Chapter 34
The next day...
First thing in the morning in her room, while Tabby remained asleep, Wanda sat crossed-legged, her arms out, thumbs touching her index fingers, in a pose of meditation. She was also floating above her bed and her eyes were glowing scarlet red and while her body was here her mind and astral form was somewhere else.
This stems from last night. The Professor had told her about Monet/Penance and asked for her opinion. She gave the honest one in response. That this sort of transfiguration was way beyond her. They would need Dr Strange.
And that is what Wanda is doing.
Her astral body takes shape inside the Sanctum Sanctorum. Inside this place her astral projection can be given substance so as she walks along the floor her boots make the boards creak. Now where is everyone?
Wanda walks the hallways and listens to her instincts like Dr Strange taught her. They take her to a certain door which she opens and sticks her head into the room.
"Oh look who it is. The mutant bitch...I mean witch."
Wanda rolls her eyes. "And it is so nice to see you too Satana," she says sarcastically.
The half-demon succubus smirks. She was not alone in the room. The Indian sorceress in training Topaz was there along with Satana's brother Daimon. They seemed to be studying. You won't believe how much reading is involved in magic.
"So tell me Maximoff is he single?" Satana inquires.
"Is who single?" Wanda asks with a wary eye.
"You know who. The hunk who puts out more energy than your average star because if he is I am so available to show him all around a woman's body," she offers, her lustful intent clear. "And you know there's no body better than a succubus'. We were designed to give pleasure you cannot imagine," she boasts.
"And that has nothing to do with you wanting to feed on him at all?" Wanda accuses the half-demon, knowing really all Satana wants is to satisfy her hunger for sexual life energy. "How did you put it again? Oh yes, I would sell what's left of my soul for a romp in the sack with him."
Satana smiles dreamily actually as her mind drifts to imaging that very romp.
Her brother shakes his head at her. He so needs to disown her.
"Is Master Strange here?" Wanda asks, hoping to speed up her day and trying to get off answering Satana's question.
Topaz pauses her reading. "I believe so," she answers. She places her book down and rises to her feet. "I'll help you locate him," she offers.
"Thanks Topaz," Wanda says gratefully.
Topaz and Wanda leave the room but just before they do Wanda pauses and says, gives a warning really, "Oh Satana over my dead body will you ever touch him."
Satana rattles rattles off an insulting remark in response but Wanda is already out the door and ignores it.
"I see Satana is as charming as ever," Wanda says sarcastically but she meant it. She'll never let Satana anywhere near Clark...mostly because of the obvious that he deserves better than that but also who knows what would actually happen if Satana tried to absorb Clark's alien lifeforce.
"Actually she has improved since the 1st time Master Strange brought her here," Topaz comments on the difference from when she 1st met Satana. "But then again she had been living in Hell with her father up to that point," she makes the case as to why Satana was that bad.
Wanda purses her lips. It's always a little harder to insult Satana back when you remember where she came from and that her father is a Hell Lord.
"I must say Wanda your astral projection has improved markedly," Topaz compliments her.
"Oh thanks," Wanda says with pride at that. "But it must still need work if you can tell the difference," she remarks. The true test of astral projection was to make it so good not even a fellow sorcerer can tell it apart from your real body. "Jen been around?" she wonders after Jennifer Kale who Wanda would call a friend.
"Not recently. I believe she is trying to aid her cousin deal with his curse and help protect him from Mephisto's retributions."
"Hmm," Wanda remarks. Yeah Jen did say before she left with her cousin Johnny Blaze she would be doing that. "I hope she is alright."
"As do I," Topaz says honestly. Certainly she and Jen had very different personalities and clashed on occasion but that did not stop them being friends. "And yourself Wanda? How have you been?"
"Good. It's not me I'm here about," Wanda clarifies in case Topaz was thinking it. "It's for someone else. They've been magically cursed and it's way beyond me how to reverse it," she explains what brings her here.
Topaz nods along seeing how sensible Wanda is to ask for help. There is no shame in admitting you don't know something.
They reach Dr Strange's private study and Topaz knocks on the door. They are bidden inside.
"Wanda!" Dr Strange greets her happily at seeing the girl.
Wanda bows her head. "Master Strange," she greets him formally. "Forgive the unannounced intrusion but I require your help," she says respectfully...and respect is something she has gained an awful lot of for her mystic teacher.
"It's never an intrusion if something is the matter," Dr Strange tells her. "Topaz. Thank you for bringing Wanda," he gives his gratitude. "I'll take it from here. You may return to your studies."
Topaz bows in acceptance. "Yes, Master."
