Once Upon a Night - An X-Treme Story, part two
Author: Illmantrim
Title: Once Upon a Night - An X-Treme Story
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I don't own the X-Men or any other of the copywrited characters mentioned here-in. I own only Lassa-They and Rhymer. I make no money on this project. Please don't sue.
Summary: On the horrible night when the soldiers attack the mansion, two stories begin, and several people come of age.
Written for: Troll Princess
Pairing/scenario requested: The kids who left with Colossus - Anything we missed between the attack on the school and their return after Stryker was defeated.
Warnings (if any): adult situations and character deaths
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Part Two - Darkchylde
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Chapter Five - From Bad to Verse
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With Kitty at his side, Colossus led the kids onward into the night. Already it seemed to have ben a long time and yet only two and a half hours had passed. He glanced at his watch and grimaced. It was barely 11:30 p.m.. He knew where the first stop was supposed to be and he hoped that their sanctuary was still there.
As he walked along, he looked at the woman walking next to him and smiled. She caught his glance and returned it with a smile of her own. Something drastic had shifted in this last little while and where there had been uncertainty between them, now there was absolute sureness. they moved together almost as if they could read each other's minds. They had trained together before and everything about Colossus was suddenly very aware of everything about Kitty, or Shadowcat as her codename, self-chosen, was.
The dark lane they move4d along afforded a lot of shadows and cover and so Colossus felt constantly on alert, constantly like he was looking to see what was behind every tree. They took small rest breaks every fifteen to twenty minutes but even so he knew the kids were getting tired and that he had to find a place along the way for them to rest for a little while. He nodded to himself and reviewed the maps he had memorized at Scott's insistence.
He shook his head and wished the solid man was there now. Even though Scott had a lot of duties as teacher and leader of the X-men, he had spent time with Colossus and they had formed the start of a friendship. the older man had face a lot of hardships on the street and growing up with such an awesome power. The control and smarts that the other man had shown had given rise to a deep sense of respect in Colossus. He knew the kind of control it took to keep in check an awesome power, but knew his own power was nothing against the immensity of Scott's force blasts. Still, the sense of kindred spirits had linked them strongly. Thus Colossus had begin training early and done a lot more than most students his age.
It had been Professor Xavier who had first coined the nickname/codename/mutantname of Colossus for one Piotr Rasputin, but it was his friends use of it and Scott's support that had allowed Colossus to seriously start to think of himself that way. For him, the things that had made him Piotr Rasputin were gone. even his young sister had taken to using English most of the time and calling him her Colossus. And so he had become Colossus, a man of steel and of strength who expressed himself in painting and sketching.
Colossus brought his thoughts back to the present with a lurch as he heard a sound that caught his attention. He scanned the area around them and slowly detected what he thought was a gleam in the night shadows and then, realized what he was seeing. With a leap he ran for the edge of the street, his voice rising in a roar.
"The soldiers have found us! Defend the younger kids! grab them and run!"
And then the soldiers were in the light, weapons firing tranq bolts. But the first wave of bolts were caught by a flare of electricity as Ray lunged forward, his hands outstretched, eyes dancing with inner lightning. then Alison was there, her voice rising in song as she converted it to golden lasers that scythed down two of the oncoming soldiers. There was a rumble and then the ground heaved under the soldiers as Julio entered the fray, his mini-earth-quakes rumbling and threatening to throw down the enemy. Even as Colossus charged into the soldiers, he wasn't alone. James , Kitty, and Shiro all were with him, their faces in various shades of determination and anger. they crashed into the enemy and then it was chaos.
Only bits and pieces of images reached Colossus after that as the battle swirled around them. It seemed like the line of soldiers would never end, but also that his friends were not willing to lay down or surrender.
He saw Allison Blaire back to back with a kid he barely knew Jonathan something or other from England, their anger seeming to fuel them.
He saw Alison Crestmere wielding a piece of streetsign back to back with Shiro who's fire seemed to roar with a rage all it's own.
Young Takishima, a genius whizkid who was in a wheelchair, had managed to morph several guns into part of his chair and Colossus groaned inside to see the young man, so peaceful, crying as he fired the guns again and again at the enemy.
In the middle of the battle three small figures stood. Young Leach, a nameless green-scale-covered mutant, was standing with his eyes squeezed shut and concentrating hard. Colossus knew exactly what was happening and smiled even in the middle of the battle. Leach's power was to cancel out all mutant abilities in a certain radius, and right now he was giving all his concentration to not doing that. Standing around him protectively were Artie Maddocks and Franklin Richards. They both looked so serious as they stood guard on their friend and in the midst of battle Colossus felt a thrill of pride for the young ones.
Kitty seemed to stay near him mostly, but he saw her fading in and out a lot, her powers of phasing made her the hardest for the bad guys to hit as she faded through their lines and hit them from behind and saved others who fell again and again, seeming to be everywhere at once.
James fought with silence and a grim intensity of his own and Colossus felt a twinge as he saw the remorseless way in which James hurled away his enemies. The young man had only slowly accepted that some white men were not like those who had massacred his people. Now, faced with similar soldiers prosecuting his new family, he moved with grace and fury barely contained.
Colossus himself felt his strength growing as he hurled into group after group of enemy.
In the middle of the battle, one youngster, about fifteen, whose name he could never remember was hit hard by one of the soldiers, and faltered, crying out in pain. But suddenly in mid-cry his voice changed and as the kid looked up in surprise, his voice took on a smooth sound, almost hypnotic. the boy rose and then sung out.
"Bloody soldiers, fighting strong/knowing you are doing wrong/fall down where you stand/stop pursuing my little band."
And just like that, almost fifteen soldiers fell, seeming to just drop. the boy gaped for a minute and then charged back into battle, his voice raised in song. Colossus grinned at the momentary light as a new mutant awoke to his power.
Colossus kept fighting until he felt like the battle would never end and then, when he finally looked up from subduing one man, it was.
With ragged breath, he rose and slowly cast his gaze around the battlefield. There seemed to be only a few kids down. They were surrounded by the soldiers and Colossus didn't even want to know what condition they were in, but made himself speak.
"Listen! everyone gather around and check each other. Let's get a count and make sure everyone is okay."
The group gathered slowly and young Haley Wills, a healer of sorts passed around, seeing to those whose aches and pains she could. Slowly they got a count and Colossus smiled as he realized only six had been felled by the soldiers and none of the soldiers were dead. He directed several of the stronger kids to stack the soldiers to the side and as soon as that was done , they began to run down the road, the stronger helping the weaker. They were tired, but they were triumphant.
***
Part Two - Chapter Six - Seductions and Darknesses
***
In a cold, dark place, where souls screamed and a young girl quailed, a madman was speaking.
"My name is Belasco and I serve the Utmost. They are the eldest of those your insignificant race have called gods down through the ages. Their might and power are unlike anything you can imagine and they have been gone from Terra a very long time. They left unwillingly, when an alliance of the very first race of Man alligned with the Younger Gods and cast them out. Now they want back in. Very, very badly. You, my dear Darkchylde, are their way in. They have been waiting for you since long before your nation was even born. You will serve to bring them here to this place, and from here, to Terra."
