April Witch - REVIEW THIS STORY

Written by Stella
Last updated: 01/02/2007 02:01:11 AM

Chapter 6

Middle o’ th’ third week o’ homelessness an’ Ah bought myself a cheap CD player, not somethin’ that could do Joy Division much justice, but at least it kept Kitty away. Got ta the point where Ah’d see her comin’ and snap on the headphones. Girl never could stand “Love Will Tear Us Apart” on continuous repeat.

She was convinced she could help me with my “man troubles” as she called ‘em. Mostly Ah think she was just bored, an’ things with Lance had kinda stalled on her. He an’ the rest o’ the Brotherhood had hightailed as soon as they could. No one likes ta think that their boyfriend would choose his friends over them. Ah felt bad for Kitty an’ Ah certainly hoped Lance hadn’t given her some kinda lame line like, “Bros before hos,” but that didn’t mean Ah was gonna let her be my own personal Dear Abby.

So Ah let myself get lost in the music, tried not ta think ‘bout the times Ah’d been wakin’ up outta my bed. Each time was farther and farther from the motel. Ah was afraid that there’d come a time when Ah’d wake up and not be able ta get back at all. No one seemed ta notice when Ah disappeared. Everyone was real nice an’ things had seemed ta be pretty normal for awhile, but Ah could always see ‘em draw back if they caught a glimpse o’ the tattoo. An’ the new powers didn’t help either. God, Ah could lift more than Mr. McCoy an’ fly faster than Pietro could run. Ah could take a hit better than Logan.

Ah’ll admit, there was a part o’ me that enjoyed tryin’ out the new powers, as if they were toys. But ta remember Jenny...that always ruined it. Ah knew she was in my head somewhere, kickin’ around, maybe waitin’ her turn for the body. The more Ah thought ‘bout that, the more my time started ta feel borrowed.

Then there was the night everythin’ changed. Everyone was out ta the movies. Scott had suggested it, if ya can believe that. O’ course he had t’ say it was a morale thing. With the professor missin’ an’ Jean spendin’ most o’ her days inside her own mind, searchin’ for his, Scott decided everyone was burned out. But when Ah’d declined, he hadn’t asked again.

They’d been gone about half an hour when there was a knock on the door. My stupid heart kinda wished it might be Remy, even though Ah knew better than ta expect somethin’ like that. Ah opened the door confidently, knowin’ that there probably wasn’t much in the world that could hurt me.

At first Ah couldn’t see much o’ anythin’, but Ah could hear whoever it was breathin’. “Well,” Ah snapped, “are ya gonna just stand out there like some psycho pervert? Whaddya want?”

The man slid into the room. Reminded me a little o’ Remy, the way he moved was so controlled. He was dressed all in black, close-fittin’ clothes, black shoes, black mask. “You must be Rogue.” His accent was like Remy’s, but there was an edge runnin’ under his voice. Ah couldn’t tell what that meant, but Ah assumed it wasn’t good. Instinctually, Ah shifted my weight onto the balls o’ my feet. Ah willed my body ta stay loose.

“You’ve got the advantage there, but Ah don’t deal with guys in masks.”

“Fair ‘nough.” He pulled the mask off, revealin’ a face that was conventionally handsome: blonde hair, wide spaced blue eyes, a strong jaw. Looked a little like a model--unreal somehow.

“Ya know my name.”

“I do.”

“Ah don’t know yours.”

“I’d rather not say.”

Ah turned my back ta him. “Then Ah guess we don’t have anythin’ ta talk about.”

“I’m here ‘bout Remy.”

Felt a pinch behind my eyes. The room spun. Whispers in my ears. The heavy scent o’ flowers. His hands above my knees. “I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about.”

“Gambit.”

Ah shook my head. “Ah don’t know...”

“Shame,” he said, all false concern. “Would’ve t’ought y’d want t’ know what Remy an’ his old girlfriend are doin’ down in Nawlins.”

My vision went white for a second. Ah struggled ta stay conscious. Next thing Ah knew, Ah’d hoisted up the man by his collar and shot us into the sky. Don’t know how far up we were before Ah stopped, but it was colder an’ the air was definitely gettin’ thin. Ah was reckless an’ outta control. Wasn’t what he’d said ‘bout Remy exactly. Strange as it was, Ah trusted him not ta do anythin’ stupid where other girls were concerned, but Ah was sick o’ the cloak-and-dagger bullshit. “Ah think ya’d better stop playin’ games an’ tell me,” Ah told him slowly.

“Bella,” he gasped. “Bella Donna Boudreaux. Dey were ‘posed t’ get married but den Remy left town. Now dat he’s back in de bosom of his family, dey’re making plans again.”

Thought back ta all my presents. Ah didn’t want ta believe it. They seemed like gifts ta a mistress now an’ Ah hated the man for making ‘em ugly ta me.

“Why d’you care what Remy does? He can make his own decisions.” Broke my heart ta say it.

“I love her.” His voice was filled with such deep an’ hopeless sadness it made me shudder ta hear it.

“What’s your name?” Ah demanded.

“Julien.”