Author's Note- My god it's been FAR TOO LONG since I've UPDATED!!! Gahhhhhh I'm so sorry! It's a long story about why I haven't been updating but can easily be outlined through, College (BLAH)classes in HS, HS retardism, Writers block, and laziness. BUT to make this known THIS STORY WILL BE COMPLETED!! In this chapter I'm not going to write to my reviewers, I'm so sorry but I feel the actual chapter is more important, BUT I will be writing to reviewers again in later chapter. So here is the long awaited Chapter 23 part III
Chapter 23: Crossroads of Destiny
The low humming of cars passing on the streets echoed throughout the night, but everything else was coated in a dark silence, as though you could reach out and touch it with your very fingers. A low snort came from one of the experiments, they were growing restless, Sinister grinned. With long fingers he reach out and allowed his fingers to trail over the mutilated mussel of the once beautiful wolf hound, but was now reduced to nothing more than a snarling mass of fur and fangs. Perfect Sinister thought his grin growing wider. Stepping away from the experiments he slowly traced his way past the hounds and towards the nasty brothers their heads bent in low conversation.
"Well?" Sinister questioned, his tone far from pleased. The truth of the matter was the fact that his greatest experiment was running lose and he was unable to get his hands on her. Running a long hand through his black hair he locked his eyes on the slowly rising heads that had abruptly stopped talking to send their gazes in his direction. After several moments George stepped forward his blonde hair cascading down his back and his eyes wide in fear as he cleared his throat in preparation to speak.
"Sir we can't find anything-" The smashing sound of Sinisters fist colliding with one of the cage caused for silence to envelope the entire group and their eyes to grow wide as they watched the sharp teeth of Sinister bore themselves in their direction.
"NO MORE EXCUSES!" Sinister roared his eyes blazing with rage as he watched the group of mutants squirm underneath his gaze, good, he thought, about time they learned their position in this group. Stepping forward Sinister allowed for his hand to graze over the top of the cage latch before grabbing the bolt and yanking back causing for blood curdling howling to echo through the night. One by one the shadow ridden creatures emerged from their cages and sent menacing glares towards the nasty boys their yellow eyes burning in the darkness of the night.
"I want her here now," Sinister enunciated slowly, "and since you incompetent morons can't seem to track down one LEVEL 5 mutant then I guess it's time to leave it up to creatures that actually have a brain." As Sinister let the last words slip past his lips he pulled out a frayed card, the Queen of Heart's embedded on it and offered it towards the mutilated hound. It sniffed the item once, then twice before baring it's teeth and throwing its head back a long screeching howl tearing through the sound barrier, then suddenly they were off blending into the night as if though they were truly shadows.
The nasty boys all yelled in unison before diving behind some boxes their eyes wide in fear, and a bone chilling ice coated grin came across Sinister's face, It's game time my fair Eclaire...think you can keep up?
Rouge felt a gloved hand slip through her own and for the first time didn't experience the urge to pull away, instead she laced her fingers through with his own suppressing the cold shudder than ran through her body.
"Damn, Shit, FU-" Keir started but stopped when Rouge's hand tightened on his own, causing him to raise his eyes to look over her. Her long thick curls had been released from their prison and her eyes for once weren't covered in the dark sunglasses that hid her parentage so well. To him she looked like an angel, an angel going to her final battle and ready and willing to give her life to protect the ones that she loved the most. To say the least the sour taste it left in Keir mouth made his want to kill all of the sorry son-of-a-bitches that had made his Eclaires life the hell that it was.
"No use crying over spilt milk Dundee." She stated simply her eyes glazed as she swerved in and out of traffic and a thin trail of sweat dancing down her forehead. She's really dying, Keir thought his heart ripping down it's seams as he watched her suppress a coughing spell, she's really going to leave me....Stop thinking like that! He chided himself shaking his head so that orange locks fell loosely above and in his eyes, he wouldn't, COULDN'T lose her again, he wouldn't survive it.
"Stop it," Her light soprano-alto mixed voice chided, her eyes never leaving their staring contest with the pavement that lay before them, "I can't change what has happened to me and I can't save myself neither can you or should you attempt to. I know my destiny better than anyone else and I'm okay with it but I sure as hell am not okay with you brooding like some sissy ass emo kid about how to save me when it isn't possible, you despite your annoying bitchy personality and ego issues have a right to be happy, even if that means without me being a part of it."
