Ororo's bedroom:
Logan glanced at his watch. Xavier only had nearly an hour left to come up with a way to save Storm, and if he didn't Logan would set out on his own. He could cover more ground that way and following her scent wouldn't be a problem if the trail hadnt gone cold. Logan took a deep breath. It hadn't. Storm/Tacar had given them an address but you could never be to sure.
"Running over a plan of action?" Jean appaered in the doorway.
"Xavier come up with something yet?" Logan shoved his hands in his pockets. Jean nodded
"He and Scott are running over some things but we have to be patient" Logan sneered
"We can't leave her out there to long that bastard could hurt her or somethin' " Logan gestured toward the door. Jean did not reply. Logan could see the un worried look on her face and was annoyed "What is with you? All of you your never really worried when it counts" Jean shrugged
"Logan I'm scared to death for Storm, and I want her back too. but I also know that the Shadow King won't hurt Storm" Logan shook his head
"How can you be so sure?" Jean too a deep breath and entered the room more fully
"Because as crazy as it sounds The Shadow King believes himself to be in love with her" Logan almost laughed he had never thought of the fact that Storm could have her own demons of the past...she semmed like to good of a person to hae any.
"Is that even possible?" It was odd how the women he "loved" was a complete and total stranger. How much did they know about one another really? Was he in love? Lust?
"Logan I wanted to tell you something before you went and did anything crazy.---When I first met Storm she was 17 and I was 19. We were friends immediately mainly because Storm made me feel good about being a mutant. I denied who I was at first, but she showed me that things didn't have to be so hard....that I didn't have to live my life in fear. Ororo in all honesty is the back bone of this team we all depend on her some way or the other, but she is also the most vulnerable. She gives so much that she dosen't quit know when to stop. She isn't like the rest of us she can't just show pure emotions the way we do....You may not realize it but she has to fight everyday controlling her power's knowing the smallest thing could trigger a reaction that could problably kill us all.---" It was the that Jean told Logan everything...about the years she spent in Kenya, her parents death, the lieing, the stealing and even her relationship with the Shadow King and how he always seemed to manipulate his way into her life. Logan now sitting on the edge of Storm's bed shook his head.
"I had no idea---she seems so..."
"collected" Jean finished his sentence. "She has to be, and now that you know I hope that you'll be careful with her she's more fragil then she seems" Logan looked to her in suprise......... she knew about them. Jen always picked the wrong time to pick some one's brain.
"You suprised?" he gave a weak smile. Jean shook her head
"Not really. She has that effect on most men. She and Scott even dated" Logan frowned. That guy was always getting in the way. God he wanted to rip his face off and feed it to Sabertooth. Jean gently placed her hand on his forearm. "Don't worry Logan it was harmless they were both teenager's at the time."
*Jean , Logan!* Xavier's reached out to their minds. Logan frowned. *We've found a way to save Ororo come to the confference room immediately.* 2 minutes.
X Lab:
"You sure you Ok Bobby?" Rouge asked her gloved hand covering his cold one. Bobby took a deep breath and winced at the pain in his ribs
"Like a million bucks" her groaned adjusting himself on the examination table.
"Are you sure?" Jubilee asked standing beside Kitty and Jhon.
"Dr. Grey said you got banged up real bad. What happened anyway?" Jhon asked crossing his scrawney arms over his chest. Bobby squeinted his eyes trying to remember. Nothing.
"I don't know."
"Storm attacked him in the lobby..shocked him pretty bad" Rouge spoke up. Kitty frowned
"Storm? no way like she'd so totally never do something like that"
"Well she did and then ran out of here like a bat out of hell" Rouge finished. Jubilee shook her head
"I can't believe this Storm would rather die then to hurt us. Somethings up."
"Maybe we should ask Scott maybe he knows what's going on. Maybe we can help" Jhon suggested.
"I don't think that's going to work" Scott said loudly from the lab entrance.
"Why not?" Kitty put her hands on her hips. "Because it's to dangerous that's why. Storm's in trouble---"
"All the more reason to take us with you" Jubilee entered.
"We don't need any distractions. You can't come and that's the end of it" Scott stood squarely........determined.
"Why? because we'er just kids?" Rouge said taking a step forward. "No because you can hardley control you power's they way they should be, you could get hurt.... all of you could get hurt in hand to hand combat. Look you guys are some of the oldest here and you have to stay and take care of the youngest ones keep them out of trouble. Are we clear?!" Silence.
"Clear" they all moaned in what seemed to be in unision. Logan appaered at the lad entrance his x-men suit in hand
"Cyc lets go!" his voice eched and then he was gone. Scott tossed the 5 kids a glance of warning and left with out another word. Jhon turned toward his friends
"You guys coming?" Kitty frowned
"We just told Scott that we were going to stay" Jhon shrugged "We can't just sit around if somethings going on with Storm I want to help and all of you know that she'd to the same thing for any of us" they all knew it was true and couldn't argue with Jhon's point.
