Rebekah

Logan and Hank let go of me as soon as Isaac runs out of the door.

"Going to kill him…"

"We need you with a clear head. Can you scout ahead?"

I snarl and nod.

"You want a way out?"

"Of course."

I start to slip into cat form. Halfway there, I sense a different path. A strong, angry, wild path. It fits with my mood so I impulsively follow it. I reach the end point and look up at Logan and Hank who are standing mouths open. They look…smaller than they did when I was last a cat. Logan grins.

"I want her on my side when we next fight Sabretooth."

I frown and then turn to the polished smooth wall. A proud, wild panther stares back. I can't help but smile. Like this, Isaac won't be able to stop me. Nor can Magneto. Silver isn't magnetic and the chain is still hanging from my throat, even if it's cutting into my neck. Hank notices.

"Do you want me to take that?"

I pause. I love that necklace. It's a part of me. But it's cutting into me, hurting. I nod and Hank quickly removes my necklace before tucking it into his pocket and tapping it.

"Safe and sound."

I grin, a savage, feral smile. And leap at the door, slamming the paws straight through the hand scanner. 120kgs of cheesed off panther smashes through it and the door slides open. I turn my head, enjoying my wide field of vision with exceptional focus. People start to scream and Hank touches Logan's arm.

"No lethal force Logan."

"I'd make sure you tell Rebekah that."

I ignore them and leap at the first man running towards me, swiping a paw that almost takes his head off. I feel my ears pin back as four-inch long claws scrabble on armour. The man runs and I leap again, realising that I can't operate on thought. I simply find the panther in me and let it loose. We run, Beast ever so often laying a warning hand on my back, as if to say 'no more'. I understand. I don't want to kill anyone. Scare them? Yes. Kill them? No. We reach the edge of the buildings and see a flat expanse of snow. Please not Antarctica… I suddenly feel very happy that I'm a panther with its thick fur. Logan lets out a barking laugh.

"Got them! They're coming! All we have to do is keep from getting caught until they turn up. In about…two hours…"

I snarl. Hank shrugs.

"Stay like that. You and Logan won't have to worry too much about the cold. It's just me that needs to be careful."

I nod and step out onto the powdery snow. Magneto seems to have changed the temperature in his city but not outside. The moment you step off the metal streets, the cold hits you. The pads of my paws instantly start to freeze. I shiver but walk and then start to run. A panther can cover forty kilometres a day, no sweat but they're not built for prolonged periods of running. I hear Logan and Hank following but ignore then. Isaac will pay. I will make sure of that. Maybe a scar to match the one I gave Magneto? Or maybe the marks of a panther mauling. I like this form. It's angry and strong. What I need to be right now. Hank grabs my tail and I spin around, preparing to strike. I back away, realising I could have killed him.

"Turn back! Turn back now!"

I tilt my head.

"You're becoming a panther! Turn back! Turn back!"

I frown and find the pathway to return back to my more feline form. The cat who is human as opposed to the human who is cat. The fur is thicker so I'm warmer and more covered. I open my mouth to speak and find my throat strangely sore.

"What…?"

"Your mind was slipping away. You were stalking! If you'd spent too long like that, you'd have become a panther."

I shrug.

"Maybe life would be easier that way. No right or wrong. Just being."

"But that's an easy way out. You shouldn't do that."

I slump down, trying to ignore the cold.

"I will find a way to get Isaac, even if I have to die to do so."

Logan leans down.

"Little young to be hating aintcha?"

"Says you!"

His hands are suddenly vice-like around my wrists.

"What do you know?"

His voice is harsh, angry.

"TELL ME!"

He shakes my hands and my entire body with it. Beast grabs him.

"LOGAN! Now is not the time!"

I glare at him.

"We ain't finished kid."

"I'm not a kid!"

He glares at me, his eyes ice-blue and as cold as our surroundings.

"You are to me!"

We're saved from a further argument by the Blackbird flying overhead. Logan just glares at me and I feel I have to say something.

"You'd hate what I told you anyway!"

Isaac

I waited in anxiety in Magneto's castle in his city. For the first time I took in my surroundings. The place didn't look much different than Xavier's Institute. It was better furnished than the mansion though. Magneto stalked in frostily followed by Sabretooth. The moment of truth. I held my breath as Victor passed by.

His nose didn't even twitch. I sighed with relief. Sabretooth dumped himself on the couch while Magneto went into the other room.

'When I catch the twerp who attacked me I'm going to rip him limb from limb,' he growled.

'You don't know who it was?' I asked.

'I tracked the scent to a store in town but the trail went cold,' he replied.

I raised a prayer up to God. The shopkeeper must have sold the coat.

'What happened?' I asked trying to pretend I was interested.

'Some mutant attacked me. I didn't even hear him coming through the door. Then he hit me with some sort of freaky attack. The next thing I knew I was waking up.'

'Sucks for you,' I said. Sabretooth growled like a thunder storm.

'Hush,' Magneto said sweeping in. He was talking on a phone.

'We've located the escaped mutants,' Magneto said smugly. 'We'll have them back within the hour. Now the time has come to really test where your loyalty lies Thief. We're going to bring your friends in.'

'I can't,' I stuttered.

Magneto's eyebrow arched. "What?'

'I said to achieve what was necessary I would help you remove the x-men. They're not doing any harm to you. They're just trying to escape.'

Magneto's face was blank. I heard Sabretooth stand up behind me. Magneto motioned for him to sit down. Then Magneto's hand shot out and grabbed me by the throat. A strangled cry escaped my lips.

'You will do what I tell you to do or I'll kill you,' Magneto shouted. I allowed a little smile to flit across my face. Magneto was scaring me. And that was good. I raised my hand and I felt the sparks start to ignite within my hand.

'Let me go,' I choked out. 'Or I'll take your power.' For the first time ever I saw a look of pure terror come into Magneto's face. Looks like I forgot to tell him I'm not so much a 'thief' as a 'mimic'. He dropped me like I was scorching hot. Sabretooth stood over me as I rubbed my sore throat. Magneto nodded to Sabretooth. Sabretooth smiled and kicked me hard across the room. I crashed through a suit of armour and rolled to a stop. My head was filled with stars and before I could clear them Sabretooth had both of my arms pinned behind me. I spat a blob of blood on the floor.

Magneto came over and put a foot on my head.

'You will fight and you will learn to take orders.'

I tried to struggle but Sabretooth held me tight and I was too exhausted to call upon Colossus' strength. I nodded wearily. Sabretooth released me and I staggered to my feet.

'Let's go,' Magneto said.

I nodded. Bekah might have her chance to try and kill me after all. I just had to hope they would escape before we arrived.