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