"Alright then. So are we agreed on going?" Jhon waited. "I'm in" Rouge said first.
"Yeah me too" Bobby groaned sitting up staright. Kitty and Jubilee smiled toward one another and nodded in agreement.
King's Lair: The Queens quarters
"Come now Misstress" one of the many servants Thomas had sent to tend to Storms needs pleaded. "You must eat something. The master will not be pleased if you don't."
Ororo kept her lips clamped shut. This was pure tourture. Tacar had exited her body a few hours ago after dressing her in a red wine colored gown that hugged her curves. Storm refused to admit that it was beautiful. She now sat atop a satan laced bed her legs bound at the ankels, back pressed against the head board and arms tired on either opposing post. Her hair had been pulled into a mass of curls atop her head and rose oil massaged on her skin....all because the King preffered her that way. She felt almost as if she could vomit. The taste teased the back of her mouth. Storm had never felt such anger. It seemed to pulse through her body at a 100 miles an hour and she couldn't stop it. She could have brought the walls down around her it she wanted to, yet somehow the black diamond studded choker around her neck kept her from using her power's...it also kept her weak. Ororo wasn't sure how she felt it was all just to confusing her body ached with unused energy and she felt numb on the inside.
"What's happening to me?" she asked to the servant girl. The younge girl no older then 16 put away the plate of food she held in her lap and went to retrieve a bowl of cool water and spounge. She returned quickly returned and began to pad Storm down with the spounge.
"I really shouldn't say anything misstress, it could mean 6 lashings..." Storm frowned
"Lashings? This is the 21st century isn't it?"
"Yes of course. His majesty believes in the old code. His majesty has also made it so that you abilities to control the winds and rain has trippled. How I'm not quit sure but your power is needed to open the ceremony. That is why he has brought you here. If you feel warn down it's only because your energy level has exaughted you body, but food should help......and maybe a little sleep." the girl took a deep breath looking Storm over, and was amazed.
"What is it?" Storm asked. The girl averted her eyes shyly
"I just--I never thought I'd get a chance to see you.....Ororo Munroe. Her Majesty the Queen. The Shadow King has been preparing us for your arrival for the past 6 years. He wanted to wait for the right moment. When the empire was strong enough. Now that your here.......You are even more beautiful then I could have ever imagined" the girl turned away and Storm could see the whip marks on her back. How sad. This girl didn't deserve this.
"What is your name?" Storm asked. the girl turned to look at her "We have no names Mistress...only numbers" she held up her arm to reveal 4 blue numbers tattooed in a line across her wrist. Storm frowned. Thomas has become more of an animal then he was before. How could he do this? To children?
"What is your name?" Storm repeated. The girl took a sighed
"My name is Presha your majesty." Ororo nodded her head
"Presha. It's a beautiful name"
"Thank you"she smiled weakly somewhat thankful for her approval.
"Get out!" Tacar in her true form yelled from the door way. Presha cowered in fear and scrambled out of the room. It was an ugly form. Her eyes were dark. Black hair hung over her shoulders matted with sweat and dirt, and her face an ugly green color deformed in indescibale ways. It was hard to tell she was a human. Storm's facial expression did not change.
"I don't see what the big deal is" she said immediately. She began to near the bed a limp in her walk
"The King spent years trying to get to you. He could have had me you know, but I guess I don't fit the standard of what a women is suposed to be." Tacar sat beside her now and brought her wrinkled hand up to Storm's face. Storm did not move.
"Such beauty. Soft skin. lovely smell.....all waisted" Tacar tore her dirty nails across Storm's face leaving behind three scratch lines that began to bleed. "You don't deserve such luxury's." she moved from the bed. "I'm a good person. Believe it or not, and it's people like you who think your better then everyone else. I didn't deserve to be born this way. Why was my chance taken away?" she said in a bitter tone. "But I'm not worried. That beautiful body of yours will be mine soon enough, and there's nothing you can do to stop me." Tacar gave and ugly smile and left the room. Storm closed her eyes in disgust and began to concentrate on how she was going to escape......Presha......The girl obviously admired her and wasn't very happy in this place. She could use Presha to get free and then take her away from this......bondage, but not until after the Shadow Kings untimely death. It wasn't like her to think in such ways but he had gone to far....he had hurt the people she loved and there was always a price to pay for that.
King's Lair:
Griff clasped his hands within one another
"The X-men have been spotted on the grounds your majesty. Shall I send the gaurds?" The Shadow King sneered
"No I want them inside and then I want them taken. Is that understood?"
"Of course. and what of your Queen?"
"Never you mind. I want the hall prepared for the ceremony and all servants in attendance" Griff bowed and ran off to his duties. the King smiled madley his fore finger against his temple "Let the games begin..."
~~~ Soon, Next Chapter~~~
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