Irons in the Fire - Part 5 My Sister's Keeper

Dani wasn't the one with the enhanced senses, but she could still smell and feel that something wasn't right with the sister of her spirit.

She was too quiet. She was spending more and more time out of the dorm. She never came to eat with her anymore. She even avoided Doug, 'Locke, and Sam.

During those few moments each day when she spent any time with her, Dani noticed the little differences. Rahne's eyes never quite met hers lately. Her footsteps were quieter, more furtive. Rahne suddenly made herself smaller, taking up less space, almost as though she were afraid to get too close, or nudge her in the slightest, even by accident.

It had been two weeks since the incident in the shower. Ever since then, Rahne had been studiously avoiding Dani in the bathrooms and the locker room, so Dani couldn't even tell if she had acquired any more welts. Sticking to her promise, she told no one, not even Shan, of what had happened to her. The knowledge and memory of Rahne's battered flesh ate at Dani like acid.

The world turned on its ear again today, when Dani saw Rahne in the dining hall. She actually bypassed her usual table with the Mutants in favor of shyly approaching the Hellions on the opposite side. Dani nearly choked on her sandwich as Rahne crept up to Jenny, Sharon and Marie, her books clasped in front of her chest.

"Rahne can't stand those girls," Dani muttered around the mouthful of bread and tuna that suddenly tasted dry.

"S'not so bad. What'll it hurt for Rahne to make some new friends for a change?"

"They've always treated us like crap," Dani shot back with a glare. Doug looked sheepish. "Especially Rahne."

"Maybe they've come around. It'd be the first smart thing any of 'em have ever done. We've always been crazy about Carrot-Top, it's about time they found out what they've been missin,' don'tcha think?" Sam took a long pull on his Coke. Dani stared at him incredulously. Ohh, Guthrie, if only you knew how badly Rahne wanted to hear you say you've always been crazy about her, you big oaf!

"Don't give them that much credit," Dani scoffed. She yelped as tiny slithering probes of techno-organic filaments crept past her arm, finding their way into her bag of potato chips. "LOCKE!" The yellow Lays bag and all of its contents were engulfed in a web of grayish circuitry, glowing as Warlocke absorbed what he needed from it. "Maybe I wanted some of those chips," Dani sighed.

"Query, self-friend Dani: Is Dani experiencing the earth-born female phenomenon known as 'that time of the month?" Warlocke's tone was earnest. Doug merely ducked his face into his hand.

Across the dining hall, Rahne approached the round table and stood patiently behind Jenny, waiting to be acknowledged. Manuel eyed Rahne wolfishly, taking in the plain uniform, dark socks and flat shoes, the makeup-free face and boyishly cut red hair.

"You lost?" Rahne swallowed sharply, stiffening her posture.

"Nay." Jenny and Marie turned, twisting in their seats to look up at the unexpected visitor.

"What's up, Fuzzy," Jenny smirked. Rahne held two text books crooked in one arm. Her free hand clasped a shiny green apple.

"Can I sit with you?"

Sharon wrinkled her nose. Jimmy and Manuel exchanged knowing glances, their eyes gleaming with thinly veiled malice.

"Siddown, Red." Jenny pulled up a chair and patted the seat, allowing Rahne to ease into it, squeezed tightly between her and Marie. She sipped her soda, pulling hard on the straw, leaving behind wine-red lipstick. Rahne set her books under the table and reached for the pile of paper napkins in the center, plucking one from the top.

"I was wondering...how're ye gettin' t'class tonight?" Rahne inquired, biting into her apple. Jenny silently admired the tiny, even teethmarks left behind.

"Company car. Marie and I are going together. Why, wanna come with?" Marie raised her eyebrow.

"Och, I won't if it's too much trouble..."

"'Course not. Come with us," Jenny urged. "We won't bite. Not this time, anyway." Marie rolled her eyes.

"Hey Rahne, where did you go with Tessa that day that we saw her car out front?" Rahne's mouth labored over chewing for a moment.

"We...went out," Rahne hedged. "To a store. To get some things that Miss Frost said I needed. That's all."

"What kind of store?" Marie prodded.

"Er...a women's store. A boutique. Downtown," Rahne declared, as though that should explain everything.

"Sure were gone a long time."

"Dinna fash yuirself," Rahne snapped. "Tessa had some errands to run. I jus' went along with her so she wouldn't be troubled wi' givin' me a ride back to the dormitory an' breakin' up her day with an extra trip."

Jenny eyed Rahne thoughtfully as she took another sip of Sprite. "Fine, fine. Sorry I ruffled your feathers."

"Why don't we meet at five-thirty, then?" Marie suggested. "By the library steps. That'll give all of us the chance to shower and change."

"Kay," Jenny chirped.

"All right," Rahne agreed, relaxing and finishing her apple. The conversation proceeded to soar over Rahne's head from that point on as Jenny and Marie chattered on about music, Tom Cruise in "Top Gun," and shoes. Jimmy and Manuel looked bored. Rahne stared longingly at her usual table across the hall, catching a glimpse of Dani's thunderous, hurt look. She ducked her head and pretended to be interested in Jenny's description of her father's casino.