Illyana's mind was reeling as she listened and yet her mind also felt like it was expanding, altering somehow. She felt a pang of pain deep in her and she cried out. Even as she did, Sam and the others were at her side and then clustered around her, in front of her.
"You leave her alone! She isn't yours or your Elder Gods' or anyone's! She is one of us! And you cant have her."
For a moment she thought maybe Sam's words would make a difference, but then Belasco's face contorted and she screamed as he hurled a bolt of greenish energy... energy that even from the distance she could feel was wrong. It split into four beam and slammed into her friends, knocking therm across the room and into a wall. She looked in horror at the walls as they seemed to grow arms to hold her friends. they struggled but couldn't escape. She whirled on Belasco and ran at him. He just laughed. when she got close she felt a ripple and resistance, but then broke through it, causing Belasco to flinch for a moment before he caught her up and tossed her aside like a limp rag doll. She screamed as he did so.
"Leave them alone. Don't hurt them. Please don't hurt them."
Belasco watche3d her and slowly smiled. It was a dark smile, one full of menace.
"Very well, little Darkchylde. I wont hurt them. I wouldn't want you to be angry with me."
With a wave of his hand bluish bolts of energy shot out and hit her friends and they vanished. A screen flickered into life on the wall and she saw them each alone in a small room. She cried out struggling and wished they would be free, Wished with all her heart. And she felt again that resistance, that wall-like pushing back, which she strained against, and finally broke through. On the screen her friends each blinked out and she sagged against the wall where she was laying, suddenly exhausted.
Belasco looked enraged at first and them smiled, a deeper smile then before and a more kindly one as well.
"Very good, Illyana. Very nicely done. Your potential is even greater than my masters believe. You will rise far. But not today. Today the Bloodstone pendant must be forged."
With that he lifted her easily into his arms and carried her into the citadel. She didn't remember much of the path he took as it wound and went through corridors and rooms and areas that defied description. From screaming masses of goo to a room with total silence and people who cried without a sound to rooms where the very walls seemed to hate. He carried her deep into the citadel and then they arrived in the darkroom. She immediately called it that. It stank of darkness and felt like it was too much, too great, too dark. She resisted going in, but was too weak as he forced her through the doorway. In the room was a table of stone around which were carved symbols which Illyana somehow knew were sigils. She was placed on the table(which she somehow knew was an altar) and suddenly bands of a silvery substance sprang out and held her down. She cried and struggled again, but they were too strong. Belasco leaned in and laughed and laughed as he watched her.
"Struggle, dear Darkchylde. they like that."
With that he drew a knife from his robes, it was long and made of that same silvery substance. It glittered in the strange directionless light of the room and held more sigils carved into it. It seemed to almost glow as he raised it chanting in a language that she felt she almost understood, but didn't want to. The language gave her the same shivery feeling the whole place did and even worse. She shuddered as he brought the knife down at her chest with a thunk as it sank into her. She screamed at the pain and surged against the bands and then felt a part of her... she wasn't sure what it was but a part of something that was her leaving and going into the knife. Belasco removed the knife and it was bloodless. He moved it to a glowing fire and threw it in. there the fire roared and turned blood-red and then seemed to explode. When it was gone Belasco reached down and picked up something. He showed it to her. it was an amulet with a opening top. In the amulet's inside was a pentagram reversed. At each corner of the pentagram was a small hole. in one of the holes was a gleaming red gemstone.
"It has begun and now and forevermore you are bound to limbo. And to me. One shard of you is here, born of pain and strife. When all five are here in the Bloodstone Pendant, you will be wholly their creature, and wholly under their control. And then they will be able to pass into this realm and rule once more!"
he laughed again, waving a hand and releasing her from her bonds. She cried out and fell off one side of the altar. She sobbed on the ground there and then rose in a crouch. Belasco looked across the altar at her, curled his lip at her and again waved a hand. She found herself in a small bedroom, appointed exactly like her bedroom at her old home had been. The door wouldn't open when she tried and as she did, she heard Belasco's voice in her mind.
"You are my guest now and for the foreseeable future. You will never escape. But, look on the bright side. You will learn to be my apprentice, my student,. And so your destiny will unfold. Sleep deep. Class starts tomorrow morning, early. "
As he spoke she felt a wave of tiredness and collapsed back on the bed. All went black.
***
The next morning came early with pain rushing her out of bed. She hurriedly washed and rose to dress herself. When she was ready she was whisked to a darkly lit room that appeared half-classroom, half-temple. And there, she waited. for what seemed like hours. The room was lit by a reddish light and there seemed to be a murmuring at the edge of her hearing. After an interminable period, Belasco was suddenly there before her. He was smiling with a grin that made her shiver and look for places to hide.
"Ah, little Darkchylde. Today we will begin your learning. Today you become my apprentice. If you do well, you will get a present, just for you."
Despite herself, Illyana felt herself perk up a little.
"A present? What is it?"
"It is a surprise. Now listen well."
Belasco gestured and the front of the room seemed to dissolve away. In the air beyo9nd it, there were glowing lights of amazing colors and shapes. Illyana felt a twang in her spirit as she saw all the pretty lights. Somehow it was almost like they were calling her. Belasco smiled and began to speak.
"Those strands and shapes are the essence of life and reality. The colors each represent part of reality and the shapes how they affect it. I will teach you how to read it and how to see it all the time. And then, eventually how to manipulate it. "
Belasco held his hand out to Illyana.
"Come with me and I will teach you magic like nothing you can imagine."
Almost against her will, Illyana rose and slowly took his hand, her eyes and spirit filled with the light of the magic. She shuddered and then Belasco took her elsewhere... into a room of darkness and light, where the shadows seemed to prowl the walls like living things. Belasco waved her into a chair and took a seat before her. He began to speak and his voice rose and fell as he told her a story.
"Long ago, in a time before time, the Elder Gods ruled all of reality. They held all of power in their hands and they thought it good. In order to touch all of the universe, they created the colors of magic, which I showed you. The colors spread out across all the lands and dimensions, filling them and changing them, altering them in unusual ways and unpredictable fashions.
One race that learned the magics turned against the Elder Gods and in secrecy created a great conspiracy against them,. By sacrificing a Universe, they managed to banish and bind the Elder Gods away, though they perished themselves, all but one who wanders the stars yet.
Even as they were conquered they managed to send a part of themselves through into the newly created universe that replaced the one that had been destroyed. That essence found it's way to Earth as it was formed and slid into a living form. Slowly through the ages it got stronger as it passed along the bloodline. Until now. Until you. You are the culmination of eons of handiwork. Your blood contains the power to free the Elder Gods."
Illyana's mind was reeling as he spoke and it took her awhile to realize he had stopped and was watching her. He nodded and rose.
"That's enough for now. Let me show you a few practical parts of magic. watch closely."
