[Author's Note: X-men Characters in this Chapter: Nightcrawler (Kurt), Professor X (Charles Xavier), Storm (Ororo), Beast (Dr. McCoy), Rogue (Marie), Gambit (Remy), Iceman (Bobby), Magma (Amara), plus StormFireGirl's character Bio-hazard (A.J.), and of course my characters the Shadow (Marcus Preed) and Panther (Emery).]

The Professor had called Beast, on their way back to the mansion. Beast rounded up Rogue, Gambit, Nightcrawler, Iceman, Magma, and Bio-hazard. They were the only ones healthy enough, that were also trained for field work, in the mansion currently. Although the Professor would have preferred Bio-hazard get a little more rest before she went out in the field again, he couldn't deny that having her destructive capabilities against this particular enemy would be helpful.

When they arrived at Pine Drive, they were ready for the worst. There was only nine of them, and each of them held a dispelling band. Arriving at the cabin had been an accomplishment. Marcus appeared outside and they instantly dropped into their fighting stances. They threw everything that had at him that they could throw from long distance: Bio-hazard's toxin, Remy's explosive cards, Storm's lightning, Magma's lava, and Iceman even chipped in with shards of ice. Beast and Nightcrawler waited for the dust to clear. Marcus was standing there with a frown on his face when it did, particles of plasma circling around him.

"You really should learn to stay out of things X-men."

"Where's Emery?" Nightcrawler yelled.

"Inside."

Kurt, intending to go into the house, tried to teleport. Marcus had him on his knees before he could finish the thought. His ears were ringing, his head searing in pain. His teammates were all on the ground rolling in pain. After what felt like hours, but was really only a few seconds, the ringing stopped. This was exactly what Emery did. He looked up at Marcus.

"You aren't going anywhere. None of you can beat me. None of you can stop me. What makes you think that you can come to my home and attack me? What makes you think you can take someone like her from someone like me?"

"Give her back," Kurt demanded.

"She doesn't want to go back, especially to someone like you. You'll hurt her."

"I would never... !" Kurt started.

"Lies."

'Kurt hush,' the Professor said mentally.

"Marcus," the Professor called. "What do you want Emery for?"

"That's none of your business X-man."

"Is she okay?" the Professor asked.

"She's fine."

"Can we have some sort of reassurance that she's fine?"

"You can have my word."

"Can we see her?"

"No. You can die."

Marcus raised his hand towards the group of X-men, helplessly standing there. They knew this enemy was powerful and they knew there wasn't anything within their powers that they could do to stop him.

"No! Marcus don't!" Emery yelled, jumping in front of Marcus.

Marcus twisted his powers upwards, just barely missing Emery, and because of its new direction it missed everyone else too. He glared at her.

"Don't. Hurt. Them," she commanded.

Kurt teleported towards Emery. Maybe he could get her out of there.

Too fast for anyone to see, Marcus and Emery disappeared in a sea of plasma. Kurt landed on the plasma, slipped and fell backwards. He stared at the seared trees above him; there was hardly anything left of them.

"Get up," Gambit drawled, pulling Kurt to his feet. "We still have a mission to complete."

"We were useless. We didn't get anything accomplished. We can't hit him. The Professor can't get into his brain. We're not going to win."

"Ya don't know tha'," Gambit argued.

"Yes I do."

"No ya don't," Rogue said.

"He's just like her."

"What?" Amara asked.

"Marcus is just like Emery. They have the same powers."

"Well the Professor said you managed to stop Emery, so why don't you tell us how and we'll have a good chance at stopping him."

"I don't think that's going to work."

"Why not?"

"Because..." Kurt looked away and blushed a little. "I bite her."

"Figures she'd like that," Bobby grumbled. "She's such a freak," he mumbled under his breath. Amara smacked him upside the head.

"Rude much," she commented.

"It's nicht... like that..." Kurt blushed.

"Look at them. Just standing there on my property. And you like that one? With the blue everywhere? What on earth can you like about him? You can't possibly have a family with him; is it even genetically possible?"

"Is it genetically possible for me to have kids with anyone?" she snapped at him. "Look at me. I have a tail for crying out loud!"

"I didn't... mean to offend you. I don't have anything against mutants really. I just... they took someone important away from me."

"So you'll take someone important away from someone else?"

"You can go back to him after you help me."

"And you won't hurt me or them?"

"You have my word."

"And what is your word worth?"

He didn't answer her, so she returned her gaze to Kurt outside the house.

"He's blushing. What are they talking about?"

"You."

"Me?" Emery started, a blush forming on her face. "What about me?"

"Says he bites you."

Her blush grew.

"Does he?"

"You already know the answer to that," she glared at him.

"True."

"You're right," Amara said. "That's not going to help us get Emery back."

"If he's just like Emery, then he can hear every word we're saying, and every thought we're thinking. Emery is a mind reader, amongst other things," the Professor added.

"Is there anything we can do?" Rogue asked.

"They're probably just inside the house," Beast said.

Bobby started throwing ice at the house.

"That little shit," Marcus swore. "I'll kill him."

"No!" Emery yanked on his arm. "If you kill one of them, they won't have any mercy on you."

Marcus laughed. "You think they can hurt me?"

"I'll kill you myself."

He stopped laughing. He grabbed her by the throat and pushed her up against the wall. She grunted in surprise, but thrust her arms upwards, breaking his grip from her neck. She ducked and rolled to the side and came up with a knife at his throat. Marcus laughed.

"Well done! Well done little kitty." He melted the knife, turning it into plasmic goo. He spun her around him and pressed her back against the wall. "So close. But I still win."

"Oh get off me," she rolled her eyes.

He took a step back. "Go out there and tell them to go away. If you can make them go away, and you return back to me, then I won't kill them."

She glared at him.

Kurt watched Emery walk out of the house. They all did. He was so relieved to see her, he almost let his guard down. Almost. But he noticed the collar around her neck. Her powers: she wasn't able to use them at all. She really was helpless.

"You need to go back to the mansion."

Kurt couldn't believe his ears. She wanted him to go away? "I'm not leaving without you."

"Kurt go away!" she commanded, taking a step back. "All of you. Just go back to the mansion before he kills you!" Kurt stepped closer to her. "Go. Back."

"But Em."

"He is going to kill each and every one of you if you don't leave his property right now."

"What about you Emery?" the Professor asked. "What is he going to do to you?"

"I'm fine. This is my choice. I'm staying here. Go away. All of you."

She turned and walked back into Marcus' house.

Gambit snatched Kurt up. "Let's go. You heard her."

"Yes I believe it is in our best interest to regroup. Maybe we can come back once the others have woken up," the Professor said.

"They're gone."

"Good girl."

"Now will you tell me what the hell I'm here for?" she snapped angrily.

"You're going to help me kill the person who took my special someone away from me."

"Wouldn't that person already be dead?"

"No. He's still alive, and his name is Sabertooth."

[Let me know what you think! I'm incredibly slow at getting them up here as I'm sure you've noticed.]