Xander Harris and the Antediluvian Tome

Author: Lochar

Disclaimer: Don't own it, don't need the headaches that would come with owning it.

Chapter 5

Xander scrambled back as Faith and Raven went at each other in the front of the school.

Hopefully the Sunnydale effect kicks in, or I'm gonna get expelled.

Whatever Raven had morphed into seemed to have both strength and speed, almost matching Faith's Slayer abilities. Punches and kicks were exchanged, blocked, dodged, and reversed almost faster than he could keep up with.

After a moment, they stopped and stood across from each other, Raven calmly watching while Faith seemed a little ticked off.

"X, what the hell are you still doing here? Get lost and let me take care of the crazy." Faith took a quick look at him.

Xander stood up. "Where do you want me to go? You guys are blocking the way out that way, and doors are locked while school's in."

"Dammit, I knew I hated school for a reason."

"Children, while this is a most interesting conversation, the successor isn't going anywhere. At least, not without me. Slayer, don't think you're going to win this one." Raven gave Xander then Faith a bloodthirsty grin. "I'm not demon or vampire, and I don't think you'll kill human, even a mutant human, will you?"

Faith looked a little nervous.

"Just as I thought." She rushed Faith hands out, morphing them into something. "But I have no qualms with it!"

Faith reached out for her changed hands, dodging at the last moment as silver claws slide out reaching for her throat.

"Shit! What's with this chick? Isn't there a damned limited to what you can change to?" Faith yelled, getting around behind her.

Raven spun around, kicking out at Faith and catching her in the back.

As Faith catapulted a few feet forward, she saw the shapechanger fly further over her head, without benefit of wings.

Then a low voice growled behind her. "She can only change to what she's seen."

Faith kicked off the ground, quickly turning around to see Xander's supposed grandfather, standing there with the same claws going out of his hands.

"Suppose I should have just killed her, but I'd like to know why she's after my family. And why the hell she's in this town in the first place." Logan glared across the courtyard at Raven.

Raven stood up slowly. "Logan. I am here on my own business, that you have no business in. Let me leave with the boy and I won't be forced to kill my way out."

"Raven, I just said he's family. If you think I'd let you leave with family, I've got six claws here that are going to argue differently."

Raven laughed ironically. "Great, just great." She looked up at the sky. "Why can't this have been even a little easier? The book unread, or even a nice docile idiot to drag along. No, the successor had to be related to one of Xavier's pets."

Logan shot Xander a look, before glancing back towards the now shifted back female. "Book, successor? This isn't going to go well." He shook his head. "Get out of her and tell ol' Buckethead he's not getting anything he's after here."

Raven scowled at Logan. "This isn't over." She shifted again into a bird and flew off.

Logan nodded at Faith, and they both walked over to Xander. "You ok?" Logan asked.

Xander nodded. "Just peachy, considering I was almost drug off by a homicidal maniac bent on forcing me to use whatever I'm supposedly the successor to for some idiot's probable plan for taking over the world."

Logan blinked, then laughed outloud. "Happen often to you?"

This time Faith snorted and answered. "Not on the Hellmouth."

"Well, I'm not usually the center of it. That's Buffy or Faith's job most of the time." Xander agreed.

Logan looked over Xander's shoulder. "Who's that?"

Xander turned around and then groaned. "Ah, the resident troll, Principal Snyder."

"HARRIS! Out here playing spectator for a pair of tramps? I'm going to expel you for this." Snyder threatened.

Logan held up a fist to the little man, and he stopped. "I'm family, and he's checked out of school. You have a problem with that?"

Snyder glared. "Are you on the approved list for signing the brat out?"

Slowly, Logan's middle claw rose up from between his knuckles. A drop of blood balanced on the tip before sliding down. "Go away."

Snyder turned white and nodded quickly. "Right, you're on the list. In fact, I think you've already signed him out." He backpedaled back and re-entered the building, quickly disappearing from sight.

"Come on, let's get back to the house." Logan said to Xander. "I think I need to talk to you about whatever this successor is. I've got a feeling I know what it is."

Faith stepped between them. "You're probably right. And I'm not letting X go with any mutants, family or not. We're going to the library where we can get everyone together. You don't like it, you can leave."

Logan shrugged. "Whatever. Where's this library then?"

Xander pointed, and the three started walking. Xander then asked a question. "How'd you know the crazy lady was here anyways?"

Logan chuckled. "Believe it or not, I smelled her. She wasn't very careful about covering her scent. Probably because she didn't think she'd need to."

Xander stopped in his tracks, Faith and Logan walking a little further before stopping and facing a now ashen-faced Xander.

"What's up?" Faith asked.

"Stupid Hellmouth bad luck." Xander bit out. "That's why it seemed familiar."

"What's gotten into you X?" Faith again asked.

"Oh, it's not in me. Not anymore." Xander cocked his head to the side, regarding his many greats grandfather. "So, what possessed you, gramps?"