CHAPTER 8
 

 The little boy must have been about four or five and he clung to his mother's neck tightly as she ran. He could hear the mob behind them; hear the venom in their voices as well as he knew that venom was directed at him and his mother. The woman caring him was breathing hard due to the feverish pace she had been holding up. If she couldn't get away from the danger she would be damned if she couldn't get her son away. Her feet padded noiselessly down the streets of the French Quarter of New Orleans, yet the people chasing them seemed to be able to hear exactly where she was. If they were even people.

 She ran around several sharp turns until she found herself down a blocked back alley with no more room to run. The alley way was blocked by a wall that had been built between the two building and it was far too high for her to get over. Only a small storge area presented itself to her. Glancing down at the little boy in her arms, she knew that was her last hope. She couldn't turn back around to get out of the alley; the mob was too close for that. Pulling the door open she set her boy, her only son, in the small space between the crates in the cramped storage shelter. Noting the dejected look the boy gave her at being put down, she summoned a smile for him.

 "No matter what happens, I want you to stay here and hide, okay?" The little boy nodded. The movement sent his red-brown bangs falling into his crystalline blue eyes. His mother smiled again and pushed his hair back behind hid ear. "Momma loves you, you'll remember that, won't you?" her voice carried a faint pleading tone, as though she needed to know that her boy would remember.

 Again the boy nodded, threw his arms around her neck for the last time, and settled back down into his hiding place. His mother pushed the door  so that only about a half an inch or so was open. Then she turned and ran back towards the mouth of the alley, to lead the mob away from her baby.

 From his hiding place, the boy could see his mother running, only to be cut off at the mouth of the alley as the mob caught up to her. She took several steps back into the alley as they closed in. She wasn't about to go quietly. The group edged closer, many wearing black cloaks, some in street clothes, all had an eerie glow about them in the still night. He saw his mother form claws over her own long beautiful fingernails. A few within the mob did the same.

 The boy, seeing that a fight was about to ensue, krept as far as he could back in the crates. But just because he couldn't see the fight didn't mean he couldn't hear it. The sound of several of the mob's skin ripping as his mother faught back; heard her own skin tear. Someone was thrown off to the far wall, another soon fell beside that one. But many chose more effective fighting tactics. The fight lasted about ten minutes, but felt more like an eternity to the little boy. Finally, the noise quieted and silence riened the night again.

 He krept back up to the crack between the door and the wall frame. He knew he would never see his mother again. Her body sprawled across the alley floor for a moment and the began to discorporate, melting away into a fine mist that carried away in the wind.

 Though his line of vision was limited he could see a two people leaning against the far wall of the alley. One was a man with shoulder length blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail. His bangs nearly obscured his pale green eyes. A brunette woman with brown eyes stood beside him with one hand resting on his arm.

 "Was that *truly* neccessary?" the man asked casually.

 "She broke code." a voice out of his view answered. "One does not associate with mortals in such a way as she has. Now all we have to do is find the boy and our job is done. Robin, if you would be so kind as to scan for him?"

 He spoke to the brunette woman. She cocked an eyebrow and mulled over his request a moment. The finally answered, "If that pleases you."

 She stepped forward after exchanging glances with the blonde man. Closing her eyes she turned slightly, looking through the alley way with her mind. She had come nearly full circle when she paused and stared at the storage door. Their eyes met. The boy caught his breath in his throat, staring into the calm, deep color of her eyes, paralyzed and afraid to move had he been able to.

 "He isn't here." she said flatly. The boy looked on in shock. She *had* seen him, he was sure of it.

 "What do you mean he isn't here?" the voice sounded as disbelieving as he felt.

 "I meant exactly what I said. He isn't here," the woman repeated. After some debate the group seemed to accept her reply. One by one they turned to leave until the alley was once again empty.

 The boy remained in the storage shelter, afraid to leave for fear of being found. He had lost his whole world that night. He stumbled back behind a crate and leaned up against it, sliding down into a sitting position. Tears welled up in his eyes, thinking of how his parents sacrificed themselves to keep him safe. With those thoughts, he softly cried himself to sleep.

_____________________________________________________________________________
 

 Rmey bolted into a sitting position in his bed. Breathing in short gasps, taers streaming down his face. A cold sweat had broken out, soaking his sweatshirt as he trembled slightly. The images of the nightmare he had just had refuse to leave his mind even though he had woken up. He pushed his hair out of his face and behind his ear and drew his knees up to his chest, rocking slighlty to try and calm himself.

