Chapter 22
Author's Note: I realised I missed out a few lines about Neutron in my last chapter which I have now added. I would advise you to read it through again so later on makes sense. My bad. Sorry.
Madeleine is taking a moment to restrain Brianna. She's tying her to a chair. It will make certain her sister witch cannot harm herself until Madeleine returns. She won't be long. Now that she has awakened Wanda's powers it should be easy to transport herself directly to Smallville.
It was really quite amazing the power she could now feel coursing through her body...although it wasn't quite like any magic she knew. It seemed...chaotic in nature.
Madeleine pushes that concern away for now. She'll have plenty of time to explore it later. Just like she'll have plenty of time to explore Clark Kent. Such a pretty face and body and, as Isobel phrased it, she has a 400 year old itch that needs scratched.
"Don't you dare!" Wanda warns her off that thought of what she is planning to do with Clark.
"Once the act is done you'll thank me," Madeleine counters, supremely full of self-confidence.
"Don't count on it," Wanda grouses. This was not the way she planned to lose her virginity. Her only hope is that somehow her attempts to alter Madeleine's spell worked because otherwise she is just stuck, imprisoned inside her own body without anyway to control it.
Madeleine finishes tying up Brianna. She places her hands on either cheek and gets Brianna to look at her. "If you can still hear me Brianna know that I shall help you. Once I have the stones I can transfer you to another vessel. Then we shall enslave this world and we'll do it without Isobel."
Clark looks on curiously. Madeleine is touching Rogue's bare skin without any effect. He wonders how she is doing it. Also something about what she said. "Without Isobel?" he queries, puzzled by that remark.
Madeleine turns and walks over to Clark, smiling with dark seduction. "This is the day of my rebellion. This is the day I take control of my own destiny. I sent Isobel far, far away," she finally reveals what she has done. She takes a moment to feel over Clark's solid arms. When she gets back she'll have much more fun with him. "Now then I must depart for Smallville and gain what is mine before Isobel manages to get herself back from where I sent her. Once I return we shall discuss what you know about the location of the other 2 stones."
"I think you'll find we won't," Clark promises her, with steely determination to resist.
Madeleine chuckles, amused by his resistance. "I like your fire farmboy. Think about this while I am away. Isobel was correct in one thing she said. This does not have to be unpleasant. Assist me and I shall allow you to serve me. My rewards can be most generous. My punishments can be most severe. Choose which you wish to experience. Either way I shall get what I want in the end."
Madeleine takes one moment to check Clark's chains. She doesn't want him escaping...not that he has anywhere to go. No-one remembers who he is. That done she takes a few steps back. "Think it over Clark. I shall return shortly," she says, giving him a flirtatious wink before she chants the words and vanishes.
Clark jerks at his chains hard. He has to escape especially now. Madeleine's rebellion might in fact make it easier to stop them. The whole divided they fall idea. They are obviously less powerful apart. Clark continues to pull at his chains. The wood creaks and he pauses. He wonders...he is stronger than a human even without his powers. The chains might not give way but what about the wood. Could he break it?
Clark looks up to the support. He has to be certain that he won't bring the whole roof down atop of him and Lex, who is still out and hanging limply by his arms, if he does manage to break it. Clark carefully works it out and concludes that if he can snap the support it should be ok.
Clark jerks at his chains again hard and the wood creaks louder and some dust flutters down from above.
Clark yanks hard again and again and again, each time the wood creaks but doesn't break.
"Come on. Come on," he mutters, pleading for it to give way.
He takes a momentary rest. His eyes fall upon Rogue and her blank expression. He wonders...he fears for her and selfishly for himself. If Madeleine managed to do what she said then Rogue would no longer remember him. No-one remembers him.
Clark isn't sure how he could live in a world where Rogue doesn't even know who he is.
Bad thoughts.
He has to think positive and that there is a solution to all this but first he has to get free.
Clark tugs at his chains again and the there is a definite cracking sound this time. It has to give way. It must. Clark grits his teeth and tries again.
At the Institute...
The X-Men are taking 10 minutes to recharge the fuel supplies as they chow down some high energy food in the kitchen.
Storm is taking the opportunity to reassure her friend. "Worry not Martha. We shall find Clark," she promises.
Martha puts a brave face on events and smiles lightly. "I know you will Ororo." Of course worry is eating at her gut. Somehow, despite how invulnerable to harm he is suppose to be, somehow Clark still manages to get himself into trouble.
