Fic: Graile Chapter Two

[Jack Xavier Warriner <connor_macbeth@xxxxxxxxx>]

Graile 
Chapter Two
By: MacBeth, 


Author's Note - For theatrical purposes, envision Mark
Mcgrath as Pike, (Sugar Ray.)and Casper Van Dien
(Modern Vampires) as Jack Covington. Donald Sutherland
(Who else?) as Merrick, whom Lothos prevented from
committing suicide. 
Disclaimers: Usual, I only own Jack. The rest are
Joss?/Davis & Panzer (Subtle hint of another branch of
that wacky Watchers Council.)
BTW: It?s pronounced ?ORD-NI-KO-NAI?

Los Angeles, California
Hemry High School
1995

Lucius stepped onto the school grounds and looked up
at the night sky. He wondered
how long until he would see the stars the way his
Master did. When he could cast off his mortal
eyes and join his Master as a Vampire. Maybe after
this ritual, after Master Ordiniconii
summoned forth whomever he had chosen, maybe he would
be given the gift. It had been nearly
a decade since the Master had found him, wasting his
life on streets as a gangbanger. About
nine years since he had broken into the belltower to
hide from other gang members who had
wanted him dead, and literally bumping into the
Master.
Walking down the street, Lucius was struck with an
odd idea. Walking slowly, the bald
black man walked in the direction of the nearest
coffee shop and smiled, intending to spend the
rest of the night among others of his ?kind?. His
blinding smile stood out against his ebony skin.
The woman at the counter smiled back, entranced.
*	*	*
Buffy landed on the floor with an exhale of breath.
?Exactly who?s side are you on,
Jack?? She moaned as Jack pulled her bruised and
exhausted body to her feet. 
?If you receive a bruise while training, and that
training enables you to save a single life,
then that bruise is well earned. Remember that my
young Paduwan.? He said with his half grin.
Buffy looked at him with narrowed eyes, ?Paduwhat? Is
that Greek??
?No... It?s something else.? Jack said as he moved
hesitantly to a couple of water
bottles that Merrick had brought in before retiring
for the morning.
Buffy was still looking at him funny before shaking
her head slightly and nodding her
head to one of the bottles. Jack grinned and lobbed
the bottle to her, before drinking a full
quarter from his own. Buffy caught and opened her
bottle, drinking a fifth and eyeing Jack
carefully.
?Your moves are amazing for a normal human. Where did
you learn to fight like that??
Buffy asked, walking over and leaning against a stack
of blue and white floormats.
Jack grinned and thought for a moment. ?In New York,
which is where I normally live,
there?s an old man in Chinatown, the perfect
stereotype of an ancient martial arts master, only
this man is a lewd pervert and a firm believer of
herbal refreshment.?
Buffy?s eyes widened, ?you mean...? she ended with a
smoking pantomime.
He nodded and continued. ?Well, this old dirty man is
also a very powerful Taoist
Alchemean Sorcerer.? Seeing her blank stare, ?Ever see
?Big Trouble in Little China??? 
?Oh yeah, that was a cool movie.?
?Well, that Egg Shen bloke? That?s a Taoist Alchemean
Sorcerer. He also teaches
some of the more obscure fighting styles.?
Buffy?s eyes widened. ?I?m SO jealous. I?d love to
learn stuff like that.? she said in her
best hinting tone.
?Well, It?s up to Merrick. But remember, even for a
Slayer, it takes years to learn, and
several lifetimes to master.? Jack said, smiling wider
at the eager look in her eyes. Hearing soft
steps, they both turned to see Merrick coming into the
room.
?I hope you?re not being too easy on her Jack. She
needs to learn to take blows.? he
said, ignoring Buffy?s laser beam-like glare. Merrick
walked to the window and stood there
staring. Buffy moved closer to Jack and stage
whispered, ?When he gets like this it?s generally a
bad thing.? Jack nodded and walked over to Merrick,
taking a moment to bask in the dawn
sunlight. 
?Do you plan on letting us in on whatever bad news
you?re privy to Merrick?? Jack
said, not taking his eyes off the sunrise. The elderly
Watcher turned to the younger Irishman and
chuckled softly. 
?I might as well. Buffy, I?ve consulted some of my
colleagues and they all agree,
Something...?
?Something dark/ powerful/ ominous/ Evil is coming...
and soon.? The young Slayer
finished dramatically for him. ?Am I close??
?Annoyingly enough, yes. You are correct. We have
consulted the texts, and a
prophecy states, and I quote, ?The Dark One will bring
forth a warrior spirit, and that spirit may
herald the Twilight of Man?. I trust I don?t need to
explain that any further.? Merrick said turning
to Buffy. Seeing her hardened eyes, he nodded. ?Good.?
?Are you sure it?s the Dark One again?? Buffy asked.
?Very certain.? Merrick returned.
Jack looked thoughtful throughout Merrick?s quote.
?If he?s summoning the Spirit, then
he must have a vessel chosen. So if we find the
vessel, we can prevent him from completing the
rite...Urk!? He was interrupted by Buffy slamming him
against the wall and Merrick deftly
pulling a revolver from his pocket.
