X-Men: Black Fire

 

By Paradox  

 

BOOK II
 

6

 

 

            Although only one in the morning, the club had been closed down early so the interrogation could take place freely, without any possible breaches of the Masquerade. Ash had two of the ghouls take up guard positions at the entrance with a couple more taking up positions at any other access point of the club. When Kitty and Cole reached the front door, he only nodded at the two men, who nodded back and allowed them inside.

 

            As soon as they walked in, Kitty knew that some very bad things were going to happen that night. There were only a few scant vampires, but Kitty could feel their power, emanating from them like heat from a furnace. Priest himself seemed to dwarf the others, his visage like that of a prowling tiger in a cage, waiting to strike. Most of the others seemed to stay away from him with the exception of Ash, who stood close by and spoke in hushed tones with the Prince.

 

            Yet the greatest force in the room, Kitty could tell, was Cole. Raw power literally poured off of him. With his emotions running so high with anticipation, she saw magickal energy crackling along his form every so often. Every vampire in the room offered proper courtesy, bowing their heads in greeting or offering words of welcome. When the two arrived next to the Prince and Archon, they both looked over. Kitty immediately felt their gaze rake across her, drawing a shiver from the young mutant. “What’s going on?” she asked.

 

            “We’ve got the punk who came after you,” Ash explained, “Hammer’s bringing him over now. He should be here in a few minutes.”

 

            “Who’s in charge of the interrogations?” Cole asked, his voice betraying his own desire to be placed in such a position.

 

            I am,” Priest said, his tone bucking any argument.

 

            Cole’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the Prince. “You know I want in on this Priest.”

 

            The Prince nodded. “I know, and you’ll be in on it, but I’m in charge of this.”

 

            “Always,” Cole grumbled, spinning and heading for the bar to get a drink.

 

            Kitty looked after him and then turned back to Ash and Priest. “So, what are you going to do to the guy when you get him, torture?”

 

            Ash shrugged. “If we need to. I figured we could start with vampire mind techniques first.”

 

            “Where were you two all night,” Priest interjected, “I would think that Cole would be out hunting this guy down himself.”

 

            “Oh, we were just with some friends of his. He thought I needed to relax I guess.”

 

            Ash cocked an eyebrow and looked her up and down. “Nice dress.”

 

            “Thanks,” Kitty blushed, “Cole bought it for me while I was asleep today.”

 

            Priest looked at Ash with raised eyebrows, who mirrored the look. “What?” Kitty asked.

 

            “Nothing,” Priest said with a shake of his head, “Anyway, I want you to talk to this guy too. Recognizing him may be important too, do you remember what he looked like?”

 

            Kitty shook her head. “Not really, it was dark in the room.”

 

            “And he’s a vampire,” Priest finished, “Any way you can identify him as the one?”

 

            Kitty shrugged. “I don’t know, but I think so.”

 

            “Good enough.”

 

            A moment later, the doors to Elysium opened and Hammer walked in, the small form bound and tossed over his shoulder looking small and insignificant. He was about thirty and good-looking, but his complexion was extremely pale. Kitty guessed he hadn’t fed for a while. “I’ve got Ricky,” he announced, tossing the figure from his shoulder to the middle of the dance floor, a good thirty feet. As soon as the man landed, he thrashed about and hissed, his fangs gnashing at the air. Kitty pressed herself against Cole, her fingers clutching his arm.

 

            “What is it?” Cole asked as looked at her.

 

            “It’s him,” she whispered.

 

            “What?” he said, his eyes wide. “Are you sure?”

 

            She nodded just as the vampire’s eyes locked onto hers. His thrashing stopped and a smile crept over his pale lips. “Oh, back for more chickie?” He whispered, yet the voice seemed as loud as if he’d been yelling directly into her ear, “You were pretty sweet last time.”

 

            Cole’s eyes suddenly flashed with magickal energy. The vampire, Ricky, was lifted up by some unknown force and hurled into the wall. He was then spun around and slammed down on one of the chairs turned upside-down on a table. The wooden leg drove up through his back, exploding out his chest in a spray of blood. The vampire howled in pain. Kitty cried out in fear and turned her head into Cole’s coat.

 

            “What the hell are you doing?” Priest yelled.

 

            “That’s him,” Cole growled.

 

            “How do you know?”

 

            “Didn’t you hear him?”

 

            The Prince shook his head. “No, what’d he say?”

 

            Cole looked over at the vampire, thrashing about and screaming in pain. “Well he ain’t in torpor, ask him yourself.”

 

            Priest narrowed his eyes and walked over to the vampire. “What’d you just say Ricky?”

 

            “Nothing!” Ricky yelled, “I didn’t say nothing!” His gaze flickered and his eyes locked with Kitty once more. This time, his smile was knowing. It was like he knew he could get out of this situation and was promising he would be back to finish the job he’d started.

 

            Kitty screamed. Cole held her tightly, muffling her screams against him. “It’s okay,” he soothed, “he can’t hurt you.”

 

            “He’s the one that tried to kill me,” Kitty cried, “It’s him!”

 

            Priest looked from Kitty to Ricky and grabbed the vampire by the front of his bloodied shirt, pulling him off the chair leg and slamming him onto the floor. “What have I warned you about Ricky?” Priest asked dangerously.

 

            “Fuck you!” the vampire spat.

 

            Priest looked at Kitty. “Are you sure this is the guy?”

 

            Kitty nodded. “Yeah, it’s him.”

