The darkened figure swept across the dark chamber, cloak rippling at the figure's thick heeled black boots.
Small torches hung around the room, casting an eerie glow upon the hunched and snivelling person sat on the shimmering high chair. The darkened figure came to an abrupt halt before the snivelling other, a good five feet between the pairing.
"My Master," the darkened figure hissed, it's voice a mere whisper, barely audible in the large stone chamber, "I have come bearing news..."
The snivelling of the other ceased and it peered leeringly upwards to it's informative. Stringy grey hair fell from some crevice within the hood, and two blazing violet coloured eyes shone in the near darkness.
"What is the news..?"
The darkened figure bowed, then stood, and pulled back its hood. Shimmering fiery orange hair illuminated the chamber, making the other squint somewhat. The teenager had sharp, cunning features, thin lips, narrowed eyes and arched eyebrows. A small smirk was pasted upon his face.
"My Master, they," he emphasised the word with apparent disgust, "are branching in new mutants. They are training, a new team."
The other raised its seemingly invisible eyebrows. He thought instantly why, to help protect the vermin most likely...
The teenager continued with surprise after the unsettling silence. "I have discovered they have also shipped in a new counsellor. Jason Warner. The power charger, the one we attempted to recruit.."
The other laughed heartily. A laugh with no trace of hilarity within it. He signalled with a nod of head for the teenager to continue.
The teenager shivered. "I have also noticed a girl on the local news bulletins. She exposed herself as a mutant days ago at her high school. She has the power to repel, it was branded on the report. I believe she could be of high value to us Master."
"It seems so, Khaos. Maybe your next assignment is to retrieve her. In the meantime I intent to formulate a plan of action. I desire this world, and everything within it, as you so very well know..." The other cracked its spindly white fingers. Once more, the teenager suppressed a visible shiver, but failed.
"I see Master. But it is him. You know Master he shall intent to thwart whatever we attempt to do."
"You are correct Khaos. I need more and more fresh ones. You know what you have to do. Soon enough I shall have what I desire." The other said, a hint of finality within it's voice. Khaos bowed once more then turned on his heel and swept from the room, the other's violently glowing eyes boring into Khaos' back as he went.
All Kyra could hear was silence, being the loudest noise to the teenager. She couldn't see anything either, but she silently branded that to her eyes being obviously closed. She also had a killer headache still...
But now she could hear something. Talking, as if it was across a large hallway or spacious room, and very far away. It was fast and she couldn't make out a word what was being said. This frustrated Kyra, she was growing more curious by the seconds that felt like hours as she laid there, all eyes closed and frustrated. Now it was getting louder, the talking. And more clearer. She could make out the words, amongst the rapid talking still, "odd", "Nika", and "nut job".
Kyra frowned. Now she was getting annoyed.
"Hey!" This shot through her like a bullet and she was pulled back to consciousness. She gasped slightly and opened her eyes by a fraction. It was bright, that's what Kyra first registered, so she closed her eyes again. And now she could hear everything as clear as day.
"She's so awake. She just opened her eyes, I'm sure. Nika, you saw her right?"
"Damn right I saw her, she's weak. And lazy."
Someone laughed, which made Kyra grunt and screw up her eyes.
"Wow, she made an audible noise. And a face. This is the best we've got out of her in days."
Kyra only had to hear the word days, and she bolted upright, panting, and opened her eyes. Three teenage girls were stood at the foot of her bed, their faces all portraits of shock. One of the girls was tall and thin, and had a black, bob styled haircut. The girl to her right was short with a familiarly rounded, kindly face, and had a bush of red ringlets enveloping her face. The last of the trio had a beanie hat on, with just two curtains of long, sleek, mousy brown hair at either side of her pointed and moody face.
Kyra swallowed, she could feel her heart beat fast in her chest. "Where am I?" She blurted.
The short girl with the busy hair smiled widely. "You're safe, there's no need to pani -"
"I don't care if I'm safe or not, where am I?!" Kyra yelled, panic now coursing through her. It all flooded back. Her stepfather, her mother...running away, the woman! And the police!
The tall girl glared at Kyra. "Stop, panicking. You're above that electronic shop you saw, if you can remember it. Everything is going to be fine." The girl insisted, her eyes sparkling, an essence of pure golden light surrounded her irises. Kyra immediately felt the panic drain from her, she didn't know how, it was the girl's eyes...
Kyra bowed her head and could feel the tears coming. She didn't know what to do, who to turn to. All she knew was that she needed to leave, and get to Xavier's.
"Look," Kyra sniffed, "I don't know how I got here, but I need to leave. I'm wanted. The police tried to get me and I'm scared. Either you let me go, or if not, I'll make you." Kyra knew her pathetic threat wouldn't scare anyone, but at least she attempted to.
