Sabertooth stood there, framed in what had been the doorway. He leapt into the room, crouching behind Tom's right side, who hadn't yet turned around. As he took in my horrified expression he grinned, and asked me, "Did you think that I was a mere human?" He threw his hand out towards Sabertooth, who cringed away, and then began writhing in convulsions. As abruptly as They had started, the convulsions stopped, and Tom withdrew his hand.
He leaned towards me conspiratorially and asked again, "If this is what I can do to my loyal followers, imagine what will happen if you refuse me... again?" I stumbled back once more, trying desperately to control my rising panic. Just before I lost it completely, four figures sprang into the room: Jason, Damon, David, and the girl whose name I had never learned.
They immediately set about attacking Tom. I would have joined in, but David warned me back. Sabertooth easily dispatched Jason and Damon, breaking ribs, heads, and everything in between, and tossing them aside. As the girl attacked him, he snarled and, perhaps because he wanted to, perhaps because Tom ordered him to, (I will never know), he grinned, and with a glance to make sure I was watching him, broke her neck.
I was frozen for all of two milliseconds, and then I launched myself at him, screaming my rage, and guilt. I never even laid hands on him. As I sailed across the room, something slammed into my side, nearly crushing my arm. It was Logan, but a Logan I had never seen. He wore a sadistic grin, and his claws were out, and pointed at me. He spoke. "Tom is right; you are a spoiled brat."
My shocked expression must have pleased him, because he smiled and continued as he attacked me, "You didn't really think that I believed all your bull about family, and you being my long-lost sister, did you? No, luckily, I met Tom before I could be suckered into your sob story. You, and your pretty words go hand-in-hand with the lines that I was fed by Mister Charles Xavier, so I knew immediately that I hated you." Even though I knew he was under Tom's control, his words still broke me.
Despite my crushed spirit, I still managed to half-heartedly block his attacks. He distracted me with a feint, then swept his feet behind mine, crashing me to the floor. Before I could rise, he dropped to the floor, and hovered over me, laying his blades along the line of my veins. He came even closer and whispered in my ear, "You know, even if you were my sister, I wouldn't acknowledge that a whiny brat like you even belonged to my family."
Somehow, I gathered a last reserve of rage, and surged up and away from him. As I made my escape though, his claws sliced across my belly, three perfect scores, extending from the sides of my ribs, and down, wrapping around my hips. My clothing in shreds, I ran.
In the corner of my vision, I saw the X-Men finally arriving: my "rescue", but too late to salvage my soul.
I fled them, hoping to forget that my life had ever existed and find death somewhere waiting for me. I heard footsteps, and Jean's voice behind me. I couldn't tell what she was saying, and I didn't want to. I burst onto the roof, a blood trail clearly defining my escape path. I jumped onto the railing, and changed to my natural self.
The doors were flung open behind me, and the professor spoke. "Aria! Don't! We need you! Please, come down." I whirled to face him, crouching in my own blood. "What Was Her Name!" I screamed at him. "What Was Her Name!" He faltered a moment, then whispered, "Jessica. Jessica Warren."
He tried to approach me, but I drove him back, feeling my strength and blood leaving me. "I can't! You should know that! I don't have David; he disowned me, and Jessica's death was my fault! I didn't even know her name!" I whispered the last to myself, and flung myself off the building. My wings pumped mightily, sending more blood pouring down my body. I flew above the city; no one ever even noticed my journey. When at last, I was too weary from blood loss to go any further, I dropped into an alley, hoping to find someone willing to finish me off.
I used the last of my fading strength to change, and then wrapped my arms around my cut torso, in an unconscious act of self-preservation. Through hazy vision, I saw someone approach me. I smiled at this total stranger, and whispered, "Goodbye, David." As my sight closed, something burst within them, freshening my pain and sending me into the black.