Chapter 22

Rogue carried Storm to one of the rooms and laid her on a bed. She hadn’t regained consciousness and Xavier hadn’t expected her too, as he watched the most spectacular bruises form all over her body. Darkess must have beaten her to within an inch of her life and then left her to die. Rogue had told him that they could only heal in their natural form, and theirs was that of the human shape.

He had also disclosed, that Darkess had these collars on all Shifters and that’s how he controlled them, but he’d never seen Darkess do this to any of them. Until now. He wasn’t sure if she would pull through this, her injuries were extensive and she had possible internal bleeding.

“SO what do you think she was trying to tell us?” Xavier asked once they had her tucked up and cosy.

“I have no fucking clue, your guess is as good as mine.” Rogue said.

“Can't you read her mind?”

“I could if she were thinking something, but right now she isn’t, so NO,” He said burying his head in his hands. “If she dies then so do my nephews. I can't go back to that Xav, I just can't.”

“What can we do to help her?” Xavier asked.

“All we can do is keep her hydrated, and hope she is strong enough to heal.”

“There must be something else we can do, come on Rogue, think.” Xavier said shaking him.

“Don't you think I would be doing something if there was anything I could do. She’s my sister Xav, she means everything to me.”

“Sorry mate, I just feel so helpless.”

Xavier couldn’t believe the bond he had formed with Rogue, in such a short time. He felt like Rogue was a brother, a brother he never had.

“I'm sorry I doubted you Rogue, you have proven to be a great friend indeed.” Xavier said touching Rogues shoulder.

“I need a drink. A strong one. Do you think you could rustle up some scotch or something?” Rogue asked.

“Wait here I’ll see what I can find.” Xavier said leaving. He needed to get drunk too; it might help him forget about Rowan. Numb the pain and stop his body from wanting to go to her. He couldn’t stop thinking about her, as much as he wanted to, she was always there, lurking in the back of his mind, trying to draw him to her. Well he might be her blood back but he wouldn’t be anything else.

“Will this do?” He said producing a bottle of whisky, “I couldn’t find any Scotch.”

“As long as it gets me shit face, I don't care what you call it.” Rogue said, kicking out a chair for Xavier to sit on.

They sat opposite each other. Drinking and just shooting the breeze, neither of them wanting to have any sort of meaningful conversation.  The whisky wasn’t doing a damn thing to him. He was still as sober as when he’d first started drinking, while Rogue was slowly starting to slur his words. His body still ached to be with Rowan. Ached so much, even his teeth hurt now, from grinding them against the pain of not being with her, no doubt. 

*

Rowan lay there for hours just staring at the ceiling, silent tears soaking into her pillow at the ache she felt from his coldness. He hadn’t come back to her as she had hoped, and her stubborn streak wouldn’t let her seek him out.

 If he came to her, she would at least know there was something to fight for.

As it was she was in a strange bed, in a strange world, and she felt alone.

Why had he come into her life? She had been perfectly happy until he’d shown up and turned everything upside down.

There was nothing for her to stay here for, nothing keeping her here other than the fact she had no idea how to leave. But once she figured that out she was leaving. She would pick up Josephine and leave. And go someplace no one would be able to find them.

Dear God, Josephine was still with Darkess! Her mind screamed, her heart clenched and her panic rose. She couldn’t lose Josey too. But she couldn’t get to her without asking for help, and the only person she knew here was Xavier.

Her parents were here somewhere here, but they had yet to come to her. What was that about? If it had been her child, she would have been in there like a shot. Nothing would have kept her from her baby. They obviously hadn’t missed her or didn’t want her, either way she didn’t know them, so it was no skin off her nose.

She got up and dressed in the robe that had been left for her. The thing was practically see through. This place certainly had a funny way of dressing, she’d been better concealed when she was working for Christ sake. This left very little to the imagination, but it was this or nothing and it at least gave off the appearance of having something on.

