Jubilee was bouncing all over the place, her usual sugar high was rocketing over the horizon and gaining speed, her mouth only just keeping pace with her thoughts. "Come on, it'll be FUN! You hardly ever come out Rogue, I mean there'll be no risk everyone will be wrapped up tight. " Her hand waved toward the window where the autumn weather had taken a turn to the cold. "Come ON! I mean not even Fearless Leader would make you stay at home."

Marie watched her friend bouncing on Kitty's bed her face showing everything she had on her mind; a deep suspicious grin crept across her face as she slowed her bouncing. "Besides, you could always ask tall dark and grumpy to go with us, I mean it's not as if he has
anything special doing right now." At the mention of Logan Marie blushed, her cheeks filling with blood as she thought about the man labouring in the garage below. He'd decided to leave his search for the winter and start fresh in the spring giving it a full year, there was no point suffering in the cold if he didn't have to.
He had a place to be for the winter, he kept himself busy, and mainly to himself, occasionally he'd come into the dining hall and eat in the far corner with his back to the wall. Eyes constantly on the look out for trouble or people, he even ate when everyone else had nearly finished, chewing every morsel slowly. She'd sat with him
once or twice but the air around him had been cold, as if he hadn't wanted her near him. So she'd left him alone, watching him from a distance as he began to pull away from everyone here.

The more she thought about it the better this sounded, if she could get him to go with her he'd be on the look out for threats and such but he'd be near *her* just what she wanted if truth be known. Him pulling away from her wasn't something she'd been prepared for even after having him in her head, part of her knew he'd do this. He
wasn't a people person but she'd thought she'd meant something to him, after having him in her head she knew he didn't risk his life for just anyone. She'd seen him, the real him and he didn't like that, she knew how much he felt for her and that made him vulnerable and if there was something the Wolverine hated it was feeling
vulnerable.

Turning to the hyped Jubilee who was flicking through a stolen Playgirl on her back Marie answered her friend. "Okay ah'll ask him after dinner. How long is the thing here for?" Jubilee's grin split her head in half.
"Till the 2nd, we can go after trick or treating, that is if you feel like going?" her friend's leer almost matched the model on the front of the magazine.
"Ah need a costume, something that's going to keep me covered."
Jubilee dropped her magazine and the light in her eyes was something Marie never hoped to see again.
"Roguey babe, I have the perfect outfit for you, one that'll kill two birds with one stone. He'd have to be dead from the neck down to miss you in what I've got for you." The chuckle that left Jubilee worried her as she turned away to look out of the stormy window, leaves were bright and their colours were mingling into a patchwork of reds and oranges. The leaden sky contrasting against the vivid colour, reminding her of blood and steel and the man she cared for more than her own life. After all
he'd given her a second chance at it hadn't he and she needed to give him a chance at living a somewhat normal one. Pushing her doubts aside she turned away and started planning with Jubilee.

Outside the breeze shifted and grew in strength sending the leaves ripping away from the skeleton thin branches, moving them high over the lights of the houses and businesses below. Moving in a steady stream over the train tracks, past the small river to the old field,
where the tents were being erected and a face watched the blood red leaves scurry over their head. Ageless eyes reading the patterns and the things they told the viewer made a smile crack across ancient skin and a light to fire behind ebony filled eyes.

****************************************************

He'd finished the stripping of the engine at eight when his stomach finally called `time', wiping his hands on a rag Logan stood up. The bike was in pieces around him, the old war-horse had been in the stable block, he hadn't even seen it until he'd moved some feed.
When he'd found her he'd asked Xavier about her, if he knew whom she belonged to. He'd just smiled warmly and told him no, he had no idea it had been there but he was welcome to it if he could get her to run. So he'd wheeled her to the garage to work on her, the bike itself was unusual an Indian painted in army green. He'd seen some
documentaries about the bikes used in the Second World War and they were usually Harley's so seeing an Indian painted up like this was rare. The tank had been empty but the cap had held a round disc inside it, a number stamped into it and a set of initials. He hadn't told anyone what he'd found but he kept it on him, a little reminder of the person who'd owned her before him.

Having her stripped down in front of him was a labour of love; it'd take most of the winter to get her back to a running state. He wanted to get the parts he needed by working for the money, doing what he could around the mansion and grounds. Xavier had offered to just get them for him but he'd refused flat out, he worked for his
money, it was enough that Xavier was giving him a place to stay over the winter rent free. He'd be damned if he would take anything else without paying for it, he had his pride. Standing back and looking at the worn and destroyed parts on the tarpaulin he almost missed her footsteps coming toward him.

Marie, he knew her steps as well as his own heartbeat, it pained him to push her away but he had to it was the only way to keep her safe. Jesus the last time he'd touched her, he'd left a good part of himself in her head, he hadn't wanted to know what it had done to her. Yet he'd overheard enough conversations about her nightmares to
know her being around him wasn't good for her. So he'd avoided her, made sure she was okay from a distance, not allowing himself to get close to her just in case he gave in, gave into the need he had to hold her again.

That night on the torch he'd been as close to death as he'd ever been in his life, he'd given everything he'd had to bring her home. To undo what he thought he'd gotten her into, everything he'd figured was his fault, if he hadn't picked her up Sabretooth wouldn't have found them. Wouldn't have known about her or her abilities and Magneto wouldn't have tried to kill her. Thing was
Xavier had nixed that idea a couple of weeks ago when he'd been trying to drown in a bottle. He'd wheeled into the kitchen and asked him exactly how long he thought the machine he'd constructed to mutate New York had taken to build. He'd shrugged and Xavier had told him, nine months, he'd already found out about Marie it had only been a matter of where and when. Xavier had told him he was glad that he'd been with her, he'd given her a chance to live again, not be used as a weapon of mass destruction.

So now he was in a place he didn't want to be in, Marie knew him, she knew what he thought about her and so he'd thrown himself into chasing Jean. That was until they'd finally set a date for the wedding, even then he'd tried to make light of it but Jean no longer rose to the bait. Leaving him with the feelings he had for a young girl whom was too young and too pure to even understand the feelings he has for her. Hell even he had a hard time understanding the feelings she forced him to feel just by walking into the room.

Take the time she'd walked into the dining hall and had come over to him, sitting across from him smiling as she ate. He'd had to block her out, trying desperately to ignore her scent, her voice, the way her eyes had looked concerned for him when he'd totally ignored her questions. She'd left with her meal half eaten, his own body trembling with the effort of keeping still. He'd wanted to grab her, touch her, lose himself in her, drown in her curves and softness until there was no difference between him and her. Something he could never do, even touching her would leave part of him behind, part of his mind, his nightmares, his past and he couldn't do that
to her. No matter how much his body needed her, wanted and ached for her touch on his skin.

It wasn't about sex, when he needed it he'd go get it and there was usually someone willing to have him. No with her, it was different, he wanted ALL of her, to OWN her body, soul, and he knew if he asked her she'd do it. She'd give him everything and not count the cost of it until she realised exactly what he was and that would kill him. The look in her eyes as she realised what he was, who he was and how much of an animal he could be and what she had done. It'd kill him faster than her skin could and he didn't want that not for her and not for him. So he avoided her, drove her away, hurt her by ignoring her looks, flinching away from her gloved touch so she didn't come near him. It almost killed him every time he saw the pain rise in her eyes as he did it, but he *had* to it was the only way to keep her safe and he'd promised her he'd keep her safe, even from him.

Turning to see her, carrying a plate in her hand, a smile on her face as she padded over to him. A sandwich was on the plate and a bottle in her other hand; her eyes smiling as much as her mouth and he gripped himself tightly as she approached. Her scent reaching him even over all the grease and oil, she was uncertain and confused but the smile was genuine. Handing the plate over she looked at the mess of the engine.
"So, you got it to bits then?" Taking the plate and keeping it between them, he turned his gaze away to the bits on the floor.
"Yeah," keeping his mind on the inventory he'd need to fix her as he pulled his gaze back to hers. Watching her tongue slip out and lick her lips nervously as she handed him the bottle.
"You missed dinner again. Thought ah'd bring you something to stop you raiding the fridge later."
"Thanks," he kept his words non-committal as he filled his mouth with the glass of the bottle.

Shifting slightly she crossed her arms over herself and her scent spiked, making him gulp as the strength of her need hit him. She needed him, closing his eyes he tried to push the thought of her away as the words entered his head.
"Logan ah know you've been a little distant lately and ah want to ask you something, a favour." Dropping the bottle he swallowed the cold brew into his stomach knowing if he could it'd be leaving his mouth as steam with the amount of heat he was putting out right now.

He quirked an eyebrow and she continued, "Jubilee want's me to go trick or treating with her this weekend in Salem centre, thing is she wants to go to the carnival down there afterward. Ah'd like to go but ah'm not sure how safe ah'd feel there, so many people around, everyone bumping into each other. Thing is ah'd love to go but ah don't think ah want to go alone, so ah'm asking if you'd mind coming with me. You don't have to do anything but stand there if you don't want to, it's just ah'll feel better with someone around you know, someone who understands me." His eyes met hers and he could see her heart beating through her skin, she wanted him around. She
needed him there, wanted him with her while she tried to be normal, doing normal kid stuff like going to the carnival. She must have seen his doubt because she started up again.

"Jubilee's getting me a costume together now, something that'll cover me all over. Even my face will have a layer of make-up on it so if anyone brushes past ah won't hurt them." The look in her eyes was enough to tell him she needed this and she was asking the one person she had to help her. She was going to be wrapped up so tight she couldn't hurt anyone, yet if she did that she'd wouldn't enjoy herself either. Sensing her need he answered her, "I'll go but I'll meet you at the carnival. Where is it?" The smile lit her face as he'd answered her.
"Over in the old field past the river bend just before you enter Salem centre. Jubilee said we'd be there for around 8pm." Dropping his gaze from hers he turned away before his mouth let anything else out of it, something he didn't want to admit to later. Sensing her dismissal Marie shifted and he caught her whisper as she left, "Thanks Logan." He sensed her leaving and turned as she was just leaving the large garage her breath still audible to him as was the words out of her lips as she slipped away, `Love you'.

Gripping the plate tight it took everything he had not to follow her, snarling he threw the rag across the space. Leaving the uneaten food behind him, it still smelled of Marie as he tore out of the garage into the darkening evening. Going to find someone, he could lose himself in while trying to keep the vision of her eyes out of his mind, the scent of her hair and the curve of her hips. Yet he always had to grit his teeth as he came into the willing body underneath him because if he didn't he knew what name he'd be calling and it wouldn't be the person under him.

**********************************************

Jean, Scott, Ororo, Pieter, Kitty, John, Bobby and Jubes were waiting at the foot of the large stairs for her to come down. The costume had been well thought out and the fit was incredible, she wondered exactly who had been out shopping for it when she'd seen it and where they'd actually been. Using her mind and the memories she'd gotten from both Logan and Eric told her leather goods usually came in discreet brown paper bags.

Running her hands over the leather; the feel of it was smooth and warm, brown leather trousers that hid nothing and she'd had to shed underwear to get them to fit right. The jerkin was another matter altogether, the supple leather shifted and moved with her, moulded to a woman's shape it supported her while keeping her defended from
a rogue touch. The long suede sleeves went down her arms, even covering the backs of her hands, coming to points at her middle finger. Arm greaves made of aluminium covered her forearms chased with an ivy design that was beautiful, she'd thought about gloves and Jubes had handed her a pair of sheer brown nylon to put
underneath her sleeves. Her body was totally covered in leather; even her feet were in some kind of riding boot made of suede and soft leather.
Picking up the cloak she swirled it on and looked in the mirror, Jubes had had a brainwave when she'd thought about themeing everyone on Middle Earth characters. She was a ranger; Rogue the Ranger, stood near her door was a foam rubber staff and sword including scabbard. Seeing her hair primped back and plaited tight highlighting the two white streaks within it she finally left her room, her heart hoping that tonight would go well. They had to take the younger kids around the houses first before Jean and Scott would let them do their own thing but she was looking forward to it.
Catching her reflection in her mirror before she left smiling at the colour of her skin, at least she now knew what she'd look like if she ever got a decent tan. She never uncovered much of her skin in summer it was too dangerous for everyone, pushing the thought down she went to join the rest of the warband waiting downstairs.

*****************************

He'd been propping up the bar at Rosie's for at least a couple of hours now, several groups of Halloween revellers had been in and out. Some dressed to the nines and some just with masks and fake weapons, even from here he could hear the Carnival. The scent of the road marked it and made part of him hunger to be with it, to travel
the roads and highways always moving never settling in one place too long. Leaving behind the good memories of fun and lights, of games and being frightened by rides that made your head spin. Something he'd never enjoyed himself; something he'd avoided upto now. Looking at the bar clock it read 7.45pm, draining his glass Logan threw down his money and left, the smile of the bartender following him as she collected it. She'd seen him nearly every day for a couple of months now and she'd never seen him nervous till now, there was something he was dreading. If she didn't know any better he'd looked like he was going on his first date, she'd seen him with different women nearly every week. Whatever it was she thanked it, he'd left her a fifty when he only owed her twenty. Smiling she slated the rest for him knowing however it turned out he'd be back later, maybe not tonight but there was always tomorrow.

Lights were strung, voices shouted, screams were ringing out across the field as the rides shifted and moved people around the carnival.
Their movements a dance for those who could see it, a tide of colour and emotion running from one end to the other. Dark eyes watching the sky for the clouds that brought the storm, the thing that blew them home, but not yet, oh no not yet. A simple smile grew on his face as he straightened his gloves, picking up his cane and moving
between the sea of people like a shark. A light touch here, a glance there, setting seeds that would bear fruit before the carnival went on it's way again.
Seeing the new crowd coming, a crowd filled with possibility hope and wonder their eyes filled with the youth that knew nothing of hardship or pain. Turning his steps toward them a cold thin smile on his lips as he went toward the group, his steps measured and stately, his thin frame almost feeling their youth filling him as he approached. They'd learn of course, they all would in time, maybe not this visit but he'd give them something to remember him, something to make the nameless dread visit them in the night.
Opening his arms wide he began his speech, head thrown back, eyes locked onto the group of youth and vitality.

"Welcome one, welcome all! Welcome to Dark's Pandemonium Carnival, see the wonders, play the games, enjoy life for we never know when it will end! So come in, play and enjoy the sights, welcome one, welcome all, here in Darks Carnival all are equal!" His gaze drifted over all the young faces, seeing the young lovers holding hands, the children straining to be adults in a world that wasn't
theirs yet. Scanning them his dark flat gaze dropped on someone walking toward the entrance, his steps measured his stance reminding him of a wolf hunting over the snow the gaze he wore all purpose.
The smile never leaving his face as the crowds parted around him, a stone in the stream of humanity. Taking a copper coin from his waistcoat pocket, he deftly spun the mottled surface, letting it fall from his fingers as the man's gaze hit his. The strength in it hitting him square on, feeling the smile on his face deepen as it did so, only when the man broke his gaze did he look down at the
coin at his feet. Heads he was theirs, tails he was a free spirit, the coin had landed edge up, sticking halfway in the soft ground.
Plucking the coin out of the soil, Mr Dark watched the leather clad man turn his back on the carnival and watch the road. He was undecided then, a prospect worth chasing if he could read the signs well, the suffering from him could feed an army of his kind and he would bring others into the darkness with him. Turning on his heel he nodded to the strong man on his podium, everything said in a
single gesture Mr Dark went to see to the rest of the harvest.

************************************************

The kids had been handed over to Scott, Jean and Ororo; they'd had fun been scared witless and enjoyed the entire time. Even Kitty had been able to let go and enjoy the delights of the night; Pieter had been a little reluctant to join in until Kitty had dragged him up with her to the porches of some houses. The costume he had was of a
wraith and covered him from head to foot, Kitty's was an Elf Maiden, long dress and her hair pulled up and away from her face making her look even more fragile than normal. By the end of the trip around the neighbourhood, they were wrapped around each other.
Jubilee was fending off other kids who were trying to get into her goody bag, it was her last year of actually gathering candy for herself so she was doing her best to keep all of it. Marie herself had felt fine, even with the crowds of children running around she felt great, and her costume protected her from everything. The leather was warm and comfortable to wear, even Jean commented on how much it suited her, Ororo had just smiled knowingly and taken her arm.

The Carnival was in full swing when they got near where the vans were parked, the sound of lilting music drifting over with the wind, bringing the scent of sweetness and excitement with it. Scott turned to the rest of them and gave them the `stay together' speech, even Jean had to look like she was doing something with the other kids
not to turn around and laugh at what he was saying. Jubilee lasted until the `even though it's a holiday' bit and she interrupted him mid flow. "Look we'll be fine, Logan's down there waiting for us. We have enough smarts between us to handle a Carnival, even if some of us haven't been to one before."
She nodded in Pieter's direction, looking at Rogue she smiled before turning her attention back to Scott. "Besides, we have phones and you're on speed dial, your four miles away and we have someone who runs that amount for fun every morning. So just go and let us have
some fun before we explode." Jean's hand on his arm stopped him from replying, seeing them as a group of young adults not young mutants he nodded. Adding, "Be careful and don't annoy Logan Jubilee, he's not as forgiving as I am."

Jean pulled him away and sent a `have fun but stay safe' message to them all, Ororo had been herding the children into the second van when she looked over to the Carnival. Her skin prickled for a moment as if she'd touched something live and had received a shock from it.
Rubbing her hands before she got behind the wheel Ororo decided she'd wait up for them, there was something about the Carnival that reminded her of home, of the desert plains and the nights that could last forever. Shaking the thoughts away, she pulled out and beeped to the group who were making their way to the pool of bright light
in the field. A point of brilliance in the darkness, drawing moths to it to dance and flutter, how many would come away unburned was another matter entirely.

