Disclaimer: Several new characters are mine, including the plot. X-Men belongs to Marvel and Fox.

Jenny: Hehe, I loved the stuff with Scott, the continuance of the scream. It's enough to annoy all of us, nevermind Logan. I hope you begin to fall into place with this plot. I'm sure you will things should become clearer now.

Du Soleil Oriental: If you check out my profile there is a story about Phoenix-related stuff called The Ruthless Mind. It's a joint-fic by Sych77 and me! Check it out if Phoenix is your thing =P

Chapter 7

Breathing heavily like some enraged beast, the Wolverine stalked down the corridor at a fast yet silent speed. His arms swayed as he walked, hands in fists. His eyes scanned the corridor menacingly, trying to pick out any evidence. Behind, the X-Men followed with less graceful paths, except for Aurora who had disappeared to the floor as a sleek black panther. Logan and Aurora rounded upon the first door and both exchanged a glance before Logan raised a bare foot and kicked it at the wood panel. The door's lock weakened and the door swung open to reveal an empty and silent room. A sniff of the air proved it to be free of life.

With a mild snarl of annoyance Logan stalked to the other side of the corridor, foot once more kicking through to the door to open it. Again, free of intruders. He spun from the door and continued up the corridor. The X-Men followed, apprehensive and alarmed.

Roxanne glanced around the many faces of the X-Men, watching them carefully before her eyes went back upon Logan, then down to the gun in his belt. She watched as the X-Men continued to follow the ever-growling Wolverine and Aurora. Doors were being kicked in with an angrier force, his temper rising at the building failure. The corridors were only lit by a few lamps for safety and the X-Men noted, that when Logan's darkened features where lit sketchily from the small lamps, there was a sure glint of feral rage within his sharp eyes.

"The last door." Suddenly growled Logan and he stopped in front of it. He leant forth gently, running a finger along the hinges carefully, "Recently opened.." He smirked to the onlookers, "This is it.. "All followers readied themselves, whilst Roxanne lingered a few feet away.

With an unearthly roar Logan smashed the door down completely and leapt into the room. The room was pitch black, but his eyes spotted a shape on the edge of the bed. He pounced forward; a quick sniff to check it wasn't recognizable before his claws ripped free and slashed down to strike into the bulge. Aurora too soared in, growling and snarling, reaching in to share the frenzied bloodbath. The X-Men were locked at the door. Scott watched with mouth agape, Storm with widened eyes at the true ferocity of the attack. Growls and snarlings filled the air.. but no terrorized screaming.

All of the sudden, the fierce noises simmered with rough settles into throats. Logan snorted heavily, his hands lift free of the punctured lump. He ripped it free, growling as feathers spluttered merrily over the duvet. His eyes snapped back to the group, "A ploy." He snarled under his breath, throwing the now massacred and destroyed pillow to the floor, "They shoved it over the covers to fool us."

His eyes lifted over the room, every detail being observed within this single glance. He saw the window wide open, curtains swaying gently in the breeze. He pounced off the bed gently and to the open window, leaning out with an angry cry into the night. His claws sunk into his fists and his hands grasped the rope that had being slithered from the bedpost and to the distant ground below, "Shit!" He cursed, throwing the rope heavily back into the room. He spun swiftly, looking back to the X-Men. Storm gently switched on the light, glancing over the scene. The bed had duly being destroyed since the visits of Logan and Aurora, the attacked pillow lay discarded at their feet, and a rope was now draped over the floorboards.

Logan's head suddenly lifted as he heard footsteps, "Students have awakened." He muttered, striding past the group and out into the corridor. He glanced up and down the faintly lit passageway before he saw a few faces peer down their way inquisitively. Logan made a quiet sigh, glancing as the X-Men filed gently out of the room. Logan's eyes followed their paths out, and then watched Scott singularly as the man strode forward to the group at the end.

"Come on now.. no wandering.." Scott called, his hands shooing, "What time is it?" He asked, peering over his shoulder to the elders.

"Quarter to five." Muttered Logan, eyeing his wristwatch.

Scott looked back to the small crowd of students, "Come on! Not even five o'clock yet! Breakfast doesn't even start for another few hours!"

"But Sir! What's happened?"

"Professor, we heard an awful amount of banging."

"And screaming!"

"It is being sorted. Please, return to your rooms and lock them."

Storm hurried forward to help Scott with the stubborn few, "He's right, please lock yourselves in your rooms. We need to check the building for safety."

"But – "

"Now Dominic!"

"I think – "

"Maria!"

Scott then turned, eyeing a pair of students that were heading away sheepishly, "Hey! Artie! Flash! Come on!"

"Ah ah! Whisper! Where do you think you're going?" Called Aurora, now hurrying after a girl who was trying to sneak around Storm.

Logan folded his arms and eyed the departing students dubiously. He could see a few shiftily trying to devise their escape and go for an early wander. Upon noting that the three ahead were taking a while to hound the students back to their rooms he began to walk up, arms unfolding to swing stiffly as he briskly travelled.

"Ah, here we go." Muttered Siren with a knowing nudge to Michael as the pair watched Logan move in to take control.

