THE ILLUSIONST WOMAN

one. Senate Dilemma

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GRIEF. XIMENA KNEW IT well. It followed her around like a witches familiar, probing and reminding her that death was just around the corner for those closest to her. Her mind was a waste field of lost friends, a lover, a family. All lived great lives only to encounter her and be cursed with an early grave.

She hated it. Hated what she'd unconsciously done. And for a long time, she hated herself. Loathed the very illustrations that ghosted from her mind, her fingers, her subconscious. It was like a plague: her gift.

It seeped into the minds of others and sought out their greatest fear. Their deepest, darkest secret laid out before her and blasted over their cornea, trapping them in their own personal hell. She thought her mutation was a poison for the longest time.

It gave her intel and stripped her away of humanity. A conscience. A heart.

She was a villain in the stories. The boogie man striking fear into the bones of children at night.

It was like this for the fifty years of her life. After realizing she could not age after waking up from the very depths of hell itself in 1976, she simply existed. Until, Professor Xavier found her.

He guided her, made her feel normal despite her fear inducing abilities. She saw him coming a few months in advance but didn't know much of him or why he was seeking her out. His approach was gentle, almost too gentle. Like she were a stray, rabid cat just waiting to pounce.

His words were soft and wise, persuasive. Xavier wanted to show her how beautiful her gift could be. Truth be told, that's what really won her over. He showed her she didn't have to terrify – she could inspire. She could create worlds of euphoric destinations. Ximena could sprinkle elaborate dreams for imaginative little sleepers. She could weave webs of enchanted castles which housed heroic stories.

She didn't have to be the bad guy.

This life-changing revelation led her to volunteer as a mentor at Xavier's School of Gifted Youngsters. From then on, she smiled more, laughed genuinely and experience true acceptance from her fellow mutants. There were others much like herself. The notion was magnetizing, she always was a curious soul.

That was ten years ago.

Since then, she had adjusted to her role comfortably. Ximena and her peers worked together to ensure that mutants get the opportunity to live freely, boldly, and fearless amongst homo sapiens. She wanted peace, not war. Which made the Senate Hearing they were attending in quiet that much more important and frankly, disheartening.

The room was crowded with press. All pushing in to the edge of their seats to hear the news on mutants. 'Will they or won't they need to sign a registration form to expose their variant genealogy.

Ximena stood behind the Professor, her round brown eyes taking in Jean as she gave her presentation on behave of mutants. Sometimes, the Illusionist wished she had the charisma and confidence in public speaking to take Jean's place in all this – maybe be beside her. But alas, that wasn't her expertise.

She was better out in the field, or in the lab, getting her hands dirty.

Ximena surveyed the huddle up attendants, her eyes stopping on Senator Kelly. He didn't look impressed or conceived by Jean's exposé. Something told her, he would be the first to vote towards the bill being passed.

Jean clicked the slide show to an image of humans with minor mutations. Shadow manipulation, burning paper with their eyes, someone who could make an object blur in and out of focus.

She turned to the council, voice persuasive yet strong. "These are but a few of the reasons we are seeing what some are calling the beginning of another stage of evolution. These mutations manifest at puberty and are often triggered by periods of heightened emotional stress."

A gavel banging on the dais interrupted Jeans presentation. The crackle of the microphone feedback already gave Ximena an inkling to who exactly wished to disrupt her posed speech. "Thank you, Ms. Grey. It was quite educational. However, it fails to address which that is the focus of this hearing. Three words: Are Mutants Dangerous?"

The brunette swallowed, feeling her stomach roll at the question. Especially, because there was a time when she was incredibly dangerous and in certain circumstances, she still was. She, under the intensive gazes of high officials would've choke with the attention. However, Jean seemed ready for such a question. She didn't falter and this was another reason Ximena admired the red head.

"I'm afraid that's an unfair question, Senator Kelly. After all, the wrong person behind the wheel of a car can be dangerous."

"Well, we do license people to drive," He combated.