 He had remembered his mother. That was both reassuring as well as upsetting. He had spent his whole life trying to define who he was nad now that he knew, he wasn't sure what to make of it. Alex had spoken truthfully. Perhaps somrthing Alex had said earlier had triggered the memory. <Or maybe Alex is jus' messin' with ya mind,> he thought.

 But Gambit could always tell when someone was doing that. Even Psylocke and Phoenix, the two telepathic X-women, couldn't get into his head without him knowing, let alone past his psi-shields. That meant that what Alex had said was true. His nightmare had actuually happened to him in the past. Remy shivered.

 He got up out of bed and made his way to the bathroom in the dark. He needed to wash the sweat from his face. The cool water felt good against the flush on his face. Gambit pushed one hand through his thick hair and leaned heavily against the other hand. His reflection stared back at him from the mirror. <If you're a vampire, den how come you see y'self in the mirror?> He was thinking like one of Hank's horror movies again. He frowned. Just because some film maker said it was so, didn't make it so.

 He opened his mouth to sigh, but his breath caught on the back of his throat. Leaning closer to the mirror, he could see them clearly. Two long and rather sharp looking fangs mocked him as he stared, stunned by his own reflection. They weren't quite as long as Alex's, but they were there and it was too much. Remy suddenly realized he had stopped breathing and choked out a few ragged gasps before he managed to regain control over his lungs. <Why do all a'ya major discoveries seem to happen when you're lookin' in ya bathroom mirror?> The errant thought flew briefly in his mind.

 "Dieu...what's happenin' ta me?" he whispered. His reflection gave him no answer. A flash of panic and rage welled up in him, threatening to burn him out. With as much force as he could muster, Remy slammed his fist into the mirror shattering the glass and sending shards flying about the floor. Drops of blood pooled in the sink. A two inch long gash ran horizantaly across his knuckles.

 He covered his mouth with one hand, Putting all his weight on the support of the other, head bowed. ALex was right, he realized. Whether his mother had been a vampire os not, he was turning into one. He was turning into a half vampire. He squeezed his eyes shut and gripped at his control, refusing to let his panic overwelm him. He jumped back in surprise as a gloved hand came to rest on his shoulder.

 "Sorry, Ah...Ah didn't mean ta startle ya." Rogue stood in the door way. She took a step inside, the broken glass crunching under her boots. "Storm tol' me about what happened tonight. Ah just wanted to see if y'all was alright. Ah came on in when ya didn't hear me knock."

 Had she knocked? Probably. Remy had been so distracted that he hadn't heard her. So she had gone ahead and come in. That wasn't unusual. Whisps of her brown hair, white streak and all, had fallen into her face. Gambit pushed back the urge to brush them aside. He wasn't wearing gloves and the last thing he wanted was a repeat of Seattle. Falling into a coma would have been a bummer, too.

 "How much down time are you plannin' ta spend in the infirmary, anyways?" she motioned to the cut on his knuckles. It was a half-hearted attempt at humor, niether really felt like laughing at the moment. She poorly hid a gasp when she saw his teeth. Gambit flinched at her sudden intake of breath. "Mah lord, what he said was true, wasn't it; about what ya're turnin' into?"

 For once, Remy found himself without anything to say. He just couldn't find any words. He wasn't sure he'd be able to voice them through the tightness in his throat if he did. Pulling away from Rogue he ran bavk out into the bedroom. He had two choices. One; he could run, give his head time to think. But if he did that he wasn't certain he'd be able to bring himself back. Two; he could stay and get help from these people. They were the only family he had left.

 His mind whirled for a moment, making the room spin. He fell back heavily against the wall and slid wearily into a sitting position. Rogue came out of the bathroom and slumped down next to him.

 "Maybe we can find a way ta stop what's happenin'. Between Hank and Professor Xavier, I'd bet they could come up with anything." she suggested hopefully. Remy smiled slightly despite himself. After Rogue had returned to the X-men, Joseph coming with her, their relationship hadn't exactly gone uphill. But at least she would be his friend if nothing else.

 "So, ya wanna give me the details a'what happened? 'Roro's explanaition wans't exactly a Kodak picture." Rogue place her hand on his arm.