***
And so it went. Belasco taught her every day for hours in that strange classroom that seemed everywhere and nowhere. She practiced everything he told her and tried very hard to do right. She didn't know why she was doing as he asked but somehow, touching the magic felt right. It sang inside her and even though it was hard to learn anything about it, she tried very hard. the wonder of the magic caught her up and somehow time melted away.
She felt herself changing over time. year flowed into year and her heart seemed to darken. Something odd was happening to her. Her hair seemed to darken and she felt the cruelty of Belasco less and less as she learned magic. Occasionally Belasco led her to the altar and another stone was added, until three stones were in three of the five holes.
Along the way, her mutant abilities began to dawn on her. She had the ability to tap into the nature of the dimension around her. Here, at the heart of confusing Limbo, her power locked onto the central focus of Limbo and enabled her to create stepping discs. She could move through them from one point to another like wildfire.
Her power grew steadily, and occasionally she hurt even Belasco, an occasion that always brought crippling pain and punishment. As she learned the spells she still thought of her friends. She wondered where they were and what they were up to, but didn't know how to find out. Finally though, in her Third year in the dark land, she discovered a spell of true seeing and managed to cast it. She saw her friends far off in Limbo, fighting and living free. They had aged as she had and were seasoned warriors in this dark place now. She viewed them as often as she could, when she was sure Belasco wasn't aware of what she was doing. She even sent aid to them via spells occasionally, helping them out of a few binds. Content in that much, she continued her learning.
Another two years went by before her life was overthrown yet again. During that time a new girl had arrived, a student of Belasco's like her. Young Lassa-They was a daughter of S'ym, head of Belasco's demon army, and Belasco undertook to teach her magic. Illyana looked at the young woman opposite her and shook her head. She knew she could never be that beautiful. The other girl had faintly red skin and dark black hair that seemed to glow, along with blue-green eyes. Over the years in Limbo, Illyana's own hair had seemed to become a very plain yellow-ish and her eyes were still the odd-brown that had always plagued her.
She was nice to the other girl and at first Lassa seemed to return the favor. But as time went on, the girl became more spiteful and jealous of every moment of Belasco's time. Illyana began to wonder what was wrong and have a very bad feeling about things. She began to have nightmares of dark ceremonies and Lassa overthrowing Belasco and her and imprisoning them forever. Illyana became less and less friendly and watched over her back all the time. And so the years went.
***
Part Two - Chapter Seven - Solace
***
It was just around 1 am when the kids first caught sight of the first safe house. Little Rafael De Souza, a boy whose legs wouldn't support him at all, but who could fly just above ground at high speed, reported it back that he had seen the house and that it was lit with a green light. Colossus stood there dully for a moment until it sank into his weary mind what that meant. Then he felt an upsurge of optimism and picked up the youngster and led the children towards the house.
When they arrived the green light was hanging in a high window and as they started up the path towards the grand, huge house, the front door sprang open. In the doorway stood a figure limned by light and his stance gave the kids pause for a moment. Then one of them recognized the man and cried out.
"Professor Cassidy!!"
And the kids broke out into a run. There were hugs and smiled and laughter and tears as they crowded around the red-headed Irishman, who cast smiles and hugs back at them in equal proportions as he ushered the group into his house. Colossus saw a moment of pain in the man's eyes as he sought for a face and didn't see it. Colossus sighed. He as all of his friends, had heard the cry of Theresa as soldiers had broken into her room. She had been one of the first taken. He would have to tell Professor Cassidy soon. But looking into the man's eyes he saw that he knew. In the main hall a hush fell again as they faced a row of servants in glittering black and white. But then a matronly old woman caught sight of one young girl almost crying and stepped forward.
"Awww, ye little lass. Master Cassidy, ye didn't let us know they would be cold and frightened as all this! Shame on ye."
There was a hush and then laughter and the kids relaxed some as they were ushered further into the great hall.
"I do right apologize Miss Winters. Kids, this is Miss Winters, my head of house hold, and these are the retainers of House Cassidy. They will find you rooms and baths and get you bedded down. Please follow them and listen to them."
There was some hesitation but the servants all showed much patience and kindness and soon had the kids ushered up to rooms. Kitty and Colossus followed Professor Sean Cassidy to a study like room and sank into big chairs as a servant brought wine and bread and cheese. Colossus took a sip of the rich wine and sighed as he tried to bring his thoughts into line. the room was lit by a happy blaze of a fire in a large old fireplace and surrounded on all walls by bookshelves crammed with books. On one wall there was a banner hanging in front of the shelves showing the family arms of the Cassidy's. He brought his gaze to the man opposite him and saw the man's eyes examining him as well.
Professor Sean Cassidy seemed lean and athletic, his eyes keen and his senses as alert as his hair was fiery. The man smiled as he sipped his own drink and seemed willing to wait for Colossus to find his tongue. Colossus then cast his gaze to Kitty who was sitting cross-legged in the large chair she had sank into. She seemed almost swallowed by it, but quite so comfortable. She looked up at them both and then looked to Sean Cassidy and sighed herself. Colossus had a moment of thinking once again just how beautiful her voice was as she began to speak, then he forced himself to listen to her words.
"Professor... I don't know how to say this, but... Theresa was taken."
Kitty's words tumbled out in a rush. Colossus winced as they came out and watched Professor Cassidy's eyes as the truth his home. the man seemed to stagger in his seat and went a little pale, but then raised his head.
"I imagine she caused a wee few of them a bit of ear-strain in the doing then."
"Yes, she sent off a scream that helped to warn many others. have you heard from anyone else, Professor?"
"Just a short message that the mansion was being overrun by soldiers from Emile, one of the groundsmen, but nothing since. I believe that your group is the only one of students that made it out. At least as far as I know. I also haven't been able to reach Professor Xavier and Scott or Ororo and Jean. It's like they all vanished at the same time."
"What do we do?"
The words came out of Colossus' mouth before he could stop them and he regretted it immediately. He had been put in charge, and he was the one who should be shouldering the weight. But inside him, Colossus felt the weight grow harder to bear. His sister had been taken by someone or something. One student, poor Doug, was dead on his watch, and things just kept going wrong. he felt like he should give up the burden of leadership to someone better ready to hold it and in Sean Cassidy he saw that man. The red-headed man was lean and professional looking with piercing eyes and a warm but wary manner. Even as Colossus spoke his eyes seemed to stare into the depths of Colossus and see all his secrets. But then the man smiled and something like relief filled him.
"Well, lad. For now we rest. This old manor has held for a long time and I think it'll be safe enough tonight. Tomorrow, we will plan a way to find out more about where everyone is and how to find them and set things right."
"Do you think we can set things right, Professor Cassidy?"
The words popped out of Kitty's mouth and seemed to embarrass her, for her hands flew over her mouth instantly and she turned a bright red. Sean smiled and rose.
"Things wont ever be the same Kitty, lass. But, yes, We will make things right. One way or another."
Colossus and Kitty said their goodnights and walked through the building in companionable silence, watching where the other kids were laid out. As he passed a few windows on the third floor, Colossus found James and Julio watching from a window out into the grounds. He nodded to them and went on.
