New Blood
Chapter 8: Into the Darkness
Hellfire Spa
The first lesson in Hellfire training was always the most difficult. The older pawns could attest to that. Being part of the Inner Circle wasn't about nurturing who people were, it was about breaking down their old ways of thinking and re-shaping them to fit the mold of the Hellfire Club. It didn't happen overnight. The first class of pawns took a while to become who they were now. But it was those first few lessons that really sent them down the dark path they were currently on. And now eight new pawns were on that same path.
Alex, Lorna, Bobby, Jubilee, Kitty, Sam, Roberto, and Tabitha were all in somewhat of a daze after the lesson. Selene and Xavier gave them plenty of praise, but it was still sinking in. They all just beat up on a bunch of total strangers. They beat them so bad they could have been dead for all they know. But Xavier assured them they would be fine (so to speak) and they would still face Hellfire's harsh wrath. They were all starting to understand just how bad a wrath it was and they all felt differently about it.
For those like Sam, Kitty, Jubilee, and Bobby it was hard to get around. Before today they weren't much for fighting. Some like Bobby had been beaten up, but they never played the part of aggressor. In some ways it was exhilarating, being the one to dish out the punishment instead of always having to take it. But it was also disturbing. They had no idea they were capable of that kind of brutality. Selene had a way of getting them in the right mindset and having them act on it. It was difficult to accept and they couldn't help but feel some remorse afterwards, but Selene drilled it into their heads that this was what they had to do if they were to be part of the organization. It was just going to take a while for them to accept and to fully understand what they were turning into.
Others, however, didn't have as big a problem. Tabitha and Roberto didn't show much remorse over what they did. If anything, they got excited by it. Tabitha had always been the victim, having to leech off of others so she wouldn't go hungry or homeless. And working the streets, she had been beaten before and couldn't do anything about it because the police would just throw her in jail or send her back to her father. Here she was the one in control and she liked having that kind of power. Roberto embraced it for a different reason. Shortly afterwards he called his father, Emmanuel, to tell him what happened. To his surprise his father was proud of him. He went on to lecture him how that kind of willingness to be strong and ruthless helped him gain favor in the Hellfire Club and become the success that he was. He also reinforced the notion that had he been willing to act with such resolve, Julia never would have been killed. That support eased any guilt or remorse he might have had. He always looked up to and respected his father and now he was finally beginning to understand why he was such a success at what he did.
As for Alex and Lorna, they were more or less indifferent to what had happened. Alex was surprised more than anything else at what he did. He always did have a problem letting his anger get the best of him and he always felt bad about it. But after listening to Selene he didn't have that same sense of remorse. He liked that he could be supported for being tough instead of scorned upon like his foster parents did. It was the kind of nurturing he never had and he found himself intrigued by Hellfire laurels. Scott was definitely supportive, but somewhat distressed by how quickly he took to it. Lorna was equally struck by the lesson, but not in the same way as Alex or the others. While she did get a thrill out of being the oppressor instead of the victim, she had to step back to rationalize it a bit. Whatever remorse she felt was balanced by her reasoning that these people were enemies and no better than the jerks who threw her mother out onto the street. Pietro sensed that was part of their father's mindset, who tried to rationalize everything he did. But he made sure she did it in a good way.
Overall, it was a surreal feeling having done what they did. Every one of the new pawns found their own way of coping with it. At the moment Bobby, Jubilee, Sam, Tabitha, and Roberto were in the Hellfire spa. Jean, Rogue, and James Poundstar were with them. They summoned some of Hellfire's beautiful female sex workers and attractive male studs to help them relax. The boys were lounging in a hot tub while two topless women served them snacks while Tabitha and Jubilee lay naked on massage tables getting messages. It was plenty relaxing for their bodies, but their minds were still tense.
"Dang…Ah can't believe everything Ah did back there," mused Sam as he sank into the hot tub.
"Yeah, we heard you the first five times, Sam. Give it a rest already. We know," said Roberto.
"Ah can't!" he exclaimed, "Before today Ah never got into a fight. Heck, nobody ever picked a fight with me. And here Ah am just sitting here after nearly beating a bunch of strangers half to death."
"I know how you feel man," said Bobby, who ate a chocolate served to him by a topless woman, "I'm so messed up I can't even admire the beautiful half-naked women around me. But I can't say it didn't feel vindicated."
"Why? Because they were enemies?" said Sam.
"No, because I've been on the blunt end of some major beating myself. I still remember that lynch mob that nearly killed me the day my powers manifested. They were so brutal I ended up in a coma."
Bobby's voice was bitter. That memory always brought back bad feelings. But after this lesson with Selene, it brought out other feelings.
"I won't say it didn't feel good though. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't wish I had a chance to get some payback on those assholes. I'll bet they didn't feel guilty about what they did to me."
"They probably didn't," said Tabitha, who was probably the most relaxed of all of them, "I go through the same thing every time some jerk off tried to rape or take advantage of me. I can usually fight them off, but only to an extent. It felt good really being able to cut loose this time!"
"So you don't feel even a little bit of guilt?" asked Jubilee, who looked at her strangely.
"Not in the slightest."
Jubilee was amazed. Tabitha sounded pretty serious. She was even smiling a bit as the hot, shirtless stud rubbed her back. She had a man just as attractive doing that to her, but she couldn't enjoy it as much. As good as it felt taking her anger out on people like those who wronged her while she was a mall rat, she did feel guilt. It wasn't overwhelming, but it was there. She was just learning to cope with it like the rest of them were.
Jean, Rogue, and James, each of who was lounging nude in a separate hot tub, sensed their conflicted mindsets. They were not at all unfamiliar with such feelings. They dealt with it too when they first joined. But Rogue and James had an advantage. Rogue was raised by Mystique to be tough and was able to stomach Hellfire's ruthless ways without too much trouble. James was a trained Apache warrior. He had to be willing to be brutal. But for Jean, who came from a background similar to theirs, it had been much more difficult. She remembered being tested early on, having to learn how to not only defend herself with her powers, but inflict harm as well. For a while it bore heavily on her, but the more she did it and the more encouragement she got from Xavier and Selene the less it bothered her. Now she really didn't think about it all that much. But she had experience and these young pawns did not.
"Relax, y'all. It gets easier after a while," assured Rogue, who was resting after a busy day of training with her new powers, "Eventually you don't give this stuff a second thought."
"But how long does it take?" asked Sam warily.
"It depends," said James, "Some people have an easier time inflicting harm than others. I've never had a problem since I've had warrior training since I was a boy. But for the rest of you, it's going to be a matter of how determined you are to embrace us."
"That's just it. We're all determined. We wouldn't be here if we weren't," reasoned Jubilee, "It's just…hard, you know? Knowing we're going to have to do this stuff."
"Believe me, Jubileee, I understand," said Jean as she leaned over the hot tub and faced the young pawns with an understanding look, "I remember how tough it was for me when I first started training. My first test was to break the mind of this guy who once worked for Lord Xavier's enemies. I never used my powers like that before so it was pretty tough."
"So did you do it?" asked Bobby, "Did you blow his mind up or something?"
"Well I wouldn't say I blew it up. But I will say his higher functions took quite a hit after I was done with them," said Jean wryly, "Afterwards I was pretty messed up about it. I mean the guy was bleeding through his ears and his eyes were rolled all the way in the back of his head. But Lord Xavier reminded me that such tactics are necessary. You can't be squeamish in a place like the Hellfire Club. You have to be willing to hit hard and show no mercy."