As she leaves Stephen turns his full attention to his chaos magic practising pupil. "So please sit," he gestures at a chair, "and tell me what has happened."
Wanda takes the offered seat and begins to relay the story.
Back at the Institute Clark had found himself indoctrinating Sooraya and Penance into the morning routine and it allowed her to ask him any further questions she may have after he dumped the alien bit on her last night. She had seemed to take it remarkably well so far.
And Penance just seemed to want hugs out of him. Man she must be starved for comfort...which he can sort of sympathise with. His invulnerable exterior does mean he is at risk of hurting people like Penance and as his powers grow as time passes his skin just feels...thicker. The sensations he receives through his skin lessen and dull.
Sooraya joins Clark in the kitchen aiding him and his mother and Storm get the breakfasts ready. Penance follows and observes everything with her child-like innocence.
Sooraya was stunned at hearing his story. That he is an alien. Then she recalled that Allah creates many wondrous things and that all creations of Allah have to be loved and appreciated. They are all gifts from the Creator after all.
"Clark, may I ask a question?" she raises.
"Certainly," he tells her.
"Did your people believe in God?"
Clark half-smiles. "Yes. We called him Rao. It means Father of All. He's been varying deities on Krypton. A Fire God. A Sun God. In fact Krypton's red sun was named Rao after him. He use to stand amongst a pantheon of Gods but while they faded he remained until he stood alone as the supreme One God," he gives a brief history of what he has learned about his homeworld and its religion from his studies with Jor-El.
"And do you believe in him still, even after your people and planet were destroyed...please forgive me if that is too personal," Sooraya requests, realising she may have let her curiosity get the better of her and ask something that may be too painful for him to recall.
Clark frowns slightly. "No. It's not. It wasn't God that destroyed Krypton, Sooraya. It was ourselves. It was our folly, our arrogance. Saying that I'm not a hugely religious person. I respect everyone's beliefs but...perhaps I have lost too much to have a great faith in a deity any more."
Sooraya reaches out and touches his arm in a gesture of comfort. "I have no doubt God loves all his creations and even if you do doubt I have faith enough for us both."
"Now you sound like Kurt," Clark comments.
"My ears are burning!" Kurt calls as he enters. Kurt's always amongst the early risers needing more food than most to fuel his powers. "So vhat's happening my fine new friends?" he asks, his usual cheery self, being always open and welcoming to new members of the Institute.
"Clark was just saying that we sound similar in our belief and faith in God and his love for all," Sooraya answers.
"Ah," Kurt says. "Vell it is true," he says very matter of factly about God's love.
"Indeed," Sooraya agrees. "I was just asking Clark about religion on Krypton."
Kurt sits down. "Yeah I've done a little of zhat. Interesting, ja?"
"Yes," Sooraya agrees. She turns back to Clark. "So was religion the cause of the war you mentioned?"
"No. That was just one man who, in his own supreme arrogance, thought he should be running the planet. Though the war did bring out a renewal in religious extremism. Wars tend to bring out extremes."
Sooraya was from Afghanistan so she had seen that truth first hand.
Slightly later that morning Jean finds herself standing in the Professor's office...at her request. It's also clear to see on her face she is still very upset over what happened with Scott. In fact that's why she is here.
She doesn't want to drag the Professor into what are her and Scott's personal affairs but there are wider ramifications. Not wanting to prolong this beyond what is necessary Jean gets right to it. "Scott and I are on a break," she informs the Professor.
Charles takes a moment. He had sensed her upset but didn't realise it had gone this far. "I see. Is there anything I can do?" he offers any help or advice he can.
Jean smiles lightly. "No. Thank you, Professor. This is for us to sort...or will be when Scott stops being an ass."
Charles has the feeling Scott would give a different version of this. That's what happens in trouble spots in relationships.
"I just want to request a break from being on the X-Men as well," Jean unexpectedly asks for. "Scott and I on the same team wouldn't be a good idea at the moment...considering I've having to restrain myself from shoving his head through a wall," she says with more than a little maliciousness.
Charles is not fond of the idea...yet this scenario of teammates in a relationship breaking up has come up before and they did basically all agree that it can't really work if the 2 people in question can't get along enough to maintain team cohesiveness. "You want a complete break from all of it?" Charles asks if she needs some time off to herself.
"No, no," Jean doesn't want that. "Just move me into Generation X," she requests. Generation X is essentially the X-Men reserve team.
"I'll have to tell Scott and Sam first before a final decision," Charles advises.
Jean nods. "That's fine," she accepts. "And if you want a suggestion on who to replace me as the team telepath just pick Betsy. There is very little I can do telepathic wise she can't," she compliments her English friend. Betsy had improved massively since she arrived with control over her telepathic powers which were essentially as strong as Jean's...or close to being so.