?What do you know that you aren?t telling us?? Buffy
said in a deathly calm voice. A
sudden feeling overtook Buffy at her contact with
Jack. An intense feeling she?d never felt
before. Shaking the very disturbing thoughts from her
mind she renewed her grip on Jack?s
throat. ?Speak or I?ll crush your windpipe like a
fortune cookie.? 
?What... do you ... mean...B?? he choked out.
Merrick drew a bead on his forehead with the snub
nosed .38 ?How did you know the
Dark One?s gender??
Jack winced at his carelessness. ?Bugger... Look, Let
me down and I?ll tell you what I
know. Deal?? Jack coughed as he looked down at the two
feet of space between his feet and
the hardwood floor of the Mansion?s Ballroom. Buffy
narrowed her eyes and lowered him
slowly, Merrick?s aim never wavering.
Jack rubbed the white handprint on his throat. ?Now,
I came from New York, I told
you that, and I told you about Master Po. But I didn?t
tell you about his daughter, Lin. She has
the Sight.? Merrick?s eyes widened and he hastily
holstered the .38.
Buffy turned to her Watcher with an obvious question
in her eyes.
?She can see the future Elizabeth.? He stated then
turned back to Jack, who was now
popping his neck which caused even Buffy to wince at
the snapping sounds. ?You said Master
Po??
Jack nodded ?Yes, Master Po Tian Chi. His daughter is
one of the most talented seers
alive. You?ve probably heard about her.? seeing the
Watcher?s nod, he continued. ?She gave
me a few ideas about what?s happening.?
Buffy narrowed her eyes. ?He?s hiding something, I
know it.? She thought as she put on
a calm smile and slapped Jack none too gently on the
back. ?Thanks for the help.? 
Jack coughed slightly and smiled.
*	*	*
Lucius walked out of the coffee shop with a
cappuccino, an almond biscotti, and the
waitress? phone number on a napkin. Smirking, he
crumbled the napkin and tossed into the
garbage bin outside the door. ?Now for breakfast.?
walking down the street, Lucius felt a
sudden warmth in his coat breast pocket. He balanced
the biscotti atop the styrofoam cup,
slipped his hand in and pulled out a jacinth the size
of a cell phone. Walking into an alley
between a cell phone shop and a bakery, he closed his
eyes and established a mental link with
his Master.
<You summoned, Master?>
<The ritual will start tonight. Return to the tower
by sundown.>
<Yes, my Master... Have you need of anything while
I?m out?>
<Black candles, powdered infant bones, and a quart of
O+>
<As you desire.>
Lucius waited obediently until the master severed the
link then replaced the stone in his
coat pocket. The servant of Ordiniconii The Black
Blooded walked from the alley and
wondered if Harry?s Magic Shop was open this early.
*	*	*
Buffy and Jack walked out of the Mansion?s courtyard
and headed in the direction of
Hemry Highschool. They talked about little things, New
York, Music, various demons they?d
fought, When Jack asked out of the blue, ?So Buffy,
How long?ve you known you were
Bisexual??
Buffy, surprised beyon belief, spun to face the young
Irishman so fast she lost her
balance and tumbled into the street; directly into the
path of an oncoming Ford Escort. Jack
cursed and swooped in, pulling The blonde slayer out
of the way and rolling them both away
form the rapidly braking automobile. The driver side
door opened and a harried Vice Principal
Graham ran around the compact. ?Oh my god. Are you...
alright...Miss... Summers...? Well, I
didn?t realize that playing chicken with traffic was
your new hobby.? he stated, shifting from
horrified to condescendingly indignant.
Buffy brushed the dirt from her leather jacket and
looked at Jack. Jack grinned and
turned to Mr. Graham. ?Sir, could you please tell me
how fast you were going??
Mr. Graham sized jack up and down then crossed his
arms. ?I was going the limit, forty
five. Not that I can see how much business it is of
yours. Mr...?
Jack pulled out his billfold, and opened it to show
the smirking authority figure a badge.
?Detective Jack Covington, NYPD.? Jack couldn?t tell
who was more surprised, Mr. Graham,
or Buffy. ?Sir, this young woman is assisting in a
joint police investigation between the LA and
NYPDs. I would appreciate your cooperation as well.?
Mr. Graham was slowling having a panic attack. ?Of..
of course, Detective, anything
myself or this administration can do, just name it.?
Jack slipped his badge into his back pocket, absently
flashing his sidearm in it?s holster
at his waist. ?Everything is under control sir, the
only assistance we?ll need from you is to make
that detention for Miss Summers and Mr. St. Cross
disappear. Their assistance will be required
immediately after school.?
?Absolutely officer. Um, I?ll see you on campus at
seven Miss summers?? The dejected
vice principal didn?t notice Buffy?s nod as he backed
toward his car and drove off. Buffy
turned to Jack. ?When were you going to tell me about
your day job, Mr. Mysterious.?
Jack held up his arms in defense. ?Let?s just say
it?s amazing what you can find on
Ebay.?
?On what?? she raised an eyebrow. <Who is this guy?>
she thought.