"Yeah, I'm beginning to understand that," said Roberto, "No wonder my dad spoke so highly of your methods."
"And rightfully so," said Jean, "As brutal as they are, they do work. Just look around. Look how successful the Hellfire Club is. None of this would be possible if we had to dedicate resources to handling enemies we left alive out of compassion. You can scare them all out want and threaten them all you want. But eventually, human nature wins out and they become a problem. That's just how the natural order works."
"In other words it's a necessary evil?" Sam summarized.
"I wouldn't go so far as to call it evil," said James, "These are tactics, not moral principles. And when you're fighting battles against countless enemies who want what you've got, you have to be willing to take them down."
"That I understand," said Jubilee, "But what about just cruelty to be cruel? Mistress Selene sure doesn't seem to have a problem with that."
Jean, Rogue, and James exchanged looks. These new pawns picked up fast. One lesson with Selene and already they were picking up on some of her tendencies. It was bound to be revealed sooner or later. While Lord Xavier preached doing only what was necessary, Selene just seemed to do as she pleased even when it involved cutthroat brutality. It was one of the unique traits that made her so good at her duties and it was something everybody in the Inner Circle had to accept.
"Well she's a special case, sugah," said Rogue, "Mistress Selene is bit…off in some ways. But she's still the Black Queen and we gotta respect her."
"Like we have a choice there," scoffed Bobby, "I like that woman's dress sense, but man she's ice cold."
"Coming from you, that's saying something," joked Tabitha, "But hey, if that's how it is then so be it. It seems to work for her and it seems to work for the Hellfire Club as well."
"Yeah, but she's still pretty extreme," said Sam, "We won't have to adopt ALL of her tactics, will we?"
"Oh believe me, Sam, that's the last thing we would want you to do," laughed Jean, "One Mistress Selene is plenty. We only expect you to adhere to our base principles and use them to contribute to our organization. Along the way you'll find your niches. You just have to be willing to do whatever is necessary to forge ahead in this chaotic world."
It was sound advice from someone who started off just like them. The training they were doing now was conditioning them to do more in the future. For some, the idea of nurturing their darker tendencies was going to take some getting used to. But remembering back to what Selene preached, those tendencies were as much a part of them as they were every other human in the world. The only difference now is that they would be exercising and embracing those tendencies. It was still an alien concept, but it had to have some merit for the Hellfire Club to be this successful and powerful. Even those with reservations couldn't deny that they were in too deeply not to turn away. They had started down this dark path and they were going to continue to see where it led them.
Upper Lounge
While many of the other new went off to digest their first lesson, Alex and Lorna were met right outside Selene's chamber by their respective siblings, Scott and Pietro. Having gone through similar rituals with Selene in the past they knew what it was like and knew they were probably going to need some support. Alex being Alex, he tried to brush it off and at first didn't seem to want Scott's company. But Scott pestered him to tag along with him so they could talk and he reluctantly followed, a look of dark indifference never leaving his face. Lorna wasn't as difficult. She looked a little dazed, but she turned to Pietro for support and he was there to give it to her.
In addition Wanda caught up with Lorna and Pietro. Having just been introduced to Lorna a few hours ago, they didn't really have time to connect. She figured as long as she was family she would see what she had to offer. After watching her at work during the training session, she was intrigued by her powers. Her mistress told her to keep an eye on her because even though she was new, there was no getting around those abilities of hers. Wanda understood and hoped to use her sister status to influence her. But it turned out Pietro had a similar idea and was staying close to Lorna, something he hadn't done for a long while.
"How are you holding up, Lorna?" asked Pietro, sounding more sincere than he usually did.
"Okay I guess," answered Lorna as she hugged her shoulders, "That was…intense. I can't believe I did some of those things."
"But you did well," said Wanda with an approving grin, "You showed you had the will and grit to carry out such tasks. Of course, I would expect nothing less from a sister, even if you are only my half-sister."
"Thanks…I guess," said Lorna awkwardly.
She was a little put off by how Wanda carried herself. It was very dark, showing major similarity to Selene. That didn't sit well because that woman just felt off. She may be the Black Queen, but there was still something odd about her.
"It takes a while to sink in, but trust me it gets easier," said Pietro in a more understanding tone, "Just remember that the people you assaulted were not innocent. They were all enemies of Hellfire and such harsh punishments are necessary when you're trying to instill order in a world of chaos."
"Yeah, that's another thing I'm beginning to understand," said Lorna distantly, "Back home, I can't tell you how much I would have liked to lay out those bastards that tossed my mom out onto the streets after her accident. Before then I was like everybody else. I believed that there was justice in the world. But when people like my mother are left to suffer at the hands of nameless desk jockeys, something is seriously wrong with the system. Stuff like that should never go unpunished."
"Around here, it won't," assured Pietro, "Here justice is dispensed in the form of order. Wherever there is chaos, we seek to right it. But you can't always do that with foolish idealism. You need to use more realistic and efficient methods."
"In other words, you must be willing to bust some heads," added Wanda.
"Sounds reasonable enough to me," said Lorna, managing a half-smile, "It's just going to take a little time for me to get into it, you know?"
"Take all the time you need," said Pietro, "We'll be here to help, right Wanda?"
"Of course we will," she said, rolling her eyes.
Wanda was a bit put off by Lorna's initial squeamishness. She seemed willing enough to inflict harm, but not without hesitation. She had to stop and think about what she was doing, which did not bode well for fitting her into Selene's plans. She seemed to be getting along with Pietro a bit too well. She couldn't help but feel a slight touch of jealousy, but she brushed it off for now. It was still early and perhaps her mistress would find other ways of working her into the plan. She didn't have a problem with getting to know a long lost sibling so long as she didn't get in her way.
While Lorna seemed to be getting decent support from her siblings, Scott and Alex weren't faring as well. Alex didn't want to talk at first. He didn't need Scott babying him after a lesson like that. It was quite a unique experience for him. But he made it work for him. He didn't feel the kind of remorse the others may have felt. If anything he was just dazed, having let out so much frustration. It was kind of liberating, but Scott being the overbearing brother he was tried to put it in a different light.
"So you're sure you handled it well? You weren't too overbearing or too light, were you?" inquired Scott.
"For the last time, Scott. I did fine!" said Alex in an annoyed tone, "It's not like I've never been in a fight before."
"This wasn't just a fight, Alex. This was you taking the power that was given to you and using it responsibly to punish your enemies. You can't be casual about this. It's important."
"Why? You think it bothers me that I just beat the living crap out of a bunch of people I don't even know?"
"It does bother you to some extent. You can't look me in the eye and tell you it doesn't."
"And what makes you so sure?" scoffed Alex.
"Because I'm your brother and I know you."
Scott's tone was serious and he was getting under Alex's skin. He was always able to pick up on his demeanor. It's part of what annoyed him so much because Scott always used it to annoy him it seemed. He was right about it bothering him a bit. But it wasn't something that was going to traumatize him. They had both been hardened against that by watching their parents die. Yet Scott still insisted that he was more fragile because he was younger.
"Alex, if you're going to be part of the Hellfire Club you have to acknowledge when you need guidance. I know you like doing your own thing, but you can't always do that in a place like this. You have to adhere to principles."
"We talking about Hellfire's principles or just yours?" retorted Alex.