"How is Jonathan taking it?" Ororo asks.
"He's out working the farm," Martha says in reference to the piece of land Jonathan works. "He likes to keep himself distracted," she explains how Jonathan copes with worry.
Ororo nods in understanding.
Down in the lower levels the Professor, with assistance from Kitty and Peter, was trying to retrieve the last reams of data that Cerebro recorded.
Peter was currently watching, greatly impressed, as Kitty writes an algorithm to piece together the data blocks that had been fragmented when Cerebro overloaded. It starts to work.
"You're a genius," Peter compliments her.
A rosy glow comes to Kitty's cheeks. "Thanks...but it's really kinda simple." She then proceeds to give him her 'simple' description of what she did.
"I was with you up to about word 5," Peter jokes although not by much. He's good at building stuff but computer languages, programming...he's barely passable and don't get him started on all the internet jargon...just don't get him started because he's clueless. Yeah a nerd who is clueless about that. Go figure.
Kitty chuckles as her algorithm does its work and what Cerebro recorded appears on screen.
The Professor leans forward and reads over the data. "Some kind of energy wave. Cerebro couldn't recognise it."
"It seems to have originated from a single point," Kitty points out from the circular shape of the wave.
Peter gently moves Kitty aside. "Excuse me. This is my forte," he says as he gets to work working out the origin as this is simple mathematics. "Ah ha! Got it! Take that Newton!" Peter crows triumphantly as he does the sums.
"Didn't he discover gravity?" Kitty asks, not seeing how Newton is relevant.
"Yes," the Professor confirms. "However in some ways he can also be considered a father of mathematics in that to define gravity mathematically he had to invent calculus."
"Oh so that's who I have to blame," Kitty jests at all that blasted calculus homework.
Peter finishes his work. "It seemed to originate in this warehouse district on the edge of town. Gotta love a cliché don't ya," he jokes about villains and warehouses.
The Professor sends out a mental summons to the X-Men. They had a lead.
Elsewhere...
Clark was making progress. The wooden support was shifting. With one last monumental effort it breaks. The momentum has Clark falling forward to the floor and landing painfully in a heap.
He takes one moment to rest. His arms are really sore. Now that he's free from the support it isn't hard to get his hands out of the chain that had been used to hold him.
Clark gets to his feet and rushes over to where Rogue is tied to a chair. His hands gently cup her face. "Rogue? Can you hear me?" he asks her.
Nothing. Her stare...her mind is off into the distance. Clark kisses her on the temple. "I promise you'll be alright," he says to her.
Clark takes the opportunity to look around the warehouse they are in and spots his removed shirt and jacket. He moves over and grabs them. With some discomfort he manages to get them back on. While there he grabs Lex's shirt and jacket as well.
Clark walks over to Lex and puts his fingers to Lex's neck to make sure he's ok. He gets a pulse.
Clark takes a minute to look at Lex's chains. Now how to get Lex loose. That's a question. When they were restraining Lex they did a really good job and without his powers it isn't as simple as it normally is. Normally Clark could snap those chains with ease.
He reaches up and tugs at them slightly, examines them, trying to work out just how they were tied up like this.
Probably magic.
Clark shakes his head. That still sounds weird to him. He's sure there's another more logical explanation.
Clark's efforts stir Lex to consciousness. As Lex's eyes fixate upon him Clark waits for...whatever is about to come.
"Superman?" Lex queries with a puzzled frown.
Superman. Not Clark. Does that mean Madeleine's spell worked and now no-one remembers Clark Kent...although is that what she wanting to achieve? Or was she planning to erase every facet of his existence from people's memories?
There is no way for Clark to be certain at the moment. At the moment Clark chooses what he wants Lex to know. "Yes," he confirms in a simple reply.
"How did you get free? Didn't they take your powers?"
"I'm stronger than your average person even without them."
Lex looks to where Superman was strung up and can see the shattered support which seems to back up that claim. He then looks at the red and blue leather jacket clad hero. "So is this what you meant when you said you were going to save Lana?" he accuses.
Except Superman didn't say that. Clark Kent did. It just adds to the confusion Clark has over what has actually happened and what Lex actually remembers now. "We will save her Lex," he asserts. "It will only take a little more time and effort."
"Didn't know we were on first name terms Superman," Lex says in a tone touched by anger...and mistrust.