Finally he found the rooms he and Kitty had been assigned. He smiled a bit when he saw they were right next to one another. He turned to her and saw a worried look in her eyes. With a smile he gathered her close and kissed her.
"Katya, all will be okay. You will see. Don't worry."
"I know that, you big goof. It's you I worry about."
He blinked and looked in her eyes. They shone with a light that made him feel strong and at once also weak in the knees. He kissed her softly.
"Don't worry about me, my Katya. You give me strength."
He opened his door and went to the bed and trolled the covers back. He stared into space for a few moments before realizing that she had followed him into the room. He looked at her and started to speak as she walked towards him. She placed one hand on his mouth and shook her head, then bent down and kissed him, her other hand passing through the lightswitch and causing it to go out. After the long kiss he pulled back, breathless and started to speak again.
"What do you want. Katya? Are you-"
"Peter?"
"Yes?"
"Shut up and kiss me."
***
Part Two - Chapter Eight - Dark Rising!
***
As he teaching went on, Illyana felt herself grow more and more restless. She saw so much more than she used to. Years had gone by and she felt like her mind and soul had expanded. Mind you, she was imprisoned and kept captive by a mad demon who wanted to use her soul for an insane plot to summon beings from another plane, but other than that, things were quite good for her. Belasco's realm was such a dark and loathsome place and yet she had grown somewhat inured to it in time. She still felt pity and pain for those suffering but her powerlessness filled her with the knowledge she couldn't directly contradict Belasco.
She was learning a lot. the magic that flowed through her, though tinged with darkness, was also home to much light and power and it thrilled her with it's strength. A couple of times she had even caught Belasco staring at her in what for a moment see4med like fear. She kept learning desperately absorbing what she could and even experimenting on her own.
Deep in the heart of Limbo she defied Belasco's darker teachings to try to create a symbol of light. She created a acorn. when she planted it in the dark soil; of Limbo i grew magically and swiftly, but almost immediately became twisted by the darkness that was growing inside her. The part of her that was being corrupted by the darker magics was growing. She cried bitter tears in the knowledge that she could not create a symbol of life.
Another day, when Lassa-They, her fellow student became openly scornful of something Illyana had said or done, she fled and hid herself in a small area of Limbo and there, she let her anger loose. In the pinnacle of her rage and her desire to be free, in the moment of her unwillingness to yield to those like Lassa an Belasco, she felt her magic stir and lash out at the malleable realm around her and in front of her there was a great flash. when the light faded and gleaming sword had formed. it glowed with sorcerous light and when she grasped it she knew it was almost alive, filled with power. She laughed and cried at the same time as she realized that this sword, this soulsword, not the acorn she had tried to create before, was the symbol of her power. A weapon. And in the darkness of limbo, Illyana Rasputin cried for lost innocence.
She increasingly played with her stepping disc abilities and soulsword. She always hid them around Belasco, sending the sword into some other place. She could always feel it though and felt comfort in that.
As her lessons progressed to more and more powerful magics, Illyana sensed that a time was coming for another portion of her soul to become a bloodstone and she was determined to not allow it. At the same time, she felt Lassa also beginning to stir and grow restless at all the extra time Illyana spent with Belasco. The girl plainly resented her and thought that she wanted that time like Lassa did. Illyana often wondered what was going on the in the head of the other, but gave up.
Then, one day, everything changed.
She had learned spells of transportation and communication and one night finally managed to reach her friends with true conversation. She learned that they were well and that they missed her, even after all this time. She planned to go to see them and set things up very carefully.
On the day she planned it however, things went from bad to worse. She had everything all set up and was about to cast her spell when the doorway darkened. There was Belasco, S'ym, and Lassa-They. The young demon-girl pushed in and pointed.
"See, Lord Belasco? All is as I said!"
"Yes, I do see. Well, Illyana, what do you have to say for yourself?"
In an instant, Illyana realized what must have happened. The other girl had somehow seen her preparing and realized what was going on, and betrayed her. With a growl, she spit and then her voice darkened and roughened as she looked at the other girl.
"May you find yourself forever altered, forever become the thing you most hate, may you lose all you know and love and become a beacon of light instead of darkness. May you be gone from this place forevermore!"
with the words out, Illyana regretted them immediately, recognizing them as a power curse and opened her mouth to call it back, but it was too late. The power of Limbo gathered and struck before any could move and Lassa was simply gone. S'ym cried out in rage as did Belasco. he swept towards her and swept his hands in a spell.
She knew that he had banished all magic and she did the only thing she could. She summoned her mutant power and hurled herself through the stepping disk that answered her call. With a groan she landed next to her friends in a dark and sulfurously smoking landscape. She lo0oked up at their startled faces and whispered, "Surprise!", as her strength left her and she collapsed.
***
Part Two - Chapter Nine - Shattering
***
Colossus woke suddenly, his heart beating fast. He lay in the bed for a moment, his breathing slowing as he tried to listen, old instincts coming back. Glancing at the clock he saw it was almost 4 a.m.. He had heard something in his sleep, something that wasn't right. Then suddenly he heard it again, a very low scream. He trolled out of bed, whispering harshly as he did so.
"Kitty. Get up. now."
She woke from where she had lain beside him with start and almost spoke but saw his face and quieted instantly. She had been training with the others long enough to know when to be serious. She rose and ghosted into her clothes as he dressed in pants, slipping to the door at his side. He peered outside and then gestured her to follow him. Seeing no one in the hall he sent her into the room next door with a wave. She came out moments later with three kids, blinking sleep out of their eyes. he lowered his voice and beckoned them close.
"There is something wrong. Someone screamed very low, muffled. We have to find out what is going on and get everyone up. Move from door to door and go. Be very quiet."
They all nodded and headed off in both directions as he led Kitty down the hall. They went downstairs as he slowly followed his instincts, ears straining for any sound. They came around a corner and almost ran into Professor Cassidy. As he sagged into Colossus's arms, Colossus felt wetness and knew without checking that it was blood. Colossus sank with the man to the floor and leaned close to ask him what happened.
"Soldiers... here- someone called them in. all phone lines cut. You must fight your way out. Too many of them here. Use the back. get the kids safe. It's up to you now."
And then, with a gasp, he was gone. Colossus looked down into the eyes of this man who didn't know him who had died for hat he was and because he had dared to shelter them. He felt a anger rising in him and a shattering of something within him. He rose with that age and led Kitty fast along the hall.
They moved quickly and slowly the other kids appeared. Soon a crowd was with him and then, suddenly they encountered the first soldiers. With a roar that leaped from his throat, Colossus charged into the men, bullets bouncing off his chest. He slammed into them with abandon, his anger growing even as he slammed them out of his way. Abandoning quietness he called out, "This way!" and led them towards the back.
They clattered down the stairs and then slammed into another battle that was underway. as he moved into combat, Colossus knew this was bad and somehow in him was afraid, but rage and anger at being pursued, at losing friends and his sister, all exploded in him.