"I'll take your suggestion under advisement," the Professor diplomatically responds to that. "That all?"
Jean nods to the affirmative. "More or less. I'll just say if something comes up, an incident or scenario the X-Men are facing that needs my power then you can call on me, no questions asked, Professor," she promises.
"I never doubted that," Charles assures her.
Jean smiles a fraction before she turns on her heels and departs for her room. Soon, if they haven't already, the whole mansion will hear about her and Scott and she doesn't want to face all of that. She'll just lock herself away for the day. That's probably for the best.
As she walks she wipes another tear away. God this hurts.
Later still that same morning is when Dr Strange arrives after hearing Wanda tell about Penance. His visit has 2 aims. One; see if he can reverse the curse and two; undo the changes Wanda inadvertently did to her room a few weeks back. That's been on his TO DO list for ages.
The Professor escorts Stephen down to the infirmary. While it was magic that changed Monet, Stephen wished to see what Beast had found scientific wise. Magic and science are not as far apart as many might think.
"The trouble is I do not possess a sample of Ms St Croix's original DNA to compare the one we took from her current form to and see what, if anything, is left of her original genome," Hank is explaining one of his problems to Stephen.
Stephen nods in understanding as he reviews all of Hank's finds. Remember he was a surgeon before he was a master of the mystic arts so has a broad knowledge of medicine and human biology. "Can I see her in person?" he requests.
That request is granted and Dust has shortly brought Penance down to the infirmary.
Stephen walks around the red-skinned mutant, hand outstretched, feeling for something beyond what science can see. He does this several times, walking round in a complete circle before stopping and bending down at his knees, looking keenly into Penance's eyes. He strokes his beard. "What have you done, Selene?" he asks, revulsion clear in his voice at what has transpired while also trying to narrow down the possibilities in his head of what spell Selene could have cast to have done this.
Stephen reaches into his jacket pocket. He had dressed in his more 'normal' clothes. He pulls out the infamous Eye of Agamotto. Chanting a spell the eye opens and mystical light flashes. When it strikes Penance it causes Sooraya to gasp.
There, within Penance's form, is the ghostly image of a teenage girl with brown hair and lightly brown skin.
"That's her," Sooraya says in awe. "That's Monet."
"It's her soul. The Eye is illuminating it for us to see," Stephen explains.
Sooraya is truly wonder-struck to be able to see Monet's actual soul.
Charles' eyes peer closer. "Is it still really Monet?" he wonders.
"She's still in there but for now this is the most I can do by allowing us to see her. Selene used a powerful curse. I can sense it. However reversing it is a whole different issue. Without knowing which incantation it was Selene used it's going to be very difficult to reverse it. It's always problematic to reverse someone else's magic and Selene is no amateur. She's old, knowledgeable and powerful. She doesn't make sloppy mistakes...or leave flaws behind I can exploit. It's going to take even myself time to do more research and study. I'm not going to be able to reverse this today. I'm sorry, Charles."
"I know if you could you would, Stephen," Charles accepts, though his voice in tinged with sadness.
Stephen straightens up. "The only sure way forward of finding the method of undoing this is that I find Selene and get her to tell me precisely what she did."
"Can you?" Charles asks the pertinent question of whether even Stephen can make Selene give the answers they seek.
Stephen rocks his head a little from side to side. "It would one of the greatest challenges of my life. The depths of dark arts Selene commands is equal to some demon lords I know. Then there's simply trying to find her. You don't live 30 centuries without being able to cloak yourself from detection."
All in all Charles can mean that to say that Monet is going to be stuck as she is for quite some time to come.
After the failure to aid Penance...at least in the short term, Stephen only stayed long enough to undo Wanda's alterations to her and Tabby's room before he left to try and either find a way to reverse the curse or find a way to locate Selene and get her to tell him how to reverse it.
As for the red-skinned mutant herself and her friend in the veil the decision was taken to simply to start the routine of getting Dust and Penance really settled in and that meant a run through a Danger Room session assessing their powers.
Up in the control booth the Professor, Beast and Havok watched on. Alex, being the leader of the New Mutants, had to see what two potential new members of his team could do. Potential because no-one had asked the question whether either girl wished to be part of a team.
Since this was part of their medical it didn't matter whether it was asked before or after.
"So...how is Scott this morning?" Charles asks Alex in between simulations as Hank reviews the data from the last one.
Alex peers out of the corner of his eyes. "Him and Jean?" he queries, guessing that is what the Professor is asking about.
Charles nods once.