"I'm a friend to everyone," Clark replies, trying to cover his slip, as he continues to work on Lex's chains.
"Even the people you help lock up?" Lex queries sceptically.
"Yes. Even them. I would wish them to see there is a better way to live their lives within the law."
'Wow. Is that naïve,' Lex thinks to himself. 'What planet does this so-called hero come from?'
Clark finally figures out how to get the chains undone and Lex slithers his hands free. Clark hands him his shirt and jacket before going back for Rogue. He unties her and gently lifts her into his arms. He would like to be able to show her much more affection but can't because Rogue is Clark Kent's girlfriend not Superman's.
Once redressed Lex starts the next most obvious task; finding the way out. He has to get to Smallville and stop the witches. This is all Superman's fault...although Lex has many questions about this hero's link to the stones and Smallville.
Why did he leave the stone in Smallville would be a good opener. Was Superman the mysterious figure who always stopped the meteor freaks? If so why did he only choose recently to become visible and what is his connection to Clark?
Lex still knows Clark has something to do with all of this. Too many odd things happen around Clark to be coincidence.
Lex glances out of the corner of his eye at Superman. If they fail to save Lana Lex knows who to blame.
Lex spots a fire escape in this warehouse. That will do for an exit. He marches over and kicks it open.
As Lex emerges into the sunlight he blinks his eyes a few times to adjust to the brightness.
Clark follows on behind, his mind full of questions, about what exactly Madeleine has done to him and worry for Rogue. Then he hears the familiar whirring sound of the Velocity. He looks up as it swoops into view overhead.
Clark doesn't know how they found him but he never doubted they would but he has to wonder if like Lex seems to they now only know him as Superman. That would at least be better than Clark's worse fears when Madeleine was casting her spell. That is...fixable...maybe.
The Velocity lands in an open space nearby and Lex and Superman run over as the side door slides open.
"Superman!" Cyclops greets him before Scott's eyes spot Rogue in his arms. "What happened?"
"That's going to take awhile to explain," Clark replies pensively as he hands Rogue over to Scott so he can get on-board. "In the meantime you need to contact Beast and tell him to prep the x-jet. We need to get to Smallville."
"As quickly as possible," Lex adds as he leaps aboard.
"Smallville? Why?" Jean asks.
"They're after the stone," Clark informs them. "And they are way ahead of us."
"Who is they?" Kitty asks.
Clark sighs as he takes back Rogue and straps her securely in a chair. "That's a long story."
"Oh gee they didn't?" Spider-Man asks, his voice dreading the answer of what he thinks Superman's means when he says 'That's a long story'. "Don't tell me they gave you the dreaded..." dramatic pause, "villain monologue?" he asks in mock horror at that.
"Practically the whole life story," Clark tries to joke.
Spider-Man shakes his head. "You poor, poor man," he sympathises.
"Is anyone else lost?" Spyke queries.
"Should I ever get around to writing a guide for future heroes there will be a whole chapter about the dreaded villain monologue," Spider-Man jests with the same mock horror in his tone. "Villains in general have huge egos and love to hear themselves talk and in excruciating detail and length justify their actions when a simple 'I'm nuts!' would cover 95% of it."
Spider-Man then goes and pats Superman on the right side of his chest. "Good to have you back."
Clark instantly winces in pain as that is where Madeleine dug her nails into him.
Kurt spots it. "Are you...hurt?" he asks in concern and disbelief because Superman can't be hurt.
Clark rubs the sore spot and sighs. "My powers are gone."
"How?" Logan asks.
"They took them through...this is probably going to sound crazy," Clark starts to qualify.
"Magic?" Storm offers what Superman was going to say next.
The surprise at how they knew that is clear on his face.
"We did some research...discovered a few things ourselves from Puzzler," Cyclops explains and mentions what they have discovered so far.
"It's more complicated than that," Clark says because they so far only had some guess work. He had a much fuller story and on the way back to the mansion he tells them what happened...most of what happened short of re-revealing his identity to Lex and a few other details he will only talk about when Lex is not present because if Isobel's words are to be believed then Lex is up to something and really cannot be trusted. That, combined with, the unfriendly glare Lex is giving him Clark has a sorry feeling that he and Lex may rapidly be reaching the end of their friendship.
Smallville, Kansas...
