After making sure that Kurt had gone to bed, Scott crept to the others' room, woke everyone and they assembled down in the Planning Room, where they could talk freely. Once everyone was gathered, Scott told them the plan he had thought up with Pietro, detailing everything. When he had finished, the others looked a little nervous. "What do you guys think?" he asked them.

Jean rubbed her arms, clearly uneasy, but she said, "I think it's risky, but we have no other choice."

Evan, slumped again a desk, crossed his arms, saying, "It's suicidal is what it is! What if it doesn't work and he catches one of us alone?!"

"I say we do it." Kitty muttered quietly.

Bobby's hands had already iced up as he barked, "That's not enough! That furry devil needs to burn in hell!"

"I'll do it!" John suddenly chirped, a lit lighter in his hand.

"John!" Remy said, snatching it from him and pocketing the lighter, glaring at him.

Rogue then asked, "What about not fighting? What about talking?"

"It won't do any good." Pietro said. "Trust me. His mind's fixed on this. He's not going to change."

"Not without some 'help'." Scott added with a grin, looking at Jean.

She sighed, saying, "We'll need to get him down into Cerebro. I can't do it otherwise."

Scott nodded and then addressed the others, asking, "Okay, so are we all clear about what we have to do?"

"But what if he doesn't follow me?" Kitty asked, obviously scared.

"He will." Scott said, his green eyes glinting. He then said softly, "Guys, all of you, listen to me. I know that Kurt's one of the X-Men, and he's been a big help and a wonderful friend for all these years. Don't think of him like that."

Scott's eyes grew hard. "He's different now. If you go easy on him, he'll attack and not think twice about it. Although I hate to say this… Aim to hurt. Play dirty. Use every sneaky, below-the-belt trick you know. Don't give him a seconds rest. This isn't a Danger Room session, where the target gives up and we end. He'll keep going as long as he can, and he'll try to 'thin' our ranks." He sighed a little. "We can't let him. Is that understood?"

The weight of the words impacted everyone, but they still all nodded, understanding. They were dismissed and everyone snuck back to their rooms to rest. They were going to need all the rest they could get!

Well, almost everyone…

While the others had gone back to bed, he crept and got outside, his mind working fast. He examined the pros and cons of the situation and finally decided that something like this was going to end two ways. Either they actually succeeded, which he honestly doubted, or the blood bath would begin. He sighed in the moonlight, staring out at the grounds.

Should he? That was the question. Should he? Shouldn't he? Yes? No?

All it would take is a quick word with him, a whisper of a statement and their plan would burst into flames. But what if he kept quiet? He always wanted to align himself on the winning side, knowing that in the long run, it helped you live longer.

Remy smiled broadly and walked back into the darkened mansion…

The alarm read 10:26 AM when Kurt finally opened his eyes. He smiled and rolled over in bed, purring softly. Hmmm… What a great night… He got up, stretching, scratching the fur on his chest. He wanted a shower, then a nice breakfast… His grin turned wide and fanged as he purred, thinking that the park would be the best place. Morning joggers…

He licked his lips in anticipation as he dressed in his normal clothes, pulling on his jacket. He went downstairs to the kitchen, and found to his surprise that only Kitty was there, sitting at the table looking nervous. "Morning." Kurt said cheerfully.

Kitty jumped, squeaking, "Kurt!" She composed herself, and said shakily and a tad forced, "Oh, uh… morning. How-How was your night?"

Kurt noticed, but didn't comment. He had become used to them feeling a little freaked in his presence, answering, "It was good. You?"

"Good." Kitty answered, unusually brief for being the worst gossip in the mansion.

Kurt heard a soft rattling noise and turning, saw that Kitty was quivering in her chair, the rattling being the wooden slates of the chair. He came over, saying, "Kitty, you're shaking. What's wrong with you?"

"N-Nothing." she whispered, staring at his eyes.

Kurt stared back. Being scared of him was one thing, being terrified when he hadn't even done anything? That was going a tad far. She seemed… nervous about something. But after she looked down and away from him, he muttered, "Okay." and went to the fridge, searching for something to give him a little appetizer before he went for his the main course.

He had downed some coldcuts when Kitty said hesitantly, "Uh… Kurt? I wanted to show you something."

Kurt let out a sigh, saying, "Can't it wait till after breakfast?"

"No!" Kitty said sharply, quickly.