"Don't make this personal," groaned Scott, "This kind of brutality is part of our ways, but you also need to understand the reasons behind them. And I know you don't like to think too much into your actions, but here you need to be able to contemplate and rationalize each and every act you do. Even when you find yourself doing something you wouldn't normally do, you must let reason win out. You have to be willing to do anything and everything to get the job done."
"Yeah, yeah I know. Now are you done lecturing me? Because I need a little space."
Alex sounded serious and annoyed. Scott still didn't think his message was resonating with him, but then again Alex was pretty thick headed. He didn't have a problem being ruthless. He had a problem thinking about it first. That was a potentially dangerous tendency that could get him into trouble here at the Hellfire Club and he refused to let it happen.
Never-the-less, Scott left it there for now. He understood Alex probably needed some time to let this sink in. The first lesson was always the hardest. He remembered what it was like for him. For his first lesson Xavier had him use his optic blasts on live prisoners that were set up like targets on an obstacle course. It used to really bother him, using his powers to hurt people, but he was hardened to that feeling. Now he didn't even think about it, but it took time. He understood that, but Alex didn't. Looking over at Lorna and Pietro, he couldn't help but feel a little envious. Lorna seemed to actually listen to her brother and she just met him a few days ago. It didn't seem fair.
"I think that's enough de-briefing for now," said Pietro, "You guys up for something to eat? We could get the chefs to fix us all a nice gourmet meal."
"Thanks Pietro, but I don't really have an appetite at the moment," said Lorna, "I'd rather just go back to my quarters, take a hot shower, and mellow out for the night."
"Yeah, I think I'll do the same. I don't think I could eat after something like this anyways," said Alex.
"Suit yourself," sighed Wanda, "But sooner or later you'll have to adapt. If you lose your appetite after a simple session like this you'll go hungry real fast. So you might as well start training your appetite as well."
"Easy Wanda," said Scott, "One step at a time, right?"
"I'm just offering a little advice," she shrugged innocently.
"I think they get the message," said Pietro with a touch of brotherly scorn.
Wanda scorned back, but she didn't add any other comments. She didn't need to cause a fight. Things were rocky enough between her and Pietro. They had been for a few years now. The time she spent with Kurt and the lies she told him about Selene caused plenty of strain. It was at a point where she couldn't afford to cause more or else Pietro may start poking his nose in her business more and she couldn't have that. So for now she let it go.
Lorna mouthed 'thank you' to Pietro and walked off towards her quarters. Alex followed close behind, leaving his brother to bemoan their situation. He didn't like it any more than he did, but it came along with being brothers.
"Having siblings never gets easier, does it?" commented Pietro.
"Tell me about it," sighed Scott.
"I'm still here you know," said Wanda with a bemused look.
"I rest my case," grinned the speedster.
That earned him a little hex shock from Wanda, but Pietro made his point and took it as he always did. Even as things between them were troubled, they still found time to make little quips like that. Even Selene couldn't stop them from being brother and sister. They still found time to laugh about it.
Even Scott joined in. However, he wished to some extent that he could have that with Alex. There seemed to be so much distance between them that it was impossible to rebuild their relationship. He hoped they still had a chance, but that all depended how he adjusted to life here at the Hellfire Club. It had a way of changing people Alex and Lorna were surely no exception.
Near Lorna's Quarters
After leaving their siblings behind, Alex and Lorna were in serious need of relaxation. After participating in such a strange and violent training session, they had to do something to help it sink in. The Hellfire Club had plenty of resources for relaxing. They had been told during the tour that there was an abundance of luxuries including food, entertainment, and sex. They had yet to take advantage of such opportunities yet, but they definitely planned to. For now, they just needed something to help them unwind.
Alex stuck close to Lorna. Since he came in at the same time she did and since she was also dealing with reuniting with a sibling, he felt more comfortable around her. It also helped she was pretty attractive as well. That green hair and well-toned body of hers had a sexy, exotic look. Alex had been with his share of women and always had a thing for women who were different. This one definitely seemed different and she also had issues that he could understand. It was also a plus that she didn't seem to mind his company.
"Wow, I never knew having a long lost half brother and half sister could be so strange," mused Lorna, "It's almost as intense as the training session…well, in a context that is."
"Believe me, I know what you mean," smirked Alex, "I had the luck of knowing my brother since birth and you already get along better with Pietro than I ever did with him."
"Really? I'm sorry to hear that," she said, casting him a sympathetic look.
"Don't be. It's really complicated. But it all boils down to me and Scott just going different ways in life. We've disagreed on damn near every major decision we've made about our lives and fought over it forever it seems."
"That must be tough."
"It is, but now that we're both here we have a chance to patch things up," he shrugged, "I don't know how long that will take. Scott can be pretty stubborn. But that seems to run in our family."
"Well I hope you guys work things out," said Lorna, "I'm still trying to wrap my head around having siblings. I've been an only child for so long I really don't know how to handle it. But Pietro's been really supportive even if he has been a little uncoordinated at times."
"What do you expect from a guy that acts faster than he thinks?" joked Alex.
"Duly noted," laughed Lorna, "But still, with everything I'll be doing for the Hellfire Club and building a new relationship with my family it all feels so…overwhelming."
The young woman hugged her shoulders a bit, her mind going over all the possibilities and responsibilities she had before her. For one, she had to learn how to handle Hellfire's ruthless tactics. Then she also had to learn how to be a sister to these two people she just met. It seemed like too much. But Alex moved in and offered her a comforting gesture.
"You'll be fine," he told her, "You're already doing better than me and Scott."
"Thanks, Alex. I hope you're right," said Lorna with another smile.
It felt good to smile again, especially after everything they just did in training. Now they were at Lorna's room, but Alex continued to linger. He got a good feeling around this girl. It felt like they could support each other as they went through this. It sure helped that she was hot as well. He was also certain she found him attractive as well. So why not play off that?
"So you're gonna shower and turn in?" asked Alex.
"That's the plan," affirmed Lorna.
"Sounds like a good one," he said, his tone shifting a little, "You…want some company?"
"What? In the shower?" she laughed, "Aren't we being a little fresh?"
"We just did a training session that had us acting on our baser impulses. Why not keep at it and act on others? It might help us…you know, adapt?"
Alex Summers was nothing if not an opportunist. Lorna noticed how he had been giving her the eye since they met. She didn't mind and she found him plenty attractive as well. He was a bit older and better built than the younger pawns. He had a nice surfer's physique and nicely tanned skin. He had all the features she looked for in a guy for hooking up. Back home, she wasn't afraid to flirt and she wasn't afraid to get intimate. She was definitely not a virgin, but she usually didn't have sex with someone she just met like this. But given the circumstances of this place, it felt somewhat appropriate.
"So what do you say?" said Alex, moving in closer with a flirtatious leer.
"After what we just did you really want to do this?" she said.
"What? Sex is supposed to be relaxing. If it works, why not?"
"Just answer me this, Alex, if I say no are you going to keep coming up with these excuses?" she said in a humored tone.
"I could make a list if that's easier."
Lorna laughed again. Alex had wit to go along with his looks. She liked that in a man. And maybe there was some truth to his suggestion. A little sex might really help get through this. If nothing else, it would be a good way to get into Hellfire's promiscuous spirit.
"Okay, I guess I'll save you the trouble," she smiled, "Go get a towel and meet me in my bathroom."
"I'll be back in two minutes max! Don't start without me."
Then with speeds that would make Pietro envious, Alex ran off to his quarters to get a towel and robe. The promise of sex was enough to make him temporarily forget about the training session and set different priorities. Lorna liked that he was motivated, but then again most men were in such circumstances.
