Author's note: I know, I'm getting slower. Truth is, it's exams season! Hope that explains it. Meanwhile, enjoy the story and keep the reviews coming in =0)

6.



The poor soul of a Warren meanwhile lay asleep in the bathtub, Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged lay upon the floor. Somewhere in the background the sound of water dripping was audible.


"I'd give you my Boots of Speed if you'd trade that Robe of Invisibility with me."

"Oh no, I'm getting that robe, Bobby! Here, you can have my Krishna's Dagger! It inflicts ice, fire and piercing damage at the same time!"

"I need that dagger, Scott!"

"Ray, you can always this," Hank said, lifting up a short sword. "It's Matahari Short sword; lets you inflict Sunlight on vampires and vampirelings."

"There are no vampires here, Hank," Ray said, rolling his eyes. "Besides, mages can't use short swords, only staves and daggers."

"And slings, don't you forget," Bobby added as he checked the Boots of Speed Ray gave him. "Anyone have one of those?"

"What?"

"Slings, of any kinds."

"Here," Scott produced one from his backpack. "It's glowing blue; I don't know what is it and I can't use it."

"You have to identify it first," Bobby said. "Don't you have an Identify spell?"

Scott scratched his head. "I used it up to for that Krishna's Dagger. That's the last of it."

"I think we all used up our spells for today," Ray said, checking his spell book. There were no symbols on the pages, and so it was on the others'.

"Let's get some sleep, then," Scott said.

"I'm sleeping in the middle!" Ray shouted.

"No, I am!" Bobby shouted.

"Does it make any differences, boys?" Hank asked pointedly as the two men fought on the ground for the spot.

"Yes!" the two chorused. "If you sleep on the sides, if there's a monster coming, you'd be the first to wake up and fight them!" Bobby said, then punching Ray on the cheek.

Hank and Scott looked at each other, then nodding, both grabbed Ray and Bobby at their feet, dragged them away from the spot while the two were screaming like hell and after deposited them as far as they could, leapt upon the sought-after spot and instantly went to sleep.

"NO FAIR!!" the two shouted. "YOU CHEATED! CHEATERS!"

But even Armageddon could not have gotten them awake. Bobby shook his head and laid himself on the side and slept off right away. Ray did the same at the other side.


"Dammit! WAKE UP!!!"

Hank opened his eyes a bit unwillingly. "What…? I had Miss California Beach 2001 on my lap…"

"We're under attack!"

That triggered something in Hank's head and made his drowsiness disappear. He stood up and saw Ray, Scott and Bobby were already in a circle formation around him. Around them were darkness, and Hank could see very little. No, wait… there seemed to be something moving around in the darkness… Hank stifled a cry.

"Yup, Hank. They're vampires," Bobby said as he held up his Roster Staff, capable of inflicting damage to ghostly creatures.

"Hope you have that Matahari Short Sword on. That will help a lot." Bobby was browsing through his spell book. "Does anyone have a Daylight or False Dawn spell?"

"I think I do," Scott said, taking out his spell book. "But I can cast it out only twice."

"So, we have to hit them first," Hank said as he rummaged through his backpack. He found the short sword. At the same time the five vampires began to attack. Ray almost got bitten by one but he managed to deflect it using his shield.

Seeing the odds, they all pushed Scott forward.



Xavier wandered aimlessly inside the mansion. He used to wonder why the hell did he build something this big at the first place while he knew he would not be able to cover all crannies and nook of it in one day, let alone one month. Now the thought returned with a vengeance. And did the mansion suddenly grow quiet?

In a far room he heard someone cursed loudly. Continuously.

"At last! A sign of life!" Xavier rushed toward the room and was furthermore elated when he saw it was Logan bending over an open fridge.

"Logan! Am I glad to see you!"

Logan heard him and turned around with a wary look in his narrowed eyes. "I hope your glad doesn't go far than being friendly," he said in a low threatening voice.

Xavier's eyebrows rose in bewilderment. "It IS more!" he said, resulting in Logan's eyes further narrowed. There was a low growl and Xavier added - without realising that he'd be skewered if he did not - "I'm like your father!"

Logan's eyes suddenly relaxed and the crease between his brows ceased. He grabbed a bottle of orange juice and a loaf of bread with a jar of peanut butter and walked away in a huff.

Further bewilderment was evident in Xavier's face as he watched the short, muscular, hot-headed man walked away. "Well, if I said I was his mother he'd be cross…"


It was too much for Logan's heterosexual mind.

He knew that he belonged to what the society called as freaks. He recognised the fact and even accepted it. But there is always another side, a darker side that lurks not hidden but flagrantly displayed by those who are supposed to be normal.

He thought that was the end of it, and Logan paid no attention to them, knowing that they'd be back for more if stirred. Leaving them be is the best solution. One of those things he could not fight out of.

But here… in the X-Men itself… it's preposterous (now where did that word come from?)! Impossible! And of all people Warren was the one who's gay - or suspected as a gay! Pity, Logan thought as he passed Bobby's door, such a great-looking man, such a waste.

When the women first told Logan he hoped it was Scott but no such luck. And he hated Scott even more and for once in Logan's life he wished that someone was gay.

He remembered that he had left the butter knife in Bobby's desk last night and went inside with the juice and the peanut butter and the bread.


"You still have time to identify something!!!?"

"Hey, at least I don't gag and hurl like someone I know," Bobby said as he equipped the sling. It was a Magic Missile Slinger, capable of casting out magic missile as long as there are bullets in it.

"Shut up," Scott said, feeling himself turn green as he ran for cover to a far end of the area where the road sort of narrowed. "I'm perfectly fine," he added before he spat out blackish goo. Again.

"I don't think Mr Summers is himself right now," Ray said as he watched in horror the five vampires cornered him. "Let's help him!"

"On the contrary," Hank said, perfectly relaxed, holding a struggling Ray firmly.

It was three seconds or so, but in their awe it seemed to have lasted an eternity. Scott calmly - or seemed to be calm; his face still looked quite green - stood there with five vampires cornering him, a staff in his hand and his other hand outstretched to the heavens. Suddenly there was a bright light that came down from the previously darkened sky, and for one moment Scott seemed invulnerable, god-like.

"I banish you, sons of darkness, to the limbo where you came from," Scott said. With that he held out both hands, his staff stood by itself for one short moment, and a blinding burst of light exploded from his outstretched hands. The three shielded their eyes.

A long chorus of unearthly wails and cries followed, then the next thing they saw was Scott standing alone at the corner. He smiled at them once.

"Yayyy!!" The rest cheered. "Good going, Scott!"

Scott felt dizzy, maybe from the excitement. "Think… I'm… getting… quite… good…"

He never finished those words. Dizziness came over him like a crashing wave and the last thing he saw was the stars twinkling in the sky above.


Will Scott really die this time? Will the others leave him? Will Xavier become the mother of all mutants?