?On the internet. I uh, found a little website that
deals in things like this.? He said with his
best disarming grin.
?Jack, There?s something about you that just doesn?t
feel right. We ARE going to have
a little chat after this ritual thing, you got me? And
I don?t want to hear any cryptic remarks, and
don?t turn around, because the Dark One?s right hand
vamp is down the street behind you.? uffy
said, never showing her surprise.
?B, If this guy is His closest servant, and a
vampire, then why is he outside, during the
day??Jack said, casually turning to see the Tall black
man walk from an alley and tuck a small
object into his coat pocket. 
Buffy narrowed her eyes and turned her head in
thought. ?Why would that blood
sucking bastard keep him? Why hasn?t he turned him
yet??
?He needs him alive. Why?? Jack said, his voice
taking a prompting tone.
?Because he?s the Vessel. Whoever or whatever the
Master is summoning will be
placed into our new friend.? She turned to Jack with
sudden understanding. ?You knew.? she
said, pounding her finger into his chest. ?You knew
all along.? She pushed harder, forcing him
against the wall of a deli with the force of her
finger. ?When were you going to tell Merrick and
me??
?Like I told you last night. Lin told me some things.
You wouldn?t feel like you
accomplished anything if I did everything for you, now
would you? And you?re welcome.?
?Welcome?! For what? Holding out on us?? she asked
incredulously.
?Well, getting you and Pike out of detention for one,
and for pointing out that our new
friend is now heading towards the school.? he said,
nodding his head to the casually strolling,
sharply dressed, servant of evil.
?Oh... Right. Thanks. C?mon.? she said, turning and
following Lucius from a safe
distance.
*	*	*
Pike left the club around four. After fending off the
female vampire?s advances time and
again, Pike slipped a leg over the seat of his soft
tail and started the bike. He pulled the bike into
traffic and headed back to his apartment over the
garage he worked in. ?Buffy sings... Man, that
is something I?ve just GOTTA hear.? He grinned to
himself and walked upstairs to his flat.
Opening his door, his eyes shot to the digital clock
over his t.v. ?Three hours til school....? He
moaned to himself before seeing the Stanley Tool
Calendar on his kitchen wall. ?If this were a
friday... Which it isn?t. Thank you God for
saturdays...? he mumbled before collapsing on his
bed, fully dressed and out cold. 
*	*	*
Buffy and Jack crouched behind one of the larger
willow trees. She turned to Jack,
?You know, Someday, I?m going to have house with a big
Willow tree in the yard.? 
Jack looked at her with a raised eyebrow. ?You are a
very odd girl. You know this,
right?? He said, setting his hand on her shoulder.
Her eyes closing at the contact, she thought about
something that had been bothering
her. ?What is this? Where is this coming from? This is
nothing like Pike?s touch. Man... I?m
losing it.?
Jack squeezed her shoulder slightly. her eyes shot
open. ?There he is, he?s heading for
the Belltower. Is it just me or is that rather
ironic?? 
?All this time, Merrick, Pike, and Myself have been
hunting this whacko, and he?s been
on the school grounds all this time!?? I feel like an
idiot.? She said, banging her head against the
willow tree. 
?Don?t feel bad, this would be a predictable plot
twist, if this were a T.v. show.? He
said, grinning slightly.?
?Yeah, But this isn?t a t.v. show. You?re loving this
aren?t you?? she said, glaring at him.
?Uh... Yeah. Hey, I?m not the one with an ancient
vampire hiding out right under my
nose.? He said, smiling widely.
?Rub it in.? came the sarcastic reply. ?Come on,
let?s grab him before he gets in.?
*	*	*
Lucius was still human. he had a human?s senses,
particularly a human?s sense of
hearing. Had he been turned, he would have heard the
Slayer creeping up on him. He wouldn?t
have been knocked unconscious and dragged into the
bushes.
Jack looked down at the downed bald black man. ?You
hang onto Uncle Tom here,
I?m going to get me car, then I?ll swing around and
grab Merrick and Pike. I?ll be back in
twenty.? He said before turning away and braking into
a sprint in the direction of the mansion. 
Buffy watched him go. ?The odd thing is, I don?t feel
a thing for him, but any sort of
contact, and I feel like a million bucks. Know what I
mean?? she said turning to the hog tied
servant. ?Never mind.? Buffy sat crouched in the
bushes as the overcast sky began to rain. 
*	*	*
Master Vampire Ordiniconii stood at a small window on
the third floor of the belltower.
he looked down at the Small blonde who sat near his
most trusted servant. ?Well this isn?t what
I had planned, but still.? He turned and began making
his way down the nearby staircase into
the basement. Walking before the earth filled
fountain, he gestured in a raising motion. The
shambling earth being rose swiftly heeding the
powerful summons. The Master looked into the
twin garnets that served as eyes for the Elemental.
?There is a small blonde detaining Lucius
outside the tower. Bring them both here.? The
shambling form grunted and headed for the large
grate on the southern wall. Walking through the grate
as though it weren?t there, the walking
mound of earth headed up the 5? by 5? tunnel with
ease. 