Madeleine had teleported herself to the edge of town and was now walking through the main street and as she does so she is realising she made one serious miscalculation about this. She doesn't actually know where the caves are and neither does Wanda who is, very smugly, right now, mocking her inside her own head for the oversight.
Once Madeleine finds the stones she determines the 1st thing she is doing is finding some way to get rid of this host's tiresome personality or at least some way to put her to sleep.
"Keep dreaming!" Wanda tells her.
"I have no need to dream. No-one can stop me!" Madeleine declares in arrogant certainty of her victory.
"I'll stop you," Wanda vows. Some way, somehow she will stop this witch who has taken over her body.
"Will you? Even when the power of the stones will give us the means to utterly destroy your father?"
Madeleine can feel her host's mind pause and the temptation of that idea weaken her resolve to resist. Then to her surprise the resolve returns stronger than before.
"No-one me gets to destroy him but me. Me and me alone," Wanda speaks her vow to avenge herself upon her father. "Check the time and count the minutes because your ass is going straight to hell. I will send you there along with him."
Madeleine has to suddenly grab her head. She sways on her feet and ends up leaning against the wall of a shop she is passing by as Wanda's mind pushes with force she never imagined to try and break her control. "No!" Madeleine mentally screams her defiance. "I did not suffer being burned alive to lose to some mutant amateur witch!"
It takes several minutes but Madeleine's greater understanding and knowledge of how this possession works allows her to push Wanda back but she can feel her control over this body is much more tenuous than it was. She must find out the location of the cave and the 1st stone and she must do this quickly.
Madeleine straightens herself up and walks with much more purpose. She has a quest to complete. One that has lasted for 400 years and whose end is now finally within her reach.
At the Institute...
Clark's immediate task upon returning to the mansion was to get away from Lex and seek out his parents. He finds them in their room. He hesitates with trepidation about entering.
What if Madeleine succeeded?
What if, even they, only know Superman and Clark Kent is a stranger?
Clark finds the courage and enters the room. The immediate way his parents' faces light up at seeing him blow away his worries.
"Clark!" Martha cries happily at seeing him as she almost runs over to give him a hug.
Jonathan places a hand on Clark's shoulder in a more stoic expression of happiness at seeing his son. "How are you son?"
"Sore...tired," Clark answers truthfully.
Martha pulls back and looks Clark over. "Sore?" she queries, with worry at Clark saying such an impossible thing for him.
"How much do you know about what has happened today?"
Martha and Jonathan share a look. "Well the others returned for a short period and we heard a summary," Martha says.
"Magic?" Clark queries after.
"We heard about that," Jonathan says a little reluctant to believe that is possible.
"Well it's real," Clark has found himself having to confirm. "And it can hurt me," he tells his parents. "My powers are gone. They...removed them."
Martha and Jonathan are flabbergasted at that as well as deeply worried for their son.
"They?" his mother asks.
"Wanda, Rogue and Lana have been possessed by three 17th century witches...and please don't ask me to explain that right now," he pleads because he doesn't have the time to explain that.
"How?" his father asks him. "How did they remove your powers?"
"I don't know," Clark admits the truth. "I don't know a lot of things about this magic. There's...there's a lot to go through but I really don't have time right now. We're only making a short stop to get the jet. They're after the stone in the cave. We have to get to Smallville urgently because they have a head start with being able to teleport."
"Doesn't that mean it's too late?" Martha asks.
Clark shakes his head. "No. I don't believe so. Wanda has never been to Smallville. She has no idea where the caves are and therefore neither does the witch possessing her. She also betrayed the witch possessing Lana and sent her far, far away is what she said and as for Rogue...we have her with us," he vaguely answers, again because he doesn't have the time to explain what he think is going on with Rogue. "Hopefully that'll buy us enough time to get there before it is too late," he expresses his hope.
"You'll save them Clark," Martha tries to reassure him.
Clark smiles lightly at his mother's encouragement. "I know you'll want more details but I really have to go," he says, pressing the urgency in his tone.
"We know," Jonathan says as he moves next to Martha and puts an arm around her shoulders. Both of them are so proud of him. There he is powerless yet he will not hesitate to go off and try and save his friends.
"Just be careful ok?" Martha asks of him.
A lopsided smile comes to Clark's lips. "You know me," he jests.
With that Clark departs, stopping in his room briefly to pick up the silver key for the lock in the cave, since he has a feeling he might need it, before jogging back down to the lower levels. There, in the hanger, he finds the Professor and Logan in a heated discussion with Lex.
