Bad News

[agoodomen]

Daimon sat pondering the state of the empty piece of paper in front of him

Comments

[beastly_avenger]

"I'm afraid not, Daimon," came Hank's reply. His voice was tinged with regret, clearly the voice of someone who wished he could be having any other conversation but this.

[agoodomen]

Daimon shook his head. He was a fool.

"Henry McCoy, I'm sorry. My thoughts were elsewhere." Obviously. "Wat is it you wished to speak with me about?"

[beastly_avenger]

Hank took a breath before he continued.

"It's about Mark," he said. "I'm afraid I've got some bad news."

[agoodomen]

That was never a good start to a conversation.

"What is it?"

[beastly_avenger]

"I'm afraid..."

Hank trailed off and tried to compose himself. "He hung himself, Daimon, while I was away on a mission."

[agoodomen]

There was the briefest moment of pause before a frightful change overtook the Son of Satan.

His entire body combusted into soulfire. "WHAT?!"

[beastly_avenger]

"I'm sorry," Hank said, even though he knew it was cliched and helped little. "Some of the other students found him, tried to get him medical help... but it was too late."

[agoodomen]

The flames died down except for his head. "I placed him in your care! I trusted you! And now I find that he is dead!"

[beastly_avenger]

It's a long moment before Hank can reply. This same thing has been keeping him up at nights and it's not likely to get any better.

"You don't think I know that, Daimon?" he snapped. "I couldn't be by his side every moment of the day... They needed all available X-Men for this one."

He'd kept so many from dying... only to be unable to keep the most important one.

[agoodomen]

"Yes, murdering a mayor from what I hear." His words were harsh but Daimon Hellstrom was not known for the warmth of his heart, unless it were the warmth of the fires of hell. "He was a child, Beast! And now his soul has been condemned to hell for all eternity and it is partly my fault and yours. God forgive us! And God watch over those poor children in your care!"

[beastly_avenger]

Hank was not entirely happy with how that event had turned out, but that was an issue for another time.

Mark was not the first student they lost (poor, poor Doug Ramsey. From everything the others had said, Hank truly wished he'd be able to know the boy) and would probably not be the last.

"I know," he replies sadly. "I know."

[agoodomen]

Daimon was silent for several moments. "Goodbye McCoy." He said shortly before hanging up the phone.