The fifth period bell sounded, signaling the end of lunch. Rahne quickly scooted her chair back and grabbed her books. "I'll see ye later, Jenny. Marie," she nodded.

"Bye," Manuel sneered at her retreating back. He eyed her petite body and slender legs flashing as she all but fled the dining hall. "She's so damned uptight."

"Knock it off, Manny, give her a break, will ya?" Jimmy warned.

"Hard to believe there's a wolf hiding under the surface, eh? She's always such a goody-goody, acting like she wants to go running home to Mommy," he continued, ignoring Jimmy. He was enjoying himself now that Rahne wasn't there to defend himself. "Or like she wants to hide under her friend Moonstar's skirt!"

"Manny, that's ENOUGH." Jimmy clouted his shoulder. "OWWWW! Manuel rubbed it, glaring at him. "No one lays hands on a de la Rocha," he snarled.

"Dani probably will, if you keep messing with Rahne. I'd think twice about talking like that about Dani, for that matter. Watch your mouth, wise ass." Jimmy had a grudging respect for Dani, particularly how she always stood up to him whenever their teams tussled in the past. Jimmy slung his backpack over his shoulder. "Later."

"Glowing Eyes Slyboy not act nicey-nice with little Redfur-furperson. Catseye is watching Slyboy-Manny. Catseye show Slyboy how to act nicey-nice, hmmmm?" Sharon purred, narrowing her purple eyes into slits. She flicked her tail in passing. Manuel made a noise of disgust.

Dani watched Rahne's departure, playing with a few scenarios before shoving back her chair and grabbing her bag. "I'm outta here."

"Bye, Chief," Sam called, shoving the last bite of sandwich into his mouth.

"Don't you think this little feud going on between those two is kinda weird?" Doug mused.

"Naw. Girls fight. My baby sisters sho' nuff did their share."

"Your sisters don't have the mental and emotional bond between them that those two do, though, Sam. Dani can hear Rahney's thoughts two-thirds of the time. She would know if something was going on with Rahne. Unless, for some reason, she's shutting her out on purpose." Uneasy tingles crept up the nape of Sam's neck.

"Aw, hell, NOW you've made me worry."

Massachusetts Academy, headmistress' office, 2PM:

Emma pored over the girlish handwriting of the slim black binder, occasionally smiling at some of the class observations and impressions Rahne had made during these short two weeks.

"Mistress Nachtenfrau doesn't seem to like me very much. She always calls on me and acts like it's killing her to listen to me talk when I give her the answer. I can speak English perfectly fine, just like everyone else." That, dear girl, Emma thought, was a matter of opinion.

"Yesterday we learned about posture and proper carriage, and the correct way to make an entrance at an event. I think Moira would have been pleased with me. Learning how to walk the right way is trickier, though. I don't know what she means by 'gliding.' I've been able to put one foot in front of the other since I was but a babe, I think I need different shoes...or perhaps there's just something wrong with me." Emma tutted at the sorrowful note.

"A successful hostess makes a point of learning as much about her guests as she can before entertaining them and extending invitations. Proper etiquette demands that the hostess be accommodating to her guests' wishes and needs. A hostess must be gracious and give the appearance that her guest's pleasure is no trouble at all."

"The other girls don't seem to think much of me yet. I'm trying hard to prove to Mistress Nachtenfrau that I can handle it. I don't want her to think I've had no training in how to be a lady, or that I'm a baby. Sometimes, she treats me like that. Like I'm a child.

She scares me. She really does." Emma's breath caught. She pressed the button on her intercom. "Tessa?"

"Yes, Miss Frost?"

"Could you drop in for a moment? I need to talk to you."

"Right away, Miss Frost." Seconds later Tessa swept in, resplendent in a simple black wrap dress and matching blazer, sheer black, back-seamed stockings, and kitten-heeled pumps. "What's on your mind?"

"I think you already know. I want to discuss Rahne Sinclair's progress in the acceleration program. As well as her recent trip off-campus with you. Did everything go according to plan?" Emma reached into her desk for her Silk Cut and pearl-handled lighter.

"It actually went even better than I expected. I bypassed the psychic walls that Xavier erected in her mind. He's taken this measure before, with mixed results," Tessa hedged, shuddering as she thought back to Hellfire's files on Jean Grey. "The energy signature that resides in her psyche is not actually hers."

"Whose is it?"

"It belongs to a young woman named Tandy Bowen. More specifically, a genetically altered vigilante calling herself Dagger."

"Genetically altered?" Emma's voice was skeptical. "Not a mutant?"

"No. Not necessarily. Even the press doesn't know what to make of her, or of her partner, a young man who calls himself Cloak. They don't appear to be criminals, but they have had altercations with the police due to their methods of cleaning up the streets. They target drug dealers in particular."

"How did Rahne become associated with Dagger?"

"You would have to probe her mind in more depth than I could, Miss Frost. At some point they met. And at some point, her power affected Rahne, Dagger's power is an unknown quantity. From what I can tell, it triggers an intense urge of self-reflection within her target..."

"Meaning...?" Emma prodded.

"Meaning...that the victim faces the darkness in their psyche head on. Perhaps even the darkness in their soul. In a sense, Dagger can burn away the façade built up around a person's secrets, laying them bare. And if she so chooses, she can purge that evil away with her light. Light so pure it's overwhelming."