He charged.
To Be Continued...
Title: Once Upon a Night - An X-Treme Story
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I don't own the X-Men or any other of the copywrited characters mentioned here-in. I own only Lassa-They and Rhymer. I make no money on this project. Please don't sue.
Summary: On the horrible night when the soldiers attack the mansion, two stories begin, and several people come of age.
Written for: Troll Princess
Pairing/scenario requested: The kids who left with Colossus - Anything we missed between the attack on the school and their return after Stryker was defeated.
Warnings (if any): adult situations and character deaths
***
***
Part Two - Darkchylde
***
Chapter Five - From Bad to Verse
***
With Kitty at his side, Colossus led the kids onward into the night. Already it seemed to have ben a long time and yet only two and a half hours had passed. He glanced at his watch and grimaced. It was barely 11:30 p.m.. He knew where the first stop was supposed to be and he hoped that their sanctuary was still there.
As he walked along, he looked at the woman walking next to him and smiled. She caught his glance and returned it with a smile of her own. Something drastic had shifted in this last little while and where there had been uncertainty between them, now there was absolute sureness. they moved together almost as if they could read each other's minds. They had trained together before and everything about Colossus was suddenly very aware of everything about Kitty, or Shadowcat as her codename, self-chosen, was.
The dark lane they move4d along afforded a lot of shadows and cover and so Colossus felt constantly on alert, constantly like he was looking to see what was behind every tree. They took small rest breaks every fifteen to twenty minutes but even so he knew the kids were getting tired and that he had to find a place along the way for them to rest for a little while. He nodded to himself and reviewed the maps he had memorized at Scott's insistence.
He shook his head and wished the solid man was there now. Even though Scott had a lot of duties as teacher and leader of the X-men, he had spent time with Colossus and they had formed the start of a friendship. the older man had face a lot of hardships on the street and growing up with such an awesome power. The control and smarts that the other man had shown had given rise to a deep sense of respect in Colossus. He knew the kind of control it took to keep in check an awesome power, but knew his own power was nothing against the immensity of Scott's force blasts. Still, the sense of kindred spirits had linked them strongly. Thus Colossus had begin training early and done a lot more than most students his age.
It had been Professor Xavier who had first coined the nickname/codename/mutantname of Colossus for one Piotr Rasputin, but it was his friends use of it and Scott's support that had allowed Colossus to seriously start to think of himself that way. For him, the things that had made him Piotr Rasputin were gone. even his young sister had taken to using English most of the time and calling him her Colossus. And so he had become Colossus, a man of steel and of strength who expressed himself in painting and sketching.
Colossus brought his thoughts back to the present with a lurch as he heard a sound that caught his attention. He scanned the area around them and slowly detected what he thought was a gleam in the night shadows and then, realized what he was seeing. With a leap he ran for the edge of the street, his voice rising in a roar.
"The soldiers have found us! Defend the younger kids! grab them and run!"
And then the soldiers were in the light, weapons firing tranq bolts. But the first wave of bolts were caught by a flare of electricity as Ray lunged forward, his hands outstretched, eyes dancing with inner lightning. then Alison was there, her voice rising in song as she converted it to golden lasers that scythed down two of the oncoming soldiers. There was a rumble and then the ground heaved under the soldiers as Julio entered the fray, his mini-earth-quakes rumbling and threatening to throw down the enemy. Even as Colossus charged into the soldiers, he wasn't alone. James , Kitty, and Shiro all were with him, their faces in various shades of determination and anger. they crashed into the enemy and then it was chaos.
Only bits and pieces of images reached Colossus after that as the battle swirled around them. It seemed like the line of soldiers would never end, but also that his friends were not willing to lay down or surrender.
He saw Allison Blaire back to back with a kid he barely knew Jonathan something or other from England, their anger seeming to fuel them.
He saw Alison Crestmere wielding a piece of streetsign back to back with Shiro who's fire seemed to roar with a rage all it's own.
Young Takishima, a genius whizkid who was in a wheelchair, had managed to morph several guns into part of his chair and Colossus groaned inside to see the young man, so peaceful, crying as he fired the guns again and again at the enemy.
In the middle of the battle three small figures stood. Young Leach, a nameless green-scale-covered mutant, was standing with his eyes squeezed shut and concentrating hard. Colossus knew exactly what was happening and smiled even in the middle of the battle. Leach's power was to cancel out all mutant abilities in a certain radius, and right now he was giving all his concentration to not doing that. Standing around him protectively were Artie Maddocks and Franklin Richards. They both looked so serious as they stood guard on their friend and in the midst of battle Colossus felt a thrill of pride for the young ones.
Kitty seemed to stay near him mostly, but he saw her fading in and out a lot, her powers of phasing made her the hardest for the bad guys to hit as she faded through their lines and hit them from behind and saved others who fell again and again, seeming to be everywhere at once.
James fought with silence and a grim intensity of his own and Colossus felt a twinge as he saw the remorseless way in which James hurled away his enemies. The young man had only slowly accepted that some white men were not like those who had massacred his people. Now, faced with similar soldiers prosecuting his new family, he moved with grace and fury barely contained.
Colossus himself felt his strength growing as he hurled into group after group of enemy.
In the middle of the battle, one youngster, about fifteen, whose name he could never remember was hit hard by one of the soldiers, and faltered, crying out in pain. But suddenly in mid-cry his voice changed and as the kid looked up in surprise, his voice took on a smooth sound, almost hypnotic. the boy rose and then sung out.
"Bloody soldiers, fighting strong/knowing you are doing wrong/fall down where you stand/stop pursuing my little band."
And just like that, almost fifteen soldiers fell, seeming to just drop. the boy gaped for a minute and then charged back into battle, his voice raised in song. Colossus grinned at the momentary light as a new mutant awoke to his power.
Colossus kept fighting until he felt like the battle would never end and then, when he finally looked up from subduing one man, it was.
With ragged breath, he rose and slowly cast his gaze around the battlefield. There seemed to be only a few kids down. They were surrounded by the soldiers and Colossus didn't even want to know what condition they were in, but made himself speak.
"Listen! everyone gather around and check each other. Let's get a count and make sure everyone is okay."
The group gathered slowly and young Haley Wills, a healer of sorts passed around, seeing to those whose aches and pains she could. Slowly they got a count and Colossus smiled as he realized only six had been felled by the soldiers and none of the soldiers were dead. He directed several of the stronger kids to stack the soldiers to the side and as soon as that was done , they began to run down the road, the stronger helping the weaker. They were tired, but they were triumphant.
***
Part Two - Chapter Six - Seductions and Darknesses
***
In a cold, dark place, where souls screamed and a young girl quailed, a madman was speaking.
"My name is Belasco and I serve the Utmost. They are the eldest of those your insignificant race have called gods down through the ages. Their might and power are unlike anything you can imagine and they have been gone from Terra a very long time. They left unwillingly, when an alliance of the very first race of Man alligned with the Younger Gods and cast them out. Now they want back in. Very, very badly. You, my dear Darkchylde, are their way in. They have been waiting for you since long before your nation was even born. You will serve to bring them here to this place, and from here, to Terra."
