X-Men: The Gifted Ones

15. MAGNETO HEADQUARTERS, LOCATION UNKNOWN

Emma couldn't help herself. She knew every single emotional button on Mystique and she knew just how to press them and when. She never let the shapeshifting girl rest for a moment. Mystique couldn't even train with Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch without the irritating blonde prodding into her mind, trying to distract her.

"How is dear brother?" Emma teased. "Too busy playing with his new friends to see his beloved sister?"

Mystique ignored her. She tried showing Scarlet Witch how to properly deliver a roundhouse kick.

"Rumor has it one friend is rather beautiful, unlike you."

Mystique tried to refocus. "Wanda, you're not focusing on your target, you can't just kick out without knowing what your target is.

"I hear he finds your red-headed little trainee attractive."

Mystique took a deep breath. "Hey, Ice Bitch, why don't you come out here and say that to my face? Only cowards who can't fight try to pry into people's minds!"

"What's going on?" Scarlet Witch asked. "That telepath again?"

Mystique groaned. "Yes, and we ignore her. She's just pissed off because she's old news, she's the past, we are the future. You are the future."

"Future of what?"

"Future of the Brotherhood," Mystique replied, rolling her eyes. "Emma's just an old bag, stuffing herself into that lingerie all the time and strutting around as if anyone's impressed."

"My brother is."

"Your brother is impressed by any set of tits hanging out for the world to see."

Scarlet Witch started laughing and she missed her target, nearly kicking Mystique in the nose.

"Focus!" Mystique yelled. "And stop laughing!"

"Sorry, but do you forget that-"

"Forget what?

"Nothing. I'll focus now." She kept giggling.

"Talk about my tits? Look at you," Mystique heard Emma ridicule. "Walking around naked and Erik still doesn't want you. No one wants to see all that. Men like their women...not blue."

"Are you alright?" Scarlet Witch asked, noticing Mystique's distracted look.

"I will be," she glared. Mystique stormed off into the sitting room where she knew Emma would be sitting, smirking, doing anything to get into her mind.

"Having fun?" Mystique challenged. "You look like a Fredrick's of Hollywood reject in that outfit."

"At least I'm not a human reject. Didn't your own family try to kill you?"

"Didn't Shaw leave you for dead in the USSR? And didn't Erik want to kill you? If I were him, I wouldn't have listened to Charles, I would have done it."

"I'm here now. Do it. Finish the job." Emma tested.

Mystique flew at her in a rage, kicking, punching, and pressing her hands against the woman's throat. Emma shifted into her diamond form and retaliated, throwing Mystique off-balance and onto the floor. Emma hovered over Mystique and stared, taunting her, filling her mind with vicious taunts and torturous images. Mystique could only scream, helpless, as Emma made her believe that she was falling from a great height, about to fall to her death. Emma wondered if the irritating blue woman would die from the fright of her "fall", if the adrenal flood could make her heart burst and she could be rid of her for good.

The commotion was enough to get Erik's attention and he stormed in from his study.

"That is enough!" Erik bellowed, waving his arms and causing the metal chairs in the room to crumple and fly toward Emma. Emma was forced to shift into her diamond skin to block the metal flotsam from killing her. The transition ended Mystique's fall and she found herself sprawled on the floor, covered in sweat. She saw Erik raging at Emma, with metal flying toward the woman. She knew Erik wasn't above taking anyone's head off when he was in Magneto mode. "You understand you are a guest!" he raged at Emma "You stay here at my convenience and at my invitation only!"

"I can go anywhere I wish," Emma glared.

"That so?" Erik mocked. "You're a fugitive and a mutant. The whole world hates you. You have never been on your own."

"May I remind you that you sought me out? That you wanted me?"

"As a telepath, nothing more," Erik scowled, twisting the metal balls into ropes, twisting the ropes around his hands, forming them into a metal noose that he hovered in front of her. "I'm not as easily swayed by your powers as Shaw. I've almost killed you once before. You know that. I'll do it again." Erik maneuvered the noose around her neck, slowly tightening it.

Emma tried to remain calm. "Will you?"

"Don't try to find out." He squeezed the noose around her neck, causing fine cracks in her shimmering skin before loosening it. Emma cast it off and caught her breath as her skin transitioned to normal. He stared in her eyes. "This is no idle threat. You're one of Shaw's, not one of mine. Your life depends on staying in my good graces."

"You need me too much to kill me."

"Do I? I need loyalty, you are not loyal to me." Erik fashioned the metal flotsam into a sleek blade and pressed it against Emma's white throat. "One more step out of line," he threatened. "And even that lovely diamond skin won't save you. Do I make myself clear?"

Emma's eyes stared at the sharp blade. A trickle of blood appeared at her neck. Erik sneered at her. She started to tremble, which meant he got his point across. He looked over at Mystique. "And if I ever find out you have been tormenting the only one I trust? You will have sent your last telepathic message." He sneered and stormed off. Mystique followed him. Emma wanted to make a comment about her following Erik like a puppy but thought better of it. Her throat stung from the scratch he had made, and she knew with a flick of his wrist, her head would be off.

Another day, she decided. Another day, another time, when he was distracted by something, or someone else. Then she'd make her move.

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