." He rolled her onto her back slipping one hand under her legs the other around her shoulders lifting her into his arms with ease. A cold black strand of hair fell into his eyes, not that he noticed as he continued to stare at her. He sighed in contentment as he walked with her to the bed placing her gently into the soft pillows. He placed an item, a piece of jewelry, under her pillow kissing her forehead before leaving out. He noticed his reflection in the mirror and stopped to look at himself. His red eyes burned into his very soul, if he had one, and smiled at himself pleased with his appearance. He walked to the balcony looking around to see if there were any others before leaping off as he slunk into the night.
A powerful fist connected with a squawking alarm clock silencing it instantly. Erik Lensherr, better known as Magneto, cursed the dreadful device. The clock seemed to be mocking him with its bright red numbers blinking 4:30 A.M. Erik swung his legs around resting his feet on the softness of his Persian rug. He ran his fingers through his silver disheveled locks before wiping the sleep from his eyes. Rising up he walked over to a chair retrieving his robe before walking out of the room and down a grand staircase.
Erik walked into his kitchen to the smell of fresh morning coffee. The lights came on as he entered the kitchen due to the motion sensors. He poured himself a cup and walked into the living room turning the television to CNN. The news anchors were speaking of the human/mutant relations and then they went to a segment of Ororo speaking with the press on Capital Hill. She answered each question with such dignity and grace that brought a smile to Erik's lips as he took a sip of his coffee.
He sat down on his earth-tone colored sofa watching one of he and Charles's first students. When they recruited her she was 18 years old but she had the grace, intelligence, and maturity of someone in their late twenties he was 33 and Charles was 36. Charles concluded that was because of the responsibility placed on her by her village, as their "Goddess". Although she had a mask of strength, Ororo allowed him access to a side not many have seen. The weather goddess allowed Erik to see that she was not always what she appeared.
Charles battled to keep the jet under control as the tumultuous elements of the storm raged against them. Charles took a look back at Ororo, after sensing her utter fear, and found that she was no longer was in her seat. He tried to calm her through his telepathy but couldn't get through to her but once he did get through all the electricity of her mind shocking him, the images of her slaughter family came before his eyes.
"Well Charles," Erik began in his mocking rich baritone voice, "this certainly is anything but easy peasy. I do believe we will catch our deaths in this weather, and I do mean that in every literal term." he finished with a roll of his eyes.
"Calm down old friend. Everything will be fine. Why don't you check on our new pupil?" Erik gave a strong nod before unbuckling his seatbelt getting out of his chair. He stumbled about as he was tossed around by the turbulence. "She's in the back Erik."
"Of course she is." Erik said sarcastically hanging on to one of the seats. He found Ororo balled up with her knees to her chest while her head rested on them. He crouched down in front of her placing an assuring hand on one of her knees. Erik captured her chin between his thumb and index finger bringing her face to look at him, but her eyes were tightly closed. "My dear I thought you were supposed to be in your seat?" Ororo opened her eyes to his question. Electric sparks danced around her sockets as she stared at him with white iris and pupil-less eyes.
"I apologize. I will return to my seat at once." Erik stopped her from getting up.
"It was a joke my dear." She settled back down on the floor once again grabbing on to her knees but looking at him. "Why are you afraid?"
"I am not afraid."
"And you are a terrible liar." That caused a small giggle from Ororo. He smiled back and settled into a spot next to her their proximity close but Ororo did not pull away she felt strangely comfortable around what she called a 'Westerner'. "Ororo . . . you can tell me. I promise it will stay between us." She sighed in defeat as well as her shoulders slumping.
"If I do not tell you, you will not leave me alone will you, Westerner?" Erik shook his head no as he peered into her white eyes. "Fine, I will tell you." she swallowed a lump that appeared in her throat. "I suppose I should start at the beginning."
"That seems like a good place to start." He joked with her getting a small grin from the young lady. She closed her eyes looking away as she began,
"When I was 5 years of age, my parents and I lived in Cairo, Egypt in a two story house in a rather happy neighborhood for as much as I can recall. My father was a world renowned photographer and my mother was once a princess in her village in Kenya. Well to get to the point, there was an airplane that lost control during the landing procedure and crashed into my neighborhood it slid through all of the houses destruction followed behind the plane but it stopped right in middled of our house. My father died instantly and my mother and I were trapped underneath some rubble. She talked to me kept telling me to be strong that help was on the way . . ." tears now streamed down Ororo's face.
