Chapter 6: Take It or Leave It

"Zoey?" the voice said from out of the blue. She blinked and looked up.

Janie came from the doorway and sat next to her in the big armchair in the living-room. Zoey closed the book she was reading and smiled up at Janie.

"Hey Janie."

It was the next day.

Yesterday after Zoey's break, she practiced shattering glass with Sean, and forming clouds with Ororo. Then they all rested in one of the living rooms and watched a rerun of the Dick Van Dyke show, re-heated old pizza for lunch, and then went their separate ways for the rest of the night. All the while Charles kept himself holed up in his father's study, only coming out to grab a piece of pizza, and not really talking.

That morning, Zoey had woken up earlier than usual, and was making breakfast again when Hank came and helped her finish. They all sat down together, Charles included, and had breakfast while they all reminisced about practicing their powers, Zoey listening intently, ignoring Charles' gaze on her.

Now Zoey was reading in the living room, feeling almost at peace. However she also accepted the company.

"Do you know boys?" Janie asked, her cheeks red, avoiding her gaze. Zoey refrained from a laugh.

"Well I don't think you want boys, Janie… you want men," Zoey said.

Janie's look of shock was priceless.

"Men?"

"Fine… guys. You don't want a boy, you want a guy. Is Alex being awkward?" Zoey asked. Janie blushed even more heavily and avoided her gaze altogether.

"Janie," Zoey continued, "the way you act towards each other says it all. There's attraction there. What can you tell me about Alex, then I might be able to help you," she said, sitting back in the armchair and propping her feet up. Janie relaxed in the armchair she chose.

"From what I could get from Sean – and don't tell anybody but I might have eavesdropped too - Alex was in solitary confinement in jail for maybe two years before Charles and Erik released him."

Zoey couldn't help but laugh.

"Solitary confinement! No wonder he's so awkward! He hasn't had the right contact with anybody for two years, nonetheless any girls he likes-"

"Woman…" Janie interjected, but Zoey continued, smiling more.

"He's brand new at this. But tied into whatever he was in confinement for… it might come off as too tense or mean."

She remembered Alex when he spoke of hurting her; devastated and even vulnerable. Unsure of what was happening – same as Janie.

"Oh…" Janie said, staring into the distance, obviously in deep thought.

"Has he ever been too tense with you, Janie?" Zoey had to ask. Janie shook her head, her cheeks turning pink.

"No, he wouldn't hurt a fly," Janie whispered.

Zoey smiled brightly at the last part. Alex did put on a tough exterior, but the way he acted in the bunker let Zoey know he cared a lot more than he put on.

"Well, it only works two ways, Janie. You have to take some action to show what you feel," Zoey said.

At that Janie snapped around to Zoey and looked at her with a harsh glare.

"I don't feel anything. He's just…" the harshness in Janie's voice faded away. Zoey smiled, confused but also understanding at this girl's constant change in emotions.

"He's just attractive. Can't I be attracted to someone without 'feelings'?" Janie asked, showing disgust at the last word.

"Of course," Zoey said quickly. Janie really was more mature than she acted with her carefree attitude, Zoey couldn't help but think.

But then again, Janie could just be fooling herself, avoiding any relationship and possible hurt…

"There's nothing wrong on acting on attraction. Just keep a distance. And seeing that your rooms are next to each other, it might be difficult. And that you also see each other every day…"

Zoey frowned, wondering if she was giving advice to Janie, or herself.

Janie stopped ringing her hands, which were making small vines wrap around her fingers. They disappeared as she met Zoey's eyes, not bothering to hide a blush.

"Well, um, thank you. You actually gave me a lot to think about." Janie stood up.

"But in a good way. Thanks. Again."

Then without warning she ran and hugged Zoey tightly.

"Thank you," she repeated.

"Uh, don't mention it. Seriously, girl talk is girl talk, ok?" Zoey said, now feeling heartbroken. The way Janie had approached let her know she never had a mother figure to talk about the basic things with.

Zoey watched Janie head to her room, and heard the click of her door before she went back to Charles's copy of Catch 22.

It was close to sundown, and the sky was red with streaks of purple. Zoey and Ororo were outside, aligning the clouds for a perfect view, with rays hitting the house, the colors more bright.