"I don't see the intrinsic value of this. I wanted you to unbury the sensualist that I found hiding inside of her, not some ridiculous 'Angel of Light.'"

"Ahhh. I see. However, there is one facet of this power of hers that manifests itself more physically. Dagger's power has the side benefit of bringing the best of herself to the surface." Emma felt a shift in the psychic static of the room as Tessa lowered her psychic shields, wordlessly allowing Emma access to her thoughts. Tessa laid the offer on the table. See for yourself, Miss Frost. Then Tessa released the memory of what she found behind Xavier's walls, in all of its luminous, blinding glory. Rahne glowed within its nexus.

Emma gasped. She suddenly felt dizzy and flushed as heat crept into her cheeks.

"It's...wondrous. So beautiful," she whispered. "So unbelievably beautiful."

"I will keep you apprised of her progress. I've also got Manuel de la Rocha waiting in the lobby for this appointment with you." Tessa nodded at the binder resting on Emma's blotter. "Enjoying yourself?"

"Thoroughly."

"See if she mentioned anything about chocolate. The child adores it, by the way. Keep that in mind." A thin plume of smoke swirled out through Emma's smiling lips as Tessa clicked the door shut behind her.

Minutes later, a low knock sounded against the door. "Come in," Emma beckoned. Manuel's thoughts were impatient and preceded him across the threshold.

"You wished to speak with me, Miss Frost?"

"Sit down, Manuel. I have a special assignment for you." Emma dispensed with preamble. "Some of your classmates have an evening seminar to attend at the Worthington Center down in Salem. I will need you to make yourself available as their escort."

"Whose?" Manuel looked bored.

"Two of your teammates, Jenny and Marie. And one of the new freshman transfers from Xavier's, Rahne Sinclair."

"Wolfsbane?" His tone dripped with disbelief and scorn. "I can see why you'd want an escort for her, but why is she going to classes with the other two? She's such a baby..."

"Hush, boy. You haven't a clue, so don't make assumptions that you'll have to eat later. It's not just your escort that she will need." Emma took another hard pull on her Silk Cut, drawing Manuel's attention to her full pink lips. "I have need of your skills. Rahne has been having a difficult time fitting in. I would like you to make her feel more at home in her surroundings, and among present company."

"Oh?" Emma suppressed a smile at the naked intrigue in his voice.

"Oh, yes. I had something in mind for her along the lines of the little 'push' that you gave Nurse Friedlander and Officer Corsi." Manuel smiled at the memory of it, envisioning the wild gropings and gasps as the faculty members of Xavier's school went at it like a pair of mating dogs in the stables. It was so hard to break away from the sight.

"Let me get this straight...you want me to give Rahne the hots for..."

"Anyone and everyone. I want you to boost her natural willingness to please. She is normally quite submissive, that isn't a problem. Moreover, I want you to zero in on her loyalty to Xavier and her classmates, and diminish it, and pave the way for her undying dedication to Hellfire." Emma's voice purred, but her eyes were shrewd and flinty.

Manuel schooled his expression. "What will that get me?" A grain of a plan sprouted within him. Sinclair was such an unsophisticated scrap of a girl, but she had possibilities.

"Provided that you don't take any...liberties, it would move you closer to the dean's list than you could manage on your own gumption. Perhaps even closer to the candidate pool for becoming a White Rook?" Manuel expelled his breath in a low whistle. "But," she emphasized with gravity, "Rahne is not to be your puppet. I have something specific in mind for her gifts, and Hellfire needs her allegiance.

Manuel scoffed. "Hardly a problem." Manuel's visions of Rahne begging for his attentions were quickly dismissed with thoughts of himself as a full-fledged member of the Inner Circle. Some day.

"Good. I'm glad we understand each other. Have a good afternoon, Manuel."

He nodded, grinning impishly as he took his leave.

Women's dormitory, two weeks later, 5:30PM:

"Och! I can't find me shoes," Rahne fretted. "Dani, have ye seen my new black pumps?"

"No, I haven't, Carrot-Top," Dani murmured, slightly puzzled. "Since when do you own black pumps?"

"Tessa ordered them for me a while back. I need 'em for tonight's class. Me walk still needs work."

"You walk fine. For that matter, you talk fine," Dani complained.

"Och! I mean...I'm trying as hard as I can. And it is hard," Rahne emphasized, struggling painstakingly over each syllable. "Ye...I mean, YOU get used to talking a certain kind of way."

"No need to stand on ceremony or get fancy here, Rahney, it's just me. I'm a country girl at heart." Dani rifled through the pages of her history book as she watched Rahne from the corner of her eye. "Or at least a mountain girl."

Dani's gaze moved silently over Rahne, noting little differences. The change had started slowly, but she couldn't help but notice it now.

Rahne had grown taller. Normally Dani towered over Rahne by about three or four inches. Now they were only about an inch from seeing eye to eye. Dani longed to write it off as a growth spurt, Rahne was young yet. Except that Rahne had an active menstrual cycle for a couple of years already. Sprouting up three inches after puberty wasn't common, and this case, Dani fumed, perhaps not natural, either.