"It's okay Kyra, no one is going to force you to do anything." A familiar voice said. Kyra looked to her right and saw the woman from the street, she was smiling just like the girl at the foot of her bed.
"It's you," Kyra whispered.
"I think," the woman softly said, "it is about time I introduce myself. My name is Elisa Govern and this," she indicated to the rosy faced girl, "is my daughter Tamara. The tall girl to Tamara's right is Annika Blake and the girl to Tamara's left is Stacy Miles."
Kyra looked at each girl as Elisa informed her of their names. What was this place? She turned to Elisa. "Why – why, did you bring me here?"
"Girls," Elisa said, her softened features turning authoritative as the trio shuffled from the room, Annika sparing Kyra a shifty backwards glance. Elisa came forward and sat on the end of the bed. Kyra brought her legs up to her chin, the soft duvet folding up above her eyes nearly.
"After you emitted your power Kyra, the police you repelled called for a lot of backup." Elisa's face turned suddenly grave. "I managed to fight the SWAT team off with my telekinetic powers but they kept coming, I needed to protect you. There was a news crew swarming all over the scene. I though we were done for Kyra. That, or at least we would be taken in and locked well away. But my own secondary mutant power blossomed and I somehow managed to teleport us away. Here."
Kyra's head swam with questions. She was a mutant...the teen felt a flood of relief somewhat, at least she was with people like herself.
"After I teleported us I laid you here, to rest and recover, and so you have been for two days now. We all thought you were in a coma. But due to your excessive snoring," Kyra blushed a brilliant shade of magenta, "we figured you were just in a long, deep, sleep." Elisa smiled widely once more at this, her rosy cheeks shining slightly in the overhead light.
She could only utter one word in astonishment. "Thanks."
Elisa nodded. "This, is my home above the electronics shop. It may not seem much but I also house other mutant runaways like yourself. Only a few however, but at least they are safe." Elisa registered Kyra's grin. "I suppose you could say its like Xavier's, bar the leather suits and large space planes."
Kyra chuckled. She was going to like it here. But she thought..."Why do you do this? Like, help and house other mutant kids?"
"I do it, because I think that anyone, no matter who they are, deserve somewhere to stay and feel safe. It's a basic human right." Elisa simply said. This is amazing, she's such a decent person, Kyra silently said. The teen looked wearily around. Beside the bed was a side table with a neat little lamp. There was a large wooden wardrobe in the far left corner, a cosy little landscape painting of rolling hills and a forest beside it, and a desk and chair behind Elisa underneath a lace curtained window.
But through all the hospitality and welcome she had been offered, Kyra still felt the tug of fear in the pit of her stomach, she needed to ask. "But, what about the police? Do they know where we went? And my mom, do you know what's happened to her?"
"The police have no idea where we have gone. I know it's wrong to keep you here, as a wanted fugitive I'm afraid to say, but this is where you need to be, safe. And about your mother, I'm sorry but I have no news on her." Elisa said, sadly. Kyra understood plainly. She needed to know about her mother, even if it meant her being arrested.
"Look," Kyra said, "I need to go and find my mom. Anything could have happened to her, she tried to protect me and I can't stay here knowing she maybe in trouble." The teen swung her legs out of the bed and stood, glancing down at the ashen faced Elisa, who stood up rapidly as well.
"Kyra you mustn't go! The police will find you and no doubt take you away! For years runaway mutant teenagers such as yourself have completely disappeared, you're now my responsibility Kyra!" Elisa pleaded. But the teen saw no sense, her overwhelming love for her mother spurred her on by the second to find her.
"I'm sorry. I'm so grateful I really am. But my mom, I need to know if she's safe or not." Kyra turned on her heel and made for the door, but Elisa bounded before her with surprising speed.
"Kyra I am no longer asking you to stay. You have to. You don't realise what they do to teenagers like yourself." Her wide eyes stared into Kyra's. "Please."
Kyra thought on it for a second. She was scared by Elisa's words, after revealing who she was she had no idea what some people would do to her. Plus she couldn't help but believe every word Elisa said, after looking into those eyes, Kyra was sure she was telling the truth and not lying to simply make her stay.
She looked at her bare feet for a second. "Okay, I'll stay."
"Thank you Kyra. I promise you will not regret staying and I shall help you find out information about your mother."
"But you have to promise that you will help me,"
"I promise. Get yourself dressed in the clean clothes in your wardrobe and then come and find me in the room across from this one and I shall show you around." Elisa said, smiling warmly. She then left, closing the mahogany door behind her with a snap.
Kyra sighed. She was starting a new life and had to, somehow, not screw this one up. To start she needed to at least smell acceptable. Thankfully she had packed some toiletries when she left home. Home... Then she thought of Edie.
Stay safe mom, Kyra silently prayed, as she made her way to the large wardrobe.