Landing cost me a twisted ankle, but it could have been worse.
The clock was ticking on the mental protection that I had given Remy. (I had given up trying to think of him as Gambit.) For all I knew, Ms. Mental Domination was just waiting to unleash a psi blitzkrieg on him as soon as his mind was no longer magically giftwrapped. Once that happened, saving Rogue was going to be twice as hard …
So bum ankle or not, I couldn't afford to waste any more time.
I hobbled my way to the front of the warehouse and just opened the door. Well, okay, I tore the door off its hinges magically. (Yeah, I didn't know I had it in me either.) "Remy! Keep them busy!"
Remy continued his spinning, thrusting, and parrying sparing me an exasperated glance. Clearly, he wanted to say something about my timing but didn't feel like he could spare the energy right now.
The van's engine roared to life.
Oh no. They weren't going anywhere!
"Crimson bands of Cytorrak!"
Crimson bands of energy wrapped around the van, slightly crushing the roof in.
I ran—well, okay, limped to the van and tore the doors open.
Blythe was sitting in the back with her hands wrapped around Rogue's neck. "One more step and she dies."
I froze.
Blythe wasn't wearing her dog's helmet. She looked like a rather pretty girl—barely more than a teenager. Her eyes weren't glowing this time, but her power was clearly self-evident.
Rogue's eyes were open but no one was home.
"You can't have her."
It was a simple statement of fact. She was not getting away with Rogue.
"I don't want her. She was just bait. I wanted you."
So Remy was right.
"You know, there are easier ways for a pretty girl to meet a guy. Have you tried placing an ad on Evil ?"
"I'm not evil."
"I'll give you a hint. 'One more step and she dies' is not exactly a sign of friendliness. Nor is mindjacking people and using them like puppets."
Blythe made a gesture, and I felt something break against my wards.
The mob attacking Remy dropped like marionettes with broken strings.
"They're fine. They won't remember any of this when they wake up. I don't have much time. Once Iron Horse and Metalyx realize I'm up to something they'll take steps to keep me from ever doing this again. I'll never be free of them without help."
"Kyle! You okay, mon ami? How is my Rogue?"
"She's okay, Remy." I prayed I was telling the truth. Rogue was breathing, but her eyes scared me. "What do you mean? Aren't you free?"
"No. I'm not. I'm not really here. This is just a mental image, a psychic construct."
I thought about the kind of power that would take. It didn't exactly leave me feeling warm and tingly in a good way. The fact that someone could enslave someone with that kind of might didn't lower my blood pressure either. "Then let's not waste time. What do you want?"
"I need your help. They can stop any mutant from saving me—as long as they have me. I need someone—someone like you."
"Like I've never heard that from a woman before—generally right when she was about to ask me for a favor …"
"You're the one who said not to waste time here, sorcerer."
"Kyle—" Remy began.
"Quiet, X-Man. The adults are talking here." Blythe turned and looked at me again. "Save me."
"How?"
"The helmet. Iron Horse's helmet prevents me from using my full powers—and as long as I wear it, I'm not able to oppose them in any way. Remove that, and I'll help you stop them." She smiled at me. "I'll be very grateful, I promise."
There were at least two ways I could take that. One involved me needing a cold shower. The other involving having the assistance of a powerful psychic with my Plan …
"How do we find you?"
Blythe touched Rogue's cheek. "I've given her the knowledge you'll need. Find me, sorcerer. Save me—before I have to kill you all."
And with that, Blythe faded away as though she had never been.