章節 19: [19] Emma Frost’s Fate; Sudden Confession
Chapter 19: Emma Frost's Fate; Sudden Confession
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"Get away from her, you two!" As Enrique was deep in thought, deciding what to do with Emma Frost, a shout came from inside the school right beside him. A new interruption.
He turned his head to the side, scowling. A group of teens, dressed in nightwear as they had probably been sleeping, rushed from the school campus with their guards up, taking amateurish battle stances.
Must be the Hellions, those kids. Enrique surmised. Emma Frost's attempt at creating her version of the X-Men. They're nowhere ready though, literal kids.
"L-leave Principal Emma alone!" one of the Hellions, a green-skinned teen girl, shouted nervously. Her eyes flickered over Enrique's imposing, locking eyes with him, as she immediately looked away. She looked at Rogue. "D-do it while we're still being nice!"
This must be… Enrique tried to recall. Oh, forget it, there are too many characters. She must not be important if I don't remember her.
Rogue glanced at the green girl and then at the other members of the Hellions. Her devil tail swirled behind her, and after a few moments, she leaned closer to Enrique, whispering, "Er, they're basically kids, younger than me even. Some of them don't even look fifteen."
"I noticed," Enrique replied, not bothering to lower his voice. "It would be a shame to kill such children with bright futures ahead of them."
There were eight Hellions in front of Enrique, three boys and five girls, all flinching at his words. They already looked nervous, but now they seemed on the verge of panic. They must have seen what he had done to the X-Men, then. Some of them instinctively flared their powers, like the girl with olive skin whose forearms turned into lava.
She must be Magma, Enrique barely recognized.
Though most of these kids were unfamiliar to Enrique, thanks to both his lack of comic book knowledge and the differences in appearance from their comic counterparts, a few did stand out. One of them was a boy, who made him frown.
Douglas Ramsey, with his blonde hair and handsome features, possessed a power Enrique had long desired—the ability to understand all languages, including computer languages and coding. It was an incredibly useful power because he could even manipulate his own body language to appear calm and collected, a trait Enrique found both fascinating and enviable.
However, this boy shouldn't have any real combat abilities, nor should a few others among the eight. So why were they here? To die?
Among the teens, some indeed had potential for great power, like Magma and possibly Magik. But they were still kids, mere annoyances to Enrique. Coupled with the unstable emotions brought on by his transformation, Enrique felt the urge to put them in their place.
He looked at them and then turned to Emma. "Though I have to admit, Emma, you've gathered a talented batch of kids. They have tremendous potential," Enrique observed, making Emma grit her teeth as she realized he somehow knew about them.
Among them, Empath—a boy with the power to manipulate emotions—and another red-skinned boy who seemed older also stood out, as well. They must be strong too.
"Kids, leave," Emma suddenly ordered, her voice tinged with frustration. "They're not attacking me, see? I've got this handled. Go back to bed."
Enrique caught her eye, smirking. Emma had likely been weighing the chances of these teens standing a chance against him. But she wasn't dumb, even if desperate. She knew they were outmatched against him.
This was the man who had just faced the X-Men, engaged in a casual conversation with the Phoenix Force itself, and now had an ally like Rogue. The odds were not in her favor.
"...Rogue. That reminds me, you're on the wrong side, little girl," Emma said softly; suddenly she had an idea. Her eyes flickered with something unreadable.
Enrique noticed this and it did not please him. He stood in front of Emma, placing a hand under her chin, and lifting her head to meet his eyes. His claw lightly scratched the surface of her diamond form, a subtle reminder of her vulnerability.
"White Queen," Enrique said slowly, "Watch your mouth. I decide which side is right for her, not you. Keep acting up, and I'll break your neck."
Emma stared back silently, her expression unyielding. In her diamond form, she felt little emotion, a side effect of her transformation. After a tense moment, she sighed and nodded. "Fine."
"Good. Now," Enrique turned back to the kids, placing an arm around Emma's waist. He had already decided what to do with Emma Frost, they needed to talk. Killing such a useful bitch would be a waste of resources. "Your Principal has this under control. We're old friends, good buddies, as long as she behaves. So go back to bed and leave the adult matters to us."