Illyana's mind was reeling as she listened and yet her mind also felt like it was expanding, altering somehow. She felt a pang of pain deep in her and she cried out. Even as she did, Sam and the others were at her side and then clustered around her, in front of her.
"You leave her alone! She isn't yours or your Elder Gods' or anyone's! She is one of us! And you cant have her."
For a moment she thought maybe Sam's words would make a difference, but then Belasco's face contorted and she screamed as he hurled a bolt of greenish energy... energy that even from the distance she could feel was wrong. It split into four beam and slammed into her friends, knocking therm across the room and into a wall. She looked in horror at the walls as they seemed to grow arms to hold her friends. they struggled but couldn't escape. She whirled on Belasco and ran at him. He just laughed. when she got close she felt a ripple and resistance, but then broke through it, causing Belasco to flinch for a moment before he caught her up and tossed her aside like a limp rag doll. She screamed as he did so.
"Leave them alone. Don't hurt them. Please don't hurt them."
Belasco watche3d her and slowly smiled. It was a dark smile, one full of menace.
"Very well, little Darkchylde. I wont hurt them. I wouldn't want you to be angry with me."
With a wave of his hand bluish bolts of energy shot out and hit her friends and they vanished. A screen flickered into life on the wall and she saw them each alone in a small room. She cried out struggling and wished they would be free, Wished with all her heart. And she felt again that resistance, that wall-like pushing back, which she strained against, and finally broke through. On the screen her friends each blinked out and she sagged against the wall where she was laying, suddenly exhausted.
Belasco looked enraged at first and them smiled, a deeper smile then before and a more kindly one as well.
"Very good, Illyana. Very nicely done. Your potential is even greater than my masters believe. You will rise far. But not today. Today the Bloodstone pendant must be forged."
With that he lifted her easily into his arms and carried her into the citadel. She didn't remember much of the path he took as it wound and went through corridors and rooms and areas that defied description. From screaming masses of goo to a room with total silence and people who cried without a sound to rooms where the very walls seemed to hate. He carried her deep into the citadel and then they arrived in the darkroom. She immediately called it that. It stank of darkness and felt like it was too much, too great, too dark. She resisted going in, but was too weak as he forced her through the doorway. In the room was a table of stone around which were carved symbols which Illyana somehow knew were sigils. She was placed on the table(which she somehow knew was an altar) and suddenly bands of a silvery substance sprang out and held her down. She cried and struggled again, but they were too strong. Belasco leaned in and laughed and laughed as he watched her.
"Struggle, dear Darkchylde. they like that."
With that he drew a knife from his robes, it was long and made of that same silvery substance. It glittered in the strange directionless light of the room and held more sigils carved into it. It seemed to almost glow as he raised it chanting in a language that she felt she almost understood, but didn't want to. The language gave her the same shivery feeling the whole place did and even worse. She shuddered as he brought the knife down at her chest with a thunk as it sank into her. She screamed at the pain and surged against the bands and then felt a part of her... she wasn't sure what it was but a part of something that was her leaving and going into the knife. Belasco removed the knife and it was bloodless. He moved it to a glowing fire and threw it in. there the fire roared and turned blood-red and then seemed to explode. When it was gone Belasco reached down and picked up something. He showed it to her. it was an amulet with a opening top. In the amulet's inside was a pentagram reversed. At each corner of the pentagram was a small hole. in one of the holes was a gleaming red gemstone.
"It has begun and now and forevermore you are bound to limbo. And to me. One shard of you is here, born of pain and strife. When all five are here in the Bloodstone Pendant, you will be wholly their creature, and wholly under their control. And then they will be able to pass into this realm and rule once more!"
he laughed again, waving a hand and releasing her from her bonds. She cried out and fell off one side of the altar. She sobbed on the ground there and then rose in a crouch. Belasco looked across the altar at her, curled his lip at her and again waved a hand. She found herself in a small bedroom, appointed exactly like her bedroom at her old home had been. The door wouldn't open when she tried and as she did, she heard Belasco's voice in her mind.
"You are my guest now and for the foreseeable future. You will never escape. But, look on the bright side. You will learn to be my apprentice, my student,. And so your destiny will unfold. Sleep deep. Class starts tomorrow morning, early. "
As he spoke she felt a wave of tiredness and collapsed back on the bed. All went black.
***
The next morning came early with pain rushing her out of bed. She hurriedly washed and rose to dress herself. When she was ready she was whisked to a darkly lit room that appeared half-classroom, half-temple. And there, she waited. for what seemed like hours. The room was lit by a reddish light and there seemed to be a murmuring at the edge of her hearing. After an interminable period, Belasco was suddenly there before her. He was smiling with a grin that made her shiver and look for places to hide.
"Ah, little Darkchylde. Today we will begin your learning. Today you become my apprentice. If you do well, you will get a present, just for you."
Despite herself, Illyana felt herself perk up a little.
"A present? What is it?"
"It is a surprise. Now listen well."
Belasco gestured and the front of the room seemed to dissolve away. In the air beyo9nd it, there were glowing lights of amazing colors and shapes. Illyana felt a twang in her spirit as she saw all the pretty lights. Somehow it was almost like they were calling her. Belasco smiled and began to speak.
"Those strands and shapes are the essence of life and reality. The colors each represent part of reality and the shapes how they affect it. I will teach you how to read it and how to see it all the time. And then, eventually how to manipulate it. "
Belasco held his hand out to Illyana.
"Come with me and I will teach you magic like nothing you can imagine."
Almost against her will, Illyana rose and slowly took his hand, her eyes and spirit filled with the light of the magic. She shuddered and then Belasco took her elsewhere... into a room of darkness and light, where the shadows seemed to prowl the walls like living things. Belasco waved her into a chair and took a seat before her. He began to speak and his voice rose and fell as he told her a story.
"Long ago, in a time before time, the Elder Gods ruled all of reality. They held all of power in their hands and they thought it good. In order to touch all of the universe, they created the colors of magic, which I showed you. The colors spread out across all the lands and dimensions, filling them and changing them, altering them in unusual ways and unpredictable fashions.
One race that learned the magics turned against the Elder Gods and in secrecy created a great conspiracy against them,. By sacrificing a Universe, they managed to banish and bind the Elder Gods away, though they perished themselves, all but one who wanders the stars yet.
Even as they were conquered they managed to send a part of themselves through into the newly created universe that replaced the one that had been destroyed. That essence found it's way to Earth as it was formed and slid into a living form. Slowly through the ages it got stronger as it passed along the bloodline. Until now. Until you. You are the culmination of eons of handiwork. Your blood contains the power to free the Elder Gods."
Illyana's mind was reeling as he spoke and it took her awhile to realize he had stopped and was watching her. He nodded and rose.
"That's enough for now. Let me show you a few practical parts of magic. watch closely."