*	*	*
While Jack never stopped sprinting the mile to
Merrick?s mansion, the sky overhead
started to cloud over, slowly at first as a light rain
began to fall. Knocking on the door, he
waited for the door to open before he started
breathing heavily. Merrick was about to gesture
him in, when Jack waved him off. ?Buffy... needs
help... she?s found... the Master?s... lair. She
has the Vessel. We need Pike.? catching his breath, he
watched Merrick gather weapons. A
crossbow, a set of stakes, and a double edged
broadsword. ?Good taste.? Jack said, nodding
at the blade.
?Thank you. Shall we??
*	*	*
Buffy crouched behind the bushes, in the softly
falling rain. Having already gone through
Lucius? pockets, looked at her Minnie mouse watch a
dozen times, and whistled her favorite
songs, the Slayer was currently leaning back against
the wall, popping her knuckles over and
over again. Her Slayer hearing heard the clang of a
grate opening in the ditch twenty yards
away. Looking down at the still comatose servant, she
headed over to the sound she heard,
obliviously walking over a patch of rich soil. The
rainfall began to grow as did the thickness of
clouds, darkening the sky.
Her attention focused solely on the now open grating,
she was taken by complete
surprise when the very earth beneath her nikes rose up
and engulfed her up to her waist. A very
solid fist slammed into her temple and all she knew
was darkness.
>From his window, Ordiniconii saw every moment, seeing
the Slayer blunder over his
Earth Elemental forced a deep laugh from his chest.
His laughter rumbling throughout the tower.
*	*	*
Merrick and Jack coasted in the convertable across
town to Pike?s garage apartment.
?So Lucius is mortal and has been the whole time??
Seeing Jack?s nod, Merrick rubbed his
eyes. ?I knew there was something off about him. He
never actually fought Elizabeth. Most
vampire?s test their skills out on her.?
Breaking every traffic law in the state of
California, they made it to Pike?s very quickly.
Jack leapt out of the car and was in front of Pike?s
door before Merrick exited the vehicle
himself. Pike groggily answered the door. Jack looked
straight in Pike?s eyes, ?It?s Time.? he
said, before turning and heading back to the car,
leaving a visibly shaken young man behind.
Ten minutes later, all three men were speeding in the
direction of the High school, each
sporting equal faces of fear mixed with dread. Jack
sported a pair of throwing knives strapped
to his waist, Pike sat in the backseat checking and
rechecking the repeating crossbow. Merrick
bowed his head, held the broadsword blade down with
the hilt against his forehead, and began
praying. Outside, the rain thickened, big angry drops
slamming against the glass of the
windshield, as the sky turned to night.
*	*	*
Master Ordiniconii looked at the trapped slayer, who
was pounding at the soil holding
her from the waist down. After sending the Earth
elemental back to it?s fountain cradle, The
master paced slowly before the angry Slayer, stroking
his beard in thought. ?My dear, dear
Slayer. Have I not told you before that I would kill
you with my own hands?? he said, turning
away and heading towards the staircase. ?However your
appointment with the reaper will have
to wait until after Tonight?s ritual. Now, If you?ll
excuse me.? Buffy watched the Master vampire
ascend the stairs and held her head in her hands.
?Well... things can?t get any worse.?
Behind her, twin garnets surfaced. 
?I... disagree...?
Slowly a mound of earth rose bearing the gems
upwards. Buffy froze at the soft sound
of earth shuffling. turning at the waist, her jaw
dropped slowly as the mound split at her head?s
height showing a two rows of razor sharp granite
shards.
?Uh... I thought Wookie Chin said HE was going to
kill me.? she mumbled to herself.
A deep graveley voice sounded from deep in the
earthen maw, ?Ordiniconii...
promised... me... your... death...?
?This sucks...?
*	*	*
Merrick opened the passenger door and stepped out,
keeping an eye on the tower?s
entrance. ?All this time... Well, Fate always did have
a sense of whimsy.? shouldering his
broadsword, he looked upwards through the rain to the
peak of the tower. Pike walked over
to stand next to Merrick. 
?Tonight it ends. Either we win and avert an
Apoccalypse, or we die and the Earth is
doomed.? Merrick said turning to Pike. ?You two can
still leave.?
Pike turned to the elder watcher. ?Why is it
everytime we do something like this you say
that? I?m not backing off.?
Jack stepped to the right of Merrick. ?Don?t look at
me, I?ve been doing this for a good
long while now. Shall we? or should we stand here like
ponces in the rain while our Slayer has
all the fun?? 
*	*	*
Buffy braced her hands against the earth elemental
as it shuffled over to the staircase.
?Let me get this straight, Tall, Dark, and Ugly
summoned you with an amulet, then trapped you
here??
?Correct... Slayer...?
?Ok, So how would you get home?? she asked, an idea
coming to her mind.
?If... the... amulet... were... destroyed... The...
Summoning... would... end...?
?So if I were to find and put the smashy on this
amulet thingy, would you consider doing
me a small favor??
?To... go... Home...? Anything...?
Buffy grinned and leaned down to whisper near the
left garnet.