Kurt looked at her.

She instantly amended it to, "Uh… I mean, no, it can't… Just come with me?"

Now Kurt KNEW something was up. He put the pack of coldcut turkey back in the fridge, shut it and walked over to Kitty, towering over her as she sat in the chair, now looking paralyzed. He stared at her and then bent down, putting his hands on the armrests of the chair, bringing his face within inches from her. He could smell her perfume… and something else that he was very familiar with.

"Are you hiding somezing from me?" he whispered softly, his accent strong.

She quivered, shaking her head fractionally.

Kurt smiled, baring his fangs and was surprised that the terrified girl didn't just melt. "You're scared, Kitty… I can SMELL it…" He pushed forwards, watching in amusement as she tried to lean backwards, but couldn't because of the chair, forced to have his forehead touching hers.

She was shaking violently now.

He then purred, "And it's very… appetizing."

Kitty shook, whispering weakly, "I… I just want to sho-"

"Liar." Kurt breathed back, knowing that Kitty was THIS close to breaking. He could practical feel her heart pounding the adrenaline through her body, stressing her muscles. He was surprised she hadn't phased, but smiled. She was obviously too scared of him to move! His tail wound up, caressing her hand with the delicateness of a predator teasing his prey. "What are you hiding?"

The next thing Kurt knew, a fiery blast of pain erupted in his head and he was on the floor, his thoughts spinning.

How had he ended up in the main hall? A hole in the wall and his smoking fur answered that question, but how on earth had it happened?

He shook his head clear and looked up. All the students were in uniform, standing there at the end of the hall, Scott with his hand still on his visor, the crystal still steaming from the heat of the optic blast. Kurt felt a blind rage take over and he leaped at them, already concentrating. But he let out a cry of surprise as a human cannonball slammed into his side, slamming him against a wall.

He got up, tried to attack but then leapt out of the way to avoid an electric shock. He leapt up to the huge chandelier and glared down, trying to pick a target but then he heard the roar of flames and looked up in time to see the flaming head of a dragon staring at him. Looking down, he saw John grinning evilly at him, his aqua eyes bright and dangerous.

Kurt teleported just as the dragon's mouth opened and more flames poured out. He reappeared right behind the pyromaniac, and lunged, knocking him to the floor, just wanting to kill and not concentrating enough to shrink, but then screeched in pain as canine jaws clamped on his tail, tugging hard.

Kurt spun and kicked hard, and Wolfsbane yelped as she was knocked away. Kurt looked down to concentrate on John but saw the Aussie wink at him as Kitty dragged him down into the floor. Kurt growled in anger and looking up, saw Jean, floating. He ran at her, but then a couch leapt up and smashed into him.

As he got up and was forced to run from an icy dagger that lunged towards him, he realized their plan. They were going to keep him moving, keep him unfocused…

He snarled and leapt at Bobby, ignoring the dagger of ice that scraped his arm. Bobby slid to the side and Kurt's eyes grew wide as Sunspot punched him, sending him to the other side, crashing hard against a wall.

The room grew very quiet and Kurt spat, seeing blood hit the floor. He got up, wiped the blood away, sneering, "Look at you… You have to gang up on me to fight me? What cowards…" Just as he leapt for the unsuspecting Bobby, a spike of bone pierced his side, sending him crashing to the floor howling in pain.

He stood and yanked it out, glaring at Evan, who smirked, "Call it 'evening the score'."

Kurt looked surprised, but then his eye sockets glowed a sharp yellow as he leapt at him, not caring if he was speared. But just as he was about to land, the familiar sound and sensation of being blasted enveloped his mind and he rose, smoking, from the other side of the room, holding an arm to his side, glaring at Scott.

Panting hard, his own blood dripping from his fangs, Kurt snarled, "I was wrong about you, Scott… I thought you would understand in time… I thought you could still be my friend…" He spat, the thick saliva-blood mix splattering on the floor. "You're nothing but a weak coward…" He stood up. "And I'm through being nice to you."

He distantly noticed how the other students were going up the stairs, leaving him and Scott alone. Scott came forwards, saying, "Oh, you want to put it out there, Nightcrawler?" He took off his visor, threw it to the side. "Well, come and get me!"

Infuriated, Kurt rushed forward, landing a solid punch to Scott's cheek. He wasn't thinking straight and just wanted to beat this insolent teenager to a pulp. He ducked a punch and jabbed at the shoulder but it was blocked and with a sickening thud, Kurt landed on the ground, his own shoulder aching from the answering blow.