Rahne hadn't had much of an appetite that Dani could tell, either, but that was a moot point. Rahne had stopped sitting with her, Sam, Shan, and Doug a long time ago. From what she could see of Rahne through the crowd in the cafeteria, Rahne wasn't bringing a fully loaded tray to the table, just a half a sandwich, or a piece of fruit, sometimes a cup of soup. This made her rapid growth so much more baffling.

What could make a girl with a normally generous, healthy appetite stop craving food?

Aside from Rahne's quieter, moodier demeanor, Dani read other strange signals. Rahne's voice changed. The girlish, cheerful tones were gone, replaced by something deeper, huskier, yet surprisingly lyrical and resonant. On the rare moments where Rahne laughed now, her voice actually startled onlookers into turning toward the source of that amazing sound.

Most disturbing, though, if someone wanted to find such a thing disturbing, was Rahne's hair. It was still a brilliant, coppery red with a healthy sheen. It still caught the sunlight and made the ideal frame for her limpid eyes. Except that now, it was different. If Dani had to put her finger on it, it had...grown. Rahne's hair had actually grown long enough to dust the back of her collar, falling in soft, careless curls.

In the two years that Dani had know Rahne, her hair had never grown one inch. Grown back over a healing head injury? Sure. Grown so much as a centimeter longer, though, no. Still, Dani mused, the change WAS fetching.

"Here they are!" Rahne crowed in triumph. She pawed through her dresser drawer, extracting a neatly rolled pair of sheer black nylons. Dani watched as Rahne pulled them on expertly, carefully lining up the back seam with the center of her calf. She stepped into her pumps and straightened her skirt. Dani tried to place what else was wrong with this picture.

Ah, yes. She could actually see Rahne's knees. Her pleated skirt was short and flared, swinging rhythmically as she walked. Rahne crossed the room to examine herself in the mirror, sighing as she pushed her hair behind her ear.

"Rahne, when're you coming back tonight?"

"Most likely by about eight. Don't worry, Dani, you always know where to find me," Rahne jibed.

"I know," Dani relented. "I just...miss you. I miss talking to you. We never have time to hang out anymore." Rahne paused in collecting her black binder and cardigan from her desk.

"I didn't know you felt that way. I've just been busy, Dani. We all have, with all of our classes here. Ye've always – I mean, you've always told me I need to stop being so shy all the time."

"I know, but..."

"But what?" Rahne was growing impatient now. She had to meet Jenny and Marie.

"I didn't mean stop talking to me. I never meant that I wanted you to stop being my friend, just because you're making other friends here. Rahne," Dani began, anxious about her next words, "I know I upset you that one morning. Even though it's been killing me, I haven't said anything about those bruises to Sam, or to anyone else, not even Shan. If I offended you, I'm sorry. And if there's nothing for me to worry about, then that's great. Just great." Dani didn't mean a word of it. She knew something was wrong.

"I appreciate it. Can I go now?" Rahne held Dani's gaze without hostility, silently begging her not to press on. Dani ignored her plea.

"Not just yet. Rahne, I know you never had any parents to talk to when you were growing up, and...I know Reverend Craig wasn't the nicest person most of the time. Rahney...when you think about the things a parent is supposed to do, do you automatically see someone that beats you when you've done something wrong?"

"Dani...! Have ye gone completely DAFT?!" Rahne's cheeks flushed deep scarlet. "Of course not! What a bluidy ridiculous thing t'say!" Dani winced at the anger in her voice, but was grateful for her momentary lapse back into her brogue.

"People that love you wouldn't hurt you. Or use you. True friends don't treat you like that, either. You came home covered in bruises, Rahne. You never explained why. You ran from me as though Hell were nipping at your heels..."

"I already explained it t'ye once," Rahne hissed. "It's none o' yuir bluidy concern."

"Yes it is, if anything happens to you. I couldn't bear it. You know that. Every time anyone's harmed so much as a hair on your head" – and Dani grimaced, her eyes darting to Rahne's longer locks – "it's torn little pieces out of me, and I want to tear them apart. I can't stand the thought of anyone hurting you. I-I just can't," she stammered. Her eyes glimmered as she crossed her arms over her chest, ducking her face away on a sniffle.

"Yuir actin' like I'm the only one that's ever taken bluidy careless risks." Dani was shocked out of her despair by a wave of indignation. "Ye traipsed out into the bluidy snow in the middle o' the night, with nothing but yuir bow and arrow an' some stinkin' war paint," Rahne gritted out between her teeth. "Ye decided ye couldn't ask yuir friends, Dani, or ME! Couldn't ask ME, the one who loves ye like a sister, fer bein' the only person in the world who understands me, in an' out, to help ye against the cursed beastie that took yuir lovin' parents from ye. Ye have some nerve, Dani, lecturin' me like this." Dani chafed as Rahne continued to take her down several more pegs. "Let's not forget about ye trampin' out in the middle o' the night again, in Nova Roma, t'look for Amara an' fight Selene on yuir own. Ye scared ten years off o' my life, ye silly bint! Do I have t'even remind ye o' the time ye hopped on a motorcycle as the Dark Rider?! Sensible girls don't endanger themselves like that! Yes, ye felt it was fer the best at the time, Dani, but ye didn't give a bluidy damn about the CONSEQUENCES!" Rahne's voice grew hoarse as fat, bitter tears rolled down Dani's cheeks.

