The Red Star

Chapter 36

His hold on her was gentle yet firm. Their eyes were shut tightly and their lips pressed together, locked in a loving kiss. Crys never thought she would be kissing Bucky, but the moment was too perfect to have any negative thoughts come up.
They were both returning a kiss, a gentle caress and at one point his arms curled about her waist as her hands tangled in his hair. The moment was full of passion and pain and both of them knew that they were meant to be together.
That is when she stopped and pulled away. A look of concern came over her and she gazed up at Bucky who looked positively peaceful, almost in a sort of ecstasy.
"What's wrong?" he asked, his arms pulling her closer so as to allow him to kiss her again.
"Wait." Crys said, putting her hands on his chest. "Something's not right."
She wrenched herself away and looked around her. They were in her room back at the mansion, but there was something dreadfully off about all of it. She turned back around and looked at Bucky who was both confused and happy at the same time.
"Where's Jay?" Crys asked.
Bucky glanced down at his feet and a sad smile came to his face as he furrowed his brows.
"She left. She couldn't take the pain and she didn't love me."
"What?!" Crys shouted.
"Babe," Bucky scrapped forward and placed his hands gently on her shoulders and said, "Why are you acting like this? You know she left years ago. And Steve along with her. He fell in love with Jay around the same time I did and well.... you know." His hands softly trailed up her arms and shoulders to her neck and Crys shivered. He gently drew her close and kissed her saying,
"I found you and you found me. We are meant to be together."
Crys's eyes were shut as the moment overwhelmed her. These feelings ..... they were all wrong but something felt right. It was then that Bucky decided to deepen the kiss and press her hard against him. Crys struggled to get him to let go and when she did, she stumbled back against her dresser.
"Crys?!" Bucky said, hurrying forward. "What's wrong with you?"
"Stop!" Crys said. "Don't kiss me!"
"But Crys." Bucky began, confused and hurt, "Why can't I. I am your husband."
Crys blanched and her knees began to shake. What the hell was going on!? She looked up at him again, suddenly feeling a pang of guilt for having hurt him.
"You know," Bucky began, "Jay acted like you too. You two must have the same weaknesses then. You certainly don't have the same strengths."
"No!" Crys objected, "Jay is only weak when---" she cut herself short. Then a moment of fear and calm bombarded her senses and mind. She stood up and frowned saying,
"Doom!? Whatever game you are trying to play, I won't be fooled. I refuse to betray my sister!"
"Sister?" Bucky said, but with a not-so-Bucky voice.
Crys froze, a sudden feeling of heaviness weighed down on her frame. Bucky's lips curled into a smile that she would forever pray to forget.
"You silly girl," he said, his face shaping into another. "You already have."
The man who stood before her had a chiseled jawline, magnificent cheekbones and unearthly blue eyes. His shoulders were square and his body was fit and tall. He was in Doom's usual garb, but his mask was gone, thus allowing for a view of his face.
Crys jumped to her feet but dropped to the floor as if gravity was crushing her. Her eyes shot open and a throbbing burn left her limbs. She felt the metal clasps on her again, and she groaned.
"Well, well, well." Doom's voice sounded beside her.
She looked to her side only to be startled by the cold, emotionless mask beside her.
"Look who finally let something slip." he said.
Crys looked at the floor, a sense of realization coming over her. She then felt Doom's leather grip on her chin and her face was wrenched upward.
"You know," he began as Crys struggle to pull away, "I can tell you don't do well with masks."
"I guess you can say that." Crys hissed through her teeth.
"Or I just don't do well with assholes."
The grip on her face tightened and it hurt her already bruised cheek. Doom brought his face close so that she could hear his shaky, angered breaths, trembling with emotion.
"You are going to wish you had never been born." he growled.
"I already wish you weren't." she feebly responded.
Doom thrusted her head back so that it hit the metal frame behind it. A noise came from Crys that was a mixture of pain, anger and confusion.
Doom made his was in front of her and motioned to his right.
"I have a powerful mutant with me that can allow me to enter and manipulate memory and consciousness. She can also take your powers and poses them for all the time I need to get into that pretty little head of yours." he chuckled, "I think I prefer you to your other consciousness." he walked to a cushioned chair and seated himself comfortably in it adding, "you are much more feisty. A lot more fun that way."
Crys felt her stomach turn at his words, partially out of disgust and partially out of fear.
"Claire," Doom said.
Crys looked up and saw a slim figure come into the light. she wore a baggy sweater which hung low about her hips and which had a wide collar that exposed two this straps and her pale shoulder. Her hair was a caramel brown, but seemed to have a layer of gold strands on top, as her hair draped over her covered shoulder. Her feet were in flimsy sandals and she wore a pair of slightly torn jeans which hugged her legs.
Crys was quiet, not expecting this pretty, pale young woman with downcast eyes to be the mutant who was willing to torture her.
"Claire Murdock," Doom began, "was blind from birth, but holds a brilliant set of powers. She has been aiding me in my work with you and I am eager to continue."
Claire held her hands tightly together and shivered. How Doom had gotten her to help him, Crys did not know.
"Shall we begin?" Doom chuckled.
Crys furrowed her brows and looked at Claire who's hands went to her sides and eyes shot up and shocked Crys with their empty paleness.
Suddenly Crys felt a sharp pain in her head which then began to spread like wildfire all over her body. She shut her eyes and screamed.
Her eyes shot open. Soft fur touched her cheeks and bare arms and she ran her fingers through it. Everything was a haze. She didn't remember anything that had happened, all she knew was that she was confused.
A shiny pare of sued shoes appeared before her and she frowned. Then she felt a pair of warm hands touch her bare arms and grasp them softly. She found herself being lifted up and seated in a soft, velvet cushioned chair.
Crys blinked, noticing the silky white gown which she was apparently wearing and everything came into focus. On her wrists were silver and diamond bracelets and dangling from her ears were sparkling diamond earrings. Her hair fell in soft ringlets around her face and a slight breeze made the lack of sleeves and shoulders on her dress evident. The neckline was below her collar bone and she could feel the soft velvet on her back down until the middle of her back.
A soft hand gently lifted her chin up and she stared into the mesmerizing blue eyes as a richly accented voice asked,
"Are you alright ?"
"What?" Crys said.
The man's face came into focus and he asked,
"Crystal?" he paused, "It's me, Victor. Are you alright ?"
"Yes?" Crys replied.
She was stunned and confused as to why she didn't remember anything except his eyes and his voice.
He placed his hands on her bare shoulders then leaned forward to place a kiss on her lips.
" Crystal, you fainted again. Do you remember me?"
"I don't know..." Crys replied.
" I'm your husband and this is our room." he replied.