"It's okay my dear. You do not have to continue."
"No. I want to continue. I have held this burden in for 13 years." she wiped her eyes. Erik wrapped an arm around her shoulders and she leaned her head onto his shoulder. Erik inhaled catching the scent of her hair, her hair smells glorious he thought to himself. She pulled herself out of his embrace giving him a small smile her eyes still white with power and the storm seemed to calm just a little. "Thank you. I will continue now."
"Take your time my dear." She nodded her head taking a deep breath.
"My mother and I were trapped underneath the destruction for hours. We screamed to the top of our lungs but no one came. Later on in the day N'Dare died holding my hand and looking into my eyes. I screamed! I screamed for help the but none came. I screamed until I was horsed but no one heard me. On the next day, in the wee hours of the morning, I felt something inside of me burn . . . my body felt like it was burning. Just when I was ready to give up something inside would not let me quit. The louder I screamed the more I felt the heat searing through my body. I suddenly heard thunder and I felt the wind . . . underneath all of the bricks and metal beams I felt wind!" She looked at him squinting her eyes giving a nod at the notion of wind underneath the rubble. "It began to build until it just exploded tossing everything off of us I began to float above the crash site, I tried to hold on to her but my mother remained on the ground. As I cried the heavens too cried with me. It was then that I became one with Mother Nature. You asked me what I was afraid of Professor Lensherr" He nodded his head enthralled with her story. ". . . I do not like air planes and this jet is small and I am claustrophobic." Ororo turned her white eyes to look at Erik, who was in awe over the young woman beside him? Ignoring the part about her claustrophobia,
"You must have been so frighten. I can't begin to imagine how you must have felt." There was sudden turbulence throwing Ororo into Erik's lap she turned looking up at him.
"I'm sorry." she said slowly staring into his pale blue eyes making no attempt to remove herself.
"There is no need to be . . . my dear." he whispered softly swallowing a lump in his throat. Ororo wrapped her arms around him laying her head on his shoulder still looking at him. His grip tightened slightly around her,
"I'm tired."
"Then rest. I will not allow anything to happen to you." she gave him a smile before closing her eyes. The weather outside began to calm down to a slight rain, the sun dared to peak between the clouds blessing the earth below with its vibrancy. Erik took another deep whiff of Ororo's hair, puzzled by its intoxicating smell. What is that perfume?
"Kinta Oil." she said simply with her eyes still closed.
"What was that?" she opened her eyes revealing two bright sapphires burning into him. His heart fluttered slightly,
"You wanted to know the smell, well it's Kinta Oil." she said with a yawn her eyes closing as soon as she answered the question. Erik continued to look puzzled, My God I know that I am 15 years her senior but I might be in love he thought, careful to shield his thoughts from Charles. The rain stopped altogether now as he looked out of the window across from them. He looked down at her sleeping face, a small smile tugging at the corners. He brushed some hair from her face.
"God help me."
Erik smiled at the memory before getting up; he walked up the stairs to his master bedroom pulling out his jogging suit. He glanced at the clock that read 4:41 a.m. quickly getting dressed after realizing he was behind schedule for his 4:45 a.m. 5 mile run. He tied his sneakers up and grabbed his stop-watch running down the stairs and out of the house.
Logan took an early morning stroll after a wonderful time with Ororo even though she pissed him off in the end. He lit his cigar taking a long drag from the fat boy, letting the smoke swirl about in front of his face. He found himself walking to the graves of the people, who he respected, even one-eye. He stood before Jean's headstone that same burning at the back of his throat always came to him, that's probably why he didn't visit her much. He sniffed deeply as the smell of smoke besides his own drifted in the shadows; the smell of French cigarettes tickled his nose.
"Come on out, Cajun." Logan demanded never taking his eyes off of Jean's headstone. Remy Lebeau hopped out of the tree he was perched in with a handsome smile pulling at his lips.
"Mon ami . . . I do believe Remy been had." he said capturing the cigarette with his lips from between his fingers taking a long drag off of it. Remy favored him for a moment before becoming serious. "Why so sad mon ami?"
"Whatcha talking 'bout swamp-rat?"
