X-Men: Black Fire

By Paradox

BOOK I

Epilogue

“Are you sure you don't want to come back?” Kitty asked, taking Cole’s hands in her gloved ones, “I know that the rest of the team would be more than happy to have you.”

Cole smiled and shook his head. “No, I can’t. Priest asked me to stay here and help him out for a while, and I told him I would. Besides, we need to deal with Dracula so he won’t mess with you guys any more.”

“Can’t Priest and Ash handle it?”

“Yeah,” Cole admitted with a nod, “But I need to stay back here, at least for a while. I promise I’ll visit you as often as I can, but Priest needs me now more than he ever has.”

“I understand,” Kitty said softly. “It’s too bad, I was just starting to,” she paused, gulping secretly, “Like you.”

“Kitty...” She lifted her eyes, looking into Cole’s dark ones, “I’ve found myself falling for you from day one. If I’m not careful, something might happen to you because you’re with me, and that’s something I could never forgive myself of.”

“I can take care of myself,” Kitty insisted, squeezing his hands for effect, “And the rest of the X-Men will help us in any way they can.”

Cole shook his head and looked down. “No, it’s just too soon.” Looking up, he allowed a small smile to lighten his features. “But, as soon as I know it’s safe, I’ll come get you, okay?”

“Okay.”

Before Cole could blink, Kitty threw herself into his arms and kissed him passionately. Cole kissed her back with fervor unlike anything he had experienced. It was like a ray of sunshine had broken through the dark clouds of his soul and warmed his heart. When they finally broke, both were out of breath. “Wow,” Cole gasped, “For a kiss like that, I’ll do my damnedest to make sure I get this thing over with as soon as possible.”

“I’ll hold you to that Cole,” Kitty said softly before releasing his hands and running up the ramp of the Blackbird. Just before she disappeared inside, she threw him a wink, and then the entry door slid shut. With a silent whine from the engines, the plane lifted from the top of the Excalibur club, where they had hidden it earlier with magick, and shot off into the night.

Cole sighed as he watched the small black speck grow fainter and fainter. “Soon Kitty, I promise.”

“You realize that I am quite upset with you,” a female voice said from above and behind him.

“Do you think I really give a shit?” he shot back.

“You had best, young Raven,” the voice said menacingly, “Or I might just take my revenge out on that little mutant girl you have fallen in love with.”

Cole spun, his body crackling with magick. “Stay the hell away from her Lilith or I’ll send the entire conclave of magi against you!”

The voice laughed merrily, yet no body accompanied it. “You do not have the status to be able to carry out such threats.”

“Maybe,” Cole agreed, “But I also have high status in the Kindred and Garou societies, and they can both come with to the ass-kicking party at your house.” The comment drew silence. “We’ll have our showdown soon,” he reassured the dark Goddess, “I promise you. But stay away from Kitty and the X-Men.”

For several moments, nothing was said. Then, “Very well, mage, I will leave your precious X-Men alone, but I will come for you soon.”

Cole felt a tingling of magick and knew the presence of Lilith was gone, leaving him alone on the roof once more. Soon, he would have to confront her, and he only hoped he had the power to defeat her. It was the main reason he refused to return to the X-Mansion with Kitty, to keep her out of the battle. If he lost, he wanted her to live a full and healthy life.

“Oh well,” he sighed to himself, “Might as well busy myself with interrogating Vlad.”

He turned and started for the private office when he heard “Gun!” A second later, the sound of a double-barreled, sawed-off shotgun going off filled the air, accompanied by the screams of its victim. “That’s if he leaves me anything to work with,” he chuckled, walking into the office.

It was going to turn out to be an interesting night.