 

            Ash took a drag from his cigarette and stepped up. “Hold on folks, let’s think about this for a minute.” Priest threw him a glare. “Hold on, big fella,” Ash said, “Think about it, Ricky doesn’t have the power to go into people’s minds, he’s only Rabble.”

 

            The group all stopped and thought about that. “You’re right,” Cole said, “There’s no way he could have gone into her mind and block her powers.” He disengaged from Kitty and walked over to Ricky, kneeling down beside him. “Who are you working for Ricky?”

 

            “Go to hell!”

 

            Cole smiled and curled the fingers of one hand. Instantly, a ball of flame crackled to life in his palm. “We can go easy or hard, your choice.” The vampire only glared at him. “Fine, have it your way.” He flicked his fingers and the fireball enveloped Ricky’s leg. The vampire screamed in agony and desperately tried to put the flames out. After ten seconds of the leg burning, the flames disappeared and another ball of flame had appeared in Cole’s hand. “You chose where the next one goes.”

 

            “Jessica!” Ricky howled, “It’s Jessica! She wanted me to go after the girl. She said she wouldn’t prove any problem.”

 

            “Why?”

 

            “I don’t know, she said she was threatening her business and needed to be eliminated, that’s all I know.”

 

            Cole smiled. “Thanks.” He slammed the ball of fire into the vampire’s open mouth and down his throat. Standing up, he turned and started back towards Kitty and Ash as the vampire exploded into a ball of flame.

 

            Priest dove out of the way of the fire and yelled, “Dammit Cole, I wanted him alive!”

 

            The mage looked over his shoulder at Priest. Amazingly, Kitty saw the Prince close his mouth and turn away. No one ever shut up Priest. As the mage walked back over to the group, he looked at Ash. “We go after Jessica, now.”

 

            “Are you sure?” Ash asked, “I don’t think that’s a good idea right now.”

 

            Cole sneered at the vampire. “You’re talking like a Blue-blood, I thought you had Outlander blood in your veins.”

 

            Ash’s eyes narrowed and blazed red. “Give me a reason why I shouldn’t kill you right now.”

 

            “Because Jessica’s a much better kill,” Cole said with a wicked smile.

 

            Ash returned the smile and nodded. “All right, let’s do it.”

 

            “I’m coming with you.”

 

            Both Cole and Ash looked at Kitty. “Excuse me?” Ash asked in surprise.

 

            Kitty folded her arms. “If she’s the one who’s stopped me from using my powers, I want to be in on this.”

 

            “Jessica’s a vampire Kitty, you’d be slaughtered.”

 

            Kitty glared at Cole and jammed and finger into his chest. “You listen to me Cole Raven, I’ve been fighting bad guys like her since I was thirteen. I think I can handle myself.”

 

            Cole looked at Ash for advice and was only rewarded with a shrug. “All right,” Cole finally agreed, “Ash, give her a gun or two. Why don’t you go change clothes Kitty, you have your uniform?”

 

            “Left it back in Winchester.”

 

            “I’ve got something for her,” Priest offered, walking up, “Just look in the closet in my office.”

 

            Kitty looked Priest up and down. “I’m not so sure...”

 

            The Prince smiled. “Relax, their women’s clothes, and they’re all used by vampires getting ready to go into a fight. I’m sure you’ll find something.”

 

            Kitty nodded and raced up into Priest’s office. As soon as she was out of earshot, Priest leaned in close to Cole and said, “Are you sure you want her along with you?”

 

            “What do you mean? She’s been an X-Man for years, I think she can hand one vampire with our help.”

 

            “Yeah, but she had her mutant powers then. Right now, she’s a normal human.”

 

            Cole narrowed his eyes. “Priest, she’s been trained by guys almost as good as me, I think she can handle it.”

 

            The Prince cocked an eyebrow. “Who taught her?”

 

            “Remember the Weapon X program?”

 

            Ash’s eyes went wide. “Of course we remember it, we were the ones that broke into the place and took out five of their best experiments.”

 

            “You remember the files you picked up on a guy named Logan?”

 

            Priest nodded cautiously. “Yeah.”

 

            “Logan is Wolverine of the X-Men, and he taught Kitty himself.”

 

            Both Priest and Ash looked at each other in shock for a moment and then back at Cole. “She goes,” they both said.

 

            “I’m glad you feel that way,” a voice said from above them. The three turned to see Kitty in a lycra body suit that molded to her gentle curves perfectly. Cole forced down the emotions that had started tidalwaveing through him.

 

            “Where did you get that?” he asked shakily.

 

            Kitty shrugged. “It was the only thing I found in the closet that would work with what we have to do tonight.”

 

            Cole looked at the Prince. Priest shrugged and smiled sheepishly. “Rebecca bought it a year ago.”

 

            Cole sighed and shook his head. “It would belong to that sex fiend.”

 

            Priest smiled and licked his lips. “Oh yeah.”

 

            Kitty descended the stairs, the three men watching how the body suit formed to each supple movement. “Any of you guys got a weapon I can use?”

 

            Both Priest and Ash started reaching for guns when Cole drew a katana sword from within his coat. “I keep this for special occasions. I can’t think of a more special one.”

 

            “Thanks,” Kitty said, taking the sword and buckling across her back. “Well, shall we?”

 

            “I’ll stay back here,” Priest said, “If you need me, I’ll have your phones on an open com line. Just yell and I’ll be there.”

 

            “All right,” Cole said with a nod as he pulled out his two Glocks and chambered a round in each. “Let’s do this.” The group walked out of the club. Just before the doors closed behind them, Ash’s voice floated back to Priest’s ears.

 

            “Let’s get dangerous.”