"And what makes ya think we're letting ya come this time?" Wolverine asks Lex in a hostile tone.
"You broke your word Lex," the Professor reminds the bald tycoon about Lex leaving the Velocity which, by the way, made it possible for the 3 witches to abduct him.
"I did what was necessary," Lex defends himself.
Logan snorts, almost contemptuously, at that. "Yeah and if necessary I'll personally tie ya up to make sure ya stay this time bub!" he threatens.
"Logan. Please," the Professor requests of his friend not to lose his temper. Logan makes an effort not to just go and punch Lex's lights out right here and now.
Charles turns his attentions back to Lex. "The issue has not changed Lex. You proved that we cannot trust you."
"That goes both ways Professor," Lex accuses. "You asked me to trust you to save Lana. How's that going?"
Logan growls. Arrogant little...his thoughts become R rated.
"I told you Mr Luthor," Clark interjects, remembering this time that he's Superman and not Lex's personal friend and to address him properly. "That we will save her. It's only taking longer than expected."
Lex scowls at Superman. "Considering what I've seen so far today I will not be holding my breath," he pours scorn on the attempts so far at a rescue. "Further more, since we are going to Smallville, you shall need me and my security forces..."
At this moment Logan decides he's heard enough and before anyone can react he has punched Lex across the jaw with his adamantium laced bones, knocking the bald millionaire out with a single blow.
The Professor and Clark look at him.
"What?" Logan asks. "Do we really want his version of the MRD involved?"
Charles sighs and rubs his head. When Lex wakes up this will not aid in trying to have good relations with him in the least. "Can you move him to the side?" Charles asks of Logan. "I'll let Hank know he has another guest for the infirmary."
Logan drags Lex out of the way of the jet while Charles sends the mental summons to Beast.
Clark pauses for one minute. "Professor. I need a favour," he suddenly says.
That catches Charles' attention. "Such as?"
"I need you to scan Lex's mind and see if he knows who am I."
"I do not understand Clark," Charles says with notable confusion.
Clark looks at the Professor. He said his name. He remembers who Clark is too just like his parents. Clark explains the bit he couldn't in front of Lex on the Velocity about what Madeleine claimed to have done and how upon waking up Lex only called him Superman.
Logan, with his sensitive hearing, picks up the conversation too as he deposits Lex out of the way. "Could be he was faking just to throw you off," he expresses an opinion as he wanders back.
"I thought of that. That's why I'm asking," Clark responds. "I need to know...we need to know...or at least try to figure out what Madeleine did or didn't do."
"Well I remember ya Space Boy so I say she messed it up," Logan gives his view.
"Perhaps," Clark says, not so sure of that because otherwise what was that weird scarlet red energy wave she sent out?
Charles finds he agrees with Clark. Magic could be unpredictable...and what Madeleine was attempting...Charles has enough bare knowledge of magic to know that is a large and complicated spell that could have gone wrong in a thousand ways. He looks to Lex and probes the unconscious figure's mind for the single question about Clark. "There is no trace of any knowledge that he knows who you are. He has his suspicions that Superman, and not yourself, was responsible for the many odd rescues in Smallville over the years and that you, as Clark Kent, at least have a link to him...I...strange," Charles suddenly says.
"What is Chuck?" Logan asks.
"Lex's memory of Clark has him wearing thick glasses from practically the day the two met."
"I didn't wear glasses back then," Clark points out.
"No but Lex remembers you as doing so. Madeleine's spell has seemed to have altered the whole perception Lex has of you."
"But is that just limited to Lex?" Clark wonders.
Charles thinks. "It may be possible to find that out if I can get a hold of my friend," he says in relation to Stephen Strange. "However for now we must focus on stopping Madeleine and Isobel. We can resolve this after," he decides as time is of the essence.
Clark, Logan and the Professor board the jet. Logan slips into the pilot's chair next to Storm who is co-pilot. The silence between them is awkward considering where they found themselves this morning.
Logan starts the jet up and it takes off down the runway and into the air.
Once in the air Clark unstraps his seatbelt and moves to Rogue, who is strapped in securely to her own seat. He gently cups her face and it pains him to see how blank her expression is.
"Vas it vise bringing her?" Kurt asks in reference to Rogue.
"No," Clark says in quiet voice. "It is just necessary."