*	*	*
The three reached the tower. Reaching the door first,
Jack tried the handle. ?Of course
it?s locked...? The irishman kneeled before the knob
and reached into his black leather vest for
a small roll of suede leather.
?I don?t think Master Ordiniconii would appreciate
visitors tonight.? Sounded a voice
form behind them. Jack opened the roll, pulled out
assorted lockpicks and began working on
the lock. Merrick and Pike turned and brought their
weapons to bare against five vampires..
Two charged Merrick while three others advanced on
Pike, who was shifting the crossbow
from target to target. Merrick slashed one in the gut
from the right and moved the blade up to
slice the other?s eyes out. The first recoiled from
the attack and bumped into the now blinded
vampire. They both fell to the ground as Merrick
rushed in to finish them off. Meanwhile, Pike
shot one of the advancing vamps directly in the heart,
the other two vampires saw their comrade
combust and grinned devilishly. 
?You?ve got it cocked, have you got enough time to
reload, lunch?? The lead vamp said
sauntering forward. Pike grinned and fired a bolt
square into the smirking vampire?s chest, the
third vamp looked in shock. 
?You never reloaded!? The undead minion whined, as
Pike pulled the string back and
fired again. ?It?s not fair...? were his final words.
Merrick had sliced the head off one vampire while the
blind vampire crawled off in a
randow direction. Merrick walked sowly behind him and
pulled a stake from his tweed coat.
The vampire knew his end was coming. Determined to
keep his dignity, he stood, brushed his
sleeves off and opened his coat and shirt to bare his
chest. ?Go ahead, Watcher.? 
?Thank you.? Merrick replied before stabbing his
stake into the vampire?s heart.
?Finally, a Vampire with dignity.? he said, looking
down at the rapidly dampening ashes.
Jack coughed subtly to get their attention and
gestured to the now open door.
?Where exactly did you learn that??Merrick asked as
the trio descended the staircase
within.
?Trust me Merrick, you?d never believe me if I told
you.? Pike simply grinned and
turned to Merrick. ?How?d he know you were a Watcher?
? he asked before following behind. 
Jack stopped abruptly and turned to Pike, ?An elderly
man wearing tweed fighting
vampires beside a Slayer? what do you want, a tattoo
on the inside of his wrist?? he said this
last bit with a wink to Merrick, who chuckled softly.
?Wrong branch of the family I?m afraid.?
Merrick whispered with a wry grin before following
suit. Pike rolled his eyes and motioned for
Jack to continue inward.
*	*	*
In the bottom level of the Belltower, Master
Ordiniconii added the final ingredient into
the Cauldron of Ages. as the blood and powdered ruby
mixed with the other components, his
chanting ended. <Spirit of War, summon the soul I
call. Heed my tribute, send forth the warrior
spirit I beg of thee.> 
Lucius held a shrouded object in his hands while the
Earth Elemental shuffled forth
bringing the Slayer closer to the Master. Lucius? eyes
widened as the grayish mist flowing from
the cauldron thickened and coursed along the floor.
?Truly my Master is incredibly powerful...?
he thought as the mist ocursed along the floor and his
Master?s face split into a wide smile,
baring his demonic visage to rune enscribed ceiling.
Extending a hand to his servant, Lucius
unwrapped the bundle and held a sword, handle first,
to his master. The Master took the blade
and stabbed it down into the thick reddish mixture.
The mist grew thicker and coiled around teh
ancient blade, then coursed along ground like writhing
snakes.
Ordiniconii began chuckling devilishly and cast his
hand in Lucius? direction. The mist
instantly shot in lucius? direction as the bald ebony
skinned man recoiled in horror. Three sets of
eyes watched from the stairwell as the mist flowed
over the vessel.
?Should we help him?? Pike asked in a dead whisper to
the older britishman beside him. 
Jack looked at him like he grew a third arm off his
forehead. ?I don?t think it?s going to
kill him. Besides, one less person to fight.?
Merrick nodded absently, listening intently as the
Master began chanting again.
<Summoned soul I guide thee into thy vessel. Empower
him. Enthrall him with your
energy. Take his flesh and make it thine!> He ended in
a cry.
Buffy watched enthralled as the mist seeped into
Lucius? flesh. with a cry, the sharply
tailored mand fell to his knees. His screams echoed
around the room as his coat and shirt
ripped, his muscles enlarging to an inhuman girth. The
muscles of his legs swelled and tightened,
stretching his deep skin and reducing his trousers to
shreds while his feet nearly exploded form
his feet. The now heavily muscled being ceased his
screams and stood, his long black hair
cascaded down his back as he turned to face his
Master. You have summoned me Ordiniconii.
I Gilgamesh, have answered.? 
Merrick?s eyes widened. ?Holy Mary Mother of God.?
Pike resolved to ask Merrick about this Gilgamesh guy
afterward.
Jack nodded. ?Get ready.?
Buffy tapped the elemental. The earthen being
shuffled and it?s grip on the blonde
loosened enough that she could pull herself out. The
master approached his hulking servant
feeling absolutely giddy. ?Kneel Lucius.?
