Chapter Two

"Excuse me?"

Kitty Pryde looked up at the sound of the girl's voice. "Can I help you?"

"I hope so. I'm looking for Storm, do you know where I can find her?"

Kitty nodded, directing the newcomer up the stairs. She was young, perhaps sixteen, or seventeen at the most. "Are you interested in enrolling here?" she asked curiously.

"Well, yes," the girl replied. "But I have something else I need to discuss with Storm, she contacted me about a week ago. It was a bit confusing to be honest, I still don't know why she called me here….." She stopped in her tracks, staring out a window into the grounds below.

Kitty followed her gaze, looking down at the three headstones beneath. "Did you know one of them?" she asked gently.

The newcomer shook a head of ice-blonde waves. "Not exactly," she sighed. "The professor came to my house last year, encouraging me to come here. It's just weird that he's not here anymore….." She lapsed into silence, eyes glistening with tears.

Eventually they reached Storm's office. The girl shot Kitty a grateful smile, then knocked and entered. Immediately Storm stood up from behind her desk, her features alight at the sight of the slim blonde figure.

"Trina," she beamed, "I've been waiting for you. Kitty, come in if you like."

Kitty closed the door gently behind her and took a seat to the left of the girl named Trina.

"I've been hoping you'd come to visit us. Professor Xavier's file on you was extremely interesting. I'm only sorry you didn't come sooner. You'll be joining us permanently I hope?"

"Yes ma'am, if you'll have me," Trina replied humbly. "What else was it that you wanted to speak to me about?"

Kitty might have imagined it, but Storm seemed to hesitate momentarily. As quickly as it had happened, her expression smoothed itself out. "There'll be time for that later," she smiled. "In the meantime, why don't you get settled in? Kitty, could you please show Trina to her room? The empty one next to yours will do fine.

"Sure. Are we still on for our talent training session later?"

"Of course. Why don't you bring Trina along too?"

"No problem. See you later Storm."

Trina picked up a small suitcase and a couple of bags from the ground and the two of them headed up a flight of stairs to the vacant bedroom. She placed her luggage on the neatly-made bed, kicked off her shoes and began to unpack.

"You need a hand?" Kitty asked.

"No, I'm fine thanks. You've been a great help. It's Kitty, right? I'm Trina, Trina de Wynter."

"Nice to meet you Trina. We've got training in an hour, out in the grounds. Will you come?"

"Sure," Trina said enthusiastically.

"Great. You can tell us all about yourself. And your talent."

Trina grinned. "It's probably easier to show you."