**************************************************

Logan was beginning to wonder if they were ever coming when he caught the scent of chewing gum and fireworks drifting down the road. Scanning the crowds walking down toward him he spotted the group, smiles and laughter were everywhere but the face he'd been telling himself he wasn't looking for wasn't there. Annoyed he made to walk toward the group when Pieter moved, revealing Marie, her
hair braided to the side of her face. Her costume seemed to fit her like a second skin, breezes drifted her scent to him and he took her in as if she was his last breath.
The leather fitted her body like skin, trousers of soft deep brown, soft soled boots, a jerkin and bodice made of thicker leather shifted as she laughed. Pulling the dark cloak around her form as they walked toward him, the shrill voice of Jubilee snapping him out of his reverie.
"Hey Logan! You made it, beaten anyone to a pulp yet?" Her
mischievous face was in front of his filling his view, cutting off the supply of Marie and he growled low. Bobby grabbed Jubilee by the shoulder and pulled her back a couple of inches, his voice sharp.
"Jube's remember what Mr. Summers told you." Jubilee waved a hand at her friend.
"Please, he's not going to hurt the person who got his favourite person in the whole world to come out dressed in leather is he?" Her eyes twinkled as Marie went red, "Come on you lot I want to go home with at least four new shiny things." Dragging the rest of the group
with her own inevitable gravity, she left Marie with Logan outside the entrance.

Smiling she gave him a twirl of her costume, "What do you think? Ah'm covered head to toe but ah've never felt so good. Mind you ah had a few scary moments with kids but it was worth it." She couldn't see his face properly, the lights were behind him and it worried her a little. Holding out a gloved hand, she reached for his own, her
voice showing a little of her worry as she spoke to him. "Do you mind if ah take your hand? Ah mean if it upsets you ah won't, just that ah'd like to have you close while we're here. When we were in the streets it's easy to avoid people, here it could be a little
difficult for me." Logan's hand wrapped around her own thin gauze covered one, she could feel every ridge of his skin and palm, the heat in it pulsing through into her own as she gripped it. Moving into the Carnival together, Marie's hand held in Logan's own her other arm wrapped around the one holding hers. "Thank you Logan, let me know if you want to go and we'll go. Ah never was one for
carnivals even before everything went wrong." Sensing the pain in her voice Logan tightened his grip on her hand and pulled her into him, telling her he was ready to leave when she was.

When she'd stood there he'd had to remember to breathe, her entire self shone to him, from the boots on her feet to the shy smile on her face. He kept his growl inside his own mind but the urge to touch her was nearly overwhelming so he was eternally grateful that she was the one to reach out to him first. Inside his mind, he could see himself peeling the leather from her skin, seeing if the brown thin nylon went everywhere and not just up her arms. She moved with a grace he'd never seen before, as if being covered like this gave her confidence, something safe but alluring at the same time.

Walking with her he had a hard time keeping his eyes up out of her chest, the leather jerkin went upto her neck but it didn't stop the scent of her skin mingling with the warm leather. He wanted to touch her, wanted to taste her, he *had* to, the feeling grew until it forced itself out of his mouth in a low growl, slowly rising in strength. His eyes blazing with need, desire, want, he would touch her and he'd damn the consequences.

Growling he gripped her hand tight for a second and she stopped her eyes scanning the crowds around them. "What? What is it Logan, something dangerous?" Her gaze turned to his and she caught the end of his thoughts, her lips parted slightly as she realised what had made him growl. She had, her being so close to him, dressed like this, suddenly the thought of being alone with him wasn't such a
good idea anymore.
"Logan?" Her voice was shaky as she felt his arms wrap around her, the grip strong and sure. Pulling her into him, moving her so she could feel the effect she had on him, her eyes meeting his as she felt him against her. She had no words, no thoughts as he began to touch her under the cloak; his hands never still for a second. His
breath on her skin as he nuzzled her hair her own hands just resting on his back as he touched her. The sensation of his hands drifting down over her rear was a subtle torture; the leather was so fine it made it seem as if there was nothing between them. It lit up her skin glad now she'd removed her underwear because Logan would feel
the lack of it, feeling him rumble as he realised and pulled her closer to him. Her voice deepened by need, by the touch and the sensations he was sending through her. He was everywhere, in her mind, in her breath, in her blood and she *wanted* him! Bucking herself into his grip as his hand slid down her ass, his fingers gently touching her forcing the words out of her throat into his
shirt. "Logan please, ah need you."

Her words were like arctic water over his libido, snapping him back to reality. He was in the middle of a carnival with his hand almost inside her trousers, his own excitement dropped as he realised what he'd done. He'd given in, he'd lost the war never mind the battle,
he'd crossed the line and he doubted she'd ever let him near her again. She'd wanted him to keep her safe from people and he'd been the one to put her in danger. Quickly he let go, shifted himself so he was no longer wrapped around her in a lovers embrace. Instead he pulled the cloak around her tight and gripped her through it, his
mind under control again as he felt her first deep breath go through her.

*****************************************

Why had she let this go on, why had she thought this was a good idea in the first place? She'd needed him since the day they'd met, since the cage had revealed him to her. Now she was finding out the truth, he didn't want her, not in the way she wanted him. She'd seen the effect she'd had on him when she'd stood there and twirled round for him but it wasn't real it hadn't been her. She was someone to keep safe, not to touch and want but part of her mind screamed to her that he did want her that his reaction to her had been natural. That part of him wanted to tear the leather off her and taste her skin, that he needed to *own* her.
Blinking her eyes furiously to keep the tears at bay she forced herself to smile, she would cope with this. Feeling his grip on her back safely covered by the cloak she pushed away from him, the strong grip only allowing her to move a little. "Ah'm fine Logan, honest. Come on let's find Jube's ah'm sure she's got someone to win
something for her by now." She didn't allow herself to see his face; she scanned the sea of people and caught sight of Pieter throwing balls at stacks of metal milk bottles. "There they are, come on let's see what their upto," Marie led the way her arms wrapped around herself clutching her cloak shut, leaving Logan behind her
following in her wake.

Tired eyes watched the couple walk away from the worn dusty flaps of her tent. Smiling to herself as she shuffled the cards in her hands, plucking one at random the pasteboard surface showing a man torn in two. One half reaching for the heavens, the other a beast with large fangs snarling and fighting, turning the bottom card over to reveal the maiden, untouchable lonely but so needy. Her eyes following them, she whispered something on the wind watching it drift out of her tent and settle over the two of them. Seeing them both shiver as it touched their skin, smiling she went back inside her tent, lost inside the darkness. Blindness no problem to someone who had lost their eyes when the world had been young.

***********************************************

He couldn’t believe it, she’d just stiffened up and walked away as if it had been nothing, he could smell her hurt whether it was from him stopping or from his touching her in the first place he didn’t know. Catching her eye and seeing her blush rise and colour her cheeks he realised it had been because he’d stopped not that he shouldn’t have in the first place. They were nearly with everyone else and he didn’t want them to see her upset like this. Grabbing her arm and pulling her to a stop he turned her round to face him, his gaze falling on hers as she tried to show him a brave face, knowing he’d hurt her by not being able to control himself around her. “I’m sorry Marie,” using her name to show her he meant every word. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, just seeing you stood there…I’m sorry I shouldn’t have risked hurting you again.”

He watched as her eyes widened, as she listened to the words and the things he wasn’t saying, the way his fingers were holding her, light but strong. The way his head was leaned toward her, the look in his eye as he spoke to her, the way he was pulling her toward his own hips. He wanted her and he was spelling it out in movements and signals she couldn’t mistake for anything else. Raising her hand to his face, she stroked his skin as the cold wind blew through the carnival making her cloak flap around them both. His voice deepened as he pulled her closer to him, her hand sliding under the leather he wore. “Marie I’m sorry, I never meant to hurt you. Just that…” He struggled with the words as she snuggled under the coat, her hair protecting his skin as she held him.
“Ah know Logan, ah know. Ah had you riding around in here for a while remember?” Her eyes met his and she understood why he’d been pushing her away, he didn’t want her to suffer his life, to relive the pain he went through every time sleep overtook his frame. The next words out of her mouth almost stunned him, “Touch me Logan, please?”

His heart was hammering so hard he thought it’d break through his ribs, looking at her face, reading the need shining out to him he couldn’t refuse her. Seeing her lips covered with something glossy he just moved before she could know what he was doing. Holding her head still as he kissed her, feeling her fingers tense for a second then relax as she let herself fall into the embrace he had on her. Feeling her press herself against him as she let him hold her up, her entire body sliding against his making him rumble with pleasure. When he finally released her, her skin glowed under the make-up she was wearing and her eyes were sparking, he had her, all of her with only one kiss.

The rest of the world had disappeared for a second and there was only them, the two of them united until the voice of Jubilee cut through their world. Her tone high and shrill as she cheered, “YAY BOBBY!! Another one for the team!” Turning they saw the rest of the group stood around a booth, they were shooting targets to gain prizes. Pieter already had two bright coloured stuffed animals hanging off his arm with Kitty hanging off the other smiling and laughing as Bobby demolished the targets winning Jubilee a neon pink elephant with purple ears. Unwrapping herself from Logan Marie caught Jubilee’s gaze and her friends next comment earned her a deep rumbling growl that reached them through the loud music all around. “Well, looks like I’m not the only one to win a prize tonight, what you gonna do with him Rogue? Keep him locked up in your room or let him out once in a while?”
Bobby and John had the good sense to move her quickly out of the range of Logan, distracting her with the promise of more shiny prizes. Distracted Jubilee left with the two of them leaving them with the other couple Pieter and Kitty, who didn’t even notice them both as they walked side by side. They had eyes only for each other but Logan was watching for trouble as well as watching Marie. That was how he saw the attack coming before anyone else did, no matter where they went there would always be someone trying to cause trouble. It was just how the world worked.

Bobby was already falling by the time Logan got there, Jubilee was being held by a couple of rough looking men her hands useless as they pulled the wallet out of her hands. Letting go of Marie’s hand he flew over to them a small crowd had already gathered around, when Logan got close enough he could hear the accusations flying. “This little skank tried to steal my wallet!” Logan took one look assessed the situation and was about to act when a couple of carnival women pushed through the crowd and entwined themselves around the upset men. Logan watched as Bobby was helped up by John, the women were whispering something into the men’s ears and they suddenly forgot all about them. When the man let go of Jubilee Logan grabbed her quickly pulling her safely out of their range; her face was a picture. She looked totally flustered and unsure, by this time Pieter and Kitty were there with Marie, everyone looked as if they were waiting for something, for someone to throw a blow but it never happened.

The air felt charged as the women pulled the men away into a tent covered in faded gaudy pictures of women in semi clothed poses. Looking around the small group he had to protect Logan watched the crowd disperse slowly, the cultured tones of perfect English meeting his ears, as they did so the crowd shifted revealing the speaker. “I do apologise, sometimes people forget themselves at the carnival. Everyone comes to have fun and let off a little steam.” He nodded to the group of youngsters before making eye contact with Logan, “But then again we all have our ways of coping don’t we?” His smile was sincere but the look in his eyes made Logan’s skin crawl, the kids were all looking at the strangely dressed man but Jubilee couldn’t tear her eyes off his watch and chain hanging from his waistcoat. He could smell her sweat as she tried to keep her hands busy and her eyes away from the shining chain; the man was absently playing with it as he spoke to them all. “Please allow me to apologise,” he produced a set of tickets with his left hand out of the air.

“Please be my guests and come back to the carnival before we leave, these will let you onto any ride or any show for free. However, you can’t use them tonight, only tomorrow so will you be my guests after this unfortunate incident? Feel free to bring others, we open at 6pm anyone with a ticket can enter.” John was the first to reach out and he took them all, the gloved hand released the strip into his hand. Jubilee was moving forward toward the strange man dressed in top hat, grey suit and dark winter coat. Logan stopped her dead, a rumbling growl vibrating through her, enough to shake her into keeping still. There was something he didn’t like about this part of the carnival, it made his skin itch. Looking at the rest of the kids, he could see them wondering exactly what was going on, the smiling calm face of the man in front of them wasn’t any help.

Keeping his voice level and calm Logan spoke loud enough for them all to understand and hear him. “Come on, we’re leaving,” Shifting Jubilee behind him to go into Marie’s arms he backed away keeping himself between the smiling man and the kids. Marie held her friend as they left the carnival, Kitty also at her friends side their questions being fired at her as the rest of the boys kept a ring around them as they walked. Pieter at the front, Bobby on the left and John on the right with him taking up the rear, finally turning around when he thought he had enough distance between him and the strange man with the sharks smile. He’d be asking a few questions tonight when they got home, like what exactly had happened back there and who the hell owned the damn carnival. Shifting the rest of the group outside the entrance across the road Logan was pleased to see Kitty had her mobile out and was asking for a pick up. Jubilee had her head down and was quiet, her hand locked tightly in Maries own and her eyes were moist. It took more than a small fight with idiots to spook Jubilee and he’d resolve it before the night was out.

Sending a look over the road into the carnival Logan noticed the man hadn’t moved a muscle from where they’d left him, his smile was fixed on them all. Slowly he doffed his top hat and bowed low, Logan kept his gaze riveted to him as he slowly rose back up. The face that met his eyes made him doubt what he was seeing, the skin was parchment thin, the eyes sunken and shrivelled. Sharp white teeth protruded from under blackened gums where a black tongue danced as the laughter deep and earth rich met his ears. The skeleton figure turned and walked away, the cane held in a bony grip, replacing the top hat covering the worms and soil in his matted scalp. Shaking himself he focussed on the rest of the kids, Pieter was alert now looking for trouble and dressed in his costume he exuded a threatening potential. Kitty and Marie were wrapped around a frightened Jubilee; her gaze darting out at the people who were passing by and gripping her guardians each time someone tall passed by. Bobby and John were watching the road for the van, John’s hand absently rubbing his fingers together as if he’d gotten something on them. Watching as he slapped Bobby on the back using the same hand as he pointed to the lights of the van heading their way. Ororo was driving, seeing the boys turn toward him Logan caught a shadow over them that passed quickly, putting it down to the lights all around he didn’t think anything of it, none of them would until later.

The journey home was quiet, Logan driving home with Ororo riding shotgun, the rest of the group was quiet, too quiet and Ororo looked at the faces in the back. Her dark calm gaze hitting Kitty full on, “What happened child?” Kitty’s answer was calm but her words were filled with malice, “What always happens when we try to be normal, we got attacked and Jubilee was hurt. Logan managed to get her away from them, don’t worry he didn’t hit them, they got bored when the rest of us came up.” John chimed in.
“Yeah the carnival manager gave us free tickets for tomorrow to apologise.” Ororo looked at the thin thread of tickets held up by John, her eyes almost deceiving her as they swayed in the movement of the van, for a moment she could have sworn they shifted on their own.
“It may not be a good idea to go back John, especially if you’ve had an encounter already.” Bobby answered her this time his face filled with hope.
“Well he did say that only people with tickets can gain entry tomorrow night, the main carnival is leaving and it’ll only be a small version of tonight’s one. Old fashioned booths and stuff, not many electric rides some steam ones like the Ferris Wheel, their putting it up tonight.” Ororo listened to the words and felt them soothe her fears, if the event was ticket only then they should have a better chance at being safe. That way the only people who were allowed to go would be responsible, turning in her seat to look at the faces of the kids she could see the light of hope in Bobby and John’s eyes. Kitty and Jubilee were non-plussed and Marie wasn’t particularly bothered until Logan piped up.
“If their going tomorrow so am I, there’s something there I don’t trust, something wrong.” He didn’t mention the appearance of the carnival owner to anyone, he wasn’t even sure himself if he’d seen it or not. But if he had then there was something more to that thing than rides and booths.

Ororo took in the serious look he had on his face, the set of his jaw and the tone of his words. He meant every word, his concern was real and she smiled laying her hand on his arm as he turned toward home.
“I think I’ll be joining you also, it can’t hurt to have another pair of eyes watching their back can it?” Logan didn’t answer but the smile she caught from Rogue was enough to assure her she’d said and done the right thing. The rest of the journey home was quiet, Jubilee hugging the elephant Bobby had won for her tight to her chest, looking for all the world like the lost child she had been when she’d first come to Xaviers. Something had spooked her and Logan wanted to know what it had been, what had made her steal the wallet? Why had her gaze been riveted to the watch, did she want that as well or was it something else? Marie had her arm around her friend and was pulling her into her grip so her head was resting on her shoulder. He’d use Marie to find out, there was something about the carnival, something that he couldn’t put his finger on, something wrong. Shaking his mind clear he just concentrated on the road, leaving the lights and music behind him, not seeing Bobby and John look out of the back window together, dark smiles etched on their faces.

Back in their room Jubilee just threw herself into her bed, the piles of blankets and covers quickly sorted out as she stripped down under the covers. This wasn’t normal for her; usually she’d parade around listening to her music as she got ready for sleep. Giving them all a good show before she finally shut the noise she called music off and gave them some quiet time. Marie hovered near her bedside as she waited for Jubilee’s head to appear above the covers, when it did, she reached out touching her friends tear stained cheek. “What happened Jubes?” Her friends eyes were water filled as she looked at her a thin smile covering her face as she shook her ebony locks, the first tear trickling down. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” Marie quirked an eyebrow and the gesture made a small hint of a smile cover Jubilee’s face. “You ought to watch those gestures chica, your even beginning to look like him now.”

Marie’s face didn’t change and her look just deepened knowing the potential of the stare on her face. Blowing out a stream of air Jubilee sat up in bed, the covers wrapped tight around her. “You remember me telling you about my mall days?” Marie nodded, Jubilee had told her of her exploits at living on the streets, using malls to steal food, clothing, whatever she’d needed. “Well for a moment I was back there and this guy’s wallet was just hanging out. I mean I was starving Rogue, I could feel my ribs and I just took it, when I had it in my hand everything went back to normal. I would have gotten away with it too if it hadn’t been for the creepy guy with the top hat.” Marie’s face frowned, “What?”
“Yeah he tapped the guy on the shoulder and pointed to the wallet I had in my hand, that’s when the shit hit the fan.” Jubilee reached out to her friend and clutched her arm tightly, “I didn’t mean to Rogue, I really didn’t. I know that’s all behind me now but for a while I was back there you know, alone scared and hungry. If it hadn’t have been for Logan I don’t know what I’d have done, it took me a while to remember where I was and who I was with. There’s something screwy with that place Rogue; I’m not going back tomorrow night and next year I think I’ll stay home for the trick or treaters. Halloween is no longer my favourite holiday.”