Merrick watched with awe. ?He?s going to turn him. A
Vampiric Incarnation of War. a
virtual Supervampire. That?s damned clever.?
Jack whispered to the other two, ?Wait until Ord lets
Lucius feed. They?ll both be
disoriented.? Seeing their confused nods, he drew both
long daggers, made eye contact with
Buffy, and winked. 
Buffy nodded and watched tensly as Lucius knelt
before his master. Slowly she crept
off the mound an dused every stealth skill she?d
learned to slink over to the staircase. Leaning
close, she kissed Pike deeply. ?It?s about time you
guys showed up. Can we attack now?? she
said, tuning to Merrick with her question. Jack handed
her one of his long daggers.
The Watcher shook his head. ?We have to wait until he
turns Lucius. How on Earth did
you escape the elemental. It looked like it just let
you go.?
?That?s because it did just let me go. How?d you know
he?s going to turn him?? she
asked.
Merrick nodded his head at Jack. 
Ordiniconii looked at the incarnation of War kneeling
at his feet. he gently guided his
servant?s head to the side, being at a slightly lower
level then his own head, The Master didn?t
have to kneel. Smiling devilishly, He looked into his
servant?s eyes. ?Prepare, my loyal servant,
to recieve the immortal gift.? he leaned forward and
sank his fangs deep into Lucius? thickly
muscled throat.
?Now, we wait until he?s finished, the new blood has
made him too aware of his
surroundings. If we attack now, he?ll be ready.? Jack
informed the others, they nodded and
collectively renewed their grip on their weapons. 
A minute passed as a tiny spark of fear kindled
within the Slayer. ?Uh, Guys, what if
he?s not turning Lucius, but feeding off the super
blood??
Three sets of eyes widened in sheer horror at the
thought of a Master Vampire with the
blood of a War Spirit filling it?s veins.
?Oh... Bloody Hell...? Jack cursed then leapt to his
feet. ?Well? Who wants to live
forever?? he called as he turned and charged the
feeding vampire. Buffy and Merrick followed
as Pike turned his head to a sound that caught his
ear.
The Master dropped the dessicated husk that used to
be his servant and turned with
glowing eyes at the three charging hunters. Jack leapt
for the left arm and plunged his dagger
into the Master?s back. Buffy leapt for his right and
mirrored Jack?s actions. Meanwhile,
Merrick slashed at his left leg. Ordiniconii roared at
the attacks and threw both teens across the
room. Merrick scored another hit to the Master?s left
knee before being backhanded to the far
corner. Sumbling to one knee, the Master screamed his
anger. ?I will grind your bones to
paste!?
Buffy recovered and helped the Irishman to his feet.
?C?mon. We?re missing the fight.?
*	*	*
Pike turned to the sound and saw Britney Turgol
coming down the stairs. ?What the hell
are you doing here? Run girl!? Britney stepped down
another step, Then he noticed her eyes.
He brought the crossbow up to bear as Britney came
within ten feet. Her eyes were twin pits of
hellish green light. Firing a bolt, his eyes widened
as the bottle blonde caught the bolt in front of
her chest. ?The Master said we could have her when he
was done...? A rasping voice came
from the possessed teen.
*	*	*
Buffy and Jack exchanged blows with the Master as
Merrick stood up and looked into
twin glowing garnets. ?Need... Help...?? asked the
Elemental. Seeing the Brit?s feeble nod, the
Elemental turned and rapidly slid across the floor
like quicksand. Almost completely engulfing
the Master?s left side. Buffy grinned and nodded to
Jack before pulling a stake from her jacket.
He grinned and stepped slightly behind the master and
lunged. The Master shifted and caught
the blade in his grip, leaving him wide open. The
Slayer rushed in and stabbed the stake into
Ordiniconii?s chest. The Master laughed and shot his
hand through the elemental and caught the
Slayer?s hand in mid thrust. ?That was a feeble
attempt Slayer.? As his hand took on a green
aura, Buffy felt a sudden weakening feeling, as though
her very life force were being pulled out
of her. 
Jack?s eyes narrowed and he ripped his blade up
between his fingers and out of the
Master?s grip. One of Buffy?s favorite memories from
her time in L.A. occured then, The
Master?s face contorting in a mixture of agonizing
pain, incredulity, and bewilderment. Pulling his
mangled hand to his chest, The Master lashed out with
his rapidly regenerating leg at the
irishman, catching him in the stomach. Buffy?s field
of vision was dimming when suddenly it
cleared and she heard the Master roar in pain again.
looking down, she saw Ord?s severed arm
on the ground and Merrick in a down-slash directed at
the vampire?s chest. 
Still weakened, Buffy fell to her knees. Jack saw her
fall and tumbled over to her. He
grabbed her arm to steady her fall. The feeling came
to Buffy again. Fleeting images flashed
through her mind. A tall dark man with an aura of
danger, an older man in tweed, who filled her
mind with trust and support, a man with a perpetual
smile, and finally a flash of ruby red hair and
emerald green eyes. This last image brought a feeling
of hope and an overwhelming desire to
protect, almost a taste of things to come. The taste
fueled Buffy, snapping her awake from the
drain the Master put her through. 