The Hellions looked uncomfortable, their eyes darting between Enrique and Emma. Emma maintained a calm façade, nodding at them. "He's right, kids. I have it handled. Go back—"
"You can trust us, Principal Frost!" Douglas Ramsey suddenly shouted, his voice filled with confidence that made even Enrique pause. He seemed almost heroic, exuding an aura of trustworthiness.
He must have read Emma's body language, it was far different than the words she spoke. She was scared Enrique would go on a rampage and kill her kids. "Please, listen to us. We can handle—"
Like Enrique, even Emma was momentarily swayed by this boy's power. It wasn't mind control but a kind of mirage effect, making him seem incredibly convincing. Enrique growled, which interrupted the boy's speech.
"Shut up," he snapped, clutching Emma's shoulder. The diamond cracked, she let out a gasp of pain. "Emma Frost, I don't have time to waste here. I don't want to kill kids; I want to keep my superhero image intact. So tell them to get lost."
These kids were powerful but inexperienced. Especially Magik, Magma, and perhaps the red-skinned boy—they could be a hassle. There was also another possibility.
Despite his recent clash with the X-Men, no outsiders should have witnessed the fight, keeping his reputation intact. Killing these kids would not only ruin his image but also provoke Emma. These Hellions were her project, her attempt to create a new generation of mutants. She would report their deaths somehow, and even if he stopped her, the other students would likely post evidence online before he could silence them all.
The fallout from such actions wasn't worth it.
Although he had an urge to bash some kids' heads, recalling how he died, it was too much.
The kids trembled as he glared at them. "If they waste another minute of my time, I won't kill them, but I'll hurt them. Badly. Very badly. I'll break their limbs, cut off their ears and fingers, and make them regret this. Tell them to leave."
The Hellions hesitated, glancing at Emma. She looked more furious than afraid, her eyes blazing with anger. She also glared at them. "Did you not hear him? Do you want to insult me by making me beg for your lives? Leave at once," Emma ordered, her tone brooking no argument. The students exchanged one last glance before slowly retreating, their faces pale.
As they left, Emma sighed deeply, turning to Enrique. "You're a bully, you know that?"
"Apologies. Teens who act up aren't my favorite, past and all that. I don't usually react so strongly, in my defense. This beast form seems to amplify my emotions," Enrique said, and although he apologized, his voice lacked any hint of remorse. "Now, where should we talk?"
They couldn't discuss matters in Emma's office, and Enrique's home was out of the question, as it would expose his other companions to Emma's potential mental attacks. They needed a neutral, private location.
"I can teleport us to somewhere else," Rogue popped beside him in a red smoke of dust, saying with a grin on her lips. She looked good with that red skin and demon vibe, mischievous.
After a brief discussion, Enrique wondered if he should try his hometown in France, where he was born in his original world. In this parallel world, he shouldn't exist there, making it a perfect place for a private conversation. It was a place so rundown that he was sure that it was unoccupied since he didn't exist.
After another consideration, he decided against it. It could be occupied by some other desperate bastard, it'd be unwise. He'd have still chosen it if his Goddess didn't pull out a picture before his eyes.
[Check your phone, I sent this photo. It's inside the Pyramid of Giza, a hidden chamber. Teleport there, nobody would bother you there.]
'Thank you,' he nodded. How useful of a Goddess.
X-x-X
The chamber was dimly lit, its walls made of ancient stone, etched with hieroglyphics that hinted at forgotten stories. In the center of the room stood a crude stone table, surrounded by smaller stones that served as chairs. The air was cool and still, carrying a sense of timelessness and mystery.
Suddenly, a burst of red smoke filled the chamber, dissipating to reveal Enrique and Emma, having been teleported there by Rogue using her newly acquired power.
Enrique wasted no time, roughly throwing Emma against the stone wall. She hit it with a grunt, her expression turning from surprise to irritation as she steadied herself.
