Damn, this was not good. He had to get Kyler away from whatever in the hell was lurking beyond the bed. How could he wake her and get her out of danger when he hadn't a clue what the hell was lurking out there?

And there was something out there. Granted nothing that he could see physically but the darkness swirled and writhed with restrained energy that wasn't natural. Remy reached for his cards on the nightstand hoping his skills for thieving would go undetected.

"There is no need for those. I am not here to harm you."

His hand paused right over the deck. The feminine voice was smooth and soothing, reassuring him violence wasn't necessary.

He couldn't take the chance, not with Kyler's here. He grabbed the deck and charged a card as he rolled directly on top of Kyler's sleeping form. The jostling woke her but that couldn't be helped.

"Have company, cherie." He whispered before she could move.

Kyler's senses flipped into full wakefulness the second his words penetrated her sleep-clogged brain. She lifted her head to get a look at their company but only got a glimpse of room before Remy shoved her back against the bed.

Remy repositioned himself over her using his weight to crush her into the covers. Any thoughts she might have had to assess the situation flew to the back burner. Concentrating on breathing was all she could do for now.

"There is no need to suffocate her. I will not harm you." The darkness crooned.

"Wha' you wan'?"

Kyler trembled at the aggressive words and the steel tone in which they were issued. She didn't know what the hell was out there and she didn't care. All she knew was that she didn't want to lose Remy to unnecessary fight.

If their company said it was friendly then she was willing to go along with the possibility long enough to find a way out. She opened her mouth to tell Remy that charged cards and fighting words were not universal peace symbols when the voice in the darkness spoke again.

"You won't give an inch will you? Admiral."

"Let her go an' give you anythin' you wan'." Remy offered coldly.

"I'm not leaving you!" Kyler cried as she tried to push her way out from under him.

Remy responded to her outburst by crushing her more firmly into the bedding. It was an effort but Kyler forced herself to stop struggling. At least now she could see the foot of the bed.

Kyler had to trust in Remy to handle the situation and do her part. That meant not distracting him and conserving her energy for when it was needed.

"I guess I had better come clean before you both attack in an effort to save the other from my clutches." The darkness parted to reveal the newest houseguest at the X-mansion, Tawla Nassis.

Tawla looked from the blazing card to Remy's face. "Shall I turn on the light or would you prefer to start a fire with that?"

Remy reluctantly dropped the card into the metal wastebasket. "De lites."

Tawla walked to the wall and flicked switch, bathing the room in light. Approaching the bed again, she began to speak. "I am here by Charles' invitation. I would not dishonor his favor by harming her." She pointed to where Kyler was suffocating under Remy.

"Besides," she added with a slight smile. "I doubt that blue is her natural color."

Remy immediately released Kyler from his weight only to force her behind him, shielding her with his back. Kyler had to place her hands on his shoulders to lever herself up enough to see.

She was startled by the petite vision before her. How could this petite doe like woman be the cause of such alarm? Everything about the tawny hair woman screamed frailty, yet, there was something about the way she stood and held her head that protested the image of weakling.

Tawla waited patiently while they examined her only speaking when it became obvious the tension would not dispel. "I can see that I will have to explain quickly or I may never meet Miss Renden."

"As you may have guessed Miss Renden, I am Tawla Nassis. Charles has asked my permission to use my file to lure this Sinister out into the open."

Kyler could feel Remy grow rigid under her fingertips. Whether it was from tension or from her fingernails digging into his skin, she didn't know.

"I have given it." Shoulders slumped and nails retracted with relief. "However the debt I owe is too great to be repaid with such a minor request. I decided to help retrieve your child."

Tawla paused as if waiting for some type of reaction but they were too stunned to say anything for several moments. Kyler was able to find her voice first but could only speak one word.

"How?"

Tawla looked quizzically at Remy. He read the unasked question with a shake of his head. "I see they didn't tell you about me. Interesting. I wished we had the time to go into explanations but we do not."

Tawla sought Kyler direct gaze, holding it in a lock. "I give my word to you which means much to me, that I am here to help."

Kyler wasn't certain it wasn't foolishness but she believed her. Still she couldn't stop her from asking why.

Tawla broke the lock with apparent satisfaction ignoring the question. "You are both strong of character. That is good. It justifies Charles' concern for your happiness and welfare."

Tawla focused her attention on Remy. "I apologize for disrupting your slumber but I needed to be certain your skills weren't exaggerated. If you want your son, you will come with me. Your instinct and training as both a thief and a X-man makes your present vital for success."

"Wha' you mean?"

"With your knowledge of Sinister and my abilities I believe we can zero in on his location. I can clear the path so you can reach him. Are you willing?"

Remy stood up disregarding his nudity. "Oui." He turned back to the bed and kissed a stunned Kyler hard on the mouth before walking over to the closet to pull out his uniform.

Kyler joined the flashing scene by standing up on the bed and forming a T with her hands. Her cheeks were pink but the small embarrassment did not stop her. "Time out here! What in the hell is going on? You," she pointed at Tawla. "You appear in our bedroom and say you are here to help. Okay, I'll buy that. But I want to know how you are going to accomplish that. What can you do that hasn't been done already?"

Remy stopped shrugging into his clothes to reassure her. "Chere, it b' okay."

Tawla held up a placating hand. "She is concerned for you LeBeau as it should be.

"You know I am a mutant?" Tawla asked.

Kyler nodded.

"According to the dossier on Sinister which I believe you complied, you did an excellent job on that by the way, Sinister has surrounds himself, intentionally or unintentionally, with the one thing I can find."

"And what is that?"

"Pain and death."

To be continued

Comments By Jleskridge@aol.com