Her senses focused and she saw everything in slow
motion, the gaping wound Merrick
inflicted on the master?s chest. acting on pure
instinct, Buffy shot her hand into the Ordiniconii?s
chest and grabbed his blackened withered heart. With a
loud growl of effort, ripped the
atrophied organ from his chest cavity. Master
Ordiniconii roared in unquestionable anguish. His
eyes locked with Buffy?s. ?You... Bitch...? Were his
final words before he crumbled to dust, a
small granite orb falling from the remains of his
robes. 
*	*	*
Britney?s corpse reached a rapidly withering hand out
to Pike, each finger swiftly
growing a blackened talon. ?Her? skin turned a grayish
pallor and her hair faded almost instantly
to a harsh off white. ?I will feast on your soul,
Man-Child.? It moaned as the Wraith glided
closer to the revolted teen. He defiantly grinned and
fired the crossbow, his grin dropped as teh
bolt passed harmlessly through the Wraith?s throat and
blasted a chunk from the cinderblack
wall behind it. 
Pike pulled his gold cross necklace from his white
button up and brandished it before
the undead. The Wraith backpedalled from the holy
symbol and hissed. The hiss was cut short
as a pale hand gripping a glimmering sickle cut
through her neck, a black shadowy substance
coursing from the wound. Clutching the throat wound,
the Wraith liquified into a black, brackish
puddle, revealing the Vampiress from Caritas standing
further up the stairs. ?I knew I should
keep an eye on you.? she whispered. ?You can put that
away now luv.? He slipped the cross
beneath his shirt as she stepped slowly down the
stairs, she walked closer to Pike and draped
her arms over his shoulders. Pike took a long moment
contemplating his future, his close call,
and grinned. He slipped his arms around her waist. 
?I?m gonna need two things.?
?Name it handsome.?
?First, some time. Which I know you have in
abundance.?
She nodded. ?As long as I have some help avoiding the
Slayer. What?s the second??
?Your name.?
She leaned froward and kissed him. ?Deanna.?
He kissed her, ?Pike.?
*	*	*
Jack helped Merrick to his feet and grinned his half
grin. The watcher?s brow furrowed
in thought. ?How odd...? Buffy froze.
?Merrick, when you say that, I have a massive case of
the wiggins.?
Jack stage whispered to the elder Watcher, ?What?s a
Wiggin??
Merrick returned the stage whisper, ?No earthly
idea.?
Buffy glared at them both with crossed arms. ?Well
Buffy, If Ordiniconii was a Master
vampire, then why is there no skeleton?? Merrick
asked, looking in frustration at the slight
scattering of ash on the floor. 
The Slayer?s eyebrows raised nearly into her
hairline. ?Do I have to ask you for more
information??
?No. Master Vampires are old enough that they leave
behind their bones. It?s theorized
that this is so their minions may reanimate and
possibly restore the Master from death.?
?Then he wasn?t the Master? There?s another Vampire
around here? Oh, that?s just
Fucking wonderful.? Buffy cursed then started to look
around the room for possible hiding
places.
?Buffy, that language was uncalled for. However, we
should begin to search the tower
for the Master.? Merrick said shouldering his
broadsword.
Jack having noticed that the Elemental was standing
behind Buffy as still as a statue. so
he tapped the blonde on the shoulder and nodded to it.
Then it spoke. ?Slayer... Our...deal...?
it?s deep voice echoed from the shard filled maw.
?Oh... right. Sorry.?She bent down and picked up the
small orb. ?This it?? The earthen
being grumbled. She made to shatter the talisman then
stopped, causing the soil mass to growl.
?One question, then you?re free. Where?s the Master
Vampire.??
The Earthen Elemental shuffled over to the Slayer and
the twin garnets glittered in the
candlelight. ?You... just... killed... him... He...
called... himself... Master...?
Buffy laughed and patted the elemental roughly on the
shoulder. With every ounce of
her Slayer strength, she threw the orb at the wall,
and grinned as the talisman shattered to a very
fine dust.
The Earth Elemental slowly began to collapse and fall
to a pile on the ground. 
?Ok, THAT was cool.? Buffy remarked to the suddenly
quiet room. 
Jack grinned and began looking around. ?Where?s
Pike??
Buffy suddenly remembered she had a boyfriend. ?Yeah,
uh, where is he??
?Over here.?Came the crossbow wielding teen. ?There
was a ghost thing coming
downstairs. It left a big puddle of casper goo.?
Merrick, intrigued, headed up the stairs to
investigate it?s remains.
Jack followed and peaked over the elder Brit?s
shoulder. ?Wight??
Merrick shook his head. ?No... Wights don?t leave
um... goo. they leave a web like
mist. This is or rather was, a Wraith.?
?And Pike killed it with a crossbow... with steel
tipped quarrels?? he thought, a measure
of suspicion creeping into his mind.
?How Pike killed this beast without an ounce of
silver though is beyond me...?Merrick
mumbled to himself before stepping back down the
stairs. ?Oh well, Now for my favorite part
of a nest cleaning. Looting the Library.? 
