Bloodline
Book of Knowledge…
“Hi, Ame. What’s that?” Raven curiously asks one day when she is strolling around the mansion, coincidently passing a reading Amethyst.
“It’s my family’s version of Book of Knowledge. It contains records of mutation, power branch and lineage. Charles wants to borrow it, so I figure I’d take it out earlier.”
Raven turns her attention to the other woman’s computer.
“That’s Division X’s— sorry, I mean X-men’s database. Since we’re about to train each other, I thought it would be good to plan our training based on our power classifications.”
“Wow, let’s see. Temporal: Amethyst. Mimicry: Raven, Darwin. Aviant: Warren, Angel… Hmghm.” Growing disinterested, she turns her attention back to the book. “You wouldn’t mind, would you?” she turns to Amethyst.
“Not at all. Go ahead.”
Raven opens random pages until she stumbles upon a chapter page. “Almighty Powers,” she reads out loud.
“Basically, it explains the ultimate level a mutant can reach, what those powers are called and what characterized a mutant to possess it. But it all depends on one’s classification as well.” Amethyst explains as Raven browses through.
“For example, I’m classified as a temporal. That means, aside from my reversal power, I can branches out my power to other temporal sub-category. Like psychometry, chronokinetic combat, and intuitive precognition—”
“Wait, wait, what?”
Amethyst gestures for Raven to place the book down the table. She turns the pages that titles ‘Psychometry’, “Basically it’s the power to perceive the residual information of an object and/or person by using senses.” She turns several pages forward and lands on one that says ‘chronokinetic combat’. “This is used in physical combat, by making my attacks appear extremely fast while causing the victim to be slowed down.” They move on to a different spread. “Intuitive precognition is the power to intuitively sense and adapt to future events. It’s a combination of Intuitive Aptitude and Precognition. You can read the details yourself.”
“Users have the ability to intuitively understand what's going to happen and how to deal with it. The power works on a purely instinctual level: users don't receive any additional data, but can spontaneously feel how events are going to unfold and what the best course of action is, making it more an inherent part of themselves than an external ability.
“This hyper-instinct allows them to make the right decision in any situation, multiplying their survivability and success rate, allowing them to overcome great hardships with minimal damage and pull victory from the jaws of defeat despite all odds.”
“Wow, you really know your stuff.” And she is not just talking about the woman’s powers. “Have you reach your fullest potential yet?”
“There is one skill mightier than Intuitive Aptitude, and it’s called Claircognizance, but I’m not sure I really want it.”
“Why is that?”
“Claircognizance allows the user to gain information of all sorts through intrinsic means, like from a person, object, place, or event through intrinsic knowledge, as in it just "comes to" the user's mind,” she recites right out the book. “If I already know everything even before anything happens, I’ll literally die standing of boredom.”
Raven giggles out loud, causing Amethyst’s facial expression to turn scandalous.
“That’s not funny. It could happen.”
“How about me?”
“Let’s see. I remember reading about multi-shapeshifting. It’s when you do multiple different shift at different body parts. Like wings of a butterfly with mouth of a tiger.”
“O-kayy…. That’s weird. Not sure if I want that…” Raven trails off awkwardly.
“It’s just an example! I just want to show a diverse combination. Although it would really be a next step if you can copy powers, too.”
As long as it’s a mutant….
One day, Erik, Warren and Amethyst ends up in her family. Warren discovers her family motto. “Protect among thyself,” he reads out, “That’s quite the motto, Doctor.”
“Actually, the meaning behind it is a bit more racist that it lets on—not the kind you think of. In my family, we are only allowed to socialized ourselves with other mutants. Contacts with outside norms are only permitted if it is absolutely necessary.”
“I’m sorry. That must be hard on you,” he says apologetically.
“Nah, it’s not that bad. Not all my family members really stick to the old saying. Except my mom. She has quite a handful of human acquaintances, but she talks behind their backs all the time. It’s kind of entertaining to hear her during social events.”
“Still, the motto makes sure that the family tree is filled with mutants only. We don’t care about their race, as long as they are a mutant. Of course, they are some conflicts, too. Like the time my parents got married.”
“Really? What happened?” Warren sounds genuinely curious. She directs him to the opposite wall, where there is a golden tree painted. Behind them, Erik silently follows.
“If you take a look closer, you can see names on the roots. It’s our family tree record. One of many, at least.” He squints a little bit, trying to find her name. “Mine is over here, at the center-bottom.”
She gestures at the names from several generation back. “My great-grandma from my mother’s side was a Cheyarafim, while my great-grandpa from my father’s side was a Neyaphem. It was quite a clash in the wedding, as I was told.”
“I’m sorry, but what do these names mean?”
Amethyst knows that Warren had quite a struggle in his life, hence the lack of knowledge of his origin.
“Cheyarafim are a group of angel-like mutants who were the traditional enemies of the Neyaphem, a demonic-looking group of mutants who lived in Biblical times. You are one of the Cheyarafim descend.”
“Are we distance cousins then, Doctor?”
“Speaking of origin, all humans came from one place, if you believe in the Bible. Same goes for mutants. We all came from one mutation. But no, we’re not. I would have known if we were. I memorize the family tree very well.”
“But unlike you, who I guess has a more direct Cheyarafim mutation gene, mine is a mix of multiple different genes. I do inherit a bit from them, though. Like my lighter coloring,” she gestures at her natural white hair, “and my fangs and red eyes.”
“Yes, it was quite a shocking appearance I must say. The pleasant kind. Your hair looks good on you.” It takes him a couple of seconds to really sink in what he just says, before blood starts to pool on his cheeks.
She would have blush to, if she can, but her mutation makes it impossible.
“Still, it must be nice to grow up in a family that is like you. Makes acceptance seems really easy,” Erik’s sudden insight causes the two to turn their attention to him.
“I guess that’s one of reasons to have the motto,” she adds. “Though I do try to make a few friends outside my circle. I don’t have that many, and my family won’t know as long as I don’t mention anything.”
“By the way, Warren, while we’re at it, Cheyarafim are know for having healing powers. Don’t try to heal a Neyaphem, though. That works like a poison to them. Same goes with the blood.”
“How do you know that? Did it happen to you before?” Just the thought of someone harming her, whether it is unintentional or not, makes his blood boil somehow.
Though he must admit, he does have strong feelings for the woman. How can he not? It was because of her help that he was able to come clean with his father. The man is an anti-mutant through and through. It was a very difficult time growing up for Warren. To accept himself as he is, let alone confiding his true self to his father. But thanks to Amethyst’s support, he was able to make it through.
“I tried it experimentally when I was a kid. Didn’t work on me, though. I’m fine with both races’ healing and blood, as it turns out.”