"Ole Gambit here is empath. I can feel what you feel. And if you don't me sayin' so . . . ."
"I do." Logan interrupted with a scowl on his handsomely rugged face.
"The Wolverine is quite sad." Remy continued as if Logan said nothing at all. Logan snorted at him never taking his eyes off of the headstone. "But if I'm not mistakin' . . . you confused too. Would this have anything to do wit my Stormy?" Logan's jealousy flared at Remy's possessive way of referring to Ororo causing Remy to chuckle lightly at Logan's response. "No fear mon ami at least not no mo' . . . Remy moved on to the cher wit skunk colored hair." Logan sent a death glare at him. "Me and Stormy, we like kin. Fellow children of de trade."
"Trade?" Logan asked forgetting his anger.
"We thieves . . . the Wolverine is not so sharp this mornin' I fear. To early fo ya or r'ya always dis slow?"
"Watch it, Cajun" Logan said sent the younger man a death glare making Remy snicker.
"Remy sorry" After a long moment of silence a small smile found its way to Logan's lips,
"I can't see Ororo doing anything bad, like stealing. She seems so . . . controlled, sort of a goody good. "Logan finished with a drag from his cigar.
"Then you jus ain't seen da real Stormy."
"Whatcha gettin at swamp-rat?"
"Stormy got herself a wild side." Remy said with a wink.
"I don't believe ya. Storm . . . a wild-side? Yeah right. That's just like saying Rogue's powers are back."
"What if they were?" Remy challenged getting a glare from Logan.
Anyway, I met Stormy back in Nawlands about 10 years back . . ."
"Nawlands?" Remy slapped a hand to his head,
"New Orleans mon ami, keep up. Like I was sayin' I met Stormy ten years ago she was . . . I say about 20 maybe 21 while Remy he jus turned 18. De cher told me she was runnin' from this here school. De cher said she needed to get away from one o' the professors. Remy think his name Erik or sumthng I think he goes by Magneto nowadays, and he ain't here no mo'. Da bastard! Well anyway it was Mardi Gras time and Nawlands was a swingin'. . "
Loud music filled the air as well as the smell of good down home cooking wafted about. A tall man with long auburn hair pulled into a messy ponytail wearing a long tope brown trench coat squeezed his way through the large crowds in the streets. He gave the ladies gawking at him a charming smile while slipping their wallets out of their purses when he past them.
"Easy money" he said taking the bills out of the wallets stuffing them in his pockets discarding the wallets on the ground.
"What's up Remy!" a man called from across the crowded street. He gave a curt head tilt as he continued on his path. He came to the end of the crowded Bourbon Street finding a beautiful woman breaking into a stylish convertible.
"Well, well, well what do we have here?" Remy whistled as he came closer to her. The young woman jumped turning around to see who was talking to her. Her bright blue eyes made even the playboy Remy catch his breath. "Whata pretty lil' thang like you doing breaking into dis here car?" Remy took a long view of her body. She wore midriff top tank top and cut-off jeans with some sandals with a small heel. She leaned against the car giving him a seductive smile as she too viewed his body.
"What is it that you want, stranger?"
"I don't wanna be a stranger petit, de names Remy and you are?"
"Ororo." her African accent rolling with each 'Ro' he smiled at her broadly.
"How about I show you what Nawlands is all about?"
"How about no." She smiled at him coyly before turning around to finish her work.
"OOHHH wweeee. You hurt Remy feelings." He said grabbing his chest. She looked back at him giggling some more at the charming Cajun. "Who taught you how to break in to cars, Madame?"
"I'm not married." she said over her shoulder as she continued to work. Remy smiled pumping his fist looking around and noticed a man running their way.
"Hey! HEY! GET AWAY FROM MY CAR!" A chubby man shouted leaving two blonde women behind. Ororo grabbed Remy's arm dragging him with her as they ran down the street. They ran until they rounded a corner both leaned against the wall breathing hard. Remy peaked around the corner to make sure that they were not followed.
"Remy think we safe now." Ororo grabbed his face between her two small hands planting big kiss on his cheek. "Keep kissing Remy like dat and he never go away."
"That was so AMAZING!" Thunder rumbled in the distance making Remy look to the skies. "Remy. I feel like dancing. You want to dance with me?"
"Sure petite. Remy know o' a good place."