Seeing her friend calmer Marie let her settle down to sleep, her own mind filled with the images of a scared Jubilee. She’d come on in leaps and bounds since she first came here according to Storm, when she’d first come she’d been afraid to look anyone in the eye just in case she got noticed. Now she’d be the first to find out about someone, she’d even been nosy enough to bug Logan when he’d first gotten here. Shadowing him as he’d gone around the school with the Professor, learning everything she could about him so she could spread it around the grapevine.

Seeing Jubilee wrapped up against the dark in her bed, Marie knew she couldn’t sleep yet she had to go and see Logan first. They had unfinished business of their own, his touches on her had told her that her wishes and half hoped dreams were achievable. He did think about her and in the way she’d never hoped could be real, it made sense to her now all the avoidance, all the looks and growling to keep her at bay. He’d been trying to protect her from him, from his own selfish wants and desires, not knowing she’d needed to know what he’d been hiding. Going over to her side of the room, she undid the clasp on the cloak and let it fall off her. Looking at the rest of the costume she decided to keep it on, all except the metal arm greaves, they looked too much like armour and she didn’t want Logan thinking she was expecting a fight. If the rest of her time would be anything like the kiss they’d shared in the carnival she doubted she’d be seeing her own room later. Taking a last look at herself in the tall mirror Marie smiled to herself, Halloween may not be Jubilee’s favourite holiday anymore but it was growing in popularity for her.

John and Bobby were stuffing themselves with the candy they’d collected from the younger kids who’d made themselves ill. They knew the first rule of trick or treating, never eat more candy volume than the size of your own head. John was playing with the string of tickets as he munched his way through a pile of gummy worms. His face pondering the designs on the front, counting them there were only eight and if Storm and Logan came that would leave only six. Then if they took theirs off, that would leave four and he knew at least ten other students who wanted to go, several had offered him money already after hearing about the fracas. There were a few scores to be settled out there and the Carnival seemed the best place to do it. He knew Pieter would be going as well so that left three and the thought of losing money annoyed him. Catching his friends eye he waved the taupe string of tickets under his nose, “Think we could get more of these?”

Bobby shrugged as he sifted through the pile of candy on his bed, plucking out a chocolate skull he bit through the top part. Seeing his friend eating the white chocolate, his vision shifting slightly to Bobby delving his face into a cracked skull. The dark matter of the brain sticking to his face as he lifted it out of the crushed bone, the glittering of his blue eyes gaining intensity as he sucked the remains out of the cracked orb. His teeth glittering like diamonds as his skin shifted to a grey colour reminding him of a troll, one out of a dark fairy tale not the bright gonk things the younger kids collected. The cold sapphire eyed gaze caught him and his skin crawled as Bobby smiled, the shadows lengthened as the light disappeared around them. The only light seen was the light in Bobby’s eyes as he came closer to him, the stench of the decayed flesh strong in his nose as his friend moved closer. The grating of his skin as John realised his power was useless against a thing made of stone. As Bobby’s taloned hand reached out to the one holding the tickets, John almost screamed. The touch of warm skin on his own snapped the vision away, leaving him shaking with the sight of Bobby holding the string in his hands. Suddenly John didn’t think it was such a good idea selling the rest, the next three people that asked him could have them and be welcome to it. Bobby’s smiling face checked the tickets as John pushed the rest of the stolen candy away from him. “Had enough?” Bobby’s sapphire eyes sparkled as he grabbed a Baby Ruth from his pile.
“Help yourself,” John dumped the rest on Bobby’s bed feeling the grease of the tickets still on his fingers. Seeing Bobby drop the tickets on his nightstand, their bone white surfaces printed with a dark ink that seemed to move in the warm light, the whole thing looking like a snake’s skeleton, mirroring the symbol on the ticket. A snake with it’s tail in its mouth wrapped in a figure of eight, the Victorian writing proclaiming Dark’s Pandemonium Carnival.

Walking into the bathroom John went to brush his teeth and wash the vision from his mind; the light burned then went ‘pink’. “Great, all I need.” Bobby’s laugh just filled the entire room.
“Oh the great Pyro, master of flame can’t use the bathroom without a light!” Feeling a little stupid John remembered his lighter, fishing it out of his pocket he flicked the wheel as the sparks took hold the little piece of flame gathering strength as he used his power on it. Setting it down next to the sink, as the main light clicked off and Bobby began to move candy into a bin for storage. Taking a look at himself in the mirror the flame gave his reflection an almost hellish cast seeing movement in the doorway he looked at the reflection of Bobby. His blond hair bobbing as he cleaned up the wrappers they’d dropped, unconcerned about the cleaning then but Bobby was a neat freak while he was the one who could live in a junkyard. Smiling to himself as he saw Bobby’s head turn to look at him, the reflection showing sapphire eyes above diamond teeth and skin the colour of granite. Snapping his head round he looked at Bobby, his skin was tanned, his eyes normal and his concerned smile filled with normal teeth.

Seeing his friend weirded out Bobby just shook his head and waved several wrappers at him, “Told you didn’t I? Nothing on this earth is supposed to be neon pink and green at the same time. I’m amazed you’re not on the ceiling with the amount of additives you’ve crammed down your neck tonight.” With that he moved away and John heard him collapse on his bed, the tuneless whistle he usually found comforting now grating on his nerves. Turning back to the mirror John found his gaze haunted as he brushed his teeth keeping one eye on the door where Bobby lay outside. Hoping in his mind that Bobby was right, that it was nothing but a reaction to the stuff he’d eaten and the excitement of earlier. As he finished and flicked the lighter shut, his last look in the mirror had been one of fear, of the dark spaces under the stairs as a child, before everything had gone bad. Before fire had made it’s passion known to him, feeling the reassuring weight of his lighter in his hand John walked back into the room he shared with Bobby. Sure that he could defeat any monsters he came across, but the small child’s voice he once recognised as his own reminded him that stone didn’t burn. Taking a quick glance at Bobby and seeing his tanned blond head resting on his pillow, he just waved at the bathroom. “All yours bud.” Bobby sprang up and shut the door, quite happy with the darkness within the small bathroom. When Bobby came out John was already asleep, his hands clutching his lighter as a talisman, to defend him against what Bobby had no idea.

Logan was sitting in the comfortable dark of the rec room, the open fire casting shadows everywhere as the cold wind blew leaves around the stone covered patio outside. Nursing a beer he was thinking about the man in the top hat, he’d asked Chuck to do a search on the guy, find out who he was and what he wanted. The rest of the faculty didn’t seem that bothered about Jubilee’s reaction to the carnival but it bothered him, there was something wrong about the whole thing.

The thoughts didn’t get any further because Marie’s scent wafted toward him closely followed by her soft footfalls. Turning to see her walk toward him, still dressed in the soft leather trousers and jerkin her face smiling as she realised he’d seen her approach. The swing to her walk becoming more pronounced as she got closer, dropping herself next to him on the large sofa. Her eyes catching the firelight making them glisten with a heat he hoped was partly his fault.

Opening up his arm for her, she instantly snuggled down into his grip, her head resting against his neck. Her hand losing itself in his shirts as she moved herself closer, needing his touch, his solid form against hers. The sound of her contented sigh enough to tell him this was what she’d needed from him for some time. Letting his own arm drop over her shoulder gripping her to him tightly, breathing her into himself and feeling his control slipping the longer she stayed next to him.
Her entire body was warm, sending him into a kind of fugue, a bliss he didn’t want to question just continue. His hand stroking her covered back, the leather supple and soft as he touched her gently her soft breathing calm and settled. Feeling his own heartbeat speed as he caught her scent change from calm to excited, feeling her hips shift towards him unconsciously. Listening to her breathe his name across his skin, the tone husky, deep and straight out of the dreams he’d tried to deny he’d ever had. Turning to look at her and seeing her shining at him, showing him everything he’d tried to ignore. Lips plumped by her desire for his touch on her, the light in her eyes burning just for him.

He snapped, diving for her lips he hoped she’d had the sense to reapply whatever had been covering her lips earlier. Tasting the sweetness of it as she wrapped herself around him, straddling his hips with her own taut body. Her frame shuddering with effort to keep herself controlled as they lost themselves in each other unaware of the blank eyed stare watching from the blackened picture window. A cracked smile fading into the cold leaf strewn breeze until there was nothing left but the fading pattern of a hand on the frost covered glass.

She was acting on impulse; she’d been going to talk to him about Jubilee but when she’d seen him sat in front of the fire all thoughts of conversation left her mind. He reminded her of a large predator resting, just waiting for dinner to walk by and inside she was willing to let him bite her. Keeping her smile as she saw him notice her, swinging herself unconsciously as she walked the last few feet before throwing herself down next to him. She hadn’t done this for weeks, he’d avoided her attempts at touch but after tonight, she didn’t think he’d run from her.

Wrapping himself around her shoulders as she snuggled down into his warmth, her own hand slipping inside his shirts feeling his muscle bunch under finger tips. Turning into him she felt his hand drop to her back and slowly circle, the sensation of his touch through the thin leather making her goose. “Logan,” her voice was shaky and deep full of emotions she’d hoped to keep to herself. When she’d risked a look at him, her eyes had read everything inside them knowing after tonight everything would be different. She was still legally a minor but the things she’d been through made the law seem ridiculous.
The kiss was unexpected but it only took her a second to react to it, pulling herself over his lap, legs astride his hips body shaking with effort to keep herself under control. Knowing Logan wanted her, needed her as much as she’d needed him, her hands lost in his hair as she shuddered above his body. Finally breaking the kiss when the blue black stars were exploding behind her eyes, telling her to breathe. The look in his eyes all fire, all Logan and all *hers*, his hands were resting on her back feeling her every breath as she struggled to keep herself controlled. This was the most touch she’d ever had, ever since the train when he’d held her to him and on top of Liberty where the touch had been one of desperation and pain. Here it was need and she had to be careful she could kill him if he touched uncovered skin.

Looking at him in the darkened room, she could see his conscience trying to work out what the hell he’d gotten himself into. She was too young by his standards she’d had him in her head she knew he had difficulty taking what he wanted from her. He didn’t want to hurt her, licking her lips and feeling the gloss still there she decided to make her own point. Nuzzling the side of his broad neck, using her teeth to graze the skin under his ear as she moved herself down into him. Her breath whispering her need to him in whimpers as she shifted her weight onto him, tightening her grip on his thighs with her own. Hands lost in his hair as she felt his body respond to her, the hands dropping to her hips pulling her tight to him rubbing her heat against him. Her chest brushing against his the soft leather becoming uncomfortable against her nipples as they hardened under the covering. Her movements sending a wave of heated scent right into his face, her open necked tunic sending a wash of her need straight into him. Listening to his growl rise as he gripped her tight to his iron hard erection, grinding her against him seeing his eyes darken as he read the message her body was telling him.

Lost, he was lost drowning in her scent, her body, her need for him. He could ask her to do anything and she’d do it, his mind instantly throwing images to colour the thought. Feeling her body responding to his touch as he pushed upward with his hips into her heat, listening to her heartbeat speeding as she began to chase the feelings coursing through her body. Snatching a look at her dilated pupils flushed skin and open mouth before pulling a hand round to open her jerkin. The zip quickly unfastened and her skin pale beneath the dark brown of the leather, her breath in his ear whispering her need for his touch on her skin. Moving her backward a little forcing her to sit on him, scenting her dampness as it wafted up to him as he fought to get his gloves out. He’d taken a pair with him just in case, thin calf leather, soft as skin, snatching them out and pulling them on quickly. Feeling Marie sliding herself against him making it hard to concentrate on anything but her hips, her own small hands lost in his shoulders and neck as he reached out to grasp the white breast underneath the soft leather.
Watching her arch into the touch, pressing herself against him one of her own hands slipping off his shoulder down his own chest, watching the delicate nylon clad fingers slide between them. The first touch of her hand on him electric, grabbing her hair and pulling her lips to his as he pushed toward her palm. He needed to be in her, he wanted to fuck her, ride her until she was spent, her own excitement upped a notch as she touched him, feeling him grow under her hand.

Moving her hand away replacing it with his own this time her body was the focus of his attention. The thin leather stretched tight across her he could feel all of her, the dampness reaching him through the thin leather of his own gloves. Sliding an inch of claw out he slit the seam carefully, flooding the room with her scent, their body heat sending it straight to his nose making him growl with it’s strength. Quickly releasing his own belt and buttons, hearing Marie’s heart quicken as she realised what was coming. Releasing her from his kiss to see want lodged in her expression, she needed him, wanted him and she’d take nothing else but this.

Gripping her hips tight he moved her over his freed erection, sliding her down until she could feel the heat of him resting against the opening to her body. Her hands clenching and releasing in his shirts, not daring to move unless he moved her, eyes blazing calling him to take her, to move into her, to take what was his by rights. Knowing that this would change everything and not caring what the rest of the world thinks, he *owned* her, had done since he picked her up. He waited until she spoke, “Please.” The tone all need, all desire for his touch, for his mark on her, for him to be inside her, to finish the claim he had on her heart.

Slowly he eased her down, watching her for discomfort for pain, seeing nothing but desire in her gaze. The slide of her tight wet heat around him making his grip bruising in its strength, his eyes locked into hers bringing her into a deep kiss as he filled her entirely. Her short moan of discomfort lost in his throat as he began to shift her hips, bucking his own to push deeper into her. Letting her lips go as he moved one hand away from her hip to her breast, the soft leather brushing the soft skin making it rise and pucker quickly. Wetting the soft leather and rubbing it against her aroused nipple seeing her clouded eyes watching him. Her own nylon covered hands moving his hand away replacing it with her own as she opened the jerkin fully, revealing her alabaster skin to his view. Taking her own pleasure in hand as he moved under her, his free hand making for the tied front of her trousers. Undoing the laces quickly, freeing more of her deadly skin to his view and slipping a damp finger through her dark soft curls to the entrance of her. Watching her rise as he found her clit, hard and raised, brushing the small nub delicately as he guided her movements on his erection buried deep inside her.

They didn’t speak; they didn’t need to everything that was needing to be said was being said by touch, caress and sight. Nothing mattered but this, he’d lost he knew that and he was wondering if the battle had even been worth the effort. Marie was writhing across his hips her sweat beading on her back as she fought to come on him. Knowing he wouldn’t be far behind her when she did, seeing her fully alive for the first time since Liberty Island. Her breathing coming fast and heavy now as he circled her clit, brushing the proud nub softly, making her arch into his thrusts under her. Their silence almost strange until the realisation of the privacy, the intimacy that they were sharing with each other.

Words hold no meaning here, only touch and scent, her throat constricting as her body began to spasm around him. Her small hands gripping his shirts tight, the seams beginning to complain as she pulled herself down hard as the wave of endorphins hit her system. The silent cry coming from her throat as she arched her back and pulled him as deep as she could into her body. Feeling wave after wave of heat flow through her skin, lighting it up with each pass, bonded to him, locked to his flesh as sure as the metal on his bones. Locking onto his own gaze and hearing his ground out words as he shifted her still, “Mine, you’re mine.”

Hearing the words the smile she’d been holding back erupted over her face, dropping her head back showing him her throat. Submission, his dominance over her assured by her actions, feeling his own movements gaining urgency as he held her hips tight to his own. Losing all control as he pulsed into her body, biting her naked shoulder, the draw of her mutation slow as she picked up his thoughts filtering through to her as he convulsed into her sex. A picture of them both wrapped up in each other, clothed mostly apart from a few strategic holes. A darkness in Logan’s eyes that rose as they fucked each other, seeing him lose control, biting her, marking her, bruising her pale skin with his own strength. Dominating her entirely until she was spent under him, a look of satisfaction on his face and a heat lodged in his gaze. One she’d seen before, on the train when he’d realised whom Magneto had really come for. Yet this was different, the gaze was for her about her, knowing it as possession pure and simple, he owned her.
Pushing his mouth away from her skin Marie saw his gaze clear and his body recover from the small drain she’d taken from him. He was still solid inside her; both of them tired from the effort of finally releasing the tension they’d both felt for the other.

Logan took the two edges of her jerkin and drew her zipper back up, covering her skin before pulling her close, burying his head in her covered chest and breathing her in. His hands wrapped around her waist and shoulders, holding her tight to him, his words clear even through the leather.
“Your mine Marie, always have been. When I go in spring, you’re coming with me. Chuck can argue with thin air because you’re going whether he likes it or not. That’s all there is to it.” He pulled back so she could see his face and he was wondering if she’d put up a fight about this, about wanting to stay here. Yet, the look in her eye told him everything he needed to know she would go with him and damn what everyone else thought. Bending her head, she kissed him lightly, sealing the decision. Smiling she hugged herself to him, feeling the slide of his still rigid erection inside her, sensing the twitch from him as she moved. “You sore?” Shaking her head Marie pulled her internal muscles a little and smiled at the response, she got as he growled and pulled her down into him again.
“Hungry?” Her voice quiet and soft in the fire lit room, filled with promise of the night ahead of them.
“You have no idea darlin’.” Shifting herself across him and feeling the girth of him grow inside her, turning her head to the clock on the wall and reading the numbers. Coming back to see a dark light shining in Logan’s gaze, a smile on his face as he pushed off the sofa making her wrap herself around him quickly. Walking with her toward the large glass doors that led to the gardens, the autumn cold already making her shiver.
“Outside?” Logan nodded and unlocked the doors letting them swing wide before going through them. His words making her smile as they walked across the lawns toward the forest, “Always liked picnics. Besides you can make as much noise as you want out here.” He squeezed her breast quickly making her gasp with the strength of the grip and the depth of the excitement it built in her. Smiling he took her away into the coloured forest to find her wilderness with him.