At that Keir's eyes widened, had she just made a reference to them...? He watched her carefully and gasped when he saw a solitary tear slide down her cheek, she really did care- SMASH! A sudden force hit the car sending it tumbling over the median clear across the road and over the rail. The green camaro landed with a screeching slide and several rolls before landing on its side oddly resembling a smashed mountain dew can.
"SON OF ABEL SUMMERS!" Forcing his eyes open Keir took note of the smoke making its way from beneath the hood and the prime smell of gasoline filling the air. Pushing his legs forward he busted out the front of the dashboard before carefully kicking out the windshield. Turning his face to avoid glass shards he took in the unconscious appearance of Rouge her eyes closed tightly and her hands caught in tight fist, a look of pure agony crossing her features. Cursing allowed he pulled the all purpose knife from his boot and sliced his seatbelt in half freeing him from the metal death contraption. Whatever had hit them had hit them hard and FAST.
Slipping the blade beneath Rouge's seatbelt he snapped it loose and forced his arm underneath her back before gently and forcefully pulling her up from her seat and out through the opening he had created in the Camaro. As he pulled her away from the wreckage a sudden hissing echoed throughout the air causing Keir to suddenly drop both himself and Rouge onto the ground before a sudden POP resounded and the entire car went up in flames.
Rolling off of Rouge he looked down to assess the damage done to her. After a few careful moments of examination he was able to conclude the damage was no worse than a few scrapes and a bruise or two, but that was only on the outside that didn't include any internal injuries or damage and judging from the amount of blood that was trickling past Rouge's lips Keir knew there had to be several present. Pulling her face up into his gloved hands he wiped away the traces of blood and attempted to ignore the alarming bells tolling in his head as well as the pounding of his heart in his chest.
"Eclaire! Eclaire come on wake up." He shook her gently as his fingers traced their way down her neck looking for the jugular vein. Finding it he waited a desperate second before he felt her pulse jumping beneath his glove, it was faint but it was enough signal to show that she was alive. Shoving his hand into his pocket he began to dig for his cell phone but stopped abruptly when a low growling echoed around him. Raising his eyes slightly he took in the notion that there was nothing present but after a moment or so figures began to materialize before him.
Long canine bodies that were shrouded in shadow, their muzzles torn to pieces and fierce jagged teeth jutting from beneath them. Yet what proved to be most terrifying were the yellow slitted eyes that spoke danger and death. Pushing himself onto his feet Keir automatically fell into a defensive stance his eyes taking in the odds against him. 14, 15,....18 and counting, Shit, he thought sourly as the last of the creatures appeared. Forcing himself onto his toes he launched himself at the creature closest to him, allowing every riled up emotion to come out as he fought the oncoming hoards.
If I'm gonna die, he thought bitterly his foot smashing into an oncoming muzzle and blue hex bolts crackling around him, let it be in the honor of protecting the one I love and helping her obtain her dream....
The rain had suddenly began to pore over the mansion leaving Rogue in an even more depressed mood than before with even just the information that Eclaire had contracted the legacy virus. Pulling her knees up to her chest she watched out the window her mind caught in a battle of emotions and determination. A low cough broke her from her stupor as she glanced up to take in the soaked appearance of Wanda, her eyes dull as she watched Rogue.
"Did ya find anythin at all?" Rogue asked already knowing the answer before Wanda has even shook her head denying the claim. Sitting next to Rogue Wanda allowed for her head to fall and for black hair to fall into her eyes.
"Nothing yet, but we're not giving up." Wanda started her hands weaved together as she allowed her soaked body begin the long process of drying. Any other time she would have been on a mission determined to find a towel and dry clothing but underneath the current circumstances just sitting and allowing herself to dry by air was all she could allow herself to do.
"Ah won't lose 'er." Rogue said flatly as she offered a blanket out towards Wanda who took it gratefully. "And Ah know Rem's isn't gonna stand for it either." Rogue watched as Wanda draped the long material around her shoulders her blue eyes fighting to not look Rogue in the eye.
"I know that, it just seems that the fates are against us Rogue." Wanda mindlessly ran her fingers through her soaked hair as she watched out the window with Rogue. Wanda nearly jumped out of her skin when a low chuckle echoed next to her.
"It's always been against us ain't it? Ain't nothin new." Wanda felt herself grin a lopsided grin at the sight of her best friend smiling, no it wasn't a happy smile or a humorous one, it was worn and torn but was coated in hope and that was enough for Wanda. Both sat in silence for a time before suddenly the door bell rang pulling both woman from their thoughts.