"What's happened to her?" Dom asks, the concern for her little sister, all too evident in her voice.
The Professor answers. "Clark's speculation, as he mentioned on the trip back to the mansion, is the correct one. The spirit possessing Rogue's body does not understand how to control the phantom personalities in her mind and she has lost control. They are all running loose with no particular one in charge."
"Can you reach Rogue?" Clark asks the Professor.
"I can try," the Professor says, with only a little confidence that he can.
"Why was it, like, necessary to bring her?" Kitty wonders, since surely Rogue would be better off in the infirmary.
"How do we stop them Kitty?" Clark asks. "The other 2? How do we exorcise all 3 of them? Which is probably the only way to help Rogue at this point."
"I...uh...don't know."
"No but I'm guessing Brianna does. She could access Rogue's memories and it got me to thinking that maybe Rogue can access hers," Clark speculates.
"And Rogue could find out how we stop them," Scott reaches the obvious conclusion and that is why Clark said Rogue had to come along so they could get the answers they seek without wasting time they don't have.
Clark gently brushes Rogue's hair off her face lovingly. "Believe me when I say I wish I could think of another way but, short of this friend the Professor mentioned showing up, we don't have any other way."
Charles closes his eyes and puts a hand to his head as he reaches out to Rogue's mind. He grunts in pain as he touches the chaotic mess that is currently her mind as he tries to reach her amongst the multitudes of personalities.
Jean watches on and suddenly remembers something. When she went through her power surge and was lost to the clatter of voices her mind could sense one voice got through to her. Scott's voice. Perhaps a similar thing might work here. "Clark. Speak to her," Jean says. "Give her something to focus on...a line to grab hold on and pull herself to the surface," she tries to explain.
"Rogue. It's me. Clark. I need you to focus on my voice and take control. I know you can do it. I know you're stronger than you think you are. Please. Talk to me," he pleads, hoping to reach her.
For awhile her stare is blank until suddenly she blinks and her eyes seem to gain focus. "Clark?" she queries.
Clark smiles. "Rogue?" he asks hopefully.
"S-she wanted ta know your secrets. Ah-ah nevah told her a thing."
Rogue must be referring to Brianna. "I know Rogue. I know you would not," he assures her. He glances out of the corner of his eye and can see the Professor is struggling. "Rogue we need your help."
Silence as Rogue's gaze starts to drift off.
"Rogue," Clark says anxiously as he gently cups her face and makes her look at him. "Rogue. I need you to stay with me."
"A-Ah can't. They're free. Ah can't stop them," she says, the struggle all too clear in her voice.
"Yes you can," Clark says with complete faith in her. "We need you to tell us how to help you. How to stop Isobel and free you. Can you look into Brianna's mind and find that?"
"Ah...ah'm not sure."
"Try. Please. For me?"
"Ah'll try," Rogue says and her face twitches as if Rogue is fighting herself. "B-Book...a-anchor...d-d-destory," she stutters the words out.
The Professor cries out and rocks back in his chair and Rogue's gaze becomes blank again. "I-I'm sorry," Charles apologises with a strained tone. "That's all I can do. Brianna's presence has disrupted all the mental blocks. Until she is gone I can't repair them."
"What did she mean by book and anchor?" Evan asks.
"She wants to go on a relaxing book reading cruise?" Spider-Man quips which earns him many a severe look. "Bad time for a joke huh?"
"Yes," Scott says sternly.
"Isobel's spell book?" Clark suggests.
"Her what?" Jean asks.
"The book Isobel carries is her spell book. Probably the one she used to cast the spell to allow Brianna and Madeleine to possess Rogue and Wanda and perhaps anchors their spirits in this world?"
"You're suggesting zhat if ve destroy zhe book ve break zhe spell and free Rogue and Vanda," Kurt surmises what Clark is getting at.
"I think that is what Rogue was getting at," Clark is pretty certain. He looks at Cyclops. "Scott?" he asks their leader to decide.
Scott muses on it for a minute. "If all we have to do is destroy that book it's certainly doable...but it sounds like it would leave Lana still possessed," he picks on the flaw.
"I know I know nothing of magic but from what I saw of Isobel she seemed to need to use her book for anything...big as if it is the source of a lot of her power," Clark tells the others.