The doors were wide open; a small breeze picked up and blew into the warm room. A scent of dust and age followed the breeze, touching the things on display, a scattering of white flowed into the house, and like blossom on the wind, it wound its way through the nooks and crannies. Finding pockets and purses gloves and coats depositing itself where the owner would find it. A sweet corruption following the breeze filling the halls with the scent of dying roses. Music odd and lilting flowed with it, winding into dreams and nightmares, telling of adventure and the never-ending road. Of half remembered dreams and memories, of hopes dashed and destroyed, of lives lived without passion or joy, a funeral dirge played on harmonia and barrel organ.

Finally leaving when every room had been touched, a fine layer of dust covering everything, a red dust from the desert. Pulling the doors together as it left, no sign of it’s appearance being left behind apart from the night terrors and moans of restless sleepers. Winding back to its owner, dark eyed and terrible resting under the trees above the Carnival, the hat laid on the frost-laden grass for it to wind into. When all was as it should be he picked up the hat and replaced it on his head, sure of the next harvest that was coming as sure as the sun would rise. Smiling a dead eyed smile Mr Dark went to get things ready, if all went well he’d be leaving with more attractions than he came with.

Ororo was nearly asleep when the scent of the desert reached her, filling her room with the half remembered animals and people she’d left behind. Dressed in her nightgown Ororo pushed herself up off her bed, eyes scanning the familiar objects in her room. Seeing nothing unusual, until her eyes landed on her dresser, the mirror above reflecting another room, another time, one she only remembered in half awake dreams and nightmares, the old cinema and the man without little fingers on both hands. He was staring out at her from the mirror, his visage the same as the one she’d seen when she’d been six, the hair hidden under a dirty cap, his eyes half blind and teeth rotten. His rich timbre echoed through her mind as she looked at the vision, watched it fade to the rock pictures that had covered the old rock shelter behind the cinema. “Su-Bwha, the walker before the wind. The Gatherer of Souls.” The mirror world faded away slowly, the last image a stick figure with knives for fingers and a mouth full of needle teeth. The room felt warm but a shudder ran down Ororo’s body as she gripped the cover tight over herself. Feeling the words the old Sangoma had told her reach deep within her and trigger something from her past, something she’d hoped to forget. Her own mouth dry as she spoke the name, as if her mouth had already filled with the desert, “Su-Bwha, the Dust Devil.”
Reaching over to her nightstand Ororo opened the draw and pulled out the small little cotton bag she’d put away since coming here. Superstition had told her to keep it and it had been a struggle to forget it was there, Charles had tried to calm her fears when she’d first come here. Showing her the reality between superstition and fact, but as her hand closed around the small cotton bag, she felt the strength of her beliefs flood through her. The small wooden item inside felt warm to her touch, her fingers tracing every familiar line. The little baboon sat waiting on a stool, it’s face calm and sure it’s hands holding a stick and knife.

Remembering the day the old Sangoma had come to her village, he’d given her the small fetish, she’d been twelve and her powers had just started to come forward. A bringer of rain in the desert was a powerful thing and he’d given her the little baboon the same day he’d seen her turn a sandstorm away. His words echoing down toward her now, ringing in her blood and making her fear for tomorrow. “You’ve made an enemy girl, Su-Bwha comes for his pound of flesh and you’ve turned him aside. He won’t forget you and one day he will come for you, take away what you hold close, eat what you’ve birthed, and destroy what you’ve built. Su-Bwha devours everything in his path, but with him,” the small wooden toy held in his fingers catching the last light of the day. “He can be made to stand still for a moment, only then can you defeat him.” His clouded cataract eyes had pierced her own making her feel the power within his stare, shuddering with the force of his blind gaze. “Remember girl, a goddess is only as powerful as her belief.” After that he’d wandered back into the desert, back to the cinema where no-one went anymore, back to his shelter covered in paintings that no one knew the meaning of anymore.
Turning the little wooden figure in her fingers Ororo held the piece close to her chest as she laid back down to sleep. Knowing it would keep the bad dreams at bay, ever watching ever vigilant and patiently waiting to trap the enemy stalking her.
Reflected in the mirror across from her bed the breeze blew through, it’s form being shown for a moment, a flash of steel and needle teeth before fading into nothing.

At breakfast, there was talk of nothing else but the Carnival, children were wondering who was going to go and if they could sneak out themselves to go and have a look. The head table was quiet as they ate breakfast, the faculty all focussed on the jobs of the day rather than what came after it. Charles had told everyone that the kids who had tickets would be allowed to go as long as there was enough of an adult presence. Ororo had smiled at that news and had told them she was quite willing to go along with them. It was Scott who brought up the absence of Logan first, “Where’s small dark and grumpy this morning?” Jean smiled and her face took on a familiar cast as she searched the grounds for him, the smile faltering and fixing on her face as she realised he wasn’t alone.

“He’s out in the grounds doing some work on the paths, I’ll give him a call and let him know he’s wanted.” Scott just nodded totally oblivious to his fiancée’s look of horror, Ororo caught it and she inclined her head toward her.
Using her mind she asked if everything was alright, Jean just told her to look for Jubilee and see who was missing from their table. Curious Ororo did what Jean had asked her, easily finding the table with Bobby, John, Pieter, Jubilee and Kitty. The only one missing was Rogue, and so was Logan. Snapping her gaze back to Jean they both heard Charles’s calm thoughts enter their own telling them that everything would be dealt with in time. Both women just smiled and continued breakfast knowing that the fireworks were going to be big and loud when both Rogue and Logan came home. After all Rogue was Charles’s ward and he had the right to say what happened to her.

Taking the back stairs Logan carried Marie back upstairs, her costume was wrecked but it had been a long night. He didn’t bother taking her to her room, he just dropped her straight into his bed. Pulling off her caked boots, sliding the remains of her trousers off her long legs, watching as she shifted on the cover of his bed. Making it hard for him to concentrate on anything but her pale skin sliding over his bed, reminding him of last night when those legs had been wrapped around his head, his waist and back. Her hair was covered in leaf mold and her jerkin was stained beyond repair but he doubted if anyone would ask about it. No one was brave enough, well maybe Chuck would, as if speaking his name had woken the man Logan felt the psychic summons from him. Pulling the last of the jerkin off Marie, Logan wrapped her up in his sheets surrounding her with his scent, kissing the top of her head while he went to face the firing squad. They could kiss his ass for all he cared, he’d claimed her as his own and nothing and no one was going to get in the way of it now.
Taking a long look at the beauty in his bed Logan smiled to himself, who knew it’d take someone like her to make him understand he was worth something to someone? Almost happy Logan went to face the wrath alone, he wanted to make a few things known himself before she went downstairs.

Charles was in his office when Logan walked in, Jean was there too her face an absolute picture of disgust and betrayal. No one said anything until he’d sat down in an overstuffed leather chair, Jean reflexly moved away from his presence. Charles looked at the tired man in front of him trying to read the mind behind the acts he’d committed, unfortunately he was drawing a blank.
“Logan, where were you and Rogue last night?” The calm voice belied the anger Logan could sense coming from Charles seated behind his desk. Better go for honesty then.
“We were out on the grounds.” Jean couldn’t help but sniff at the comment and Logan’s hackles raised he wouldn’t have anyone upset Marie with their shallow-minded take on their lives. “Got something to say Red?”
Jean met his gaze and her face turned acidic.
“How could you Logan, she’s a *child*!” Her hands were tight in her lap as she spoke the betrayal almost palpable and driven by her own belief that Logan had been interested in her.
Locking his gaze on Jean Logan answered her softly, the threat evident in every single word.
“She’s no child, six months on the road and the recent crap she’s been through. Being used as a damn weapon for fucks sake, I’m surprised she’s even talking to you seeing as you were supposed to be taking care of her.”

Jean still felt guilty for the amount of time it’d taken her to allow Scott to fire, freeing Rogue from the machine. She’d felt her die, felt her soul begin to slip away from them, seeing Logan holding onto her as if his life depended on it. Watching Rogue shove the damaged and almost dead Logan away from her when she’d come back. Her eyes filled with something that she couldn’t place until Rogue had followed them down to med bay, her stance all Logan her words blue as the others had taken her away from him. Over the last, few months she’d calmed but the look was still there in Rogues eyes, as if she knew something no one else did. The truth of it burned Jean, he might flirt with her but it was only something to get up whomever Logan thought was the authority around here’s nose. He hadn’t wanted her, didn’t want her apart from a faceless fuck, another body to notch up and forget just as quickly. Meeting Logan’s harsh gaze Jean felt herself crumble, turning to her mentor she sent out a wave of feeling, sending him her concerns for Rogue. Seeing him accept them and nod, he turned his own warm gaze on Logan.
“All we’re trying to do is make sure Rogue is protected here Logan, she is legally still a minor and we do have a duty of care.” Logan snorted at the comment; they’d protected her alright, almost let her die while he’d been struggling to destroy the damn machine she was in. His hostility was being broadcast to them both and it made the air rank with it.

“There’s no need to be so angry Logan, we just want to be sure it was consensual that Rogue was in her right mind.” The words burned through him but he knew it would come down to this, they wanted to know if he’d taken advantage of her, if he’d raped her. It made some things come clear in his view of these people; Marie was coming with him no matter what. The less time she spent here the better, they’d tame her tell her what her instincts told her was wrong, get her to follow ‘the rules’ when the rest of the world didn’t believe in them.
“You want to know? Take a look.”

His face was calm but his eyes were blazing, he’d opened the door to Charles, pushing the memories forward so they rested at the top of his mind. Of Marie asking him to touch her, her snuggling into him, her making the first move on him, her body straddling his, losing herself in him. Taking the touch she’d craved since the day, she’d seen him, seeing the depth of the feeling in her eyes as she’d been with him. Listening to the words she’d told him in the cold forest, wrapped up in his arms, adult words, nothing of a child presented itself. This was what she’d wanted since the day she’d seen him, knowing he was the best thing she could hope for. Sensing the depth of the link between them, the bond that would stretch but never break. Logan forced up the struggle he’d had, the denial of his feelings for her and how much he’d hurt her by doing so. Making her hurt, making her think it was her fault he was avoiding her, driving her away until he couldn’t think anymore. She was *HIS* and he’d kill anyone who tried to hurt her or take her away from him.

Charles looked to Jean and saw her confusion cover her face as she picked up on the pieces that Charles had sent to her. Knowing he’d have to talk to Jean after Logan had gone, turning his calm gaze back to Logan Charles saw the anger burning through him. He wasn’t going to stand for anyone hurting Marie or telling her what she’d done was wrong. She’d gone to the person she’d needed and taken what she’d wanted from him because he was the only person who would touch her without fear. “I’ll need to talk to her when she wakes up Logan, if you like you’re welcome to join us.” Logan stood stiffly and walked toward the door, his eyes burning through the two people sat in the office. They weren’t his people and they weren’t Marie’s, they’d judge her, no matter what they said or how many assurances they gave. If they wanted to paint him the evil seducer then fine but he knew it’d hurt Marie for him to be blamed and made the pariah. He’d be gone just after the last snowfall and he’d be taking Marie with him, away from small minds who only see the surface of her not the truth underneath.
“You’re damn right, I’m not going to let you hurt her or tell her what she did was wrong just because she’s six months away from her birthday. She made her choice all I did was go along with it.” With that he left them both alone, knowing he’d be dodging bullets all winter especially when they found out she was going to be staying in his room from now on.

As the door closed Jean sent a thought out to her mentor, how could he take advantage of her of a child? Charles smiled at Jean’s confusion and shared the images and feelings that had come from Rogue, showing her the true depth of their link. Of their need for each other, of the love she had for him, the words she’d told him in the dawn that had made everything sparkle with diamonds. Her voice telling him she didn’t need anything else but mornings like this, waking up with him, with the world brand new and fresh, every piece of frost a diamond just for them. That he was her diamond, Logan had snorted at that but she’d told him she saw beneath his mask, the little things he did when no one was watching. The time he’d fixed Jubilee’s scooter for her, the bird feeders on the patio carved by him, he was a diamond with many faces not just the Wolverine he liked everyone else to see.
Jean felt herself shudder into shock, she’d just accepted her view of Logan, the simple one-dimensional view of him, that he was an animal. That he was driven by his desires alone, that he couldn’t control himself, his own reluctance to join in with everyone else had fuelled those thoughts. That he was just an animal waiting for spring to come so he could leave, go back to his existence. His attention on her had been flattering at first but now she saw it as it really was, a distraction for him so he didn’t hurt Rogue not knowing she’d needed him just the same.

She’d misjudged him badly, treating him as badly as the rest of the world had; they’d accused him of rape, of hurting the one person he cared for. Only seeing it now through Logan’s own memories did the truth come clear. They’d lost them both by their own closed view of the world, that a person doesn’t know what they want or who they are until they reach a certain numerical age. Rogue had had her mind filled with two older men, and who knew how many other experiences on the road as well. They couldn’t judge her like a child who’d come here with her parents wishes, she was a runaway like several other children here and the conversations she’d had with several of them came back to haunt her. She couldn’t judge every child the same but they had been and it had taken Logan to point it out to them.

Seeing her mentors face set in a thoughtful gaze he just nodded to her, they had a few bridges to build with the students here. Not everyone came from a happy home, they’d been blind to the differences in every single child, instead they’d concentrated on keeping them safe, away from prejudice. Unknowingly forcing the same prejudices on them here, that they didn’t understand themselves or know what they wanted until they were old enough. Even though they’d probably had to make those choices without an adult for some time before they came here. Jean stood and made her way out of the door to her next class, she’d be talking to them all today as her lesson plan went out of the window. Find out how much damage they’d done to the same people they were trying to keep safe, Charles gave her a mental hug as she left. Telling her it’d work out for the best, now they knew where they’d gone wrong in places they could fix it. Jean doubted it and wondered if that was why several students had preferred to go back to the streets instead of staying here. Guilt riding high in her mind she left her mentor alone, the weight of his burden doubling as she closed the door behind her.

********************************************

Marie woke to the sound of shouting outside the door, her mind still half asleep expected it to be Jubilee and Kitty arguing but the deep baritone rumble nixed that idea. Her brain finally caught up with her as she shifted in the sheets that were wrapped around her naked skin, she never slept naked, not in her own room anyway. It took a millisecond to recognise the neat room, the sparse decoration of the place she was in, this was Logan’s room.

Last night finally made itself known again, despite the growls and raised voices outside the door a huge grin spread itself over her face. She was in Logan’s *room*, not even the faceless women didn’t get to come in here, to rest in his bed. Taking the sheet Logan had wrapped her in Marie put it around her entire body making sure nothing was showing and went to the closed door.
Scott, it was Scott arguing with Logan, listening to the rumbles coming from Logan she knew that very soon Logan would lose patience with the man, making a very pointed end to the conversation. Taking the door handle in her covered hand she twisted it open, the scene of Logan bunching his fists, lowering them to his sides made her decision.

Swinging the door wide open she pushed her sheet covered body between them both, her eyes meeting Scott’s visor full on. His tirade stopped mid-flow as he took in the smudges of make-up, the smile that was in her eyes and the very noticeable sway to her hips as she walked away. Logan was silent, his growl had halted the second she’d opened the door, his eyes riveted to her face. The smile she showed both of them reassuring him that he’d done the right thing, that she wanted him still, Scott was forgotten until the man had let out a small lust filled sound himself. Logan had left Scott wondering which one he had the most problem with, Logan for taking advantage of a student or Rogue for parading around in a very sheer sheet that left nothing to the imagination.

Scott watched as Logan took off after her, his smile dark making Scott wonder just who had been in the driving seat last night, to hear Jean it had been all Logan, but seeing the sway of Rogue’s hips as she walked down the sunlit corridor he doubted it. Rogue entered her own room down the corridor, the smile she showed Scott as he just stood at the other end was enough to make his skin flame. Logan watching the reaction stood silently smirking until Rogue grabbed his shirt in her bare hand, “Stay away from my girl Scooter.” The door shut behind them both leaving him in no doubt whatsoever that what had occurred had been mutual, just the thought of all that pale skin revealed to touch made his blood go south. The erotic pleasure of seeing someone uncovered who usually covered from head to toe was something that surprised him as he walked back to his own room. Thing was it came at a price, one misjudged move and you were dead. Passing the room he heard a squeal of pleasure and begrudgingly Scott smiled, hell maybe one day she’d kill him. The thought that lingered hours afterward was that it wasn’t such a bad way to go, if you could get to die of pleasure in the pale skinned arms he’d seen this morning.

Marie had Logan to herself inside her own room, heart trip hammering through her chest at the dark lingering gaze that held her own. Reminding her of last night in the forest, when she’d allowed him to touch her, kiss her, own her completely. The look he was giving her made her knees weak, made her want to give him anything he asked her for, even if he wanted to touch her she’d let him.
Moving slowly Logan let his hands drift over her covered flesh, watching as her gaze glassed over, the heat from his hands going through the thin material. Her body responding to him, playing her skilfully as he danced and traced her skin with the sensitive pads of his fingers, “Marie,” the sound of her name growling out of his throat, filled with hungers she wanted to fill.
“Logan…” her own voice trembling as she met his body with her own, pushing her hips into his, finding his erection half formed, stiffening as she shifted herself around him. Her covered hands snaring his hair revealing her pale skinned breasts, the nipples peaking at the thought of his touch. Darkness filling his eyes as he turned her quickly so her back was against his chest, hands filled with cloth he stroked her, testing, teasing, tormenting her body with the sheet that smelled of him.

Spreading herself as he drifted lower, the invitation obvious and one he wouldn’t refuse, the iron hard length of him pressing into her back as he ground his covered fingers against her. Her breath coming in panting hitches as Logan brought her closer, her bare hands dropping onto his covered ones, trying to get him to go faster to ease the ache she was feeling. Needing him inside her, pushing her head back to rest on his covered shoulder, her eyes hooded and heavy as the pressure built within her. “Logan please….”