Once he ran off she entered her quarters and gathered a towel. She then entered her private bathroom. Like all the other bathrooms in the manor it was very opulent. Everything was quality marble with shining, silver and gold fixtures. It was definitely the nicest bathroom she had ever been in and it had a standing shower next to a Jacuzzi tub, which was big enough for two. She got the feeling Xavier and Selene expected these showers to be shared by more than one person at times. These people weren't shy about sex and showering tended to go well with sex.
After some initial preparations, Lorna stripped out of her Hellfire uniform so that she was only in her thong. She was just about to remove that as well when Alex showed up wearing only a robe. And when he saw her standing there topless he grinned
"Damn, you're hot California girl, aren't you?" he commented.
"I like to keep in shape," she said with a wry smile, "What about you? You're from Hawaii right?"
"Yep! And there you've gotta look good in a swimsuit if you're to attract the right attention."
Alex then took off his robe, revealing his naked, well-sculpted form. Lorna smiled in approval. The man practiced what he preached. He had the surfer's body and a surfer's tan, the kind that would look very nice in a bathing suit. She could easily see him as one of those hot guys walking down the beach, picking up girls. She knew guys like him back home and she always found them good for some casual fun. But Alex Summers carried himself differently than those men and she wasn't complaining.
"Shall we?" said Alex.
"Oh yes," grinned Lorna.
The young woman slid out of her thong while simultaneously turning on the shower using her magnetism powers. Alex liked her creative touch. He liked how she looked naked even more though. The sexual energy between them was growing fast. Lorna gracefully took Alex's hand and led him into the shower. Once in she drew him under the hot torrent with her, pulling her in close to her so that the water cascaded between their naked bodies.
"Feeling relaxed yet?" said Alex in a manly tone.
"I'm getting there," said Lorna playfully.
For the first few minutes they just stood under the water and got acquainted with each others' bodies. Lorna ran her hands down his manly chest, tracing along the contours of his muscles. Alex slid his hands up her womanly curves. Their touching continued into all out foreplay. Somewhere along the way, they leaned in and shared a sensual kiss. Their lips and tongues tangoed as they explored each others' naked flesh. It felt extra hot in the shower and really started building up their arousal.
"Mmm…want to help me wash up?" purred Lorna
"Sure," grinned Alex, "But only if you return the favor."
"Deal!"
They parted briefly so they could get some soap and shampoo. Every bathroom in the manor was equipped with a fancy array of soap, shampoo, conditioners, and body wash. For a situation like this they grabbed a bottle of liquid soap and dabbed a healthy amount in their hands. Then with a lustful look in their eyes, they moved back towards the wall and started washing each other. They didn't bother with washcloths or anything. Their hands were sufficient and felt much better anyways. It allowed them mix washing with foreplay and it made things even more heated.
They started washing each other, but washing soon turned into more foreplay. More foreplay led to more arousal. Before they knew it, Alex had Lorna pinned against the shower door and they were both moaning in euphoria as they had sex in a heated fervor. They were thorough, yet energetic. It was a good way to work off everything they built up earlier. It was a good, hard fuck that played off the burning lust that Hellfire instilled in them. Yet through that lust some passion broke through. That initial attraction sparked something more in the way they moved their bodies. It pushed them to do it longer and harder, having sex in a variety of positions under the hot shower. They shared numerous blissful peaks. When the final sensations coursed through them, them let out a content gasp and shared a warm embrace under the hot torrent of water.
"Damn, that was good," said Alex with a content sigh, "You do this often?"
"Not as often as I'd like," purred Lorna, "It's been a while since I've hooked up with somebody. I've forgotten how great it feels."
"Yeah, same here," he said in agreement, "But I bet we'll get plenty of chances around here."
"So I've heard," she said, "But I'd still like to have a few with you. I mean…you did say we're kind of in the same boat, right?"
"We are. And I think you're right. I wouldn't mind giving you a little 'extra' attention Lorna. You're a very interesting woman. And you look great naked."
"Aww, thanks," she smiled, "You're blunt and cute. I like that. I like it a lot. I guess it couldn't hurt to have another friend in this place. We can't rely on our siblings all the time."
"That's for sure," said Alex, "Besides, I always did have thing for girls with more 'exotic' features."
To reinforce his point he playfully ran his fingers through her green hair. She smiled at such a gesture, pulling him closer and allowing his manly form to press up against her womanly body. They shared another kiss, just letting the water flow down their bodies and relax away the tension. There was still so much to take in. They had a long road ahead of them and after their first training session with Selene there was no telling what else they would end up doing. But if they were to find their place in this organization, they had to tough through it. They had the support of Scott, Pietro, and Wanda, but it couldn't hurt to have someone else they were close to. They had a few things in common. They might end up having more. Whatever the case may be, they took their first step down the path of Hellfire and there was no going back.
Hellfire Wardrobe
When something major happens, it's normal to lean on other people. But for some, it's easier to cope by being alone for a while. Kitty Pryde was never one to hold onto others for support. After her powers manifested, she got so much bad advice from people trying to help her cope that she gave up listening to them and learned to deal with it on her own. Back home, she would usually go on long walks where she could be alone with her thoughts. It didn't always solve her problems, but it worked as well as she could have hoped.
At the moment, she found herself in a different kind of situation. That training session opened up a new side to her that she didn't know she had. Listening to Selene and participating in such a brutal ritual left quite an impression. She had no idea she was capable of such cruelty. It was hard to wrap her head around, but being alone with her thoughts helped work some aspects out. She started thinking back to all the times she was an outcast at school. Even before she was a mutant she was never one of the popular girls. She tried to fit in, but more often then not she was rejected. After her powers manifested people really pushed her away. And that made her angry. But before today, she always bottled it up and held back every chance she got.
Now she let it out. For the first time in her life, she broke out of her shell and let her pent up anger guide her. It fueled her actions as she beat up on the prisoners. And it felt good. There was no denying that. It felt really good to let those feelings out. It was even more intense than the sex ritual Selene had them participate in when she first arrived. That was just harmless decadence. This was tapping into something much deeper. It went to the heart of who she was. This new side to her was something that had always been there, but she never acknowledged it. Now it was up to her to figure out what to do with it.
One way she took her mind off it was to venture down to the Hellfire Wardrobe and try on some of the elaborate outfits they had stocked up. She had always been a shopaholic and a clothing junkie. Half her teenage years had been spent at a mall doing window shopping for the most part. It was the best way she knew how to kill time in between school and not fitting in with others. But in all the years she had been shopping, she never came across outfits like these. Much of these outfits were what female sex workers wore when they were on duty. Others were the elaborate, Victorian style clothes that the men were. It was all high quality, custom made, and very provocative. If it were a store at the mall it would have definitely been her favorite.
She found herself trying on some of the outfits that the strippers used. She never used to be one for the really sexy attire, but since her surgery from Sinister she could finally fill out some of these clothes and fill them out well. She tried on Jean's famous hot nurse outfit, Rogue's school girl outfit, and Emma's queen outfit, and Wanda's black S&M outfit. She was amazed at how they all looked on her. As amazing a place the Hellfire Club was, she was most impressed by how they enhanced her body. She never thought she could look this sexy. She never thought she could even fill out a bra at this size. It made the idea of stripping a lot easier. She was still really nervous about it, but if that's what she had to do so be it. After the first training session, she was beginning to see just how important this do-anything-for-the-sake-of-Hellfire philosophy was.