"Take me there." Ororo exclaimed grabbing his arm dragging him through the streets.
Remy had a dreamy look on his face as the thoughts that came afterward played before his eyes.
"Stormy's a wild one. In more ways than one mon ami. Whoo!" he chuckled at his thoughts.
"Keep talking swamp-rat and I'll run ya through." he said menacingly unsheathing the claws on his right fist. Remy cleared his throat chancing a glance at Logan,
"Remy jus sayin'. Stormy got a lot o' spunk dat's all." he removed a deck of cards from his leather trench coat and began charging them and tossing them to the ground. "If it means anyt'ing to ya, Stormy never love Remy the way he loved her and I quickly realized that another was on the cher's mind. Remy tried to get her to love 'em the way he wanted her to. And believe me, I tried, but she only loved me like sister loves a brother. So Remy jus took wat he could from her, better than nuthing right?"
"So you guys never . . . you know?"
"Remy didn't say all o' dat. I jus said she wasn't in love wit me. Let's talk bout sumthing else mon ami. You jus gettin' all bent outta shape fo nuthing it's all in da past." There was a frustrating silence between the two men,
"Stay away from Marie, Cajun. She got a boyfriend."
"Only if you stay away from, Stormy."
"She's too young for you."
"Age ain't nuthing but a number, mon ami!" he said with a huff. "Remy ain't old. The cher is . . . I don't know how old she is truth be told, and I don't care."
"She's about to turn 22."
"How 'bout you and Stormy . . . she's 33 and how old 'reyou mon ami?" Logan was silenced by the quick tongued Cajun. He cleared his throat,
"I just don't want Rogue gettin' hurt by some little snot like you."
"Remy don't want his Stormy getting hurt by sum dinosaur either!" Both men looked at each other before sharing a hardy laugh. "In all honesty . . . it ain't Remy you need to keep an eye on. It's dat pop-icicle."
"Bobby? No way."
"Suit ya self mon ami. Remy goin' inside. Remember wat I said." Remy placed a hand on his shoulder before turning to leave. Logan turned to watch him leave,
"Cajun!"
"Yeah!"
"Was Storm really like that?"
"Jus assure as Ima Cajun." With that Remy continued his retreat to the house. Logan snorted before looking to the rising sun.
Erik entered his work out room after a five mile jog. He walked over to his weight bench taking a seat. He picked up a fifty pound dumb-bell in each hand and did 3 sets of 20 reps, after that he put a hundred pounds on each side of the fifty pound bar and prepared to lift the heavy burden but stopped when he heard music coming from the another room. Erik wiped his face of any moisture with his embroider towel exiting the room in search of the reason behind the music. The ex-terrorist looked in the direction of the foyer as the source and quickly entered finding a pale colored man with cold black hair, purple armor with silly metallic streamer hanging from his back, but what struck Magneto as odd was his strange red eyes that seemed to glow as he peered at him. The man was playing Debussy's Claire De Lune as he continued to stare at Erik when he stopped playing suddenly,
"Erik Lensherr, better known as Magneto. Did you enjoy your jog?"
"Who are you my friend? I do not have the patience to deal with you this early morning."
"I'm a friend."
"You're going to be a crushed my friend if you do not start talking. Tell me, is that armor made of metal?" With that Erik lifted the trespasser by his suit with relative ease.
"So the rumors are true . . . the cure does wear off." the stranger stated looking at Erik with a sneer.
"It tis true. The cure does wear off but if you exercise your power it wears off much quicker. To tell you the truth your powers come back a whole lot stronger than before. I have an old associate that can vouch for that. Now, who are you and why are you in my house?"
"My name is Nathaniel Essex, but you may call me Mr. Sinister."
"The name certainly fits the look. You look positively evil."
"That is of little consequence, Erik. Do you mind if we talk?"
"Actually I do. I have World History to teach at the University and I do not want to be late so if you please escort yourself out . . ."
"This is about the woman you love." at that notion Erik slammed him into the wall leaving a nice size dent. Magneto floated over to him an electric hum could be heard as he did so.
"What about her?"
"I knew that would get your attention."
"What about Ororo?" he practically growled at the evil man that was grinning at him.
"Put me down and we can discuss this like civilized men." Magneto lowered him to the ground his own sneaker clad shoes touching down as well.