"I-I didn't know you felt that way."

"I do, by God. Ye don't seem t'love yuir life verra much, Dani. Ever since ye became a Valkyrie, all ye've done is challenge death. Arrows, spears, six-shooters, you always throw yuirself into his path. Maybe it's been killin' me t' think m'best friend can't be bothered to take care of herself and make some shambling attempt to stay...stay in...m'life, w-with meeee..." Rahne's voice lurched to a stop on a plaintive wail as she crumbled. Dani sat transfixed, holding her clenched fist to her mouth, fighting against the howls rising up in her chest.

"Rahney...please," Dani whimpered, tentatively reaching out to her, her hand trembling. Rahne's face was a ruined mess of blotches and heartbreak. Shame and regret mingled with her tears.

"Nay, dinna even bother. I'm goin,' Dani. G'night to ye." Rahne hastily slammed the door after her. Dani made a motion toward the door. "Rahney, don't...don't leave..."

She collapsed against the door, ignoring the pain as she banged her balled up fist against the pine. Ragged sobs tore from her throat as the minutes ticked on.

Rahne dashed the tears from her face and ran into the women's rest room. Tripping her way to the sink, Rahne yanked on the cold spigot, sloshing water into the sink and splashing handfuls of it on her cheeks. She ground her knuckles into her eyes, trying to rub away the vision of Dani, staring at her as though she'd just stabbed her through the heart. In a way, she had. "Oh Father, forgive me, please. I've been horrible. I'm evil fer lashin' out at her that way." Straightening, Rahne wiped her face with some paper towels and crumpled them, relishing the chance to crush something in her hand. Tossing them in the wastebasket, she headed out.

Rahne studied herself as she walked swiftly to the library. A sly female voice called out, "Remember, Miss Sinclair, you must glide when you enter a room." Rahne whirled, surprised and relieved to see Jenny and Marie behind her.

"Och, I'm so glad I'm not late, I was worried that ye might've been waitin' fer me."

"Nope. Just freshening up my makeup."

"That always uses up a good hour or two," Marie harped, rolling her eyes.

"You know you love me," Jenny trilled, pinching her. "C'mon. Let's go. The car's waiting for us. Manny said he'd meet us –"

"Hola, senoritas." Manuel strode up quietly, enjoying the startled look on Marie's face as he snuck up on her, poking his fingers sharply into her sides, tickling her mercilessly. Rahne lowered her eyes, avoiding his assessing gaze. Rahne could never quite put aside her distrust of Manuel, even though they attended the same school now. Jimmy never made her feel quite so uncomfortable. Nor did Haroun, he was always quite formal and stiff, but polite.

"Pig!" Marie swatted him heartily. Manuel leered.

"You're supposed to be our escort, but who's s'posed to protect us from you?" Jenny quipped.

"I'm at your service, ladies." He was only looking at Rahne as he said this. She shivered beneath his gaze. Sternly she reminded herself, I'm only a wee slip of a girl now, but I'm also a wolf. He kinna hurt me...not really.

They strolled out to the main courtyard, where two black cars were parked. A uniformed driver stood leaning against the hood of the first car, reading a newspaper.

"Why're there two cars?" Jenny wondered, wrinkling her brow.

"Rahne and I are taking the second car," Manuel explained, taking Rahne's arm and propelling her toward it. Rahne glanced back helplessly at Marie, who shrugged.

"I thought we were all going together," Marie muttered.

"We are," Manuel flung over his shoulder. "In two separate cars." The driver snapped his paper shut and tucked it under his arm as they approached, opening the door for Rahne. Manuel thoughtfully guided Rahne in, urging her to duck her head so as not to bump it on the door frame. Marie and Jenny exchanged glances.

"Am I the only one who thinks this is odd?" Jenny asked to no one in particular.

"See you in class, Rahney," Marie called. She looped her arm through Jenny's and urged her to the second sedan. At least it was posh.

Holy Ghost Church, New York:

"Father Michael!" Cloak's voice boomed and echoed through the annex. "We need you, old man!"

Panting and hurried footsteps grew progressively closer. The door to Father Michael Bowen's study swished open, admitting the priest, shocked at the unexpected visitor.

He sucked in his breath when his eyes landed upon Cloak, carrying his niece weightlessly in his arms.

"Father bless me, what's happened to her, Tyrone?"

"I don't know. Her light, Father, look at it. I can feel it, her light is dropping, it's...it's fading." Cloak's normally steady, resonant voice shook slightly. "I need you to keep her here."

"What! Here? You won't take her to a hospital?"

"This isn't...a sickness, Uncle Mike." Dagger's voice sounded weak but determined. "Something's draining my power. My light," she gasped. "Trying to cure my body won't help. My power...gives me more life essence than most people." Cloak nodded mutely. "I can't release too much of it at once," she murmured.

"You mean..."

"I'll die," she finished.

"Do you know why this is happening to you?"

Dagger moaned as a spasm wracked her body. "...yes."

"This happened once before. You were there, Father." Cloak's face was grim.

"Rahne Sinclair has reclaimed her control of Dagger's power. But she's draining it from her soul."