She had just slipped out of Wanda's S&M attire, leaving her only in a thong, when she went back to the wardrobe in search of another outfit. Then suddenly, a voice from behind startled her.
"So this is where you've been hiding, Katya."
Kitty turned around and instinctively covered her breasts with the corset she just removed. She saw that the voice belonged to Piotr Rasputin, the same man who initially approached her. She immediately felt a little bashful, partially because she remembered how attracted she was to him that day and partially because she was wearing so little. But it didn't seem to bother him. He was there during the sex ritual she was in that first day anyways.
"Oh uh…hi Peter," she said awkwardly.
"Is everything okay?" he asked, "Why didn't you join the others in the spa?"
"I just…wasn't in the mood for a spa," she answered, "So I came here for some quiet time."
"I see," said the Russian in an understanding tone, "Would you like me to leave you alone?"
Kitty smiled a bit, still holding the garments to her breasts. As conflicted as she was after the training session, she still remembered this handsome man fondly. He was the one who reached out to her. And she still found him just as attractive now as she did when she first saw him. As much as she liked to deal with things on her own, it couldn't hurt to have a tall, strong, handsome guy like Piotr Rasputin around to keep her company.
"No, you can stay if you want," she told him.
"Are you sure? Not that I mind, but I must warn you I am not one for American fashion expertise."
"That's okay. You can just stay and talk if you want," she smiled.
Piotr smiled back walked in closer, stepping over piles of clothes in the process. Apparently, she had tried on quite a few outfits. She must have gone through half the stripper wardrobe already. She must have an affinity for clothes, but being a man of simple tastes he thought she looked good enough in just a thong. So he pulled up a chair and sat down across from her.
She was silent for a moment before she turned back around and started putting away some of the outfits she had been trying on. He noticed she had a distant look on her face. He figured she would be in need of support like the rest of the pawns. Unlike him, she did not have the benefit of being hardened to Hellfire's tactics by spending time in the Russian Mob. She was a normal girl who got her first taste of their brutal world and she was still trying to process it. The best he could do for her and the organization as a whole was help her.
"So how are you holding up if you don't mind me asking?" said Piotr.
"After what I just did back there?" said Kitty, still facing away from him, "I don't know. I'm not curled up in fetal position crying like a baby so I guess that's good. But it's still sinking in, you know? With everything I've done and everything I'm expected to do for the Hellfire Club, it just feels like too much sometimes."
"Yes, I know the feeling," said the Russian mutant empathically, "But it gets easier. The first major test is usually the hardest."
"Was it like this for you?" she asked him.
"Well my circumstances were different, you see. Before I came here I was an errand boy for the Russian Mob. And during my time with them I experienced plenty of violence. So the transition here wasn't quite as difficult."
"The mob, huh? Guess that's good training ground for a place like this," said Kitty, turning around to see the serious look in his eyes.
"Not necessarily," sighed Piotr, "The Russian mob has little in common with the Hellfire Club. They have no loftier goals or principles to live by. They just care about money and the best way to make it usually involves causing mass chaos and inflicting random bloodshed. I got involved because it was my only option to support my family."
"I can understand that," she said with a smile, "What's your family like? Do they live around here?"
"They're small. My parents are dead, but I have a younger sister and an older brother. My brother is back in Russia, but my sister goes to school around here. Part of the deal I took when I first came here was that they would provide a good environment for my sister. And so far, they have delivered."
That was good to hear for Kitty. Part of why she took this opportunity was because her family was desperate. Her father had been fired and her mother was barely getting them by working long hours as a waitress. They needed money and Lord Xavier promised he would help. Hearing that he delivered for Piotr offered hope to her that her family would do just as well.
"I guess that bodes well for my family too," said Kitty, "They need help as well. But I know it's not going to come free. Nothing ever does. You worried about that if memory serves me right."
"I believe I did," said Piotr, "But for the comforts we enjoy, what we do in return is more than fair. The hardest part is learning to work within our somewhat harsh principles."
"Yeah, that's what I've been struggling with these past few hours," sighed Kitty.
The young woman set aside her clothes and leaned back against the door to the wardrobe, not caring that she was topless. For a man with so much muscle and strength, Piotr showed some decent manners in remaining serious. He understood what she was going through and she felt like she could open up to him.
"It's just…all my life I've been an outsider looking in. Even before I found out I was a mutant, I never really put myself out there. Whenever I did I would get rejected. It hurt and made me angry at times. But I kept it all inside. Then when my powers manifested it got even harder. Now people who rejected me before don't even want to be in the same time zone as me. I can't tell you how many times just wanted to yell at them and lay them out for being so thick-headed."
"So why didn't you?" asked Piotr curiously.
"I don't know," she sighed, "I guess I just didn't think I was strong enough. I was always the puny girl that was easy to pick on. Even if I wanted to, I probably wouldn't have put up much of a fight."
"What about now? From what I've heard, you used your powers to quite an effect on your first training session."
"Oh so now you're interested in my training sessions?" she said coyly, "You wouldn't happen to be spying on me now would you?"
"What? No I…"
But Piotr cut himself off, sensing he was making a fool of himself. It earned him a laugh from Kitty. Beneath that tough exterior of his, he was still a young man. He could keep his cool when dealing with the Hellfire Club's submissive sex workers but around a normal, cute, free-willed girl he was overmatched.
"It's okay, Piotr. I was just kidding," said Kitty with a reassuring smile, "But you're right. I did go above and beyond during that session. I never knew I could use my powers like that. I never thought I could hurt someone like I did. But I did. It just messes with me because I've never done anything like that before. I never knew I was capable of it. And I'm not sure what to make of it."
Piotr got up from his seat and walked over to her. His imposing presence didn't intimidate her. If anything, it helped her relax a bit. She was an interesting girl, much different than the other recruits. And he saw in her someone special.
"You know what I see?" he inquired, "I see from your actions that there's a much tougher girl beneath that cute, innocent exterior."
"You think I look innocent?" she said teasingly.
"I cannot say I wouldn't put it past you. But in my experience those who don't look imposing are usually capable of going much further than those who do. Because they don't have the strength to do what they need to do, they find other ways to accomplish their tasks. And I see in you someone who is stronger than you give yourself credit for."
"But is it strong enough for a place like this?"
"Most certainly," said Piotr strongly, "For you to let go like you did and inflict such harsh punishment on those prisoners, you had to have your share of strength. And I believe you've only scratched the surface of what you're capable of."
He sounded so certain. It was as if he could see something by looking at her that she could not. Looking down at the hands she used to inflict such pain on others and the body she had surgically enhanced to become so sexually alluring, it was hard to contemplate how much she had changed. At first she thought it was the Hellfire Club impressing upon her a darker version of herself. But now that she thought about it, they didn't turn her into that girl who assaulted those prisoners. They just stirred in her something that had been brewing for much longer. It made her feel more complete in a way, as if by embracing this darker part of herself she was more true to who she was. Perhaps more training with the Hellfire Club would bring that darkness out further and prove Piotr right in the end.
Looking up at him she couldn't help but smile. Piotr Rasputin was not the most articulate man, nor was he the most charismatic. But he spoke to her on a strong personal level. He could see in her someone who was stronger than she gave herself credit for. Nobody had given her that kind of support in her life. He wasn't just the man who brought her in. He was the man helping her adjust. For that she was grateful.
"Oh Peter, you're too sweet for words," she said with a smile.
"I am just telling you what I see," he said, smiling back.