She closed her eyes and sensed for Xavier. She didn’t know why she did it, but it worked, she knew exactly where he was.

*

Xavier sat, slouched back in his chair and kicked his feet up on the table. Rogue had passed out, and he didn’t have anything to do now. He didn’t want to be alone, but he couldn’t go to Rowan.

He was so tired, he could sleep for a week.

Picking up the water bottle, Rogue had been using earlier he went to Storm,  held her head up and dripped the water into her mouth. He stayed with her until the bottle was empty, then laid her head back down before Pulling the covers back to checking her over. He was astonished at how quickly her bruises were fading and how beautiful she was. She really was perfection, if only he didn’t belong to Rowan, his body didn’t even react to Storms beauty.

Arggg, he groaned, he was doomed to a life without love.

He climbed in beside Storm, and laid one hand on her chest, if she stopped breathing, it would wake him. Still wearing his clothes, well the bottoms anyway, Rogue still had the top, he pulled the covers over him and looked at Rogue. What a pair they made, Rogue was a character and a half and a real friend, he’d never had one of those before, and he was enjoying the banter they had.

He would have to find them both some real clothes tomorrow. He couldn’t let Rogue walk around in what looked like a dress without the bottoms. He smiled, and wished he had a camera, Rogue was currently slouched over the table, one hand holding his balls the other under his head.

 He checked on Storm, she was sleeping soundly. Wow they really could heal quickly.

He stayed on his side of the bed not wanting to hurt Storm and closed his eyes and let the darkness take him.

*

Rowan made her way through the corridors, to where she knew Xavier was. The place was huge and quite unfriendly. Stone walls, stone floors, stone everything. She missed carpets, her feet were freezing.

Loud Snoring was coming from behind the door she was standing at. She smiled, Xavier, sounded like a jet engine ready for take off. How could he make that kind of noise. Was this why he hadn’t stayed with her? If it was she didn’t care, if she could have his body next to hers she would buy ear plugs. She smiled and felt her heart take flight, he was so sweet. Today had been tough on both of them and me must have wanted her to get some sleep.

Pushing open the door, she tiptoed inside and closed the door softly behind her. She didn’t want to wake him with a start, she wanted to wake him with a kiss. Creeping across the room, she noticed the noise wasn’t coming from the bed dominating the space, it was coming from the table. Walking over to it, she tripped over a stool, banging her shin. Ahhh that hurt. Hoping up and down trying not to make a noise, she heard a groan, and turned to the bed.

She saw Xaviers back, he was sleeping on his side, but she would know him anywhere, even his back was beautiful and strong.

A hand on her shoulder stopped her form moving.

“hmm, did Xavier send you?” the voice asked, she could feel him sniffing her. What a strange thing to say.

“Excuse me.” She said spinning to face the voice. “Who are you?”

“Rogue, and you are sexy piece of ass.” He said, with a lop sided grin, while he scanned her from head to foot. Her faced flushed, she was totally on show for him. Looking at Xavier’s back, had her nipples hard and her core throbbing just thinking about him.

 “I'm, here for...”

Rogue leaned in and kissed her. Rowan stepped back and slapped him across his face.

“Like it rough do you sexy? You smell ready for me.” He said, grabbing her hand and yanking her hard against his chest. His nose pressed against her neck, he growled in her ear, “I need a good fuck”

Rowan was stunned into silence, to shocked to move. She put her hands to his chest and pushed as hard as she could, but didn’t get anywhere. Her teeth came down and she threw her head back.

Rogue Spun her around and clamped his hand over her mouth.

“It’s not nice to bite folk who don't want to share with you, sexy. I like it rough, but I'm not a fang banger.” He growled into her ear, while he pulled up her robe.

“You will enjoy this sexy, have you ever had a tiger before?”

Rowan shook her head, she couldn’t breathe, his hand was clamped so tightly over her nose and mouth. Her body was still in shock, she needed to do something but what.

Her eyes locked onto Xavier’s blue ones.