"Was that really necessary?" she grumbled, rubbing her shoulder. This hurt less than how he had grabbed her shoulder earlier. "I thought we were here to talk."
Enrique scoffed, his eyes cold and sharp. "Talk? After you tried to screw me over? I don't take threats, Miss Frost."
Emma glared back, her eyes flashing with a mix of defiance and curiosity. "So, what now? You want to play the big, bad villain? Go ahead, but remember, we both know I'm not one to be easily intimidated. Even if I go down, my other students in their dorms must have recorded you capturing me. Your life will become hell.
Enrique smirked, stepping closer. "What a strong lady, I'm attracted. Get up and sit at the table," he ordered, his voice low and dangerous.
Emma hesitated for a moment but then complied, taking a seat on one side of the stone table. Enrique remained standing, his eyes focused on something unseen. He put Anna on a seat opposite Emma, standing behind her. He spoke aloud, "Is it ready, my Goddess?"
Emma frowned in disbelief, her eyes narrowing. "A Goddess? Really? You mentioned something like that before, with that tigress woman in the car. I thought you were joking. Didn't take you to be a religious one—"
Before she could continue, a soft light glittered between them, and a piece of parchment materialized on the table. Emma blinked at that, staring at the paper.
Then, her eyes widened as she read the large, bold letters at the top.
[Contract of Equal Benefit]
Enrique picked up the contract, a satisfied look on his face. "This document, crafted by my dear Goddess' divine hands, ensures that both parties fulfill their agreed terms. Here, read it and see."
He handed her the parchment, watching her reaction closely. Emma's hands trembled slightly as she took it, her eyes scanning the terms. She glanced up at Enrique, who was watching her with a cold, calculating expression. "What the fuck is this? This is not 'Equal Benefit', Mr Nova."
"Equality is subjective, my friend. Both you and I are alive, and we're equal in that manner, no? Let's not meddle on small details like that. You sign it," he continued, his tone leaving no room for negotiation, "and we both get what we want. You don't sign it... well," he let the words hang, the threat implicit.
Emma grumbled, her mind racing. She knew she had little choice; Enrique had outmaneuvered her. The contract was binding and unbreakable, a rare artifact of true magical power. No, divinity.
She didn't bother to think it over. It'd be a waste of time anyway. With a resigned sigh, Emma reached for the quill that appeared beside the contract, dipping it in the inkwell that had materialized with it. Slowly, grumbling in her head for ever having picked this fight, she signed her name, the ink shimmering briefly before sinking into the parchment.
Enrique took the contract back, nodding in satisfaction. "Good. Now, we can start a new chapter, one where you stay alive and perhaps 'benefit' from this arrangement."
Emma forced a smile, her mind already calculating her next move. At least it's not a total slave contract. I can manage this, it even has some benefits for me. A promise. She knew she was trapped for now, but she was also determined not to be outplayed again.
After all, the promise, the only 'benefit' recorded in the contract, was something she needed.
[Sebastian Shaw's Death.]
After Shaw vanished, she would find a way. For now, survival was her priority, and she would find a way to turn this situation to her advantage. As long as she was alive, she could find a way.
****
"Was such a deal with this Emma Frost woman really necessary?" Anna asked, her voice tinged with worry. Her expression was serious as she clung to Enrique, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck as they flew through the air.
"Depends on your definition of necessary," Enrique answered vaguely, prompting a groan from her. "Relax, it's fine. I know what I'm doing."
"Do you, now? I want to trust you, like I always do, but this woman seems so dangerous, even to an 'oblivious little girl' like me, you know?" Rogue replied honestly.
"Well. Emma Frost is desperate. Notice how fast she agreed? Not just for her life, but to get her freedom from Shaw, Which means I can use her in ways that suit my current needs," Enrique explained to Anna. "She's not the type to be trusted or easily manipulated, only directly controlled. So I have to be cautious with every detail. But as they say, treasure that comes without risk isn't treasure worth having."
"..."