When they finished, they started to search for Simon amongst the grounds. He now spent most of the time outside running around in the grass and barking and chasing any critters who dared pass by. The rest of the time he wandered the big house, getting attention from anyone who would give it, making a permanent nap place by the first floor living room fireplace, and then sleeping with Ori each night.

They were now near the edge of the grounds, both of them slightly out of breath from walking and yelling out Simon's name.

Zoey was starting to feel worried.

Zoey was so close to calling to Charles in her mind to ask if he could help, but then she heard Simon barking. It sounded close.

"Simon!" Zoey called out, and Ori echoed.

There was a loud popping noise, and the barking stopped.

"Simon?" Zoey said tentatively.

"Zoey," Ororo whispered her voice shaking, reaching for her hand. Now Zoey was starting to feel worried.

Suddenly there was a loud pop, and Zoey saw a red man appear from red mist in front of her. The last she saw was Ororo, her hand extended towards her, face in shock. This man with red skin had horns growing out of his head; he reached forward and grabbed her wrist. There was another pop, this time louder, and Zoey was…

Inside red.

She felt herself moving, as though in a speeding car, with white static noise, but she couldn't feel her body or see anything, except red. She tried to feel the power, to take control of it, when suddenly her face hit cold tile and she felt the rest of her body hitting the ground.

The noise died down to the room tone. The red cleared from her vision.

She tried to reach the feeling of the portal again as she thought of getting back to Charles, but she felt a tight grip on her arm pull her roughly to stand up.

"You're not going anywhere," he said in a dark voice that gave her the creeps. She felt his tail wrap around her wrist, and he released his hands.

Zoey looked around to find a young woman, younger than herself.

She had… wings, and a pixie haircut to match the whole faerie look. She had a small ball of fire that she was throwing from hand to hand, a devilish smile on her face.

So that's why Zoey's back was itching. And her throat felt hot, but she swallowed it down.

"Azazel, glad to see you finally made it," faerie girl said.

"I had to wait for an opportunity," he replied, his deep voice still scaring Zoey.

"What did you do to her?" she asked glancing at Zoey.

Zoey looked down and found that her shirt and jeans were ripped in several places. One of the sleeves of her shirt was barely hanging by a thread, and her jeans were shredded badly. She couldn't call them pants anymore.

Zoey almost sighed in relief. It could've been worse, like Charles had warned her if Azazel had ever touched her.

"He did nothing. It was the… portal?" Zoey asked, turning to face the red man. She felt lightheaded, still a little dizzy. Her shins and arms felt asleep, soft pins and needles.

"I don't have a name for it," he said giving her a weird look, "but I didn't touch her," he said, turning back to the faerie girl.

"I'll go let him know," she said, and left. She had on a halter top that left her back bare, and Zoey looked in amazement at how the wings were part of her skin. The itching at Zoey's back intensified, more so because Zoey really wanted to try it.

She looked around to find herself in a kitchen. It had white tile floors and yellow walls with white stenciling, and there was a wide doorway that led to an adjoining room with a round table and five chairs.

Zoey wanted to check out her exits, but before she could think about it she felt a familiar power she thought she wouldn't come across in a long time.

She tried to take a step back, but the devil tightened his tail wrapping around her arm. The pins and needles faintly started again as the man tsked.

The swinging door opened, and instead of Erik, Zoey saw a woman of diamond. Her hair, skin, everything was diamond. All Zoey could see was her blue eyes.

The skin on her face tightened. The diamond woman gave a slight smile as Zoey frowned.

"We're clear," she said, and walked forward. "Keep a tight hold, Azazel."

Zoey tore her eyes from the sparkling sight in front of her to watch the doorway.

Erik came through, in all black like the first time they met. He flashed a smile, but Zoey only glared.

"Hello, Zoey. I told you I would see you soon," he said.

"It's too soon, Erik," Zoey said, and she refrained from spitting.

The nerve of him, to kidnap her like this?

And he was the reason for Charles's condition; Zoey couldn't help but think that. She felt furious.

"Sorry how Azazel's power affected you, he's always been a wild card. I am sure we have some extra clothes that might fit you."