"That makes you even sweeter," she said as she moved in closer, "And you know what I see? You're not just a strong, handsome man with larger than live muscles to me. You're a man who knows how to relate to people…and how to make a girl feel better about herself."
To show her gratitude, she leaned in and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. Her topless form pressed up against his warm, muscular body and Piotr definitely noticed. Kitty looked cute before, but with the surgery she looked downright beautiful. She was more voluptuous in certain areas like her breasts, butt, and hips. Everything was so perfectly proportioned to her petite stature. He couldn't help but stare a little, but Kitty didn't mind.
Still standing within his grasp, Kitty stared a little as well. This man had done so much for her by convincing her to take on this challenging opportunity and helping her make sense of everything she was struggling with at the moment. She had to do something to pay him back. It wasn't lost on her that she was only in a thong. She certainly wouldn't mind getting to know those nice muscles of his. But she wanted to make it special.
"Thank you, Katya. You're as sweet as you are lovely," said Piotr with a smile.
"Oh, that sweetness of yours just keeps getting sweeter!" said Kitty as she smiled back, "I definitely have to reward you for it. You've done so much for me."
"You don't have to," he said kindly, "But if you really want to, what would you have in mind?"
Piotr was not shy about it. He could see in her eyes what she meant when she said 'reward.' It was a little surprising coming from a girl who was a virgin when she first arrived, but she looked pretty serious about it. She wanted him and so long as she was embracing other parts of herself she might as well embrace this feeling.
Moving in closer, Kitty slipped her arms around the strong Russian's neck. She then looked over at the chair and then back at him and got an idea.
"How about this…" she said in a suggestive tone, "You sit back in the chair and I'll practice stripping for you. I'll do a little dance, giving you a nice show, and then do a lap dance. Beyond that…well, we can just play it by ear."
"Sounds fitting to me," grinned Piotr, "But are you sure you're ready for this?"
"Hey, I need something to work through this. And it couldn't hurt to practice a bit of what I'll be doing later anyways."
Piotr liked her spirit. Even after a training session with Selene she was still open to such experiences. That was another sign of her strength, but he could also tell she was sexually inexperienced. This was as good a way as any get into it.
"Very well, let's do this," said Piotr.
"Great!" said Kitty with renewed excitement, "Just bear with me, okay? I've never done anything like this before."
"You're beautiful, Katya. I'm sure you'll do fine."
Smiling warmly at his words, Kitty led him back over to the chair and sat him down. Her heart was starting to race at the thought of what she was about to do. It certainly wasn't the kind of thing she would write home about, but that seemed to be a given in a place like this. She would just have to suck it up, use what she knew from gossip, movies, and TV. She had the surgically enhanced body and the handsome man. It was just a matter of doing this right.
Once Piotr was comfortably seated she got in front of him and gathered herself. She was already topless so she didn't bother putting anything else on. She didn't feel she was ready for one of those elaborate outfits she tried on earlier. It was probably best she kept it simple anyways. Besides, Piotr sure didn't mind being able to see her breasts. The way his eyes ran up and down her body gave her plenty of reason to be confident. She just had to use that and entice him, hopefully without screwing up in the process.
"Okay…here I go," she said nervously, "Just sit and watch for now. Let me get a feel for this."
"Take all the time you need," he said as he admired her womanly form.
Kitty smiled and began swaying her body. She didn't have any music going so she would have to play it out in her head. She started humming one of her favorite songs to herself, closing her eyes and thinking about the beat and using it to get her going. She started off innocently enough, just shaking her hips and moving around in a sexual manner. She playfully slid her hands up and down her body and teased her breasts, trying to make it look hot for her audience. She tried to hide the fact that her legs felt like jello and her heart was beating inside her throat. But Piotr didn't seem to notice.
The powerful Russian mutant grinned in approval at her initial show. She was doing okay for someone who had never done this before. Her inexperience showed though. Her movements were not as graceful or elegant as more experienced strippers. Piotr knew because he visited Club Hellfire many times and had seen many women dance. But none of them caught his attention like this. Even without experience, she was still so sexy with the way she moved. He watched as she got into it a little more, moving in closer, extending her sexy legs, and bending over so he could get a nice view of her cleavage. She still had this cute innocence to her on top of her sexual movements. That gave her a unique look as she danced and Piotr found it very hot.
"You're doing well for a beginner," he told her.
"Thanks," she said, now dancing around his chair, "I took some dance classes when I was a girl."
"It shows," he grinned.
Encouraged by his words, she grew bolder. She showed off some of her flexibility, which was something she also picked up from taking dance classes. She lowered her body to the floor and did a little split move. Then she leaned back, lifted her hips up, and spread her legs in a wide V-shape. Such flexibility impressed Piotr. It also got him aroused.
Rising up off the floor, Kitty sauntered over to his chair. She sensually swayed her hips with every step, the weakness in her knees now waning. Now hovering over him she playfully caressed his face and ran her hands down his well built chest. While he was enjoying her touch she slipped onto his lap and straddled his waist. The close contact allowed her to feel a bulging erection in his pants. Smiling at the feeling, she started grinding her hips against as she teased him with her hands and body. She must be doing something right because he was pretty hard. Feeling it rub up against her got her a little aroused as well. But she wanted more.
Their eyes remained locked on one another the whole time. Piotr was entranced by her while Kitty put on as sexy a look as she could. She couldn't stop herself from giggling a few times, but that didn't seem to dampen the spirit. If anything, he liked that. Her gestures continued to get bolder. She slipped her hands down his chest and started undoing the buttons to his shirt. Piotr didn't resist. He even helped her, leaning forward a bit so that his puffy, Victorian style dress shirt could fall of his body.
Kitty purred at the sight of his heavily muscled upper body. Being able to feel his rough flesh against hers made her feel moist inside. She traced down the rough contours of his chest and felt along his hard biceps. He was so well built it was like feeling a perfectly sculpted statue. She grew more eager with her touching, rubbing around his chest and arms harder. She almost forgot that this was supposed to be a lap dance of sorts. She kept trying to sway and move her body as if she were dancing. But the heat of the moment was leading them else ware.
"You're beautiful, Katya," said Piotr in a lustful daze.
"So are you, handsome," said Kitty as she rubbed over his chest, "So…is this the part in the dance where the girl whispered to the guy what kind of 'special services' she offers?"
"It can be if you want it to," quipped the Russian.
"I think it will be. But since this is practice we'll skip the price negotiation and go right to the good stuff. Just let me know if I do anything wrong."
Smiling at her classy poise, Piotr leaned back and let Kitty continue to work. She kept swaying her body and rubbing down his exposed flesh. At one point she rose up and pressed her breasts into his face. This evoked a content moan and set the tone as she slithered her way down his body until she was on her knees facing a growing bulge in his pants.
She was starting to feel nervous again. The only other time she did something like this was during the sex ritual and that was aided by magic. Here she would have to rely on her own wits. She hesitated a bit at first, but she decided to go through with it. She wasn't going to use magic this time. She was going to get through this on her own and enjoy it. She kept with the spirit and removed Piotr's pants. Then with nothing but her burning lust to guide her, she gave him oral sex. His manly grunts and gasps guided her even as she worked through a great deal of anxiety. But she didn't let it show, keeping with the sexual spirit and finishing the job as best she could. When she was done, she smiled and rose back up in a seductive manner.
"How am I doing?" she asked him.
"Great…" was all he could get out.
"Thanks," she said, giggling a bit at his response, "Not bad for my first, huh?"
