[ For potentially the first time in quite a while she actually laughed. Not a bitter chuckle or a sarcastic jab at someone, but a real laugh born of amusement. ] There are combat uses as well.

[ Those had taken her longer to master, but thy had been a bit more fun. ]

It does save time.

[ She took five small black tea candles out of a pocket hidden in her dress and placed them on the ground in a small pentacle. With a wave of her a hand she lit them all five on fire. ]

I rule a demonic dimension. Fighting is all we know. [ She looked over at him and then offered a bit more. ] I do not think we ever stopped fighting as New Mutants. There was always something. Anti-Mator, Enchantress, Empath, Mojo, Magus, Hodge and the Friends of Humanity, the Purifiers [ she shook her head. ] always something.

[ She knelt down by the little pentacle she'd made and then looked over at him. ] No. > We were recently attacked by the Purifiers and members of Project Purgatory. [ She hesitated for a second. ] General Ulysses was the one attempting to summon the Elder Gods.

Would you believe they also go by Stryker Crusade? [ She shook her head. ] They sound like what they are then. A terrorist cult. They believe they are in a holy war against mutantkind. [ Her tone shifts to one that has just the slightest hints of anger. ] They destroyed a bus full of our children. From what I understand those children no longer even had their powers. They had no way to defend themselves from that.

Humans are always afraid of things they don't understand. [ There was an edge of bitterness to her voice. ] To them we are just freaks.

[ She inclined her head. ] Experienced are you?

[ She tilts her head curiously. ] You are psychic? People are never fond of those. They tend to poke around where they do not belong too often.

[ She shakes her head and gives a small smirk. ] It is no worry to me. Psychics cannot read me unless I allow it and I do not often allow it.

Yes. After I returned from Limbo even our most powerful telepath, Charles Xavier, could read nothing from me. [ Emma Frost had only been able to see what she had allowed. ] I allowed Frost to look but she was not pleased by what she saw. [ There was a strange smile to accompany the statement. There was no denying she found it amusing how frustrating they found it. ] Empath had little effect on me either. Much to his frustration.

That does make you quite strange. [ She tilts her head and then shrugs. ] Unsurprising though. You have always seemed strange. [ And another smile. ] I would have offered to show you something.

[ She tilts her head and grins. ] Then you are curious?

I would have never guessed such a thing. [ A chuckle escapes her lips and she looks somewhat surprised by that. ]

No, certainly not. How foolish would you have to be to do that? [ Of course she has. ]