Fan Fiction ❯ Changing Patterns ❯ Climbing Higher ( Chapter 6 )

~My Immortal~
These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase

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A iren awoke early by habit. She changed into her fighting clothes and went to wake Erik up with a spark. It was a joke that she had played on him before, and had encouraged him to wake before she did. She opened Erik's bedroom door and saw that he was gone. `Odd.' She thought.

She combed her hair and brushed her teeth before going above deck. She got there, but Erik wasn't there either. She frowned and looked everywhere on the ship.

`He's gone.' She thought sadly. `I'm sure he'll be back.' With that she went to work teleporting and using her electrical powers to burn time until Erik got back.

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E rik wandered thoughtfully. He knew Airen would be angry with him for using his powers, but he needed to be alone for a while. He wandered throughout Bayville, watching mutants and humans interact. He was in no danger of being found out by Xavier as long as he had his shield up.

He watched, interested, as the Brotherhood worked together to lure the younger of the X-Men towards the park. It was working, he realized. Grimly, he followed. `What are they trying to do?' He wondered.

A crow landed in front of him. It changed to reveal the blue-skinned Mystique. She smiled. “You are about to see the trap of a life time.” She stated proudly. Erik walked past her to watch.

Suddenly, four mutants that he'd never seen before joined in the fray. Despite their attempts, they trod even deeper into the trap. He recognised them from Airen's fiond descriptions as Elise, James, Jasmyn, and Zenn.

“The demise of the X-Men,” She purred, “is at hand.” Erik narrowed his eyes.

“And how...” He then saw it. The symbol. He saw an invisible net, the symbol of Eternity etched on it. He remembered...

: “Remember this: If you betray me and one mere brush of your skin against this net will result in a slow, painful end for you...” :

Erik's eyes came back into focus and he saw that the mutants were almost under it. Mere seconds. He closed eyes. Airen. For Airen.

He embraced his power and, roaring, charged out of the brush. All of the mutants stopped, surprised at Erik's sudden appearance. “Magneto?!” Someone shouted and the insanity began.

Encouraged, the Brotherhood worked harder. Frantic, the mutants retreated into the trap. Erik took off and grabbed onto the net at it began its swift decent.

Pain like non he'd ever felt before coursed through his veins. He forced himself to pull the net up and began to fly away with it, but his powers vanished as though they'd never been. He roared in pain and began to plummet to the earth, immobilized by the net's power, when he began to float.

The net fell away, landibng on he ground with a soft thump, but he was still flying. “Erik.” He heard. He looked around, groggy. Airen floated near him, her face showing her concern. He smiled.

“I caught it.” He murmured before everything went black.

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Airen felt awful. She should have known that Erik would get into trouble. After she'd set Erik safely on the ground, she'd exploded. The entire city had blacked out as she attacked the Brotherhood. Not a one had escaped her rage unscathed.

Thankfully she'd remembered the awful sounds and scents that had accompanied Eternity's death or else she would have killed the lot of them. After she'd `seen them off' she retreated back to Erik.

He was barely breathing. Airen had seen Eternity's symbol was on the net. It was more than a possibility that the encounter would effect his powers, if he recovered. She had been so worried that she didn't even realize that tears streamed down her face.

She looked up at the X-Men and her friends. They didn't even argue to help bring him back to the mansion for treatment. Whether it was because they felt that they owed Erik for saving them or because they feared to further invoke Airen's powers onto them not even they knew.

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A iren sat, grave and sad as she awaited any news from the medical lab. No one spoke to her, something that she was glad for. In an attempt to get her mind off of Erik, she tried to calculate how much electrical energy she had left. It didn't work.

She felt like she was about to cry again. She angrily fought her tears back. It would embarrass Erik if she cried over him. Eons seemed to pass before a rather harassed looking Hank McCoy came out.

Airen stood, relieved. “Airen, come with me, please.”

She followed and went past him when she saw Erik. Hank snorted and left, probably to get the Professor.

He smiled weakly. “Traitor.” He whispered, reffering to being brought to Xavier's people for help.

“I learned from a great teacher.” She joked, remembering that he'd used his powers. “Can you...?” She paused. The question of wether or not he still had his powers floated between them, unspoken.

“I don't know.” He admitted.

“Don't try, yet.” She said. He nodded in agreement.

- Absolutely terrific. - Airen cocked her head.

“What's terrific?” She asked. Erik frowned.

- You heard me? -

Airen was about to reply when she decided to try something different.

- Yes. - The thought towards him.

- Amazing. Telepathy? - Erik asked.

- Well, it could be. But it's not my power. - Airen mentally stated, confused.

- Nor mine. Maybe a combination of our powers made a pathway? - He asked.

- Why wasn't it there before? - Airen questioned.

- Maybe it was... but something had to trigger it. - Erik mused.

- This must mean that you still have your powers. - Airen pointed out.

- Yes. - Erik closed his eyes, tired.

Airen felt Charles enter the room. She looked at him, silently showing him her relief with her eyes. He smiled.

“Magnus, how can I thank you for saving my X-Men?” He asked. Airen had filled him in of the deadliness of Eternity's weapons in order to convince Charles to help his injured enemy.

Erik grinned, looking up at his old friend. “I've been thinking.” He mused. “Airen needs to be with her friends. Maybe she could stay here with you.”

“I still have a lot to learn...” Airen growled. “I'm not leaving you.”

“I never said anything about leaving you.” Erik said. “Charles?”

“You may have saved my X-Men, but how do I know that you won't turn on them? Corrupt them? Even force them to join you?” Charles asked, skeptical.

Before Erik could answer for himself, Airen interrupted. “I know he won't because if he does he'll learn what `gelded' means first hand.” Almost menacingly, she bared a few inches of her sword to Erik.

Charles raised an eyebrow while Erik laughed. “She means it too.” Erik said. “Not even the Acolytes dare cross her path. Even when she's in a good mood.”

“Okay. I'll give you a chance to stay. It would be better to watch you train Airen while you're both on our side than experience her powers first hand in a battle.”

“If I could get Airen to turn against you.” Erik said seriously, “Then the world would collapse.” Airen stood straight and proud. “She's as loyal as they come.”

- Airen? - Erik called.

- Yes? - Airen replied back.

- I need to talk to you. -

- About what? -

- Tomorrow. -

- Okay. -

“Prof. Xavier?” Airen asked.

“Yes?” He answered.

“Thanks.”