Charles, who had taken a moment to regather himself, looks at Clark with interest. "If that is the case that it is, perhaps, the source of the bulk of her power, then destroying it could weaken her enough to allow us to contain her until I can get a hold of my friend. He would certainly know how to exorcise Isobel."
"Then all we need is a plan," Kitty points out.
Scott realises it would need to be a flexible plan. They don't know the situation they will face precisely. They could get there before or after the 2 witches...but in either scenario what might work best is a distraction that allows a clear shot at that book. Scott's eye fall on the best person to create a distraction.
Spider-Man finds his spider-sense oddly tingling and then discovers himself to be under Cyclops' gaze. "Uh...why are you looking at me like that?"
Smallville...
After getting some directions from a helpful local Madeleine had learned a very important lesson on her long, long walk to the Kawatche caves and that lesson is that high heels are not good walking shoes. Her feet were killing her.
"I think you'll find those are my feet tramp," Wanda argues in a petulant tone.
Madeleine frowns, almost in pain. Since that moment in the town, a headache had been growing as her host fights against her control. It had made this journey longer than it should have been as Madeleine had needed to stop several times to reassert her authority over this vessel. The quicker she finds the stone and finds the means to silence this host the better.
Madeleine strides with purpose into the cave, trying not to wince at the pain the blisters on her feet are causing. She stops in the darkened heart of the cave and absorbs the ambience. She looks around at the writings and drawings all over the cave. Isobel had been right that this place, and Clark Kent, must be important and linked to the stones. Madeleine will enjoy extracting the information from the farmboy when she gets back to him.
Madeleine closes her eyes and inhales through her nose deeply. The stone is here. She can smell its power. Her eyes snap open and fall to a particular part of the cave wall. The stone is behind there.
Madeleine walks over and runs her right hand over the stone surface. This wall is not what it appears. She takes a step back, raises her hands and summons up the power within. Her hands glow scarlet red, which seems to reflect the power she has tapped from within this vessel. "Open sesame," she quips before in Latin she says, "Murum aperta!"
Wall open!
The wall slides back revealing an opening. Madeleine smiles in triumph as she marches forward into the alcove where she finds the pedestal with the stone resting atop of it.
Madeleine draws up to the pedestal and rests her hands upon it. She must savour this moment of victory after 400 years.
Madeleine can practically taste the power. It will be hers!
Madeleine reaches forward for the stone only to find her hand stopping millimetres from it, shaking from effort as if meeting resistance.
"Stop it!" Madeleine furiously orders Wanda who is the one pulling at the hand.
"Go suck on a lemon!" Wanda retorts.
"Abitere!" a loud voice suddenly yells and Madeleine finds herself pushed into the rock wall with considerable force. When she gets to her feet, a little wobbly, she finds a seriously angry looking Isobel standing there.
"Madeleine!" Isobel screams in pure rage and fury. "You shall pay for betraying me!" she vows.
Madeleine thought it would take Isobel longer than this to get here..or has it taken her longer than she imagined to reach here? "I only beat you to it Isobel," she spits out. "You would have betrayed myself and Brianna sooner or later just as you did to Gertrude. Just as you did to your mother."
"My mother," Isobel says that with total revulsion of her mother, "deserved everything she got as shall you!" she promises darkly.
Madeleine laughs.
"What is funny?"
"You shall find that an impossible task. I've had a little time to explore this vessel's power. It dwarfs your own and now I am greater than you!" Madeleine declares arrogantly.
Isobel snorts derisively at that. "As usual your tongue speaks before you think," she dismisses, out of hand, Madeleine's claim to be the greater out of her own arrogance.
Madeleine fires a hex bolt at Isobel who drops her book at her feet and deflects the bolt off into the wall with her hands.
"You will have to do better than that," Isobel mocks.
"And I shall. Only one of us shall leave here with the stone. The other shall use this place as their tomb," Madeleine darkly lays down this is a fight to the death.
"That Madeleine is the last thing we shall ever agree on," Isobel says, accepting the terms of the challenge.
The two witches raise their hands. Isobel's book floats around and attaches itself to her back to free her hands up. Madeleine's hands glow with scarlet red energy. Isobel's glow with purple energy. Their eyes narrow as they glare at each other and with a clashing flash of scarlet red and purple magical energies the duel of the two witches begins.
Author's Note: Eventually we'll discover exactly what Madeleine's spell has done to everyone's memory of Clark. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews. Next up; Showdown in Smallville as our players come face to face in the final battle for the stone.