En route to Worthington Hall, Salem:

Rahne leaned toward the window, gazing out at the twinkling lights and signs whizzing past. The car was as luxurious as Mr. Shaw's Rahne mused, recalling the strong scent of the leather. Soft music played on the car stereo, providing welcome background noise.

It was hard to ignore Manuel. And he knew it.

"You've done something with your hair, little one." His voice was smug but lacked his usual scorn. Rahne's hackles rose.

"What if I did? S'none o' yuir business, is it?"

"Don't get your panties in a bunch...unless you enjoy that." Rahne shot him a dirty look, edging closer to the door.

"Better yet, why don't you just tell me what gets those panties in a bunch. It might pass the time."

"OCH! Yuir a ruddy, bleedin' spalpeen and a devil, t'boot! Ye've got some nerve even mentionin' my panties," she huffed. "D'ye talk that way t' the other girls?"

He didn't miss a beat. "Of course." Then his light brown eyes began to glow...

"You need to relax, learn to take a joke, and a compliment. You're different than the other girls. You want them to like you, don't you?" Rahne felt something inside her shift and struggle for a moment against his words. His voice flowed over her like warm honey.

"I...have friends here. Dani's here," Rahne hedged, allowing her voice to trail off. Except that I hurt her, Rahne groaned to herself. As badly as you can hurt someone you love. "Shan an' Amara like me just fine. Illyana, even, kind of..." Rahne was tempted to add "...if she were ever here, instead of that infernal pit, Limbo."

"Sure. Sure they're your friends. There weren't many of you at that tiny little school, were there? Easy enough to be popular when there aren't many people to impress. And look who you had to impress!" he scoffed. "A demon girl, a skinny yokel boy who can barely fly without crashing into anything, a hothead whose batteries are always running out, your stick-in-the-mud girlfriend-" Manuel's little speech was interrupted by a growl. His eyes flashed over to Rahne, now glaring through black-rimmed, yellow-green eyes, her whiskers bristling from her snout.

"What was that ye were sayin' 'bout Dani? And Sam?" Manuel cleared his throat and exerted more pressure against her emotions, changing tactics.

"Right, right. They're your friends. That's fine...but what about making some new ones? Wouldn't you like to fit in? Don't you want to please Miss Frost?" Rahne relaxed, blowing out her breath through her nostrils in an attempt to calm herself. Manuel was rewarded for his efforts by the disappearance of Rahne's russet fur, her fangs slowly retracting back into her mouth. "Miss Frost worries about you. She's worried you don't like it here."

"She shouldn't be."

"But she is, Rahne, she is. You have to trust her," he cajoled, reaching out to lightly touch her hand, getting her full attention. Rahne stared into his eyes, not bothering to wonder why they were glowing. "Miss Frost is like a mother to so many of us. She cares about you."

"Nay...she hurt Kitty...she almost stole Dougie away from us."

"No, no, Rahne. She had your best interests at heart. Xavier isn't even here with you now, he left you behind, without so much as a word. It was best for you to come here, with Miss Frost. She won't desert you."

"She won't?" His warm, strong fingers continued to stroke her hand.

"No," he promised, pressing on, enveloping her tiny hand in his. "She won't leave you behind, Rahne. She won't leave you alone."

"I...I don't...like bein' left alone. Sometimes, it's just that, well, everyone leaves me alone."

"Everyone?" he prodded.

"Aye. Well, at least...me mum did. She died," Rahne clarified, mystified that she was opening her box of old wounds to this boy who acted as though she were beneath her. "An' then Moira...she's my guardian, or at least she was, she sent me away to the Professor's school. Shan went away once, too, but it wasn't her fault..."

"No?"

"Nay, twasn't. She almost died, we feared she was dead, but she came back. Illyana leaves sometimes, but at least she comes back."

"But you worry when she's away?" He knew he'd struck a nerve.

"Aye. I do," she said quietly. His thumb continued to stroke her hand.

"Wouldn't you like to show them that you deserve better than always being left behind? Always wondering if you're good enough? Smart enough?" He plied her, intensifying the current of emotional persuasion. "Pretty enough? That you can handle yourself? That your powers are special and set you apart?" Not, he caught himself, that your powers are anywhere on par with mine. "Miss Frost can show you, Rahne. She can help you realize your full potential. You'll be like a daughter to her. You'll belong to her special family."

"I've never had a family." Rahne's eyes took on a glazed look. A tiny inner voice howled at her to wake up, but she ignored it. The warm honey of his tone washed over her again, made that much sweeter by the subtle stroking of his thumb as he stimulated the pleasure center of her brain.

"You can now."

"What do I have to do to please her?" Rahne's hand fluttered up to her collar, loosening it slightly as she swallowed around a lump.

"Stop acting like a silly little girl," Manuel purred, reveling in his control of her, throwing subtlety to the wayside. "You're a young woman. Act like it."

"How?"

"A real woman knows what she wants. A real woman is comfortable her body. Are you comfortable with it, Rahne? Do you ever touch it?"

"Sometimes," Rahne confessed, her eyes growing soft and dreamy. "I think about...things."