Kurt snarled as he stood, grappling with Scott. But Scott had more muscle than him, and he found himself forced down to his knees. Kurt bunched his legs and leapt, knocking Scott backwards. He leapt on him and lowered his head to the neck, fangs bared.

But he bit into the shoulder instead as Scott rolled and then elbowed him in the face. Kurt reeled backwards, more blood blooming in his mouth. He grabbed Scott's hands and they both pushed. Scott was strong, but Kurt had better footing. They were evenly matched for now.

Panting softly, blood trickling from his split lip, Kurt leered at Scott. "As soon as I pin you to the floor, Scott, I'm going to have such a sweet, delicious treat." He licked his lips, eyes glowing predatorily.

But Scott grinned back, saying, "I think you'll find this treat to be VERY hard to get…" and going against every code in his moral ethnics book, Scott brought up his uniform- and armor-covered knee right into Kurt's groin.

Kurt went still and with a moan, suddenly fell to the floor, his hands down between his legs, his tail thrashing as he whimpered, "Oh… That's it… I… am going… to KILL you!" He saw Scott running off, up the stairs, and his rage helped him stand and run after him, screaming, "You bastard! I'm going to rip you limb from limb! Get back here!"

He followed the hallway, lost sight of Scott, but his scent helped and he turned left, coming into a new corridor to see Scott's foot disappear down the hall. Kurt grinned and followed, walking now. This section of the mansion was a maze of halls and door, nothing of purpose around here except for Cerebro, and with the Professor gone and Jean so shaken, he had nothing to fear. He realized Scott wasn't running anymore and smiled, dropping to all fours as it ensured his silence. He started walking down the hall, calling out, "You have no idea how badly you've screwed up, Cyclops…" He turned a corner, smelling and sniffing like a wolf. He was getting closer.

"If you had left me alone, I would have kept going with the humans in town. Lord knows there's enough of them in Bayville alone to sustain me. But now…" He spun around a corner; saw a flash of movement at the end of the corridor. He grinned. That way was a dead end!

He followed, saying, "But now… Thanks to you… I'm going to empty the mansion. I'll shrink you first, and then keep you alive, let you see everyone else die. Everyone you swore to protect… You'll get a front row seat to their deaths, Scott… And after I've sated my hunger here, you'll stay with me. I won't kill you. I'll keep you as a pet!"

He laughed, low and scary. "Now won't that be fun?"

Kurt came to the hallways of Cerebro, each footstep silent and purposeful. Scott stood by the open door of a darkened Cerebro, his body shaking, but he was standing firm. The demon hissed in satisfaction, coming a few feet closer. "Why aren't you running, Scott? Hmm? Too scared to move?"

Scott gulped and backed up a step, about 4 feet from passing through the door. Kurt grinned, thinking had this figured out. Cerebro's paneling was reflective. If Kurt went in there, Scott could use his lasers to try and kill him, the reflective surfaces making it a Danger Zone.

Kurt grinned and crouched, purring thickly, "Nice try, Scott… But I'm not that dumb…" His tail started to thrash. "And you know what, Scott? For all your planning and thinking, you forgot one thing: You think I can only shrink when people are close or touching me?" Scott's green eyes grew huge with fear and terror. "You're wrong."

Scott turned and bolted, but this time, Kurt let him. When you're three inches tall, your top speed isn't exactly impressive. Kurt laughed and got up on all fours, walking over to Scott. The little mutant was trying to get over the bottom part of the door.

With a cold grin, Kurt swiped at him with his hand, and Scott cried out as he hit the opposite side of the hallway. Kurt walked over and bent over, lowering his head and biting the back of Scott's uniform, letting him dangle from his fangs. Scott was limp, moaning softly, "You… you can't…"

Kurt purred thickly, "Wanna bet?" and snapped his head up, tossing Scott into the air. The little mutant screamed as he fell and Kurt shut his mouth with great pleasure, teasing the small body in his mouth. He sat down, purring thickly as he felt his mouth watering. He was so tempted to swallow but if he did, he couldn't keep his promise to Scott. With a grin, he bent his head down and spat Scott out.

The teenager coughed and gasped, trying to breath, his body quivering and shaking. Kurt prodded him, purring thickly, "Scott… Where are the others?"