She was begging him, he could smell how close she was, he could feel it in every tension filled fibre of her body. Moving one hand away from her, he shifted out of his own restraint, freeing himself to the smoothness of the sheet and the heaven that lay just beneath it. Slipping an inch of claw free he slit the sheet just above her ass, sliding the tight cloth down until he was primed. Pushing her backward using his fingers that were still guiding and rubbing her clit until she was perfect, tightening the cloth against her wet lips for a second before sliding into her. The grunts of pleasure that came from them both were loud as he began to move inside her tight body, one hand still playing with her, the other steadying her as he bent her forward a little. Her own hands now went to her thighs to keep her upright as Logan gripped her tight. His hips thrusting hard into her own as his fingers brushed her clit, the sensation filling her entire world as Logan took her, the feeling of being taken, of being owned completely breaking her open. The waves of heat and pressure overtaking her, making her cry out, the sound loud and long coming from somewhere deep inside her body. Logan’s own growls becoming louder as he fucked her harder, the spasming of her body making his own excitement build. Gripping her tight through the sheet, gritting his teeth as he tried to squash the urge to bite her shoulder, to mark her skin showing others who she belonged to. Seeing her head turn to see her eyes filled with lust, with heat, filled with something he’d never tire of seeing, of her, the real Marie.

The one who loved to run in the storm, the one who’d reach out to him, who’d sit with him for hours saying nothing but meaning everything, who’d listen to him bitch for hours about hockey when the game wasn’t what was eating him up inside. Who’d see him as more than an animal, more than a weapon to be used and trained to do tricks, she saw him as a man and he’d give her everything good a man could give a woman. And it included this, he felt his body convulse as the orgasm ripped through him, the roar already building as he pulled her body into his. Plunging deep within her, Marie tightening herself around him as he came, holding him still as he pumped inside her. Fingers locked deep into her skin through the sheet, his other hand still stroking and caressing her clit as he twitched and danced inside her. Marie’s own purr of satisfaction melting into his own rumbling breath as he came down, she was his, she’d given him everything and he’d keep her safe as long as he lived. He kept his promises and this one would be no burden to carry.

The sound of his claim echoed through the halls, making students stop mid way through tasks, teachers halt in planning lessons. It made Jubilee smile for a second as she walked through the gardens outside, catching the last of the sun before the winter closed it’s grip on the school. Watching the leaves turn in the breeze before falling to the covered ground, her gaze going out to the edge of the forest where the darkness was already gathering in the short days of autumn. Looking at the smooth bark of the cherry trees, mingled with the rough of the oak and maple her eyes following the line of trees as she walked. Noting the birds feeding at the edge of the forest where the breeze turned the leaves for them making it easy to find food. A silent cry went up across the trees as the birds all rose in flight, the noise filling the tree line as they called out in distress. Her eyes watching the birds wheel and gyre in the cool air, their flight panicked and strange, finding herself walking toward the edge of the wood to see what had caused the frightened flight.

Before she got there a glint of silver met her magpie eye, shifting over the ground quickly to see what it was. The watch sat on top of the leaves, it’s chain wrapped around its thick bulbous body like a snake, sinuous and smooth, resting there on the surface of the leaves. Like an over-ripe fruit it lay there in the dim sunlight, the silver almost moving in the patterns that fell across it’s surface. Before she was aware of it, her hand was reaching for the jewel resting in the dark red of the woodland floor. Shining like polished bone in the midst of blood red muscle, glinting in the light of the sun, a piece of metal worth more than she ever imagined. Hands itching, her stomach burning with hunger the more she looked at the thing, trying to stop herself reaching out toward it. Her hand shaking with the effort until her skin was almost touching the silver, it’s surface reaching out to her hand easing the itch under the skin.
A flash of white blinding her as it blew past her, knocking her hand back up to protect her eyes, stumbling backward to avoid whatever had attacked her. Looking for the thing that had tried to hurt her, scanning the area and seeing nothing but a small shape gaining height, a single feather falling from the sky. Something hanging between it’s feet, something that moved as the bird flew, a long thing with a silvery blob at the end. Snapping her gaze back down to the ground, the watch had gone, the only sign it had been there was the dark mark of it’s shape on the leaves, the corruption of it’s shape burned into the deep red of the skeleton leaves.

The wind shifting, disturbing the pattern that looked for all the world like a snake about to strike, turning her back on the woods Jubilee hugged herself as she walked back to the calm comfort of her home. Locking the door behind her, the fear following her back to her room where not even the smile that met her from Rogue’s face could ease. Something was wrong and she didn’t know how to tell anyone, never mind if they’d believe her, her palms still itched no matter what she did. Scratching their surfaces she followed Rogue and Kitty as they went down to lunch, her own appetite gone with the flash of white that had attacked her. The feather picked up and in her pocket reminding her it had been real, her quietness going unnoticed for now but it would be commented on later, as would the feather and what it had meant.

John was watching Bobby, his face especially, the pretty tanned face and ice blue gaze looked normal but it hadn’t last night, the cold stone visage had haunted his dreams turning them into nightmares. The one where he’d been chased by Bobby down a dark passage that seemed to slide under his feet at every step, the reflection of the cold blue of Bobby’s eyes everywhere as he struggled to get away. Knowing that his powers were useless against him but trying anyway, as Bobby’s mouth had unhinged like an anaconda’s to swallow him whole, the diamond teeth glinting as he fell into the dark maw awakening to the calm quiet room they both shared.

He’d avoided Bobby all morning letting him deal out the tickets they had left, when they met at the dinner table Bobby looked like a thundercloud. Rogue, Kitty and Jubilee were there already when he walked over with his tray, seating himself next to Kitty and Jubilee. “I can’t believe it, Mr Summers just told me that he’s taken a ticket! We’re not going to be able to do anything with him around!” John watched as the rest of the gang just grimaced, Kitty was the first to speak after that announcement.
“So who’s going?” Bobby sighted her through the forkfuls of food he was shovelling in and answered her with a half filled mouth.
“Well, there’s me and John, you and Jubilee,” Jubilee interrupted him there.
“I’m not going.” Silence erupted around the table, eyes stared at her and Jubilee felt herself shrink down into herself. Bobby came on the attack, “Why not?”
She fixed him with a stare that was usually reserved for the idiots at the mall who called them ‘mutoid’s’. “Because Bobby, it’s not a good idea for the one person who got attacked to go back to the same place. Besides I’m looking after the rugrats tonight to earn some extra cash, the winter sales are coming and I need more buying power.” She stabbed at her food aggressively as if daring him to question her reasons, some of which were true but the rest weren’t. If truth be known she was terrified of the whole thing to be honest but she’d never admit it.
“Oookay….we now know where the spare ticket came from. But the rest are Logan, Ms Munroe, Mr Summers, Rogue and Pieter. That’s all we have, there are some who want to come and see if they can get in anyway but I doubt they’ll get off grounds with both the Prof and Ms Grey watching. Probably have them doing something wholesome and team building no doubt while we go eat popcorn and shoot the breeze.” Every one kept eating as they wondered what would be waiting for them tonight, their voices carrying over the hall to the teachers table where three sets of eyes were watching the table with three different points of view.

Ororo had slept fitfully last night, a storm front was coming and the tension was evident in her neck and shoulders, she didn’t always feel them this badly but this one was building fast making her snappy and irritable. Jean had already asked her if she wanted to swap with her for the evening but she’d said no, she was going out with the kids. She was their second in command and as such she needed to bond with the new members of the X-Men, some were going to join after graduation and as such they needed such events to bond as group. Now that Scott was coming along they’d be more than covered what with him and Logan watching out for trouble.
Jubilee had decided not to go back after the trouble she’d caused in the first place, she still hadn’t found out exactly what had happened but Logan had assured her it had been dealt with so she couldn’t see the point of going back over the same ground. Besides Logan was useful when it came to discipline, the students seemed to sense that it wasn’t going to get them anywhere if they argued with him. He only made the punishments harder if they did, a few of the older students had been on the wrong end of Logan once or twice and the legends had begun. Now all she had to do was threaten the younger students with the Wolverine and they were quiet, in his own way he was quite useful as a guard dog.

Turning to look at the man to her left his face locked onto the table with the kids they were taking out later. His gaze was locked onto Rogue, not even paying attention to the food he was eating which was something she’d never seen in the few months he’d been here. He always paid attention to his food, taking his time over it, chewing everything and savouring each bite, today though he was just chewing and swallowing like he was a starving man. Thing was it wasn’t the food he was hungry for if she read his gaze correctly, it was the auburn haired beauty that was finally looking their way. Seeing Rogue lock eyes with Logan made her blush and go back to her own food, noticing out of the corner of her eye that Logan had stopped eating mid-flow. A capricious streak in her made for the piece of steak that was speared on the end of the fork, she deftly snagged the meat and was chewing before Logan even noticed. Rogue was laughing and Logan finally turned to see the weather witch eating his food, his eyebrow cocked up and the snarl was about to be voiced when Rogue was there at their table. Her soft voice drifting over the entire table as she passed with her friends, “You snooze, you lose honey. Them’s the rules at the lunch table sugar, ah thought you knew that by now.” With a wink she left them all, the Professor, Jean and Ororo trying to hide smiles that were obvious to everyone. Logan just snorted and ploughed his way through lunch at top speed, finishing everything and stealing Ororo’s muffin as he left. His voice carrying over the rest of the diners, “For the steak.”


The kids were quite excited when they finally pulled out of the mansion, Logan’s eyes were on the road but his mind was on Marie, she wasn’t wearing underwear and she’d been crossing and uncrossing her legs behind him. Letting him know exactly what was on her mind for later; Scott was being the leader but it was ‘Ro who finally brought his mind back to earth when they pulled into the now full car park. Her voice sounding old; dry like the wind that blows over the dunes just before a storm, “Goddess preserve us.” The look that was in her eyes was one that Logan had never seen before, something that belonged a world away from New England.

What met their eyes was something that tickled Logan’s mind, back when he’d been young, a memory resurfacing. Pain, loss, hatred, things so bitter his stomach twitched as he walked toward the sea of lights and tents. Nervous he scanned for the figure that had shown a face he still didn’t believe in and found him standing at the gates.
Mr Dark was stood arms raised to the darkening sky, his top hat rakishly perched on his skull, the dark locks curling out from the bottom of the faded grey felt running like a dark tide over his thin shoulders. “Welcome One, Welcome All to Dark’s Pandemonium Carnival! Ride the Wheel, enter the Hall Of Mirrors, Face the future with the Spider Lady, see the wonders of the Orient with the Ladies of The Perfumed Garden, open to all to enjoy!” The eyes that were scanning the crowds that were eagerly pushing their way forward into the small cluster of tents rested on their group for a second. Coldness crept into Logan’s bones; reaching out to Marie just before they passed through the carnival arch, it’s gaudy flags fluttering in the breeze that had picked up. Sending dust flying over the heads of the gathered masses

Lights were bright, sparkling almost against the darkness of the night sky, each point of light almost too bright to be looked at directly. Each tent and booth were old, the worn canvas showing faded pictures of beauties and oddities from around the world. The wooden booth's held up by will alone rather than nails and screws, all the people around were laughing and enjoying the shows. A large carnie took their tickets from their hands, dropping them into a covered wooden chest. The design on the lid something like a snake with it's tail in it's mouth, as Logan handed his and Marie's over to the mans large fist a spark of recognition passed between the two of them. Of a place up in the mountains, lonely, a mining town, somewhere he'd been, somewhere where he'd fought this man. The large pudgy face just smiled at him as they passed by him, the piggy eyes re-opening something inside his mind. Aware Logan scanned their surroundings, watching who else had been given tickets to come tonight.

What he saw made his mind whirl, people he'd seen in the town, the great and the good; all of them listening to the barker drumming up business for the tent shows, the coochie tent showing a little of the wares on display inside. The women who'd rescued Jubilee were sinuously shifting their bodies against each other, the look of
undisguised lust easy to see in their gazes as they passed their heated gaze over the crowd. Resting on their own group for a second Logan smelt the reaction from the boys, instantly they were ready to go. Even Pete with his hand wrapped up in Kitty's smaller one, she noticed and pulled his attention back to her with no small difficulty. Marie just touched his neck with her gloved hand and he was staring into her eyes, she looked nervous and that cleared his head immediately. "You feeling okay?" She nodded quickly, her clothes covering most of her skin, wearing trousers that hugged her figure, a sweater with long sleeves and small leather gloves. Scott had his attention firmly riveted to the display in front of him, the two women were still scanning the crowd with their feral gaze. Nudging the man he watched as Scott finally tore his gaze away from the nearly naked women.
"We'd better get away from this part of the place we don't want to lose the boys in there." It took a moment for Scott to recover, the colour finally calming in his face as he realised what he was being asked by Logan.
"Good idea, we'll go to the far end, work our way back over slowly and leave when we get to the entrance again." Scott tried to straighten himself back up, shaking off the thoughts that had been playing through his mind. Of soft flesh against his own, of touch that had been covering his entire skin, of whispered pleasures and caresses that lit nerves throughout his body. Of letting go, of being free, no responsibility just freedom to do as he pleased, to take as much as he needed when he needed, to never hear 'No'.

John was looking for the thing that he'd been interested in the first time he'd come here, the freak tent. The entire group was moving off down the broadway, everyone distracted by the sounds and sights around them. Bobby was talking to Kitty and Pete, he still didn't trust the dreams he'd had, something about them felt too real and he wanted to avoid Bobby if he could. Seeing everyone walking away he slid into the crowd and lost himself in the flow of humanity around him; the cold snake eyed gaze of Mr Dark following his movements with a smirk.

Ororo was feeling quite happy, the lights were cheerful and bright, the people around her were some of the people she knew and shopped with in Salem Centre. She'd been stopped twice to talk along the broadway, everyone had stopped with her the first time but the next they'd just carried on without her. Looking at the group she belonged to slowly break up, people going in their own directions. Scott, Bobby, Pete and Kitty walking into a gaming booth, the sign displaying a man with an old style rifle shooting a clay pigeon. Logan and Rogue were heading into a fortune tellers booth, the smile on Rogues face mirrored the grimace that was on Logan's. The only one she couldn't see was John, a moment of panic surged through her but was quashed when she saw the tousled hair of his head pop out from behind a crowd.

Smiling she carried on talking to the people who'd stopped her, their words calming her like a balm on her nerves. Complimenting her on her clothes and dress, how she always managed to look so well even if she did have to cope with so many responsibilities. The words soothing her own grievances against the ones she lived with, how children really should give their teachers and betters more respect. She found herself nodding to along to their words, slowly moving her toward the mirror maze. Their smiles and soft gazes fed the part of her that had missed being adored by her people; she was a goddess, not a teacher. She didn't notice when the man who owned the maze just opened the door for them without taking any money from anyone. The smile he gave her warmed her but it was his words that sealed her heart "My goddess, may you find what you seek in the mirrors. Ask and it can be yours." Straightening herself she walked into the small entrance, the sounds of her friends ahead of her giving her a clue of where they were. Smiling she walked deeper into the maze, a sense of fullness settling in her body as walked along.

**************************************

This was a bad idea, he hated things like this but if Marie wanted to listen to someone spouting rubbish at her then he'd be prepared to pay for it. Anything to keep her happy and at the moment she was. she was smiling, warm and safe in his company and he'd keep her that way forever if he could. Passing through the faded canvas to the interior the ground beneath their feet covered by carpets woven with patterns that were faded
and old. A shape huddled behind a wooden table spread with a light silk cloth, hands old and gnarled by arthritis shuffled a deck of pasteboard cards. Moving into the light hung above the table Logan felt Marie stiffen slightly as the face came into view.

Wizened skin hung from the bones of the face that looked at them with milk white eyes, no pupils to be seen, just pure white orbs. The pink lips broke open into a smile, the voice that came from the tiny form bigger than the body that uttered it. "Please sit, make yourself comfortable. Whatever is said here never leaves here. Please sit." Marie was the first to move, her body a little clumsy but her manners quickly overcame her nerves. Seating himself next to her his hand resting on her thigh, giving her strength even though the milk eyed gaze hadn't left him in all the time they'd been addressed. Hands more knuckle than finger offered the cards to Marie, "Shuffle them my dear, think of your situation and hand them back to me." Taking the pasteboard in hand she almost dropped them as the surfaces felt odd, not like normal card, more like dry skin, like a lizards would be. Squashing her nerves she shuffled them, the surfaces rasping as she did it, the calm white gaze never leaving her own as she did it. About to hand them back when the deep voice echoed out again, "Now you sir, you shuffle them too. That is if you want to know what course you'll be taking as well?"

This was beginning to get to him, he had the sensation of being watched from behind ever since they'd gone in here but he couldn't smell anyone else in here apart from the three of them but he knew there was someone else here. Taking the cards from Marie he shuffled the deck quickly and held them out to the old woman. Her hand shifted like lightning, grabbing his wrist and holding firm, her grip strong and he had difficulty moving the joint with her fingers wrapped tight around it. "What I'm going to tell you isn't a guess, it isn't lies for stupid people James or should I say Logan?" Anger rippled through him, wanting to stand to walk out of here, to take Marie away to get her safe from these people; from this place. The smile dropped from her face as she pulled herself closer to them both, "Listen and you'll live, run and you'll lose her forever."

Cold ran through his veins, he knew she was telling the truth, Marie was just sat in shock, her face pale and her hands wrapped around themselves. Her old face turned to Marie as she placed the cards on the table, her hand still gripping Logan's wrist. "Are you staying or leaving?" Marie felt the world spin for a moment, that this decision could change everything, destroy everything or complete it.
"Ah'm stayin."
Logan looked at her as if she'd just said she loved Scooter more than him, only then did the grip of iron on his wrist let go. Marie grabbed his hand and sent him a watery smile, she needed him here and he'd stay here where he was needed. Little did either of them know that there were others that needed them both just as badly.