"RIGHT!" Barked Logan; "You're wasting our time! Get outta my sight if anyone has any plan on living! Up those stairs, lock your doors and do not stay here making our lives difficult when we are trying to ensure safety on the mansion!!" His voice had exceeded above all noise and the students had fell silent at his commands. Only Rogue had ever managed to see a kinder side to the man, not even Bobby had been able to understand what gave her cause to respect him. Logan eyed them all with a glare. Some just stared at him. Possibly rooted in fear.

"Sorry.." Muttered one and once a pair of footsteps began; the lingering difficult group reacted to follow, and quickly departed at a heavy pace to get away from the wrath of the Wolverine.

Scott turned to Logan, "Couldn't have put it better myself." He sneered sardonically.

"I highly agree with that." Snarled Logan, his arms refolding steadily. He looked like some officer, some commander in an army force, snapping orders restlessly and with a fierce passion, power, and fear.

Scott opened his mouth to resort in a defensive fashion, but Storm speedily stepped in front of him, "Well! I think.. we need to inform Charles of the disturbances. And, I believe we ought to go and get some breakfast."

Logan made a derisive snort.

"Logan, we are all aware of the happenings, we can't be caught off guard now." Explained Aurora in a patient voice, moving beside him, "And I think we're all in need of some food.."

It was then Scott's turn to oppose, "I disagree I'm afraid, ladies, our number one priority right now is this assassin."

"But we can't do 'owt when they're not even 'ere can we?" Replied Michael, canting his head, "I'm famished anyway, hey, we'll be alreight.. our Logan 'ere and lass Aurora will keep an ear out, won't ya?"

Aurora nodded, smiling to Logan, "We'll hear any disturbance."

Logan uncrossed his arms from his army general pose, "Once more you're right." He said to Aurora, watching her with a smile.

"Of course." She replied with a chuckle, "Aren't I always?"

"Hey!"

Aurora smirked, punching him playfully on the arm. It wasn't much, but an adamantium hand was more than any human fist. Logan eyed her, he'd never hit her back, but instead resorted to the one thing she hated most. Tickling. Aurora let out a gasp following by a giggling squeal as she shrank to the floor as a wolf and leapt down the corridor from the hands. Logan smirked and pounded after her, both heading in the general direction of the staff kitchen.

Scott huffed lightly, his arms folding over the lapels of his black dressing gown, "Like kids."

"Oh, lighten up Scott, the assassin will be well outta here now. We scared 'em off somethin' rotten." Chuckled Michael, as he patted Scott on the back heavily.

Scott was not accustomed to such friendly gestures and eyed the Yorkshire man suspiciously, "You really think that?"

"Mon cher, le assassin will be running so fast now he dare not look back. The Wolverine is not one who is easily forgotten, and is one who is not wanted as an enemy." Explained Siren, watching Scott, "Assassin won't be back. Only if he is fool." She softly said, words smoothly tuned with an exotic twist to accented syllables.

Scott watched her gently, hidden eyes lingering before he eventually nodded, "Yeah.. I suppose you're right." He admitted heavily. He then glanced around the group, noticing Roxanne glancing nervously in the room they had exited and at the destruction, "Roxanne?"

She jumped and turned to watch him, "Yes..?" She quietly asked, fingers fidgeting gently as they rested over her stomach, now clothed in an elegant maroon nightdress from Storm.

"Are you alright?" Then questioned Storm, watching the woman concernedly.

Roxanne nodded quietly, hands lifting to neaten her hair, which contrasted stunningly against the deep purple of her attire, "Yes.. I am.. just a little surprised and shocked by the happenings tonight.. my first night here.. and there is a killer on the loose" She exclaimed breathlessly but with confidence in her eyes. She did indeed look awfully pale and her eyes flitted nervously. The X-Men rationally assumed she was frightened, not worried, or unsure, or even awkward.

"Aw, lassie." Said Michael soothingly, stepping forth and wrapping an arm around her shoulder, "Ya come to expect allsorts when you've been 'ere a bit. This is minor!"

Siren rose a brow at his explanation, "Michael.." She gave a small tut, "Well, it's not minor.." She hurriedly went on to explain, "But, the X-Men have dealt with worst. Like moi.."

"Aye.. well.. You'll be reight as rain after you've had a few smackers o' sausage and bacon in ya!" He patted both Siren and Roxanne cheerfully.

Siren's nose lifted in disgust, "Urgh.. such fatty foods so early.." She muttered, shaking her head mournfully.

"It's good fer ya, gets ya energized! Why? D'ya want croissants and all o' that poofy crap?" He teased, eyeing the French woman, "Full of air! Trading Standard's should illegalise it.."

Siren expressed annoyance with a snap and a threatening prod of gloved hand, "Less of it little man! I'm warning you!"

"Uh.. Guys.. let's go get breakfast?" Suggested Storm, "Logan and Aurora will have finished by now!"

Roxanne moved forward gently, glad that the discussion had left her and the subject had duly being changed. She didn't even smirk or chuckle at the happenings. A heavy dosage had suddenly being permitted that night.. and it had been used dramatically over the last hour.

As she followed the admirable and commendable X-Men of Xavier's school. For the first time since the horrific lab.. There was a stab of guilt inside her mind.. But within the next few seconds it vanished as a few droplets of fluid disappeared from the glass cylinder of the controlling bangle..

Here we are. Hope you liked it! Will be updating as soon as possible.