"I'm fine," Zoey said curtly. With her free arm she tugged tightly at the hanging denim and ripped it, making her jeans into shorts. The constant rubbing of the hanging denim had started to bother her.

Erik's smile turned cold, and he went back to his regular scowl.

"Having fun at the castle, are you? I didn't know being a pet could be so much fun," he said.

"What did you do to Simon?" Zoey asked sternly.

The devil laughed.

Zoey turned and threw a punch to the red face, suddenly grateful about her self-defense kickboxing classes she took back home. The hit wasn't as powerful as she wanted, but he did stumble back, releasing his tail as his hands went to his face. Zoey smiled as Azazel groaned in pain.

"I'm gonna say this one more time," Zoey said, looking back to Erik, and she would've sworn that he was slightly grinning. "What did you do to Simon?"

"You fucking bitch!" she heard, and she turned and scratched Azazel's face before he took action. He cried out in pain this time, and Zoey saw a flash of deep red blood on his face before he turned away. In surprise, Zoey looked at her nails. They were black and thick and sharp, and her cuticles were slightly red. She brought a hand to her butt, but didn't feel any tail. She heard a yell of frustration, but Erik interrupted.

"Azazel, go take a walk - find somewhere to clean up." There was a pop. "As for Simon, he's unhurt, still at the mansion; being a pet with the others."

"I think I would know if I was a pet, Erik," Zoey said, now just getting annoyed.

"That's where you're wrong. A pet is loved enough to think it is part of the family, when really, it's just a pet," Erik said.

She felt a tingling in her head, the same feeling she had when Charles was in her mind. However this one was different, colder. She knew it couldn't be Erik, so she turned to the diamond woman, and frowned, staring her down. She focused on pushing her out.

Suddenly the diamond form disappeared in a white dust to show a beautiful blonde woman staring back at Zoey in surprise.

"I don't like it when people poke around in the wrong places," Zoey explained. She expected some retort, but instead the blonde woman turned to Erik.

"It's weird, seeing it on somebody else," she said, now staring at her. Erik raised his hand, and a flat metal platter came floating Zoey's way.

It was moving slowly enough so Zoey knew it wasn't intended to hurt her. It came to a stop in front of her, and in a daze she reached forward to grab it and get a better look of her face.

It wasn't as solid form diamond as the woman's, however around the bottom of her eyes it was all diamond and even a few pieces of her hair sparkled under the light. She felt a pull on the tray, and let it go, as it moved to rest on a counter nearby.

Zoey made sure to keep her mind protected, and focused on blocking out the blonde.

"What am I doing here, Erik?" she asked.

With no answer, Erik nodded at the diamond woman.

"Far, like the others," he said in a softer voice.

She nodded and without another glance left the kitchen through the swinging doors.

Zoey glared at Erik, willing for him to give an answer. He just stared back, though. She felt uneasy and wanted to look away, but knew it would be a sign of surrender.

Suddenly, Zoey felt the diamond woman's power leaving her, and her face felt like a thousand butterfly kisses. Erik curled his lip into a smile and held out a hand to motion to the table.

"Come sit, Zoey."

When she didn't move, his brow furrowed and his face turned serious.

"I don't want to make you."

She then moved and sat on a chair that wasn't the one he had pulled one out for her.

He came and sat down next to her and she refrained from moving away. If he touched her again, she wasn't sure what the power would do with her fear.

"A twinkly little bird told me that I've been on your mind a lot."

Zoey opened her mouth in disbelief.

He had that woman spying, invading her mind - invading the others'?

"Don't deny it, darling. She wasn't ever on the house's property, mind you. She has a far range."

"You are spying on us? The nerve- you little… I can't even think of what to say right now!" Zoey said frustrated.

"I have to confess, you also lingered on my mind throughout the rest of the night after I left you to Charles. The magnitude of your power, it's massive."

Zoey sighed as she rubbed her knuckles, not saying anything. She didn't want to give him the wrong idea: that she liked being there, or that they had anything in common. Which they didn't.

His idea of the superior race was troubling.

His idea was the kind that started wars.

"I want to know why you've been thinking of me, if you didn't even agree to join me."

"Why don't you just have her tell you?" she said, ripping the hanging sleeve from her top.

Erik only grinned, seeming amused at her. He stayed silent though, expecting an answer. She sighed and continued.