Silver light filled John’s eyes as he wandered through the doorway of the freak house like many others around him he rubbed his eyes as he went through the small foyer. Several families were in his group, children were grabbing at each other trying to scare each other before they actually went into the freak show. Inside John expected it to be a show of mutants, mutants who’d been persuaded to join the carnival or had been sold to the fair. When he saw the barker who was leading the show turn into the silver light his breath almost left him. It was the image of Professor Xavier, even down to his smile as he overlooked the crowd that was stood in front of him. “Welcome! Come to see the wonders of the world have you? Come to see the things that have been created before man set foot on the soil we stand on have you? Well what you see tonight is all 100% real, there’s no glue or gum here, no flimflam, no tricks, every single creature here is real, living and breathing as you are now. Any questions ask them while we stand in front of the creature, they can answer you believe it or not. You‘ll be seeing them as nature intended.” His voice suddenly soft and silky running over heated ears, the blushes starting on faces and collars being tugged. “As the day they were born, ladies and gentlemen and if you don’t want your little ones to get an education about how the birds and bees got started I suggest you take em somewhere else in the carnival. Because ladies and gentlemen what you’ll see will make your hair stand on end and your wife to remind herself how lucky she is to have you.”

The final flourish given a small woman who herself was almost white from head to foot dressed only in a small thin gauzy material took the cane from the man who looked like Xavier. As she did so the mans hands caressed her body in an over familiar way and the leer he saw cover the man’s face reminded him of the times when he’d seen a new student come into the school. “This here is Wintergreen; she’ll be our guide through the lions den, when she’s here the freaks don’t see you all they see is her they’ll answer her questions but they’re yours. They don’t get disturbed by her presence, ours well you know how some creatures are.” The look that hit Johns own eyes made him wince. The dart was just for him, the words making him remember every harsh and sad toned word that had come from Professor Xavier about his behaviour. “So we get to see them as they really are in all their natural glory.” A wink was directed at the crowd and John’s mind reeled at the possibilities that were being hinted at in that cold smile and knowing wink. Directing his gaze to the rest of the people around him he noticed that they were ready to follow the man to hell if he’d asked them, even the kids were quiet, expectant.

John followed the crowd hoping to be lost within it but his eyes were dragged to the front and the barker who led them through the first curtain, the voice that rang out across them all made him wince as the light in the small enclosed space finally rose. “I give you Rosalla the Sylph!”
The seat that supported the freak on the small wooden stage was something of a miracle itself, the arms and legs that were laid out here were almost stick thin. Rosalla was naked as the day she was born, her skin glowed in the harsh white light that hid nothing from the eye. Her skin was taught over her bones, muscle that was actually there was strips alone, hanging her frame together, the seat she was on began to turn on it’s own accord. Showing her in her glory, her back was covered in small gossamer threads that blew in the wind that moved through the heavy canvas, even the breath of the people seemed to move the silver threads. As she moved around the breath that filled the small room began to gather over her, filling her skin. As John watched the body in front of him fill out, the bones cover themselves with pink flesh again, the eyes once haunted and sunken now glowed with intelligence. Languid she stretched herself on the chair that shifted her form around the small stage, her tendrils floating out toward the crowd. Touching some, wreathing around others; the look on her face on one sorrow and need mingled with pain. Those she touched stayed still, the tendrils shifting through them as substantial as smoke.

John felt one pass by his face and he moved back instinctually, knowing that her touch was poison without having to be told. Only when Rosalla was fully pink and naked to the gaze of the crowd that the true horror of what was happening reached him. Looking at the now empty eyed people she’d touched and the darkness that seemed to fill their gazes, as if she’d taken something so important, so vital that they’d never even understood it had been there until it had been stolen.

Making his way through the crowd John no longer wanted to be here, he wanted to leave. Just as he reached where the flap of the tent had been Mr Dark was stood there, his features smiling and his hands behind his back. Just the way he stood there in perfect silence made John’s heart stutter in his chest, “Not leaving us so soon are you Mr Allerdyce?” The darkness in the corners of the canvas tent began to gather blotting out the exit until there was nothing but darkness behind him and the scent of earth. The smell of cellars, of earth walls and nights spent in the dark huddled away from the scary monsters that lived just a hands width away. “We have an appointment later you and I, I do hope your not going to go back on it are you?” The darkness behind him shifted and the bulk of a creature turned in the darkness, two blue chips of light glowed out toward him and the stink of stone freshly broken. The glint of diamond in darkness met his eyes and he felt his bowels loosen, it was real and it was here. Patting his pocket he searched for his lighter but he didn’t find it, Mr Dark twirled his fingers in front of him, the lighter held secure in his hand, the smile turned nasty as his words wound around John’s ever tightening throat.

“You really should be more careful John, you never know what could be stolen from you at the carnival, didn’t your mother ever tell you that?” For a second John saw the corpse in front of him, saw Mr Dark for what he was and it sent him scurrying back to the crowd who were moving into the next booth. The Sylph gone back to sleep on her chair, looking healthy and full, her stomach distended. Smiling sweetly Mr Dark blew a kiss to his exhibit and faded away, there were others to collect tonight.

Bobby and Pete were competing, the targets they’d been aiming at were getting harder to hit as if they were moving out of range at the last second. Kitty was encouraging them both, her face filled with laughter as they both strove to meet her wishes. She picked the stuffed birds they had to hit, her small hand pointing out the targets. Both boys were filled with competitive verve, this was about who was better in the eyes of Kitty, the woman who was with them. Neither of them noticed Scott raise his hand to his visor, didn’t see him turn the aperture to its narrowest setting but they did see the flash of red and the stuffed bird explode into a pile of smouldering feathers.
It was Kitty who spoke first her voice filled with something strange, something no one had heard from her voice. Sultry, dark, molasses in winter sweet she turned to the three men in her view, not seeing the tent slowly empty until there was only them in the large booth. “Whoever gets *every* target, not the bird above it Mr Summers,” her gaze lingered on his lips for an eternity before she moved onto the other two friends she had with her. “If you hit every target you get a prize, one that deserves to be shared. So boys, up to the challenge?”

Pete almost looked as if he’d swallowed a target but Bobby and Scott were grinning in acceptance, Kitty smiled at her boyfriend and wove herself around him, her curves rubbing up against his solid form. Smiling as she felt him reacting to her ministrations, “Surely you could beat these two, for me?” Her eyes were dark when Pete looked into them, the normal blue of her gaze had been darkened into violet and the smile on her lips was one that made part of him twitch in expectation.
“Of course I can!”

Reaching up to kiss him Kitty felt the presence in her mind weave through her frame, telling her what to do if he lost. To share herself equally between the three, showing her how to do it, Pete inside her, Scott anally and Bobby in her mouth. Inside a part of her was screaming out to the Professor, begging for help while her body began to move between the three of them, touching, teasing; tormenting them all. But the worst thing of all was she liked it, deep down inside of her she liked it, and she liked having all the attention, all the looks of burning hunger directed her way. Grinding herself into Pete’s erection as he completed another target, her body filling his hard places with softness. Seeing the other two straining to win, wanting to take what she was giving to Pete with all her heart and soul.

Watching as Bobby nudged Scott’s arm making him miss a target; listening to the raised voice and anger that was just behind the cool edge she’d once respected. Her mind trying to stop herself from destroying all of them but not succeeding, her body under the control of another deeper part of herself. The one that needed to be loved, to be worshipped; to be fought over, laughing as the two men came to blows, sharp punches that were meant with all they had. Her eyes becoming blurred as the tears obscured her view but it was the laughter that disturbed her the most. The rich booming laughter that came from her own mouth as her boyfriend finally took what was had been his in the first place. The other two bent on destroying each other while she watched from her hiding place in her mind. Still screaming for someone to hear her, Jean, the Professor; anyone but all she heard was the carnival music outside. Lilting and driving through the fair as her body was plundered by Pete, the sensations finally blocking everything out. Losing herself to the fire that was in her blood and the music that was in her soul.

*************************************************************

Ororo watched as the people around her seemed to fade away, losing themselves in the mirrors that surrounded her. Every reflection curving off into the darkness, the only light she could see were the bare bulbs shining down on her skin. Every silver surface looking back at her, her eyes wide as she moved through the glass prison a smile forced upon her lips as she shifted along the narrow corridors. Weaving and winding through the maze always hearing someone ahead of her but never seeing their reflections. She’d come in with people, they’d talked to her, praised her as she’d entered with them, they’d been real so where were they?
Looking behind her checking there was no one to see her raise herself above the level of the mirrors she opened her arms to raise the wind to lift her. But nothing came, no cool wind, no lift of flight to raise her lithe form over the tall pieces of silvered glass. Seeing her reflection’s confused visage, her eyes remaining deep chocolate brown, no sense of power in her body, only fear.

Away in the far corner of the maze, where only the shimmering shape of her lingered something else stirred, something old, hungry, needy. Remembering her smell, the scent of fresh rain over parched ground, the wind that brought comfort from the harshness of the desert sun. Shifting through the mirrors the reflection came closer, moving through the silver surface as if it were water. Slipping closer and closer, silent eyes watching as Ororo moved further and further into the maze, the distance she covered much more than the tent that held it. A heated scent of the desert passing over the ground leaving a trail of red dust behind it, a swirling vortex of wind littered with the scything sound of knives being sharpened.

Ororo was running, banging into the glass that covered the mirrors, being herded along by her own fear. The narrow passages becoming thinner, smaller, the glass walls reflecting her fear back into her, doubling each piece of it until it began to choke her breath. The faint scent of desert heat, the rot of bodies and the bleached bone of death mingling into her mouth, drying every bit of moisture she had. Her mind screaming out to whoever could hear her as her voice was lost in the reflections of herself, a thousand Ororo’s each broken and bent, kneeling in the barren sand of her home. The sharp angular shape of Su-Bhwa slowly making his way through the mirrors toward her, his needle teeth glinting in the light that was filtering down through the darkness above them. Sensing the movement Ororo saw the nightmare made flesh coming toward her, his languid movement and shimmering shape as he shifted through the mirrors toward her. All her pride, all her power, all her hatred leading her here to this, the old sangoma’s words echoing in her whirling mind, “You made an enemy of him girl and he’ll find you, take everything you love from you, destroy it until there’s nothing but dust. Dust to blow in the wind, souls for him to eat and dust to cover the fields killing everything you loved.”

The mirrors changed, their faces showing the mansion, where Su-Bhwa had been, children arguing, Scott fighting Bobby, Kitty being taken by Pete. Logan being beaten by a wilder version of himself, Rogue held by her own gaze in a mirror, the reflection showing her skin to be alive with thousands of mouths all open and filled with razor teeth. John being devoured by a creature with dark grey skin, pushed head first into the diamond maw, his eyes filled with so much fear. Jean setting fire to the mansion, her eyes glowing bright red, Charles manipulating the children so they thought they were running to safety when they were running to their deaths in the flames. A look passing Charles face as he noticed her gaze, a smile so unlike the one she knew filled it as Jean straddled his lap. Seeing her best friend writhing in her mentors lap, the glow from her eyes making the skin of her face look haggard, ugly and tired. “He’s always wanted to do this to me; I’m his little girl, his *favourite* always have been;” her hands had been releasing him from the confines of his trousers and when he was Jean settled herself on him. Sitting proudly like a peacock, seeing the flushed face of her mentor as Jean began to move on him, her ruby lips turning to a smirk. “Always will be Ororo, he never loved you, not like he loves me.”

The sight held her fascinated for a moment longer, Jeans face pinched tight almost vulpine as she shifted her naked hips over the body of her oldest friend. It was only when the sound reached a high point that she actually realised it was her own voice that was crying out so loudly. As her hands pummelled the glass that was boxing her in on all sides. Locked into a mirror box, no bigger than her body, her fear reflected into her constantly filling her until there was nothing else.

************************************************

The white pasteboard showed a man split in two, one half reaching skyward, the other hunkered low to the earth the feral nature of him obvious. Logan looked at the woman who was gently smiling to herself, the second card was a maiden stood alone on an outcrop of stone utterly alone. The next was a symbol, two snakes wound around a tree, one white one black their mouths open but they had no fangs to speak of. Instead they had roses in their mouths, the fruit of the tree were two human bodies made of leaves, wrapped around each other, the design so it was hard to see where one ended and the other began. “You are one already. This I know to be fact it was I who put you together." Logan was about to speak when Marie's hand grabbed his own and he kept his silence. Two more cards were drawn laid facedown on the table, the milk white orbs of the seer driving into them both, her words terrible as they worked into their minds. "Turn these and nothing will be certain, the Carnival will have its
flesh, it's food of souls. But to leave them unknown is the greater disaster, for then Mr Dark will claim everything you hold dear." The old woman rested back on her chair, her face turned to Marie and her tone sugar sweet but the words filled with poison. "Are you willing
to let him go just as you've begun to taste him?"

The message was clear enough to Logan his hand reaching out to the two cards on the velvet covered surface, the thin smile on her face one of knowing. "Logan! What if..." he turned to look at Marie, her face was pale but inside her he knew the part of him she'd kept was
talking to her. He had to know what this was about, what the entire thing was, his hand touched the card in front of him and turned it over. A man seated on a horse his arm raised in battle, the face screwed up in anger, foam coming from his lips. Dressed in armour the face was his own, the image was reversed so it faced the reader. Her face grew serious as she felt the pasteboard surface, "The
Knight Of Swords, impulsive, aggressive, doesn't think just reacts. Yet he's reversed, so control your instincts Logan, use them but don't lose your humanity here; to do so would lose the rest of you, forever."

The blank eyed gaze went over to the scared girl seated next to him, with a shaking hand Marie picked up the pasteboard and turned it over. A queen seated on a throne, her feet surrounded with fruit and flowers, a pentacle in her hands and a cat in her lap. The smile she
was giving was one of contentment but her eyes were sharp and a weapon lay at her feet. The old fingers brushed over the picture and the old woman's breath halted for a second as the felt the surface of the card. Marie was nearly out of her seat when she finally spoke to her, "Go home, rescue those you can. Fight with your soul, with
what you are, show yourself as you are, not what you think you are. If you do you'll never leave the campground."
She drew a final card and turned it to show them both, a broiling storm was on the surface. The card had no number just a grey surface that shifted and moved as she laid it flat. Her skin pulled taught over her old face, bringing out the bones of her face, Marie pulled back even as Logan resisted the urge to draw his claws on her. Her
hair receded until there was nothing but a deaths head looking at them both covered in skin. "Go, do what you need to, save who you want to but if they refuse to leave or fight you leave them behind and take those that will come. The storm is building, the wind that scatters the dust, the rain that drowns the shadows, time is short,
leave!"

Logan didn't need telling twice, he dragged Marie away from the table just as the thing collapsed on itself, time ate the fabric of the entire thing. Everything rotted, decayed in seconds until there was nothing left but old mildewed canvas shredded and stained. The sound of the Carnival outside suddenly intruded and they both winced at the height of the sound. The piping notes were piercing in their sharpness, the lights too bright casting shadows that shifted and moved with a will of their own. Holding onto Marie Logan shifted them both outside the ravaged tent.

**********************************************

Jubilee had managed to keep the kids quiet for the most part of the night, her babysitting duty hadn't been too much of a struggle but the clock was ticking and there was something off with the way the house felt. She'd sent the kids to bed, tucked them in but there was something wrong and she'd known to trust her instincts, her mall
days had taught her that. So she'd been on her way to the Professors office when she'd seen something in the hallway.

It had to be a 'something' because there was no way knees should bend that way naturally and the tattered wings kind of gave it away too. Her ears picked up the conversation that was going on in the office, the Professor was talking to Dr Grey. Yet what was being
discussed sounded like madness, talking about setting fire to the school and doing as much damage as possible. The figure in the hallway was smiling, well it couldn't do much else with those teeth in there; backing off her thigh bumped into the hall table making it rattle. Suddenly the teeth turned her way; the slick feeling of cold filled her stomach as she realised that she'd been seen. Darkness seemed to crawl out of every corner and mass behind the thing in the hallway. It moved jerkily as if it was badly made and for a moment she saw it like a puppet, made of paper mache and strung up to dance. Her short laugh gave it pause before it narrowed it's eyes
and made to run toward her, senses finally cutting in she bolted the shadows around her suddenly deeper, older, darker than those she'd ever seen. Fear gripped her tight as she heard the thin laugh of something running behind her on small feet, the flutter of it'swings nothing like the fairies she'd seen in picture books. Tears running free Jubilee headed for the only safe place she knew, her
bedroom.

*****************************************

The carnival was in full swing, laughing faces were all around, surrounding them in joyful screams and laughter but the scent on the wind was wrong. Fear tainted everything, the way the people moved, shifting slowly as if they knew what was in store for them. For their greed, their pride, their hatred, everyone marked and pulled along in a tide of ever blinding beauty. Lights that had been bright before were beginning to fade, as if the surrounding city was trying to expunge the carnival from its reality.
Logan’s ears were picking up cries he knew, voices he knew, dragging Marie in the direction of the sound he kept his eyes on the goal and away from the sights and sounds around him.

Marie wasn’t so lucky as they ran down broadway she watched women dressed in skimpy threadbare clothes drain a man of his soul, latching onto his skin with mouths lined with needle sharp teeth. Their eyes pale and watery watching her as she passed by, their maws snapping at her heels making her flinch and tighten her grip on Logan’s hand.
Men were sodomising boys behind the tents, their greed and lust not showing them what they were losing to the creatures that were feeding on their self hatred. The shades of the boys were hollow, made of glass to Marie, their diamond surfaces slashed the men’s genitals every time they bucked into the guilty pleasure being given to them. The stink of blood was ripe as they passed the scene by, other men were dead and dying laid in the lake of blood that spread around the old canvas. The only light shed by the sparkling boys made of glass and diamond, mouths pursed, slicing succulent flesh until it was unworkable. Only then did they go back out into the crowds to pick another victim with guilt riding on their faces and in their dreams.