"We can talk in here follow me." Erik led him to his living room filled with earth-tones. Sinister took a deep breath catching the smell of sandalwood and a hint of Kinta Oil.
"Your house smells like her."
"If you ever go near her again . . ."
"Been there done that Magneto, but I am not the one to worry about . . . at least not this time. Another is after her . . . he's a powerful adversary. One stronger than anyone has ever faced. His name is En Sabah Nur, we know him as Apocalypse." At this Erik's eyes bucked to the size of quarters.
"The first mutant to ever walk the earth? That's impossible that would make him over 2000 years old. He's merely a myth."
"I assure you my friend all the stories about him are true. Every hundred to two hundred years he walks the earth looking to create the world in his image." Magneto frowned at this,
"Survival of the Fittest."
"Exactly. Not only is he looking to create the world in his image, but this time he is also searching for his bride."
"Ororo? That's preposterous! She only 33 years old."
"Ororo is not your normal mutant. If you thought Jean Grey's powers were amazing you should see Ororo's at her full potential. Ororo is a class five mutant that has been living right under your nose. She only uses a fraction of her true power. She also is a direct descendent of the Goddess Oya."
"The Goddess of change?"
"Yes. The Goddess of change, the Goddess of life and death, most importantly the Goddess of Storms."
"She was also said to be quite insane. Does Ororo know about this?"
"She does not I'm afraid."
"I have to warn her." Erik quickly rose from his seat taking the stairs two at a time. Sinister snickered to himself as he watch Erik flee up the stairs,
"This is almost too easy."
The bright morning sun rose high above the sky waking everyone. Some were happy to see another day others were not so chipper.
Marie stared at her reflection in the mirror she ran the brush through her hair once more trying to get the shine she wanted. She blew in frustration her hair always did what it wanted to do in the end. She turned when she heard a knock at her door.
"Come in!" she shouted turning back to the mirror. She saw Bobby enter through the glass and a small smile came to her lips.
"Good morning beautiful." Bobby walked over to her,
"Good mornin' ya self." He leaned into kiss her but she turned her head and threw her arms around his neck giving him a big hug. He looked at her puzzled but shrugged it off.
"You ready to go down to breakfast?"
"Umm Ah'm gonna be a little late why don't you go on wit out me. Ah'll be down in a minute, sugah."
"Marie, you've been acting strange lately. You want to talk about it?"
"Whadda ya mean Bobby?"
"I mean . . . you started wearing the gloves again, you practically hate Kitty, and it's like you keep avoiding me. Did I do something wrong?" You didn't but Kitty did.
"O' course not Bobby. Ah'm jus under a lot o' stress wit finals and all."
"Does it have anything to do with that Cajun guy?"
"Bobby don't start."
"No. I believe it does. I think he likes you Rogue."
"Bobby . . ."
"I really think he does." Marie stopped talking and just stared off into space. "I'm sorry Rogue."
"You're always sorry Bobby." she grumbled walking over to the bed placing her books inside her backpack.
"Look I'll see you at breakfast, alright."
"Alriight." Bobby kissed the back of Marie's head before exiting the room. Marie stared at the door he just left out of before sighing tiredly. She shuffled around continuing to prepare for the day. Just as she was about to leave the room intense pain began to rack her body she squealed softly as she fell to the floor bumping her head on the corner of her bed. Her tears streamed down her face as she groaned and squirmed against the pain when suddenly she lost consciousness.
"Sorry my queen but you are much to dangerous to keep around. You must die so that Africa can be free from your tyranny. This council will rule Africa." He laid her body on the ground stepping away from her, pleased with himself. Marina began to cry again wailing loudly as she ran to Oya's side trying desperately to wake her up.
"Chianti! What are you doing! You have brought a curse upon us! You have brought a curse upon all of Africa! You can not betray a god or goddess!" Oya's body twitched and writhed as if in pain then it moved no more. Marina howled with pain, tears spilling on Oya's face as she clung to her mother. Chianti looked at the girl sadly approaching her slowly.
"Little girl, where is your mother?" Marina looked up her eyes completely black. Dark veins painted her skin like a tapestry and black tears streamed down her face.
"You killed her!" Chianti jumped in response just as bright flames erupted in the room receding quickly to reveal Phoenix and Xavion. Then suddenly the large doors swung open revealing Logolas, Old Lady Tyrie, and the Royal guard. Xavion looked at his lifeless daughter lying on the ground and a rage filled his heart.