"Besides, if everything goes well, she wouldn't necessarily betray me at the end of this ordeal. After all, she has human feelings and can form connections, whether out of gratitude or genuine friendship. I wouldn't mind having a strong and independent woman as a friend, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. It's Emma Frost, after all. Our future relationship depends on her choices after I fulfill my part of the deal," he added.
"Just like you and I, then," Anna suddenly said, laughing softly, catching Enrique's attention. She smiled up at him. "Emma is still human, so it's not impossible for her to feel grateful or form friendships. That's just like me, isn't it?"
Enrique looked at her silently, wondering what she was on about suddenly. Did absorbing that devil's power have some side-effects? She was starting to be sentimental.
"You're good at this, Enrique," Anna continued as Enrique stared at her silently. "You seem to have experience with manipulating people. I'm not that naive. A big bad villain, that's what you are, I can tell that much."
Enrique's eyes remained unreadable as he looked at her.
"It's fine," Anna assured him. "I know... you're not entirely bad. It's impossible for you to have manipulated me from the moment we met, so there's obviously some goodness in you. But I'm sure you've done things out of calculation and selfishness rather than just being a nice guy."
"You think?"
"From how I've seen you treat others, including Emma Frost, it would be naive to think I'm special to you, even though we've known each other for weeks."
'So she figured it out,' Enrique thought. "Well, you're special to me," he raised his head ahead, focusing on the sky around him rather than her face. "Nobody else can steal powers."
"...." her eyes widened a little, seeing him be so direct. Her pupils trembled, she parted her lips. No words came out, she bit her lip.
He hadn't been hiding anything from her. It was easy to see through, especially if she had spoken with Ava recently. Enrique had anticipated Anna Marie might discover his manipulations, but he trusted she wouldn't turn against him. Her "It's fine" only reinforced that belief.
If he hadn't been sure, he wouldn't have called her to assist him today, especially when there was a risk of her siding with the X-Men in a worst-case scenario. But he did call her because he trusted her. She refused to believe she was just another girl in his life, and he appreciated that about her. She was important to his plans, both current and future. While he liked her, he wasn't ready to say he loved her.
In short, it might not be a bad thing for Anna to know about his true nature—as long as she continued to support him, which she was. A moment later, Enrique let out a laugh.
"I was scared for a moment, seeing you bite your lip," he looked back at her, she was smiling now. "What changed?"
"It's nothing," she dodged it. A moment later, she shrugged and answered, "Well, just that… It's good to know that there is a tangible thing that confirms your desire for me. If that makes sense? Since now I know you want me, even if it's for my power, it makes me feel… secure. If I wasn't in your arms a thousand feet above the ground though, I'd have probably run away," Anna said.
"You could have teleported away," Enrique said, curious. "You still have your red skin, pointy ears, and that cute tail. You could use your power to escape anytime. Why not flee from this big bad villain?"
"Well, you're touching me," she shrugged, making him laugh. He'd have teleported with her, if she tried to flee.
The reason why they were flying above Egypt right now, rather than having teleported back home, was because she refused and insisted on flying in his arms. She wanted a tour of this desert.
They stayed silent, flying above the skies. Enrique thought they were done with the conversation, but a minute later, she suddenly spoke up. It was mostly words directed toward nobody.
"Do you know what the most popular fictional genre is for women?" Anna hesitated before continuing, "It's actually the Beauty & Beast sort of thing. I googled it. So, according to most women, I'm living my dream life. Why would I want to flee?"
Enrique wanted to point out how she was calling him a beast, but then he remembered his current appearance and stopped. Rather, he wondered about something else. His expression grew serious.
Anna Marie was delusional. Perhaps the most delusional one among every girl he had ever met.
However, that wasn't a bad thing, was it? Enrique doubted she was only here because it was her that only he could touch her, even if that was a major part of the reason. There must surely be other reasons, one of them likely being 'love.'
Anna probably didn't want to admit her feelings, especially after witnessing what a cold-hearted person he could be, realizing that there was a chance he had no feelings for her. In her insecurity, Anna Marie probably couldn't be sure if her feelings mattered to him, so she only revealed part of the truth about why she was still with this villain who pretended to be a hero.