"Do it. Touch it. Show me." She won't be my puppet, Manuel considered, regretting it as he gazed at her tight, slender little body, particularly the lissome legs revealed to perfection in the new short skirt. But no one said I couldn't enjoy completing my assignment. "Show me how a woman pleases herself."

"I can't. It's naughty."

"No. It's beautiful. No one's here," Manual reassured her, practically sniggering at the back of the driver's head. The privacy window of the car had already been rolled up. "Go ahead. Show me."

Rahne hesitated, then as if in a trance, lifted her buttocks slightly and reached beneath her skirt. Manuel watched in delight as she rolled the waist of her panty hose down below her knees. Rahne fumbled with her skirt, sighing as her fingers moved, shifting, tugging down the top edge of her satin bikinis.

"Touch it. Touch yourself where its soft. Where you feel hot." Rahne silently, joyfully complied.

Rahne's face changed as Manuel watched, her eyes fluttering shut, reddish gold eyelashes twitching, illuminated by oncoming highbeams. The faintest hint of a smile touched her lips as she touched herself, probing the delicate kernel hidden within her folds. Manuel's eyes swept to her wrist, flexing in and out, agitating the lifted hem of her skirt.

"You're skirt's in the way," he suggested helpfully.

"M'skirt's in the way," she agreed, allowing her hose and panties to slump all the way to the floormat. She bunched up the skirt in her fist and rolled it over her belly, exposing the creamy, flat surface. Streetlamps picked out the tender, auburn curls and Rahne's slender fingers as she probed her tidy little nest.

"It's better to open your legs. There's lots of room on the seat." Manuel patted his lap.

"Och! Aye, yuir right, there's...plenty of...room." Rahne's smile was disarming as she swung her legs up onto the seat, leaning back against the rear door, her head thrown back. Pulling her knees up to her chest, Manuel was treated to a generous, thorough view of Rahne's flower, petals open in full glory. Her bare foot nudged him several times as she numbly stroked and kneaded the sweet bud, wringing tiny sounds through clenched teeth. A faint sheen of moisture began to materialize along the seam of her sex.

"You're not wet enough yet. Miss Frost wants you to be happy. She wants you to feel good about yourself. She wants you to show her how happy you are. The best way you can do that is to get wet. As wet as you can. Make yourself hot and wet, Rahne." Rahne felt no urge to argue.

Rahne felt too good to question his logic. Her fingers parted the slick opening and dipped inside. Her mouth dropped open a ragged moan. Manuel bombarded her with his own arousal, drowning her in it. Manuel favored an old-fashioned romp in the hay as much as the next red-blooded male.

But nothing quite beat playing with a woman's mind, especially one so unabashedly, shamelessly, playing with herself.

Worthington Hall:

"Bout time you two got here. Rahney, go sign in."

Rahne peered down at her stockings, checking once again to see if the seams were straight in the back. She remembered Manuel lightly shaking her, waking her from a short doze on the ride to the hall. That was about all...that and wishing she could smack the smug look off his slick face. Honestly, some boys just had no sense of propriety as it was, but Manny...well, he was simply a spalpeen and a heathen. Rahne shuddered, thanking the Lord that he knew none of her secrets, even if Miss Frost has assigned him as their escort.

Rahne signed in at the registration desk again, as she had so many previous times. She almost smiled to herself as the security guard's eyes scanned her from head to toe, taking in the differences, a gleam of masculine interest poking through the surface. He didn't even nag her not to steal his pen this time. Rahne plopped it back into the cup and sashayed down the hall to her class. The act of Rahne walking down a hall was nothing remarkable in and of itself.

Yet Dani would have been equally disturbed to see Rahne's rolling, hip-swinging gait, her buttocks rolling, the hem of the skirt dancing in and out from her thighs. Rahne's calves were rounded, tapering, and supple, two perfect bowling pins encased in sheer black nylon. The seams in the stockings led invitingly up, up into the promised land. Rahne casually ignored the low wolf whistle that followed in her wake.

The attendance log was already being passed around the class. Rahne settled in at the desk between Jenny and Marie. "Nice look, Fuzzy. Shit, I might have to come up with something else to call you. You're wearing the hell outta that skirt!"

Rahne tsked, then blushed. "Ye big silly." Marie winked, nodding appreciatively at Rahne's flattering coif of bouncing curls.

The door to the class swished open, letting in a draft of Chanel and the clicking of taupe stiletto heels.

Nachtenfrau scanned the room, doing a quick head count. Her empathic senses picked up something strange in the room. Strange, familiar, and intense. Pheromones. So concentrated and saturating her senses that she nearly became dizzy. Her eyes followed an intriguing flash of...copper. No, more of a gleaming auburn. Nachtenfrau cleared her throat and spat "Good evening, ladies. Please sign the attendance log if you haven't already so we can get started." Her staccato bark had the effect of silencing the random bits of chatter and pulling almost a dozen sets of eyes to the front of the room.

Directly in the center of her line of vision, glowing like a firebrand, sat Rahne Sinclair, looking nothing like the timid mouse from the seminar's first session. If Nachtenfrau had to describe it, which she eventually had to, she would have to repeatedly murmur "That was what I saw. That glow. Her aura. That light, she was, ach! DRENCHED in it, Fraulein Frost."

Nachtenfrau suppressed a shudder, licking her lips and suddenly looking forward to assigning Rahne's extra credit.