Scott refused, screaming angrily, "GO TO HELL, YOU FREAK!"

Yellow eyes glowed as Kurt grabbed one leg and lifted Scott into the air, hissing softly, "Either you tell me now, and I'll be merciful to them, or you make me search and I'll be a good elf and chew my food… just like you always told me to do."

Scott struggled, but Kurt just waited, grinning. Finally, as he knew it would, Scott's leader instincts surfaced and he hung limp.

Kurt then questioned, "Well?" he smiled, flashing his fangs for motivation.

Scott shut his eyes and wordlessly pointed to the dark room that held Cerebro.

Kurt smiled and gently righted Scott, patting his head. "Such a good boy…"

Scott sobbed as he pushed the finger away and Kurt grinned. He stood up and walked past the doors. It was dark, and even his eyes had trouble, the reflecting panels confused his eyes for a few seconds. But then he saw a shadowy figure at the end of the platform, wearing a helmet…

Scott fell from Kurt's grip as the blue mutant suddenly clutched at his skull, screaming in pain. He felt like someone was trying to open his head with a rusty spoon. He writhed on the platform, too pained to teleport or form coherent sentences. The pain went deeper and deeper, cutting through the grey matter, cutting in so deep…

Kurt screamed as he curled up in a ball, trying to escape the pain.

The Nightcrawler screamed and screamed, his world black and dark, like he was floating in ink, writhing in pain. He felt the presence of another in his head and suddenly angry, turned on them, his fangs sharp and white as he leapt.

But the intruder dodged and he spun, trying to attack, not understanding how he was able to walk on nothing, but not caring. He no longer felt his body, felt only energy. He turned to the alien presence in his mind and then felt rage well up inside of him as the intruder forced him to relinquish his earlier prey, giving them back their strength.

'NO!' he shrieked, trying to prevent this, but he was too late as the intruder attacked, getting behind him and choking him. The grip became familiar, as if one body were replacing the other and the Nightcrawler felt rage beyond imagining well up as he tried to wrestle from Cyclops' grip.

'Coward!' he screamed. 'I'll tear you apart!'

Cyclops remained silent, the grip around the demon's throat growing tighter… The Nightcrawler was losing. He could feel it.

NO! He had worked too hard to be stopped now!

His tail whipped up from behind and wound tight around Cyclops' neck, yanking him off. He spun him away, snarling. 'You think you can stop me? No one can!' and leapt, trying to bite the flesh of the neck.

But Cyclops blocked him, reached, grabbed his arm and threw him off, delivering a kick. The Nightcrawler screeched in pain as he felt his leg break and collapsed. He struggled upright on his good leg, but saw again how Cyclops' bright gaze was undeterred and unmarred.

The Nightcrawler backed up one step, his dark body crouching over. He snarled, his fangs wickedly sharp. 'You will never win!' He lunged, but was kicked aside, noises like twigs snapping signaling broken ribs.

The demon lay on the floor, suddenly noticing how Cyclops towered over him, strong and powerful. He tried again to attack, but he was easily kicked aside. Panting, he lay there.

He saw Cyclops hesitating and sneered. 'I knew it. You don't have the guts to finish me off! You are weak and you'll never amount to anything!'

Cyclops' came forwards, kneeled and pushed his hand down on the demon's throat, slowly increasing the pressure. The demon scrabbled and struggled, cursing and screeching as he fought to escape, but his struggles grew weaker and weaker, his kicking diminished, his tail finally stopped thrashing.

Cyclops stood up…

…and Scott cried out in pain, sweat streaming down his face as he panted and gasped.

"Easy, Scott! Breathe!" Jean said gently, rubbing his normal-sized back.

Scott gasped again and again, trying to readjust himself to the real world. Coming back from the astral plane so rapidly left him woozy and sick and feeling like he had left part of himself behind in that dark void. He started to shake horribly, feeling sick. He had KILLED something… but had it worked?

He looked up to Kurt, who lay on the platform about ten feet from him, curled up slightly, unconscious but breathing hard.

"Did I…?" Scott murmured. Jean nodded, helping him up.

"Yes… You killed it… Kurt's fine…" She shook and hugged Scott tightly, murmuring, "I thought I was going to lose you for a second there…"

Scott sighed deeply and hugged her back, still staring at the crumpled, blue form on the ground, bleeding and vulnerable.