"No…not bad at all."
Kitty then rose up and leaned over him again, her topless form pressing up against his. She felt his powerful arms snake around her waist and grip her hips. It felt so good and it made her want him so bad. She was still nervous, but now she was more aroused than anything else.
"So what's next?" she said, "Is this where we begin the grand finale?"
"Does it matter?" said Piotr in his thick accent.
"No…I guess not. You are the customer after all. And I guess it's my job to make sure you are fully satisfied."
She was already talking like a real Hellfire woman. Piotr loved it and watched as she moved onto the final part of her routine. She finished her striptease, removing her thong so she was completely naked. Then she helped Piotr out of his shirt too so she could feel all of his manly upper body. Then with him still sitting in the chair, Kitty danced her way onto his lap and lowered herself onto him. They then began to passionately work their bodies in a sexual rhythm, indulging in the blissful pleasures of the sensual.
For Kitty, the nervousness was gone. She let it all come out, her burning lust and desire for this man and for this feeling. She found herself filled with this powerful energy, driving her to work it in a thorough yet passionate manner. It was amazing, the sensations that coursed through her body. And she could tell Piotr was enjoying it as well. He clung to her naked body with his powerful form. His manly muscles offered a wonderful feeling of manly eroticism as her flesh clashed with his.
For Piotr it was just as profound. He came here not expecting to experience this with Kitty Pryde. But once again she proved to be a very special young woman. She was a lot tougher than he thought, managing something like this with such passion after what she went through. It helped that her body felt heavenly. Her petite figure and beautiful curves gave off the perfect mix. She felt so good to touch and feel and the sounds of her moans were nothing short of angellic. He had been with many women in his time at the Hellfire Club, but Kitty Pryde was definitely special.
Together they moved and gyrated their bodies to many heights of wondrous bliss. They shared in the moans and ecstasy to the point where they forgot about Kitty's dance. It was all about sharing in this moment together. For Kitty, it was an amazing feeling every bit as intense as the first sex ritual. Only this one felt more special because it was with such a special guy.
When it ws all over they just shared in a final gasp and let their bodies relax into one another. They shared a warm smile as Kitty sat back in his lap, her arms still affectionately draped around his neck.
"You're amazing, Katya," smiled Piotr as he held her naked body in his strong arms.
"You're not so bad yourself, Petey," she said with an affectionate gesture, "So how would you grade my first ever stripping routine?"
"It was great," he answered proudly, "I knew you were a strong woman before and this proves it. It just goes to show that there are parts of yourself that you should learn to embrace. It will serve you well here at the Hellfire Club."
"With your help, I'm sure it will."
Kitty leaned in and gave him a soft kiss, capping off a memorable first run at sex work. Only it sure didn't feel like work. It was awkward, uncoordinated, and a little sloppy at times. Kitty might not have been a natural at stripping, but the way she and Piotr did it felt special. She hoped this wouldn't be the last time she and Piotr did this. She seemed to connect with him and he had already done so much to help her. He just might be that one person she could turn to as she found her way here at the Hellfire Club.
Selene's Chamber
It was late at night and Selene was lounging in the confined video archive room. This room, located in the depths of the lowest levels, was where all recordings for the security system fed into. Nearly every square inch of the manor was covered by high resolution cameras. There were a few blind spots, mostly in her areas, but the chamber was wired so all lessons and rituals carried out there were recorded. Currently, she was watching over the footage from her first lesson to the new pawns and it even on video, it was quite a show.
The Black Queen smiled at the graphic images of brutality. She always considered video recording one of the greatest inventions mankind had come up with in the thousands of years she had been alive. It allowed her to relive her rituals in great detail. She always got a kick out of admiring her own handiwork. Whether it was torturing her enemies or having others torture each other, she loved watching. She didn't bother with TV or other forms of entertainment. She had enough video recordings of torture sessions, rituals, and orgies to fill several dozen hard drives. As far as she was concerned, this was as good as it gets. Watching eight young teenagers erupt into a barrage of violence was fun on so many levels, but she wasn't just watching for entertainment. There were serious matters to consider in watching this video.
Standing behind her, Kurt and Wanda observed the footage as well. Since they were there, it wasn't all that shocking to them. They didn't enjoy re-watching such acts as much as she did, but they let their mistress enjoy herself. They were busy looking out for the subtleties that Selene told them to watch out for. It was one of the hidden reasons for conducting such a lesson and one they kept far and away from Charles Xavier.
They were just getting to the most graphic parts of the footage where the new pawns started using their powers to torment the prisoners. It was here where Selene made a few keen observations.
"So brutal…so relentless…oh how nice it is to see the young become so corrupted," grinned the Black Queen, "And it seems a few were more corrupted than others."
"I noticed that too, Mistress," said Wanda, "That Tabitha girl seemed to take to the lesson fairly well."
"Ja, and she also showed a touch of creativity," said Kurt, "Look how she uses her energy bombs. She opts for quantity rather than quality."
Selene watched at how Tabitha used dozens if tiny bombs and casually dropped them over the body of her victim, having them explode just as they made contact with the skin. It was torture by volume, but what really made her stand out was her demeanor. She seemed proud of her work, something that was admirable in the eyes of the Black Queen.
"She definitely gets points for creativity," she said, "Roberto also seems to have a flare for the dramatics so to speak. He didn't just burn his victims to a crisp. He burned them in a way to inflict the most pain."
"It doesn't look like he did that intentionally though," said Wanda, "I noticed that he let out more anger than any of the others. He was probably acting on whims."
"True, but they're good whims and they could potentially be built upon," said Selene, "The boy clearly has some anger issues. I suspect losing his girlfriend in such a cruel manner has left him with an awful lot of rage."
"Is it zhe kind of rage ve can control, Mistress Selene?" asked Kurt.
"But of course. Exploiting emotions for personal gain is my specialty."
Neither Kurt nor Wanda argued that. Since joining up with her, they saw first hand how good she was at manipulating people. More often then not, she played off their emotions. She used sadness, lust, and jealousy as powerful means to bend people to her will. There was no reason to believe she couldn't do it with anger.
"I see, Mistress. But I don't think he shares Tabitha's mischievous nature. He may need some 'extra' conditioning if we're to bring him in on your plan."
"Easily done," scoffed Selene, "But Roberto isn't the only one with emotions to exploit. Look at young, Alex Summers."
Kurt and Wanda watched the tape and saw how Alex beat up on one of the prisoners. He carried himself differently than many of the other pawns. He had a much darker determination. It was written on his face. He wasn't just doing this to do it. It was as if he was trying to prove something, if not to them then to someone else. And given their knowledge of his rivalry with Scott, it wasn't too much a stretch to figure out.
"He's pretty tough," commented Kurt, "He carries himself with greater fortitude than the others."
"More like a punk if you ask me," scoffed Wanda.
"A punk with something to prove and someone to prove it too," grinned Selene, "Charles told me a bit about Alex's relationship with Scott. To say they have a friendly sibling rivalry is a quite an understatement. I sense Alex resents Scott on many levels."
"How do you figure, Mistress?" asked Wanda.
"Just look at the circumstances. His brother, Scott, had a head start four years ago and is now highly regarded in the Inner Circle. He has more influence, power, and ability than him and I'm sure that doesn't sit well. You can see the jealousy in his eyes. He wants to show Scott up."
"But is zhat enough for him to embrace true darkness like ve have?" asked Kurt.