So, it was up to his decision if he wanted her to settle with him or not. He had put that down before, but at this moment, this was the best choice. She was the girl with the single most potential in all of this planet, there was no other like her.
"...Anna," Enrique said after a pause, looking forward as he continued flying. "I love you," he didn't, not yet, but he felt the need to say it now. She had to hear this. When she remained silent, he lowered his gaze and looked into her eyes, "Hey, I just confessed. I love you, Anna."
"...?" Anna's previously calm expression froze; she looked stunned. "What did you just—"
"I just felt like saying it," Enrique replied. "I never said those words to you before, even though you did a few times, in the heat of the moment. I just remembered." He smiled, "You're the only person I can trust this side of me with, so… I guess the feeling came naturally."
"Oh... r-right, that's... I mean—" Anna stammered, her face turning red. "I'm sorry, that was just sudden for me."
"It's fine," Enrique reassured her, holding her gently. "You don't have to think about it. You don't have to answer me either if you're feeling confused. I just said what I felt. Also because I think you'd like to hear it, and I'm grateful to have you by my side."
Enrique had never said 'I love you' to Anna before, and she must have noticed, especially since he never responded to her own declarations of love during their intimate moments.
So, when Anna's face was pressed against Enrique's chest, her wide eyes staring at the white fabric of his suit, Enrique gazed forward at the sky with an expressionless face.
He felt a pang of guilt for saying it, as he didn't love her yet, but he knew it needed to be said before he lost the chance. Especially because he knew that he'd build that feeling for her soon enough, if he was feeling guilty already.
"I... love you too," came Anna's soft reply after a long silence.
Enrique smiled, hugging her tighter, as they flew through the skies of Egypt. The rising sun in the horizon smiled toward the two of them, as they melted into the horizon.
****
"I like him. Seriously," Kebechet, the Snake Goddess, giggled as she watched the scene through the projection in Mut's heaven. "What a cunning bastard. Are you sure you can trust him with the fate of the pantheon, grans?"
Mut and Kebechet had been observing Enrique for a while, and though they couldn't read his thoughts, they were still old Gods. They could see through some of his lies and expressions, like a moment earlier when he was indifferently staring forward. He hadn't meant his confession.
At least, a true smile had bloomed on his face when she did confess. He wasn't irredeemable. She rested her head on his chest, shedding tears, as he hugged her.
"This guy doesn't fail to surprise me," Mut muttered softly before smiling. "I'm glad he is softening up for her though, it's a cute love story, isn't it?"
"It's cute, I suppose," Kebechet shrugged. "By the way, do you have any idea why he said he would help the Frost girl a few months later and not now? It seems there's more to that decision than just receiving her help first."
"I don't know," it was Mut's turn to shrug, her tone dramatic. "Maybe he's planning something for 2012? It's nearly the end of 2011, and it's October, so perhaps he's cooking up something big."
"Mhm, possible. But—" Kebechet began, but her words were cut off by Mut's gasp.
"Ah—they're making out!"
Suddenly, the emotional scene turned steamy as Anna stopped crying and abruptly kissed Enrique, making Mut flinch while Kebechet raised an eyebrow at the sight.
"...Now I get it. It's not just the boy, the girl is strange too. They're both weirdos, grans," Kebechet said with a frown. "They're a perfect match."
"I guess?" Mut replied, though her focus was clearly elsewhere. "Whoa."
"Holy hell," Kebchet let out an abrupt gasp, covering her mouth with a hand as she smiled behind it. "He's packing big, though; might seriously be his only redeeming quality."
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Author Note: This chapter, originally Chapter 40th, was the end of Volume 1, Season 1, Book 1, back in the original release. Now it's Chapter 19, also the end of Season 1.
I hope you guys have enjoyed the story so far. Only about 5 to 6 chapters before we catch up with the original release. Please show some support by voting powerstones!!
If you want to continue reading the next chapters, you can go check my patreon. There will unlikely be any other major change after this on the following chapters, and if there are any, I'll mention that in a chapter - all the new changes will be mentioned. Check it out in my patreon!
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