Looking towards Wanda who shrugged her shoulders, Rogue pushed herself up from the couch and made her way slowly towards the door. Unlatches the many locks Rogue could have never been prepared for what stood beyond that doorway. Pulling it open revealed a battered and torn Skye, his body and face beaten beneath recognition and soaked thoroughly from head to toe. Yet before he lost consciousness and fell into the waiting arms of Rogue he said one phrase that completely sparked Rogue's determination to have both of her girls.
"Belle's alive....fortress....I know where it....is.....Friends...with her..." and with that Skye fell forward content that he had made it, to wherever he was and all he could pray was that they knew what he was talking about and could save her.
Keir hissed as a pain shot through his side as he brought down another blow onto the creatures head sending it spiraling back into a flurry of black ash. Falling backwards he sent one final kick at the last two beast and watched in relief as their forms disinigrated. Lying backwards he allowed his body to rest for only a brief moment before forcing himself onto his feet. Stumbling slightly he quickly regained his balance and let a low whistle slip between his teeth, he had done it, he had destroyed over 50 of those damned creatures and was still alive.
"Bravo," Keir's blood suddenly ran cold as he turned to face the last man he ever wanted to see stand before him flanked by his cronies, and a more than please grin plastered across his terrifying creatures, Keir wanted nothing more than to be the one to wipe it off of his face, "Maybe you weren't such a failed experiment after all though." Pushing forward Sinister gripped Keir around his neck before lifting him up and locking gazes with the battered teenager.
"How sad is it that this will be your final battle, such a pity and waste." With sudden shear force Sinister slung Keir backwards causing him to roll and skid until he landed a massive clump next to a still unconscious Rouge. Biting back a cry Keir looked over towards Rouge who was in the same position he had left her in, and felt tears sting at the corners of his eyes. Forcing his rubber legs beneath him he attempted and succeeded into rising into a standing position.
"You won't have her." Keir barked all traces of sarcasm and playfulness wiped from his features and replaced with those of pure hatred and rage. Sinister raised an eyebrow and opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by another voice that made Keir's blood run ice.
"Now now boys, no need to get fussy over me," the voice purred and Keir couldn't help himself from turning and casting his eyes upon Rouge. What he saw made his heart stop, she was still Rouge but her features had been twisted and contorted to make the appearance of someone else, and her eyes once dark and beautiful were now purple and manipulative. Stepping forward he watched as Rouge stripped off a glove from her hand and stroked it gently across Keir's cheek. His heart damn near stopping in finally feeling that touch, but there was something terribly wrong with it yet Keir was unable to resist it.
Stepping forward he felt her lips lock on his own and he felt his insides explode, her lips were everything he dreamt she tasted of ripe cinnamon and rain and it made his knees weak. Against all of his instincts he leaned forward and allowed for his tongue to slip past her lips the intoxicating taste blurry all of his senses in his mind warning bells screeched but he ignored them, his mind caught in a lie that was unbreakable.
Until suddenly it felt wrong, so wrong, so FOREIGN, but before he could react he felt his mind slip from him and slide delicately into the body of Rouge. Before he lost consciousness though he swore he saw a flash of red and the words I'm sorry mouthed.
Rouge stepped back a terrifying grin plastered on her face as she watched the boy slip to the ground lost to the real world. Inside of her she felt a screaming and had to growl apparently her host's original owner wasn't a big fan of her sudden appearance.
"My lady?" Looking up Rouge grinned at Sinister and smiled her feet slowly carrying herself towards the mutant.
"The one and only," She looked down at herself, "Such a lovely host you chose Sinister, though she is a bit worse for wear, but no fear that can be fixed with time." Looping her arm through Sinister's she smiled up sweetly at the man and sent one finally passing glance towards the collapsed teenager on the asphalt.
"Now my dearest Sinister we must be rid myself of these degusting clothes for something more," a twinkle in her oddly colored eyes, "feminine and Victorian, obviously women have lost their sense of perseveration over the ages."
" Yes. But we have much work to be done, I'm sorry for the abrupt way that you had to be awakened." He said gently as he led the newly awakened mutant away from the ruble, "Boy's dispose of that vermin." Rouge's body suddenly stopped as she looked up at Sinister.
"No," She said forcefully stopping the nasty boy's in their tracks, "keep him, I find amusement from him, and feel as though his powers could be an addition to MY army." Then with that she stepped away from Sinister and walked away like she owned the world.
Somewhere deep inside of her a red eyed beauty could do nothing more than cry and wait praying that somehow she would be able to regain herself.
Author's note: Okay so the ending was abrupt but I'm going to revise it soon. REVIEW!!!!! Chapters should be coming out regularly soon.