Jack grinned at the nearly giddy brit and walked up
to the exit, pulling a cigarette and his
zippo from his black leather vest.
Stepping into the doorway, Jack looked up through
swiftly clearing skies into a full
moon. ?That... was fun...? inhaling sharply on his
cigarette, he blew a large smoke ring then
quickly reinhaled, and blew a thin stream through his
nose that slid right through the smoke ring.
In time, Buffy and the others strolled up the stairs
laughing. Pike and Merrick carrying a
box or two of books, Magic paraphenalia, and
miscellanious herbs, while Buffy clutched an
armload of weaponry.
Jack took Merrick?s box, and headed for his
convertable, Buffy hurried up alongside
him and strolled in companionable silence. ?I have to
ask. During the fight, you grabbed my arm
to steady my fall.?
?Yes. I remember that.? he said.
?Did you feel anything odd??
?Aye, I felt a little weary from whatever energy
drain the Master used on you. Why?
what did you feel.??
Buffy shrugged feeling a little foolish. ?Just a few
hallucinations.?
?Oh...? Like what?? he asked, his lips twitched as he
brushed his bare forearm against
her bare shoulder.
?Well one was... Damn... I forgot.? her eyes narrowed
in concentration.
*	*	*
Jack leaned against the hood of his jet black
Oldsmobile Cutlass convertable and
grinned. he watched as the Mansion door opened and
Buffy walked out in a sheen of sweat.
?You coming in? We can train some more.? she hinted,
making soft jabs at his abdomen.
?I would B. Really, I would. But I?ve got to get
going. My team is waiting for me to
come back.and it?s a long drive.?
?Why not fly?? she asked, leaning against the hood
beside the sharply dressed young
man.
?I don?t like to fly. I prefer to drive.? Jack said.
?Or ride, when I have my bike.?
Buffy grinned. ?I can easily picture you on a bike.?
?You know B, you never answered my question. When did
you realize??
?I know. I?ll tell you the next time you?re here.?
?Deal... I?ve gotta go B. I?ll see you around.?
Smiling softly, he removed his left black
leather glove and touched Buffy?s bare shoulder.
Turning he slipped his glove back on, climbed
into his auto and started the perfectly tuned engine.
Buffy stood at the Mansion gate as he drove
away. A mental flash of ruby red hair and emerald eyes
running through her mind. 

*	*	*

Sunnydale, California
Rosenberg Residence
1983

Ira rosenberg watched his daughter play with her
dolly on the porch of their home and
smiled as he thought abuot her future. ?She?ll
graduate high school, marry, and give Sheila and I
grandchildren. A beautiful house, and a doctor or
lawyer for a husband.? His ruminations were
interrupted by a subtle cough. He looked up at his
visitor, a muscular young man in a very
expensive suit. ?Mr. Rosenerg??
?Yes? Can I help you Mr...?
?Covington. Matthias Covington.? he said, grinning a
simple half grin. He pulled a card
from a silver card case from his breast pocket. 
Mr. Rosenberg examined the card as Mr. Covington
returned the case into his pocket.

Covington, Lafeyette, & Warriner.
Law Firm
1020 7th avenue, Manhattan, New York.
10010-5424

?Yes Mr. Covington, is there something you needed??
Mr. Rosenberg asked.
?Actually Mr. Rosenberg, I am the executor of your
Aunt Alexandra Ravencroft?s
Estate.?
?Aunt Alexandra? When did that old heathen croak?
Unnatural godless woman.? he
thought as he struggled to keep a properly mournful
face. ?Wonder what the old bat left me.? 
Matthias raised an eyebrow subtly. ?The terms of your
Aunt?s will were both simple and
crystal clear.? He turned slightly and smiled sweetly
at the two year old. He winked and turned
back to Ira. he pulled a bundle of papers from his
briefcase. ?They basically name your
daughter as the sole beneficiary. At the age of
twenty, she?ll be notified of her inheritance, on the
strict stipulation that until that date, she be kept
completely oblivious of this matter. It was her
Great Aunt?s desire that she have a childhood free
from the ?problems that the money brought
on me.? quote/unquote. Here is your copy of the will,
feel free to have your lawyer go over
them, explain anything you might have trouble with. If
you have any questions, my office number
is on the card.? Turning away from the nearly
catatonic adult, he turned and looked down at the
red headed toddler.
?Hello there Willow.? he said as he crouched down in
front of her.
?Huwwo. Who aw you?? she said in an innocent child?s
voice.
?I?m a friend, someone who?ll protect you from now
until forever. That sound ok?? he
asked, pushing a red curl behind her tiny ear.
?Yeah. This is Betty.? she said, holding out her
dolly.
?Is Betty short for Elizabeth?? he said,
straightening the dolly?s hair.
?Uh huh. It?s short for Elizzybit? she said,
struggling with the word.
?Unbelievable...? he said and nodded to Mr. Rosenberg
who absently nodded to the
departing young man, Slipping on a fedora, he slipped
back into his black convertable and
drove away, an image of a cute little redhead child 
fresh in his mind.

Fin.

MacBeth
The Kamikaze Scotsman
The Kilted Moogle

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