Hunted and Hated
An X-Men Evolution Fanfic by Quill N. Inque
I do not own X-Men.
Chapter 15: Conscience and Creeds
It was a clear, blustery morning that found Catherine Hernandez standing upon the Ranger's quarterdeck. The sun was not yet high in the sky, but the cloudless expanses promised fair weather for the coming day. Her brown hair blew across her eyes, and Kitty had to once again pull her bangs from in front of her vision.
As her line of sight cleared, Kitty was startled to see Hughes standing right beside her, at a spot on the railing that had been vacant just seconds before. Though she trusted the man enough to know that no harm would come to her, Kitty was still momentarily intimidated by Hughes's fierce appearance.
The giant nodded courteously at her. "I was beginning to think you'd up an' died in me cabin," Hughes stated. "That'd be a shame; 'tis nice to have some intelligent comp'ny on me ship instead o' these sluggards I got fer a crew."
"I was feeling rather ill," Kitty admitted. "I thought the fresh air would help calm my stomach."
"Still haven't found yer sea legs, eh?" Hughes gave an amused grin. "Never fear, lass. Ye'll be over it soon enough."
"Tell me, Captain, are we any closer to Rome?"
Hughes tugged his beard. "We'll get there when we get there, Ms. Pryde. The winds and currents determine the speed of this ship, ye know. I can't just tell it t'go faster; we gotta make do with what the day gives us. Why're ye in such a hurry t'get to Rome?" he added. "I never bin fond of it meself, seein' as how I've never been a particularly religious bloke, an' I get th' feelin' that yer not goin' there t'pay yer respects, either."
"You're right, Captain," Kitty said quietly. "I am not going there for piety. Quite the opposite, in fact."
"Care t'elaborate?"
"Why should I?"
"Because," Hughes said slowly. "Ye ain't bin completely honest wid me when we struck our deal. I got a responsibility t'me crew, lass, an' if there be danger on the horizon I gotta right t'know about it an' so do they. I ain't ready t'die on account o' withheld information."
Kitty sighed, and Hughes noticed her eyes getting farther and farther away. "Tell me, have you ever heard of El Diablo?"
"Th' so-called demon runnin' about all o'er Spain?" Hughes tugged his beard again. "I don't know 'im, but I know of'im. Isn't he just a myth?"
"You're wrong," Kitty said flatly. "He is very real, but I know firsthand that he is not the evil creature the Church makes him out to be."
"What're ye sayin', lass?"
"His name is Kurt Wagner," Kitty continued softly. "And the entire world has been hunting him because he looks different than everyone else. Kurt has never tried to hurt anyone, not even those who wished him dead. I met him by chance some weeks ago, but now he has been captured by the Inquisition and taken to Rome, where he will undoubtedly be executed. I will not let that happen," Kitty finished, her eyes alight with determination. "I will save Kurt, or die trying, even if I have to cut down Pedro Sanchez himself to do it!"
"Pedro Sanchez?" Hughes's eyes narrowed, and his hand gripped the railing tighter. His voice was a harsh grate when Hughes finally spoke. "I woulda taken ye there free if I'd known it'd mean an opportunity to kill him." Kitty glanced curiously at Hughes, and the Captain continued speaking. "He warn't always an Inquisitor, ye know. About ten years back, he was in the Caribbean workin' as a pirate hunter fer the Spanish king. I 'ad the misfortune o' runnin' across 'im one day, an' that big galleon o' his blew me vessel out o' the water. An' even then, he warn't done; that heartless bastard had men point muskets o'er the side an' kill anyone flounderin' about in the water. I was the only one out o' me entire crew to survive that day, an' Sanchez left me with a memento." Hughes pointed to the patch that covered his ruined eye. "I've always bin meanin' to stick a sword in 'im fer takin' me eye, but I've never really been able to find 'im until now. An' I'll tell ye somethin' else, too: any man aboard this ship'd march all the way to Rome itself fer a chance to spill Sanchez's blood. I'll tack on t'this venture o' yers, Miss Pryde, along wid any man who chooses t'go with me!"
Kitty was momentarily taken aback, but the fact was that having a hundred bloodthirsty and vengeance-driven pirates to help her out would vastly improve her chances of getting Kurt out of Rome alive. Hughes was an experienced commander on land or sea, and Pedro would never expect a woman to ally herself with rogues like Hughes and his men. A small smile split her formerly somber features.
"I would greatly appreciate your assistance," she said. "But how do you know your men will agree to this?"
A dark, bitter smile made Kitty shudder. "One thing ye need to know about blokes like me, Ms. Pryde, is that we ne'er let an insult or injury go unpunished..."
Meanwhile…
Kurt opened one eye blearily as one of his guards plodded down the wooden steps to his reeking cell. The man bore a dish of only the most rudimentary rations, and his voice let Kurt know that it was not kindness that motivated him.
"We are only a few days from Rome, demon," the Inquisitor spat. "I have been ordered to see to your edibles, so you do not starve before we can execute you properly."
Kurt would have tried to make some witty retort, but his tongue was as thick as a baked sandal. So he merely nodded and accepted the chipped wooden tray. The food might have been delicious for all Kurt knew, but at the prospect of what he was being fed for, it turned to ash in his mouth. The thought of an excruciating death was certainly terrifying, but at the same time comforting. After all, Kurt told himself sadly, his suffering would only last for so long.
Soon, it would all be over…
A/N: Yes, yes, it's a short chapter, but I'm really busy with schoolwork right now and can't find the time for anything else. And seriously, PLEASE, PLEASE REVIEW! I was actually kinda disappointed because I didn't get a single one for the last chapter, and I want YOUR feedback! If you have ANY ideas or constructive criticism, LET ME KNOW! YOUR OPINION COUNTS! And coming up: Sanchez and his men arrive in Rome, with Kitty and Hughes hot on their heels! It's a race against time to save Kurt andthe Pope from Cardinal Vittorio's diabolical scheme!
Your humble servant,
-Quill N. Inque