"Fine. Well… you were the first I've met."

"Mutant, you mean?"

She nodded.

"And of course, you being there, I had to face my own… ability. I was just thinking about that, and also how angry you seemed at me. And then there was you on the beach, and you and the fence," she said, and Erik's eyes grew dark.

"What do you mean?"

"When Charles first came to the bar, I had a flash of either his or your memory. You had all these missiles in the air, and you moved them back to the ships that had fired them. You were going to kill them all. But Charles ran at you and stopped you," Zoey said, keeping his gaze, wanting to see his reaction. Erik didn't even flinch.

"They were going to kill us, I was defending our kind."

Zoey opened her mouth to argue back, but sighed and closed her mouth. He was too stubborn.

"What fence are you talking about?" he asked. Zoey took a deep breath.

"I think you know which fence, since you saw my reaction after I saw that memory," Zoey said, avoiding his eyes as she remembered that she had cried in front of him and Charles, after seeing Erik's memory of his first moments in a Concentration Camp.

He stayed silent.

"Erik, violence isn't always the answer," she broke the silence, looking down at her hands.

"Most of the time, it is."

"I have a terrible feeling that it was your violence which landed Charles in a chair," she spat out, the ire reaching her. "And now here you are, probably screwing diamond girl while living in Shaw's house," she continued, finally looking up at him.

Erik stood up quickly, his hand shooting out to grab her neck, lift her up, and slam her against the nearest wall. She gasped and choked on her breath, frantically trying to pry his fingers away. He kept his tight grip.

"You know NOTHING!" he yelled at her, his face only a few inches from hers.

Zoey punched him, but it only threw his head to the side like a forceful slap. She raised her other hand, and the same silver platter she looked at herself in came flying and hit Erik's head. He yelled out and let her go, reaching for his head and closing his eyes in pain.

Zoey choked and coughed, fighting to get her breath back. She stood up straight and saw Erik in front of her, furious. He grabbed her wrist as she tried to get away, and he started walking, dragging her along.

"Charles will only try to subdue your powers. You could be unstoppable, Zoey. And I'm going to help you with that," he said as he walked up a flight of stairs. '

He turned down the hall, opening a door with a heavy duty lock and throwing her onto the bed.

"Erik, why are you doing this?" she asked, getting up quickly and walking towards him.

She looked up at him in the doorway. He didn't say anything, just turned and lifted a hand to close the door behind him, the clicks of the locks on the outside echoing in the room.

She lay there on the superfluous down quilt and pillows for a while, and then got up to check her surroundings.

Her window looked over the bay and the docked boats. She banged on it, but it wasn't breaking. She even tried a frilly lamp to shatter it, but the window didn't budge. She gave up, and sat down at the desk.

It was empty except for a pad of paper and a pencil.

Zoey entertained herself with Origami, something she used to do in high school for a while. Then she moved on to trying to unlock the door, now feeling calmer, but it didn't budge.

She focused her hardest, but Erik was probably out of range and she was too angry at him to really harness his power. Then she started to draw, and somehow it turned to be a sketch of the mansion's front gate, with the large X in the middle.

She smiled almost longingly, and went to fill in details and shadows when she felt a new power overcome her.

Her skin felt like it was all asleep, but she stood straight up when she heard the locks turning. Her skin was still tingling, slowly getting stronger, and she waited for whoever was on the other side of that door.

It opened to a blue woman and Zoey knew it was Raven. Zoey's skin stopped tingling and feeling numb, and she felt still again.

Raven's eyes widened and she opened her mouth to say something, but then closed it. She came further into the room, still a stunned look on her face as she continued to stare at Zoey, the door closing behind her. She then stood there, not saying anything.

"You're Raven, aren't you?" Zoey asked, but stopped short when she heard her voice, which sounded weird. She cleared her throat.

"What is it?" she asked, but she stopped because she knew the voice that she heard, even though it wasn't hers when she spoke.

Zoey looked down to find herself in slacks, a blue button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and brown loafers.

She had his hands.

She reached up and felt his soft hair.

"Holy shit," Zoey said - but Charles's voice came out.

Ooh! Cliffhanger!

Please review! I love them! Anon is cool too, if that's your style.