"You will pay for what you have done, Chianti!" He began walking towards Chianti but Phoenix stopped him her green eyes sad but determined.
"What are you doing?" Xavion shouted pulling away.
"Wait and watch father. His punishment will be much more severe." She said with a cruel smile tugging at her lips.
"My lord it had to be done. Oya would not be reasoned with."
"Liar!" Marina grabbed his hand. Black veins began to spread up his arm appearing on his face as his eyes turned black. He screamed in pain. The other Council men stood frozen in fear while one made an attempt to stop the child.
"No!" Xavion shouted. "He disobeyed me! Stay where you are! He killed my daughter!" The Council men looked at Xavion with questions in their eyes when Chianti shrieked loudly.
"Unhand me!"
"You killed my mother!" Marina howled hanging on to Chianti's hand. She shook her head trying to release Chianti's hand but could not. "What's happening?" she screamed. Chianti fell to his knees. "I can't let go of him, what's happening to him." She screeched in fear. Logolas made an attempt to help her but Xavion held him back.
"Marina will be fine." Xavion said sadly his deep blue eyes burning into Logolas. His bald head turned back to the scene. Chianti no longer screamed as foam dripped from his mouth. Logolas frowned looking at Marina's other hand that laid on Oya's cheek. Veins flowed from her cheek down the length of her body.
"Look at her other hand my Lord. It too has veins sticking from it." Xavion took note as he watched.
"This is what I saw, father." Phoenix said a cruel smile on her face. Chianti's skin became leathery as he was drained of all life force. He fell to his side dead looking into Marina's eyes. She gasped fresh tears spilling from her eyes. When suddenly Oya inhaled deeply raising off of the ground then falling her chest heaving up and down. Marina fell to her side in exhaustion sleep over took her.
Marie's eyes snapped open the pain radiated through her in waves. Why does this keep happening to me? She thought clinching her eyes taking deep breaths when her door burst open revealing a scared looking Cajun.
"You don't look good cher!" Remy slammed the door behind him falling to his knees scooping Marie into his arms turning to sit on the bed with her on his lap.
"Gambit . . . it hurts."
"Wat hurts cher? Tell Remy!" the pain began to subside her eyes opened catching Remy's red on black eyes. She breathed heavily as she clenched on to Remy tightly. He wiped her tears away as they stared into each other's eyes. What surprised him most was the fact that she didn't turn away from his demon colored eyes.
"Ah'm fine now Gambit. Thank you for your help." she said sliding out of his lap.
"You sholl gave Remy a scare petite. What happened?"
"Ah'm sorry. Ah'm jus glad ya came when ya did. Ah don't know what that was. One minute I was talkin' to Bobby then all of a sudden this intense pain jus gripped me and wouldn' let go. Ah had another strange vision."
"What was it about cher?"
"This girl had powers kinda like mine. Her name was Marina Ah think but she was crying about her mama being dead. The woman looked like 'Ro." She frowned looking at Remy. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "She was draining the life from this man in strange clothes. This man and woman appeared in the room from a flame. The man looked like the Professor and the woman looked like Jean. Then after that another guy came in that looked Logan. They had all these soldiers with them. Marina killed the man but his life flowed into the dead woman. Remy it was really strange." She said looking away.
"It's alright now, Cher. Remy here now." She leaned her head onto his shoulder. "Remy always on time." Marie glared up at him before turning away. "Dat Bobby sholl looked mighty pissed when he walked outta here. Wat you do? I betcha wouldn't give 'em none fo breakfast that's why he so mad?" Marie pushed him off of her she rose off of the bed looking down at him.
"Git da hell outta here. Gon! Git!"
"Or what petite? Youa drain me?" Marie's face held sheer fear on it.
"Git out! You Swamp Rat! Gon and git!"
"Fine . . . Remy don' t like to ovah stay his welcome!" and he left out with huff. She glared at the door once again,
"Stupid Cajun!"
Ororo walked tiredly through the halls of the X-Mansion her red eyes were squinted close to shut as she walked like a zombie. A few of the kids waved and smiled at her as they passed,
"Hey Miss Monroe!" but they were met with no response. They merely stared as she continued to trudge forward in slow motion. Emma Frost was switching down the hallway but stopped when noticed her fellow teammate in the state that she was,
"I must admit I never thought I would hear myself say this about you but you positively dreadful." Emma was met with no response as well. "Ororo. Ororo." ORORO! Emma screamed in her mind.