"Yeah. He's pretty upset," Alex reports. Being his brother's roommate he had had to stay up and listen to Scott pouring his heart out half the night. "But in the end you know Scott. Plaster on the happy face and never let anyone see his true feelings."
"Hmm," the Professor says in a slight tone of disapproval. He never did think Scott's habit of repression was healthy.
Alex...did feel for Scott. Just because they disagree over Alex's dating Roulette didn't mean he felt any less Scott's brother. Though he did feel his brother was making a mistake in his approach to dealing with Emma. If he loves Jean, which Alex knows Scott does, then he should be sticking by her. Especially after it seems Emma set them up. That truly does baffle Alex a bit.
What is going on?
Alex can only think either Scott's feelings for Jean aren't as deep as he claims or he just has this thing for Emma Frost he can't let go...which admittedly Alex can see why because dayum that's one fine woman.
For now it's all probably too raw. Let a few days pass and then reassess and see where they are. More likely than not Scott and Jean will realise how much they miss and love each other and this will blow over.
And if not...if Scott decides he really does want Emma...well Alex has all his retorts ready for all the hassle Scott gave him over Roulette.
Speaking of that being set-up thing Alex didn't dump Jen for playing them. Yeah, he's a little angry at her and might be taking a few days and cooling things down between them till he figures out what to do in response...and she comes up with a decent explanation. That's what he wants more than anything. Not to break up with her. To understand what the hell it was all really about.
Ok and he might be a little reluctant to just give up access to Jen's assets...but they are damn fine assets.
Alex turns his attention back down into the Danger Room. His team was depleted and needing new members. Amara had left which left Alex totally miffed. Sure she wasn't the most enthusiastic teammate ever but he never saw this coming.
The reorganisation after Spyke left meant Wanda and Betsy had been promoted to Generation X...which is fine. It's part and parcel of the New Mutants. It's in the name. They were the team new members first joined. If they did well enough they moved on. The whole idea is in the end is flexibility. Team members shift about depending on the situation and mission requirements.
The simple fact Dust and Penance were Hellions that Emma brought along to Bayville signalled that they were skilled and watching them perform in the Danger Room they clearly were. How long they stay in the New Mutants if they choose to join might solely depend on them and if they wish not to interact with their former teammates.
"They're good," is all Alex can really say.
"Indeed," Charles agrees. "Come. We'll go talk with Sooraya," he decides as the session ends.
Alex and the Professor soon make their way down into the Danger Room where Dust and Penance wait patiently.
"Excellent Dust, Penance," the Professor praises them.
Dust bows in thanks. Penance makes a querying sounding like noise.
"The question is what you wish to do now. We have currently a 3 team structure. New recruits always start in the New Mutants, led by Alex Summers, codename Havok, here. You can join that...or if you desire this Institute can simply be a home for you," the Professor lays down the choices for them.
"May I have time to think on it," Dust requests.
"Of course," the Professor agrees readily.
"Thank you. There is the issue of school?" Sooraya raises, worried at meeting her now former teammates.
"I'll take care of it," the Professor assures her to allay her fears. "I believe Emma won't cause a fuss because if she did it would force you to speak out and she knows as well as I you won't lie about the truth behind the Hellions' so-called heroic deeds."
"So we just let them get away with it?" Alex queries.
"If that is the price for a peaceful transfer of Dust and Penance to our school than it is one I will accept. Forcing Emma into a media showdown won't do anything. Beyond Dust's word we also currently lack physical proof they staged these 'accidents'," he relays to Alex.
They hadn't managed to find yet any sort of video evidence from the zoo of Roulette's manipulations. Until they do Charles needs to calm things down...especially the emotions it seems Empath has raised in everyone. He's...annoyed he never realised that has been happening but Emma, it seems from Dust's story, was very clever and subtle in the way she had Empath target them.
Plus he's in the middle of talking to the zoo owners in the hope they can strike a deal and avoid a messy court case for the 5 X-Men caught up in the events. Therefore he's trying to avoid doing anything that rocks the boat or exasperates the situation further.
Charles lets out a sigh and finishes by saying, "Our reputation has been damaged enough lately. Sometimes winning means knowing when not to fight."
Sooraya ends up smiling. She likes that belief and it only reinforces what she was thinking. That coming here was the right choice.
Author's Note: No, there's no quick end for Monet's penance. She will be stuck for the foreseeable future. The greatest strength of the X-Men is the fact that no matter what members make up the team they're still the X-Men, fighting for the same cause so Jean's leaving is just part of normal life for them plus it's a little different. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews. Next up; No Good Deed part 9 and this is the final wrap up of everything related to this arc.