***
And so it went. Belasco taught her every day for hours in that strange classroom that seemed everywhere and nowhere. She practiced everything he told her and tried very hard to do right. She didn't know why she was doing as he asked but somehow, touching the magic felt right. It sang inside her and even though it was hard to learn anything about it, she tried very hard. the wonder of the magic caught her up and somehow time melted away.
She felt herself changing over time. year flowed into year and her heart seemed to darken. Something odd was happening to her. Her hair seemed to darken and she felt the cruelty of Belasco less and less as she learned magic. Occasionally Belasco led her to the altar and another stone was added, until three stones were in three of the five holes.
Along the way, her mutant abilities began to dawn on her. She had the ability to tap into the nature of the dimension around her. Here, at the heart of confusing Limbo, her power locked onto the central focus of Limbo and enabled her to create stepping discs. She could move through them from one point to another like wildfire.
Her power grew steadily, and occasionally she hurt even Belasco, an occasion that always brought crippling pain and punishment. As she learned the spells she still thought of her friends. She wondered where they were and what they were up to, but didn't know how to find out. Finally though, in her Third year in the dark land, she discovered a spell of true seeing and managed to cast it. She saw her friends far off in Limbo, fighting and living free. They had aged as she had and were seasoned warriors in this dark place now. She viewed them as often as she could, when she was sure Belasco wasn't aware of what she was doing. She even sent aid to them via spells occasionally, helping them out of a few binds. Content in that much, she continued her learning.
Another two years went by before her life was overthrown yet again. During that time a new girl had arrived, a student of Belasco's like her. Young Lassa-They was a daughter of S'ym, head of Belasco's demon army, and Belasco undertook to teach her magic. Illyana looked at the young woman opposite her and shook her head. She knew she could never be that beautiful. The other girl had faintly red skin and dark black hair that seemed to glow, along with blue-green eyes. Over the years in Limbo, Illyana's own hair had seemed to become a very plain yellow-ish and her eyes were still the odd-brown that had always plagued her.
She was nice to the other girl and at first Lassa seemed to return the favor. But as time went on, the girl became more spiteful and jealous of every moment of Belasco's time. Illyana began to wonder what was wrong and have a very bad feeling about things. She began to have nightmares of dark ceremonies and Lassa overthrowing Belasco and her and imprisoning them forever. Illyana became less and less friendly and watched over her back all the time. And so the years went.
***
Part Two - Chapter Seven - Solace
***
It was just around 1 am when the kids first caught sight of the first safe house. Little Rafael De Souza, a boy whose legs wouldn't support him at all, but who could fly just above ground at high speed, reported it back that he had seen the house and that it was lit with a green light. Colossus stood there dully for a moment until it sank into his weary mind what that meant. Then he felt an upsurge of optimism and picked up the youngster and led the children towards the house.
When they arrived the green light was hanging in a high window and as they started up the path towards the grand, huge house, the front door sprang open. In the doorway stood a figure limned by light and his stance gave the kids pause for a moment. Then one of them recognized the man and cried out.
"Professor Cassidy!!"
And the kids broke out into a run. There were hugs and smiled and laughter and tears as they crowded around the red-headed Irishman, who cast smiles and hugs back at them in equal proportions as he ushered the group into his house. Colossus saw a moment of pain in the man's eyes as he sought for a face and didn't see it. Colossus sighed. He as all of his friends, had heard the cry of Theresa as soldiers had broken into her room. She had been one of the first taken. He would have to tell Professor Cassidy soon. But looking into the man's eyes he saw that he knew. In the main hall a hush fell again as they faced a row of servants in glittering black and white. But then a matronly old woman caught sight of one young girl almost crying and stepped forward.
"Awww, ye little lass. Master Cassidy, ye didn't let us know they would be cold and frightened as all this! Shame on ye."
There was a hush and then laughter and the kids relaxed some as they were ushered further into the great hall.
"I do right apologize Miss Winters. Kids, this is Miss Winters, my head of house hold, and these are the retainers of House Cassidy. They will find you rooms and baths and get you bedded down. Please follow them and listen to them."
There was some hesitation but the servants all showed much patience and kindness and soon had the kids ushered up to rooms. Kitty and Colossus followed Professor Sean Cassidy to a study like room and sank into big chairs as a servant brought wine and bread and cheese. Colossus took a sip of the rich wine and sighed as he tried to bring his thoughts into line. the room was lit by a happy blaze of a fire in a large old fireplace and surrounded on all walls by bookshelves crammed with books. On one wall there was a banner hanging in front of the shelves showing the family arms of the Cassidy's. He brought his gaze to the man opposite him and saw the man's eyes examining him as well.
Professor Sean Cassidy seemed lean and athletic, his eyes keen and his senses as alert as his hair was fiery. The man smiled as he sipped his own drink and seemed willing to wait for Colossus to find his tongue. Colossus then cast his gaze to Kitty who was sitting cross-legged in the large chair she had sank into. She seemed almost swallowed by it, but quite so comfortable. She looked up at them both and then looked to Sean Cassidy and sighed herself. Colossus had a moment of thinking once again just how beautiful her voice was as she began to speak, then he forced himself to listen to her words.
"Professor... I don't know how to say this, but... Theresa was taken."
Kitty's words tumbled out in a rush. Colossus winced as they came out and watched Professor Cassidy's eyes as the truth his home. the man seemed to stagger in his seat and went a little pale, but then raised his head.
"I imagine she caused a wee few of them a bit of ear-strain in the doing then."
"Yes, she sent off a scream that helped to warn many others. have you heard from anyone else, Professor?"
"Just a short message that the mansion was being overrun by soldiers from Emile, one of the groundsmen, but nothing since. I believe that your group is the only one of students that made it out. At least as far as I know. I also haven't been able to reach Professor Xavier and Scott or Ororo and Jean. It's like they all vanished at the same time."
"What do we do?"
The words came out of Colossus' mouth before he could stop them and he regretted it immediately. He had been put in charge, and he was the one who should be shouldering the weight. But inside him, Colossus felt the weight grow harder to bear. His sister had been taken by someone or something. One student, poor Doug, was dead on his watch, and things just kept going wrong. he felt like he should give up the burden of leadership to someone better ready to hold it and in Sean Cassidy he saw that man. The red-headed man was lean and professional looking with piercing eyes and a warm but wary manner. Even as Colossus spoke his eyes seemed to stare into the depths of Colossus and see all his secrets. But then the man smiled and something like relief filled him.
"Well, lad. For now we rest. This old manor has held for a long time and I think it'll be safe enough tonight. Tomorrow, we will plan a way to find out more about where everyone is and how to find them and set things right."
"Do you think we can set things right, Professor Cassidy?"
The words popped out of Kitty's mouth and seemed to embarrass her, for her hands flew over her mouth instantly and she turned a bright red. Sean smiled and rose.
"Things wont ever be the same Kitty, lass. But, yes, We will make things right. One way or another."
Colossus and Kitty said their goodnights and walked through the building in companionable silence, watching where the other kids were laid out. As he passed a few windows on the third floor, Colossus found James and Julio watching from a window out into the grounds. He nodded to them and went on.