"It damn well better be," said the Black Queen, "I'm going to need a few counters in my plans to oppose those loyal to Xavier. Scott practically worships the man and if we can get Alex to help us, he'll provide a good counter since I'm sure Scott will hesitate more to disavow his brother than anyone else."
"You think their resentment is that strong?" said Wanda.
"Trust me, I have an eye for these things," said Selene confidently.
That was all the convincing Kurt and Wanda needed. Looking at the way Alex broke several bones in his victims, they saw plenty of use for someone like him. Scott was sure to keep him on a short leash though. They just had to find a way to exploit that and they were sure Selene already had a few ideas.
"It seems feasible enough," said Wanda, "What about Lorna? Do you think you'll be able to do the same to her?"
"Vhy do you say zhat, faruline?" asked Kurt, "Do you vish to have more family involved in zhis affair of ours?"
"It would be nice seeing as how Pietro is too thick headed to get through to," she said bitterly.
"Well she's definitely got that distinct toughness so prevalent in your family," said Selene as she paused over an image of Lorna when she was using her powers to stretch and warp the metal restraints, "But I'm not sure she can embrace the darkness enough to be involved in my plan."
"Can ve 'pursuade' her then?" asked Kurt, the undertone in his words hinting at using more sinister methods.
"That might be difficult," muttered Wanda, "I noticed how Pietro was looming around her earlier. He seems to have connected with Lorna. I think he's going to be keeping an eye on her."
"That will complicate things," said Selene, "Although I can't say I'm surprised. With the way you two have drifted over the last few years, it's only natural he would find some way to fill the void."
Wanda held back a bitter grunt. Her mistress was never one to mince words. She was very blunt and this was a sore subject for her. She still loved her brother, but her love of this new darkness was stronger. It angered her that Pietro would try and replace her. She would almost prefer it if he stayed stubborn and kept pestering her about her activities. But that was the unfortunate by product of their ever complicated relationship.
"Are you okay, my love?" asked Kurt, noticing her bitter disposition.
"I'm fine," she muttered.
That was all Kurt needed to shut up. But Selene was less convinced.
"Wanda you do understand that you may have to oppose them should they threaten my plan, right?" said Selene strongly, "Remember, you're an apprentice first and a sister second."
"Of course, my mistress. You know my loyalty to you is absolute," said Wanda strongly, "If necessary, I will go against my misguided siblings. I just wish I didn't have to."
"Make sure you remember that," said Selene coldly.
It was difficult for Wanda, but she could not forget or oath. She was a powerful growing sorceress because of her mistress. She couldn't contemplate turning against her. But as dark as she had become, she couldn't forget her family ties. She just had to be careful about letting them hold her back.
Kurt moved in closer and took her hand, playing his part as her loyal and submissive lover. She accepted his gesture, but her expression did not change. She remained focused on the task at hand.
"Now then, as for the other new pawns, their status is still in question," said Selene as she restarted the tape, "They're all capable of simple acts of brutality, but really embracing it may be a push for them. Sam Guthrie was especially hesitant. He still has a family who poisoned his mind with righteous morals early on. We may be able to shift his thinking to an extent, but not enough to be of use to us."
"What about Jubilee?" asked Wanda, "Losing her parents and living in a mall may pre-dispose her to more darker ways."
"Possibly," said Selene as she focused on her in the video, "But she's very independent from the looks of it. She's not one for emotional ties. If she were she would be much more distraught about losing her foster parents. She doesn't care about larger causes. She takes things as they come. That may make her a good Hellfire operative, but not good for our line of work."
"You could say the same about Kitty Pryde," said Wanda, "Only she's got the same problem as Sam. She's been brought up by good parents and left bitter by the rest of the world. She's got spunk and a desire to prove herself. That may be enough to make her a good Hellfire woman, but not enough to make her one of us."
"That remains to be seen," said Selene as she fast-fowarded the tape a bit, "We might have better luck with Bobby Drake. Being the victim of a lynching might provide a good base to build up his inner darkness. It definitely affects him. I can see it in his eyes as he torments his victims."
"Yeah, but he didn't seem like the most serious one of the bunch, Mistress," said Wanda, "I remember how he spent half the time checking every woman out that crossed him. He even made a comment on me."
"He did?!" exclaimed Kurt, always protective of his lover.
"Relax, darling. I made sure he would think twice before doing it again," said Wanda with a mischievous tone.
"Good girl," grinned Selene, "But if women are his weakness we may be able to exploit that. It's all a matter of how they can aid in my plan."
"If I may be so bold, Mistress, how far along are your plans?" asked Wanda.
"Not far enough," said Selene bitterly as she rewound the tape, "But we're getting there. Another piece has recently fallen into the puzzle."
"Vhat do you mean, Mistress Selene?"
The Black Queen grinned and loaded another video file. Only this time, it wasn't from the main archive. It was from a secret stash she kept on a disk that nobody else knew about. As part of her effort to stay a step ahead of Xavier, she bugged certain areas of their operations that were independent of the main system. Some were even places Xavier overlooked. One of them was Mr. Sinister. The mysterious mad geneticist had always been a recluse and Selene never had much affinity for him (although she did think his sinister appearance was alluring in a twisted way). But they did share one thing in common. They resented Charles Xavier.
When the file loaded, it revealed a grainy image of Mr. Sinister setting up some strange new machines in an area that didn't look like it was in X-Industrial. She figured it was another site he didn't tell anybody about. Hank wasn't with him so she doubted he wasn't in the loop for this. But she did see Remy, Ororo, and Deadpool there. They were loading in large, unmarked crates of high tech equipment. Many of them had bio-hazard labels on it and a warning sign on the side that read "Cloning Tech. Use Caution." Selene always suspected Sinister of having his own agenda and this proved it. But rather than report it to Xavier, she had an idea of how she might be able to use this.
"It's a tactic as old as conflict itself, my apprentice. The enemy of your enemy is your friend. And Sinister has any number of reasons to oppose Xavier."
"By why would he help us? And moreover, why would we help him?" asked Wanda, who stared bitterly at the grainy image of the mad geneticist.
"Who said anything about helping him? All that is required is for him to think we're helping him. He's still just a pawn. And his unique talents could provide me some vital components that I'll need to achieve my ultimate goal."
"Which components are those?" asked Wanda intently.
Selene smiled ominously. That was one detail she wanted to keep a surprise. This plan was thousands of years in the making, but only now were the right pieces coming into play. She had an apprentice and a few potential allies. The numbers Blackheart told her she would need were within her grasp. There was still much to prepare for. Any number of obstacles could derail her plans. But she wasn't about to let it slip through her hands this time. Her ultimate triumph was coming. She could feel it and these new pawns were the next step in the process.
"You'll just have to wait and see, my apprentice. For now, we must gain more allies. My plan cannot happen unless I have more subordinates to aid me. Time will tell if any of these new pawns will be of use. For now, we must remain vigilant. The greatest darkness ever unleashed is just on the horizon. And I will be the one to unleash it. It is my destiny."
Up next: Clashes between pawns begin to build tension as the new class of pawns grows with the old one.
AN: I hope you're all enjoying this so far. I've been very pleased with the reviews thus far and I urge you all to keep them coming. They really help inspire me to make this story better and with so much left to tell that is very important to me. Please continue to review. Send them to me via email or post them on the fanfiction website. And if you want to see an uncut version of the Lorna/Alex or Piotr/Kitty scene, please check out the adultfanficition verion through a link on my profile. Thank you all very much for reading and I wish everybody the best.