She didn’t see anything else until Logan stopped their advance and thrust her inside a tent, the sounds of sex were loud and the sight that met her eyes was something she’d never dreamed of seeing.
Scott was fucking Bobby, his strong hands were in Bobby’s short hair, the anger and aggression in his face warping it out of true. Bobby’s face was bruised, his left eye was closed shut, his ribs were purple his skin marked with cuts and finger prints. Seeing Scott bring his other hand down, in a fist onto Bobby’s back, the sound of the muscle being hit knocking her out of her shock. She went to move forward but Logan stopped her advance, his iron grip on her keeping her still.

Logan was still, his mind taking in the scene, Pete his eyes closed, fucking Kitty who was draped over one large arm. Her sex was raw, the smell of blood was mingled with so much else in here, seeing Marie take in Kitty and hearing her short gasp he propelled her toward the couple. He’d deal with Scott.

Marie watched Pete, his body was aching, muscles trembled and his eyes were closed shut to the world but his lips were repeating a prayer over and over. Kitty was unconscious her body already showing signs of the abuse she’d suffered. Her naked body was slick with semen, it was everywhere Marie looked, in her hair, on her hands, her legs were coated in it. Bringing her hand back she slapped Kitty hard, seeing her friend come to her mouth opening and the scream that followed it cutting the air.

Logan watched as Scott pounded Bobby beneath him, his fists cracking the boys ribs as he fought to finish. Gripping the bruised body beneath him as he shuddered again, the semen pooling back around his hips as he made to start all over again. Grabbing hold of Scott’s shoulder he pulled him free of Bobby, the sight of Bobby’s blood on Scott’s crotch mingled with his own blood. Scott’s penis was bright red, the blood on it wasn’t all Bobby and the look of relief on Scott’s face was one Logan would always remember.

Bobby was out for the count, his cheek was crushed, several teeth were missing and looking at the boys face he knew the reason why the front two had been smashed free. Moving the boy over he checked the breathing while trying to keep his cool, he wanted to kill Scott, shove his claws into his ass and pull upward. The slow sobbing that was coming from Scott made him turn his head toward the man, growling out “Shut the fuck up before I kill you!” Scott stifled his cries as he tried to dress again, when he was ready Logan shot a look at him that told him that he’d better keep a good distance between him and Logan. Shuffling over to Marie he helped her get Kitty and Pete into some kind of order, Pete was mumbling in Russian, praying to a god that wasn’t listening.

Logan re-dressed Bobby as best he could, pulling the trousers back up and hoping that Jean had everything to hand tonight because Bobby would need it. Calling Pete over he handed the boy to him, the weight easily lifted Logan went to the back of the tent slicing the fabric open to reveal the outside road only a few hundred yards away. “Move it, get him home. Get Jean working on these two.” Scott was carrying Kitty her small form cuddled by the man who a few minutes ago had been raping Bobby, his eyes hidden by the glasses he wore but the traces of tears were easily smelt and seen by everyone. Logan pushed Marie toward the gap but she stood her ground.
“No.”
“Marie!”
“NO! I’m not leavin’ you here alone!”
Logan dragged her toward him his whisper enough for her to hear it but to hide it from the rest of them. “I need you safe, GO HOME!” Marie’s eyes flashed dangerously and she gripped his collar just as tight as he’d held hers.
“She said home is just as dangerous Logan, I’m safer where you are!”

The remembrance of the seers words filled him, that their home was just as dangerous, that there were things there as well. Looking at Pete he avoided looking at Scott altogether, anger was burning through his blood and he knew if Scott made one wrong move he’d skewer him and fuck the consequences. “Don’t trust anything you see or hear at home Pete, get to the med lab first. Then try to find Jean or the Professor but be careful, they might be under attack like you were.” Pete nodded his large frame suddenly smaller as the news settled over him. “Do what’s in front of you Pete, the rest can wait.”

Scott’s shoulders began to shake in sobs as he ran out of the tent, his hands clutching the small frail body he’d imagined he’d been fucking. That she’d been under him, needing him, wanting his touch on her skin, her quiet smile charming him drawing him deeper. Even when she’d asked him to hit her, to mark her, to be rough with her he’d done it without thought. Anything to please her, to give her pleasure; at least as much as she was giving him. But it had been a lie, an illusion, the body under his hands hadn’t been Kitty it had been Bobby. He hadn’t seen it until Logan had pulled him away, breaking the contact between their skin. Then he’d seen the blood, smelt the shit all over them both as Bobby had prolapsed during the rape he’d suffered at his hands, at his lust for someone he’d never acquire.

That it had been Logan to pull him off the battered body of Bobby, to see the look that had entered the mans eyes as he’d seen the damage he’d inflicted on the boy. It froze his heart, he knew Logan would never talk to him again, never be near him again unless it was to kill him. Clutching the small body to him Scott fumbled with the keys to the van, unmindful that Pete was right behind him until the large man took the keys from his shaking fingers. Steeling himself Scott put Kitty in the front seat, snapping the belt around her body, his eyes filled with tears as he moved around the van. The lights of the carnival were dim but they filled him with terror, a feeling that made his bowels turn to water.

It was only when Pete turned him back round did he silently nod and took the back seat with Bobby. His words of guilt laying over the barely breathing boy like a blanket hoping to soothe the damage he’d done to the boy who’d looked up to him. As they passed the carnival entrance a pair of white eyes watched them leave, a smile on her face before she followed the van down the road. Shadows that reached out for the occupants receded when her presence was detected, making the trees rattle with their anger at being cheated of food they moved on into Salem Centre finding plenty to fill their bellies.

**********************************************

Ororo knew she had to move, she had to be calm, to find the focus the calm deep inside her mind. To forget the prison she was in, the creature that was stalking her through the mirror, the weight of her pocket as she shifted bringing her thoughts to sharp focus. Her hand flew to the small wooden carving inside it, her fingers wrapping around the worn wooden form filling her with calm. Her mind filling with the truth of what she was, part of the elementals, part of the earth, skies, water and winds. She *was* Su Bhwa and if that was true she had nothing to fear from him, when she opened her eyes next she saw the reflection of her true self. Hair wild, her skin bare to the skies, eyes white and her body covered with life, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds iridescent as they landed on her. She *was* life and in her hand she held Su Bhwa’s death; opening her arms she waited for him to strike.

John’s eyes struggled to adjust to the gloom of the next room after his encounter with Mr Dark, the rest of the crowd was pushing forward to have a good look at what was on the platform. John could only see the tips of what looked like wings, feathered and folded back. His mind instantly thought about Warren Worthington, surely he hadn’t ended up here had he? Pushing his way forward he managed to get near enough to see what was exactly on the stage. His days as an altar boy came back to haunt him; he knew the thin face that looked out at the crowd, seeing but not seeing them. He knew the face sensed that he was being watched but the little mutant that was with them hid their presence. John watched as the angel reached out toward the crowd, every single body moved back from it’s outstretched hand. As if defeated it just sat back on its odd legs and opened its throat, a song so pure and filled with beauty soared over their heads. Several people went into rapture so complete they didn’t notice the barker beginning to move them on as the angel continued to sing.

John hung back until he was among the last few that were still stood listening to the melody coming from the now revealed angel. His body was rack thin, the bones were protruding through the skin and his feathers were dusty and tick filled. But his skin still glowed with life, his eyes still turned toward the heavens John risked a hand to touch the thing he’d been told by Father Mulholland didn’t exist on this earth anymore. Just as his hand cleared the edge of the stage the angels hand shot out and grabbed his wrist tightly, John tried to struggle free as the face moved down from it’s rapture to open it’s dark eyed gaze into his own fear filled one.

~He was stood with his back to a doorway, listening to a conversation. Knowing he was wrong to do so but he was doing it anyway, he had a gun in his hand and a bag of money in the other. A part of his mind knew it was the Professors office, the safe was open and he’d done it, papers were scattered all over the office, ripped apart, vases smashed to pieces. The voices stopped for a moment and he let out a shaky breath as he pulled the small tracer out of his pocket and pushed the button. The Brotherhood would be along soon, they’d cause a distraction at the front of the house so he could escape out the back without being seen. He had everything of importance that the Professor had, Magneto would be pleased with him, maybe give him more responsibility. He was about to leave through the french windows when the sound of the door opening behind him made him turn gun ready and already pulling the trigger. The sound of the gun going off was loud in the small office, the hours he’d spent training were enough to see that the shot had been on target but he wished he hadn’t been. The face that met his own for a split second had been destroyed by the bullets path, splashing colour across the corridor. Jean’s face had been a perfect picture before the bullet had smashed it open, destroying everything she had been. Stood in shock for a second before the sound of a scream echoed out along the corridor, it was soon lost in many others when the rest of the Brotherhood attacked. He could never go back now, he’d be hunted for the rest of his life, whether by Scott, the Professor or by Logan. Her death was one he’d pay for, he’d betrayed them all and for that he was damned. Taking one last look he fled the mansion, his haul held tight to his chest as he ran into the night.~

The angel let go of his wrist, the sad look in his eyes enough to lay a thousand ghosts to rest. Knowing now what it was, it was no angel it was a demon, one who’d betrayed the Lord’s Rule and had ended up on earth. The thin fingered hand picked up a piece of wood beneath its chair, the paint faded and worn yet still legible. ‘Uriel, the commander of heaven! Lost in battle, a deceiver damned to walk the earth till judgement day.’ Lowering the wooden plaque the angel turned his back on the waiting men and John, he’d shown him his own fate. His own decisions that brought the death of Jean Grey and his own damnation, shivering John backed away from the stage his body bumping into the empty eyed gaze of those who’s sins had found them out. Passing through the curtain to the next room knowing the sounds of breaking bones weren’t those of the angel but of the men he was eating. Devouring their sins to make them his own, but the body didn’t survive the test and the soul was lost to this hell forever to lead more into the traps they themselves fell into.

*******************************************************

They had to find the rest of the gang, Ro’ was in here somewhere so was John. The amount of revellers was beginning to thin out as the darkness began to press in, shadows moved and shifted across the broadway. Winds filled with the dust of graveyards scenting of rotting bodies coloured the stifling air, pinching and pulling hands that had no substance were endured as they both felt their way down through the twisted carnival.

Marie felt at her wits end, what had been a trip out to enjoy themselves had turned into a fight for their lives; the image of Kitty was burned into her mind. The look on her face as she’d come round for a second, the utter fear in her eyes, as if she’d been looking at her death. It had chilled her bones, made her wonder why she hadn’t just run when Logan had pushed her to go with the others. A look at his concerned face, eyes scanning for danger, lips drawn tight into a thin line; a barely perceptible rumble going through him as they moved ahead slowly. Her hands gripped his arm that was holding her hand in a vice grip, he wasn’t going to let her go, he’d catch her if she fell of that she was certain.

Almost as if she’d called him Logan turned his head toward her, face hidden by the shadows that filled the carnival but his voice was calm, still like the eye of a hurricane. “We need to find the others, I think Ro’ went into the mirror place. We’ve got to get out of here fast, but we gotta split up to find both of em. I can track John, I need you to get Ro’.” The solidity of his words made sense but inside she was beginning to crumble, sensing her distress at being alone Logan turned her into him, pulling her body flush with his own. His mouth right next to her ear, “Listen, if we do this right we’ll be out of here in *minutes* Marie. I trust you. I love you.” Those few words made her blood sing, shifting to see him in the reflected neon light, the harsh colours painting his skin a gaudy red. The look in his eyes one of utter pain that he had to let her go, had to risk her in this place to trust her to do something she wasn’t ready for. But she’d gone through worse on Liberty Island, she knew it, here it was all dreams and nightmares and both of them were old hands at both.
“Marie?” His hands were at her shoulders, trying to see if she understood what he was asking her to do, she answered him by kissing his lips quickly.
“Ah love you too, always have.” She raised a gloved hand to his face tracing the concern there, “Always will.” The smile she received in return could’ve put the sun to shame but it was fleeting as a scream echoed out to ring down the now nearly deserted broadway.
“Get Ro’ and get out, don’t wait for me.”

She was about to argue when he released the claws in his left hand, the darkness that filled his features made her understand what he was going to do. The note of warning the seer had told them both rang in her head, opening her mouth.
“Human Logan, stay human. Ah don’t want to lose you, ah just found you.” Her hips shifted into his own acting on instinct, loving the purr she felt run through her body as she did it. The feel of his clawed hand on her hip gripping tight and knowing he’d never hurt her on purpose, bringing her eyes to his and seeing the mixture of Logan and Wolverine just under the surface of his skin. “Be careful sugar.” He let her go then and went after the scent of fire, the burnt tones of John that seemed to leech out of his skin. Her own eyes searching and finding the huddling mass of the mirror maze, it’s squat bulk looking like a dark spider about to jump. Steeling her nerves breathing slowly and calmly she ran across the open ground toward the open maw of the maze. Listening to the wind pull screams and babbling words out of the air as she entered the maze.

Jubilee was huddled with her teddies against the door, the kids on her floor were beginning to scream, she could hear footsteps running across the wooden floor outside. They stopped just past her doorway, all sound stopped leaving her in a pit of silence that dragged out, her own breathing the only thing that seemed to be alive. Her ears picked up the sound of metal grating on metal above her, opening her eyes wide looking above her head watching the handle of her door turn. The sound of breathing just on the other side, the sound deep, wet, raspy as if the mouth were too full of teeth and Jubilee knew what was on the other side of it. The flutter of moths wings could be heard just under the breathing, sliding away from the door Jubilee held her breath. The door was locked she’d jammed the lock herself but she could see the door bulging inward, as if it was breathing. Her fear notched up again as she realised it had come for her, out of all the house it had come for her, it was then she heard a voice she’d thought she’d never hear again.
“Come out little rat, come out because if you don’t I’ll come in and we all know what happens when I come in.” The tone made her body freeze, the image of the stained uniform and the smell of his sweat filled her nose. Henry, he’d been a security guard at the mall she’d lived at, he would try to catch her, his eyes filled with a hunger she never wanted to understand or be part of. She’d burned him with her powers, he’d been trying to reach her in her sleeping place when she’d fired on him. His face had taken the full brunt of her attack, she could see the flesh melt under the heat of her attack, the eyeballs wizened and his mouth open in a scream that never sounded as the air from his lungs was ripped out. She’d put him next to a bunch of exposed wires, making it look like he’d been electrocuted; her powers were a lot like a electrical burn when they touched skin. Panic reached deep into her chest and squeezed, her heart giving a lurch as she moved away from the door toward her window.
“Little rat, little rat I’m coming in, don’t you want to see your handiwork? I’ve got so many little pleasures to give you in return.” Backing up against the cold glass Jubilee never saw the van turn into the drive, lights blazing and horn sounding loud. All she could see was the door shifting in the light of her room and willing the nightmare to end.

************************************************

Ororo watched the disjointed movement toward her, the shifting form of Su Bhwa never still for a second, her left hand disguising the small wooden carving. Her face calm as he formed again, closer this time, his knives visible to her their surfaces glinting in the mirror light. Slowly she moved forward, placing the small carving ahead of her, he’d have to cross it to reach her, when he had his foot over it she could kill him. She waited with the same as patience as the oak waits to grow into its crown, knowing the trap was set and she had a chance to kill him.

Marie wove her way through the mirrors, her eyes scanning for the shape of Ro' but finding nothing but clothing all along the corridors. Perfect as if they’d just been stepped out of, leaving things buckled and strapped up, cardigans and coats still fastened. A flash of white ahead spurred her onward, the look of hope firing in her eyes, turning the corner she met Ro’ her face absorbed by one mirror, her reflection something else entirely a man made of knives, his face snarling and cruel. Picking up a shirt Marie wrapped her hand and drew it back, her eyes on the calm look on Ro’s face the reflection beginning to sneer as she swung her arm back toward the mirror.

Ro’ was just about to guide him into the trap when the world around her shattered, every single piece shattering away sparkling like a million diamonds. Her calm vanished as the world righted itself again, Rogue was stood next to her cradling an arm wrapped in cloth. The gaping darkness behind the mirror they were stood in front of was cold and beckoning, shifting back from the gaping hole Ro’ pulled Rogue with her. The sound of metal grating on metal taking the colour from Ro’s skin, her hand reaching for her charm and finding it still in her pocket. Both women running from the darkness that was flowing out of the hole, crazing the other mirrors as it absorbed them. Sending them into showers of silvered glass, each shard a soul led into the maze only to be lost to the hunger of the glass and the creature behind it. So empty needing to fill his soul with the light and warmth of others, sensing their trail and following it like a bloodhound with prey at the end. Nothing but a rasping hiss as it flowed over the cold ground, a shadow of how things could be.

********************************************************

Logan was close he could smell the fear in him, the boy was close; silence wrapped around him like smoke. As if every sound had been taken from the world, leaving a vacuum punctuated only by his breath. Bringing his claws to the canvas in front of him Logan tore the thing open, stepping through the worn fabric to behold something that he’d heard about in his travels but never thought to see.

The cage was massive, the lumbering hulk inside it grey skinned and small eyed. Through the crowd he spotted John stood next to the figure he’d grown to hate, Mr Dark. John was fixed in fear, the stink of ammonia was ripe as the lumbering beast moved about in the cage, the darkness and cold of the tented room enough to make his own breath fog. But Mr Dark’s breath never misted, even as he was creeping up toward them both. Dark moved John closer and closer to the cage, he was nearly there when a pair of hands wrapped around his throat from behind. Strong hands, working hands that had cleared ice in winter, hands that shifted iron rails like toothpicks, feeling his airway begin to close he stabbed backward listening to the grunt of pain and liking what he heard as the hands let go. Turning to see the body of a man fall to the floor, his face so like Xavier’s own he had to check him as he laid there bleeding out. The scent of him was different, sour, aged, not the usual scent of Xavier, who was old leather and spice, this was something else. The body crumbled in front of him into leaves, each piece fading away into the ground as the sound of the cage door opening made his head turn to the cage. John was inside the cage with the thing, his hands were shaking as he tried to use his powers against the creature. Dark’s skull visage turned to Logan’s own, his head dropping to one side as if to invite him to save John, knowing that if he stepped into the cage he’d be taking his place in the carnival. Looking once more at the gathered souls around him Logan stepped forward and leapt into the cage with John. As the door shut behind him Logan felt his mind regress, until there was nothing but the beast left in him. Turning to the crowd watching he screamed out his anger and rage as Mr Dark turned his own smile to the heavens.