Finally he found the rooms he and Kitty had been assigned. He smiled a bit when he saw they were right next to one another. He turned to her and saw a worried look in her eyes. With a smile he gathered her close and kissed her.
"Katya, all will be okay. You will see. Don't worry."
"I know that, you big goof. It's you I worry about."
He blinked and looked in her eyes. They shone with a light that made him feel strong and at once also weak in the knees. He kissed her softly.
"Don't worry about me, my Katya. You give me strength."
He opened his door and went to the bed and trolled the covers back. He stared into space for a few moments before realizing that she had followed him into the room. He looked at her and started to speak as she walked towards him. She placed one hand on his mouth and shook her head, then bent down and kissed him, her other hand passing through the lightswitch and causing it to go out. After the long kiss he pulled back, breathless and started to speak again.
"What do you want. Katya? Are you-"
"Peter?"
"Yes?"
"Shut up and kiss me."
***
Part Two - Chapter Eight - Dark Rising!
***
As he teaching went on, Illyana felt herself grow more and more restless. She saw so much more than she used to. Years had gone by and she felt like her mind and soul had expanded. Mind you, she was imprisoned and kept captive by a mad demon who wanted to use her soul for an insane plot to summon beings from another plane, but other than that, things were quite good for her. Belasco's realm was such a dark and loathsome place and yet she had grown somewhat inured to it in time. She still felt pity and pain for those suffering but her powerlessness filled her with the knowledge she couldn't directly contradict Belasco.
She was learning a lot. the magic that flowed through her, though tinged with darkness, was also home to much light and power and it thrilled her with it's strength. A couple of times she had even caught Belasco staring at her in what for a moment see4med like fear. She kept learning desperately absorbing what she could and even experimenting on her own.
Deep in the heart of Limbo she defied Belasco's darker teachings to try to create a symbol of light. She created a acorn. when she planted it in the dark soil; of Limbo i grew magically and swiftly, but almost immediately became twisted by the darkness that was growing inside her. The part of her that was being corrupted by the darker magics was growing. She cried bitter tears in the knowledge that she could not create a symbol of life.
Another day, when Lassa-They, her fellow student became openly scornful of something Illyana had said or done, she fled and hid herself in a small area of Limbo and there, she let her anger loose. In the pinnacle of her rage and her desire to be free, in the moment of her unwillingness to yield to those like Lassa an Belasco, she felt her magic stir and lash out at the malleable realm around her and in front of her there was a great flash. when the light faded and gleaming sword had formed. it glowed with sorcerous light and when she grasped it she knew it was almost alive, filled with power. She laughed and cried at the same time as she realized that this sword, this soulsword, not the acorn she had tried to create before, was the symbol of her power. A weapon. And in the darkness of limbo, Illyana Rasputin cried for lost innocence.
She increasingly played with her stepping disc abilities and soulsword. She always hid them around Belasco, sending the sword into some other place. She could always feel it though and felt comfort in that.
As her lessons progressed to more and more powerful magics, Illyana sensed that a time was coming for another portion of her soul to become a bloodstone and she was determined to not allow it. At the same time, she felt Lassa also beginning to stir and grow restless at all the extra time Illyana spent with Belasco. The girl plainly resented her and thought that she wanted that time like Lassa did. Illyana often wondered what was going on the in the head of the other, but gave up.
Then, one day, everything changed.
She had learned spells of transportation and communication and one night finally managed to reach her friends with true conversation. She learned that they were well and that they missed her, even after all this time. She planned to go to see them and set things up very carefully.
On the day she planned it however, things went from bad to worse. She had everything all set up and was about to cast her spell when the doorway darkened. There was Belasco, S'ym, and Lassa-They. The young demon-girl pushed in and pointed.
"See, Lord Belasco? All is as I said!"
"Yes, I do see. Well, Illyana, what do you have to say for yourself?"
In an instant, Illyana realized what must have happened. The other girl had somehow seen her preparing and realized what was going on, and betrayed her. With a growl, she spit and then her voice darkened and roughened as she looked at the other girl.
"May you find yourself forever altered, forever become the thing you most hate, may you lose all you know and love and become a beacon of light instead of darkness. May you be gone from this place forevermore!"
with the words out, Illyana regretted them immediately, recognizing them as a power curse and opened her mouth to call it back, but it was too late. The power of Limbo gathered and struck before any could move and Lassa was simply gone. S'ym cried out in rage as did Belasco. he swept towards her and swept his hands in a spell.
She knew that he had banished all magic and she did the only thing she could. She summoned her mutant power and hurled herself through the stepping disk that answered her call. With a groan she landed next to her friends in a dark and sulfurously smoking landscape. She lo0oked up at their startled faces and whispered, "Surprise!", as her strength left her and she collapsed.
***
Part Two - Chapter Nine - Shattering
***
Colossus woke suddenly, his heart beating fast. He lay in the bed for a moment, his breathing slowing as he tried to listen, old instincts coming back. Glancing at the clock he saw it was almost 4 a.m.. He had heard something in his sleep, something that wasn't right. Then suddenly he heard it again, a very low scream. He trolled out of bed, whispering harshly as he did so.
"Kitty. Get up. now."
She woke from where she had lain beside him with start and almost spoke but saw his face and quieted instantly. She had been training with the others long enough to know when to be serious. She rose and ghosted into her clothes as he dressed in pants, slipping to the door at his side. He peered outside and then gestured her to follow him. Seeing no one in the hall he sent her into the room next door with a wave. She came out moments later with three kids, blinking sleep out of their eyes. he lowered his voice and beckoned them close.
"There is something wrong. Someone screamed very low, muffled. We have to find out what is going on and get everyone up. Move from door to door and go. Be very quiet."
They all nodded and headed off in both directions as he led Kitty down the hall. They went downstairs as he slowly followed his instincts, ears straining for any sound. They came around a corner and almost ran into Professor Cassidy. As he sagged into Colossus's arms, Colossus felt wetness and knew without checking that it was blood. Colossus sank with the man to the floor and leaned close to ask him what happened.
"Soldiers... here- someone called them in. all phone lines cut. You must fight your way out. Too many of them here. Use the back. get the kids safe. It's up to you now."
And then, with a gasp, he was gone. Colossus looked down into the eyes of this man who didn't know him who had died for hat he was and because he had dared to shelter them. He felt a anger rising in him and a shattering of something within him. He rose with that age and led Kitty fast along the hall.
They moved quickly and slowly the other kids appeared. Soon a crowd was with him and then, suddenly they encountered the first soldiers. With a roar that leaped from his throat, Colossus charged into the men, bullets bouncing off his chest. He slammed into them with abandon, his anger growing even as he slammed them out of his way. Abandoning quietness he called out, "This way!" and led them towards the back.
They clattered down the stairs and then slammed into another battle that was underway. as he moved into combat, Colossus knew this was bad and somehow in him was afraid, but rage and anger at being pursued, at losing friends and his sister, all exploded in him.
He charged.
To Be Continued...