Witch Hunt

by Nikia L.Johnson

Disclaimer:
All Characters (except for Nyla, Circe, and Diana which are mine) belong to Marvel. And the quote about beauty blooming and fading was made by Ororo to Logan in Wolverine #96. Also, a big thank you to Buffywatcher2 for cheering me on as I wrote this story.

October 28

And there appeared a great wonder... a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars...
A young woman dressed in a long, white robe raced barefoot down a dark and deserted street. On top of her head sat a crown made of twigs and flowers.
...And there appeared another wonder...; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads...
Not far behind her is a demonic creature with red glowing eyes. Without stopping, he raised his head and released a blood-chilling roar.

...And the earth helped the woman...

"Beloved Goddess, please protect me," the young woman cried as she suddenly stopped and raised her hands. The winds began to blow in a punishing force pushing back the beast. At the same time, a huge tear ripped through the ground creating a gulf between the beast and the woman.

And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed. Releasing another frightening roar, the beast continued to slowly make its way to the woman regardless of the attempts to keep him at bay. And with a supernatural leap, he tackled her to the ground. Her cries for mercy go unanswered in the dark, lonely night.

October 30th 5:45 p.m.

"Ms. Munroe, there isn't much more that I can tell you. Like I said before, Ms. Walker was attacked and killed by some type of wild animal. Animal control has been alerted and as soon as I hear something, I'll let you know."

"In a city, such as this, is it not unusual that no one witnessed the attack," Ororo asked.

Lt. Blake stood up and headed for the door. "People around here have the annoying habit of minding their own business. Now if you will excuse me, I have to go and explain to my Captain why half the men in this city keep turning up as zombies."

"I do not suppose that you would allow me the opportunity to see your report on Nyla?"

Lt. Blake locked the door and began to walk away. "When I hear something, Ms. Munroe, you'll be the first to know.

"You do that Lt.," Ororo muttered as she watched the Lt. walk down the hall. When he turned the corner, Ororo quickly picked the lock and stepped inside of the office. "But until then, I intend to do some investigating on my own."

11:30 p.m.

"Ya sure that this is the place?" Logan asked as Ororo slid from the back of his bike.

"From what you told me of Nyla, I don't see her hanging out at a place like this."

Ororo brushed her wind-blown hair back from her face. "According to the police's report, Nyla was reportedly seen here the night that she was murdered."

"So how do you want to play this?" Logan asked as he lit a cigarette.

"We try the bartender first and then we try the patrons," Ororo answered as she walked through the door of the dimly lit bar.

"Do you have any idea how many people come through here every night?" The bartender asked as he poured a drink into a questionable clean glass.

"Nyla would have stood out. She would have looked as if she didn't belong. If you could just look at her picture," Ororo pleaded as she pushed the photo across the bar.

The bartender picked up the picture and studied it. "Wait a minute, I do remember her."

He handed the picture back to Storm. "She in some kind of trouble or somethin'?"

"She was found murdered the same night she came in here. We need to know if she spoke to anyone," Ororo replied.

"Look, I don't want no trouble here. One more fight here, and the police'll take my license."

Logan leaned across the bar and spoke for the first time since entering the bar. "Did she speak with anyone here?"

The bartender nervously glanced from Ororo to Logan. "Yeah, she spoke with the blonde over there in the corner booth. But your friend wasn't in here very long. They exchanged a couple of words and she high-tailed it out of here."

"Ya got a name for us."

"She goes by the name of Circe."

Logan reached into his pocket and tossed a hundred onto the bar. "Let her know that we wish to speak with her," Ororo said.

"Circe?" Logan muttered as he and Ororo carried their drinks over to a table. "Now where have I heard that name before?"

Ororo sipped her drink. "If I am remembering my history correctly, Circe is an enchantress from the Odyssey. In the myth, she had the ability to transform men into swine."

Logan watched as one of the waitresses passed their message to Circe. Turning to smile in their direction, she rose and slowly began to make her way towards them. "Enchantress, huh." Logan commented as he took in her skimpy black outfit.

Ororo frowned. "What is it about these "viperous" women that attracts you."

Logan laughed. "You're never going to let me live that one down, are you?"

"If you're referring to your marriage to Viper, then no. If I had been there..."

"I know, you would have stopped me," Logan added.

"No, I merely would have hit you with a couple of lightening bolts until you returned to your senses."

"You wanted to talk to me?" Circe asked as she dropped into a chair at the table.

"I believe that we had a mutual friend," Ororo began.

Circe's eyes flashed towards Logan. "I have a lot of friends," she practically purred. Ororo pushed Nyla's photo across the table. "Did you know her?"

"Yes, I knew Nyla. In fact, you could say, we were sisters." Circe answered without bothering to pick up the picture. "She spoke of you often, Ororo. You are just as she described you." She turned to Logan. "But she never mentioned you."

