The yellow light faded and "Celeste" stopped screaming. "Jean" relaxed against the wall, consciously unknotting her muscles before she could turn her head far enough to see her husband.

He looked anxiously at her and she shook her head. "I'm fine. Don't worry, Scott. Everything will be fine soon, I promise," she murmured softly.

Thepis looked up from a close examination of "Celeste"'s pinched features. He looked over at "Jean", and his eyes narrowed. "Why were you screaming?"

"She accidentally connected with my mind. I...we...My, God, it was..."

"Yes?" He was nearly beside himself. "Was it very painful?"

In answer, the two women began to shudder uncontrollably, and tears streamed soundlessly down their cheeks.

Cyclops and Wolverine both jerked and strained against their bonds, promising bloody vengeance when they broke free. When, not if.

He only laughed. He returned to "Celeste"'s side after selecting a syringe filled with a black fluid. At his mental command, the locks snapped open. He pulled "Celeste"'s limp body away from the wall, laying her on the floor. Her head moved lethargically, rolling to the side so that she could see Logan again. Her hands came up to smack him away, but ended up delivering weak little pats.

"Now, Darling, don't fight me," he said sardonically. He examined the volume of the liquid, flicking the glass tube to watch the air bubbles. It was a thick solution of Sodium Pentothal, the "truth serum" used by humans since their second world war. It was unlikely to work, but their were dozens of ways to get someone's surrender. It would be amusing to try them all.

"Celeste" watched with wide terror-filled eyes as the needle lowered toward her arm. Her body scooted away, but was stopped when his knee planted itself on her stomach. "Shhh," he cooed as she began to whimper, "This won't hurt a bit."

"Celeste" finally allowed herself to show her true self. Now! Just before the needle scraped her skin, her hand crushed Thepis's, turning his wrist around so that the needle pointed upward. Bones cracked, and, with a savage cry, "Callie" shoved the needle into his throat. Using her other hand, she pushed down the plunger and scrambled away. She stopped. With no spirit to guide her, she was only a body, a body with no initiative. She whirled around as she heard the syringe hit the floor.

Soamna Thepis, his face twisted into a mask of unholy rage, stood snarling. Steel hissed against leather as he took the Charon Sword in hand. "I warned you, girl."

No! "Celeste" leapt for him as he stalked his prey, all conveniently chained and waiting for Death. He rested the blade against Gambit's throat. "Celeste" screamed and fell to her knees. If one of them were killed, there would be nothing left to save. Soamna drew the sword back, and then touched it to Remy's throat, poised for a mighty blow. One quick motion, and the Ragin' Cajun would be no more.

"Would you die for him?!" The voice boomed inside her head.

"Celeste" lurched to her feet. Time had run out. In three strides, she was in her enemy's arms. "I would sell my soul for them," her mouth descended on his as she pushed the blade away from Gambit's throat.

Thepis threw her to the ground, placing a booted foot on her stomach. The sword nudged the pulse at the base of her neck. "I knew you would see things my way. I should kill you now..... but I think I'll have some fun with you first."

He picked her up in his arms and reached out to get the black headband, which he slid into place. "Guard them!" The shadows appeared before he had even left the room.

Logan hissed. He'd often wondered what hell was like. He'd often thought he was in it. But now he knew for sure.