 "He didn't say much, really. He talked a lot, but as far as any real information, he didn't tell me much. Logan jumped him and he left. But from what he *did* say, I'm gonna change an awful lot 'fore any of dis is over." he managed to keep hold of his composure as he spoke. He felt like his heart was going to explode. Gambit had been staring at the floor beside his feet but he risked a side long look to find Rogue lokking at him thoughtfully. After a moment of uncomfortable silence Rogue slid her arms around his shoulders pulling him into a tight hug, making certain that her skin didn't touch his and activate her powers. The gesture meant a great deal to him.

 "I thought you were mad at me, 'member?" he teased.

 "Well, maybe Ah'm not so mad anymore." she replied. Gambit pulled his arms around her waist.

 "Oh, this is so sweet," that mocking tone! They snapped their attention to the side of the room. Alex flicked on the lamp, revealing an expression of mock sadness on his face. He wiped away and imaginary tear.

 "This is so beautiful, why, I may just start crying...but then again, maybe I won't," the fake display of emotion didn't last very long. "Now with all that said and done, shall we get  on with business?"

 "How the Hell did you get passed secrurity?!" Rogue rose sharply to her feet. The mention of security only brought a wide grin to Alex's face.

 "Oh, please, mere security isn't about to keep me out. Though I will admit that your friend Bishop was quite an obsticle," his grin widend. Remy pulled himself of the floor and stood in front of Rogue.

 "What'd you do to Bishop?!" he demanded. Though Gambit and Bishop hadn't quite gotten off on the right foot, Remy had grown to care about the time tossed man.

 "Bishop is perfectly fine however sleeping quite soundly at the moment. Now i fyou would save yourself some trouble and be so kind as to come with me?" he took a step closer and Remy instinctively shot and arm out in frinet of Rogue to shield her from Alex's approach.

 "Remy ain't goin' nowhere!" she reported flatly.

 "He doesn't have much of a choice," he retorted. Remy could sense Alex's temper slipping.

 "Says you," Gambit  spat. "I'm stayin' here! You de one dat's gonna be leavin'!"

 "You do have spirit. But if you don't return to the Covenant, they will come after you. And trust me when I say that that won't be pretty." Alex glared at the two.

 "What Covenant?" Rogue asked.
 
 "Vampire's Covenant," Remy answered. His face screwed up into a thoughtful expression as he tried to figure out how he knew that.

 "You've almost gotten there, LeBeau. The rules are starting to come to you," to Rogue's puzzled look, he added, "When someone becomes one of us, the rules of the Covenant that we must all adhere to just... appear in their head. They start to understand who we are and what it is we do. So Remy knows that he must either return to the Covenant or be killed."

 "No, he isn't goin' anywhere!" Rogue cried.

 Alex's temper slipped completely and he lunged at them. No sooner had his feet left the ground then the door burst open. Bishop raised his rather large plasma gun and fired it at Alex, who slammed into the wall. Bishop cocked an eyebrow, distorting them "M" tattooed across his eye. His weapined remained trained on Alex.

 The Vampire, clearly pissed bt now, turned his assault to Bishop. Bishop merely stepped to one side as an optic blast erupted behind him, nearly missing Alex's head. Cyclops, who had been standing behind Bishop, replaced his glasses over his eyes so that he could open them and see where Alex was. He pulled them down once more, trying to nail Alex. He missed and hit the table lamp, plunging the room into darkness.

 Various curses were mumbled as people tried to adjust to the sudden lack of light. The crimson glow from Gmabit's eyes were the only indication as to where he stood, also making him the only one who could see anything. He rushed up to the window as Alex jumped out of it. Remy scanned the night outside but could find no trace of where he had gone.

 "Where did he go?" Bishop's deep voice broke through the darkness.

 "He got away again!" Remy slammed his fist hard onto the window sill. By now Scott had found the overhead light switch and the room brightened. The mood of the people in the room, however...

 No one spoke for a long moment. Scott looked thoughtful, hand raised up to his chin. "Was that this vampire character?" he finally asked. Remy nodded slowly. News of what had happened to him had spread through the mansion and its occupants like wild fire in a dry spell.

 "Assemble the X-men," Scott said. He turned to Remy with an apologetic look. "Gambit, I don't know who.. or what, we're dealing with. But I think we all need to be prepared."
 

END PART 8
 
 
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