*****************************************************

Pieter could see the lights on in the mansion, all seemed well but there was a creeping sensation on the back of his head as if someone was watching him. It was Scotts voice that confirmed his fears, the sound so unlike the voice he was used to listening to on missions.
This one was filled with fear, shaking with a nameless dread as it formed the words that spilled into the vehicle. "They know we're home." Glancing back at the huddled forms in the darkness of the suv Pieter concentrated as he shifted form, the silver shine of his skin reflecting the light that was pouring out of the windows.

A prayer came unbidden to his mind, one that had nothing to do with the golden god he'd once worshipped in a drafty church in Russia. It was the one that called on the Mothers to help their children in the darkest night, when the wolves were abroad in the shape of men. When
death walked with the fever light in men's eyes, the sound of ice cracking under feet wrapped in cloth against the cold. An ancient prayer, words so worn they were ingrained in his blood and bones. As if in answer a white owl flew ahead of the suv, it's form standing out against the black of the ivy on the large wall. Lifting his head
to nod at the prophetic bird he floored the suv, making it skid in the leaves on the drive. He'd stop for no one if they were normal he'd apologise later but after what he'd seen tonight he doubted that what they would find would be good. He'd promised to take care of all of them, Logan was relying on him and as much as he liked Scott he respected Logan more. A grim smile on his face Pieter
headed home.

*************************************************

The thing swung it's massive fist downward, the skin pockmarked and rough, the dark grey patched with the yellow-green of lichen. A maw filled with diamond teeth grating and smirking at them both as they both tried to dodge the lumbering hulk. John was trying to curl into
a ball on the floor of the cage, his fight gone, his tears blinding him to the thing that was approaching fast.
Dropping down to his knees Logan swung his fist upward toward the groin of the beast, the claws of his hand scraping against the hardened flesh of it's thigh. The thick grooves oozed a sticky clear fluid down the mottled flesh but it was nothing like the blood he'd expected. A fist the size of a bike hit out at his unprotected back,
the smash reverberated through his skeleton, doing damage as it rattled around his body. Breath knocked away Logan collapsed to the stinking floor of the cage, his eyes squeezed shut to the pain echoing through his bones. The bellow of triumph filling the tent as Mr Dark laughed loud, the sound making his head swim with anger and hate, keeping him concious when his body cried out for oblivion.

The maw was all John could see, the way the diamonds sparkled in the low light of the tent. The way the thing moved like water, fluid, quick like a mudslide filled with energy that would crush and rend anything in it's path. He'd heard Logan enter the cage and heard the man's whimper as he'd been crushed to the floor of the cage. His
hands were shaking as he tried unsucessfully to open his lighter, when he finally managed it the light did nothing to calm him; it only revealed the faceted mouth of the troll opening wide to devour him whole. The jaw unhinged like a snakes, the hands clawed and filling every space the fingers together so like shovels John shuffled his back into the bars willing them to bend so he could fall away into the freedom beyond them.

Clarity, crystal clarity filled his world, the roar and stink of the crowd screaming for blood fell away. Even Mr Dark's form lost itself into the darkness, all there was was the bulk of the creature in front of him. His blades snapped free, tensing himself as the thing bent down to devour John whole, the soft folds of it's neck showing
him where the weak point was in it's armour. Silently he leapt forward, his bulk almost balletic in the air, the snarling scream from Mr Dark lost in the crowds roar for blood.
The first set landed true, the blades sank deep into the side of the throat. Each one severing vital forms and structures, the second set landed just under the left ear, the movement from the thing shuddered and stilled. John was frozen in fear as he pulled the blades free from the now cooling corpse of stone. He rode the corpse as it fell, only now did his silence end, throwing his head back to cry out his dominance to the world. The sound filled with the pain of his life, the lonliness, the driving hunger he felt to kill, to tear to rend into destruction everything that challenged him.
Everything he didn't understand,the way his memories fought against him until he didn't know what was right or what had been dream.

The crowd had gone, lost to the carnival, every soul being digested in some battered tent somewhere along the midway, only Logan and John left breathing withe the living corpse of Mr Dark watching from below. His ever present smile firmly planted on his face as he left his two new warriors to their fate.

****************************************

Marie had just crossed the midway when she heard the roar of triumph come from the tent across from her. It sent shivers through her body and she stopped dead in her tracks almost pulling 'Ro over as she did it. Her mouth forming the word 'Logan' before leaving 'Ro alone in the midway the darkness gaining solidity around her.

Marie ripped the door of the tent open to reveal the cage, inside it Logan was stood panting, his back turned to her, John cowering down in front of him. A pile of broken stone in front of them both, moving quickly she climbed the steps and pulled on the gate to the cage.
John's eyes moved first, seeing her he raised a hand to warn her from entering but he was too late. She stepped inside, what turned to face her wasn't Logan, it was the Wolverine and he was angry at having his space invaded by a female.
The look in him was something she'd only seen once, she'd been hormonal, angry, frustrated with herself and everyone else around her. The feelings had just overwhelmed her, the need to destroy something had been so vital, so pure she'd had to answer them. She'd
shredded her pillows, scattering their white insides everywhere while her mind had filled with the images of red muscle parting. The tang of copper and iron filling the air as she'd ripped the things apart, she'd caught herself in the mirror across from her bed, the look in her dark eyes was the same one she was looking into now.
Wolverine hadn't moved but his eyes had taken a different sheen as he'd breathed her in, seeing her chance she whispered to John. "'Ro's outside, go." He didn't need telling twice, he skirted past her and out. Wolverine watched the movement and growled his disapproval until she began to distract him with her own movements.

John just ran outside, the first sight he had was of 'Ro smiling and her arms opened wide to accept a shadow creeping over the ground toward her. He didn't notice the small wooden monkey hidden in the grass of the midway as he ran out of the carnival. His mind on getting home, getting back to the place he felt safe, where someone
would tell him everything had been a dream and that he wouldn't kill a valued member of the X-Men.

Ororo watched the shifting shadow as it crept across the carpet of green grass, feeling it's hatred, it's need to destroy her, to bend her to it's purpose and will. "I'm waiting Su Bhwa, I haven't forgotten you just as you've never forgotten me." As the shadow coalesced into a human figure it stepped over the patient monkey, the fingers of the wooden animal grasping the shifting form keeping
him still for a second. Giving Ororo all the time she needed, the clouds she'd been gathering above her broke open their fury.
Lightning flashed grounding itself through the human frame Su Bhwa was wearing, she almost felt pity for the creature as it writhed in agony before fading away into the darkness once again. It's force spent, discarded like the wind it was, blown away by the life giving rain, drowned out by it's weight and prescence.
Smiling she raised her arms in joy to the rain that was washing her skin clean, feeling it draw out the pain of her torment, it's cold touch soothing the heated heart of her despair.

A cry started low all around her, a moan low in volume but building as the rain continued, cries that were filled with sorrow, at the unfairness of her coming, hunger not sated, feeling the world around her shimmer as the rain grew in strength into a winter storm. Losing
herself inside it Ororo rose into the skies, letting it flow through her. Feeling the rain wash away the dirt, flushing out the rotten heart of the Carnvial, her eyes drawn to the ground to see Mr Dark being sucked under the earth. His face snarling his rage, the corpse skin stretched taught over his bones as he was sucked under, the light fading in his face as his power drained away with the rain.

The tents were the last things to go, their forms falling into disrepair, melting under the onslaught of the winds and rain.
Returning to the grave shrouds that they were, tattered and dirt stained, their colours faded and gone into the ground. Only when the last one fell did she land again, her feet squishing in the fertile soil her gaze searching for Rogue and Logan. But they weren't anywhere to be seen, knowing that there were others who needed her help at home she took to the skies again, her eyes turning white as she drove the storm front with her the life giving rain following just behind her wake, washing everything it touched, taking away the taint of the Carnival's dust.

***********************************

When John had gone Wolverine had turned on her; his body put itself between her and the exit. She'd moved into the centre of the cage, the stone around her feet shifting as she did so. Wolverine moved toward her, his body fluid, his stance telling her he wanted to keep her here with him.
The first peal of thunder had him drop to the floor of the cage it was so loud, seizing her chance she raced for the door of the barred cage and threw herself through it. He just missed her by an inch but he seemed reluctant to leave the confines of the iron barred cage. Seeing his reluctance she shed her coat, letting it fall to the
floor, her long sleeved top was tight over her curves and she saw him shift as he reacted to her scent. Moving herself closer to the cage she touched herself through the jeans she was wearing, knowing he'd be able to smell her lack of underwear. Her voice low but filled with honey as she backed away from the cage, seeing him torn
between following her and staying safe inside it. "You want me sugar, you're gonna have to come get me." As she moved away her hand snapped the top button of her jeans showing the pale skin of her body. Her fingers tracing the soft skin there and seeing Wolverine follow her fingers path with his eyes, hearing his growl as she
dipped her slender fingers inside the material to stroke herself.

Torn, he was torn, she was his, he *knew* that; she belonged to him she had his scent on her so why was she backing away from him? His mind quickly thought of the reasons, she wasn't upset, wasn't angry, maybe it was the cage, maybe she wanted him somewhere else. The cage
wasn't comfortable and as eager as he was to have her he really didn't want her to hate him for taking her where she wasn't comfortable. Unsure he moved out of the cage as the rain hit the canvas above them, the sound of it filled everything but he kept his gaze locked onto hers. She moved herself out of the canvas tent into the rain, the water slicking her up making the thin top she was
wearing almost like a second skin. Her breasts reacting to the cold water as she moved out further into the rain, his need to touch her overwhelming him as he finally cleared the rotten canvas. Her voice filled with joy as she let him touch her, as the cool rain drenched them both. Washing the dust from their shoulders and minds, the rage cooled in the torrent from above.

His mind returning to him as he held onto her, her small body shuddering against his in the rain, She'd risked everything for him, she'd gone into something she didn't understand, paid a price she didn't know to get him, to find him and bring him out of there.
Pulling her head away from his shoulder, bringing his wet head down to hers, the water enough of a barrier for now. Losing themselves in each other for a moment realising how close they'd come to losing everything they had for a dream of lights and make-believe.

When they finally pulled apart they were both heaving with the need to finish what had been started but there was more to do. Others needed them and they'd have to wait until later, a silent agreement reached between them and they set off at a run back down the road.
The only things left in the field were the remains of a statue that had once been alive, it's diamond teeth glinting in the new frost that was picking out the wetness all around.

*****************************************

When they reached home the false dawn was beginning to show it's face, the run home hadn't been without incident but it wasn't anything like the oddness of the night before. The gates of the mansion were wide open, tyre marks were burned into the asphalt of the drive and Logan's mind went directly to Pieter and their
passengers. The house was lit like a christmas tree, every light was on and they could both see people moving around inside. No one was screaming but there was a tension in the air as they both ran to the front doors.

It opened before they got there and Jubilee threw herself into them both, her shudders telling them both of her relief that they were safe. Marie made sure that she avoided any skin to skin contact with her but Jubillee's face split into a thin smile when she let them both go. "Come on everyones been asking about you," following her into the house they could see the kids with brushes, they were sweeping everywhere. Piles of reddish dust were being piled up and collected in plastic bags. Ororo was directing the clean up along with Pieter, when he saw Logan and Marie he just nodded to them both and kept working.
Marie's curiosity was working overtime and she just spilled it as they walked through the school. "What happened here? What's with all the dust?" Jubilee punched the keypad to call the lift that would take them down to medbay. Her friend turned her frail smile to her face and waited until the door had opened before she answered them.
"It's the dust, it brings your fears to life. We had everything we ever feared thrown at us, all of us."

The last sentence wasn't lost on them both, Jubilee carried on "We had to call for a different doc, I used the list on Jeans computer, she wasn't really in any
state to help anyone but herself. Both her and the Professor were pretty catatonic, it was only when Pieter broke the doors down did we finally get a grip on what was happening to us all." Her face seemed to struggle with something that she didn't understand but she said it anyway. "It was as if he'd brought god with him on his feet, everywhere he went the kids just seemed to come round or fought back. Even me."

The lift pinged and the door slid back revealing the sterile corridor, the sound of many voices met their ears. Still confused they walked down to the medbay, the beds were full, as was the floor. Kids with injuries filled every space and his face must have spoken for him because Jubilee answered the question on his mind. "Just because it's a fear doesn't mean it isn't real Logan,"
he noticed some of the kids paled as he walked in, the cuts on their bodies were ones he recognised. They were his marks, their fear had been him and he'd come for them in the night. Marie caught his stiffening and clutched his arm through the wet cloth that covered it. Her support was needed now as they moved through the kids,
seeking out the adults that were supposed to keep them safe from the world.

*****************************************

They found them in a seperate room, Bobby was hooked up to various drips, Kitty was dosed and asleep, Scott was pale but awake on a gurney his soon to be wife resting on a bed next to his own. The Professor was still out for the count, a set of wires reading his brain waves as he slept. Scott noticed them as they entered, his face colouring as he fought to remain composed as they approached.
Before he spoke a large blue furred mutant dressed in a white lab coat appeared, he took one look at the two of them and quickly assessed them both. "You must be Logan and Rogue, I'm Doctor Henry McCoy, Jubilee contacted me as soon as she could. I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave here if you're not injured in any way. Several of the children had a run in with you or their version of
you and I don't wish them upset anymore than is necessary." Logan nodded, he saw the sense of Doctor in front of him but Marie didn't appreciate the accusation.

"HE, didn't hurt them!" The look of tired exasperation on his face spoke of the hours he'd been working down here.
"I know that and so do they but at the moment it's better if you both just go and get some rest. There's a lot to do here and I don't really need to sedate more children than is absolutely necessary."

Marie finally understood what he was trying to get through to her, Jubilee touched her arm and she smiled at her as she spoke, the sense getting through to her with her no nonsense approach. "Look no one is saying that Logan did it, the kids did it themselves, their own fear did it. They know he'd never hurt them Rogue, hell he gave
his life for you and he'd only known you for a few hours at most. They know he's a good guy, just that he can be a little intimidating for them you know?" It was Logan who pulled her into him and began to drag her back out of the med bay. He left Jubilee down there with everyone else, he wanted to see Pieter before they went to bed.

***********************************************

When he eventually found him he was in the kitchen nursing a glass of clear liquid that was obviously not soda. Pieter just handed him the glass and got himself a new one, Marie was with Ororo in the hallway getting the details from her about how she got away from the carnival.
Drinking the firey liquid in one pass he winced at the strength of it watching the big man smile as he refilled his glass. When he had Logan spoke, "Jubilee told me what happened when you got here." The big man just nodded silently, his eyes were reddened from crying, he lifted the glass and emptied it again wincing as he put it back down on the table. Logan could feel him searching for the right words to explain it all but coming up with nothing. Picking up the bottle he guided the big man outside, under the cold clear air outside they both breathed easier.

Tonight they'd seen a piece of the world that not many got to see, the underside of the world, the darkness that revolves around the brightness, the corruption that eats the fruit to fertilise the soil. A necessity but one that harvests the strong with the weak, he'd felt the call of the Carnival, to lose himself in it's embrace, to kill without thought, to be an animal. Letting the Wolverine win the internal battle, to let go of everything he cared about and just survive. It had been so easy, so much of what he'd wanted he wondered if it had been him that had drawn the thing here, Pieter echoed his thoughts with his words. "We're so full of fear Logan, did we draw them here to feed on us? Did they come because we called
them with our hearts?" The large man had his head turned to the now bare forest across from them, the large expanse of the lawn making it seem further than it was.

"No, they came because it's what they do." Lifting the bottle to his lips he took a drink, seeing Pieter nodding in agreement. The silence stretched over them both as the sun finally rose on a new month, the sky clear and crisp. A smile crept across Pieter's face as he looked around at the frost covered ground.
"We used to call this 'The Mother's Jewels' at home," Logan looked at Pieter and saw the strength in him bolster his own as the sun rose higher.
"The Mother?" Pieter turned to the small white owl in the tree across from them both and raised the bottle to it, making Logan understand finally.
"The Mother. God may look after your soul when you die but it's The Mother's who care for you in life. They were with me last night when we came home, she kept the way clear for us." The simple faith that rang through the words filled his mind as the bird took flight, the
shape shimmering for a second, seeing a wizend old woman with white eyes holding a deck of cards. Taking the bottle from Pieter Logan lifted the spirit to the now diminishing shape and drank his thanks.

Looking behind him at the school, the routine beginning to return to normal he nudged Pieter's side. "Fancy checking out the campground?" Pieter's face split into a large grin, the banked rage firing high in his face as he realised where they'd be going.
"Da!"
"Good, come on, I want to be sure they've gone."
As they left the grounds in the suv, he saw Marie stood in his window, her face calm and her smile telling him she'd be here when he got back. Her fears had been defeated when she'd gotten him out of the cage, his own were yet to come but they'd be dealt with each day she stayed with him. The fortune teller had given him what he'd wanted it was now upto him to keep it.
Raising his hand to her she waved back before leaving the window to go to bed, putting the suv in gear they went to see if there was anything left to deal with that the night hadn't cleared.

*************************************

In the trees on the hill, the owl dropped her taloned feet into the soil, pulling the item out with her claws. It hissed as it left the warm earth, the chain wrapping around her feet as the fob twisted in the air. The dark had had it's fill, it was winters time now, he would come again but not in the memory of the children whose lives
he'd touched. Only three would remember his face and warn those of his lies and promises made of dust and graveyard flesh. With a cry she lifted her wings to the wind and let them carry her away into the world.

THE END