"Then you know that she's dead?" Logan asked.

Circe smiled and tossed her long hair over her shoulders. "I heard that she was attacked by a wild animal."

"I can see you're all torn up over it." Logan said.

"Death is not an ending, it is merely a beginning to another life. I prefer to think of Nyla moving on to the next stage of her existence."

"You spoke with her the night that she was murdered," Ororo stated.

"She came to see me," Circe confirmed vaguely. "But she didn't stay long."

"Did she mention anything out of the ordinary?" Ororo questioned not bothering to hide her growing frustration.

Circe picked up Logan's drink and finished it in one swallow. "Nyla was a little excited about something, but then Nyla was always the excitable kind. And before you ask, no she didn't tell me anything." Circe rose. "I really hate to break this up, but I'm late for a date."

"Cocky, isn't she." Logan said as he watched her walk out of the bar.

"She's hiding something, Logan." Ororo said as she rose to follow.

"Don't worry, 'Ro. I got her scent. She ain't going no where that we can't follow."

"She was here. But her trail just disappears." Logan said twenty minutes later as he sniffed the air searching for Circe.

"She could possible be a mutant." Ororo stated as she scanned the alley they were in. "In any event, I will search from above while you continue to search here." Without waiting for his response, she summoned a wind to lift her from the ground.

Logan shrugged his shoulders and began to make his way back to his bike. If he didn't smell Circe, he doubted if Ororo would spot her- unless of course Circe could fly. Logan suddenly froze. Something was watching him from the shadows. He sniffed the air. While he didn't smell or hear anything, Logan knew that he was being stalked. Logan smiled coldly. Whoever it was, he was pretty good. But Logan was the best.

Without giving any signs that he had sensed his would be attacker, Logan continued down the alley towards his bike. No sound was made as the attacker jumped from the shadows, but Logan was ready. Adamantium claws sprang from their chambers in his hands. Having fought everything from demons to vampires, Logan considered himself to be a hard man to surprise. But the beast before him was unlike anything he had every seen.

The creature stood well over 6 feet. He had the structural build of a man, yet the massive muscles, claws, and teeth stated otherwise. A foul odor reeked from the creature threatening to choke Logan.

"You shall serve my Mistress well," the creature said.

"I don't serve nobody, bub."

The creature released a deep growl. "You will come with me."

"Why don't ya make me?"

The creature suddenly moved without warning. Moving like scorching lightening, the creature struck Logan in the chest. Razor like claws ripped through cloth, skin, tissue and muscle. However, before the creature could strike again, Logan was already moving. Using the monster's own momentum against it, Logan grabbed the creature by it's hand and swung it into the building behind him.

As the creature turned to face him, Wolverine was ready. Once again the creature jumped to attack him, but Logan easily blocked the blow and returned the favor by cutting into the creature's thick skin with his adamantium claws. The creature screamed in rage and catapulted towards Logan. But a powerful gust of wind slammed the creature back into the wall. Storm landed gracefully besides Wolverine.

The creature, seeing that its opportunity was lost, released a growl and vanished. "And I was just starting to have fun," Logan said as his claws slide back into their chambers.

"By the Goddess, what was that creature?"

"It is one of Circe's pets," a voice from the shadows said.

Wolverine and Storm both turned. Wolverine claws sprang from their chambers. "I mean you no harm," the voice continued as a lady dressed in a black flowing gown stepped from the shadows. "I am here to help you."

"Who are you?" Ororo questioned.

Logan walked towards the figure. "Or better yet, what are you? Cause whatever ya are, ya ain't giving off any scents."

"I am Diana, High Priestess of the Syrian Coven. I'm merely projecting my astral form to you. I am inside of the bar. Please join me and all will be explained," the voice said as the image began to fade away.

October 31st 2:37 a.m.

"Nyla and Circe were both students of my Coven. Both were extremely gifted, yet Circe tended to be more aggressive towards using her powers. I constantly warned her about the seductive lure of her gifts, however, she chose to ignore my warnings. Three months ago, I discovered that Circe had begun to use dark magic, and that she was using her powers to punish those who she considered had 'wronged' her. She was found guilty by the Council and she was dismissed from the Coven."

"Is she responsible for Nyla's death?" Storm asked.

Diana nodded her head. "Two weeks ago, the Scrolls of Ishtar were stolen from our temple, and Circe was our immediate suspect. Nyla was sent to retrieve the Scrolls from Circe." Diana dropped her head in guilt. "I had no idea that I was sending Nyla to her death."

"What exactly are these scrolls?" Logan asked as he lit a cigarette.

Diana rubbed her hand over her face. "The Scrolls of Ishtar are inscribed with the very words from Ishtar herself."