"Yes, but not to live." Jean pressed. Ximena laid a hand on Professor Xavier's shoulder as a show of her pride and admiration for how level headed Jean was with all this. His wrinkled hand patted her own, holding it there as a gesture of agreement. "Senator, it is a fact that mutants who have come forward and revealed themselves publicly have been met with fear, hostility, even violence.

It is because of that ever-present hostility that I am urging the Senate to vote against mutant registration. To force mutants to expose themselves will only further --"

"Expose themselves?" The Florida Conservative chairman interrupted once more, causing a flare in Ximena's patience. "What is it the mutant community has to hide, I wonder, that makes them so afraid to identify themselves?"

"I didn't say they were hiding," She rebutted but the Senator wasn't willing to hear what she had to say. He took over the presentation, showing documentation of mutants living within the United States. Listing them, as if they were subjects to be monitored instead of human beings.

"That's ridiculous," Ximena whispered low enough for Xavier to hear her grumble. "They don't force men and women with autism to register. Amputees, color blind people, all are protected under the human rights constitution. Why not mutants?"

"Why indeed, my dear." Professor Xavier sighed sadly, nodding his head in agreement. "Fear is the number one drive to these men's occupation. It's how they remain in power."

The startle of clapping made Ximena's lip twitch with disgust. Everyone seemed to be in agreement and for a moment, she felt hopeless for change to happen.

"They made the Jews do the same and failed to remember what went wrong then? It's in everyone's history books and yet they applaud him."

"It would seem we are doomed to repeat it, unless we convince them otherwise. Show them we're here to live peacefully, not with malicious intent."

"Ladies and gentlemen, the truth is that mutants are very real, and they are among us. We must know who they are. And above all, we must know what they can do."

Suddenly, flashes of an older gentlemen flickered over her briefly closed eyes. She watched a hallway scene that had yet to happen. Two foes facing off who were once friends. Blinking her cocoa eyes open, she squeezed Professor Xavier's shoulder.

"Erik Lehnsherr is here. Leaving, at the back."

Xavier looked amongst the crowd of cheering attendants, spotting an familiar face shrouded in shadow. She'd seen him get up and leave before it happened. Magneto just now getting up to leave out the back door of the auditorium. He eyed Ximena behind him, sending her knowing glance. "Thank you. I will be back."

She waved a dismissive hand, her golden bangles making noise with her movements. "Take your time. I'll remain with Jean."

The Professor wheeled himself out of the auditorium as Ximena watched the Senators talked with each other. She sighed in disappointment as she weaved between the people towards the stairs down to the stage. Her heels clicked against the ground, her attire more reserved in such a formal atmosphere. Usually, she wore chunky and elaborate ethnic pieces that made a statement along with her casual clothes, but today was different.

She had to fit in a certain mold. And although her ethnicity, color of her skin and overall compassionate aura were all things that made her stand out with these council members, they were mostly none the wiser to her presence.

Curling a brown strand behind her ear, she stepped on the the podium to assist Jean. "What do you need me to carry?"

"Just about my entire career," Jean smiled sadly, both of them feeling the failure of the meeting. She handed Ximena a box of papers and pamphlets, to which the Hispanic held it steadily.

"If it helps, I think you sounded eloquent. Senator Kelly has some nerve. I almost did something."

The vibrant ginger shook her head, gathering her bag and a few folders. "That won't help him see. I fear nothing will."

Reaching for her arm, Mena smiled encouragingly. Feeling Jean needed it more than herself at the moment. "Hey, you made a difference today. Even if it didn't turn out like we planned, we'll try again next time. Don't feel like all the responsibility is on you, Chica."

"Sometimes, that's all I feel... but thank you, Ximena."

"C'mon, let's get you an afternoon drink." She chuckled with the Telepath, stepping off the podium to lead her to an exit. They were headed to her car, since she was the one to drive them here. Something told her Professor Xavier was going to meet them there.

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Unedited. 6/2/21

Think of this as a prologue. I didn't label it that because I don't like the terminology, plus I think this is the stepping off point.