"Huh?" she said dumbfounded, "Yes what is it Emma?"
"Are you okay?"
"Of course. What makes you ask?"
"Aside from your zombie like walk and tasteless eye make up. Nothing dear."
"Emma."
"Ororo when you get the chance I would like a word with you."
"Sure. I been meaning to talk to you too."
"Good. Why don't you have some breakfast. We are having French Toast." with that the ladies departed going their separate ways. Ororo entered the kitchen and all the thoughts that everyone were having bombarded her. She put her hands over her ears and groaned painfully. She turned in a circle exiting the kitchen as quickly as she could catching the attention of her fellow teachers. She stood outside the door still holding her ears she turned to walk away and crashed into Logan's strong chest. She fell to the ground on her rear with clam. Ororo peered up at him,
"Sorry darlin' didn't mean to . . . Ro you look like ran over shit."
"Good morning to you to Logan." hostility in her voice. He caught her under the arms raising her off the ground placing her on her feet.
"Did you get any sleep?"
"Would you believe me if I told you I slept so hard I don't remember how I got in the bed?"
"You want to run that by me again?"
"Logan, I passed out before I ever made it to the bed. I have a bruise on my thigh to prove I hit the ground."
"Ro . . . I'm worried about you. First telepathy, then you look like you haven't slept in weeks, and now you don't remember putting yourself in the bed. Something is definitely wrong darlin'. I think we should go see Emma right now." Before Ororo could respond Logan grabbed her arm leading her to Emma's office.
Emma Frost was on the phone her brows crinkled in concentration. She shook her head as she tried to make sense of the what the person was talking about on the phone.
"What do you mean Forge has been kidnapped? Wait a minute you said he's been missing for two weeks? Have you gone to police yet?" Her pale blue eyes danced around the room. "No, no your right I will use Cerebro to find him but in the mean time I will send someone on my team to help you locate him." Emma looked up as Logan burst in with Ororo in tow,
"Ro needs to see you."
"Pietro I will get back with you. Something has just come up. I promise we will find him alright. Bye." She hung up the phone glaring at Logan. "Well let yourselves right in." She said looking over the brim of her expensive wire framed glasses. She closed the book she was reading before her telephone call and favored the two with distasteful look. "Ororo when I said come and see me I did not mean right away."
"Well mountain man here dragged me along for the ride. Since you are obviously busy I will see you . . ."
"Sit." Logan ushered Ororo in with a hand on the small of her back. Logan leaned over the chair that she was sitting in as Emma walked around the desk leaning against it. "Ororo. I am going to take a look into your mind." Ororo nodded in understanding. Emma placed a hand on Ororo's forehead and with the other she placed it on her own temple. "Be very quiet and still."
Emma appeared in the deserts under a blazing hot sun. She saw hundreds of men bare chested and in loin cloths being beaten by a bull wipe as they dragged heavy materials to what appeared to be two large statues on either side of the golden bricked ground under her feet. One statue was of a man and the other was of a woman who was as familiar as she was foreign. She noticed that the men stopped working and were staring upward, she followed their gaze and the silhouette of a woman loomed above her. The silhouette drifted down from above coming to land before her. She looked like Ororo except her hair was black with a white stripe and her eyes were blue.
"Ororo?" the woman gave a cruel smile before shaking her head no. "Who are you then?" the woman took a closer step to Emma caressing her cheek before allowing her hand to stop at her temple. Suddenly the woman hissed and sent a volt of electricity through her temple into her brain.
Emma was slung across the desk and into the chair behind it. She panted tiredly as she opened her eyes to look at Ororo who's head had fallen back against Logan. Emma noticed through Ororo's low lids sapphire colored eyes rolled around. Oh my God. She thought,
"Are you alright, Emma?" Logan asked her
"Do I look bloody alright? There is something very wrong with our compatriot."
"Very wrong indeed." Both Logan and Emma turned to see Erik standing in the doorway. Logan growled while Emma looked amazed,
"You have no idea! How wrong."
I hope you liked it. Remember to review.
gracefulraven,
out!