"I do not understand," Ororo said.

"Ishtar is a goddess from ancient Assyrian and Babylonian," Diana replied. "She is the goddess of love, fertility, and war. No one knows exactly how the Scrolls came to be, but there is a myth that says that goddess Ishtar created the Scrolls to help an Assyrian Empress conquer a rival empire. My Coven was chosen to guard these scrolls to prevent anyone from releasing its power on mankind again."

"O.k. in plain English, what exactly can Circe do with these scrolls?" Logan asked. "With the Scrolls, Circe can enslave any man that she kisses."

"The Detective in charge of Nyla's case mentioned another case where men were being turned into zombies." Storm commented.

"Mindless slaves who will do anything that Circe commands them," Diana added. "Thus giving Circe the revenge that she has sought for a lifetime."

"Revenge against who?" Ororo questioned.

"Circe was abused by her father until she finally ran away to live on the streets. I don't need to tell you that the streets of Chicago aren't the best place for a 13-year old girl to live. She became accustomed to using her looks to get her what she wants."

"So what's she gonna do, walk around and kiss every man on the planet?" Logan asked as he tossed down his drink.

"With the rising of the full moon on Samhain, Circe will be able to cast a spell using the Scrolls that will allow her to enslave every male on the planet with just a single thought."

"When is Samhain?" Storm questioned.

Diana sipped her drink. "Today," she finally answered meekly.

"That does not leave us much time," Ororo said as she rose from the table.

"Wait a minute, darling," Logan reached out and grabbed Ororo's hand. "Chicago's a big city. Unless, the Priestess here has some way of tracking Circe, we ain't finding her without a plan."

"Circe's using a spell to block my attempts to find her, but when she uses magic, I can follow it back to the source. That's how I was able to trace her here- she used a spell to summon the creature to attack you."

"Et tu, Diana," Circe laughed as she turned away from the visions in her mirror. "Mistress Circe, I failed you. The one that you wanted…"

Circe smiled at the creature as he knelt before her. "If Logan was so easy to obtain, Jinx, I wouldn't want him. I sense great strength in Logan. A strength that will serve me well."

"What about the one, Ororo. She possesses powers…"

"… that are no match for mine. Leave me, Jinx. I have much to learn before tonight."

10:23 a.m.

Wolverine was a predator. And when he was hunting, he could sit for hours not moving a muscle if it was required to get his prey. However, Logan was also known to have a short fuse. He wasn't one to wait until the fight came to him- he usually went looking for it. Usually, Ororo was the calm one. She tended to have the patient of a saint. But, Logan reminded himself as he watched her pace around their room like a caged lioness, death tended to change people.

"I don't know how I should feel, Logan. Part of me hates Circe for what she did, but at the same time, I know what growing up on the streets can do to a person," Ororo said as she sat on the bed besides him.

"Kinda like you and Nyla?"

Ororo smiled sadly. "I wish you could have met her, and I wish that I could have spent more time with her. But there always seemed to be some crisis facing the X-men." She paused as she wiped the tears that were now running down her face. "We grew up on the streets of Cairo together, and I can not count the number of times that she was there when I needed her. Yet, I wasn't there when she needed me the most."

"You can't carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, darling. And ya can't be everything for everyone," Logan said as he pulled her into his arms.

"No, but I was her friend. I have to finish what she started even if it means going against my own beliefs," Ororo said as she pulled out of his arms.

"Killing Circe won't bring her back, 'Ro."

"I don't have a choice, Logan. I can not fail Nyla again."

8:30 p.m.

"An abandon warehouse on a deserted part of town. Perfect for casting spells to take over the world," Wolverine growled.

"There appears to be no one around." Ororo said as she landed on the ground between Wolverine and Diana.

"Circe is inside and she has begun the spell to release the powers of the Scrolls." Diana turned to look towards the moon. "She knows that we are coming."

"Good," Wolverine commented as he pulled down his mask. "Maybe she'll have milk and cookies for us." He sniffed at the air. "Then again. We've got company, ladies." Diana turned in the direction Wolverine was looking. "I don't see… oh, my Goddess." "Looks like I get another crack at Circe's pet," Wolverine growled as claws sprang from their chambers.

Ororo glanced around at the surrounding creatures as they continued to step from the darkness. "They are trying to keep us from Circe."

"Go, Storm. Wolverine and I will entertain Circe's pets. You stop Circe." Diana yelled as she summoned a ball of glowing light to strike at the creatures around her. Storm nodded her head and created a gulf of wind to lift her into the air and carry her towards the building.

"Sending Ororo off to stop Circe is asking for trouble." Logan lashed out at the creature charging at him causing the creature to collapse in pain.

