Chapter 161 – Nightmares

[2009 – October]

"Can you tell from where the telepathic cry originated?", her younger brother asked calmly, his deep green eyes failing to hide the strength of his presence.

Nodding somewhat stiffly, Emma fought hard to suppress the turmoil in her heart. She had never told another living soul about what had happened to her, so she didn't quite know how to react now that Elijah knew about her past.

Still, while the soothing warmth and unconditional care that she felt when in his presence were something rather foreign to her, Elijah's existence also felt like a safe haven to her.

She knew part of the reason for this was that Elijah didn't pity her, nor did he suddenly think less of her. He was angry about what had been done to her but he wouldn't suddenly treat her like some fragile or broken flower.

Elijah didn't judge her for what had happened to her in her past, the same way that he didn't judge her for all the blood that she had spilled and the lives that she had taken.

He just accepted her for who she was and the only thing that mattered to him was the trust and affection that they held for each other. And it was immensely comforting for her to know that he still saw her as his older sister Emma.

"I can feel the rough location where the call came from even though I can't find whoever had sent the message anymore.", she replied slowly, "I think something is intentionally blocking me but I don't know what or who."

"Hmm.", humming in acknowledgment, he stated: "Get dressed quickly, I will do the same. It's best that we set off as soon as possible."

"We know nothing about who it is that holds her captive. What if they are a large organization?", Emma couldn't help but voice out with a light frown, "No ordinary organization could have the technology or the human resources to block my telepathy"

Shadows swirling in his eyes, Elijah shook his head lightly as he added somewhat apathetically, "It doesn't matter. As long as we can find her, no one can stop me from taking her away."

Finished speaking, his figure disappeared in a cloud of black mist, leaving Emma alone, his words still echoing in her ears.

Elijah had not spoken with confidence. Instead, his words had been filled with a serene truth that seemed to weigh on the atmosphere, her own heart skipping a beat as her breath got caught in her throat.

Emma couldn't really comprehend the extent of her younger brother's power but that didn't stop her from understanding how truly monstrous he was.

…

Silently reappearing back in Jean's and my bedroom, I didn't even have the chance to just get dressed quickly as Jean's voice rang out the moment that I returned.

"My love.", she called out quietly, "What happened? I woke up after feeling a disturbance in the nearby psionic energy but you were already gone. Is everything alright?"

Turning towards her, I saw her sitting up in our bed, her flaming hair wildly framing her beautiful features as she looked at me with her bright eyes, worry and affection thick in them.

I wasn't too surprised by that as Jean's sensitivity was naturally incredible when it came to changes in the surrounding psionic energy.

Ambient psionic energy was in a way similar to the electromagnetic or gravitational field. It was present in every corner of the Universe, born out of the minds of all sentient creatures. Normal living beings could not perceive it or interfere with it but extraordinary individuals like mutants or other powerful life forms could.

"No, it isn't.", I replied truthfully, unwilling to lie to her, "Emma's daughter is in danger and she called out to Emma for help."

"Emma's daughter?", Jean voiced out in confusion, sleepily rubbing the corner of her eye as she looked at me questioningly, "I thought Emma has no children … "

"Logan also had no idea that he was a father before meeting Laura.", I answered darkly.

The meaning behind my words didn't go over Jean's head as she seemed to freeze for a moment, her eyes widening in shock.

"What are you going to do?", she asked, her words barely more than a whisper, her expression serious and concerned.

"Emma and I will find her, and bring her home.", I stated calmly as I turned around and started getting dressed.

…

"Emma and I will find her, and bring her home."

Her love spoke those words calmly but even the darkness in the room couldn't prevent Jean from seeing the wrath and malevolence in the depths of his shadowed eyes.

She had not seen Elijah this angry since the day of her awakening when the X-Men tried to take her away.

At that time the Phoenix had transmitted the happenings in the outside world into her mind while her body had adapted to her newly awakened powers.

This time though, Jean could see with her own eyes the desire for violence in Elijah's eyes, his very soul seemingly craving for blood. His presence grew heavier by the second, akin to a dark sun that failed to conceal its own light.

Instead of warmth though, Elijah's light promised nothing but death.

Moving out of the bed, she slowly walked behind her love, her arms wrapping themselves around his waist just as he was about to button up his long-sleeved black shirt, her head coming to rest in between his shoulder blades.

"You don't want me to come with you, do you?", she asked with a whisper, faint sorrow and deep concern in her voice.

"No.", he replied quietly, his hands coming to rest above hers as he lightly shook his head, "I don't want you to have nightmares … "

"Because you will kill them all … ", Jean added softly, having already seen through his intentions.

"Yes."

His answer was calm and without hesitation, compelling her to tighten her grip around him while she inhaled deeply, drawing his scent into her lungs while soaking up the comfort of his warmth for a few precious moments.

Jean knew that Elijah wasn't a pacifist, and neither was he a 'hero'. And while he wasn't a violent person by nature, he was ruthless and she had no doubt that he would truly kill each and everyone that was involved in harming Emma's daughter.

The sanctity of life was nonexistent in the eyes of her love, as he lived by the simple principle of facing the consequences of one's actions.

Elijah desired to live in peace solely to avoid being drawn into unnecessary conflicts and battles, but he was by no means afraid of unleashing hell upon those that harmed or even just tried to harm his family.

Still, Jean also knew that if she asked him not to do this, her love might just act with mercy. But she didn't.

Instead, she whispered gently: "You belong with me, so make sure to come back home, my love."

"Always.", he replied quietly.