Naturally she called on Rahne first.

"Miss Sinclair?

"Yes, Mistress Nachtenfrau?" No stumbling over her name this time. Nachtenfrau was impressed.

"How do you do this evening?"

"Thank you for asking, Mistress Nachtenfrau, I am doing fine. But enough about me, how are you, and what may I do to serve you tonight?" Rahne's answer was pitch perfect. Nachtenfrau wasn't satisfied.

"Actually, I find that I am quite thirsty, Miss Sinclair. Could you please fetch me a drink?" Nachtenfrau sat on her chair, a few yard away from the small banquet table set up in the center of the room with an assortment of beverages and serving implements. She crossed her legs, swinging her heeled foot imperiously. Expectantly.

"Yes, it would be my pleasure to serve you, Mistress Nachtenfrau." Rahne turned and rose from her desk as Jenny and Marie sat incredulously behind her, stunned at the change.

"Marie...where's her accent?"

"Hmm?"

"You know, that little thing she always does when she talks. Like the guy on the Lucky Charms box," Jenny hissed under her breath. "All of the 'ayes,' and 'nays' and whatnot." Marie's brow furrowed, lifting one shoulder in a shrug.

"I haven't a clue. Madame wanted her to speak properly."

"Yeah...but this is extreme."

"Pfft! You're not worried about her, mon ami."

"No. Not yet."

Rahne glided to the table, her shoes clicking in an impeccable rhythym across the tiles. She selected a cup and saucer, turned the cup right-side up, and positioned it beneath the coffee spout. She filled it with fragrant French roast, allowing the savory aroma to tickle her nostrils. Turning, she inquired sweetly "May I offer you some cream or sugar, Mistress Nachtenfrau?"

"Why, yes, Miss Sinclair, I would appreciate having some sugar in my coffee this evening. You may bring it here." Rahne glided back with the cup, watching her, her face wreathed in caution. She bent gracefully and placed the saucer on Nachtenfrau's desk without spilling a drop. She backed away from the desk, not wanting to turn her back, mentally checking off the points that she remembered this time.

"You may be seated, Miss Sinclair." Nachtenfrau's smile was reptilian as she sipped her coffee.

You forgot to ask me if there was anything else you could get for me, she gloated. Simultaneously Rahne felt a chill run down her spine as she reached her seat, color draining from her face.

She had forgotten again.

Bluidy Hell.

The oral quizzing carried on for the next hour. Assignments were handed out, notes were taken, and the girls rose from their seats.

"Miss Sinclair, a moment with you, if you please."

Outside Worthington Hall:

"Shouldn't we wait for Rahne?"

"Not to worry. Rahne's coming back to campus with me. Don't bother yourselves." Manuel's tone was indolent and satisfied.

Inside Worthington Hall, after hours:

"You're a diamond in the rough, Miss Sinclair. My expectations weren't very high when you were referred to me for the acceleration program," Nachtenfrau panted over the crack of her riding crop against tender, exposed flesh.

"No, Mistress." Rahne squirmed against her thighs, balancing herself precariously as she sought relief. Blood rushed into her face as she stared at the floor, practically bent in half over Nachtenfrau's lap.

"You're performance in my class has fallen short, time and time again."

"Yes...Mistress."

"I'll just have to push you extra hard, then, since you seem to be begging so hard for it. I have little time for troublemakers."

"AAAANNNGH! NOOOOOO, MISTRESS!" THWACK. WHAP. Creamy flesh reddened as each new stripe appeared.

"You don't want to disappoint Fraulein Frost. She had very high hopes for you, child." THWACK. WSSSSTHACK. Rahne rocked herself against Nachtenfrau's thighs, flinching and squirming, rubbing her inflamed clit against the nubby tweed of Nachtenfrau's skirt instinctively. Anything to calm the itchy, growing tingle, the too-tight feeling between her legs.

"You've been naughty."

"Yes, Mistress! Hoooooh..."

"You've been a wicked child."

"OWW! Yes, Mistress! Yes!"

"I can't let you misbehave, Miss Sinclair. Bad girls deserve punishment."

"Yes, please, Mistress!" Rahne begged. The flat of Nachtenfrau's hand landed hard enough against Rahne's swollen buttock to echo through the empty classroom. Rasping, gurgling cries broke loose from Rahne's throat.

"Then spread your legs, liebchen," she crowed, triumphant. "And while you're at it, hold this. I need both of my hands." The stiff leather filled her mouth, chafing the corners as she struggled to clamp the riding crop between her teeth. "Don't drop it. You won't like what happens if you do. Nachtenfrau gleefully surveyed the banquet of flesh before her, relishing the possibilities. She reached into Rahne's mind, stimulating her pheromones and saturating her senses. She was rewarded by a rush of musk and heat that pooled in Rahne's folds, coating her fingers.

Rahne twisted as her new black bra was peeled from her like an orange rind, her nipple brutally pinched. Like a horse lathered from a driving gallop, she clamped her mouth and frothed around the crop, continuing to writhe beneath the hail of spanks that filled the conference room.

Manuel watched outside as all of the lights shining through the windows of Worthington Hall were extinguished one by one, like a row of dominoes. All except one.