Diana projected another glowing ball of light at the creature closest to her while summoning vines from the earth to imprison some of the creatures. "It is forbidden for one of the Coven to strike at another member whether the member is a current one or an old one." "So you're sending Ororo off to do your dirty work?" Logan backhanded the creature charging up behind him before kicking another creature.

"Even if I could attack Circe, I'm not sure if I could stop her. Ororo has a better chance of stopping her. She has the gift, Wolverine. We must have faith in her."

Wolverine turned to face the creatures as more emerged from the darkness. "I just hope that Ororo doesn't loose more than she already has."

A bolt of lightening struck the huge doors of the warehouse with such force that the doors crumpled into a heap of twisted metal. Without waiting for the dust to settle, Storm flew through the opening and landed on the ground.

"Circe!" She screamed.

Circe walked into the center of the warehouse clapping her hands and laughing. "Nyla was right. You do have a flair for the dramatic."

Storm raised her hands and the winds began to blow around her. "Stop this madness, Circe or I will stop it for you."

"Really, Ororo. Do you think that you pitiful mutants powers are a match for mine?" Circe laughed as her hands began to glow a bright red. "I can control the weather just as you." The winds began to blow around her as well.

Without bothering to answer, Storm hurled a bolt of lightening at Circe. However, Circe merely created a force field around herself, which reflected the lightening back at Storm. Storm easily summoned the winds to lift her above the lightening.

"Come now, Ororo. I expected more of you," Circe teased as she waved her hands in the air causing fire to streak from her fingers toward the floating Storm.

Storm created a wind to keep her away from the unnatural flame that seemed to have a life of its own. Without slowing her evasion, she summoned another burst of wind and rain to smother the living flame. However before Storm could go on the offense, Circe waved her hands causing thick vines to tear from the earth and snatch Storm from the sky. And no matter how she struggled and pulled, the vines wrapped around her tighter and tighter until finally the only struggle she could fight was the battle to breath.

Circe floated towards her. "Tsk, tsk, tsk… poor little Ororo- all wrapped up with no where to go. Luckily, I have just the place for you." Circe blasted the earth with a ball of red lightening creating a huge crater. "Now you can join Nyla in the next life."

"I am the Storm," Ororo whispered to herself as the vines began to pull her towards the earthly grave. She closed her eyes and began to feel her bond with earth grow stronger. "I am the Storm." Her breathing became the wind that blows across the earth. The flow of her blood became the lava that pulsated within the earth. Thunder became her voice as it boomed in the dark skies. Ororo slowly opened her eyes.

"You may be able to manipulate the weather, Circe. But I am the weather. I am the Storm!" Blue lightening streaked the sky blinding Circe causing her to loose her control of the vines. An artic gust of wind and rain suddenly filled the abandoned warehouse causing the vines to swivel and die. Circe fell to the ground as Storm floated above her. As Circe tried to rise, Storm summoned a wind to slam her against the walls of the warehouse. "You can't stop me!" Circe screamed as she created a ball of red light.

Storm raised her hands to sky. "Ice, snow vanquish my enemy!" Ice and snow began to fall in a punishing force freezing Circe where she stood leaving only her head unfrozen. Ororo landed before her. "I will show you the same mercy that you showed Nyla."

"You...you... are...as spineless as Nyla. I'm...not afraid… of you."

Storm raised her hands and lightening began to flow from her fingers; however, before she could direct the bolt at Circe, Wolverine grabbed her hand. "You don't want to do this, darling."

"This does not concern you, Logan. Leave me," Storm said through clenched teeth. Instead of releasing her hand, Logan grabbed her other hand as well. "Look at what revenge did to her. It turned her into the same monsters who hurt her. Don't let Circe do the same thing to you."

"She will be punished for what she had done, Ororo. I promise you." Diana added as she came to stand behind Logan. "The Coven will see to it." Diana turned and walked towards the Scrolls that lie on the alter. "We are not yet ready for such power." She turned towards Storm and nodded her head. Wolverine released her hands and Storm released the lightening flowing within her body turning the Scrolls into ash.

November 7th

Ororo sat on the patio sipping her tea as she watched the other X-men play football. She smiled as she watch Bobby created an ice slide to propel him faster towards a touchdown. However, before he could reach the designated target, Jean (using her telekinetic powers) stole the ball and scored a touchdown for her team. A shadow suddenly appeared over her blocking the sun from her view. She slid her shades from her face.

"Someone once told me that 'there are things of ephemeral beauty. They bloom and they fade. We must appreciate them while they are here'."*

Ororo moved over as Logan sat down besides her on the lounge chair. "Sounds like a very wise person," Ororo teased.

Logan stretched out besides Ororo. "She has her moments," he said as he pulled his cowboy hat down over his eyes. "when she not being a know it all."

Ororo leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you, Logan. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Don't worry, darling. I'm not going anywhere."